Patent GB-191512139-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Machines for Punching Structural Shapes.
IPC: B21D28/24
Filed: 1915-08-23
Abstract: 12,139. Marks, E. C. R., [Steel Utilities, Incorporated]. Aug. 23. Punching.-In machines for punching beams &c., wherein the work is fed as described in Specifications 22,067/13 and 22,068/13, the feed and the movements of the punch are automatically controlled by a travelling record-strip perforated or otherwise marked. The strip, which is intermittently fed by a ratchet device 12, Fig. 4, operated by the reciprocation of the punch, has transverse areas representing different distance denominations such as feet, inches, &c., and each having a perforation corresponding in position to the required number of feet &c. Contacts 29 close circuits 32 at these perforations, thereby exciting the corresponding solenoids 36 to force down one key of the oorresponding sets 150, 107, 122, 125, Fig. 2, to engage slots proportional in length to the required number of feet &c., and one or other of the keys 128 according as the beam is to be located relative to the web or the flange punching machines 70, 71, Fig. 1. Each key has an enlargement 109, Fig. 6, which moves the spring-pressed plate 111 off its set of keys laterally, thereby releasing any previously-set key and locking itself in the depressed position. The zero locking-key 116, Fig. 9, is simultaneously raised by a cam-face on a plate 117, which is moved to the left by the enlargement 109. Set keys may be released by moving the plate 111 by its upturned end 180. The beam X, Fig. 1, to be operated on is moved by live rollers 72 against a stop 81 carried by a rack 82 engaging a pinion 83 on the shaft 84, which is thereby rotated. A squared part of the shaft 84 carries a sleeve 90, Fig. 2, in threaded engagement with a half-cylinder 85. As the sleeve 90 moves to the right owing to the rotation of the shaft 84, it carries with it the sleeve 94 and sliding plate 99 into which this is threaded. The plate 99 also takes with it the plates 120, 123, 126 as the keys of one plate reach the ends of their slots in the plate below, until, when the key 128 reaches the end of its slot in the fixed plate 129, all the plates are brought to rest. Continued movement of the sleeve 90 compresses a spring 170, bringing crown teeth 160 into engagement and rotating the sleeve 94 until both sleeves are brought to rest when the depressed key of the set 151 reaches the end of its slot in the sleeve 94, the stop 81 and the beam X being in the desired position. After punching a hole, the set key 128 may be released, for example by hand operation of the plate 111, the springs 177 closing the plates 120 .. 126, Fig. 2, on to the plate 99. The key 128 of the new setting engages one of the slots 139, Fig. 8, provided along the bed, and the beam is able to advance to the new position. After all the holes have been punched, the parts are returned by a motor 172, Fig. 1. A similar distance-determining device 183, Fig. 14, is used for travelling the web punch 185 laterally of the beam; but in this case the shaft 184 is positively driven by a motor 192. The web-punch valve 191 and flange-punch valve 196 are controlled from the strip 1, the current for the latter valve passing through line 211, solenoid B, line 213, switch K, which is closed when the shaft 84 is at rest, switches P which are closed when a kev of each set has been depressed, line 215, solenoids F, E which actuate lateral rollers 193, 194 to position and hold the beam X, and finally through the line 216. The current for the former valve, 0instead of passing through the line 211 and solenoid B, passes through the line 210 solenoid A, switches M, N similar to the switches P, K, and so to the line 213 &c. The solenoids C, D connected to the controlling device by lines 208, 209 are adapted to call into operation the desired number of punches. All the keys may be operated by hand. The electric operation of keys by means of the record-strip may be applied to the machine described in Specification 22,067/13.