Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ 1 31 1 438
Thl# imrentiol- relates generE~lly to produc~lon ~y~tem~
w~arein workpieces are ~ran ferre~ through a serles of
equally ~;pa::ed, l~ne;~-ly alic~ned work l;tations whicll
perform ~ predete~-mi ned sequence ~,f operations or~ the
woxkpleces and, more pal^tlcularly, to ~iuch a ~iystem for
~u'cc)m~tia~lly ~rans~ferring the work~iec:es from one work
~5 s~atlon to an a~ acent work ~tat:ion within the ~ystem .
.. A~ltomated and p~rtly automated sy~em~ which aworXpiece i~ conv~yed t~rough a series ~,f w4rk stations
~0 wh~ch eas~:h perform one o~ a ~R~-ie~ of operat:lons on tlle
workpiece have rapidly ~come the ~orm in manufacturing
~nd~ tr~e~ ~:uoh as ~he me~cal working indu~;try. ~1~
manu~ctu~ing oper~tions ~uch ~ metal stalnpin~, many
E~eparate s~amping ~pera~lon~; may ~e required to rorm 1:h~
flat she~:t o metal into an article such a~:, for exampl~
a vehlcle hubcap. ~atller than u'~ 1ng several ~3eparate
pres~e~ to stamp the part, it has ~ecome the indu~y
-- 2 -- 1 31 1 ~38
standard to u~illzc a tr~nsfer feod prcss, a singl~ stroko
of whloh i~ used to per~orm multiple ~ampin~ operations at
~ plurality of work Gtat1oll~, Typ1cally, a pair o~ matchin~
di~s are dlspoGed above and below each work ~tation. At
each stroke of the pre~, a workpiece wlll ~e ~tamped
betw2en each p~lr of ~e As a~ lndlv;.dual workplec~ move~
th~-ough ths ~erie6 of work s~a~ion~, it will be successively
qtAmped ~y each paiL- of dle~ ~o Eorm the finlsh~d produc~
Obt~lou~;ly, for efficiell~ operal:ivn o ~u~ll a transf~r
press, i~ i~ critically impor~ant tl~a~ a ~u~c~ssion of
wor~pleces b~ imultan~ously tran~f~rred from one work
~ta~lon to the.next between each stroke of the pre~.
Furthermore, it is of~en nece~sary to realiyn the workpisce
wl~h the various ~1e s~atlDns o~ the tranG~er pre6s. For
example, the workplece may hav~ to be moved linearly ln
c~the~- horizontal ~irection, or it ~ay be necessary ~0
rotat~ it. ~ypl~ally, lt i6 nece~ry ~o reorien~ ~h~
workpie~ a number o times be~ore ~or~ g o~ the pi~ce i~
~ini~hed. It i~ readlly apparent ~ha-t ~ome mean6 o~ rapidly
and ~cc~rately performing mul~ipl~ ~r~n~f~rs and
repositionings mu t be provided.
One system ~or performiny re~etitive ~ork~ c~
~rAnsfe~ ~nd multlpl~ realignment i~ a ~ype o~ walklng-
beam sy~tem which pL-ovide~ tr~n~fer r~ x~ondlng alvng
~oth ~ides of a linear axl ~x ~xi~) th~ough the work
-~ 3 ~~ l 31143~
~ation~ upon whLch the workplece~ ride between each
ad~acen~ ~ork ~tati~n, Di6poscd on thc tran~er rail~ arc
finy~r gxipper~ for g~ipping the workpieces. In th1s type
o~ ~ystem, each o~ the rails 16 de6iglled rOr movement along
S bo~h the X and the vertical ax~ (Z axi~ is, l~ bo~n
r~ises and lower; the w~Jrkplece an~ mov~s it: 1 inearly from
one work station to ~notl~r. ~u~t}~rmor~, t~le fing~r
grippers h~ve ~so~ia~d actuator~ which pern~it them to
move laterally (along the Y axl~, towa~d ~nd away Ll~om ~lle
Workpiece~ ~or engagement therewi~h and di6engagement
there~xom. Tl~us, thls design permit~ th~ ringer g~ippe~
to first enyage ~lle workpiece by operation o~ its ac~uator,
the~ raise the workpiece to the tral-ser 1evel by a~tuation
o~ th~ trAnsfer rAils, linearly move the wor~pi~e to the
. 15 next wo~k station by urtller ~ctuation of the transfer
rails, lowsr the workpiece, and finally ~isell~age frolil t2~e
workpiece by retra~-1ng the ~inger gr1ppeL-s thererl~om 90
that ~he pre~s mAy be operated.
Although such tran~fer sy6~en~s are 1n wlde u~e, ~hr~y
presont m~ny di~adv~n~ges. For example, many small~r
~tampl~g manu~acturr~rs and ~lleet me~al ~i~ bullders do not
h~ve trans~er presses, which repre~en~ a s~lbstantial
~nve~tment, but have a need to dupli~a~e t2l~ act1On o~ a
~r~n~e~ p~e~ for d.le tryout purposes or short pl~oduo~lon
2 5 run~ .
131 1~38
Beoause a t3t~ndard trans~r pr~s~ supports the rAlls
. - at eac~h end of ~t~e x-~xis, ~ther th2~n in the middle, the
r~ are typically very heavy, and have a cross sec~tion
designed to mlnimi~e 6ay. Moving t2le ma~ of l~ e~e r2~
~t produc'cion speecl~; rec~uire~; larg~ gea~s al~d cams, and a
ma~ive fr~mework ~o suppor~ th~ mech~nlsm ~nd prov1 d~
~blli~y the~ eto.
Further~nore, standard tral~sf`er pre~ses ty~ic~lly l~ave
tandardized rail po~ltlon~ and permi~ only two or three
~i~ferellt 6paaing~ ween the rail~; in the lifted position.
S~ndard transfer pre~;ses al~o ~lav~ on~ y a llmited number
o~ ~;e~ing~ alon~ tl~e x-axi:~ an~ no adjustment of distance
o~ travel ~n e-kher the up-down or back-~ortl~ direction~O
To exacerbate this pro~lem, the standardized settings are
p~cull~r to ~Qach manufacturer an~ nol: t:andardlzed industry
wi de. Henc~ would l~e vlrtually lmp~ lble for one shop
~o have trnnsfer prPs~;es capa~le of te~3tlng or running the
many possible comblnation~; o~ available c~ ngs from
variou~ press manu~Acturer6~
A ftlrther proble~n witll ~tandard transfe~ presse6 i5
the lack o~ pl-o~rls:Lon for ~asy renloval of th~ rails for
acces3 ~or purpo~e~s o~ changlng ~che dies. The tran~rer
rail:3 must he long~r than the distanc:e 13etw~en the aolumns
~P th~ p~e99 ~inca they ~lso ~r~a to load the workpiece
into tl~e press and unload it there~rom. Th~re~ore,
131 1~3~
-- 5 --
elaborate coupllng mechanl~m~ are neoca~ary ~ al~ow r~movAl
of a portL~n o~ the rail wh~n ~h~ ~ooling 1~ ~emove~, Dle
change c~pabllit~ ~, tl~erefore, an expen~ive option and
permlt~ r~ll change or removal only with great dtf~lculty.
A3 a partial 601ution to ~ome o the~ problems, U.S.
Paten~ 4,621,526 to Scllafer e~ al di6clvses a 5yct~ wher~
tl~e tran~r rail doe~ not travel in ~e linear ~lrection
from one ~t~ion to another. Rather, ~ secondary rall i~
mounted thereon and the f ~nyer unl~ are in turn mounted ol~
o the secondary rall. The secondary ra~ deQl~ned ~or
reclproc~l movemellt along 'c~e x axls between ad~ acent wor~c
~p~ae~. This moYement ~s ac~ua~ed by ~ servomotor ~upported
on the 6econdary rail. T~le ~ing~r unlts ~hem~elve~ are
de6igned for lateral ll~oveme~t tow~d and away ~rom the
worl~piece and are ~ctu~te~ by add~tlonal ~ervomotor~. In
order to r~e ~nd lower the workpiecesJ l.ift columlls ar~
pro~ided upon whlch the tran~fer rall ls moullte~. The~e
li~t columns ~L-e also ~ctua~ed by electrle servomotor~.
Hence, ~ccording to ~ch~el-'s de~i~n, only tlle ~ervomotors
whlch c~use la~aral m~vemen-t o~ the rl~lger uni~s ~re
actually carried along ~he fie~ndary rails, thus reduciny
the size of ~he r~il6, ~i~pli~ying the sy~te~ and maklng it
lesg p~o~ to failure. Le~ o th~ mechani~m i6 actually
dispo~ed within ~he press, ~hu~ p-ovldin~ ~ less o~true~
o~er~tion thereo~. However ~ven wlth Schafer'~
-- 6 -~ 1 3~ 1 438
improvemen~3, mu~h of tho mechanism iE~ 111 dl~po~ed )n
the trar~sf~r ~a~ 1~ . Furth~rmore, exi~ ing ~y~em~ oannot
l)e modi~led tv add these lmp~ov ements .
It woul~ b~ ~e~ira~le to provide transfer rail~ which
are support:e~l ln 1:h~ cent:~r to allow a muc~h smalleL^ L-ail
~L-os~ se~tion an~ perml~ ~he ~rans~er ~ystem to be buil~ to
~ny 1~3ng'ch. Sucl~ a modular ~y~;tem would pro~ ide the
~apa~ility of buil~lng longer transfer ~y~t~m than i8
pre~3en~ly poE~Elible.
It woul~ also be desiL-~ble to provide ~ more flexible
tra~ er ~ys~m permi~ g a mul~iplicity of ~-ail posi~ions
a~d ad~us~ment vr ~inger unl~ travel in each of t:he th~-ee
directlon~ o~ -travel.
Furthe.r~ lt would ~3 de~ able to provlde ~n impro~t~d,
1~ econon~ical system wherel~y tlle finger unit~3 may l~e di~po6ed
on the railfi ill relatioll to ~he workl~iece dul-ing die
bu~ lding and tryout., whell a trans~er press ~ ~ typlcally not
a~a~ lable. Such a syfitem sllould also allow grea~e~
~cce~:ihillt~y 1~o the dle~3 durlng ma~ntenarlce and repair ~y
~0 c~on~ainltlg the a~tua,to~ system ~or the transfer mechanism
in s~parate module~ w}lic~ may k)e ~emove~, leavlng the rail~
in ~l-ope~- position in relatiol~ to th~ work~?iec~.
It ~ould al~so be desirable to p~-ovid~ a ~3y~t~em wh:l ch
can be used i.n a clie ~ op t~ 61~nul~t;e the actlon of any
2s tr~n~;~er pre~;s tn c;rd~r to check or pL-O~ clearances o~
~ 7 _ 131 14~
moving parts of the dies in relation to the path of travel
of the transfer rail, finger units and workpieces without the
necessity of actually setting the dies in a tr~nsfer press.
It would be highly advantageous to devise a modular
system wherein modules may be manu~actured in a limited number
of sizes and can be used with presses of a variety of sizes
and of various configurations, regardless of the direction of
feed or of the press design.
The present invention provides a modular system
particularly useful for transferring workpieces along a series
of equally spaced, aligned work stations. While the preferred
embodiment of the invention is used with a transfer feed
press, the system is useful for transferring workpieces in any
system having a series of equally spaced work stations aligned
linearly along an axis whereon a predetermined sequence of
operations is performed on the work pieces.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is
provided for use in conjunction with an article forming press
which includes a ram having an upper die associated therewit,h
adapted to be driven along a path of travel in a Z-axis and
engageable with a lower die supported by a bolster for forming
a workpiece inserted therebetween, a transfer system for
transferring workpieces between work stations aligned linearly
along a central X-axis perpendicular to the Z-axis, to perform
a predetermined sequence of operations on the workpieces, said
system comprising a transfer rail extending longitudinally in
spaced and parallel relation to the X axis and having a finger
operator rail mounted thereupon for movement with respect
thereto in a direction parallel to the x-axis, said finger
1 31 1 438
-- 8
operator rail being mounted enti.rely between said transfer
rail and said central X-axis; a plurality of workpiece
gripping finger operators mounted on the ~inger operator rail
at equally spaced locations thereon corresponding to the
spacing of the workstations, said finger operators extending
laterally inboard from the transfer rail in a Y-axis,
perpendicular to and toward the central X-axis and Z-axis and
each terminating in a free end having a workpiece engaging
section adapted to engage the workpieces and transfer them
between adjacent workstations; and at least one actuator unit
supported independently from the transfer rail and disposed at
a location displaced laterally along the Y-axis from the
article forming press, said actuator unit having a transfer
carriage which extends therefrom in the Y-direction and which
is operative to move the transfer rail along both the Y and Z
axis; drive means for said finger operator rail supported
independently of and associated to move with said transfer
rail; wherein said drive means and said actuator unit are
powered by motor means which remains stationar~ with respect
to the movement of said finger operator and transfer rails.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a transfer press automation system for transferring
workpieces along a series of equally spaced, aligned
workstations at a central axis of a transfer feed press having
a ram associated therewith, said system comprising a transfer
rail extending along and in spaced relati.on to the central X-
axis and extending longitudinally along a side of said
workstation; an individually controllable finger operator rail
mounted on an inboard side of said transfer rail for
B
9 1 31 1 438
reciprocal movement with respect thereto Eor a distance equal
to the spacing between adjacent workstations and in a
direction corresponding to the X-axis and defining the
direction of workpiece movement through the workstations, said
finger operator rail being mounted entirely between said
transfer rail and said central axis; linear drive means
associated with said transfer rail and its associated figure
rail, said linear drive means operative to effect the movement
of the finger rail; a plurality of workpiece-engaging fingers
supported on the finger rail at equally spaced locations
thereon corresponding to the spacing of the series of work
stations, each of said fingers extending laterally away from
the transfer rail along the Y-axis perpendicular to and toward
the X-axis and terminating in a free end having a workpiece
engaging mechanism mounted thereon adapted to engage the
workpieces; and an actuator unit associated with the transfer
rail and disposed along the Y-axis and on a side of the
transfer rail opposite the series of workstations, said
actuator unit adapted to support the associated transfer rail
and impart reciprocal motion thereto i.n directions
corresponding to both the Y-axis and a Z-axis which is
perpendicular to the ~ and Y axes and defining, respectively,
the direction of finger operator movement into and out of
engagement with the workpieces and the movement of the finger
operators for raising and lowering the workpieces; where said
actuator unit and said linear drive means are powered by motor
means which are mounted independently from and which remain
stationary with respect to said finger operator and the
transfer rails.
- 9a - ~ 4 3 ~
In the preferred embodiment a pair of spac~d and parallel
transfer rails extend longitudinally along both sides of the
aligned work stations. Preferably, the pair of rails is side
mounted in order to allow access to the press.
In one embodiment, the workpiece engaginy mechanism
comprises horizontally extended fingers which are adapted to
lift the workpiece from underneath. With the horizontall~
extending finger type of workpiece engaging mechanism which
lifts the workpieces up, two parallel transfer rails and
associated finger operator rails are provided which lift the
workpieces on both sides. Such a system is suitable for
transferring relatively large and heavy workpieces such as are
commonly subject to stamping operations in a transfer press.
Individually controllable means are provided for
imparting reciprocal linear motion to the finger operator
rails along the direction of travel of the workpieces as they
pass through the series of aligned work stations. The finger
operator rail i9 slidably mounted on the transfer rail.
At least one actuator unit is disposed at a location
displaced laterally from the transfer rail on a side thereof
opposite the work stations. If a pair of transfer rails are
provided, then at least one pair of actuators will be
provided, with one disposed beside each transfer rail. Each
actuator unit has a laterally extending arm or carriage which
supports the transfer rail and is adapted to impart both
lateral and up and down motion thereto. The lateral motion is
along the Y axis in a direction corresponding to movement of
the finger operators into and out of engagement with the
workpieces. The up and down motion is along the Z axis and
Bi
3 ~
corresponds to movement of the finger operators for raisin~
and lowering the workpieces.
In a preferred embodiment, the actua-tor unit comprises a
dual axis hydraulic actuator operating the arm in the Y and
z axes ~o engage and lift a workpiece, then lower and
retract once the workpiece has been translated to the next
work station by the finger operator rail. The hydraulic
actuator comprises a pair of hydraulic fluid cylinders
connected in parallel to a single fluid source driven by
an independent motor. As the source outputs fluid, the arm
will first be moved along the axis providing the least
resistance until the arm reaches a stop. The arm then
~,
~ lo-- 1311~38
~egin6 mo~ement nlony ~h~ ~e,cond axi~, since th~t axi~ then
prov~de~ thQ le~6t r~sistAnce to movement. In this manner,
~he actuator unit autolllatically achiev~ ~equencing o~
driving forae~ wlthout the need for additlonAl timlng
~PE~ra~u~ .
In a preferred e.mbodlment, the actuator unlt and ltc
~otor are ~u~ported indepen~ently of and remaln~ ~tatlonary
wlth respe~ ~o tlle nlotlon of the tr~nsfer rail. In anot~er
embodiment, th~ actuator unl~ comprlse modular unit~ whi~h
o may ea~lly be moved lnto and out of oper~ing relation~hip
wlth ~he tran6f~r r~
The txan~fer ~ystem o~ the instant lnvention po~e~e6
the a~v~ntages of providlng Inovemen~ of th~ finger
operators in all three dlrection~ necessary to e~feat
transfer o~ the workpiece6 and realignmen~ thereo. In
~ontrast to prlor ar~ 6y6tems, none o~ the ~tu~or~ or
motor6 whl~h provlde movemell~ in ~he three direo~lons are
dispo~ed on the transfer or flnger operator r~ el~.
H~nce, the transfer rall Inay ~e made ~m~ller and llgh~or.
Fur~hermore, the a~tua~or unit6 aro lnd~pendently ~upp~r~cd
~rom the transfer ~11, resultiny ln ~n ef P~cient, modular
~y~tem.
Pr~eI~ably, the transfer ~y5~em further comprise~ at
least one sensor means for ~tectlng the state of operation
o~ the ~s~o~i~ted production ~y~tem or purpo~ o~
1 3 1 1 4 3 8
synchronlzing th~ oper~lon o~ the tran~fe~ m~hani~m to the
3ystem. In the C~9~ 0~ a ~rans~er pre6~, a s~nsor mean&
will be mounted on ~h~ press ~am ln order to sensc ~he
position of ~he ram durlllg eaGh stroke o~ th~ pres~. ~he
~e~lsor i~; operatively connected t;o ~ meAn:~ ~or centr~lly
controllill~ movement o the tr~n~fer rail and flnger
~perator rail to s~nohroniz~ travel of the workplece~
through ~he ~ucces~ive wor~ stations ln tlmed ~elation w1~h
pe~fo~mance of the 3equence o~ oper~tions. Tl~ou~h th~
lo central control system, ~ larye number oP compl1~ated
trans~er~ and multiple realignmen~s m~y be perfo~med in
synchron~zed fas~.iol~ w1th the operation of the pre~ in a
q~iGk, accurate and eff~c1ehk manner.
A llnear ac~ua~or for impart~ng recip~ocRl motion to
~h~ finger opera~or rail is associated to mo~ with, ~u~
~upported ~n~ep~ndelltly ~ro~ he transfer rail. A motor
for powering the linear ~c~uator 16 ~uppor~ed lndependen~1y
of the transf~r rail and remalns s~a~lonary Witll L-espeC~ to
the ~ovement of th~ tran3feL- rail.
In th~ illu~trated ~mbodlment, tlle linear actuator i~
a ~elt drive ~y~em ~upported il~depelldently from the
transfer rail and as30c~ated ~o move therewith an~ ~uppli~
~he reci~l~o~al mo~1on to tlle ~ln~er ol~erato~- rail. The ~elt
drl~ ystem is powered by an lndependent motor whl~h
131 1438
-~ 12 -~ .
remaln~ 3~ationary durlng the operat.t~n o~ the tr~n~r and
~in~er ~p~rator rails.
The belt drive ~ys~em e~sen~.1Ally co~pri.6e~ a b~lt
moun~ed with the tran~r ~all ~or recipa-ocal rot~tion in
the directlon o~` travel o~ the workpieces. The bolt 1~
drlven ~y a t~ans~erse spline shaft whieh can move w1th ths
lateral displaceme~ oX the ~-rnn~f~r r~l toward the
~or]c~tations. The ~ransverse 6plin~ shaft i~ drive~ by a
vertl~al spline ~ha~t ~ar~sed ~or v~rtical mo~m~nt w.~th ~h~
~ran~er rail when a wo~kpiece ~s ll~ted. The vertical
spllne sh~t i~ powered by ~n ind~pend~nt motor whl~h
re~ainq stationa~y Wlth respe~t to th~ tr~n~er ~nd Plnger
op~rator rail~.
In one embodiment, th~ ac~uator unit6 and motors for
the tran~er and ~ing~r opera~or rails ~r~ mowlted on th~
crown oP ~he transfer pr~ss i-tsel~ ~o pl-ovide unob3~ructed
access ~o the d$~ ~nd work ~t~tions.
In the ~mbo~lment wherein a ~ran~er rail ~nd
~socia-ted ~inger opera~or rall ar~ provi~e~ on e~h ~ide
o~ the ~ran~er press, each slde ls preferably mechanically
indep~nden~ o~ tha othe~, bu~ elec~ronic~lly 3yn~hr~ni2~d
to the press ram sensor. In ~}liG m~nner ~ bo~h o~ the
trans~er rails an~ the finger opera~or rA11~ ~unc~ion
in~ependen~ly but cooperatingly to ~ran~er workp~ece~
~5 be~ween work ~tatlons.
-- 13 ~ 1311~38
Th~ a~ovo de6arlbed and further ~oatur~ and
~dv~ntages of the herein ~nvention may best be under6tood
by xe~erenc~ to the ~o110willg de~ailed ~escription and
. . dxawing in which:
FIGURE 1 i~ a perEipective view o 'che tl^~n~r~er sy~tem
o ~he ins~a~ vellt10ll insta11ed ill a tr~n~~r pre~6;
FI~URE 2 1s a per~pective view of the tran~er 6y~tem
of FIGURE 1 shown apart ~rom the tr~n~fer pres ;
FIGURE 2a i~ ~ perG~eative vlew of a ~ing1~ tran6~er
~y&tem accordin~ to the p~e6ent inventlon;
FIGURE 2~ 1~ a par~ial se~t10ll p1~ll view of ~h~
~ran~fe~- ~y~tem of FIGUR~ 2a;
~IGURE 3 is a per~pect1~e ~iew o~ a ~otor and dr1ve
bel~ sys~en~ a~soc~ated Wi~l a transfer system ~ccordill~ to
~h~ pr~sent lnven~;ion for r~clprocal ac:tuation o~ a f inyer
opera~or rail;
FIGURES ~ and 5 ~re 6ectton views a10n~ 11nes 4~41 4A-
4~ and 5-5 ln F~GUR~ ~b showlng de~a~1s o the connec~ion
o~ a reclpro~al drl~o belt to a f lnger operator rall;
FIGU~E 6 1~ a ~ect~on ~iow ~long 1in8~ G-G showing
detalls o~ a dual axlG 2~ydrau1ic actuator ac~or~iny to the
present inventiont
- 1 31 1 ~38
-- 14 ~-
FIGURE~ 7 and 8 are nide views of tho ~otu~t~r o~
FIGURE 6 nhowing th~ motlc~n imp~r ed by the actuakor to e,
tr~n~fe~ rail;
FIaURI~ 9 i6 ~ hema~lc: diagram o the motor and
S hydraul ic actua~lng ~y6tem ~or the ac~uator o~ FIGU~E 6;
~IGURE lO ls a plan vl~w of tlle outer ~tru~ture of the
hydra~l lc actuatin~ sy~tem o:f FIGURE 9;
FI~U~ a ~lde view of tlle mo~o~ rOr actua~ing
th~ hydr~ulic act~a~ing system of FIGUR~ 9;
PIGVR~ 12 is A p~rti~l ~ection end view of opposed
~tuatox unit~ ~ccordlng to ~he pre~ellt invelltioll en~agi
~nd li~ing a wor}ipiece ~rom a tran~fer pxess ~ork ~ta~ion;
and
~IGURE 13 ~3 a per~;pectiYe view Or a trall~fer Syst;~
a~cording ~o ~he pre~ient inventivll adap~e~ to ~ moulll;ed
~rom the overheAd ~tn~onary crown of ~ pre~s.
lled De~cr1p~ion of the Pr0~erre~_~m~vc~
Throuyllout t~le ~ollowing detailed de~crip~lon, lik~
reference numerals . are u~e~ to refer to l:he Sarne element
shown in multiple ~igure6 thereof.
Re~erring now to the drawing an~ 1n par~ioul~r to
FI~URES l and 2~ there is ~hown a workpiece tran~er ~ystem
gen~rally de~ign~ted ~s lo inst~lled in a t:r~n~fe~- press
g~ner~lly designated as 12. Tran~fer pLe~s 12 has a
1 31 1 438
~-- 15
plurality of work stati ons 14 whereln ~ ~erie~ o~ ~tamplng
Qpera~lon~ ar~ pQr~orm~d on ~ ~ucce~ on o~ worlcpiec~ w.
A ram 1~ qlupports a plural i~y of upper dle halves 2 Oa and
eaah ~trc,};e o~ ram 16 caus;e~ the WoL-}cpieces W to be stamped
between ~n upper die 20a and an associ~ed ls~we~ die 20b to
form the workpieoe~3 w~ A~i i6 conv~ntlon~l, t:~le low~r ~les
20b ~re moun~ed on bol6ters 22 an~ l:h~ ~Ipl~er die~ 20~ are
mounted on the ram 16. The upper s~AtionAry part of ~he
trnr~sfer press 12 is re~e~re:l tv a~; ~21e or~wt~
Extanding longltud.il-ally in paxall~l an~ s~aced Lashlon
~long bo~h side~ o~ the plu~allty of wor~; stations 14 ~f
~ran~fe~ pre86 12 i~ ansfer system generally 6howll in
~I~URE 2. Whlle an op~c~3ed pair of` transfer E;ystems i6
str~ed ~ n 61ngle sys~:em a hOWI~ in FIGURE 2a may be
used depending oll tlle ~ize or t;ype of workpieces beiny
tran~ferred. Tr~nser ~ystem lo compris~:s ~ tra~rer rall
24 dl~posed lat~rally outboard o~ ~ork ~atlon 14 and dl~
20, runnlng essf~ntially parallel thsreto. Mounted oll eACII
o~ the p~i~ of? transfer r~ ; 24 16 a ~in~er operal:vr ra~ 1
26 la~eL-Ally inbo~d of tranEifer rail 24 ad~aGen~ worlc
~ca~lon~3 14. ~ounted in ~urn on th~ fin~er o~eratv~ rail~
2~i ~re ~ plurality o~ 1'inger~ 28 whic~ extend laterally
tow~rd 'ch~ wor~;pleces W. Each o~ tlle plu~ali~y v fln~
~ term~nate~ in a workplcce engaging E~ection 30. In tile
em3~odlment lllustra~ed, each c~ the workpie(::e engaging
1 31 1 ~3~
, .
~ection~ 30 providea a restlng place for a corner o each
o~ the plurallty o~ ~or~pieoe~ w ~ they are ~uceessively
transferred ~rom one adjacent work ~tation 14 to anothQr
work ~t~tion 14. I~ is to be ~nderstood that the plurali~y
o workpiece tran3fer mechani~m6 30 may t~ke ~ ~riety o
~the~ ~on~entional defiign~ an~ conflgurd~ton~ 3uch as, ~or
example, ~Q~ping flng~r~.
The pl~rality of finger operators ~8 are equ~lly epaced
longitudlnally along th~ ~ran~er rail 24. ~n the cns~ o~
lOthe workpieces W ahown ~n the ~ra~iny, ~lle ~ing~r opera~o.rs
~8 are arrayed in pair~ ~o tha~ the wor~plece tran6fer
me~hanl~ms 30 may ~upport each corner o~ a workpiece W. Th~
spacing between adj~ent pair~ of ~inger operator~ 2a
corresponds ~o th~ ~pa~in~ between a~ja~ent wor~ qtations.
Flnger ope~ator r~il 2G is slldably moun~ed on raaeway
25 o-f trans~er r~il 24 in order to permlt reclproc~l, llne~r
mo~ion oE the ~inger ope~ator rall 2~ wi~h ~cape~ to
tran~er rail 24 alonc3 the X~axi~, i. e . the d~reçtlon o~
travel o~ workpi~ces W down ~he line o~ worX ~ntion~ 14.
Suc~ reciprocal, linear movement o~ flnger operator rail ~6
is crea~ed by means of a bel~ 56 moun~ed wi~hin ~oualng 52
on tran~;fe~r rail 24 and powered by ~ belt dri~te ~y~tem
gener~lly shown in FIGURE 3. When powered by
25appropriately con~rolled electrlcal current, the belt dr~v~
131 1~38
~-- 17 --~
uy~t~m z~nd belt w~ 11 p~ovlde reciprocal lln~Rr motion of
r~il 26 wlth re~p~t 'cs) rail 2~.
~he lin~ar r~alprooal movement o~ finger ~per~tor r~l
2~ along transf~r rail 24 cau~3~s the ~inger unlts 2~ al~o
S to mov~ reciprocally in a llnear ùirection along ~he X axi~
el8 1E; 6hown by the ~rr~w in FIGURE 2. In ~der l:e oc~u~e the
f~nger operat~rs 2~ ~o move ln the Z dlreo-tlon ~up an~l down1
~nd in the Y direation (laterally, into and ou~ of
~ng~gement wltll th~ wo~kpiec:e W), at le~s~ on~ actuator unit
30 i~ prclvideù gene~ally ~l~owll at FI~lJX~ 6. Actuator unit
30 i~ upported lndependently o~ ~ransrer rail 24~ In the
embodiment shown in ~I(;U~ES 1 and 2, actuator uni~ 3 0 is
~loor mounted hy means o~ a longltudinal support frame ~2
runnlng p~rallel alollg-~lde the t~ans~er pres~.
Actua'cor unlt 30 c:ould, alter~latively, bf~ mounted on
or withln its own ~no~ular housing equlppe~, for example,
wl~h roller~ or c:as~ers to p~m~ t the actuator uni-t t:o be
ez~nily moved into and o~ o~ ope~ating relatlon~h~p wi'ch
the t~-~n~r pres~.
Actuator unit 30 in~lude~ A la~erally extencling arm or
t~n~e~ c~rriage 3~ which ext~nd~ toward th~ direcl~ tl oi~
the workploce ~nd which 6upports txaa~ fe~ rail 24. In the
embod1ment ~hown in FIGURES 2a an~ 2h, a pair of ac~uator
un~t~ 30 2~lnd a~i~o~iated ~ransfer ~arriages 34 are provided
2S in ord~r t:o ade~ua'cely suppor~ ~he t:ransfer ~ail 24~ It i~
-~ lB -- 1 3 1 1 438
contemplated tha~ ~t lens~ on~ ~ctuator Init ~n w~ll be
needed for eacll transfe~ r~il 24, and typic~lly, at lea~t
one pair of actuator ~nits 30 wlll be needed ~o ~upport each
tr~n~fer rall 24~
~e~erring to FIGURES ~b and 3-5, tlle belt d~ive system
~nd belt drlve mo~or for causlng the reciproc~l 31~ding
movement of finger operator rall 2~ alol-g ~he X-axl~ ~3
~hown in detail. ~l'he belt drive ~ys~em ~ p~wcred by a
reciproc~l rota~y motor 36 connected ~y bel~ 38 to ~ drive
lo wheel 40 sl~dably engaging vertle~l spline ~h~ft 42.
Reaiprocal rotary motion given to spline ~ha~t 42 by motor
36 i~ tran~fer~ed via gear box 4A ~ ~elt 44 ~nd ~riv~ wheel~
48 to tran~ver3e spline shaf~ 50. ~ransver~e spline 6haft
50 is connected ~rough the wall ~f houslng 52 on tr~nB~er
rail ~4 ~o a drive wheel 54 posl~ioned ~hereln n~ shown in
FIGURE 5. Drlve wheel 54 l~a~ an unpow~red count0rpar~
long~tudinally ~pa~ed the~efrom in hou~ln~ 52 ~nd a dri~
belt 56 i~ moun~ed between the t~o wh~el~ can b~ ~een
that reciprocal rotary mo~on ~f ~otor ~6 will be
tr~nR~erred thro~gh the driv~ belt syqtem to the drive balt
mounted in hou~iny 52 on tran3~er rall 24.
Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 4a, f lnger opcrato~ rail
~6 i~ ~hown slidably moun~ed la~erally inw~rd of tran~er
rail ~4 along the Y-axi~ by way of ~e~ring block~ 5~ having
a plurality of beaxing~ or rollers ~0 enyaging rRcew~y block
1 3 1 1 ~ 3 ~
25 mounted on ~ran~er rail 2~ sppor~ braoket arm 6~
fa~tened to a po~ti~ o~ drlve belt 56 by su~t~ble moun'c~ ng
~ru~ture ~4 extend3 over and ac.ross trAnsfer rall 2~ and
xedly att~ched to finyer operator rail 26. t~hell drive
belt ~ ls reciprocated wl~hin the l~ousin~, ~racket arm 62
conne~ted to the drive belt will rRcipro~a~ ~in~er operator
rail 26 w1th respect ~o the treln~fer ~ail i.n th~ ~1re~tion
o~ motion of the drive belt, i . e . alon~ tlle X-axis,
hould be noted that -tl~e drive ~elt 6y~;tem motor
~pparaku~ compri~ing motor 3~, drlve wheel 40, an~ ~e].t ~
are ~uppor~ed on ~rfa~ 33 of lonyitudinal ~lp~ort 32
independently of and ~tationary w~ tes~e~t to ~l~e ~rall~f~r
rail. Vertl~al ~pline sha~ ~2, g~ar box 44, be~.t and
wheel~ 46 and 48 and tr~nsver~e ~l1n~ af~ 50 oompri~ing
the drl~e b~lt sy~;~em ~re connected thL'OUg]l 8y8tem hou~;in~
49 to ~ carriage ~upport G~ o~ transer ~arL-lage 34 on
A~uator 30 or movement tl~erewi~l~ along ~}~ 2-axl~.
Upon lateral inward extensioll alotlg the Y-~xis o
tL~an~fe~ r~ 4~ trnnsver6e spline shaft 50 mounte~ to
~ e within upper drive wheel 48 an~ connected by ~lnk
~embly 51, connecte.d to the drive ~lt in llouslng 52 wll~
be pulled alony ther~with due t~ s sliding eng~gemen~ with
upper g~ared wheel 48. When the tran~rer rail 1~ e~ by
a~tua~or unit 30 along the Z-axl~, for example to lLft an
eng~ed wor~plece ~rom ~ work Eitatloll, tlle drive ~elt Sy~
-~ 20 -- 1 31 1 438
will be li~ted therewith by ~.h~ ACtU~to~ unit a~ verti~l
~pline sha$t 42 ~lides throuyh driv~ wh~el 40.
When -the dr~v~ ~elt ~y~t~m has been tran~lated along
both the Y ~nd Z axes wlth ~he tran~er rall, ~uch as when
a wo~p~ece has been b~th engaged by the f lnger opera~or~
and li~ted rrOm ~ work ~a~ion, st~tion~ry dr~ve bel~ motor
3~ ls activated to re~l~rocate flnger opera~or rall 26 and
~he workplece along tlle X-a~i3 be~ween ad~cent wor~
statlons. The ~ndepend~n~ support and mounting of the driv~
balt motor and drive bel~ sy~am with re~pe~t to trans~er
rail 24 and finger operator rail 26 g~e~ly reduce~ the
weight supported ~hereby, permitting reduction in the 6i ze
and weight of the ra~ls an~ accordlngly ~ higher ~ate of
oper~t;on.
Referring now to FIGU~ES 6-9, 4n actuator unlt 30 for
importing mo~ion ~long the Y an~ Z axes to th~ tr~n~er r~l
i~ ~hown in ~ectlon. A ~ran6~er carriag~ 34 ~upport~ng
trans~er rail 24 i~ slldably moullted along ~he Y ~xi~ to a
carriage suppor~ 68, whlch in ~urn 16 slldable along the Z-
axis w.ith ~e~ecl ~o th~ base 70 o~ ~he actuator unlt.
Aooording to ths prefPrred embo~m~nt o~ the present
inventiotl, the actuator unit comprise~ a du~l axLs actuator
for drivin~ eacl~ wo~kplece trans~erring unlt and e3sentl~11y
consists of ~ llftin~ fluid cyllnder ~2 and ~ transl~tlng
~luld cylinder 74. The liftlng ~luid ~ylinder 13 atta~hed
1 31 1 438
21 --
to t~le act~ator unl~ ba~c and ~t~ cyli~r rod 73 i~
connected ~o the ~rriage support. Tha transl~ing fluid
cylinder i~ attached to the carria~e suppOr~ and i~
~ylinder rod 75 i~ connected ~o the tr~n~fer carriage.
Referring now to FIGU~ES 7 and 8, the op~r~lon ~ a
du~l axl~ actuator for drlving all actuator unit w~ll bc
described. By extendlng rod 75 of the translatlng fluid
cylinder 74, ~ransfer carriage 34 ls moved ln the Y
dire~tion wi~h re~pect to suppo~t 68. The ~olid line~ o~
FIGURE 7 6how ~he t~ansfer c~rrlaye 30 ln the wor~pieoc
engaging po~ition, wi~h th~ retrao~ed po~ltlon ~hown in
ph~ntom. The action of the il~tln~ fluid cyllnder 7~ ~nd
its rod 73 in ~oving t~e transfer ~rl-lage 34 and c~rriage
~upport 6~ in the Z directlon ls sh~wn in ~I~URE ~. ~h~
solid line~ ~how ~rans~er carriage 34 in i~s h~ghc~t~
workpiece lif~lng pos~tlon with ths lower po61tion ah~n in
phan~om. Movement o~ the tran~e~ ~rrlage 34 in the ~ and
Z ~irection~ causeG the ~r~nsfer rail 24, inger operat~r
rall Z6, and the plurality o~ flng~r~ 28 ~o move
corr~ponfllngly. The~e ~ran~lation~ ovide th~ r~qU~ r~d
movements for engaging and li~ting worXplece~ W, before
transl~tion in the X direction ~o the next work ~tation 14,
~ollowed by lowerlng and retrac~ln~ fro~ the workpiecc- W,
to enable olearance ~or the next ~rok~ o~ thQ pre~6.
1 3 1 1 ~38
-- 22 --
Syn~hronization o~ ~11 the actuator unit~ 30 eupporting
A tran~fer rail 1~ achlsved by utili~ing a cen-tralized
cont~ol unl~ tv plo~ide pre~u~izsd ~luid throu~h ~luid
~ondu~1: to dr~e eac:h indlvldual llf-ting fluld cylinde~ 72
~nd translnting ~luid ~yl~nder 74 in the worXpleee tran~fer
~y~tem 10.
Schema~ically s~own ln ~GURE g are the llftl~ly flu~d
~yllnder~ 72 and tran~lat1ng flu1d cylinders 74 for driving
two dife.rent ac:tua~or uni~s ~eqcrlb~ prevlously. Also
E;hown i a source ~luid ~ylinder 76 ~lth cyl~nder rod 77
att~c:hed to ~ rack 7~ al~d pinloll gear 80. A rs:~a~y motor
82 operating through a rack 7~ and pinioll gear 80 provi~le~s
reclproc~l mo~lon to cylinAer rod 77 o ~ource fluid
cylinder 76. Source fluid cylll~ r 7~, mot~r 82 and the
rac~c ar.d pinion connectiJlg the two are ~hown ~n detail in
FIGURES 10-12. In the illu:~ra'ced embodimerlt, the strUGtUre
o~ ~IGURE~ 10-~1 i8 moun~ed t~o longitudinal support 32
~d~ a~en'c t~le ~loor a~ ~;hown ill FIGURE ~a .
The li~ting fluid cyllnder 72 an~ transla~ing flui~
cyl~nder 74 have fluid por~ A and s di6posed on oppo~i'ce
eide~ OL~ the~ r plstons 71 ~ac}l of which are connected ~o
~imilarly denoted port~ on each slde o~ tiource cyllnder 76.
~ pi~;ton 71 of sour~e cyllnder 76 iB driven toward
lt6 ~luld port~ denot~ y A, ~luld ls for(~e~ ou~ of each
por~ A ~o dri~e each set Or lif~lng fluld cylinder~ 72 ~nd
1 31 1 ~3~
-- 23 -
tr~n~latin~ flui~ ~yltnder~ 74. Ini~lally, ~o~ 75 4f ~he
tr~nslating cyl~nder~ 74 ~ncounter much le~s resistance ts
mo~ent than do the rods 73 of the lif~ing Pluid cylinder~
72, duo tG the w~yht ~P the transPer rail~ 24, finger
opera~or rall~ 26, an~ the fin~ers 28 for el-~a~ing
~ol-kpieces W, ~hich bear do~ upon and mus~ be r~i~ed ~y
~he li~t oylinders 72. As a con~e~uence, the ro~s 75 of
~he tran~latlng cylinders 74 first extend oausing ~he
fingers 28 ~Q engage the workpiecas W. once the rods 75
the trAnslatlng c~linders 74 are fully extend~d, ~he ~od~
73 of the li~ing cylinder~ 72 extend due to the now lessar
res~tance a~tiny against th~ir motion. Thi results in the
li~ting of the transfer r~ils 24, ~inger operator rail~ ~5,
~nd tl2e ~lnge~s 28 hold1ng 'che wo~kpiece~ W.
Durlng ~he se~ond h~lf o~ the cycle, xod 77 o~ the
~Otl2:'C~ fluid cylinder 76, i~ ~orc:ed tow~rd the fluid por~s
~eno~ed by B, due to t~e rotary motor ~2 ~cting through the
rack 78 an~ plnlon ge~r 80. ~luid i5 ~hus orc~d out of the
fl~id ports denoted B i~to fluid conduit %4 w~ich Pe~ds the
flUid po~t6 ~ of the tr~n~l~ting fluid cylinder 74 and the
li`ting fluid Gyllnder 72. ~urlng this part of the cycle,
thR weig~t o~ transf~r rail~ 24, finger operator rails ~,
~ing~r~ 2~, and associa~ed wor~pieces W, as~st in ~he
ro~r~ctio~ of ~h~ rods 73 of the lif~ cyli~ders ~2. s~cau~e
?5 ther~ iB less resis~ance to the mo~ement, the rQds 73 o~
~- 2~ ~ 1311~3~
lif~lng cylindRr~ 72 re~ c~ ~ir~t, ~ollowed hy the
r~raction of the rod~ 75 o t~e ~ra~latlng cyl~nd~r~ 74.
Thus, the transferring mechanism lvwer~ the workpleaes W and
then retr~cts t~ ~lnger~ 28.
In ~he p~e~erred em~odiment or th~ invention, a ~in~le
~ource cylinder ?6 is used to ~upply fluid to ~ll set~ o~
liftlng fluid cylinder~ 72 and ~ranslating fluid cylinde~s
74 located in the di~fe~ent actuator unlts 30. ~hi~ re~ults
in an automatic ~ynchroniæation of all a~uator UnitQ of the
~ran~fer pres~ without gear4, cams, com~llc~ted mechanlaal
timing device~, or complex alectronic 3er~0mechanism~.
Rather ~han u~ing a ~ingle ource cyllnder 76, a~ ~ho~n
in FIGU~E 9, a ~erieq of smaller diameter our~e ~ylinders
can be used, each one driving a tran~Ler~lng fluld cylind~r
and a lif~ing flui~ c~llnder 78. Synchroni~atlon can be
achieved by ~im~ltaneously drivillg all sour~e cylinder rods
52 wlth rack 5G.
ln ~he preferred em~odlment o~ -the pr~ent lnventlon,
~ luid oylinders are ~lngle rod Rnd~d. ~n o~har
embodiments of the lnven~ion, all ingle rod erlded ~luid
~ylinders oan be replaced with double rod ~nded cylinder~
which h~ve rod~ ex~endlng out o~ each cylinde~ cnd. S~ch
~ingl~ and double ended rod cylind0r~ ~re ~ommerci~lly
avallable and well known ~o tl~o6e kllled in ~hc a~t.
-- 25 ~- 1 31 1 438
Hence, the h~reln workpiec~ tran~;f~ 3tem permlts3
~he plurality o~ workplec:e~ W to b~ moveà along all thr~
axes of ~novement. Thu movemen1; o~ a ~3ingle ~o~};plece W
during ~ typic~l cycle of tran~;fer pre~s 12 will n~ b~
de~cribed. In order to perml ~ ~he workpiece W to be lo~àed
onto tha tran~er pre~E;, typically ~che pal r oî ~inger
opera~or ralls 26 are made longer ~chan t~he re~k o the
system. As~;ulne tha~ ~u~h loadlng is perormed when ~che
workplece f~nger operator~i ~re in th~3 rai~ed, engaged
1() posltlon ~hown in solid llnes ln ~IGURE 1~. Th~ , llft
cylind~rs 72 are in their extenc~d ~o~3itlon and tran~latiny
cylind~3r6 74 and transfer carrlagçs 66 are al~30 ~xtonded.
By operation o~ the previou~;ly ~e~ ribed l~elt drive ~y~em,
workplece w 1B ll~ade to ~ra~rel nl~g the X ~xi~3 ~ow~rd the
firfit work ~tation 14. A~ ~oon ~19 i~ reach~ a
pre~ermilled correct po l~:lon along the X 2Ixl~ for proper
all~nmen~ wl~h upper and lo~rer dies 20a ~nd 20b, movement
along the X axis w~ll cea~3e, and lift ~yllnder will be
retra~ted, ~hereby t;:au~ing lowering oP the workpiece W ln'co
the operational positlan. Tran61atiny cylinder 74 and
t;ran~f~r ~arriacle 34 wlll also be re~crAc~ed t~ dlsengage
wor~piece W from flngor operator6 28. ~he r~m 16 will then
be operated to :;au~ stampin~ o~ the wor};piece W between die
pleces ~Oa an~ 20}~. A~ter completion o~ troke, ram 16
wlll 1;1 ~t. During the tlm~ wl~en th,e f .ir~g~r oper~tor~ are
~6 ~
1 31 1 438
disengaqed i~rom worXpiece W, c~urlng ~h~ ~trok~ c~ the ~am,
if the die coni~igurat~on permlt~ th~ ~el'c drlv~ 3y~t~m may
reciprocate f in~er operator rail 26 ~lon~ 'che X axi~ in an
opposite direction, thu~; ~aU~ ng ~ new 6~'c o~ f inger
operato~s 28 to be in posltion for enyageme~t with wo~kple~e
W~ T~ansf~r carriage 3~ wlll ~hen move along the Y ax~
into it~ extended position, c~usin~ angacJemen~ o~ finge
operators 28 with the wo~kp~ec.s W. ~ift cylinder 72 wlll
n~ov~3 rod 73 along ~he Z aXis into it;6 ~?x~el~ded posltion to
lift t~e workpiece ~as~ lnto the po~ition ~hown ln FIGURE
12. After engagement o~ ringer operators 2~ w~th ~or3r~piece
W and the lifting of the wo~kpie~e/ a~ des~ribed above, the
belt drive sys~enl will ~hen displace workplece W ~long ~he
X axl~ ~or a ~ufficient distance tc~ c:ause it: ~o be align~d
with ~he n~x~ work ~ation 14. The cycle is then repeated.
~t each cycling o~ 'che trans~er 6y6tem lO, El plurality o~
workpieces are trans~erred be~ween e~cll ad~ a~ent work
~tation 140 In order ~or a 61ngle workplece W ~o tr~vel
~hrough all o~ ~he plurality o~ work s1;~tions 14, it will
be necessary ~or ~he syst~3m -to cycle a~; many tlm~. a~ ~hç~ro
~ro work atatlona 14.
Obvioualy~ in order 'co keep the ~yfitem operating
correctly and a~ lently, it 1~ necess~ry ~h~t each one o~
the ~ingl~ di~;placements of t:he plu~ality o workplece~ St
~5 through all three ~Xe~ mu~t ba per~ormed accura~ely wl~h
-- 27 -~
1 31 1 ~38
re~pect to bot~l distance di~placed ~nd time o dlsplacement.
To that end, lt i~ contempl~ted that each transer r~ nd
accordingly the plurali~y o~ actuator~ 3~ ~nd b~lt drlv~
~y~tems associated therewith, be indepen~Qntly controll~bl~.
The independent control mean~ (not ~hown) for e~oh ~ide o~
the transf~r ~y~em i~ connected to a centr~l ~on~rol].~r 60,
~hown in FIGU~E l. S~n~or m~an6 such as an ~h~olute
po3ition transducer ~no~ ~ho~n) are asfioclated wt~h ~h~
pre~ ram ln a well-known manne~ are uYcd to 6ense the
position of the rams 16. By feeding lnformation ~rom th~
sensor means ln~o central oontrol mean~ ~0, the operatlon
o~ e~ch mecha~tcally independellt si~e of ~y~tem 10 may bo
ele~tronic~lly coordinated ~o tha~ tran~er ~nd alignment
of th~ plur~llty o~ workpisces w i~ synchronlz~d with one
another an~ wl~h the op~ratlon of tr~n~fer pre~s 12. ~h~
can be a~o~plished by ~lmultaneousl~ actua~lng, ln the
proper seq~ence, the v~rlou~ motor me~ns for the a~tua~or
unlt~ 30 and-the ~rive helt ~y~tems for eaGh tranefer ~y~
10 on ea~h ~ide o~ tho preBB.
Since each ~ran~r ~y~tem 10 on each ~id~ o~ tr~n~er
pres 12 1~ independently conSrollable, the ~y~te~ 10 may
be used to realiyn an~ repo~l~ion the plural~ty o~
wor~pie~e~ W ~ required by each ~amping oper~ion, For
example, ~he right mem~er oE an opposed palr o~ flnger
operator ralls ~6 may be ma~e to move ~t ~ ter ra~e than
-~ 2B -~ 1 31 1 438
th~ left memb~r. ~ch movement would ~se ~he workpl~ce
W to rot~te somewha~. Blm-larly, movem~nt of the aO~ tOr
unlts 30 may be varied a~ neces6ary to ad~u3~ to required
operAting condition~.
A~ ~hown in the preferred embodlment~ ~e~uator uni~6
30 ar~ dual axls hydraull~ actuators ~8 described above.
~aln howaver the inVentiOI- c~ntempl~t~d he~ein i~ no~.
l~ite~ to thl~ type of actua~or, but mAy lncludc other
.. suitable means Or impartlng llnear motion.
It may be seen how ~he the~-eln sy~em i~ ~daptable for
operatlon with a wlde variety O~ different trans~cr pre~6
deslgns o~ ~arylng filzes. Thu6, in an in~tall~tion having
tran~er presses of various ~ype~, it 1~ po~ible ~o move
the operating ~ystem 10 ~tom on~ tr~ns~e~ press to another.
1~ The tr~n ~er syste~ i6 modular, and as many ~omponents may
be ~ded a~ ara neceB8a-~y ~v ~ccommoda~e th~ ~iz~ o~ the
pre s ~nd t~e num~er o~ work ~tatiOtl~ therein. ~he Qc~uator
unit~ 30 may be u~ed with exis~ing sy~m~ havlrlg dle
mount;ed trans:~er r~ whlc:ll utllize ~ Gro.~s ~lide braclcat.
Hence, retro~itting o~ exist~llg systelns is inexpens~ and
ea~i Furthe~more, whell ~le chnng~ operati.ons are
necessary~ i~ ls much easler to die~:3emble t:~¢ sy~tem of
the pre~en~ invelltioll than is the c~e wl~h prior Art
6y~tem6. Furthermore, in con~rast to prlor ~rt sy~ems
wher~ e various actuator, motor ~nd drive componen~ are
~- 2~ -- 131143~
mounted dlre~tly on ~h~ trans~er rail ~nd lnter~re w~ th
operatlon of 1:he press, the 2~ctuators, mo~ors ancl driv,~3~ o~
the preSe~t system are deploye~ outboard of the pr~S6 ~ el~
and ~upported independ~ntly frolll the trAn6fer and f~nger
oper~tor rails, thu~ re~ulting ln ~A~ler oper~ion, a~ well
a ln a reduction of ~he b~lk o~ the rail nece~ary ~o
upport the ystem.
In ~n alternate embo~im~n~ ~ho~n 13~ FIGU~E ~3 ~ the
trans er sy~em o~ the present lnvention ~ moun~ed or
depend~ from the upper ~ationaL-y press crown shown ln
FI~URE 1 ~ia a s~pport ~rame ~9. Thi~ transfer ~y~tem
a~rangement ~unctions ln the same man~e~ ~ p~cviou~ly
de~crlbe~, but greatly lncrea~e~ avail~bl~ ~loor 3pace
ad~acent the transfer pL~SS and provldes unob~tructcd acce~6
thereto. As wlll be apparen~ to those skilled in the ~rt,
~upport ~rame ~ may take vario~ ~orms, ~nd the dlmension~
of the ~ua~or unit~ may vAry to a~o~mod~tc ~uch overh~ad
mounting~
Wh~le the herein embodiment has b~en de~cribcd
ln~talled ln a transf~r pres~, lt 1~ ~o~templated that ~t
may be adapted ~or u~e ln any ~y~tem re~uirlng repetitl~c
tran~fer Or a plurallty of workpie~e~ ~rom one equidistan~
worX ~tation to ~no~ler. For exa~ple, 3uch rep~tl~iou~
tran~fer may ~e ~leeded ln oper~ting a punch pres~, a coating
~y~tem, a paint ~prayer, et~. Furthermor~, other ~u~h
~30__ 1311438
appll~ation~ ma~ occur tc~ one ~k1lled in th~ art ~lthout
depar~ing ~rom ~ pirl1; o~ th~. h~r~in invention.
Therefore, the scope o~ ~he p~ent lnvention is not
limit~d to the embodiment~ and exempli~lc~tions de.picted
5an~ d~cribed h~rein, but rath~r by ~e cl ~im~: append4d
he~o.
