Patent Document ID: 4564911
Application ID: 06488327
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method of monitoring the performance of a tool which moves relative to a workpiece through a cycle comprising the steps of: dividing said cycle into a plurality of increments; sensing a function of the force applied to said tool during a plurality of said increments of said cycle; mathematically smoothing said function of force sensed during said plurality of sensed increments of said cycle; establishing a trend in the mathematically smoothed function of force for said plurality of sensed increments of said cycle; determining whether the mathematically smoothed function of force for subsequently sensed increments of said cycle deviates substantially from the established trend in the mathematically smoothed function of force for previously sensed increments of said cycle; and generating a first signal in response to sensing a substantial deviation in the mathematically smoothed function of force for subsequently sensed increments of said cycle from the established trend in the mathematically smoothed function of force for previously sensed increments of such cycle.