Manipulating hold down for shearing and other machines

An apparatus for use with various shearing machines for safely and efficiently positioning material to be worked. Magnets which control the material are embedded in a body made of non-magnetic material. Magnets are positioned in the forward end of the apparatus for holding the material being worked while other magnets are positioned in the body of the apparatus for adhering the apparatus to the machine table. A handle is provided for sliding the material into the proper position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Manufacturing of metal goods has long been an important part of our national economy and a major source of our national wealth. Our economy has long enjoyed a competitive edge as a result of the quality of the machinery employed. In order to insure that this competitive edge is maintained, it is extremely important that these machines be constantly improved. One such group of machines is press brakes, coper/notchers, and particularly, shears. The invention as described herein provides a significant improvement in these machines in regard to efficient use of material, speed of operation and in particular, safety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

At present there is no effective way to control the material being worked other than with the machine operator's hands. This only works well with the use of large pieces of stock. Often useable, valuable material is discarded as scrap in order to keep fingers a safe distance from the moving parts of a machine. Even more concerning, many times machine operators are tempted to work with smaller and smaller pieces of stock, in order to save time or money. This inevitably leads to injury, sometimes resulting in legal action against the company employing the operator, loss of time and production, and the loss of a highly trained worker. Safety conscious use of the manipulating hold down device begins well outside or beyond the OEM guards and hold downs, and continues under and within their confines. When heavy plate is being pushed the hands may slip. When they do, they usually move a dangerous distance before they are stopped. These are problems of grave concern to today's manufacturers. Solutions to these problems were offered in provisional application No. 62/764,373 filed by William D. Rogers and Richard D Rogers on Jul. 30, 2018 entitled Manipulating Hold Down (MHD) for Shearing Machines Etc. Further solutions were offered in provisional application No. 62/920,618 entitled Manipulating Hold Down (MHD) for Shearing etc., filed by William D Rogers and Richard D Rogers on May 8, 2019, a continuation in part of provisional application No. 62/764,373. These solutions are further addressed by this application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. (1) and (2), it can be seen that the manipulating hold down device comprises an elongated body1, and a cleat handle2. cleat handle2is affixed to elongated body1by way of fastener screws3. Cleat handle2and elongated body1are so formed as to provide finger pocket4so that the operator may ergonomically and safely grasp cleat handle2, thereby controlling the manipulating hold down device. Elongated body1is made of non ferrous, non-magnetic material and rests on the flat surface of the work table of a sheet or plate sheer machine on flat under body surface6. Table magnet5is a magnet that is embedded in elongated body one. Table magnet5is embedded into elongated body1flush with the under body surface6of elongated body1. The purpose of table magnet5is to hold elongated body1to the flat work table of a sheet or plate shearing machine. The forward end7of under body6is equipped with a cutaway section. This cutaway section is rectangular and of a specific height, forming a sized and appropriate cavity8. The under surface9of elongated body1above sized and appropriate cavity8is in the same plane as under body surface6of elongated body1. A plurality of work piece magnets10are embedded in forward end7, flush with under surface9.

Referring to FIG. (3) it can be seen that the manipulating hold down device is set upon machine table11of a shearing machine. Under body surface6of the manipulating hold down device is magnetically held to machine table11by table magnet5. The strength of table magnet5is proper in magnitude to adhere the manipulating hold down device to the machine table11, yet allow the operator to move the manipulating hold down device in the plane of the machine table11by grasping cleat handle2. The functional purpose of table magnet5is not only to hold the manipulating hold down device to the table, but table magnet5is also a safety device that snaps down fast to eliminate any pinch point space for body parts beneath the manipulating hold down device as downward force is applied during operation. Another safety feature of the manipulating hold down device is that it will not only push a work piece into a machine, as many tools will, but will also retrieve the material without the operator reaching into the machine as work piece magnets10continue to adhere to the worked material. Work piece13is held parallel to and affixed to under surface9, largely within sized and appropriate cavity8by work piece magnets10. Sized and appropriate cavity8is sized to grasp work piece13against table11when hydraulic hold down16is tightened upon the manipulating hold down device. Ideally work piece13should be just slightly thicker than sized and appropriate cavity8, assuring that work piece13is held tightly to work table11. Otherwise the plate will creep during the shearing process. By grasping cleat handle2, work piece13may be inserted properly to be sheared by lower shear blade14and upper shear blade15. The operators fingers need not approach the danger of shear blades14and15or hydraulic hold down16. A guard17is provided to keep the operator's fingers from approaching hydraulic hold down16and shear blades14and15. An appropriately sized block18may be placed between cleat handle2and guard17to assure that forward end7does not extend far enough to contact shear blades14and15. Using the manipulating hold down device allows the operator to make use of small work pieces while keeping fingers a safe distance from dangerous moving and cutting parts.

Referring to FIG. (4), it can be seen that the manipulating hold down device is equipped with a graduated scale19. It can also be seen that a reference groove20has been etched into machine table11. By aligning the marks of the graduated scale19to the reference groove20, very precise cuts may be made without having sight of the shear blades. Any number of reference lines or marks may be employed as well as the reference groove20. A stabilizer magnet21is embedded into elongated body1near sized and appropriate cavity8. This magnet increases the adherence of the manipulating hold down device to machine table11and helps hold work piece13in place.

Referring to FIG. (5), it can be seen that there is a coper/notcher modification stud22threaded into threaded hole23. A hold down plate17has been added to a coper/notcher which typically has no hold down features. The upper end of modification stud22makes contact with hold down plate17, thus allowing the manipulating hold down device to provide hold down to the material being worked. This feature allows the manipulating hold down device to be used with a variety of iron worker machines without hydraulic hold down devices such as coper/notchers. The manipulating hold down device also works well with press brakes and many other machines although procedures may be slightly different.

Referring to FIG. (6), it can be seen that a forward facing positioning magnet23is embedded into forward end7of elongated body1. This allows a second manipulating hold down device to be used as a control device in positioning lengthy or oddly shaped work pieces for even more accurate and safe operation.

In cases where the machine table11is limited and the work piece13is extended a distance beyond the table, the manipulating hold down device can be used with under body6facing up. This supports the work piece weight and allows the operator to avoid the cuts and punctures which may be caused by the sharp edges and corners of the work piece. An elongated work piece is inherently subject to sudden movements during the mechanical cycle of any machine. Such sudden movements and sharp edges are best avoided by removing hand contact with the work piece13. Once the work piece is completely on the table the manipulating hold down device can be turned over and the operator may proceed as described herein.

It can be seen that from the above that the manipulating hold down device becomes part of the hand as well as the OEM hold down and thereby expands their reach. It can also be seen that the manipulating hold down device becomes part of the work piece13by expanding its dimensions.