US3744031A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for recording and verifying magnetic tape programs for machine tools
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1971-05-19
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1991-05-19
Abstract
Abstract A tool-operating copy of a magnetic tape program for a machine tool is made from a master tape that has been produced by a large-scale computer. The master tape is scanned and a desired program therefrom is read into the memory of a small interfacing computer. The output of the interfacing computer is used to reproduce the selected program in a cartridge tape unit which provides the actual tool-operating copy. While the copy is being made, information temporarily stored in the interfacing computer is printed out for visual identification. Portions of the program determined to be in error by visual insepction, or portions desired to be changed, are fed back into the interfacing computer through a keyboard device to correct the appropriate parts of the program contained within the interfacing computer memory and also correct the cartridge operating copy.
Inventors
- 👤 T Avery
- 👤 R Hubbard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:48
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/42; G05B19/4202; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/35; G05B2219/35307; G05B2219/36; G05B2219/36043; G05B2219/36559
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
In a method of operating a numerically controlled machine tool the steps of: providing a master tape file having one or more programs for control of the machine, each said program comprising a plurality of discrete blocks of data defining discrete machine instructions, selecting a desired program from said master tape file, reading the selected program from said master tape file, temporarily storing the program so read in a memory device, printing out the stored program from said memory device for visual inspection, identification and analysis, identifying, and changing or correcting individual blocks of the program that are temporarily stored, in accordance with visual inspection of said printed-out program, said last-mentioned step comprising manually operating a keyboard providing an input to said memory device to address and correct data in selected portions of said memory device, recording the changed or corrected temporarily stored program from said memory device upon a duplicate machine tool operating tape copy, loading said machine tool-operating tape copy into a machinetool control reader, and operating said machine-tool control reader to generate machInetool director signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a method of operating a numerically controlled machine tool the steps of: providing a master tape file having one or more programs for control of the machine, each said program comprising a plurality of discrete blocks of data defining discrete machine instructions, selecting a desired program from said master tape file, reading the selected program from said master tape file, temporarily storing the program so read in a memory device, printing out the stored program from said memory device for visual inspection, identification and analysis, identifying, and changing or correcting individual blocks of the program that are temporarily stored, in accordance with visual inspection of said printed-out program, said last-mentioned step comprising manually operating a keyboard providing an input to said memory device to address and correct data in selected portions of said memory device, recording the changed or corrected temporarily stored program from said memory device upon a duplicate machine tool operating tape copy, loading said machine tool-operating tape copy into a machinetool control reader, and operating said machine-tool control reader to generate machInetool director signals.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
177 words
The method of operating a numerically controlled machine tool having a director that generates control signals for the tool in accordance with digital program signals supplied thereto comprising the steps of selecting a desired digital control program from a file of programs stored on a master magnetic tape, reading the selected program from said master tape and temporarily storing the program so read in a storage device, recording said program from said storage device upon a second magnetic tape, providing a visual display of at least selected portions of the program stored in said storage device and read therefrom into said second tape, to facilitate identification of the program selected from the master tape, and reading the program recorded on said second tape to generate digital program signals for the director of said machine, whereby said machine is operated under control of the selected program and the machine operator may be assured of the proper identity of the selected program without employing the program to actuate the machine through a dry run without a tool inserted therein.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
177 words
The method of operating a numerically controlled machine tool having a director that generates control signals for the tool in accordance with digital program signals supplied thereto comprising the steps of selecting a desired digital control program from a file of programs stored on a master magnetic tape, reading the selected program from said master tape and temporarily storing the program so read in a storage device, recording said program from said storage device upon a second magnetic tape, providing a visual display of at least selected portions of the program stored in said storage device and read therefrom into said second tape, to facilitate identification of the program selected from the master tape, and reading the program recorded on said second tape to generate digital program signals for the director of said machine, whereby said machine is operated under control of the selected program and the machine operator may be assured of the proper identity of the selected program without employing the program to actuate the machine through a dry run without a tool inserted therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 2 including the steps of correcting the selected program by inserting corrected data into the program stored in said storage device, and reading said corrected data from said storage device into said second tape at the point in the program recorded thereon that is desired to be corrected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said step of providing a visual display comprises the making of an alpha numeric printout of said selected program.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said step of correcting the selected program comprises manually operating a keyboard printer to generate and address correction data to said storage device.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
213 words
A system for verifying and duplicating a machine tool program stored on a magnetic tape comprising a master tape transporter and reader for reading machine tool program information stored on a master tape, a temporary storage device connected to the transporter reader for receiving and storing information read from the master tape, a tool-operating mangetic tape copy read-write unit connected to said storage device to record information therefrom, said storage device having a second input adapted to receive and store information received from said tape copy read-write unit, a verification output device having an input from said temporary storage device for providing a visual display suitable for visual verification of information contained in such storage device, and a correction input device for providing a manual data input to said temporary storage device, whereby information may be read from said master tape or from said tool-operating magnetic tape copy for storage in said storage device and printed from said storage device for visual verification, and whereby information in said storage device may be corrected on the basis of said visually verified printout and then read into said read-write tape copy unit to provide a verified and corrected magnetic tape copy of information stored on said master tape or on said tool-operating magnetic tape copy.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
213 words
A system for verifying and duplicating a machine tool program stored on a magnetic tape comprising a master tape transporter and reader for reading machine tool program information stored on a master tape, a temporary storage device connected to the transporter reader for receiving and storing information read from the master tape, a tool-operating mangetic tape copy read-write unit connected to said storage device to record information therefrom, said storage device having a second input adapted to receive and store information received from said tape copy read-write unit, a verification output device having an input from said temporary storage device for providing a visual display suitable for visual verification of information contained in such storage device, and a correction input device for providing a manual data input to said temporary storage device, whereby information may be read from said master tape or from said tool-operating magnetic tape copy for storage in said storage device and printed from said storage device for visual verification, and whereby information in said storage device may be corrected on the basis of said visually verified printout and then read into said read-write tape copy unit to provide a verified and corrected magnetic tape copy of information stored on said master tape or on said tool-operating magnetic tape copy.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
81 words
The method of reproducing and verifying a magnetic tape machine tool program stored on a master tape that embodies a number of such programs comprising the steps of searching said master tape for a selected program, reading and storing the selected program, printing out the stored program from said storage device, analyzing and verifying the program printed out, and writing the stored program from said storage device onto a record copy device to thereby provide a verified duplicate tool-operating tape copy.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
81 words
The method of reproducing and verifying a magnetic tape machine tool program stored on a master tape that embodies a number of such programs comprising the steps of searching said master tape for a selected program, reading and storing the selected program, printing out the stored program from said storage device, analyzing and verifying the program printed out, and writing the stored program from said storage device onto a record copy device to thereby provide a verified duplicate tool-operating tape copy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 including the steps of modifying the program stored in said storage device and writing the modified program onto said record copy device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
164 words
In a method of operating a numerically controlled machine tool the steps of: providing a maSter tape file having one or more programs for control of the machine, each said program comprising a plurality of discrete blocks of data defining discrete machine instructions, selecting a desired program from said master tape file, reading the selected program from said master tape file, temporarily storing the program so read in a memory device, printing out the stored program from said memory device for visual inspection, identification and analysis, identifying and changing or correcting individual blocks of the program that are temporarily stored, in accordance with visual inspection of said printed-out program, said last-mentioned step comprising manually operating a keyboard providing an input to said memory device to address and correct data in selected portions of said memory device, and feeding to a machine tool control reader discrete machine instructions defined by blocks of data in said changed or corrected temporarily stored program of said memory device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
164 words
In a method of operating a numerically controlled machine tool the steps of: providing a maSter tape file having one or more programs for control of the machine, each said program comprising a plurality of discrete blocks of data defining discrete machine instructions, selecting a desired program from said master tape file, reading the selected program from said master tape file, temporarily storing the program so read in a memory device, printing out the stored program from said memory device for visual inspection, identification and analysis, identifying and changing or correcting individual blocks of the program that are temporarily stored, in accordance with visual inspection of said printed-out program, said last-mentioned step comprising manually operating a keyboard providing an input to said memory device to address and correct data in selected portions of said memory device, and feeding to a machine tool control reader discrete machine instructions defined by blocks of data in said changed or corrected temporarily stored program of said memory device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 9 including the step of buffering the discrete machine instructions read from said memory device before such instructions are fed to said machine tool control reader.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 9 including the steps of recording the changed or corrected temporarily stored program from said memory device upon a duplicate machine tool operating copy, and feeding data defining discrete machine instructions from said machine tool operating copy to said machine tool control reader.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
161 words
A system for verifying and duplicating a body of data stored on a magnetic tape comprising a master tape transporter and reader for reading information stored on a master tape, a temporary storage device connected to the transporter reader for receiving and storing information read from the master tape, a buffered driver connected to receive information read from said temporary storage device, a verification output device having an input from said temporary storage device for providing a visual display suitable for visual verification of information contained in such storage device, and a correction input device for providing a manual data input to said temporary storage device, whereby information may be read from said master tape for storage in said storage device and printed from said storage device for visual verification, and whereby information in said storage device may be corrected on the basis of said visually verified printout and then read through said buffered driver to a machine tool operating director.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
161 words
A system for verifying and duplicating a body of data stored on a magnetic tape comprising a master tape transporter and reader for reading information stored on a master tape, a temporary storage device connected to the transporter reader for receiving and storing information read from the master tape, a buffered driver connected to receive information read from said temporary storage device, a verification output device having an input from said temporary storage device for providing a visual display suitable for visual verification of information contained in such storage device, and a correction input device for providing a manual data input to said temporary storage device, whereby information may be read from said master tape for storage in said storage device and printed from said storage device for visual verification, and whereby information in said storage device may be corrected on the basis of said visually verified printout and then read through said buffered driver to a machine tool operating director.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |