Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR
WORKPIECE TRANSFER SYSTEM
This invention relates to transfer systems for transferring
workpieces between successive die stations in a stamping press and to
components for use in such systems.
It is well known for metal fabrication and stamping industries to
use automated systems for conveying or transferring workpieces
between workstations where particular operations are carried out.
Many metal parts on automobiles and appliances are formed by means
of a stamping procedure employing a series of dies that are situated on
a number of aligned workstations within the bed of a transfer press.
Known automated transfer systems can grasp a workpiece, remove it
IS from one set of dies, and then transport it longitudinally through the
press bed to the next adjacent station where it can be stamped a
further time with another set of dies.
One such known workpiece transfer system is described and
illustrated in co-pending U.S. patent application No. 10/805,787 filed
March 22, 2004 and entitled WORKPIECE TRANSFER SYSTEM FOR
STAMPING PRESS. This known transfer system includes at least one
and preferably two elongate bars each having a series of workpiece
grippers mounted thereon for engaging workpieces. It is also possible
for this system to support four such bars with one bar mounted on
each mounting head. A primary support arrangement is mounted
adjacent the stamping press and two elongate support beams are
mounted on this arrangement and positioned on opposite sides of the
stamping press. One or two mounting heads are mounted on each
support beam and are horizontally movable in the longitudinal direction
on their respective support beam. Each mounting head includes a
coupling for detachably connecting one of the elongate bars to the
mounting head. The mounting head further includes a vertical transfer
mechanism for
moving the coupling vertically and a lateral transfer mechanism for
moving the coupling in a front-back direction relative to the press.
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In addition to making such a transfer system as reliable and as
maintenance free as possible and to making them sufficiently flexible
that they can be adapted to carry out a wide variety of transferring
operations on different workpieces, it is also desirable to reduce the
energy consumption required for operation of the transfer system.
Energy, particularly in the form of electrical power, is a major portion
of the expense in the operation of relatively heavy machinery of this
type and generally speaking, energy is becoming more expensive as
the price of oil and natural gas increases and the availability of further
hydro-electric sources is reduced in relation to overall energy
consumption. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
considerable energy can be consumed in not only raising and lowering
the workpieces as they move through the stamping press but also in
raising and lowering the elongate bars on which the workpieces
grippers are mounted and the support sections of the mounting heads
that are raised and lowered with the bars. However, if one endeavors
to reduce the weight of the major support components of the transfer
system, one must at the same time maintain the necessary rigidity of
the moving components of the mounting heads, for example, in order
for the transfer system to operate correctly and within operational
requirements so that the workpieces are stamped and shaped
properly.
Another known form of workpiece transfer system is that
described in U.S. Patent No. 6,792,787 issued September 21, 2004 to
HMS Products, Co. One side of this known transfer assembly includes a
horizontal carrier beam that extends in the longitudinal direction of the
press, which beam can be moved vertically, and a pair of horizontal
arms that extend transversely to the carrier beam for supporting and
moving a transfer bar into and out of the press. A horizontal drive
system is provided for moving the arms laterally and horizontally and
this system includes a pair of so-called trolleys suspended from the
carrier beam and movable along a pair of horizontal tracks. A
transverse drive motor is connected via a shaft to a rack-in-pinion
drive associated with a transverse track for moving each arm laterally.
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Alternatively, a drive belt can be used to move each of the horizontal
arms into and out of the press.
An improved support assembly for use in a die transfer system
is disclosed, this support assembly including a support body which is
constructed substantially of lightweight aluminum alloy panels
connected together by adhesive.
There is also disclosed herein an improved support assembly for
use in a die transfer system that includes a support body adapted for
slidably mounting a support member on which can be mounted a
transfer bar, the support body having a vertically extending body
section with a front side, a vertical rear side and a vertical guide rail
arrangement for facilitating vertical movement.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a
support assembly for use in a die transfer system for transferring
workpieces between successive die stations, this support assembly
during use of the die transfer system being movable vertically on a
carriage assembly and movably supporting a transfer bar having
workpiece engaging devices mounted thereon. The support assembly
comprises a support body adapted for slidably mounting a support
member having a forward end on which the transfer bar is mounted
during use of the die transfer system. The support body is constructed
substantially of aluminum alloy panels and adhesive which rigidly
connects together the panels. There is also a drive system for moving
the support member relative to the support body.
Preferably the support body has a vertical body section and a
horizontal body section extending rearwardly from a bottom end
portion of the vertical section. The preferred vertical body section is
constructed of vertically extending front and rear panels, vertically
extending side panels and a series of horizontally extending, spaced-
apart connecting panels.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a
support assembly for use in a die transfer system for transferring
workpieces between successive die stations in a stamping press, this
support assembly during use of the die transfer system being movable
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on a support apparatus of the die transfer system and movably
supporting a transfer bar having workpiece engaging devices thereon.
This support assembly comprises a support body adapted for slidably
mounting a support device having an end on which the transfer bar
can be mounted. The support body has a vertically extending body
section with an upper end and a bottom end, a front side adapted to
face towards one side of the stamping press during use thereof, a
vertical rear side, and a vertical guide rail arrangement for facilitating
vertical movement of the support body relative to the support
apparatus. The body section includes a first front panel forming the
front side, a second panel extending vertically and spaced from the
front panel, two side panels extending between and connecting the
first and second panels and located on opposite sides of the body
section, and a series of spaced-apart connecting panels extending
between and rigidly joining the first and second panels. The support
assembly further includes a drive system for moving the support
device relative to the support body. This drive system includes a drive
motor mounted to and supported by the body section and having at
least a major portion thereof located within the body section. A drive
pulley is operatively connected for rotation by the drive motor and is
located within the body section. A drive belt extends around the drive
pulley and is adapted for connection to the support device. The drive
belt in use extends through the bottom end of the support body for
connection to the support device.
In a preferred embodiment, the connection panels extend
substantially horizontally during use of the support assembly and
include a bottom panel with at least one aperture, a top panel and at
least three intermediate panels distributed between the bottom and
top panels.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a
lightweight support assembly for use in a die transfer system for
transferring workpieces, this support assembly during use of the
system being movable by a power drive unit. The support assembly
comprises a support body adapted for movably mounting a support
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member and includes outer panels forming exterior sides of the
support member and connected to one another along adjacent edges
thereof and interior connecting panels extending between and
connecting at least two of the outer panels. The outer panels and
5 connecting panels being made substantially of aluminum alloy and
being rigidly connected together by a suitable adhesive. This support
assembly further includes at least a drive component of the power
drive unit mounted on the support body.
The preferred aluminum alloy is aluminum alloy 6061.
Further features and advantages will become apparent from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan view of a stamping press and transfer system
incorporating the support assembly of the invention with a mezzanine
of the press not shown for sake of illustration;
Figure 2 is a side view of the stamping press and transfer
system of figure 1 with a known feeder mechanism being shown on the
left side of the platform on which the stamping press is mounted;
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the stamping press and transfer
system with the feeder mechanism and control panels omitted for
clarity;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a movable support body for a
mounting head used in the transfer system, this view being taken from
above, showing the beam facing side and left side of the support
assembly, and showing a servo-motor partially projecting from the left
side of the body;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the support body of Figure 4,
this view being taken from above and showing the vertical side thereof
that faces away from the beam;
Figure 6 is an exploded view of the movable support body of
Figures 4 and 5 showing many of the components and plates used to
construct the support body;
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Figure 7 is an exploded view of the support assembly including
working components with the main portion of the support body being
seen from above and from the beam facing side;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of an assembled movable support
assembly, this view being taken from below showing the assembly with
the right side panel removed for sake of illustration;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the vertical panels used
in the support body;
Figure 10 is an exploded detail view of a central portion of the
support assembly, this view being taken in the encircled area indicated
in Figure 7;
Figure 11 is a perspective view taken from above and from a
rear side thereof, this view showing a carriage assembly on which the
support assembly of Figures 7 and 8 can be mounted for vertical and
horizontal movements; and
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the support member which
can be slidably mounted on the support assembly, this view showing
the top side and the front end.
Illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 is a stamping press 10, the
construction of which is known per se in the metal stamping industry.
This stamping press is fitted with an improved die transfer system 12
for transferring workpieces between successive die stations in the
stamping press. An example of such a known press is the model 2000T
Jinan Toledo Press which has a bolster measuring 240 inches by 96
inches and a stroke of 30 inches. The press is symmetrical about a
longitudinal center line L so that the front side 26 of the press is
similar in its appearance to the rear or backside 28. Located at one
end of the press there can be provided a feeder 302 to feed workpieces
to the press. Also shown is an electrical box 304 for the system and a
standard operator's console 306. The press includes four steel corner
pillars including pillars 90, 92 which can be constructed of large steel
beams. A series of die stations (not shown) are arranged in a row or
rows on a bolster 94 arranged between the pillars. Additional features
of the press shown in Figure 3 include the crown 308 of the press, an
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end window 310, and a press mezzanine 312. With the known die
transfer system described and illustrated in the assignee's co-pending
U.S. patent application No. 10/805,787 filed March 22, 2004, the
specification and drawings of which are incorporated herein by
reference, parts can be transferred between successive die stations by
either a left-right part flow or a front-back part flow. As used herein,
the term "left-right part flow" refers to and includes not only a flow of
parts in the left to right direction of the press but also in the right to
left direction of the press. Similarly, the expression °front-back part
flow" when used herein shall refer to include part flow that is either
from the front side 26 towards the rear side 28 or in the opposite rear
to front direction where the context permits.
In order to transfer the parts or workpieces between the work
stations using the transfer system, this system is equipped with at
least one transfer rail or transfer bar (not shown) situated adjacent to
the press bed and aligned with the various work stations. It will be
appreciated that the bars extend horizontally in the longitudinal
direction of the press in order to transfer workpieces in the longitudinal
direction. As is well known, the transfer rail is equipped with a series of
workpiece grippers, fingers, or suction devices, herein also referred to
as workpiece engaging devices, which are of standard or custom
construction and which are mounted either directly or indirectly on the
transfer rail. As these grippers or holding devices are of known
construction in the metal stamping industry, a detailed description
thereof in the present application is deemed unnecessary. It will be
appreciated, however, that the support assembly of the present
invention facilitates the support of and movement of these grippers
and the transfer rail to which they are attached.
The transfer system preferably has four vertical beam
supporting posts 14, one at each corner of the press with two at the
front and two at the rear 28 of the press (but it is known to construct
such a system without the posts 14). Each post is adapted for
mounting to the stamping press 10 and, in particular, can be mounted
to the aforementioned pillars 90, 92. There are two elongate support
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beams 16 mounted on the posts for vertical movement and positioned
on the front and rear sides respectively of the press. Each end of each
support beam is movably mounted on a respective one of the posts 14
and there is a vertical drive unit 18 at each end of the beam for
moving same upwardly or downwardly. The vertical drive unit can be a
jackscrew fixedly mounted on a respective one of the posts 14 and a
screw jack that rotatably engages the jackscrew. If the posts 14 and
the jackscrew units are not provided, then the support beams do not
move vertically in the transfer system.
Preferably two mounting heads 20 and 22 are mounted on each
support beam and are horizontally movable on the beam in the
longitudinal direction. The present invention relates to an improved
movable support body or support as illustrated in Figures 4 to 8, the
support assembly being a main component of each mounting head 20,
22. In the preferred form of the transfer system 12, the mounting
heads are independently movable on their respective support beams
and each is selectively connectible by means of the transfer bar or rail
to either the mounting head located on the same beam or a mounting
head on the opposite beam 16, depending on the desired direction of
workpiece flow. Although two mounting heads on each beam are
preferred, it is also possible to construct a transfer system employing
the support assembly of the invention with only one mounting head
mounted on a single support beam for horizontal movement or,
alternatively, a transfer system having two independent mounting
heads located on opposite sides of the press and each mounted on its
own support beam.
Each of the mounting heads 20, 22 include a carriage assembly
100 which is shown separately in Figure 11 and which can also be
referred to as a support apparatus. The carriage assembly can be
constructed in a manner similar to that illustrated and described in
applicant's co-pending U.S. patent application No. 10/805,787 entitled
~~WORKPIECE TRANSFER SYSTEM FOR STAMPING PRESS" and
therefore a detailed description of this component herein is deemed
unnecessary. The support assembly 25 is mounted for vertical
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movement on the carriage assembly or support apparatus 100 which in
turn is mounted for horizontal movement on its respective support
beam 16. The illustrated carriage assembly includes a support bracket
102 which is substantially rectangular in shape and extends vertically.
S The support assembly 25 is slidably mounted on the side 105 for
vertical movement while the opposite side 104 is adapted for slidably
connecting the carriage assembly to the support beam for horizontal
movement via ball slides 108 located along the top and bottom of the
bracket 102. In order to slidably support the support assembly 25,
there can be four ball slides 108 which engage two guide rails on the
beam. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the transfer art that
the support assembly 25 can be mounted on other forms of support
apparatus (not shown) for various types of movement along different
axes.
IS A drive motor 112, which is part of a ball screw drive assembly,
is mounted at the top of the carriage assembly and optionally is
equipped with a blower. The motor 112 can be a servo-motor mounted
on a 90 degree gearhead 114. The gearhead housing is mounted to
coupling housing 116. Projecting from the surface 105 is a support
bracket 124 which includes horizontal support plate 126. Mounted on
the plate 126 is the ball screw drive assembly which provides a vertical
drive system for moving the support assembly 25 relative to the
carriage assembly in the vertical direction. Figure 11 also shows a
cable track 132 and an electrical box for connecting same so that wires
and cables can be connected to the ball screw drive motor 112.
Turning now to the construction of the support assembly 25
itself, this new support assembly has been constructed so that it is
relatively light, making it maneuverable quickly and easily with
relatively low power consumption while at the same time the support
assembly is sufficiently rigid and strong to enable it to properly support
and hold a support member or support device 140, also referred to as
a Y-slide because of its ability to move in the lateral, horizontal
direction. The support member or support device 140, one form of
which is shown separately in Figure 12, can be constructed in a
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manner similar to that described in the assignee's co-pending U.S.
patent application No. 10/805,787 and accordingly a detailed
description herein is deemed unnecessary. The illustrated support
member 140 is generally flat and rectangular in plan view. It has a top
5 cover plate 280 with an elongate slot 282 formed therein. Extending
along opposite longitudinal sides on the top of the member 140 are
two guide rails 283, 284 which are engaged by ball slides on the
bottom of the support assembly 25. Two quick connect couplings
286,288 (see Figure 12) are mounted on the front end. Each coupling
10 is for detachably connecting one of the elongate transfer bars of the
system. In order to provide sufficient strength and rigidity, the
preferred material for the various panels which make up the support
assembly is an aluminum alloy. A preferred alloy is aluminum alloy
6061-T6 while an alternative alloy is aluminum alloy 2024-T3. The end
designation T6 or T3 used in identifying these aluminum alloys is a well
known code used in the aluminum alloy industry to indicate the
tempering process used. Some less preferred versions of the support
assembly described herein can be made of sheet steel, such as 1020
Steel, but such assemblies are generally substantially heavier. A
preferred thickness of the alloy panels used in the support assembly is
50/1000ths inch. Preferably, these panels are rigidly connected
together by means of a suitable adhesive in order to form the support
body of the assembly 25. One suitable adhesive is one made by
Devcon, namely Dev-thane 5 (a trademark). This adhesive was
chosen because it does not require the application of heat for proper
curing and this increased the simplicity of the manufacturing process
and avoided the need for a furnace to heat the assembly box. This
adhesive also requires minimal surface preparation, namely remove
any oxidation from the surface and rub with alcohol. The adhesive is
applied as a continuous bead using a pneumatic applicator. It is
relatively easy to use and avoids the need to drill and align holes for
rivets or other metal fasteners. By the use of aluminum alloy panels
and adhesive as described herein, the weight of the support assembly
can be cut to about 200 Ibs for many systems which is one half or less
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the weight of comparable steel assemblies. In addition to Dev-Thane
5, other possible adhesives for constructing the support assembly are
the following: 3M DP-810 Tan, 3M DP-820 Yellow, 3M VHB, Devcon HP
250, Devcon Metal Welder, Hysol EA 9309.3NA, Hysol H4500.
However, one disadvantage of all these alternative adhesives is that,
although they do not require the application of heat for curing, they all
require at least 24 hours to cure. Dev-Thane 5 on the other hand can
cure in only 8 hours.
The preferred support body includes a vertical body section 26
and a short horizontal body section 28 extending rearwardly from a
bottom end portion of the vertical body section. The vertical body
section is constructed of vertically extending front and rear panels 36
and 42, vertically extending side panels 30, 32, which are generally L-
shaped, and a series of horizontally extending, spaced-apart
connecting panels, the latter extending between and connecting the
front and rear panels as well as the side panels. As indicated,
substantially all or all of these panels are preferably constructed of
aluminum alloy. Preferably two angle members or strips 320 extend
along and reinforce the two front vertical corner edges where the front
panel 36 meets the side panels. Preferably the connecting panels
include a top panel 50, a bottom panel 52 and three, four or more
spaced-apart intermediate connecting panels or brace panels, including
panels 44 to 48. The intermediate panels are located between the top
and bottom panels and are distributed substantially evenly between
these panels as shown with the smaller panels 47, 48 being next to
each other at the same height. Each of the top and intermediate panels
are preferably formed with edge flanges 142 to allow adhesive
connection between the respective panel and the adjacent panels. In
the case of the top panel 50, the flanges 142 extend downwardly and
connect the top panel to the front panel 36, the rear panel 42 and two
short, upper, channel-shaped frame members 144, 146. In the case of
the connecting panels 44 to 46, the edge flanges can extend upwardly
and these panels are connected to the front and rear panels and the
two side panels 30, 32. If desired, each of these connecting panels can
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be formed with two access apertures 148 for wiring or cables. The top
panel 50 can also be formed with two apertures 150 located at
opposite ends of the panel, these apertures being for cable access.
The front panel 36 is preferably formed with a plurality of access
openings 152 in order to allow necessary access to working
components in the interior of the support body. As illustrated, the
panel 36 has six such openings including two upper openings allowing
access to the internal space between panels 44 and 45 (where an
pneumatic accumulator 250 can optionally be located) and four lower
openings allowing access to the internal space between panels 46 and
47, 48 (where a servo motor and pulley to be described are located)
and the space between the panels 47, 48, and the bottom panel 52.
Preferably the openings in the front panel are provided with removable
covers 156 that can, for example, be attached and reconnected by
means of sheet metal screws (not shown). The rear panel 42 can also
be provided with a plurality of access openings 154.
A preferred construction for the rear panel 42 is shown in Figure
9 where this panel is shown separately. The panel includes a large,
planar central section 158 and two vertically extending L-shaped edge
flanges 160, 162. A relatively short, bottom flange 164 can also be
provided for adhesively attaching the bottom panel 52. Outwardly
projecting corner flanges 166 extend horizontally from the bottom
ends of the flanges 160, 162 and are located at opposite ends of the
flange 164. Each of the vertical flanges 160, 162 can be provided with
a series of attachment holes 168 extending downwardly from the top
of the flange. These holes are provided for detachably connecting two
vertical guide rails 55-, 56. These guide rails are mounted respectively
along vertical rear edges 170, 172 of the flange sections. The guide
rails 55, 56 are engaged by the aforementioned ball slides 110 on the
carriage assembly.
Also mounted adjacent to the guide rails and forming part of the
support assembly are two triangular support brackets 76, 78, each of
which is substantially planar and made of aluminum alloy. To further
reduce weight, each of these brackets can be formed with triangular
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openings 175, 176 (see Figure 10). These brackets project inwardly
towards one another and each is connected along one long edge
section to a respective one of the rear edges of the edge flanges 160,
162. A horizontal support plate 75 is provided about midway along the
S height of the rear panel 42 and it is supported by the support brackets
76, 78 which are connected to the support plate by means of screws
178 and by the rear panel. A ball nut 80 is mounted in the support
plate 75. It will be understood that a ball screw 290 (see Figure li) of
standard construction extends through the ball nut and, by this
engagement, the support assembly 25 can be moved upwardly or
downwardly. The ball nut is part of the aforementioned vertical drive
system for moving the support assembly. An alternative form of
vertical drive system that can be used to move the support assembly
upwardly or downwardly is a rack and pinion drive system, a well
known type of drive system for moving one machine assembly relative
to another.
Returning to the construction of each of the brackets 76, 78, in
addition to the triangular section visible in Figure 10, each bracket has
an elongate upper extension 180 that extends to the top of the
adjacent side panel 30, 32. Also, each bracket is formed with a series
of screw holes 182 that extend in a straight line from the bottom end
to the top end of the bracket. These screw holes are aligned with screw
holes in the guide rails 55, 56 and with the holes 168 formed in the
rear edges i70, 172. In this way, a number of screws can be used to
securely connect together each guide rail 55, 56 to an adjacent
support bracket 76, 78 and to the adjacent rear edge 170, 172. In
addition, a reinforcing aluminum alloy strip 292 can be attached by the
same screws to the forward facing surface of each rear edge section
170, 172 to provide additional strength. The strip 292 also is formed
with a number of screw holes to receive the screws. This results in a
very strong mounting arrangement for the support assembly that
allows for a vertical, sliding movement.
The preferred construction for each of the side panels 30, 32 can
be seen from Figure 7. The side panel 30 can be provided with an
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access opening 182 allowing side access to the internal space between
panels 46 and 47 and allowing a servo motor 60 to partially project
from the side of the support assembly 25 as shown in Figure 4.
Inwardly extending edge flanges 184, 186 can be provided for
adhesively connecting the horizontally projecting portion of the side
panel to a bent panel 34 that connects together the two side panels.
Elongate, bottom strips 188 can be connected to the bottom side
edges of the support assembly as illustrated in Figure 8.
With respect to the construction of the bottom panel or bottom
panel member 52, it is preferably a flat, aluminum alloy panel that
forms a bottom end of the support body, including a bottom of the
horizontal body section 28. The preferred bottom panel has three
apertures which can have a rectangular shape, these apertures
indicated at 190 to 192. A drive belt 62 which is part of a drive system
for moving the support member 140 relative to the support body
extends through the aperture 191 as shown in Figure 8. Rotatably
mounted directly above the aperture 191 are two idler pulleys 68, 70
and the belt 62 extends between these pulleys. Extending along two
opposite edges of the panel member 52 in the front to rear direction
are two angle members 314, each with an upwardly extending portion
316 to which the adjacent side panel 30, 32 is connected by adhesive.
Preferably a reinforcing strip 318 is bonded to the top of the horizontal
portion of each angle member to provide additional bottom edge
strength and rigidity. The bottom panel is further supported by two
interior support panels 194, one of which is shown separately in Figure
6. Each of these support panels has edge flanges 196 formed along all
four edges to provide means for adhesively connecting the support
panel to the bottom panel, the bent panel 34 and to the rear panel 42.
Each panel 194 can be provided with an access aperture 198. Also, two
further interior support panels 200 can be provided between the rear
and front panels 42 and 36 and these can be formed with three edge
flanges including top flange 201, outwardly projecting bottom flange
202 and a vertical flange 203, the latter for connection to the bottom
end of the front panel 36. Top flange 201 is connected to a respective
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one of the panels 47, 48. Again, there is preferably provided in each
support panel 200 an access opening 204. Providing additional
strength and support capability in the lower section of the support
assembly is a vertical, central partition wall 206 located midway
5 between the two side panels 30, 32 and having two apertures formed
therein. The wall 206 provides support for the electric servo-motor 60
and its gearhead (see Figure 7) which are part of a lateral transfer
mechanism that includes a belt drive system. The motor 60 is used to
drive the aforementioned drive belt 62. This motor is mounted on the
10 straight gearhead 64. This gearhead is connected to the drive pulley
66 around which the belt 62 extends. The pulley 66 is secured to its
drive shaft by a taper lock ring 330. The gearhead 64 is mounted by its
mounting plate and screws or bolts to the partition wall 206. Thus the
drive pulley is located in the internal compartment between the panel
15 46 and the panel 48. Panel 48 has a large aperture for passage of the
belt 62 downwardly from the pulley 66. The partition wall 206 is fixedly
connected to at least two of the connecting panels and in the preferred
illustrated version, panel 206 is connected to both panels 47 and 48,
rear panel 46 and bottom panel 52, preferably by means of adhesive.
Instead of the illustrated preferred belt drive system, an alterative
lateral transfer drive that can be used is a rack and pinion drive
system. The horizontal body section of the support body is covered on
one side and on the top by means of the aforementioned bent panel
34. The panel 34 has two rectangular openings 210 and 212 formed
therein in order to provide access to bolts connecting two ball slides 86
(see below) and for cable access. Preferably removable rectangular
cover plates 38, 40 are provided to cover the openings 210, 212.
These can be held in place by standard sheet metal screws distributed
about the perimeter of each cover plate. The bent plate 34 also has an
upper edge flange 214 to facilitate adhesively connecting the plate to
the panel 42.
Mounted on the bottom of the bottom plate 52 are four ball
slides 86 which can be seen in Figure 8. Two of these ball slides are
located adjacent each of the side panels 30, 32. These ball slides
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engage the two rails 283, 284 provided on the top side of the support
member 140. As indicated, a lateral drive system, including the drive
belt 62 is provided to move the support member 140 relative to the
support body or support assembly 25 in the lateral direction.
As can be seen from Figures 4 and 7, the two side panels 30, 32
form the outer sides of two vertical wall sections indicated at 220 and
222, these wall sections extending rearwardly from the rear panel 42.
The inner sides of these wall sections are formed by the
aforementioned edge flanges 160, 162 of the real panel 42. The two
guide rails 55, 56 are mounted respectively along the vertical rear
edges 170, 172. Each of the aforementioned support brackets 76, 78
is connected along one edge to a respective one of these wall sections.
One improvement of the present support assembly is the
location of the servo-motor 60 which is the drive motor for the belt
drive system illustrated in Figure 7. In particular, the preferred,
illustrated construction of the support assembly 25 enables at least a
major portion of the servo-motor to be located within the body section
where it is substantially protected by the support body. The present
support assembly 25 is constructed to hold the servo motor within
itself as much as possible. The result is that the complete support
assembly takes up less room in the widthwise direction and this in turn
can provide a better range of longitudinal movement along the beam.
It will also be appreciated that in order to accommodate the
vertical ball screw, the rear side of the support assembly is formed
with the vertical channel 225 located between the aforementioned
flange sections 220, 222 and extending most of the width of the
support body. One side of this channel is formed by the panel 42 and
the support plate 75 is mounted in this channel approximately midway
between the bottom and upper ends of the vertically extending body
section.
With further reference to the detail view of Figure I0, there is
shown in this figure components used in combination with the ball nut
80. Arranged on top of the ball nut are two annular brushes 226, 227
and axially aligned with these brushes is retaining ring 228. The
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brushes act as cleaners for the ball screw 290. Mounted above the
ring is a grease reservoir or cap 230 for the ball screw. Extending
downwardly through four holes in the plate 75 are four hexagon socket
head cap screws which are used to mount a Z-box plate 234 disposed
below the plate 75. The plate 234 has a central hole to capture the
bottom of the ball nut and prevent its rotation. Located below the plate
234 is a circular, ball nut flange 82 which is connected by four hexagon
cap screws 238 to the plate 234 and which has a circular central
opening through which the ball screw extends. The flange 82 is
internally threaded and can be threaded onto threads formed on the
bottom of the ball nut in order to secure same. A further annular
brush 240 is connected by four end clamps to the flange 82.
Mounted in the support assembly between connecting plates 44
and 45 is a pneumatic accumulator 250 (optional) connected at each
end to the plate 44 by means of U-brackets 252, 254. The brackets are
glued in place to the plate 44. The accumulator is only required for
some stamping press applications. It stores a volume of pressurized
air that can be provided on demand to the transfer bar by an airline
(not shown). Also, bolted to the top of the plate 45 and shown in
Figure 7 is a solenoid pack 256 which is required if the system has the
accumulator 250 with which it is used. The solenoid pack is application
specific and is not required for all transfer systems. The solenoid pack
is used to control the grippers, lifters, or pneumatic actuators on the
transfer bar.
Mounted within the vertical channel of the support assembly is a
standard grease cup 260 to provide grease under pressure to the ball
nut (by means of a line not shown). This cup is located near the upper
end of the support assembly and is supported on a small plate 325.
Extending down from the bottom plate member of the support
assembly is a bracket 328 for a cable track that extends between the
support assembly 25 and the support member 140, whereby electrical
power can be provided to components mounted on the member 140 in
order to operate the transfer system. The bracket 328 projects into
the slot 282 in the top of the support member.
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1g
Of course it will be appreciated that suitable control stops are
used on the support assembly to limit and control the amount of
vertical and horizontal movement.
If desired, some or all of the exterior panel joints can be
reinforced or strengthened further by the use of a suitable number of
rivets in addition to the adhesive. The use of rivets as well may be
desirable for some heavy duty applications.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the construction of die
transfer systems that various modifications and changes can be made
to the above described die transfer system and support assembly
without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.
Accordingly, all such modifications and changes as fall within the scope
of the appended claims are intended to be part of this invention.
