Claims
- 1. A variable speed powder compacting press comprising:
a generally horizontal table with a powder compacting die cavity defined therein, the cavity having an upwardly facing opening; a movable compacting punch disposed in the die cavity and operable to move upwardly toward the cavity opening to compact powder disposed in the cavity; a sliding anvil disposed on the horizontal table and having a powder dispensing portion, a compacting portion, and a pickup portion, the anvil being movable between a filling position wherein the dispensing portion is above the cavity, a compacting position wherein the compacting portion is above the cavity, and a pickup position wherein the pickup portion is above the cavity; a rotary drive operable to move the compacting punch and the sliding anvil in a coordinated manner; a safety cover configured to cover a portion of the table and the sliding anvil during operation of the machine; an interlock operable to determine if the safety cover is in a closed position; a variable frequency drive controller operable to control the rotational speed of the rotary drive, the drive control being in communication with the interlock, the drive control having a control panel including a mode control, a run control, a direction control, and a speed control, the drive control having a run mode and a setup mode that are selectable using the mode control; when the drive control is in the run mode; the run control is operable to cause the rotary drive to continuously rotate at a rotational speed in a first range of speeds only when the interlock indicates that the safety cover is closed, the run control requiring only a single manipulation to cause continuous rotation; and the speed control is operable to increase or decrease the rotational speed of the rotary drive within the first range of speeds; and when the drive control is in the setup mode; the run control is operable to cause the rotary drive to rotate at a second speed less than the first range of speeds only while the run control is manipulated and to cause the rotary drive to stop when the run control is released such that the rotary drive may be jogged, the run control being operable to cause rotation of the rotary drive when the interlock indicates that the safety cover is closed and also when the interlock does not indicate that the safety cover is closed; the direction control is operable to control the direction of rotation of the rotary drive.
- 2. The variable speed powder compacting press according to claim 1, wherein the press has an operation cycle including one upward movement of the compacting punch in the die cavity, the first range of speeds having a minimum corresponding to 28 operation cycles per minute, and the second speed corresponding to approximately 5 operation cycles per minute.
- 3. The variable speed powder compacting press according to claim 1, wherein the press has an operation cycle including one upward movement of the compacting punch in the die cavity, the first range of speeds having a minimum corresponding to 18 operation cycles per minute, and the second speed corresponding to approximately 5 operation cycles per minute.
- 4. The variable speed powder compacting press according to claim 1, wherein the press includes multiple cavities and multiple compacting punches.
- 5. The variable speed powder compacting press according to claim 1, wherein the sliding anvil has a first end pivotally interconnected with the table and a second end comprising the powder dispensing portion, the compacting portion, and the pickup portion, the second end pivoting about the first end to move the anvil between the dispensing, compacting, and pickup positions.
- 6. The variable speed powder compacting press according to claim 1, wherein when the drive control is in the run mode, the direction control is not operable and the rotary drive runs only in a forwardly direction.
- 7. The variable speed powder compacting press according to claim 1, wherein when the drive control is in the setup mode, the speed control is not operable and the rotary drive runs at a constant speed while the run control is manipulated.
- 8. The variable speed powder compacting press according to claim l, further comprising:
a second safety cover configured to cover the front portion of the press and a second interlock operable to determine if the second safety cover is in the closed position; when the drive motor is in the run mode; the run control being operable to cause the rotary drive to continuously rotate at a rotational speed in a first range of speeds only when the second interlock indicates that the safety cover is closed; and when the drive control is in the setup mode; the run control being operable to cause the rotary drive to rotate at the second speed when the second interlock indicates that the second safety cover is closed and also when the second interlock does not indicate that the second safety cover is closed.
- 9. The variable speed powder compacting press according to claim 1, further comprising a jog button, wherein when the drive control is in the run mode;
the jog button is operable to cause the rotary drive to rotate at the second speed when the run control is manipulated and to stop the rotary drive when the run control is released.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/202,725, filed May 8, 2000, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60202725 |
May 2000 |
US |