Intelligent system

Citation

(2001), "Intelligent system", Industrial Robot, Vol. 28 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2001.04928fad.015

Intelligent system

Keywords: Metals, Intelligent systems

Applicant: Amada Company, Ltd. (JP); Amada America, Inc. (USA)Patent number: US5,969,973Publication date: 19 October 1999Title: Intelligent system for generating and executing a sheet metal bending plan

This patent relates to an intelligent sheet metal bending system. The system generates a plan which comprises a sequence of operations to be performed by a bending apparatus.

A planning module that utilizes a state-space search algorithm, and interacts with several expert modules to develop the bending plan is desirable. Computerized methods are provided for selecting a robot gripper and a repo gripper, and for determining the optimal placement of such grippers as they are holding a workpiece being formed by the bending apparatus. Computerized methods for selecting tools to be used by the bending apparatus, and for determining a tooling stage layout are also provided. An operations planning method is described which allows the bending apparatus to be set up concurrently while time-consuming calculations, such as motion planning, are performed. An additional method or system is presented for positioning tooling stages by using a guide member which assists placement of a tooling stage along the die rail of the bending apparatus. Finally, a method is provided for learning motion control offset values, and for eliminating the need for superfluous sensor-based control operations once the motion control offset values are known. The planning system may be used for facilitating functions which may perform designing, costing, scheduling, manufacture and assembly.