Modular press including non-cast or stock parts removably secured with one another

A press has modular components which are removable secured together to provide a C-shaped or gap frame press. The base portion includes a bed which is keyed and bolted to lower beam frames. Supports are keyed and bolted to the bed and an upper plate is keyed and bolted to the uprights. A ram assembly is removably coupled with the upper plate and its movement is controlled to carry out a desired operation.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to presses and preferably to gap frame 
hydraulic presses formed from modular parts. 
Machines that are used to form, trim, blank and perforate metal sheets, 
strips, bars etc. are commonly called punch presses. Punch presses are 
manufactured in various configurations best suited for the particular 
product it is to produce. The main frame work of most punch presses is 
made of iron castings or steel plates joined together by welding and are 
called fabrications or weldments. 
Pound for pound steel is much stronger that iron especially when subject to 
stretching or bending forces. Thus, a fabricated steel press of the same 
capacity as an iron press would weigh considerably less than a press made 
from iron castings. 
The actual labor cost to manufacture a punch press from iron castings is a 
great deal less than the labor required to produce weldments, heat treat, 
and finish machine a steel press. This is due to the fact that the iron is 
cast to the final net shape of components and only needs to be finish 
machined on mating surfaces. 
In order to produce an iron casting, it is necessary to manufacture a 
pattern of the same shape from suitable material. Once a pattern is made 
it can be used over and over again to produce that particular casting. 
These patterns are very costly and unless they can be used a certain 
minimum number of times it would be more economical to manufacture the 
press from steel weldments. 
In the case of castings for punch presses the pattern is implanted in sand 
then removed and molten iron is poured into the cavity formed by the 
pattern. Intricate shapes are produced by this process. Steel can also be 
cast by this process and would be superior to iron for this purpose, but, 
molten steel is much more difficult to cast into intricate shapes than 
molten iron because molten iron pours like water and molten steel pours 
like syrup. Also, molten steel breaks down the sand mold much more than 
molten iron especially in the upper portion of the sand mold, this causes 
the molten steel to mix with the sand in these areas and reduces the 
quality of the material in the areas wherever the molten steel mixed with 
the sand. Cast steel is also much more difficult and costly to machine 
than cast iron. 
The above disadvantages with cast steel are greatly reduced if the design 
of the product is simple such as the design of the present invention. 
Because of its simple shape, the cast steel components of the present 
invention can be successfully cast without dilution with sand and the 
pattern cost is very low. 
In certain types of presses, iron is generally unsuitable as a construction 
material. One of these types is the "C" frame press also called a "gap 
frame press". The gap frame press is indispensable for certain operations. 
It differs from most press designs because it has to resist the forces 
acting on it by means of a cantilever type of construction. These forces 
are much the same as those acting on the common "C" clamp, which if made 
of brittle cast iron would break much easier than the same clamp made of 
steel. 
The present invention combines the economy of cast iron construction with 
the strength of steel due to the design of the channels used as cantilever 
beams. These channels are able to be cast of steel because the simplicity 
of their shape enables them to be cast without breaking down the upper 
part of the mold and mixing the molten steel with the sand. In this way, 
consistent physical properties are attained in the beams from casting to 
casting. Also, the simplicity of the channel shaped cross section of the 
beams enables patterns to be made at very low cost. 
The invention also provides a means to vary the bed height, the height of 
the die space and the width of the press at reasonable cost by means of 
modular construction techniques. The invention also provides a C-shaped 
frame with an open back as well as a guided ram assembly. 
From the following detailed description, subjoined claims and drawings, 
other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent 
to those skilled in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawings, preferably FIGS. 1 through 4, a press assembly 
is illustrated and designated with the reference numeral 10. The press 10 
includes a base assembly 12, a support assembly 14, and a upper platform 
assembly 16. The three are combined together to provide a C-shape frame 
when viewed in side elevation as illustrated in FIG. 3. 
The base assembly 12 includes a bed 18 supported by a pair of lower beams 
20 and 22 which, in turn, are secured with a base plate 24. Feet 26 are 
secured to the base plate 24 to lift the base off of the ground and to 
provide a contact surface with the ground. Ordinarily, the feet are 
rectangular metal pieces which are welded to the base plate 24. 
The bed 18 is a flat rectangular metallic plate. The metallic plate is 
ordinarily formed from commercial steel plate. The width of the bed may be 
changed by substituting a like bed with a larger width dimension. The 
plate, has a top surface 28 and a bottom surface 30. The top surface 28 
has a plurality of key ways 32, 34 and 36 cut into the top surface of the 
plate along both its longitudinal sides 38 and 40. The key ways 32 and 36 
are substantially coaxial and extend parallel to the longitudinal axis 42 
of the plate 18. The key ways 34, which adjoin key ways 36, are 
perpendicular to the axis 42. As will be explained herein, the key ways 
are utilized to prohibit longitudinal and lateral shifting of the 
components with respect to one another. 
The bottom surface 30 of the bed 18 includes a plurality of key ways 44, 46 
and 48 along the longitudinal sides 38 and 40 of the bed 18. The key ways 
44 and 48 are parallel with the longitudinal axis 42 while the key ways 
46, which adjoin the key ways 48, are perpendicular to the axis 42. 
Also, the bed 18 includes a plurality of apertures 50 to enable passage of 
fasteners to secure components together. 
The lower frame beams 20 and 22 are cast steel channels. The frame beams 20 
and 22, which are mirror images of one another, include a web 52 with 
flanges 54 and 56 on each side of the web. The flanges 54 include a 
plurality of key ways 58, 60 and 62 aligned with and opposing key ways 44, 
46 and 48 of plate 18. The opposing key ways 44, 58, 46, 60, and 48, 62, 
receive keys 64 which are frictionally held in the key ways to secure the 
lower frame beams 20 and 22 with the bed 18 as well as to prevent 
longitudinal and lateral movement or shifting with respect to one another. 
Also, the flange 54 includes a plurality of apertures 66 to receive 
fasteners to connect the lower frame rails 20 and 22 with the bed 18. The 
flange 56 includes a plurality of apertures 68 to enable passage of 
fasteners 70 to secure the lower frame rails 20 and 22 with the base plate 
24. Also, if desired, key ways could be formed in the web 56 to secure it 
with the frame 24 as described above. 
The base plate 24 is ordinarily a flat rectangular metallic member. The 
base plate 24 is formed from commercial steel plate and is utilized to 
support the lower frame beams 20 and 22 as well as to stabilize the press. 
The base plate 24 includes apertures, not shown, to receive fastener 70 to 
enable the fasteners 70, such as bolts, to pass through the base plate 24 
to enable removable securement of the base plate with the lower frame 
beams 20 and 22. Also, the base plate 24 may have key ways like those 
mentioned above to enable keys to secure the lower web 56 with the base 
plate 24. 
The lower frame beams 20 and 22 may be substituted with other frame beams 
(not shown) which have identical flanges and webs of different widths to 
adjust the height of the bed 18. Thus, various lower frame rails having 
different web sizes may be substituted one for the other to raise or lower 
the bed height 18 so that various types of operations may be performed by 
a single press. 
The support assembly 14 includes a pair of support uprights 80 and 82. The 
support uprights 80 and 82 are C-shaped beams having a web 84 and flanges 
86 and 88. The uprights 80 and 82 are identical to one another. Both the 
flanges 86 and 88 include a plurality of key ways 90, 92, 94 and 96, 98, 
100, respectively. The key ways on flange 88 oppose key ways 32, 34, 36 on 
the bed 18. The opposing key ways 32 and 96, 34 and 98, 36 and 100 receive 
keys 64 which secure the uprights 80 and 82 with the bed 18, as well as 
prohibit lateral and longitudinal shifting with respect to one another. 
Also, the flanges 86 and 88 have a plurality of apertures 102 and 104 
respectively for receiving fasteners to secure the press together. The 
apertures 104 are aligned with apertures 50 and 66 so that bolts 106 pass 
therethrough to secure the uprights with the bed 18 and lower frame rails 
20 and 22. 
The upper platform assembly 16 includes an upper plate 108, upper beams 110 
and 112, and stabilizing bars 114 and 116. The upper plate 108 includes a 
top surface 118 and a bottom surface 120. The bottom surface 120 includes 
a plurality of key ways 122, 124 and 126, along its longitudinal sides 
128, which oppose key ways 90, 92 and 94. The key ways 94 and 122, 92 and 
124, and 94 and 126 receive keys 64 which secure the upper plate 108 with 
the uprights 80 and 82 as well as prohibit lateral and longitudinal 
shifting with respect to one another. 
The top surface 118 of the plate 108 includes a plurality of key ways 132, 
134 and 136. The key ways 132 and 136 are parallel with the longitudinal 
axis of the plate 108 in the key ways 134, which adjoin key ways 136, are 
perpendicular to the axis of the plate. Also, the upper plate 108 includes 
a plurality of apertures 138 which receive fasteners to secure the upper 
plate with the upper frames and supports 80 and 82. Further, the upper 
plate includes apertures 140 and 142 which act as guide apertures and a 
receiving aperture for the hydraulic cylinder of the ram assembly. 
The base plate, bed, and upper plate may be changed to wider or narrower 
ones to provide presses of different width. 
The upper frame beams 110 and 112, which are mirror image to one another, 
have a web portion 146 and flanges 148 and 150. Flanges 150 have a bottom 
surface with a plurality of key ways 152, 154 and 156. The key ways 152, 
154 and 156 oppose key ways 132, 134 and 136. Thus, key ways 132 and 152, 
134 and 154, and 136 and 156 receive keys 64 to secure the upper frame 
beams 110 and 112 with the upper plate 108 as well as to prohibit lateral 
and longitudinal movement with respect to one another. Also, flanges 150 
include apertures 158 which align with apertures 138 and apertures 102 in 
the top plate 108 and uprights 80 and 82 respectively to receive bolts 160 
to removably secure the upper frame beams 110, 112 with the top plate 108 
and uprights 80 and 82. The upper flanges 148 include a pair of key ways 
162 and 164. The key ways 162 and 164 are axially positioned along the 
flange and are parallel with the axis of the upper plate. While these 
beams could be exactly the same shape as numbers 20 and 22, they are 
bevelled to reduce superfluous weight (and cost). The ripper flanges 148 
include apertures 166 to receive fasteners to retain the stabilizers 114 
and 116 with the upper frame beams 110 and 112. 
The stabilizers 114 and 116 are rectangular shaped bar members having key 
ways 168 and 170. The key ways 168 and 170 oppose key ways 162 and 164 to 
receive keys 64 to secure the stabilizers with the upper frame beams as 
well as to prohibit lateral movement with respect to one another. Also the 
stabilizers include apertures 172 to receive fasteners 174 to removably 
fasten the stabilizers 114, 116 with the upper frame beams 110 and 112. 
The keys 64 are ordinarily square cross-sectioned keys and are identical 
such that the key ways are of identical size and depth to enable 
interchangeable keys 64 to be used in any of the key ways or key way 
connections throughout the assembly. 
The ram assembly 180 includes a ram plate or platen 182, guide posts 184 
which are secured to the ram plate 182, and a hydraulic cylinder 186. The 
guide posts 184 are guided in apertures 140 and the hydraulic cylinder 186 
is positioned through the aperture 142. The hydraulic cylinder is secured 
to the upper plate 108 via removable fasteners 188. The hydraulic cylinder 
186 is connected with a control mechanism 190 which controls the movement 
of the ram up and down on the C-shaped or gap frame press. Also, dies, not 
shown, may be positioned on the bed 1B as well as the underside of the ram 
plate 182 to perform a desired function on a workpiece, not shown, which 
is positioned between the dies. 
FIG. 5 illustrates an additional embodiment of a gap frame press in 
accordance with the present invention. Like elements have been identified 
with the same reference numeral with the reference numeral primed. 
In FIG. 5, the base plate and feet have been removed. Here, the lower frame 
beams 20' and 22' include apertures 202 to enable the press 10' to be 
bolted or secured into a reinforced concrete foundation. The lower frame 
beams include additional key ways for securing the uprights 80' and 82' 
and the bed 218. 
The bed 218 is substantially shortened and does not extend underneath the 
uprights as in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4. Here, key 
ways 204, 206 are formed in the bed and lower frame beam, respectively, to 
receive a key 64' to prohibit lateral shifting of the bed with respect to 
the lower frame beams 20' 22' Also, the bed includes apertures 220 to 
enable fasteners (not shown) to pass therethrough to secure the bed with 
the lower frame beams 20', 22'. 
Also, the upper plate 228 and upper frame beams 110' and 112' have been 
modified. Here, the upper frame beams have been modified to include a key 
way for receiving the uprights 80' and 82'. Also key ways 232 and 234 are 
formed in the upper plate and upper frame beam, respectively, to receive a 
key 64' to prohibit lateral shifting of upper plate 228 with respect to 
the upper frame beams 110' and 112'. The upper plate also includes 
apertures 236 to receive fasteners to secure the upper plate 228 with the 
upper frame beams 100' and 112'. The upper plate 228 is not sandwiched 
between the uprights 80' and 82' and upper frame beams 110' 112' as 
illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 above. Also, the uprights 80' and 82' may 
be increased in height. The remainder of the press assembly is like that 
previously described. 
As can be seen, the press frame is formed from modular components which are 
removably secured together by keys and bolts. This enables the press to be 
easily manufactured as well as to have variable bed height. Also, the 
upper plate height may be varied, by substituting different sized upper 
supports or uprights, to adjust the platform height. Also the press can be 
altered to different widths by substituting different bases, beds and 
upper plates. The press has an opened C-shaped front to enable movement of 
a workpiece laterally across the press. Also, the press has an open back 
which enables longitudinal movement of a workpiece through the press. By 
providing modular components which are removably secured together, the 
press may be shipped and assembled on site. 
While the above detailed description describes the preferred embodiment of 
the present invention, the invention is susceptible to modification, 
variation, and alteration without deviating from the scope and fair 
meaning of the subjoined claims.