Patent GB-879288-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to work feed console
IPC: B21D43/05
Filed: 1960-01-01
Abstract: 879,288. Feeding mechanisms for presses. ADAMS, T. O. Jan. 1, 1960 [Jan. 13, 1959], No. 115/60. Class 83 (4). A workfeed console comprises a housing supporting first and second pairs of gear racks, the first rack of the first pair being stationary and the other racks being movable, and first and second gears arranged for rotation about a common axis and meshing respectively with the first and second pairs of racks, means being provided for moving the first rack of the second pair and then rotating the pair of gears with the first rack of the second pair stationary. In general the console 10 actuates work-gripping arms 12 having fingers 14 for engaging a workpiece W and transferring it. from one station to another of a multi-die press or from press to press. The console has two basic motions, the first actuating the work-engaging arms and the second advancing the arms from station to station after which these basic motions are reversed. The motions are effected by a cylindrical cam 16 provided with adjustable cam grooves 18 and 20 and the cam is driven from the console drive-shaft 30. The advancing motion of the arms is effected by the cam 20 whose follower 24 is secured to a slide-bar 34 adjustably attached to a rocker arm 54 pivotably mounted on a cross-shaft 56 journalled in frame members 60. The upper end of the rocker arm is connected to a pair of drag links 62 and 64 to which are journalled at their opposite ends a triad of gears 66, 68 and 70 on a shaft 71. Gears 66 and 70 engage stationary racks 72 and 74 and rack portions 76 and 78 of a rack member 80 connected to a pair of links 85 and supported by a cross-member 84 which drives conveyer bars 81 and 82. Cam follower 22 in the cam groove 18 is secured to a rack 88 disposed between the racks 72 and 74, Fig. 7, the rack 88 being reciprocated by the cam follower to rotate the gear 68 which is also in engagement with a rack 90 attached to a cross-yoke 92 fastened to connecting-rods 94, 96 carried on the conveyer bars 81 and 82, respectively. When the gear 68 urges the rack 90 and the connecting-rods 94, 96 forwardly rack segments 100 on the rods engage pinions 102 to pivot the workpiece holding arms 12 inwardly to engage the workpiece W, Fig. 12. After contact is made with the workpiece camfollower 22 meets a dwell 104 in cam groove 18 which maintains the arms 12 stationary. The cam groove 20 then urges cam follower 24 rearwardly to advance the arms as hitherto described. Finally, the cams reverse the motions to release the workpiece and return the arms to their initial position. In a modification transverse acting gripping means 110, Fig. 15, are employed in combination with racks 114, 116 inter-connected by means of a gear pinion. To enable the workpiece to be rotated through 180 degrees so that work may be performed on both sides, the gripping means are mounted. on a spindle 120, Figs. 18 and 19. A rocker arm 124 mounted on the spindle carries a pair of rollers 126 and 128 which follow a cam surface 130 which in operation allows the rocker arm to flip over in the direction of arrow 132 to rotate the workpiece. A synchronizing power take-off arrangement including a crank 140, a crankshaft 142 and workfeed rod drive means 146 may be provided for driving work-strip-engaging rolls 148.