A compacting auger for ground coffee has an automatic cut off that responds to either timing signals or to the torque resistance to the augur offered by the coffee that has been compacted. The automation of the cut off increases the consistency of compaction and reduces the amount of skill required to compact ground coffee for making espresso.

In a press machine having a die cushion device which supports a cushion pad and which generates a die cushion force when a slide of the press machine is lowered, the wrinkle generation detection device includes: a slide position detector which detects a height position of the slide; a cushion pad position detector which detects a height position of the cushion pad; and a computing unit which consecutively calculates a deviation between the height position of the slide detected by the slide position detector and the height position of the cushion pad detected by the cushion pad position detector, during a time period from the start of forming of a material by the slide lowering to the end of the forming, wherein a wrinkle generated in the material is detected based on an increase of the deviation consecutively calculated by the computing unit.

The invention relates to a method for operating a stamping press (1) with a ram (2) which acts against a bolster plate (3), in particular a fixed bolster plate (3), and whose ram position relative to the bolster plate (3) can be adjusted in the intended use, wherein the ram (2) carries a first die part (4) and the bolster plate (3) carries a second die part (5), wherein the two die parts (4, 5) provide associated stop faces (6a, 7a) which, when the die is completely closed, form one or more fixed stops within the die for limiting the closing dimension of the die (4, 5). In accordance with a first method according to the invention, the distance (a, a1, a2, a3) between the two die parts (4, 5) or a parameter (b1, b2, b3, c) representing said distance is monitored at a certain point (P1, P2, P3) of the ram movement in which the die (4, 5) is not fully closed, and the ram movement is changed as a function of the monitoring result. In accordance with a second method according to the invention, at least one of the fixed stops is monitored for stop contact in the intended use of the stamping press, and the ram position is changed as a function of the monitoring result. With the methods according to the invention, energy-efficient and low-wear process control is possible also for dies (4, 5) with fixed stops, regardless of the skill and experience of the operator.

A controller controls a slide to stop when the slide moves upward and downward as a result of operation of a two-hand push button panel to reach a target position (for example, a feed-allowable height, a touch position, a work end position, and a jump prevention height) even though an operation signal from the two-hand push button panel is being input to the controller.

In a press machine having a die cushion device which supports a cushion pad and which generates a die cushion force when a slide of the press machine is lowered, the wrinkle generation detection device includes: a slide position detector which detects a height position of the slide; a cushion pad position detector which detects a height position of the cushion pad; and a computing unit which consecutively calculates a deviation between the height position of the slide detected by the slide position detector and the height position of the cushion pad detected by the cushion pad position detector, during a time period from the start of forming of a material by the slide lowering to the end of the forming, wherein a wrinkle generated in the material is detected based on an increase of the deviation consecutively calculated by the computing unit.