Patent GB-800901-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to stacking apparatus
IPC: B21D43/22
Filed: 1956-11-23
Abstract: 800,901. Shearing. KELSEY-HAYES CO. Nov. 23, 1956 [Dec. 19, 1955], No. 35988/56. Class 83 (4). [Also in Group XVI] A stacking mechanism 11 (Fig. 1), for sheetmetal blanks comprises a table 12 adapted to receive the blanks B and a hydraulic device adapted periodically to lower the table so that the blanks may accumulate on the table in the form of a stack, the table having a receiving surface which inclines upwardly in the direction of forwarding movement of the blanks. As shown, the stacking mechanism 11 is used in conjunction with a vertically-acting shear press 10. The press 10 includes a shear blade couple 15 (Fig. 6), by which a strip S of material is severed to provide a blank B, supported on extensions 31, 31<SP>1</SP> of base blocks 21 and 23 respectively by means of bolts 32, 32<SP>1</SP> and nuts 34, 34<SP>1</SP>. The couple 15 comprise a lower shear blade 25 and an upper identical shear blade 24. Each blade is in the form of a bar, including a vertical cutter land 26 having a shearing edge 27 and offset inwardly to form a surface 28 terminating in a second shear edge 29. The blades are arranged so that an edge 27 of one blade co-operates with an edge 29 of the other. Thus, since the blades are identical and interchangeable various shear edge combinations are possible and the use of the blades prolonged before resharpening is required. The strip S is fed forwardly between the shear blades 24, 25 (Fig. 1), and is guided along one edge by vertical rollers 45, until the leading edge of the strip abuts an end stop 63 comprising a spring- biased plate 64 adjustably mounted by a stud 65. The end stop 63 is mounted on a bracket extending from flanges 47 on an I-beam side frame which also supports the rollers 45. The upper flange 47 also supports a superstructure 48 including uprights 49 and cross-shaft 50 on which are pivoted swinging arms 51 the lower ends of which carry an elongated yoke member 52. A stack squaring idler roller 53 is journalled on a forked support 54 at one end of the yoke 52. The swinging arm structure supporting the idler 53 is oscillated by a pneumatic cylinder 56 operated in timed relation to the cutting mechanism. The table 12 is inclined to the horizontal to ensure that the leading edge of the advancing strip does not foul the trailing edges of the stacked blanks B. The table 12 is supported on a hydraulicallyoperated ram 79 which is lowered when a sufficient number of blanks have been stacked so that the blanks are deposited on rollers 74 of a longitudinally adjustable framework 70, where they are fed by gravity to a conveyer 75. In addition the table 12 is lowered an amount equal to the thickness of a blank each time a blank is delivered. To this end a cylinder 83 (Fig. 10), is provided in which a piston 87 operates. The piston defines a chamber 86 which communicates, via a conduit 85 and check valve 85<SP>1</SP> with the cylinder in which the ram 77 moves. The valve 85<SP>1</SP> is such that fluid can flow from the ram cylinder to the chamber 86 but not in the reverse direction. The chamber 86 also communicates, via a port 88, piping 89 and relief valve 89<SP>1</SP> with the reservoir or tank of the hydraulic control unit for the ram 77. The valve 89<SP>1</SP> is set so that no fluid can pass under normal ram pressure required to support the table 12 and blanks B. The cylinder 83 is supported on a front plate 93 of a fixed frame 94, the rear plate 95 of which supports a diaphragm unit 96. The diaphragm 97 carries an operating stem 100 which extends through an opening in the plate 95 and is connected to the plunger 87. The rear side of the diaphragm is provided with a rear stop 102 adapted to engage a stop disc 103 threadily engaged at 104 in a housing 105 for axial adjustment. Pneumatic pressure is applied in timed relation to the blank severence through a fitting 106 to the rear side of the diaphragm 97, thus causing the plunger 87 to move to the right as viewed in Fig. 10, thus forcing fluid past the relief valve 89<SP>1</SP> to the reservoir unit of the ram 77. When pressure ceases to be applied to the rear side of the diaphragm 97 the plunger 87 is moved to the left by the action of a compressed spring 107, thus allowing fluid from the ram cylinder to pass through the conduit 85 into the chamber 86 so that the table 12 is lowered a corresponding amount. As shown in Fig. 8, the flanges 47 may carry limit switches 111, 112 which serve to initiate operation of the shear press 10 and to control the cylinder 56 for the squaring roller 53. A side bar 113 may be provided pivoted to the frame 43 at 114 and urged downwardly by a spring 115 on the top surface of each advancing length of strip material S.