Patent ID: 7484922

Claim:
Apparatus for transporting workpieces in a press, press-line, large component transfer press or simulator comprising at least one machining station and a respective upright member alongside each machining station, the workpieces being transported in a workpiece transport plane in a workpiece transport direction which carries the workpieces sequentially to, into and away from a machining station, each said transporting apparatus being vertically displaceably mounted on a respective one of said upright members, the transporting apparatus comprising an articulated arm comprising first and second arm parts, the first arm part having a first end at which the first arm part is pivotably mounted for pivoting about a first axis perpendicular to the transport direction and parallel to and above the transport plane, and a second end, the second arm part being shorter than the first arm part and having a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotably mounted on the second end of the first arm part for pivoting about a second axis perpendicular to the transport direction and parallel to and below the transport plane with the second end of the second arm part above the transport plane; a cross member mounted at the second end of the second arm part and extending transversely of the transport direction; a regulatable lift device operatively connected to the articulated arm for moving the articulated arm vertically on the upright member, wherein the regulatable lift device comprises a carriage at which the pivotable mounting of the first arm part at the first end thereof is located, a pair of parallel vertical racks to which the carriage is operatively connected, two pinions each engaging a respective one of the racks, and two motors each connected to a respective one of the pinions for rotationally driving the pinions; and a toothed wheel rotatably mounted on the arm and wherein the racks engage the toothed wheel at diametrically opposed locations on the toothed wheel, whereby driving of the pinions in unison and/or selectively results in vertical movement and/or pivoting movements of the arm.