Patent ID: 7114436

Claim:
A safety interlock and retraction apparatus for presses, comprising; one or more actuators connected between a frame of a press and a ram of said press, said press having a stroke actuator; and a control valve having a first output port and a second output port, said second output port connected with said actuators; and an activating valve having a first port and a second port and positioned with said press to substantially activate said activating valve second port when said ram reaches a predetermined position toward a work material and said first port is activated via said first output port of said control valve; and a piloted valve having an actuating port connected with said second port of said activating valve, a first input port connected with said first output port of said control valve, and a second output port connected with said stroke actuator; and an arm positioned to activate said activating valve when said ram moves sufficiently toward the work material; and whereby said one or more actuators cause said ram to retract when said second output port of said control valve is activated and allow said ram to displace toward said work material when said second output port of said control valve is not activated; and said stroke actuator further causing said ram to move toward said work material with full force only when said first output port of said control valve is activated and said second port of said activating valve is activated due to said ram reaching said predetermined position toward said work material.