Eaton Corporation

Donald L Zeeland

Eugene F Duncan

Gregory L Nadolski

A controller for an electric clamp closes the clamp rapidly at first, then runs at a slower speed while contacting the workpiece, and speeds up again after contacting it, to close with full clamping force. Arrival of the clamp at the position for slowing down is directly detected by means of a proximity sensor, as are arrivals at other positions. The speed of operation is relatively insensitive to the voltage of its AC electrical power source because an open-loop compensating signal controls the pulse duration of rectified DC pulses that drive the motor. The controller has dynamic braking that is applied between individual pulses of pulse trains of motor current; this results in sigfificant increase in swings of current values for a given motor speed, that reduces harmful effects of mechanical friction. Two jogging speeds are selectable.

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Franklin, WI, United States of America

Donald L Zeeland