Patent ID: 6200525
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: B22F,B30B

Abstract:
A press for compacting raw material into a compact during a cycle of operation comprising:a vertically movable platen having a surface with a bore;a die below the platen surface and aligned with the bore in the platen surface;a feed shoe on the platen and movable with vertical movement of the platen, the feed shoe being movable horizontally across the platen surface from a press position spaced from the bore to a feed position overlying the bore to deliver raw material to the die;a movable punch to compact raw material in the die;a horizontally movable frame;a lever arm connected to said frame and said feed shoe;a force-transmitting device connected to act against said frame and said lever arm;a linear drive mechanism; anda supplemental support connected, sized and positioned to relieve stress on said linear drive mechanism from operation of said force-transmitting device;said linear drive mechanism being connected to move said frame horizontally over at least part of the platen toward and away from the bore in the platen surface;said feed shoe, said frame, said lever arm, said force-transmitting device and at least part of said supplemental support moving horizontally with said frame during each cycle of operation, said force-transmitting device urging said feed shoe against said platen during at least part of the horizontal movement of said feed shoe, force-transmitting device, lever arm and frame;said frame, said linear drive mechanism and said supplemental support being vertically fixed during each cycle of operation of said press; andsaid feed shoe and said platen moving vertically during each cycle of operation of said press.