Improvements in Presses for Cutting and Stamping Metal.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 25th June, 1894-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Presses for Cutting and Stamping Metal.
I, LUIGI ARMANNI, of 88 and 90, Tabernacle Street, in the County of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to presses used for piercing and cutting blanks from sheets
or strips of metal and for cupping or otherwise shaping metal blanks, shells or
cups, and is applicable to presses, both single and double acting, having a rectilineal
feed, such as those wherein blanks are successively pressed and cut out of a long
strip of metal which is intermittently fed, and to those having a dial feed or a
hopper feed wherein series of blanks, shells or cups are automatically fed to the die
or under the punch or series thereof, for cupping or other secondary pressing or
stamping operations, and to other presses used for such purposes.
In all automatic feed-devices in present use in such presses, the feeding device is
operated from the continuously rotating crank or other driving shaft, the motion
being converted and rendered intermittent, as desired, by the intervention of suitable
devices according to the character of the desired feed.
According to my invention, I operate the feed-device directly from the
reciprocating punch, either during the descent of the punch, before the latter
descends into contact with the metal strip or blank, or, it may be, during its ascent,
after the punch has cleared the metal strip or blank, but preferably during the
descent of the punch, converting such motion, as desired, by the intervention of
suitable devices according to the character of the desired feed.
By such means, I avoid the disadvantage of the usual long connections between
the crank or driving shaft and the feeding device, and am enabled to concentrate
all details of such device and their means of actuation about and to combine the same
directly with the punch and die or the holder thereof.
According to one arrangement to which I refer as an example as applied to a
press requiring a rectilineal feed, for pressing, say, successive blanks or forms from
a long blank strip. I apply the feeding device directly to the die or die-holder,
and its means of actuation directly to the punch pivotally connecting the punch
and the feeding device by an adjustable connection, so that, in the downward or
cutting movement of the punch it shall, by means of such connection, impart the
desired horizontal feeding movement to a slide fitted to a lateral extension of the
die or die-holder, causing such slide to feed the blank strip the required distance,
before the punch descends into contact or engages therewith. As the punch rises,
the feeding slide is automatically returned to its normal position either by the
aforesaid connection or by a spring or springs connected respectively to it and
to the die, so as to be ready for the next descent of and operation by the punch.
The slide is or may be fitted with adjustable spring-fingers adapted to engage
with the blank cut in the strip in the last preceding operation of the press, and
shaped so as to disengage themselves from such blank and to engage with the next
following blank in the return movement of the feeding slide. The blank strip
may be held stationary during the return movement of the feeding slide by a spring
holding device fitted in a recess in the underside of the die-holder or otherwise
in any convenient manner.
The aforesaid adjustable connection between the punch and the feeding device,
enables a greater or lesser extent (within certain limits) of feeding movement of
the slide to be given with any given movement of the punch, but a much greater

page_text: extent of feeding movement may be imparted to the feeding slide by the employment
of a toggle-joint connection, which may be adjustable, the ends of the component
bars or rods of which may be respectively connected to the die-holder and to the
feeding slide, while the joint thereof may be fitted with an anti-friction runner and
depressed by an extension from the punch-holder.
The feeding details may, as aforesaid, be arranged so as to successively withdraw
and feed previously stamped blanks from a hopper or hoppers containing series
thereof in a rectilineal direction, or on a horizontal dial or on the periphery of a
vertically arranged dial, to which intermittent rotary motion is imparted directly
from the reciprocating punch by the intervention of suitable devices for converting
such motion into the desired motion.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1893.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
821, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Presses for Cutting and Stamping Metal.
Í, LUIGI ARMANNI, formerly of 88 and 90, Tabernacle Street, in the County of
London, but now of 71 Foxhani Road, Tufnell Park, London, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to improved automatic intermittent feed apparatus
applicable to presses used for piercing or cutting blanks from, or for cupping or
otherwise shaping blanks cut from, strips of metal or other material. The improved
apparatus is applicable both to single-acting and to double-acting presses having a
reciprocating punch-slide, and whether having a rectilineal feed or a rotary feed.
In existing presses of the kind fitted with automatic feed apparatus, the latter is
usually operated directly from the continuously rotating crank or driving shaft
of the press, and such continuous rotary motion has to be converted according to
the character of the required feed, and to be rendered intermittent, by the inter-
vention, between such rotating shaft and the feed apparatus, of suitable mechanical
movements, which are frequently of a complicated nature and very liable to get out
of order and out of adjustment while at work, and moreover, only permit of the press
being used for one kind of operation, necessitating the employment of as many
presses as there are varieties of operations to be performed.
The present invention is characterized by the employment in combination, of a
feed-slide, disc or carrier applied to the die-holder and acting on the metal strip
or carrying the metal blanks to be operated on, with co-acting springs where
required for returning the feed device as in a reciprocating feed-slide, and of a
connection to the punch adapted to be intermittently operated by and at each
downstroke or upstroke of the punch-slide, while the punch is out of operative
engagement with the metal strip or blank, and adapted, at each such operation, to
actuate the feed-slide, disc or carrier so as to effect the desired feed, or to
place the feed-slide dise or carrier in position, for actuation by springs to effect
the feed.
By such combination, all details of the feed apparatus and its means of actuation
are concentrated about and are combined directly with the punch and die-holder,
whereby I avoid the liability to get out of order and out of adjustment and
other disadvantages of the usual long connections between the continuously rotating
driving shaft and the intermittently operated feed apparatus, and am, moreover,
enabled to utilize the press for effecting several operations by the mere substitution
of the appropriate punch and die-holder together with their appropriate and combined
feed apparatus.

page_text: On the accompanying drawings,
Figs. 1 to 6, represent an arrangement for effecting an intermittent rectilineal
feed of a metal strip from which blanks are required to be cut, wherein the punch
and the feed-slide are directly connected, so as to effect the operation of the feed-slide
by and during the downstroke of the punch-slide.
Figs. 7 and 8, represent an arrangement for effecting a like feed, wherein the
punch and the feed-slide are not directly connected.
Figs. 9 to 12, represent another unconnected arrangement for effecting a like feed
but of greater extent.
Figs. 13 to 15, represent an arrangement similar to that of Figs. 9 to 12, for
effecting a like feed of a carrier of metal blanks to be secondarily operated upon,
but wherein the feeding action is effected very rapidly at the beginning of the
downstroke of the punch-slide.
Figs. 16 and 17, represent an arrangement for effecting a rotary feed of a
horizontal disc-carrier of blanks, wherein said connection to the punch is placed in
position for actuation during the downstroke of the punch-slide, and is actuated by
springs during the upstroke of the punch-slide.
Figs. 18, and 19, represent an arrangement for effecting a like feed of a vertical
peripheral carrier of blanks, wherein the feed is effected by said connection to the
punch during the upstroke of the punch-slide.
Fig. 1, represents an elevation, partly in section on the line 1,-1, Fig. 2, showing
the punch-holder raised.
Fig. 2 represents a half-plan of Fig. 1, the punch-holder having been removed,
but the punch remaining.
Fig. 3 represents a like view to Fig. 1, after the feed apparatus has been operated
by the downstroke of the punch-slide.
Fig. 4 represents a half-plan of Fig. 3, the punch-holder having been removed.
Fig. 5, represents a sectional elevation through the die-holder and feed-slide, on
the line 2-2, Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 represents a like view on the live 3—3, Fig. 2.
Fig. 7, represents a sectional elevation of the arrangement it illustrates, showing
the punch raised.
Fig. 8 represents a plan of Fig. 7, but after the feed apparatus has been operated
by the downstroke of the punch-slide.
Fig. 9, represents an elevation of the arrangement it illustrates, showing the
punch-holder raised.
Fig. 10 represents a half under-plan of the upper part of the die-holder represented
in Fig. 9.
Fig. 11, represents an elevation, partly in section on the line 4-4, Fig. 12, after
the feed apparatus has been operated by the downstroke of the punch-slide.
Fig. 12, represents a half-plan of Fig. 11, the punch being indicated in dotted
lines.
Fig. 13, represents the arrangement it illustrates in elevation, and in central
section as regards the feed-slide, showing the punch-holder raised.
Fig. 14, represents a similar view, after the feed apparatus has been operated by
the downstroke of the punch-slide.
Fig. 15 represents a plan of Fig. 14, the punch-holder having been removed.
Fig. 16, represents an elevation of the modification it illustrates, showing the
punch raised.
Fig. 17, represents a plan of Fig. 16, after the feed apparatus has, by the
downstroke of the punch-slide, been placed in position, for operation by springs
during the upstroke of the punch-slide.
Fig. 18, represents an elevation of the arrangement it illustrates, showing the
punch-holder removed;-and :-
Fig. 19, represents an elevation at right angles to Fig. 18, partly in section
on the line 5-5.

page_text: Like reference letters indicate like or equivalent parts wherever they are
repeated on the drawings.
a, represents the punch to which piercing cutting, cupping, or other suitable
shaping details a¹, of any required formation may be applied, according to the
operation required to be performed. The punch is clamped to a holder a', and
connected press-slide (not shown) which is guided and operated in a usual manner.
b, represents the die-holder, the operative details b, of which may also be of any
suitable required formation corresponding with those of the punch, so that such
parts will be adapted to co-act. The die-holder is clamped in a usual manner
to a bolster or bed-plate 62, (Figs. 16 and 17) the clamps not being shown.
Various forms of such piercing, cutting, stamping or shaping details a¹ b', are
represented on the drawings, but these are merely given as examples and are not
material to the invention.
In the arrangements illustrated in Figs. 1 to 12, the feed device consists of a
slide c, applied to the die-holder in such a manner as to impart a horizontal rectilineal
feed to the metal strip d, at each downstroke of the punch-slide.
The slide c, fits between extensions 63 of the die-holder (Figs. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10
and 12) and is fitted with adjustable spring fingers c', (Figs. 2, and 4 to 12) adapted
to engage with holes d', made in the strip d, by preceding operations of the punch.
The fingers are inclined and undercut at their free ends (Figs. 5, 9 and 10) so as to
disengage themselves from the boles d', with which they lastly engaged, and to engage
with the next following holes in the strip at each return movement of the slide.
The fingers are secured to the slide by screws c², which permit of their adjustment
as required.
In Figs. 1 to 6, the feed-slide is pivotally connected at e, a³, to the punch by an
adjustable link e, a', and is operated, so as to be caused to effect the feed of the
strip d, by and at each downstroke of the punch-slide before the punch engages
with the strip.
In Figs. 7 and 8, the feed-slide is pivotally connected at c, e', b, to the die-holder
by a pair of horizontally arranged links e, and is operated at each downstroke of
the punch slide, by a lever arm a pivotally connected at a³, to the punch, guided
by a decline 66, on the die-holder and acting against the adjacent link e.
In Figs. 9 to 12, the feed-slide is pivotally connected at 3, el, to the die-holder
by a pair of vertically arranged links and is operated, at each downstroke of the
punch-slide, by an extension a', of the punch acting against an antifriction roller e³,
at the junction e', of such links.
The connected links e, in Figs. 7 to 12, and in Figs. 13 and 15, hereinafter
referred to, are returned past the dead-centre by means of a spring c, secured to
the feed-slide.
, (Figs 1 to 3, 5, and 7 to 10,) is a spring located in a recess 7, in the dic-holder
and acting as a brake on the metal strip to prevent it from being shifted during the
return movements of the feed-slide.
In Figs. 13 to 15, the feed-slide c, serves as a carrier of metal blanks (which may
be fed thereto by hand or by a suitably placed hopper f,) to be pierced, cupped or
otherwise secondarily operated on in the press, and consequently does not require
to be provided with spring fingers as when feeding the metal strip. It is pivotally
connected to the die-holder as in Figs. 9 to 12, and is operated at each down-
stroke of the punch-slide by the lever-arm a, engaging with a short lever arm e³,
fast to one of the links e, whereby a rapid action of the feed-slide is effected during
the first part of the downstroke of the punch-slide.
In each of such arrangements the return of the feed-slide is automatically effected
at each upstroke of the punch-slide by a spring or springs g, (Figs. 1, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12
and 15) connected respectively to the feed-slide at c, and to the die-holder at 68.
.In each of said arrangements, the down-stroke or upstroke of the press-slide may
cause the feed-slide to be placed in position for actuation by the spring or springs g
in effecting the feed during the return stroke of the press-slide.

page_text: In Figs. 16 and 17, the blank carrier c, is adapted to receive an intermittent
rotary motion in a horizontal plane during the upstroke of the press-slide. The
link a', is pivotally connected at a³, to a rolling carrier e, to which is pivotally
connected at e, a spring pawl e, adapted to engage with notches e, in the periphery
of the blank carrier. At each downstroke of the punch-slide, the connections a, e, e,
are placed in position (Fig. 17) for effecting the feed, which is effected at each
upstroke of the press-slide, by the springs g, in returning the connections a, e, e, to.
their normal position (Fig. 16) when the press-slide is raised, whereby the pawl e,
is caused to partially rotate the blank carrier.
In Figs. 18 and 19, the blank carrier e, is adapted to receive an intermittent
rotary motion in
vertical plane, which is effected during each upstroke of the
press-slide by a spring pawl a, pivotally connected to the punch and adapted to
engage with a ratchet wheel e, secured to the blank carrier c, concentric with
its axis.
In Figs. 16 to 19, the periphery of the blank-carrier is shaped at the parts b', (as
may also the die-like openings in the feed-slide in Figs. 13 to 15, be shaped,) to
serve as the die shaping details or as part thereof, acting conjointly with the shaping
details a', of the punch, but this is not material to the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In presses for stamping metals and other materials-
1. Operating the feed device for advancing the metal strip or the metal blanks
by a connection to or from the punch during the downstroke or upstroke of the
punch-slide, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. Setting the feed device or means for actuating the feed device in position for
actuation by a connection to or from the punch during the downstroke or upstroke
of the punch-slide, and actuating the same so as to effect the feed during the reverse
stroke of the punch-slide by said connection to or from the punch or by springs,
substantially as herein before described.
3. In combination, a feed-slide, disc or carrier applied to or forming part of the
die-holder and acting on the metal strip in manner aforesaid or carrying the metal
blanks to be operated on, and a connection linking the feed device to the punch
and operated by and at each downstroke or upstroke of the punch-slide and at each
such operation actuating the feed-device, the return of the feed device, where
required, being effected by the connection from the punch or by springs, as set
forth.
4. In combination, a feed-slide, disc or carrier applied to or forming part of the
die-holder and acting on the metal strip in manner aforesaid or carrying the metal
blanks to be operated on, and a connection linking the feed device to the die-holder
and operated by and at each downstroke or upstroke of the punch-slide and at
each such operation actuating the feed device, the return of the feed device, where
required, being effected by springs, as set forth.
5. In combination, a feed-slide, disc or carrier applied to or forming part of the
die-holder and acting on the metal strip in manner aforesaid or carrying the metal
blanks to be operated on, and a connection linking the feed device to the punch
and operated by and at each downstroke or upstroke of the punch-slide and at
each such operation setting the feed device or the means for actuating the feed-
device in position for actuation and actuating the same, so as to effect the feed
during the reverse stroke of the punch-slide, by the connection from the punch or
by springs, as set forth.
6. In combination, a feed-slide, disc or carrier applied to or forming part of the
die-holder and acting on the metal strip in manner aforesaid or carrying the metal
blanks to be operated on, and a connection linking the feed device to the die-holder
and operated by and at each downstroke or upstroke of the punch-slide, and at each
such operation setting the feed-device or the ineans for actuating the feed-device in

page_text: position for actuation, and actuating the same so as to effect the feed during the
reverse stroke of the punch-slide by springs, as set forth.
. 7. The several arrangements or modifications hereinbefore described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 7th day of May 1894.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.