Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes – With measuring – testing – or inspecting
Patent
1991-05-06
1993-06-08
Woo, Jay H.
Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes
With measuring, testing, or inspecting
164149, 184 61, 184 74, 2643281, 425107, 425135, 425589, B29C 4583
Patent
active
052176622
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an automatic lubricant supplying method and an apparatus therefor, and more particularly, to a method capable of automatically timely supplying a lubricant to a machine working section driven by means of a motor and an apparatus therefor.
BACKGROUND ART
In general, a machine having various sliding parts is smoothly operated by supplying a lubricant to these sliding parts. Visual inspection of exposed sliding parts is so easy that the lubricant can be relatively easily timely supplied to the sliding parts of this type in proper quantities in accordance with the result of the inspection. It is difficult, on the other hand, to supply a proper quantity of lubricant to those sliding parts which are not accessible to visual inspection by properly determining the timing for the supply. Conventionally, therefore, a predetermined quantity of lubricant is periodically supplied to those sliding parts inaccessible to visual inspection.
The proper lubricant supply timing varies, however, depending on the operating conditions of the machine. In some cases, therefore, the supply timing may be improper, or the quantity of lubricant supply may be excessive or insufficient, despite the periodical supply of the predetermined quantity of lubricant. If the machine is operated for a long period of time without sufficient lubricant supply, the motion of some sliding parts may lack in smoothness, so that the parts wear irregularly, possibly lowering the accuracy in structure and operation of the machine, and hence, the precision of products. If the lubricant is excessively supplied, on the other hand, there is a possibility of the lubricant leaking and entailing deterioration of those peripheral parts which are poor in resistance to lubricant.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a method capable of automatically timely supplying a lubricant to a machine working section driven by means of a motor and an apparatus therefor.
In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic lubricant is suppling method for a machine in which a lubricant is supplied to a motor-driven machine working section by means of a lubricant supplier. This method comprises the steps of: (a) detecting the value of a parameter indicative of a load acting on a moter; (b) determining whether or not the detected value of the parameter is deviated from the normal range of the motor load observed when the machine working section is properly lubricated; and (c) actuating the lubricant supplier when the detected value of the parameter is deviated from the normal range.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic lubricant supplying apparatus for use in a machine having a working section driven by means of a motor. This apparatus comprises: a lubricant supplier for supplying a lubricant to the machine working section; detecting means for detecting a parameter indicative of a load acting on the motor; memory means for storing the normal range of the motor load observed when the machine working section is properly lubricated; and control means for comparing the detected parameter value and the normal range and actuating the lubricant supplier when the detected value of the parameter is deviated from the normal range.
Preferably, the lubricant supplier operates to discharge a predetermined quantity of the lubricant with every actuation. Further, the automatic lubricant supplying apparatus includes a distributor and a plurality of ducts, the distributor having an inlet port connected to the lubricant supplier and a plurality of outlet ports, the outlet ports of the distributor being connected individually to a plurality of parts of the machine working section through the ducts. Also, each duct is designed so that the quantity of lubricant supply through the duct is adjustable.
According to the present invention, as described above, it is determined whether or not the det
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Koichi Nishimura
Takashi Sato
Yamamura Masato
Fanuc Ltd.
Nguyen K. P.
Woo Jay H.
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