Patent GB-1413763-A (GB)
Title: Method and apparatus for controlling placement of split die cavities
IPC: B21D37/00
Filed: 1973-08-20
Abstract: 1413763 Automatic control DIECOMP Inc 20 Aug 1973 [8 Sept 1972] 39346/73 Heading G3N Relates to the automatic design of progressive die structures, particularly for tentatively arranging split die cavities (i.e. dies having a cavity with splits radiating therefrom as shown Fig. 5) side by side along a die structure and testing that the contours and splits of one cavity will not interfere with those of another. OPERATION Signals which one functions of the co-ordinates X x  X n  Y x  Y n  and split direction signals which define faces of the cavity contour from which splits thereof radiate e.g. right (R) left (L) top (T) and bottom (B) - of each cavity contour are received at terminal 20, Fig. 4 and fed by means of a bi-directional scanner 22 successively to and for storage in cell groups 10a, 10b, &c. of a store 10. Likewise, the scanner directs information signals from terminal 20 regarding the position or stage number of each contour along the structure to a store 14 and information signals as to the feed step or jump distance between adjacent cavities contours to a store 12. The "feed" distance equals the distance that a metal strip workpiece is moved during each step of the operation of the die. To translate each contour horizontally to its tentative position, the scanner reads successively the contour information from stores 10, 14. The feed step distance from store 12 is multiplied in a multiplier 24 by the position number to give the distance by which the horizontal co-ordinates of a contour currently being scanned must be translated. The multiplier output is added in an adder 30 to signals which are a function of the horizontal co-ordinates of the contour being scanned as if it were located in the first position in the die structure. The resulting sum gives the contour co-ordinates translated to its required position and the sum, is fed back by the scanner to be stored in store 10. Eventually co-ordinates stored in 10 represent the disposition of all contours across the face of the die structure. Next the contours are tested to see if the splits of one would interfere with those of the others and that a split radiating from one cavity would not terminate at the edge of another cavity. A particular contour is selected for testing by a preset means 40. Contours having no splits are given a stage or position number zero and are not tested. The scanner scans the selected contour information which then is stored in a Register 42. The scanner is then set to scan all the other contours, in store 10 and their position numbers in store 14. A unit 48 determines whether any of the others has a zero position number, and a unit 50 determines whether information about a contour has previously been stored in the Register 42. If neither of these conditions apply then the contour information is fed to and stored in a Register 52. An analyzer 18 compares the contour co-ordinates and split information of the test contour in Register 42 with that in Register 52 and will produce no output if the comparison shows a valid combination of splits. Otherwise an output signal is produced at 64 to indicate that the tentative position of the contour under test is not consistent with the other contours. The analyzer 18 is detailed in Fig. 3 (not shown) and comprises a number of differential amplifiers.