Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1;~3599~5
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PRESS CONSTRUCTION
FIELD OF_THE_I VENTION
This inventi.on relates -to new and useful improvements
in press constr~ctions and is particularly concerned with a
press structure of the type that is opened and closed for
eaeh pressing operation~
SUMMAR~ OF THE INVENTION
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a press construction having a novel cabinet structure as well
as novel internal pressing strueture, sueh eabinet and internal
pressing structure providing strong support for a stationary
platen and for a movable platen assembly in all functions of a
pressing-operation; also sueh structure eontributes to eon-
venient access to the interior of the eabinet and also provides
interior room for mounting plumbing fixtures and control devi.ces
within the eabinet.
Another object is to provide a press construetion in-
eluding a stationary platen surfaee that is disposed for con-
venient loading and unloading of the press, and a horizontal
movable platen capable of retraeting while the press is being
loaded and unloaded.
Another objeet is to provide a press construction employ-
ing a pair of fluid operated expandable bags whieh open and
close the press in an effieient and fast press operation.
Another objeet is to provide a press eonstruetion of
a strueture that utilizes two or more fluid operated expandable
bags to aehieve inereased pressing power over that possible
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from a single fluid operated expandable bag. It is also an
object of such multiple bag arrangement to concentrate the
lifting power directly centered under the pressing area whereby
5 to prevent uneven pressing forces from being imparted by the
press and also to prevent twisting forces from developing in
the frame of the press.
Another object is to provide a press construction having
a novel combination of operator's station and pressing surface
10 such that multiple presses can be positioned selectively in
a factory and multiple-joint structural elements formed in
one operation.
Still another object is tc provide a press construction
having guided vertical movement of a movable platen assembly
15 to facilitate precise movement of the movable platen assembly
in a closing movement of the press.
In accomplishing these objectives, the press construction
includes a cabinet-type vertical support frame having a top
reinforced surface forming a first platen surface. A second
20 platen assembly is movable vertically in the support frame
and has a portion thereof disposed above the first platen
surface serving as a platen surface arranged to cooperate with
the latter for pressing articles. A pair of fluid operated
expandable bags are contained in the mechanism and operate both
25 to move the second platen assembly to an upper open press posi-
tion and to pull the second platen assembly downward in a
pressing operation. The second platen surface is on a carriage
movable on a carriage support of the second platen assembly
having depending arms extending to a lower portion of the
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support frame and integrated with a lower floor portion against
which one or more of the fluid operated expandable bags bears
for closing the press. The cabinet includes reinforced in-
tegral side walls which support stationary portions of the
press as well as the carriage throughout all functions of the
operation of the press. The particular construction of the
cabinet as well as the speciflc arrangement of the second platen
assembly forms an area within the cabinet convenient for mount-
ing operating and control mechanism and for convenient access
to such area. Guide means are provided between the support
frame and the second platen assembly to guide the latter in a
stable vertical direction. Power means are associated with
the fluid operated expandable bags as well as with the carriage
for operating these portions, and such power means have a novel
control and function for closing the press, raising and lower-
ing of the second platen assembly, and opening of the press.
A modified structure of the press is provided that uses
multiple fluid operated expandable bags for increasing pressing
power.
The invention will be better understood and additional
objects and advantages will become apparent from the following
description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
_RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first form of press
construction embodying features of the instant invention;
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line2-2 of Figure l;
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Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line
3-3 of Figure 2;
Fiyure 4 is a schematic diagram of power and control
circuits for operation of the press, this view showing the
condition of the controls in a rest position of the press;
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the
condition of -the controls with the press in one stage of its
operation;
Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of a second form
of press construction embodying features of the instant in-
vention, this view being taken similar to Figure 2 of the
first embodiment;
Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line
7-7 of Figure 6; and
Figure 8 is an enlarged exp~oded view of connector
structure for a fluid operated expandable bag used in the
embodiment of Figures 6 and 7 and a supply manifold therefor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With particular reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a press
of the invention comprises a cabinet or housing 10 having a
substantially heavy framework capable of producing and bearing
a somewhat elevated pressure of platen load. Such framework
comprises side frames made up of longitudinal frame members 12
with a solid plate wall 14 integrated on the inner side thereof
and also including upright vertical reinforcing frame members
16. The side frames are connected by upper and lower lateral
frame members 18 at the front and rear of the cabinet.
The cabinet has a top plate surface 24 which serves as a
first or stationary platen surface. Platen 24 in the area of
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pressing forces, as will be more apparent hereinafter, is
heavily reinforced by cross frame members 26 welded or other-
wise fixedly secured thereto and welded or otherwise secured
to the side frames. Frame members 26 have integral reinforcing
plates or webs 28 therebetween. The top plate 24 supports a
laterally extending upright guard 30 secured thereto at a
point inteLmediate the front and rear of the press, and such
top plate has a centralized opening 32 which extends rearwardly
of the guard 30 and opens through the rear of the cabinet. An
enclosed hood 34 having a flanged support 36 on the plate 24 ex-
tends over the s]ot 32 for enclosing a movable carriage
structure, to be described. Hood 34 has a front opening 38.
A second platen assembly 40 includes a C-shaped carriage
platen 40a with forwardly projecting upper and lower portions,
the upper portion being arranged to project through the
opening 38 in the hood 34 in a pressing position of the press
but to be enclosed within the hood in a retracted position of
the press. The lower portion of the press extends under the
reinforced plate 24. Each of the upper and lower projecting
portions has a plurality of vertical, C-shaped frame members
42 integrated into a rugged assembly by a plurality of upright
plate-like frame members 44 and horizontal reinforcing plates
or webs 46 integrated with the other members by welding or
other suitable means. One of the horizontal reinforcing plates,
designated by the numeral 46a and disposed on the underside
of the horizontal opening formed by the C-shaped carriage,
comprises a plate surface arranged to cooperate with the platen
surface 24 for pressing articles, as will be more apparent
hereinafter.
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The carriage platen 40ais movably supported on a head
portion 50 of the second platen assembly, and such support is
by wheels 52 of the carriage operating on longitudinal tracks
54 integral with a pair of box-like side portions 56 of the
head disposed on each side of the carriage and secured together
at the front into a U-shaped structure by a horizontal cross
frame member 58 ar-d a vertical cross frame member 60. The
box-like side portions 56 are secured together at the rear by
a bottom cross frame member 62. Carriage platen 40ais driven
forwardly and rearwardly by a double acting fluid operated
cylinder 64 secured between an ear 66 integral with the carriage
and an ear 68 integral with the head portion 50. Forward and
retracting movements of the carriage platen 4Oaare shown by
arrows 69 in Figure 2. In this figure also, the carriage
platen 40ais shown in full lines in a forward position capable
of accomplishing a pressing function and is shown in broken
lines in a retracted position in the hood.
Carriage platen 40ahas a pair of integral longitudinal
bars 70 on the sides thereof which are in sliding contact
with the underside of the tracks 52. By such arrangement, the
carriage will move downwardly when the head portion 50 moves
down.
The cabinet 10 includes a lower horizontal stationary
wall 72. ~all 72 is integrally secured such as by welding,
to the reinforced side frames of the cabinet a short distance
above the bottom of the cabinet. This wall is reinforced by
vertical plates or webs 74. Head 50 has four depending arms
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78 secured, as by bolts 80, to the corners thereof. The lower
ends of these arms are secured, as by bolts 82, to a horizontal
drive plate 84 disposed below the wall 72 and heavily reinforced
by downwardly projecting plates or webs 86.
It is apparent that the second platen assembly includes
the carriage platen40a,the carriage supporting head 50, the
depending arms 78, and the drive plate assembly 84. The wall
72 provides vertical support for the entire second platen
assembly and also serves as a fixed abutment against which
pressing forces are exerted. In providing the vertical support
for the second platen assembly, wall 72 has a base member 88
secured across a front portion thereof for providing a support-
ing surface for a fluid operated expandable lifting bag 90.
Bag 90 is disposed between this base member and a bracket 92
bolted or otherwise secured laterally to the two front arms 78.
Upon expansion of the bag 90, the entire second platen assembly
is arranged to be driven upwardly. A second fluid operated
expandable pressing bag 94 is disposed between the stationary
wall 72 and the plate 84 of the second platen assembly. Upon
expansion of the bag 94 and contraction of bag 90, the second
platenassembly is forced downwardly in a pressing function,
namely, in the direction of arrow 96 in Figure 2, and as will
be seen hereinafter, pressing functions are accomplished by
alternate operation of the bags 90 and 94. Downward movement
of the second platenassembly pulls the carriage down through
the engagement of tracks 52 with the bars 70.
Vertical stabilized movement of the second platenassembly
is accomplished by upright shafts 100 on each side at the front,
1.~3594,5
such shaf-ts being integrated with the cabinet frame by means
of ears 102 and being slidably engaged by bushing blocks 104
integral with the second platen assembly. It is also desired
that the carriage platen 40ahave precise or stabilized vertical
5 movement in pressing operations. For this purpose, side
surfaces of the two outermost frame members 42 of the carriage
platen have roller tracks 106 secured thereto which are engage-
able by respective roller assemblies 108 secured to the top plate
24 of the cabinet. The bottom edges 110 of tracks 106 are
10 chamfered to provide unimpaired engagement of the rollers with
their tracks. The rollers and tracks are arranged such that
when the second platenassembly moves downwardly the rollers
and tracks will be in engagement and no side sway is possible.
In the upper position of the second platen assembly, the tracks
15 and rollers are out of engagement so that the carriage platen
can freely retract.
The primary structural support for the cabinet 10 comprises
the reinforced side wall frames and the upper and lower connecting
frame members 18 at the front and rear. The reinforced side
20 frames provide the necessary support for operation of the second
platen assembly and its carriage platen 40ain all ~unctions of
the press. In addition, this particular structure allows the
front and rear of the cabinet to include access doors, such as
a door 112 shown in Figure 1. Door 112 is broken away in this
25 figure to show internal construction of the press. In addition
to the specific structure of the framework as well as the
structure of the second platen assembly utilizing the depend-
ing arms 78 and the lower drive plate 84, the space within the
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_9_
cabinet between upper and lower structural parts is sub-
stantially vacant whereby various plumbing and control por-
tions for -the drive system can be mounted and easily reached
for installation or maintenance.
The control circuitry for the operation of the press
is shown in Flgures 4 and 5, Figure 4 showing the press in
a rest position wherein the carriage platen 40ais retracted
and Figure 5 showing the press in an operating condition. The
system shown for operating the press is a compressed air
system, and although such a system is preferred because
it is less expensive, quieter, and cleaner than hydraulic
systems, it is understood than an hydraulic system could
be employed.
A source 120 of compressed air is connected to the
air bags 90 and 94 through a 4-way main valve 122. The
system includes a conduit 124 leading from the source 120
to the valve 122 and auxiliary conduits 126 and 12~ lead-
ing from the valve 122 to the bags 90 and 94, respectively.
A muffler 130 is associated with the valve 122 to muffle
exhaust from the bags. It will be noted in Figure 4
that valve 122, in the rest position of the press, pro-
vides air to the lifting bag 90 but closes off air to the
pressing bag 94. In this condition of the system, the bag
90 will cause the second platen assembly to be lifted to a
non-pressing position. Air pressure source 120 also leads
to a 4-way control valve 132, by means of a conduit 134,
controlling the operation of carriage drive cylinder 64.
Conduits 136 lead from the valve 132 to opposite ends of
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the cylinder 64 for driving it in opposite directions under
the control of this valve. The second platen assembly has
a switch engaging arm ~38, also shown in Figure 2, arranged
to engage a pilot valve 140 having pilot control of valves
122 and 132 by a pilot line 142.
A pair of push button valves 144, comprising three-
way valves plumbed in series, have pilot control with
4-way control valve 132 by means of a pilot line 146.
An emergency three way stop valve 148 is also plumbed in
this circuit. The three valves 144 and 148 are provided at
the front of the machine, as shown in Figure 1 for easy
access to the operator. The series connection oE the valves
144 require that both hands be used to start the press.
A pressure relief valve 150 is also provided in the system
and is connected to the 4-way control valve 132 through a
pilot valve 152 by a pilot line 154. The system also includes
a stroke limiting valve 156, also seen in Figure 2, associated
with the second platen assembly and positioned so that it is
actuated at the exact point where it is desired that the
downward movement of the press be stopped.
OPERATION
In the rest position of the press, such as when it
is being loaded or unloaded, air pressure operates through
valve 122 to the lifting bag 90. Bag 94 is deflated at
this time. Air pressure also operates through valve 132
to the left side of cylinder 64 as viewed in broken lines
in Figure 2 so that the carriage platen 40ais retracted
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into the hood. ~n article A, such as lumber pieces to be
spliced together by toothed plates B, is then placed on
the stationary or first platen surface 24 in a position that
will be under the second platen surface 46a in the outer
position of the carriage platen 40a. The operator then
presses the start buttons 144 to provide pilot pressure to
the other side of cylinder 64 which causes the carriage platen
40ato move out of the hood to a position that is ready for
pressing. When the carriage has moved forward as far as it
can go, it contacts pilot valve 140 which actuates the 4-way
main valve 122. The valve 122 then causes the lifting bag
90 to be deflated and the pressing bag 94 to be inflated.
Inflation of the bag 94 causes the entire second platen
assembly, together with the carriage platen 40a,to move
downward so that the article under the upper platen 46a is
pressed by it against the upper surface of the platen 24. If
the upper platen assembly moves down far enough it will con-
tact stroke limiting pilot valve 156 which when engaged
exhausts the pilot line pressure to the valve 132. This
reverses the pressure to the cylinder 64 and returns the
carriage platen 40ato its position inside the hood. At the
same time this switching of the 4-way control valve 132
exhausts the pilot line pressure to the pilot valve 140
and this reverses the 4-way main valve 122 causing the
lifting bag to be inflated and the pressing bag 94 to be
deflated. This action causes the second platen assembly to
be lifted upward to its start position, thus completing the
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pressing cycle.
If the resistance -to pressing is too great, the pressure
- in the pressing bag 94 will increase until it reaches the
setting of the pressure relief valve 150. If such happens,
the pilot valve 152 is actuated and this exhausts the pilot
line pressure to the valve 132 causing it to reverse the
cycle in the same manner as if the stroke limiting valve 140
had been actuated. Also, if the operator chooses to in-
terrupt the pressing cycle and return the machine to its
start position, he can do so by pressing the stop button 148.
Pushing this button exhausts the pilot line pressure to the
4-way control valve 132 causing it to reverse the cycle.
When the cycle is completed and all parts are in the
start position, the line to the carriage cylinder 64 re-
mains pressurized so that the carriage is held firmly ina retracted position and no accidental pressing can take
place. Pressing can occur only when the carriage is fully
extended and has contacted the pilot valve 140.
With reference to Figures 6, 7 and 8, a modified
pressing force is illustrated and employs the concept of `
using multiple fluid operated expandable bags 94' to provide
the pressing force rather than a single bag. Five bags are
shown in this embodiment but any desired number from two or
more can be used. In this embodiment, the cabinet or hous-
ing 10' has a structurally strong front wall 158 and astructurally strong laterally extending, rearwardly spaced
wall 160. The walls 158 and 160 support a plurality of
horizontal stationary rigid abutment wa]ls 162 spaced one
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above the other and associated w;th respective rigid drive
plates 164 secured to upright tension rods 166 and disp~osed
under their walls 162. The rods 166 extend slidably through
apertures 168 in horizontal walls 162 and are secured in-
tegrally to the head portion 50. Rods 166 are spaced laterallyacross the press as necessary to maintain rigidity of plates
164 between them.
The upper portion of the press, including the specific
structural details of the head portion 50, the C-shaped
carriage platen 40aand other structure is the same as that
shown in the Figure 1 embodiment. Upward support of the head
portion 50 is provided by one or more fluid operated expand-
able lift bags 90' supported on a base member 88' integral
with a stationary wall 162, this lift bag bearing up against
lS one of the plates 164.
Bags 94' are connected to air supply conduit 128 by
means of an upright manifold conduit 172 having extensions
174, Figure 8, with hollow tongues 176 communicating with
the interior of extensions 174 and having end apertures 178.
Open ends of bags 94' are fitted over the tong~les and clamped
securely in a sealing connection on the manifold extensions
176 by a pair of opposite plates 180 arranyed to be clamped
on opposite sides of the extension with the hose end in place.
The hoses 94'~ manifold extensions 176 and clamp plates 180
have matching apertures 182 to receive clamp bolts 184 to
hold this assembly of parts together in an airtight joint.
Operation of the press embodiment shown in Figures 6-8
is the same as that described in connection with the first
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embodiment. This latter embodiment has the advantage that
a sufficient pressing power can be provided with a minimum
front to rear dimension of the bags. At the same time
pressing power can be centered directly below the pressing
surface so tha' twisting forces are not applied to the platens
and frame. Also, the pressing surface can be disposed close
to the front of the machine, namely, close to the operator's
station, for the utmost of convenience to the operator. The
arrangement of Figures 6-8 provides a minimum of depth
dimension of the press and also forms an empty interior com-
partment at the rear of the press, thus allowing operating
and control elements to be mounted inside of the press. The
multiple bag structure of Figures 6-8 also causes the pressing
force to be applied without substantially increasing the stroke
of the second platen assembly over that of a single bag.
The embodiments of the invention thus are simplified
in structure but rugged in operation. Furthermore, the
fluid operating expandable type bags provide maximum power
and fast operation. The designs are particularly suitable
for operation by compressed air which is cleaner and faster
than hydraulic power. The presses are compact in structure
and furthermore have the advantage that the front top pres-
sing surface allows multiple presses to be positioned selec-
tively in the factory and plumbed together so that multiple-
joint structural elements can be formed in one operation.Furthermore, the embodiment of Figures 6-8 with the extreme
front pressing surface allows pairs of presses to be placed face
to face if necessary to press joints that may be close to-
gether, such as in the formation of roof trusses.
It is to be understood that the forms of my invention
herein shown and described are to be taken as preferred
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examples of the same and that var:ious changes in the shape,
size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without
departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of
the subjoined claims.
Having thus described my invention, I claim:
