Patent ID: 6843171
Filing Date: 2005-01-18
Classification: B30B

Abstract:
1. In combination, a transfer device for moving material through a press for actuation of said press thereon, said press including a horizontal bed, a pair of uprights, one adjacent each end of said horizontal bed, a box frame extending from a back of said horizontal bed, said transfer device being mounted on said box frame and said horizontal bed including product retaining means including a tray having leading and trailing portions thereof for retaining said material thereon and guide means on which said tray is positioned for aiding in the movement of said tray perpendicularly to the orientation of said press, an improvement in said transfer device and press combination comprising: means including opposed pairs of bell cranks and parallel links pivotably mounted on and between opposed pairs of said bell cranks for moving said tray vertically, said leading and trailing portions thereof moving equal vertical distances during the same time interval to maintain a predetermined angular orientation between the tray and the press during vertical movement of the tray, said opposed pairs of bell cranks mounted on said press include one bell crank positioned subjacent each end of said guide means, a plurality of links each pivotally mounted between a bell crank and one adjacent end of said guide means, a pneumatic drive mechanism mounted on said press and operatively connected to one of said links and bell cranks for moving said opposed pairs of bell cranks and linkage about a range of motion resulting in identical vertical movement of each of said ends of said transfer device, a first pair of linear bearings mounted on one of said box frame and said bed, a second pair of said linear bearings mounted adjacent a back end of said box frame, and said guide means being mounted on and between respective ones of said first and second pairs of linear bearings.