A HORIZONTAL EXTRUDING PRESS

Abstract: A horizontal extrusion axis press (1, 101) comprises a case (3) wherein a horizontal cylindrical cavity (4) having an inlet (4b) for a billet (2) to be extruded is formed, a pusher (18) extending along the horizontal axis (x-x), associated with a press cylinder/piston unit (7) and mounted on a moving element (15) guided for movement in a transverse direction (y-y) to the horizontal axis (x-x), as well as a motive means (19) for driving the moving element (15) from a first position, or extrusion position, whereat the pusher (18) is removed from the inlet (4b) out of the way, to a billet introduction position whereat the pusher (18) is aligned to the case cavity (4).

Description: "A HORIZONTAL EXTRUDING PRESS" §2£ 2£2i-D-i-_.2Ϊ--i]2S-_.Iπi_-iDii2D This invention relates to a horizontal extruding press of a type which includes a case wherein a horizontal axis cylindrical cavity is formed having an inlet for a billet to be extruded, and a pusher lying along said horizontal axis and being associated with a ' piston of a press cylinder/piston unit. Background ^ Art As is known, there exists a need in the field of horizontal extrusion axis presses to minimize the stroke length of the press main piston, wherewith the press plunger is associated, in order to reduce the size and manufacturing costs of the main cylinder/piston unit and, hence, the press as a whole. For extrusion on a press of the type under consideration, the billets are usually introduced into a horizontal and cylindrical tubular cavity formed inside a case which intervenes between the extrusion die and the main piston, the billets being slid in from the main piston side of the case. It is for that purpose that some prior types of extruding presses have been designed for withdrawal of the piston to a position where the press plunger, mounted on the main piston, can no longer interfere. Thus, as the main piston is being driven forward, the press plunger would be first operated to push the billet into the tubular cavity of the case and then extrude it through the die. This entails, contrarywise to the trend outlined above, an excessively long stroke of the main piston. In an attempt at obviating this problem, another prior type of extruding press has been equipped with a pusher which is aligned to the extrusion axis and housed out of the way within the main piston, the press plunger being mounted on a slide which is movable on the piston in a transverse direction to the extrusion axis. In order to introduce a billet into the case, the slide and its respective plunger are moved away from the extrusion axis to enable the pusher to come out of the piston and push the billet into the case cavity. Thereafter, to return the plunger to its aligned condition to the extrusion axis, and accordingly enable the billet to be extruded, it is necessary to wait for the pusher to retract fully inside its housing in the piston, which entails the disadvantage of extending the processing times. ξ__S!5§E-- J-.£-}g_.--D--gG-i T °.π The problem underlying this invention is that of providing a horizontal extruding press of the type specified hereinabove, which has such constructional and operational features as to overcome the deficiencies of the background art. This problem is solved, according to the invention, by a horizontal extruding press as indicated being characterized in that said pusher is mounted on a moving element guided for movement along a transverse direction to said horizontal axis, and that a motive means is provided to drive said moving element from a first position whereat the pusher is retracted from said inlet out of the way, to a billet introduction position whereat the pusher is aligned to said case cavity. Further features and the advantages of a press according to this invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying illustrative and non-limitative drawings. !_;≤≤££iE_ϊi2Q_2l_-s-ϊ!_-_£§i_iG2≤ In the drawings: Figures 1 to 4 are plan, part-sectional views showing in diagramatic form a horizontal extruding press according to the invention at successive operating stages thereof; Figure 5 is a part-sectional, enlarged scale side elevation view of a detail of the press according to the invention; Figure 6 is a front elevation view of a detail of the inventive press; Figure 7 is a part-sectional front elevation view showing in diagramatic form another embodiment of the horizontal extruding press of this invention; and Figure 8 is a diagramatic, part-sectional enlarged scale view taken in the direction of the arrow VIII in Figure 7. fi-S-?sclR^lgD.-, ϊ,-ϊ--_-.--E-sϊ e π^^. l ^ π -^9^i πι ^ | '1 - With reference to the drawing figures, the numeral 1 designates comprehensively an extruding press having a horizontal extrusion axis X-X and intended for extruding billets 2 of either aluminum, or steel, or any other metal materials. The press 1 includes a case 3 wherein a cylindrical cavity 4 is formed whose horizontal axis coincides with the horizontal extrusion axis X-X. The cavity 4 is open both at a first end 4a, whereat a conventional die holder slide 5 is supported which is associated with a conventional backplate 6, and at an opposed end which is formed with an inlet 4b for a billet 2. Indicated at 7 is a main cylinder/piston unit of the press 1, which comprises a piston 8, facing toward the case 3, and its respective cylinder 9, both members having their axes coincident with the horizontal extrusion axis X-X. To the piston 8, there is attached a cross-plate 10 lying substantially on a normal plane to the horizontal extrusion axis and facing the case 3. The reference numerals 11 and 12 designate auxiliary approach and return cylinders which extend parallel with the horizontal axis X-X, between the cross-plate 10 and the main cylinder/piston unit 7. Two parallel and mutually confronting guides, respectively an upper one 13 and a lower one 14, are mounted on the plate 10 and extend along a horizontal direction Y-Y perpendicularly to the horizontal axis X-X. The guides 13 and 14 are provided internally with respective plain bearings 13a and 14a. Indicated at 15 is a moving element which, in the embodiment shown, comprises a slide, denoted by the same reference numeral and fitting slidingly in the guides 13 and 14. The moving element 15 will accordingly be guided on the cross-plate 10 of the piston 8 along the direction Y-Y, transversely of the horizontal extrusion axis X-X. Mounted on the slide 15 is a press plunger 16, known per se, having a pressure disk 17 at one end. The press plunger or punch 16 extends parallel with the horizontal extrusion axis X-X, and the diamater of the disk 17 is made smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical cavity 4 in the case 3, thereby it will be allowed to slide therein as a billet 2 is being extruded. The press 1 further comprises a pusher 18, consisting of a telescoping air-operated cylinder/piston assembly, which is associated with the piston 8 and extends along the horizontal extrusion axis X-X. In accordance with this invention, the pusher 18 is also mounted on the moving element or slide 15, in mutually spaced-apart relationship with the press plunger 16. According to the invention, moreover, a motive means 19 is provided to drive the moving element 15 from a first or extrusion position whereat the pusher 18 is removed out of the way from the inlet 4b and the press plunger 16 is aligned to the cavity 4, to a billet introduction position whereat the pusher 18 is aligned to said cavity 4 and the press plunger 16 is removed, again out of the way, from the inlet 4b. Said motive means 19 is advantageously comprised of an additional cylinder/piston assembly secured at one end, not shown, to the plate 10 of the piston 8 and at an opposite end 19a to the slide 15, at a location close to the pusher 18. It should be noted that according to this invention the press 1 also comprises a plurality of small hydraulic lock cylinders 20 arranged to act between the moving element 15 and the piston 8 for taking up and eliminating any play. More specifically, the hydraulic lock cylinders 20 are mounted in the guides 13 and 14, four per guide, and separated by regular intervals to so act on the slide 15 as to lock it against the plate 10 of the piston 8. The operation of the horizontal extrusion press 1 of this invention will be now described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. In order to introduce a billet 2 into the cavity 4 , with the piston 8 of the main cylinder/piston unit 7 in the retracted position, the slide 15 is first driven, by operating the motive means 19, toward the aforesaid billet introduction position, with the pusher 18 aligned to the cavity 4 in the case 3, and a billet 2 to be extruded is then placed close to the inlet 4b, aligned to said cavity 4 CFigure 1). Thereafter, the billet 2 will be introduced into the cavity 4 CFigure 2) by the pusher 18. On completion of the billet introduction step, as the pusher 18 is retracted, the motive means 19 will simultaneously drive the slide 15 to the aforesaid first position, or extrusion position, with the press plunger 16 aligned to the cavity 4 (see Figure 3). At this moment, the billet 2 is extruded through the die on the die holder slide 5, in a manner known per se, by operating the main cylinder/piston unit 7 (see Figure 4). It is important to observe that when the slide 15 occupies said first position, the hydraulic cylinders 20 are operated to make the slide 15 and, hence, the press plunger 16 rigid with the plate 10 and piston 8, while taking up any play developed between the slide 15 and the guides 13 and 14. The horizontal extruding press of this invention allows a significant reduction in the stroke length of the main piston, and accordingly, the overall length of the main cylinder/piston unit, auxiliary cylinders, and machine bed. Furthermore, the press of this invention affords the primary advantage of eliminating downtime at the introduction of the billets into the case and consequent movements of the slide on which the pusher and press plunger are mounted. Another embodiment of a horizontal extruding press, comprehensively designated 101, according to this invention will be now described with reference to Figures 7 and 8; it should be noted that this embodiment of the press affords the same advantages of shortening the stroke length of the main and eliminating downtime at the introduction of the billets into the case as already mentioned in connection with the extruding press 1. In the press 101, similar or function-wise equivalent structural components of those already described in connection wi,th the press 1, shown in Figures 1 to 6, are denoted by the same reference numerals and no further discussed. The extruding press 101 comprises a loader, generally indicated at 102, which is located laterally of the horizontal extrusion axis X-X, close to the inlet 4b to the cavity 4 formed within the case 3. The loader 102 is comprised of a carriage 103, known per se, at one end whereof a saddle piece 104, having a substantially V-shaped cross-sectional configuration, is secured for supporting a billet 2 about to be introduced into the cavity 4. The carriage 103 is supported on a base 105 and is movable along an inclined direction Z-Z crosswise to the horizontal extrusion axis X-X by the action of a cylinder/piston unit 106, from a rearward position whereat the carriage 103 is removed out of the way from the inlet 4b, to a billet introduction position whereat the saddle piece 104 is aligned to the cavity 4 and proximate to the inlet 4b. Advantageously, the press 101 further comprises a pusher 107 mounted on the carriage 103 for introducing a billet 2 carried on the saddle 104 into the cavity 4. The pusher 107 comprises a lever 108 lying on the carriage 103 having one end 108a pivoted to the carriage itself and an opposite finger-like end 108b located at the saddle piece 104. The lever 108 is guided movably within a guide 109 mounted transversely of the carriage 103 at the saddle piece 104. The lever 108 is operated by means of a servomotor 110 supported on a bridge-like bracket 111, mounted crosswise on the carriage 103, via a crank link 112. By the action of said servomotor 110, therefore, the finger-like end 108b of the lever 108 is reciprovable along the saddle piece 104 from one end of the saddle piece to the other, and vice versa. In order to introduce a billet 2 into the case 3, the carriage 103 of the loader 102 would be driven by the cylinder/piston unit 1Q6 from its rearward position — at which position a billet Z to be extruded is loaded into the saddle piece 104 in a conventional manner ~ to the billet introduction position. At this moment r the servomotor 110 for the pusher 107 would be operated whose lever 108 pushes the billet 2 from the saddle piece 104 into the cavity 4. On completion of the billet introduction step, the carriage 103 will be moved back to its rearward position, to allow the billet 2 to be extruded, and at the same time the pusher 107 will be driven toward its starting position to permit loading of another billet into the saddle piece 104 for extrusion.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A horizontal extruding press of a type which includes a case (3) wherein a horizontal axis cylindrical cavity (4) is formed having an inlet (4b) for a billet (2) to be extruded, and a pusher (18) lying along said horizontal axis (x-x) and being associated with a piston (8) of a press cylinder/piston unit (7), characterized in that said pusher (18) is mounted on a moving element (15) guided for movement along a transverse direction (y-y) to said horizontal axis (x-x), and that a motive means (19) is provided to drive said moving element (15) from a first position where the pusher (18) is retracted from said inlet (4b) out of the way to a billet introduction position where the pusher (18) is aligned to said case cavity (4). 2. A horizontal extruding press according to Claim 1, characterized in that said moving element (15) is mounted on said piston (8) . 3. A horizontal extruding 'press of a type which includes a case (3) wherein a horizontal axis cylindrical cavity (4) is formed having an inlet (4b) for a billet (2) to be extruded, a press plunger (16) extending along said horizontal axis (x-x) and mounted on a moving element (15) guided for movement on a piston (8) of a press cylinder/piston unit (7) in a transverse direction (y-y) to said horizontal axis (x-x), and a pusher (18) lying along said horizontal axis (x-x), characterized in that said pusher (18) is mounted on said moving element (15), and that a motive means (19) is provided to drive said moving element (15) from a first position where the pusher (18) is retracted from said inlet (4b) out of the way to a billet introduction position where the pusher (18) is aligned to said case cavity (4). 4. A horizontal extruding press of a type which includes a case (3) wherein a horizontal axis cylindrical cavity (4) is formed having an inlet (4b) for a billet ( 2 ) to be extruded, and a billet loader (102) located in the proximity of said inlet (4b), characterized in that it comprises a pusher (107) mounted on said loader (102). 5. A horizontal extruding press according to Claim 4, characterized in that said pusher (107) includes a lever (108) pivoted to said loader (102) and driven by a servomotor (110) through a crank link (112) for the production of a billet (2) into said case cavity (4). 6. A horizontal extruding press according to Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of small hydraulic cylinders (20) acting between said moving element (15) and said piston (8) to lock the moving element ( 15) in said first position.

Inventors: ALBERTI ROMANO, ZURRU SERGIO, ALBERTI, ROMANO, ZURRU, SERGIO
Applicants: INNOCENTI SANTEUSTACCHIO SPA, INNSE INNOCENTI SANTEUSTACCHIO S.P.A.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B21C23
IPC codes: B21C23, B21C33