Abstract:
A robotic positioning system has a base portion (7) and an arm assembly comprising a plurality of interconnected arm members (12 to 15) mounted on the base portion (7) and each having respective axes of movement. A hand member (21) is carried at the distal end of the arm assembly for supporting a functional member (2). A plurality of drive means are associated with respective ones of the plurality of arm members (12 to 15) and are operable by respective drive signals for moving the arm members (12 to 15) along the respective axes so that the functional member (2) reaches a desired target position and there assumes a desired target attitude. A gyro assembly (31 ) has a frame (31 c) mounted for joint movement with one of the members (15) and a rotor (31a) supported in the frame (31c) to rapidly spin about an axis (31 c) set to extend in a predetermined direction, which is fixed relative to the base portion (7), whereby to provide a directional reference for monitoring the attitude assumed by the one member (15) upon a movement along the corresponding axis of movement.
Abstract:
A traveling-wire electroerosion method and apparatus in which the cutting feed rate is cyclically increased and decreased in a prescribed manner. In a first step of the method, the cutting feed is effected along one portion of a commanded feed path at a maximum rate by a certain first extent such that the traveling wire span between the guide members bends backwards, thus deviating beyond a certain degree from the straight-line path established between the guide members. In a second step, the cutting feed is effected along another portion of the feed path immediately following that one portion at a minimum rate and by a certain small extent such that the bent traveling wire span comes into alignment with the straight-line wire travel path. A control unit (32) is provided which operates on a numerical controller (24) to repeat the two-step cycle, and which may be operable also to act on a flushing medium supply unit (13-15), a wire-tension unit (8. 9, 11, 12, 32, 33) and a power supply unit (16) to minimize the rate-reduced time period or distance of feed while maintaining the width of the cut slot or kerf (G) materially unvaried throughout the process.
Abstract:
@ A traveling-wire (TW) electroerosion apparatus in which at least one of wire guides which are disposed at opposite sides of the cutting zone comprises a plurality of elementary guide members arranged one adjacent to another in the direction of wire travel and having wire-receptive notches, the notched members being staggered to make up a composite guide opening of these notches such that the diameter of an imaginary cylinder which can be inscribed therein is substantially equal to the nominal wire diameter. Preferably, the elementary guide members are arranged to be displaceable relative to one another and in their respective planes, which are parallel to one another, to change the positions of these guide notches and thus to change the diameter of the imaginary cylinder.
Abstract:
A traveling-tape electroerosive cutting method and apparatus utilizing a tape supporting guide bar (8) having two opposite, elongate surfaces (8a, 8b) extending parallel to its longitudinal axis. The bar penetrates the workpiece (1) from one side to the other side to bring the tape (2) advancing between its dispensing site (3) and takeup site (4) into firm engagement with those elongate surfaces (8a, 8b) which are shaped to enable those portions (2a, 2b) of the traveling tape (2) which are respectively in engagement with the elongate surfaces (8a, 8b) together form an active electrode surface of convexity generally V-shaped in section and juxtaposed with the workpiece (1) across a fluid-filled machining gap.
Abstract:
An injection molding machine or system in which an auxiliary packing stage is provided between a plasticating stage and a molding stage. The packaing stage comprises a tubular housing and a ram member disposed for sliding displacement therein by a drive unit. The ram member is reciprocated in the tubular housing to intermittently develop a packing chamber therein to allow an amount of the extruded material from the plasticating stage to be accepted temporarily in the chamber and to intermittently reduce the volume of the chamber to discharge the accepted amount of the melt under pressure into a mold cavity in the molding stage. A control unit acting on the drive unit establishes a predetermined stroke and rate of each displacement or reciprocation of the ram member in conjunction with the volume of the mold cavity and the kind of the material to be molded. The extruded amount of the material is adjusted in conjunction with the volume of the mold cavity.