Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1338797
r~ o1- tht. InV~n~t~n
This inventlon disclosed ln thls division~l
t~r~ n and in tho parent Canadian ~pplication Serial No.
588,260, relates to dual lane ccnversion systems. It is
particularly adapted llor ccnver~3ion systems making easy-open
can ends, although it will be ~ that it could apply to
presses ,_,...r.~, 1 ~ In~ cther types of parts.
PresGes for converting ends for cans and the lLko
~re known. Presses of thLs general type are av~Ll~ble from
tho NLnster NachLno Company of NLn~ter, OhLo. U.S. patent no.
4,568,230 show~ a genoral l~yout of a pross for processLng
work pLeceti or shells Lnto fLnlshed c~n ends wLth an openLng
tclb attached thereto.
The presses used for the m~nufacturo of easy-open
c~n ends generally comprLse a press bed mounted on legs whlch
reGt on the floor. Four columns or uprLght3 or pLllars ~ro
mounted on the press bed. The columns support a crown ln
whlch a maln drLve fcr the varLoua press components Ls
mounted. Tho columns also h2ve slLdes or ways attachod
thereto for ~iupportLng ~ reclproc~tlng r~m. The r~m c~rrLei
upper toolinq, whlch cooperates wlth lower toolLng on the bed.
Tho toolLng dofLnos a plur~lLty of st~tLons Ln whLch tho
t~hells tlre progre6sLvely converted lnto easy-open can ends.
conveyor carrLes the shells into ~md through the stations of
the dLc toolLng. The tihells merely rest in openings in the
conYeyor. Thoy are hold in pltlco by ~ vacuum box placed
genorally underneath the forward run of the conveycr ~t tho
orea of the toolLng.
The t~bs ~re formod by tab toolLng, which is
supplied wlth strLp titcck by ~ stock feed mech~nism. The tab
toolLng forms a tab and separates Lt from tho strlp stock, and
~ttaches lt to a can ond.
Whilo prosso8 a8 gonor~lly doscribod above ~ro
known, thore remain sovor~ll difficultLes ~ t~ t~ with tho
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1338797
setup, operatlon and mAIntPn~n~-P of the presses, which reduco
productLvity. Pirst, it c~n be ilrrrpr~ pd that the variou6
moving parts of the press must be precisely alignod to assure
production of high qnality parts. Ilost obviously, the upper
tooling which reciprocatos on the ram must be precisely in
~lignment with the stationary lower tooling. This requires
that the ram and, therefore, the columns be prec~sely located.
Similarly, the conYoyor or transfer system must cooperate with
the toollng to place the worX pieces or 6hells in the proper
placo for conversion by the tooling. Operation of the
conveyor system i6 complicated by the fact that the shell6
must be indexed through the stations of the die tooling not
only lnn~ nAl ly, but also in a vertical direction to
^ the reciproc~ting motion of the upper tooling.
Location of the tab stock feeder mechanism further 1 il"i~tP~3
tho alignment problems encountered in setting up the machine.
q`he second difficulty with prior art pre~ses was
just eluded to, n~mely, the need to maintain registration of
the ahells as they move from one station to the next. Nhlle
it iL known to use a vacuum box to keep the shells from flying
off the conveyor entirely, prior art vacuum boxe6 m~lce no
provision for the vertical motion of the upper tooling. That
is, in order to move the shells longitudlnally from statlon to
station, they must be spaced from the upper and lower tooling
during indexlng. ~owever, during a downstroAe of the r~m the
shells must come into cont~ct with the tooling in order for it
to perform convers$on oper~tlons. In prlor vacuum boxes thls
vertical motion results simply by sllowing flexura of the
conveyor belt und2r the influence of the upper tools driving
the shells and conveyor belt downwardly. ~his can lead to
loss of registration of the shells on the conveyor.
A third dlfficulty of prior press designs is the
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13~8797
down time c4used by lnconvenient acce~s to the toolLng. .a
primary reason for poor sorvLco ~cc~ss i8 the necoss4ry
location of tho tab stock foeder mechani3m ad~acent or
opposite the tooling. Thus, only one side of tho tooling is
Arr-e~ hln for mA~ntr-^n~n~ purposes. While the tab 6tock
foeder mech4ni~m can be ~ r ' lnrl for acce~s to the
tooling, ~uch a process i~ timo consuming and inconvenient.
The 0achine and Lt0 timing mu~t be totally ~et up ~gain,
because once the tab stock feeder is di6conneGted from the
drivQ, the necossary timing is lout.
of th~ InYent~rn
The present invention addrosses e~ch of tho three
dLfficulties 1~:~ above. The alignment and registration
problems during setup are resolved by the present invention.
This is done by providing a unitary, elongated bolster which
fLts betwoen tho press bed and the columns. lrhat is, the
columns rost on the bolster r~ther than on the press bed.
~180, the dic ~hoe of tho lowor tooling is located and affixed
to the 3:~olster. Similarly, the conveyor or transfer system is
mounted on the bolstor. The bol3ter has locators or keys
ormed theroin, which coopor~te with simildr ~lign00nt keys on
the lower dio shoo, tho colu0ns, and the conveyor system.
Thi8 A~ J. '1 ~ssuros precise locAtions of 411 of theso
~5 cooperating p4rts of the press. I~eys are provided to locate
the columns both longitudinally ~nd 14tor~11y of the bolDter.
Thus~ tho bolstor IntrAJrA~ support of the press elements.
RegistratLon of the shells on the conveyor 18 maln-
t~ined by a traveling vacuum box. The vacuU0 box h~s n ca~e
mounted on the lower die shoe, and a fra0e which is vertically
slidable within the c~se. The frame hAs edge tracks which
engage the 13teral edges of the conveyor as it moves through
~3,~87~7
the vdcuum box. It dlso includes n central quide. Flange3 on
thc tracks ~nd guLde overlie the upper surfaco of thc conveyor
such that the edges of the shellG are trapped 2gdlnst vertlcal
separ~ltlon from the conveyor. Thu6, the shell6 are posltive-
ly retalned ln pos~tlon on the conveyor, in addltLon to the
,.,_ vdcuum rDtentLon.
--~ The frQme Ls mounted on sprLng supports, and there
dre actuators dependLng from the upper die shoe on the ram.
These actuators ~re ~lso spring loaded with ~prings that are
10 stronger th~n those of the frame 6upports. The dctudtors are
sized to contact the frame prior to the ram reaching the
bottom of Ltts .l-,w.. L~ . This pusheG the frame downw~rdly,
and carries the shells lnto contact with the lowor tooling.
When thc frame bottoms out, the sprlngs of the actuators
compress, providing a lost motion which allows thD rt~m to
reach bottom dead center without damdging the v~cuum box. On
the upstroke of the ram, the actuators will hold the frame in
its down position untll the upper tools have moved out of
contdct with the shells. Once that ocours, the fr~lme will
move baclc up to lts r~iDAed position under the influencD of the
frame supports. This rdi3es the shellli off of the lower
tooling where they drD ready for Lndexing to thc next station.
AccestJ to tho tooling is fPAl~itpt~d by a hlnged t~b
stock feeder mechanism. The feeder3 QrD loc~ted withln a
cArrier which is mounted on one of the columns. Tho cnrrler
is pivot~ble away from the toollng about a hinge line.
MDAhPn~APl power i5 gupplled from the maLn drlve to the
feeders through a drLve shaft whLch ls co~ial wLth the hLnge
llne. ThLs permitD pLvotLng motLon of the cdrrler wlthout
tl~An--^At~n7 the drivo. r~ D¢~--tly/ the timlng between the
feeder dnd the other p~rts of the press 15 not lost when the
_d r cdrrier i8 plvoted to its soryice posltion.
1338797
A press for convertlng work piece~ into parts,
comprislng a bed, a bolster mounted on the bed, a
plur~llty of columns mounted on the bolster and havlng a
way ~ttached to each column, meln drlve mean3 mounted on
5 the columns, ~ rem slLd~ble upon the w~ys and driven by
the main drive means to reciprocate toward and away from
the bolster, upper and lower toolirg means ~ttached to the
'~ ,, r~m and bolster, respectively, having a pLurality of
- stations for convertlng said work pieces into p~rts,
conveyor drive means mounted on the bolster, and conveyor
means mounted on the conveyor drive means ~or carrylng
work pieces into and through the toollng mean3 ~tctlons,
the bolster comprlslng a one-piece member which includes
locating means engageable with the conveyor drive means,
columns and lower tooling means for estebli3hing the
correct positlona of the conveyor drive mean~, the columns
~nd the lower toollng means with respect to one ~nother,
~uch that thny are aligned for cooper~tion.
A pres3 for converting work piece6 lnto parts,
,~ 20 comprislng a bed, ~ plur~llty of columns mounted on the
- ~, bed and havlng ~ w~y ~ttached to ~ech column, main drlve r
means mounted on the columns, a rnm slldable upon the ways
and driven by the main drive me~ns to reciprocate toward
~md away from the bed, upper and lower tooling means
as attached to the ram and bed, respectively, having a
plurelity of stations Por processing said work piecer into
parts, conveyor drive means mounted on the bed, and
conveyor means mounted on the conveyor drive means for
carrying work pieces into eLnd through the tooling means
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133~7g7
stations, a feeder carrier mounted on a column opposite
the tooling means and pivotaole about a hinge line away
from the tooling means to provi~e service eccess thereto,
stocX feed means mounted on the feeder carrier for feeding
S a strip 8tock into the stations of the tooling mesns,
feeder drlve means connected to the m~in drive means for
~\ - drlving said stock fee~l means, the feeder drive means
including a drive shaft mounted coaxially with the hinge
line 80 as to permit pivoting of the feeder carrier
10 without dlsconnecting the feeder drive means from the
stock feed means.
A press for converting work pieces into parts,
comprising a bed, a plurality of columns mounted on the
bed and having a way attached to each column, main drlve
lS means mounted on the column, a ram slidable upon the way~
znd driven by the main ~rive means to reciprocate toward
and away from the bed, upper and lower tooling means
~ttached to the ram znd bed, respectively, having a
plur~lity of st~tions for processing said work pieces into
20 parts, a feeder c~rrier mounted on a column oppoQite the
tooling me~ns and pivot~ble about a hinge line away from
the tooling means to provide service ~ccess thereto, stock
feed means mounted on the feeder carrier for feeding strip
stock into the stztions of the tooling me~ns, feeder dr~ve
25 means connected to the main drive means for driving said
stock feed means, the feeder drive means inoluding a drive
shaft mounted co~xially with the hinge line 80 as to
permit pivoting of the feeder carrier without
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13387g7
disconnecting the feeder drive means from the stock feed
meens .
In the press for converting work pieces into parts,
the press having lower tooling includiny c tool shoe
S mounted on c bed ~nd upper tooling mounted on a
reciprocating ram which moves the upper tooling into and
out of 9operative e~ycly_.~ t with the lower tooling the
upper and a lower tooling having a plurallty of stations
where work is performed on the work pieces, and an endless
conveyor having a forward run disposed between the upper
and lower tooling for successively advancing work pieces
to each of the stations of the tooling, the conveyor
having openings therein in which work pieces rest normally
sp~ced from the tooling, the i~ comprising a
lS travelling v~cuum box which applies a vacuum to the side
of the convcyor opposite the work pieceG so as to hold
them on the conveyor, the vccuum box compri31ng:
an open-top case surroundlng the lower toollng
statlons cnd flxed to the lower tool shoe; ~nd
a frame engcgeable wlth the case and verticclly
slideble with respect to the case, at le~st one of the
frame and case h~ving seal mecns engageable with the other
such that the frame and ccse are slidable in sealing
relation, the frame having a palr of lnwardly-facing,
longitudlncl tracks which support the lateral edges of the
conveyor such that the conveyor moves vertic~llly with the
frame, the frame being open on its top and bottom to
permit access by the top and bottom tooling to the work
pieces.
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1338797
Rr~ef rl~nr~ntinn of th~ Dr~winC~ -
FLg. 1 L~ d front elevation view of the converslon
3ystem of the present invention.
Fi~. 2 Ls an end elovatlon vLew of the conversion
6y6tem, looking from the right 3ide of Fig 1.
Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the bolster with the
lower die shoe omitted for clarity.
Fig. 4 Ls sn enlarged front elevation view of the
bolster, with portion6 omitted, showing the conveyor system
mounted thereon.
Fig. 5 is an end elevation vLew of the bolster
looking from the right end of Fiq. 4.
Fig. 6 i8 an clevation view of the tab stock feeder
mechanL6m, looking in the dlrectLon of.lLne 6-6 of Fiy. 2.
Fig. 7 is a pldn view of the tab stock feeder mecha-
nism .
Fig. 8 i6 an enl~rged front elevation view of the
tab feeder, with the cover omLtted.
Fig. 9 i3 a side el~vation view of the t~b stock
feeder, looking from the right side of Fig. 8.
Fiy. 10 is a Gide elovatLon view of the tao 3tock
feeder, lookLng from the left side of Fig. 8.
Fig. 11 Ls a dL~grammatLc perspectLve vLew of the
v~cuum box and A~ t~i appardtu8.
Fiq. 12 Ln a sectLon taken yenerally ~long line 12-
12 of Fiy. 11, with thQ ram in A r~Lsed posLtion.
Fig. 13 Ls a section taken generdlly along line 13-
13 of FLg. 11, wLth the r~m ~n ~ lowered po6LtLon.
Fig. 14 is a detail view showing the construction of
, 30 the vdcuum box frame.
,
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13387g7
Det~ i n~R~-rir~lrn of ~ nvf.n~nn
The conversLon systom or press is shown generally at
10 in PLgs. 1 and 2. For purpo~es of de~icriptLon, the portlon
of the press shown in Fig. 1 will be termed the front of tho
S machine. The right hand side as seen in Fig. 1 wLll be called
the input side with the left hand side referred to as the
output ~Lde. The side not shown in Fig. l will be denoted the
back of the machine. The preRs includes a pair of legs 12
_ aupporting ~ preLs bed 14. Certain auxiliary equipment such
d8 d vacuum pump 16, and a vdcuum manifold 18 mtly be ~tt~ched
to the press bed.
A unitary bol~ter 20 reGts on top of the preRs bed
14, and is koyed thereto as at 22. It w$11 be noted th~t the
bolster 20 extendR beyond the edges of tho bed 14. Details of
the lnventive bolster will be described bolow.
Four columns or uprLghts 24 dre mounted on top of
the bolster 20. ~ach column Lnclude_ a way or track 25. A
crown 26 is ~;upported on top of the columns 24. The bed 14,
bolster 20, columns 24 Rnd crown 26 are fastened together by
tie rods 27 extending through these, . Inside thc
crown ig a mdin drive means, including a motor, crankRh~ft,
and flywheel (not Rhown). The various ~ of the prc_s
-- are drivon by means of r~ hAnl~ mn~ nR to the cr~nk-
shdft. For example, rotdry down stackers 28 which place
2s shells onto a conveyor ~re driven by belts connected to the
cr~nkshaft. The housings for the belt~ are shown ~t 30. They
are connected to gear boxes 32. DrLve shdfts Lhown schemati-
cally at 34 connect the gear boxes 32 to the down stackers.
A ram 36 is sliddble on the ways 25. It is driven
by the crankshaft in a reciprocdting motion. Tooling shown
generdlly at 38 is locdted between the ram 36, and the bolster
20. The tooling shown Ls lAne and tdb toolLng for converting
~. '' .
.. ... _ .. .. . _ . ..... . . , _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
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1338797
can endG. This tooling comprises the usual dles ~md punches
requLred to form the ends. As is customary, the tooling 1G
divided Lnto upper and lower set6, including an upper die shoe
40, and a lower die shoe 42. ~he upper shoe 40 i8 affixed to
the r_m 36, and moves therewith. The lower die shoe is keyed
to the bolster 20, ~s descrLbed below. ~he usual die fixtures
and punch holders are mounted on the die shoes. A traveling
vacuum box is indicated schtmDt~rJ~ly at 44.
The press includes a transfer or conveyor system,
including n m_in gear box 46 driven from the cranksh~ft by
belt 47 (seen in Fig.4). The gear box 46 drlves a heAd end
pulley 48, whlch is mounted for rotatLon on a pair of brackets
50. ~he br_ckets Are Dttached to the bolster. A tall cnd
pulley 52 18 mountod ~t the other of the bolster. rt ls
lS covered by a shroud 54. An endless conveyor belt lllustr~ted
schem~tically at 56 is driven by the pulley 48, and revolvos
about pulley 52. The belt S6 h_s openings 57 for recelvlng
shells .
A strip stock feeder shown generally at 58 i6
mounted at the back of the press, opposite the area of the
tooling. Thls appDratus feeds a strLp stock material whLch,
in the embodiment shown, is used to make the tab parts of the
cDn ends. Details of the stock feed mechanlsm 58 will be
- described below.
Turning now to Figa. 3-5, det~il3 of the bolster 20
~nd the conveyor system _re shown. The bolster i8 ~n
elongated slab of steel, approximately 6 inches thick. The
upper surf~ce of the bolster has ~ plurnlity of locating means
in the form of keyw~ys for e6t_blishing thc po~it$ons of
, mounted on the bolster, nemely, the columns 24 _nd
lower die shoe 42. There is a lateral keyway 60 for e~ch of
the columns, which is aligned with a mDtching keyw~y 62 (Fig.
. . ~
_, , ,,,, , -- _ _ ,, , _, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . , _
1,~38797
4) on the bottom of the coLumns to precisely set the posLtion
of the columns along the length of the bol3ter. ~ key 61 fLts
Lnto the m3tchLng keyways. The two columns At the re~r of the
bolster Also have longitudinal keyways 64 (FLg. 3). These
keys fLx the lateral posLtLon of the rear two columns.
Central keyways 66 establL3h the center line of the bolster.
They Are used to fix the lower die shoe 42 in positLon. ~rhey
also establLsh a reference lLne for drLlling the bolt holes
used to mount the brackets 50. The keyways 60 and 64 are
machined Lnto the bolster with reference to the centrAl
koyways .
The bolster has vacuum supply ports 68 Ln communLc~-
tion wLth passages 70, whLch extend through the bolster.
PassAges 70 are connected to the vAcuum manifold 18 through
matLng pAssages in the bed 14.
The Lnput end of the bolster has a U-fihaped cutout
shown At 72. The cutout forms a paLr of arms 74. The U-
shaped cutout 72 ~ the taLl end pulley 52 between
the arms 74, T '1At--ly ad~Acent the cutout, on the upper
surf~co of the bolstor Ls a rlr~rrr~ rn 76. A saddle 78 fLts
Ln the depres310n 76, and c~rries the beArLngs for mountlng
the tail ond pulley 52. A cylLnder 80 Ls mounted between the
\ bol6ter ~nd the SAddlo 78 for 2~d~u3tLng the longLtudLnal
posLtLon of the saddle, thereby rrn~rrl 1 i n~ the tensLon on the
conveyor belt 56. A pALr of restraLnLng bars 82 ~re fLxed to
the bolster arm3 74 to hold the saddle Ln the ~rrr-~irn 76.
The conveyor belt 56 Ls supported on its forward run
adjAcont the taLl end pulley 52 by A platc 84. The plate i5
mounted on a bridge structure 86 att~ched to the bolstor. The
brLdge 86 also supports the down stackers 28.
From the plAto 84 tho forward run of the conveyor
eD between two of the columns 24, And then Lnto the
i~'
.. . ... , ... . . _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ .
1338797
area of the toolLng. The forw,~rd run of the COnVQyOr ls
supported in tho toolinq area by tho vdcuum box 44, ~_ will bo
dcscrlbed in detail bolow. Upon leaving the tooling area, the
forw_rd run of the conveyor proceeds between tho two output
side columns to an output device where the fini3hed can ends
are rllRrhArr~pd. ~he conveyor belt wind6 around tho head end
or drlve pulley 48 to begin the return run. The return run is
r ~ArPd by a channel 88 cut in tho underside of the
bolster as shown ln Fig. 4.
The bolster 20 provldes ~n 1ntPr~rA~ upport member
for the variou~ pres3 component~. In the AmhnA1m~nt shown the
bolster oxtends beyond tho columns to provlde support for the
tr_n6fer fiystém or conveyor. The bolster also a6fiures proper
~lignment of the ~ ~ R mounted thereon.
Looklng now at Figs. 6-10, the stock feed mech_nism
58 18 shown in detail. Although lt could be u~ed to feed any
type of work pieces or stock, in the illu3trated ~Amhnrlim~n~ lt
1~ used to feed the tab stock strlp, 80 hereinafter the Rtock
feeder wlll be referred to as tho tab feeder. Since the
feoder 18 6upplylnq tho tab atoclc to tho tab toolinq, it 18
loc~ted opposlte or ~d~acent to the tab tooling, on the re~r
sldo of tho machine. Thus, the tab stock is fed t v.~ ly
-- .
to the directlon of the maln conveyor belt. As ~ result of
thls rer~ulred positlonlng for the feeder, lt blocks servlce
accoss to the tooling. The prosont lnvention dllevl~tes thLs
difficulty by plvotally mountlng tho tab foedor 58 to ono of
tho columns 24. Tho foedor plvots ~bout a hingo llno from lts
normA-l worklng posltlon to A servlco E?osltlon shown in phantom
~Lt 90 in Flg. 7.
Tho foodor, ~ aro mounted on a carrlor
comprlslng tOp ~nd bottom plates 92 and 94, and flrst and
socond slde plates 96 and 98. A removable covor 100 encloses
1338797
the carrier on three sides,
The feedQr carrier is pivotally mounted by a br~cket
118, which i8 bolted to ~ column 24. The bracXet includes 2
~tiffener 120, and upper and lowcr ~tRn~inn~ 122. The exten-
S ~ions mount bearing~ about which the top and bottom plates are
pivotable. The~e bearing~ deflne a hinge line or rotational
~- axis 124.
The first side plate 96 carrie~ a pair of locating
pads 102 and 104 (Piy. 10), which define hnr~7nnt:l1 and
vortical locating surfaces, respectively. The first ~lde
plate Illso h~s a pin 106, on which a latch 108 is pivot~lly
mounted .
The re~r edge of the lower die ~hoe 42 has milled
surface~ 110 and 112. When the feeder 18 Ln the closed or
operating position, the pads 102 and 104 of the first end
plate engage theso milled surfaces to loc~te the carrier in
the correct position with respect to thc die shoe. Immedlate-
ly ~d~acent these milled surface~ is d slot 114 into which a
hook portion of the latch 108 fits to engage a removable bolt
116 ior holdlng the feeder in the closed posltion.
The actual apparatus for feeding the tab stock i~i
conventLonal, and may be purcha3ed from Fergurson Nanufactur-
ing of St. I.ouis, ~issouri. Briefly, th~t mechanism includes
a right angle gear box 126 having a shaft 128, which i8
2s coaxiAl with the hingo line 124. Gear box 126 drives ~ belt
130 ~bout an ad~ustable idler 132, which is mounted on the
second side plate 98. The side plate h~s a U-shaped cutout
134 permitting passage of the belt and idler. The belt 130
drives a stock input device 136 and a stock output device 138.
Tho stock itself is shown ~ l ly at 140 in Fig. 7 .
It will be ~ deLRl.o~ld that ~OOC'~J'R~ e~uipment"~uch as lubo
units and a scrap chopper h~ve been omitted or only partially
11
: " .
_ _ _ _ , _ _ _ _ _ , .. , .. . ...... . _ .. . . . .... _ _ _ . ,
133879~
shown .
MorhAn~rAl power to the gear box 126 is provided
through a belt 142, drlven by a right angle drive 144 (Figs. 6
and 7). This drive in turn recelvea power from belt 146,
which engages an output shaft of the main gear box 46.
It c~n be seen that with this drive ArrAn~m~nt tho
carrier csn bo rotated about the hinge line 124 without thc
need i~or rll~ - ing any of the belts. The tlming of the
tab feeders is not lost when the carrier pivots botween
operating and service positions . The locatlng surfaces on
----' pads 102 and 104 assure that the c~rrier will always line up
in the correct position with respect to the lower dLo fihoe.
Looking now at Figs. 11-14, the traveling vacuum box
44 is ahown in detail. The vacuum box 44 is located on the
lower die shoe 42. The lower dLe shoe also has _ plurality of
guide sleeves 148 fixed thereto. Guide posts 150 depending
from the upper die shoe 40, slide in the 61eeves 148 to
maintain registr~tion between the upper ~md lower tooling.
The upper ~md lower die shoes also have stop blocks 152, which
limit the downwArd motion of the die shoe 40. A plur~lity of
tool holders or fixtures 154, which define the progressive
: work stations of the tooling, are fixed to tho upper ~nd lower
die shoes. t
The traveling vacuum box itself comprises ~n open_
top case 156 bolted to the lower die shoe 42. The case
surrounds the tool holders 154 of the work stations. The
upper inside edgo of the ca6e has a seal element 158 tFig.
14). The r,asc also includes end blocks 160 tPigs. 11 and 13).
The end blocks mount stop members 162 and 164. stops 162 may
be ret~ined by bolts 165. The interior of tho case communi-
- c~tes with vacuum supply p~ssages 166 tPig. 12) formed in the
die plato 42. Theso communicnte with the vacuum ports 68 in
12
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, _ _ _ .. . ... .
1338797
the bolster.
The vacuum box ~lso includes a traveling frame shown
generally at 168, The end5 of the frame are defined by belt
lowering b~rs 170 on each end. The bolt lowerlng bar~ havo
S corner membera through whlch bolts connect the bars to end
support r~ils 172. Thc end support rail8 172 have openings
174, which r ' ' ~ thc stop members 162 . The openings 174
and stops 162 cooperato to provide an up limit stop for the
frame 168. The ond support rails 172 are also boltod to
lipring-loaded frame supports 176. These supports oxtend
through the blocks 160 into roceptacles in the lower dLe shoo
42. Springs 178 bias the frame upwardly. There in a frame
support 176 at each corner of the frame.
The belt lowering bars 170 and end 6upport rails 172
~re connectod by three 60ts of rails, e~ch having ~n upper ~nd
lower member. An upper center rail 180 is ~ttached to the
belt loworing bars 170, ~nd located by a spacer 182. As best
seen Ln Flg, 12 the upper center rail 180 ha8 three central
ribs 183, and cornera 184. A lower center rail 186 is
connected to the end support rails 172 and has dimple8 187.
First and l;econd sets of outor r~Lls include a top
outer rail 188, which is a generally Z-shaped part with its
upper surface havLng ~ singl~ rLb 190 nnd a llp or fl~ngo 192.
The top outer r~ ; oooperate wlth lower outcr r~ils 19'1,
which are channel sh~ped members hr~vlng a pair o~ dLmples 195
on Lts upper edge. The ends of the lower outor r~ils are
~ttached to the end support rails 172. It wilL be noted that
the outside surfaces of the lower outer rl~ils 194 enq~ge tho
~eals 158 of the case in soAling relr~tion. Together the upper
and lower outer reils 188 and 194 define tracks in which the
forw~lrd run of tho conveyor belt 56 travels.
The uppor die shoe 40 h~s four sockets in which
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, . ....... , _ _ _ _ .... _ _ _ _ _ , .
1338797
4ctuators 196 are placed. The ~ctuators are biased downwardly
- by springs 198. The movement of the actuators within the
socket 18 constrained by flanges 200, which ~re trapped
between a stop 202 and ~ plste 204. The actuators have feet
206, which are ngA~Ahl~- with the belt lowerlng bar 170 when
the ram lower~ the dis shoe 40. The springs 198 h~ve a higher
spriny rate than that of springs 178.
The operation of the vacuum box i~ as followc. The
conveyor 56 is threaded through the three sets of rAils in the
vacuum box frame 168. That is, the later~l edges o the
convoyor belt are held in the tracks formed by the upper and
lower outer rails 188 and 194. ~n p~rticular, the outer edqes
of the belt are held between the ribs 190 and dimples 195.
This iG best seen in Fig. 14. The center of the belt is
trapped between center r~ils 180 And 186, and particularly
between the ribs 183 and dlmples 187. Thus, the conveyor belt
56 is constrained to travel with the frame of the vacuum box.
The shells are shown at 208. They rest in the
openings 57 in the conveyor belt 56. The lateral edges of the
shells are trapped between the belt on the underside, and the
lips or flanges 192 of the outer rails, and the corners 184 of
the center upper r~il. Thus, the shells are positlvely held
ln place in the conveyor belt by the llps 192, and corners
184, as well as being held by the vacuum in the interior of
the vacuum box 44.
During a d~ LL~ of the ram, the upper die plate
40 carrles the actuators 196 lnto engagement with the belt
lowering bars 170. since the actuator springs 198 are stiffer
than the frame support springs 178, the actuators force the
frame 168 downwardly until the stops 164 bottom on the blocks
160. AB the frame tr~vels down it carries the conveyor belt
56 with it, thereby carrylng the shells into contact with the
14
_ _ _ _, ~ ,,, .... , , . , .. _ ...... . .... . . .. .. . ..
-
~ ! 1 3 3 8 7 9 7
lower tools prior to th2 upper tools coming down on the
shells. When the frAme bottoms, the ActUAtOr sprlngs 198
compress wlthin the uppcr die shoe socket~ to ~llou the r~m to
cArry the upper tools to bottom dead center without damAying
S the v~ouum box. Upon retraction of the ram, the tools leave
:. contAct with the shells flr6t, and then the actuator stops 202
engage the flange 200 to lift the actuator~ off of the vacuum
box framc. A3 the actuAtora rlse, the frame also moveG
upwArdly under the lnfluence of Lts support springs 178 untLl
10 slots 174 engage stops 162. Once the ~hells are out of
contact with the lower toolG, the conveyor belt indexes them
forwardLy to the next work Gtatlon.
Nhlle a preferred form of the invention has been
shown and descrlbed, it will be L~l~d~JL~.LVOll that Alter~tion~
lS could be mado thereto without departing from the scope of the
follo~ ng claimG.
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