Patent ID: 6910362

Claim:
A tilt mechanism for a transfer rail that is used to support a plurality of grippers for engaging and moving workpieces between a series of spaced apart work stations in a linear transfer press, the transfer rail forming part of a press transfer system of the type having a drive mechanism to impart three dimensional movement to the transfer rail, the tilt mechanism comprising: (i) at least one connector securing said transfer rail to said drive mechanism and permitting said drive mechanism to impart three dimensional movement to said transfer rail, said connector further permitting said transfer rail to be rotated, relative to said drive mechanism, about an axis parallel thereto; and, (ii) at least one actuator operatively connected to said drive mechanism and to said transfer rail, said actuator operable between an engaged and a disengaged position, when in said disengaged position said actuator causing said transfer rail to support said grippers in an orientation with said grippers generally extending toward said work stations, when moving from said disengaged to said engaged position said actuator causing said transfer rail to rotate about an axis parallel thereto and causing said transfer rail to support said grippers in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of said workpieces between said work stations to facilitate access to said grippers and said work stations.