Patent ID: 7128195

Claim:
In a transfer system for transferring workpieces between successive die stations in a stamping press having a left side, a right side, a front side and a back side, and including at least one elongate bar having a series of workpiece grippers mounted thereon for engaging workpieces at the successive die stations, a primary support arrangement adapted for mounting adjacent said stamping press, two elongate support beams mounted on said primary support arrangement and positioned on first and second opposite sides of said stamping press during use of said transfer system, and two mounting heads mounted on each support beam and horizontally movable on their respective support beam, the improvement wherein each mounting head is independently movable on its respective support beam and is selectively connectible by means of one of said at least one elongate bar to either the other mounting head mounted on the same support beam for the purpose of transferring said workpieces in a left-right flow direction relative to said press or an opposing one of the mounting heads mounted on the other support beam for the purpose of transferring said workpieces in a front-back flow direction relative to said press, and wherein each mounting head includes a coupling for detachably connecting one of said at least one bar to the mounting head, a vertical transport mechanism for moving said coupling vertically, and a lateral transport mechanism for moving said coupling in a front-back direction relative to said press, and wherein said transfer system also includes longitudinal transport drive systems for moving each of said mounting heads in a left-right direction relative to said press.