Patent GB-1241042-A (GB)
Title: Improved transfer assembly for presses
IPC: B21D43/05
Filed: 1968-10-15
Abstract: 1,241,042. Transferring blanks. VERSON ALLSTEEL PRESS CO. 15 Oct., 1968 [16 Oct., 1967], No. 48840/68. Headings B3Q and B3W. A transfer assembly for a press, including at least one longitudinally movable feed bar 19, Fig. 8, and at least one gripper mechanism 20 carried by the feed bar or bars for longitudinally moving gripper finger mechanisms 21, is characterized in that the gripper mechanism 20 has a housing 62 secured to the feed bar 19, first 65 and second 71 actuator rods slidably carried by the housing for lengthwise movement transversely of the feed bar 19 and extending from the housing 62, the first actuator rod 65 carrying the gripper finger mechanism 21 for moving the same between advanced and retracted positions, the second actuator rod 71 closing and opening the gripper fingers 99 when it is moved with respect to the first actuator rod 65, driving means 79, Fig. 9, for driving the first and second actuator rods from the retracted position to the advanced position and for driving the second actuator rod 71 to a projected position beyond the advanced position for closing the gripper fingers 99 and stop means 68 for preventing advance of the first actuator rod 65 beyond the advanced position, the driving means also retracting the second actuator rod from the projected position to the advanced position for opening the gripper fingers 99 and retracting the first and second actuator rods from the advanced position to the retracted position for retracting the gripper finger mechanism 21. As the driving gear 79 is rotated by rack 83 to rotate driver gear 80 and cam 81, Fig. 10, the actuator rods 65 and 71 are advanced since the driver gear 80 meshes with racks 67 and 72. On reaching the advanced position the rack teeth 67 on the first actuator rod 65 disengage the driver gear teeth 80 so that the first actuator rod cannot be advanced any further. At this point the leading edge of the cam 81 having a modified involute form engages shoulder 70 in recess 69 of cam slot 68 in the first actuator rod 65 to provide a slight amount of additional forward motion to the first actuator rod 65. When the edge of the cam 81 disengages, the shoulder 70 is engaged by the circular cam slot 68 and hence locking the first actuator rod 65 in the advanced position. As the combination cam and gear member 78 is further rotated, the driver gear 80 which is still in mesh with the rack teeth 72 on the second actuator rod 71 causes the second actuator rod to advance to the projected position. This causes the fingers 99 of the gripper finger mechanism 21 to close as described in co-pending Application 48839/68. On rotating the combination gear and cam to the advanced position whereupon the leading edge of the cam 81 is returned beyond the shoulder 70 in the slot 69 in the first actuator rod and the shoulder 73 on the second actuator rod 71 engages the end of the first actuator rod. This causes the first actuator rod 65 to be retracted somewhat so that the rack teeth 67 thereof are re-engaged by the driver gear 80 to drive both actuator rods 65 and 71 to the retracted position. The feed bars 19 carry a plurality of lubricating fittings for supplying lubricant through connections to the moving parts of the gripper mechanism 20.