Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1887
Specification Accepted, 18th Nov., 1887
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 improvements in that class of power-presses commonly
called "Double action power-presses," in which two operations are to be performed,
as, for illustration, in drawing or "cupping" sheet metal.
In performing this operation the sheet or blank to be operated upon lies flat upon
the surface surrounding the die into which the metal is to be forced, so that as the
punch approaches the metal, it will strike the surface of the metal upon the side
opposite the die upon which the sheet lies, and will force the metal down into the
die, drawing, contracting or expanding the metal, so as to bring it to the shape of
the space between the punch and the die, when the punch stands within the die.
Were not some provision made, the portion of the flat sheet extending beyond the
die, would be fulled or puckered in the process of being drawn into the die, thus
producing uneven work. To obviate this difficulty a holder is provided, which will
rest upon the sheet of metal around the cavity in the die, so as to hold the sheet flat,
and permit it to be gradually drawn into the die.
The two operations before referred to, are to hold or bear upon the blank while
being drawn as just herein before mentioned and to operate the punch. The arrange-
ment employed for performing the first operation usually consists of a slide,
presenting a flat surface toward the die. This slide is so arranged that, after the
blank or sheet has been laid over the die it descends in advance of the punch, and
DQ37

page_text: coming close upon the side of the blank, or sheet opposite the die, grasps the blank
between the die and the face of the said slide, then as the die comes upon the blank
within the said slide and over the cavity in the die, it operates upon the blank, and
gradually draws the metal from between the clamping surfaces. As the blank is
held in a flat condition by such clamping surfaces, it cannot pucker or wrinkle. It
being understood that the force of the clamping of the blank must be only sufficient
to prevent the blank from being too rapidly drawn from between those surfaces.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 represents a front view.
Figure 1, is an inside view of one side of the frame showing the vertical guiding
groove O with the shaft bearing therein.
Figure 2 is a transverse section through the slides on line x, x of figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical section through the slides, showing side view of the toggle
in the contracted or up position..
Figure 4 shows some of the same parts as figure 3, but the toggle is here shown
in its extended or down position.
Figure 5 is a view showing a modification in the connection between the punch
slide and the toggles.
Figure 6 is a vertical section through the fixed die-holder.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the press, illustrating the
adjustment of the fixed die.
A A represent the two sides or uprights of the apparatus, in the upper part of
which the driving-shaft B is arranged, in suitable bearings, so as to revolve by the
application of power thereto, in any convenient manner.
C represents a slide, arranged to receive an up and down reciprocating movement
in vertical guides in the frame. Within this slide C, is the punch carrying slide D,
to which reciprocating movement is imparted by means of a crank or eccentric E on
the driving-shaft, through a pitman F, in the usual manner, so that at each revolution
of the driving-shaft a full up and down reciprocating movement is imparted to the
punch carrying slide. The punch slide D works through the slide C in the usual
manner as seen in figures 2 and 3.
The slide C carries the holding surface G, which in its downward movement is
adapted to come so close to the face of the die H as to grasp the sheet or blank laid
thereon. This downward movement of the slide C is such that it brings the holding
die G into the gripping condition upon the blank before the punch reaches the blank,
and holds upon the blank while the punch continues its descent into the die, so that
the metal is drawn into the die from between the holding surface and the face of
the die, in the usual manner, then the slide C rises, as well as the punch.
To impart the up and down reciprocating movement to the slide C, a pair of toggles
are provided, each consisting of a link I, hung by its lower end to the slide C, as at a,
so as to swing in a plane at right angles to the axis of the driving-shaft, and a second
link J to which the upper end of the link I is hung, as at b, the other ends of the
links J are hung upon fixed bearings d in the frame, these bearings (shown in broken
lines in figure 1) are here represented as trunnions extending from the links into the
frame, and they are so arranged that as the links are in their straight or extended
position, as seen in figure 4, the slide C will be forced to its extreme down position,
and when the links are in the contracted position, as seen in figure 3, the slide C will
be raised to its highest point. Each of the links J is constructed with a slot K
parallel with a line between their two connecting points b, d. At the upper end this
slot is curved inward, as at L. Through these slots is a transverse shaft M, and on
the
upper end of the punch-slide D, bracket arms N N are fixed, or made a part of
the slide, through which the said shaft M extends, as seen in figure 1, so that in the
up and down movement of the punch slide, the shaft M will be carried with it. The
shaft extends through the slots in the two slides, and into a vertical groove O in the
frame at each side. In this groove there is preferably arranged a sliding box P, in
which the ends of the shaft M rest, the sliding boxes P forming the bearing for the
shaft M. In each of the slots K the shaft is preferably provided with an anti-friction

page_text: roller R, which will freely work in the slots of the links as the punch slide is moved
up and down. The shaft M is in such relation to the slots that when the parallel
portion K of the slots stands in an upright position, they will be in a vertical plane
as seen in figure 4, so that the shaft M, under the movement of the punch slide, may
move up and down through the parallel portion of the slots K, without having any
effect upon the toggles, but as the punch slide rises, it brings the shaft M to
the upper end of the parallel portion of the slots, and as the shaft, cannot turn
from its vertical path, it acts as a cam on the curved portion of the slots. As it
completes its upward movement, it passes into the curved portions of the slots, and
turns the links outward from their straight or extended position into the contracted
position, as seen in figure 3. This position occurs when the punch slide is in its
extreme up position, then as the punch slide commences its descent, the shaft M also
descends, and working through the curved portion of the slots, quickly throws the
links into their extended position, and consequently quickly forces down the holding
slide C to its extreme position, as seen in figure 4, this extreme down position occurs
just as the shaft M passes into the straight or parallel portion of the slot, then the
punch slide continues its descent, without effect upon the holding slide, thus it follows
that the punch slide descends to its holding position considerably in advance of the
punch, and remains in its holding position until the punch slide approaches its
extreme up position, the operation of the holding slide being produced without direct
connection with the driving shaft.
I have described, and prefer the arrangement of the shaft as supported in the
brackets and slide, and extending into the sides of the frame, because the frame, takes
the bearing of the shaft in the operation of the links, and relieves the slide, but the
links may be operated simply by trunnions projecting from the slide, as seen in
figure 5. As the trunnions perform substantially the same operation as the shaft,
they may be considered as a part of the shaft.
As the links must always bring the face of the slide to a certain point, and cannot
therefore be conveniently adjustable, it is necessary to make the face of the die
adjustable with relation to the holding face of the slide, in order that the two faces
may come into the proper relative position to grip the sheet. To this end 1 construct
the die holder S, see Figure 6, of tubular shape, screw-threaded upon its outer surface,
and construct the bed with an opening T, through which the tubular portion of the
die holder may extend, and on the tubular portion of the die I place a nut U, adapted
to rest upon the bed around the opening therein as seen in Figure 6.
From the die holder, bolts 2 extend down through ears 3, 3, on the bed, the bolts
being fixed in the die holder, so that as the holder is raised or lowered, the bolts will
move accordingly, I prefer to arrange these bolts two in front, as seen in Figure 7,
and with two like bolts at the rear, not shown. These bolts below the ears 3 are each
provided with a nut 5. When it is desired to adjust the lower or fixed die, the
holding slide is brought to its lowest position, a blank laid upon the lower die bolder,
and the nuts 5 unscrewed, the nut U is then turned to raise the die holder up until the
blank is properly gripped between the face of the holding slide and the die below;
this done, the nuts 5 are returned up to a hard bearing, so as to securely lock the die
holder in place.
If it be required to drop the lower die, the nut U is turned accordingly, and the
nuts 5 are brought up to a bearing as before.
By this arrangement not only is the die holder firmly held, but its level is
maintained, and all liability to displacement is avoided.
In order to adjust the punch with relation to the die, I construct the punch W, or
may be the punch holder, separate from the slide D, and of cylindrical shape, I also
make a corresponding cylindrical cavity Y see Figure 3, in the lower end of the
slide D. The upper end of the punch W or punch holder, as the case may be, is
provided with a concentric screw-shank e, which extends up into a corresponding
cavity in the punch slide. In this slide is a transverse recess f, in which a nut g,
(threaded to correspond to the shanke of the punch or punch holder) is arranged.
This recess opens to the front of the punch slide D, as seen in Figure 1, so that

page_text: access is had to the nut g. This nut g is provided with radial holes, or other suitable
means whereby instruments may be applied to rotate the nut. The punch or holder W
is grooved vertically, and in the slide a set-screw h is introduced, the end of which
enters the vertical groove in the holder W, as seen in Figure 2, to prevent its rotation
so that it may be positively set when once adjusted.
To adjust the punch or holder, the nut 9 is turned to raise or lower the punch, or
holder as the case may be, into its proper relation with the fixed die.
Each punch may be constructed with a shank e, screw-threaded to correspond to the
nut g or it may be a holder adapted at its lower end to receive the punch, as indicated
in broken lines Figure 3, by the term "Punch Holder," therefore I wish to be
understood as including the punch itself as an integral part of the holder if such
construction is desirable.
It is desirable, if not necessary, that the holding surfaces should be in perfect parallel
planes, in order to make an even pressure upon the sheet between them. I have found
in practice that however perfectly the machine may be built, there is still some liability
to variation in changing either the holding surfaces or the dies.
To provide for such adjustment of the holding surfaces, I construct the holding slide
with an adjustable face-piece 6 see Figure 3, this pieces corresponds in outline to the
lower end of the slide.
On the adjacent surface of the holding piece and the lower end of the slide, I
form a projection 7 on the one part, with a corresponding cavity in the other part, the
projection being represented in Figure 3 as made on the holding face-piece 6. The
surfaces between the two parts outside of this projection 7 do not come to a bearing,
that is, a space 8 is left between the two parts around the projection 7.
The lower end of the slide projects outwardly so as to form a flange 9. Through
this flange several screws 10 are introduced into the face-piece 6 below, the screws
being outside the projection.
I do not wish it to be understood that I claim broadly a die holder having a screw
threaded shank set into a recess in the bed of the press, with a nut on the shank, as this
I am aware is not new.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent 1 declare that what I claim is:-
First. In a double-action power-press, the combination of the vertical slide carrying
the movable holding surface: a vertically movable slide carrying the punch,
mechanism substantially such as described to impart reciprocating movement to the
punch slide; a toggle or toggles, one link I of which is hung to the slide which
carries the holding surface, the other link J being hung to a fixed point in the frame,
and constructed with a slot parallel with the line between its fixed point of connection
with the frame and its point of connection with the other link I, the said slot being
curved at the fixed end and toward the fixed point and the punch slide provided with
an extension into said slot, so as to work therein under the reciprocating movement
of the punch slide substantially as described, whereby under such up and down
reciprocating movement of the slide the corresponding contracting and extending
movements are imparted to said link, and thence to the holding slide.
Second. In a double action power-press, the combination of the vertical slide
carrying the movable holding surface, a vertically movable slide carrying the punch;
mechanism substantially such as described to impart reciprocating movement to the
punch slide; a toggle or toggles, consisting of the two pair of links I, J, hinged
together, the lower ends of the links I being hung to the said holding-surface-slide,
and the upper ends of the links J hung to a fixed point in the frame, the said links J
being constructed with slots K parallel with the line between the fixed point upon
which the said links J are hung, and the point at which they are connected to the
other links I, the upper end of the said slots K being turned inward toward the fixed
point upon which the links J are bung, a shaft M. fixed to the punch slide, and
extending through the slot in the link or links J and the frame provided with

page_text: vertical grooves O into which the ends of the said shaft M extend the said grooves
serving as vertical working guides, substantially as described.
Third. The herein described means for effecting the adjustment of the fixed die of
power-presses, consisting of the die-holder S constructed with a tubular shank extending
into a corresponding opening in the bed of the machine, the said shank being
externally screw-threaded, the said die-holder being provided with fixed bolts 2
extending through corresponding ears on the bed, combined with a nut U around the
shank of the die holder, and between the holder proper and the bed, substantially as
described.
Fourth. In a power-press, the combination of the reciprocating punch-carrying
slide D, constructed with a vertical cavity in its lower end to receive a punch holder,
the said slide being also constructed with a transverse recess f above said cavity, the
said punch holder being arranged in said cavity, and constructed with a screw-threaded
shank e extending vertically upward from said cavity through said recess f; and a nut g
in said transverse recess, corresponding in thickness with the height of said recess, the
said nut being screw-threaded to correspond to the screw-threaded shank of the
die-holder, all substantially as described.
n
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.