Die stamping press having ccd camera system for automatic 3-axis die

Abstract

In a die cutting press, a registration system for successively positioning a die unit in predetermined relationship to defined areas of an elongated material includes servomotors or the like for moving the die unit in a direction transverse to the path of travel of the material, and for rotating the die unit relative to the material. At least one camera is provided for receiving images, and is focused on predetermined locations relative to the die unit corresponding to predetermined positions of indicia included on the material adjacent each of the defined areas. Alternately, a prism or the like may be fixed to the die unit for directing an image from a region of the die unit toward the camera, the region including a preset location of the die unit corresponding to the position of an indicium when the elongated material is in the desired position relative to the die unit. Where a prism is employed, a reference indicium may be provided thereon which appears within the directed image received by the camera. Reference image data representative of the desired position of the area indicia within the images received by the camera is compared with the images actually received and longitudinal, lateral and angular difference data is generated which is representative of this difference. In response to the generated data, the material and die unit are substantially simultaneously shifted as may be required to compensate for the difference in position so that one of the defined areas of the material is in register with the die unit.