Claims
- 1. An electronic control system for use in a riveting process, the system comprising:
an electronic control unit; an electric motor connected to the electronic control unit; a first sensor connected to the electronic control unit and the electric motor, the first sensor being operable to indicate at least one of: (a) torque of the electric motor, (b) speed of the electric motor, and (c) an electrical power characteristic of the electric motor; and a second sensor connected to the electronic control unit, the second sensor operably detecting a riveting characteristic occurring during the riveting process.
- 2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a rivet and a riveting machine which includes the electric motor, the riveting machine operably moving the rivet.
- 3. The system of claim 2 further comprising:
a rivet feeder having an actuator connected to the electronic control unit; and a feed tube sensor connected to the electronic control unit; wherein the electronic control unit operably controls feeding of the rivet by the feeder during the riveting process and the feed tube sensor sends a signal to the electronic control unit indicative of the presence of the rivet.
- 4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a punch and a transmission, the transmission being operable to convert rotary motion of the electric motor to linear motion driving the punch.
- 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the transmission includes a closed loop belt.
- 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the riveting characteristic sensed by the second sensor is the riveting force.
- 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the riveting characteristic sensed by the second sensor is the rivet punch assembly location.
- 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the riveting characteristic sensed by the second sensor is a rivet size.
- 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the riveting characteristic sensed by the second sensor is a workpiece thickness.
- 10. The system of claim 1 wherein the second sensor is a load cell operably indicating a linearly moving member force.
- 11. The system of claim 1 wherein the second sensor is a proximity switch.
- 12. A riveting electrical control system comprising:
(a) an electrical control unit; (b) an electric motor connected to the electrical control unit; (c) a transmission operably driven by energization of the electric motor; (d) a riveting punch operably advanced by the transmission; and (e) a sensor connected to the electrical control unit, the sensor being operable to sense a characteristic of the electric motor.
- 13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a rivet operably driven by the punch.
- 14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:
a rivet feeder having an actuator connected to the electronic control unit; and a feed tube sensor connected to the electronic control unit; wherein the electronic control unit operably controls feeding of the rivet by the feeder during the riveting process and the feed tube sensor sends a signal to the electronic control unit indicative of the presence of the rivet.
- 15. The system of claim 12 wherein the transmission operably converts rotary motion of the electric motor to linear motion for moving the punch.
- 16. The system of claim 15 wherein the transmission includes a closed loop belt.
- 17. The system of claim 12 wherein the characteristic changes at least in part due to varying rivet setting performance.
- 18. The system of claim 12 wherein the sensor operably senses an electrical power characteristic of the electric motor.
- 19. The system of claim 12 wherein the sensor operably senses a speed of the electric motor.
- 20. The system of claim 12 wherein the sensor operably senses a torque of the electric motor.
- 21. The system of claim 12 wherein the electric control unit is a programmable computer.
- 22. A riveting electrical control system comprising:
(a) an electrical control unit; (b) an electric motor connected to the electrical control unit; (c) a transmission operably driven by energization of the electric motor, the transmission operably converting rotational movement of the electric motor to substantially linear movement; (d) a riveting punch operably advanced in a substantially linear direction by the transmission; and (e) a rivet operably driving by the punch; the electrical control unit operably controlling energization of the electric motor and operably determining if an undesired riveting condition is present.
- 23. The system of claim 22 further comprising a sensor connected to the electrical control unit, the sensor being operable to sense a characteristic of the electric motor, wherein the characteristic changes at least in part due to varying rivet setting performance.
- 24. The system of claim 23 wherein the characteristic is an electrical power characteristic of the electric motor.
- 25. The system of claim 24 wherein the electrical power characteristic is electrical current.
- 26. The system of claim 23 wherein the electrical control unit compares a signal from the sensor to previously stored data.
- 27. The system of claim 22 wherein a rotational axis of the electric motor is offset from a centerline coaxial with an advancing direction of the punch.
- 28. The system of claim 27 wherein the motor axis is substantially parallel to the punch centerline.
- 29. The system of claim 22 wherein the electrical control unit includes a programmable microprocessor.
- 30. The system of claim 22 wherein the rivet is a self piercing rivet operably driven by the punch.
- 31. The system of claim 22 wherein the electrical control unit transmits an error signal if the undesired condition is present.
- 32. The system of claim 22 wherein the electrical control unit stops the rivet process if the undesired condition is present.
- 33. The system of claim 22 wherein the electrical control unit determines if a riveting characteristic is within a desired range.
- 34. A control system comprising:
(a) a programmable control unit; (b) a riveting machine including an electric motor and a transmission operable to convert rotary motion of the electric motor to linear motion; (c) a self piercing rivet operably set by the riveting machine when the control unit causes energization of the electric motor; and (d) a feeder operable to transfer the rivet to the riveting machine.
- 35. The system of claim 34 further comprising a sensor located adjacent the rivet machine, the control unit being operable to receive a signal generated by the sensor.
- 36. The system of claim 35 wherein the control unit compares the signal generated by the sensor to previously stored data.
- 37. The system of claim 35 wherein the sensor is attached to the rivet machine.
- 38. The system of claim 35 wherein the sensor is operable to indicate a characteristic of the electric motor.
- 39. The system of claim 34 wherein the control unit is operable to control actuation of the rivet feeder.
- 40. The system of claim 34 further comprising an articulating robot, the riveting machine being attached to and positioned by the robot.
- 41. The system of claim 34 wherein the control unit transmits an error signal if an undesired condition is present.
- 42. The system of claim 34 wherein the control unit determines if a riveting characteristic is within a desired range.
- 43. A control system comprising:
(a) a programmable controller; (b) a riveting machine including an electric motor and a transmission, the transmission being operable to convert rotary motion of the electric motor to substantially linear motion; (c) a rivet operably moved by the riveting machine when the controller causes energization of the electric motor; and (d) a sensor operable to indicate power consumption of the electric motor, the controller operably receiving a signal generated by the sensor.
- 44. The system of claim 43 wherein the controller compares the signal generated by the sensor to previously stored values.
- 45. The system of claim 43 further comprising a rivet feeder connected to the riveting machine, the controller operably controlling actuation of the rivet feeder.
- 46. The system of claim 43 further comprising an articulating robot, the riveting machine being attached to and positioned by the robot.
- 47. The system of claim 43 wherein the transmission includes an endless belt.
- 48. A control system comprising:
(a) a programmable controller; (b) a riveting machine including an electric motor and a transmission, the transmission being operable to convert rotary motion of the electric motor to linear motor, a section of the electric motor being rotatable about an axis offset from a centerline coaxial with an elongated dimension of the punch; (c) a rivet operably moved by the riveting machine when the controller causes energization of the electric motor; (d) a sensor operable to indicate an electrical characteristic of the electric motor, the controller operably receiving a signal generated by the sensor; (e) an articulating robot, the riveting machine being attached to and positioned by the robot; and (f) a rivet feeder connected to the riveting machine, the controller operably controlling actuation of the rivet feeder.
- 49. The system of claim 48 wherein the controller compares the signal generated by the sensor to previously stored data.
- 50. A riveting electrical control system comprising:
(a) an electrical control unit; (b) an electric motor connected to the electrical control unit; (c) a mechanical transmission operably converting rotational movement of the electric motor to substantially linear movement; and (d) a rivet setting punch operably advanced by the transmission; (e) the electrical control unit operably determining if a rivet setting characteristic is within a desired range.
- 51. The system of claim 50 wherein the electrical control unit stops the rivet process if the undesired condition is present.
- 52. The system of claim 50 wherein the electrical control unit transmits an error signal if the undesired condition is present.
- 53. The system of claim 50 wherein the electrical control unit includes a programmable microprocessor which compares sensed data to other data.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
DE 197 31 222.5 |
Jul 1997 |
DE |
|
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/358,751, filed on Jul. 21, 1999, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/119,255, filed on Jul. 20, 1998, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 197 31 222.5, filed on Jul. 21, 1997.
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09358751 |
Jul 1999 |
US |
Child |
09862688 |
May 2001 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09119255 |
Jul 1998 |
US |
Child |
09358751 |
Jul 1999 |
US |