Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a filling device for
automatically filling the die of a powder press. The filling
device includes a filling shoe connected through flexible
hoses to a powder reservoir. An adjusting device coupled to
the press drive moves the filling shoe in work cycles back
and forth relative to the die between a waiting position and
a filling position by means of a swing lever system and a
cantilever arm operated by the swing lever system.
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2. Descri~tion of the Related Art
Filling devices of the above-described type are known in
~ the art. In the known devices, the swing lever system for
;~ the cantilever arm which supports and moves the filling shoe
is a parallelogram linkage which is movable about stationary
~ bearing axes on the press frame. The drive of this
I '`!'1 parallelogram linkage is effected by means of a cam disk in -~
accordance with the work cycle of the powder press.
.
To ensure that the filling shoe can exactly follow the
lifting and lowering movements of the die within the powder
press, the filling shoe is connected to the free end of the
cantilever arm so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis
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and the cantilever arm, in turn, is mounted on a vertical
column so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis, wherein
the vertical column is supported by the swing lever system.
A pressure medium cylinder which is connected to the vertical
column and which acts on the cantilever arm is operated in
such a way that it keeps the filling shoe in contact with the
upper side of the die plate in any vertical position of the
die in the waiting position as well as in the filling
position of the filling shoe.
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In other known filling devices of the above-described
type, the movement of the filling shoe is effected by means
of a hydraulic cylinder having an adjustable stroke and the
support of the cylinder facilitates a lifting and lowering
movement of the filling shoe with the die. These filling
devices are used particularly in connection with
hydraulically operated powder presses.
However, all filling devices known in the art have the
disadvantage that the systems for moving the filling shoe of
the filling device require a manual adjustment relative to
the die mounted in the powder press.
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Since different tools require different dies and since
th~ dies have to carry out different vertical movements
during the operation of the powder press, each tool exchange
additionally requires substantial manual adjusting
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operations. Not only the lateral position of the filling
shoe and the vertical position of the filling shoe relative
to the die must be adjusted, but it is addltionally necessary
to adjust the horizontal stroke length and the stroke
position of the filling shoe relative to the die.
In the known filling devices, clamping screws are
loosened for this purpose on the drive linkage and the
connecting pieces are moved and the screws are subsequently ~ ;
tightened. To enable the operator of the press to carry out -
these adjusting operations, the powder press must be stopped
because the adjusting devices are accessible without danger
only when the press stands still. Since some adjusting
operations, particularly during th~ start-up phase of the
powder press, must be carried out several times, the
~ adjusting procedures are very time-consuming. -~;
: ~ SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ~:
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It is, therefore, the primary object of the present
invention to provide a filling device of the aboveldescribed ~-
type in which the above-mentioned deficiencies are
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eliminated. Specifically, a filling device is to be provided ;~
in which the adjustments of the different system axes of the
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filling shoe cooperating with die can be carried out by ~
remote control and by means of a drive, particularly from a ~;
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central control desk with monitor and operator guidance, even
during the o~eration of the press.
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In accordance with the present invention, the above
object is met by a filling device in which the adjusting
device includes an oscillating cam mechanism for moving the
swing lever system. The oscillating cam mechanism is mounted
on a bracket which can be moved relative to the press frame
by means of adjusting drives in three directions which extend
perpendicularly to each other. The oscillating cam mechanism
is permanently connected through a longitudinally adjustable
universal shaft to an intermediate transmission which is
connected to the press drive. The cantilever arm is ~ -
longitudinally movably guided in a guiding joint which can be
swiveled about an axis which extends parallel to the bearing
axis of the swing lever system. The guiding joint, in turn,
is mounted in a support member which is displaceable along a
vertical guide supported by the oscillating cam mechanism.
The features of the present invention provide a filling
device for automatically filling the die of a powder press
which is particularly advantageous in practical use and which
can be adjusted exactly and quickly to the respective
operating conditions of the powder press, wherein the
relative positions of the system axes can be made visible and
monitored on the monitor of the central control desk.
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In conventional oscillating cam mechanisms, the
oscillating cycle of movement on the driven shaft is derived
from a uniform rotary drive movement of the drive shaft of a
cam-controlled mechanism. Therefore, the swing lever system
may be a simple, single-arm lever which is wedged onto the
driven shaft of the oscillating cam mechanism. It is
particularly advantageous if the effective length of the
swing lever system for the cantilever arm can be adjusted
within predetermined limits, preferably infinitely variably,
by means of an adjusting drive. This possibility of
adjustment which is also remote controlled is of a particular
advantage if the filling shoe of the filling device is used
in the pull-off position of the pressing tool die also have
the push-off means for the finished blanks and, therefore,
the stroke of the filling shoe between its waiting position
and its filling position must be adjusted particularly
exactly or must be changed during the operation of the press. -;
For a problem-free operation of the filling device, an ~-
important feature of the present invention provides that the
support for the guiding joint relative to the vertical guide
can be placed under a preferably regulated initial pressure
in the direction toward the end face of the pressing die. To -
ensure that in this case the mobility of the cantilever arm
supporting the filling shoe is not impaired during the stroke ~-~
movement between the waiting position and the filling
position, another feature of the present invention provides
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that the guiding joint is swivelably mounted in the support
by means of the roller bearings, that the support moves on
the vertical guide by means of ball cages and that the
guiding joint receives the cantilever arm also in ball cages.
The preferably regulated initial pressure at the support
for the guiding joint can be produced in a simple manner by a --
compressed air or compressed gas cylinder which is mounted on
the vertical guide and acts on the supports.
In accordance with an advantageous feature of the
present invention, at least one column of the vertical guide
for support of the guiding joint is tubular and the interior
is connected as a compensating space with the compressed air
or compressed gas cylinder. The compensating space in the -
interior of the guide column can be blocked from the supply ~;~
side by means of a check valve. As a result, while using a
L~ compressed air or compressed gas cylinder which is
¦~- structurally as small as possible, a relatively large air or
gas volume is available, i.e., the initial pressure changes
only to a minimum extent during the lifting and lowering
~; movement of the die.
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~` ~ In accordance with another feature, one of the remote
controlled adjustment drives for the bracket acts on a
vertical carriage which moves in straight-line guides. The
vertical carriage, in turn, supports a horizontal cross-slide
I which is also provided with straight-line guides. The cross-
slide can be actuated by two adjustment drives which act at a
right angle relative to each other.
For an exact remote control and monitoring, the present
invention provides that incremental sensors are provided for
the adjustment drive on the vertical carriage and on the
adjustment drive of the cross-slide. These sensors interact
with the control desk or operator control and ensure an exact
monitoring and remote control of the adjustment drive.
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In accordance with another important further development
of the invention, the straight-line guide of the vertical
carriage and of the cross-slide each have clamping devices ~
which are automatically releasable when the adjustment drive ;
is actuated and are tightened when the adjustment drive is ;
not operated. Thus, positioning of vertical carriage and
cross-slide by means of the adjustment drive can be
facilitated and secured. ;~
~" j , Another advantageous feature of the invention provides
that the bracket which supports the oscillating cam
mechanism supports an arm which is pivotable about a vertical
~ axis. A support plate is mounted on the pivotable arm on the -
-~ same level as the respective die plate. When the support
plate is in a pivoted position at the die plate, the support
plate forms a support for the filling shoe on which the
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filling shoe can be moved from its waiting position to a
position of rest. This is done when during a pressing tool
exchange, the press die must also be replaced-
The adjustment drive for the vertical carriage may be alifting spindle drive, while the adjustment drives at the
cross-slide may be screwed spindle drives or transmissions.
The lifting spindle drive is mounted at both ends in joints
one of which is in the press frame and the other of which is
on the bracket. The screw spindles of the screw spindle
drive, on the other hand, interact with a nut which is
mounted at the corresponding carriage of the cross-slide.
The intermediate transmission connected to the press
drive for the longitudinally adjustable universal shaft is
preferably an angular transmission which can be adjusted
between two basic positions which are offset relative to each
other by 180, so that the operation of the filling device is
not only for the manufacture of powder blanks but also for
using the powder press for calibrating the powder blanks.
The filling device according to the present invention
has the advantage that, with the exception of the vertical
movement of the bracket, all other system axes can be
adjusted during operation of the powder press. Another
advantage is the fact that the adjustment values can be
stored and can be repeated later at any time. During a
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pressing tool change or an adapter change, the filling shoe
can be moved by pressing a button from its braking position
back into its position of rest on the support plate without
losing any powder in the filling shoe or in the powder line.
Other advantages provided by a filling device according to
the present invention are:
- ease of operation; -~
- reduction of idle periods;
- increase in production; ~-~
- a uniform operation cycle because interruptions for
the adjustment procedures of the filling device are ;~
~ avoided;
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~ - increased adjustment accuracy; and
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- increased repeat accuracy.
The various features of novelty which characterize the
invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims
annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a
better understanding of the invention, its operating
advantages and specific objects attained by its use,
reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter
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in which there is illustrated and described~a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
¦ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the drawing:
Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a filling device for
automatically filling the die of a powder press;
Fig. 2 is a schematic top view of the filling device of
Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is view, on a large scale and partially in
section, of the essential components of the adjusting device
for the filling device of Figs. 1 and 2;
,
Fig. 4 is a view, on an even larger scale, of the detail
IV of the adjustment device of Fig. 3;
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, j , Fig. 5 is a partially sectional view taken along line
V-V in Fig. 4; and
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Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in
Fig. 4.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing are a side view and a top
view of a device 1 for automatically filling the die 2 of a
pressing tool in a powder press.
The filling device 1 interacts through a filling shoe 3
with the die 2 of the pressing tool. The filling shoe 3 is
placed on the end face of a die plate 4 and can be moved on ~
this end face over a distance or stroke 5 between a rearward ~;-
waiting position and a forward filling position. In Figs. 1
and 2 of the drawing, the rearward waiting position of the
shoe 3 is shown in solid lines and the forward filling
position of the filling shoe 3 is shown in dash-dot lines.
The filling shoe 3 is in continuous connection through a ~-
flexible filling hose 6 with a powder reservoir or silo, not
shown, and is supplied from the reservoir or silo
continuously with metal powder and/or ceramic powder which is -~
to be compressed in the powder press into blanks.
The filling shoe 3 is pivotally mounted in a stirrup 8
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through horizontal joints 7. The stirrup 8 forms the front ;`
end of a cantilever arm 9. A joint carrier 10 is provided at
or near the rearward end of the cantilever arm 9. A swing
lever 11 which is wedged onto the driven shaft of an
oscillating cam mechanism 13 acts on the joint carrier 10.
, . . .
12
The oscillating cam mechanism 13 is of conventional
construction and utilizes a cam-controlled mechanism for
generating an oscillating drive movement for the swing lever
11 from a uniform drive lever. A rotation of the drive shaft
14 produces an oscillating movement cycle at the driven shaft
12. An end position of the swing lever 11 is shown in Fig. 1
of the drawing in solid lines, while the other end position
is partially illustrated in dash-dot lines. The oscillating
movement may extend, for example, over an angle of
approximately 60. ---
The drive shaft of the oscillating cam mechanism 13 isconnected through a universal shaft 15 to an intermediate
transmission 16 which, for example, is formed by a miter gear
unit and is directly connected to the drive of the powder ~ -
press.
The universal shaft 15 which continuously connects the
intermediate transmission 16 to the oscillating cam mechanism
13 is constructed so as to be longitudinally adjustable in
the known manner and is equipped with two Cardan or universal
joints, so that an axial misalignment between the drive shaft
14 of the oscillating cam mechanism 13 and the parallel
driven shaft 17 of the intermediate transmission 16 can be
compensated without problems.
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The oscillating cam mechanism 13 which moves the swing
lever 11 is mounted on a bracket 18 which, in turn, is
supported by a vertical carriage 19 which can be moved
vertically adjustably along a stationary guide member 20, for
example, on the press frame 21, in accordance with the double
arrow 22 in Fig. 1.
The bracket 18 is provided with a horizontally directed
guide member 23 which, in turn, supports a cross-slide 24.
The cross-slide has a longitudinal carriage which is movably :;
mounted in the guide member 23 of the bracket 18 parallel to ~.
the plane of movement of the swing lever 11 or the cantilever ~:-
arm 9. A transverse carriage 27, in turn, is adjustable in ~.
guide member 26 of the longitudinal carriage 25. The
transverse carriage 27 forms the actual support for the -
oscillating cam mechanism 13. ~.
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- The cross-slide 24 makes it possible to change the
position of the oscillating cam mechanism 13 on the bracket
28 parallel to the plane of movement of the cantilever arm 9
,~ , and the swing lever 11 as well as in horizontal direction ~ -~
transversely of the plane of movement of cantilever arm 9 and
swing lever 11. Thus, the filling shoe 3 can be moved ; .
relative to the die plate 4 in the direction of double arrow .~
28 between a waiting position in which the filling shoe is on ::
the die plate 4 and a position of rest in which the filling ~;.
shoe is completely pulled off from the die plate 4. This `~
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displacement in the direction of double arrow 28 takes place
without changing the distance or stroke 5 which the filling
shoe 3, driven by the swing lever 11 and the cantilever arm
9, has to travel between its waiting position and its filling
position.
On the other hand, by displacing the transverse carriage .
27, it is possible, if necessary, to change the alignment of
~ the filling shoe 3 relative to the die 2 or die plate 4
¦ transversely to its own direction of movement in accordance
with the double arrow 29.
The vertical displacement of the bracket 18 by means of
vertical carriage 19 along the guide member 20 in the
direction of double arrow 22 has the purpose to adjust the
vertical position of the filling shoe 3 exactly to different
structural heights of the dies 2 arranged in the powder
press.
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: The vertical displacement, the longitudinal displacement
I ~ , and the;transverse displacement of the oscillating cam
mechanism 13 with swing lever 11 and cantilever arm 9 for the
filling shoe 3 is remote controlled through adjustment
drives, for example, from the control disk of the powder
~; press by means of an operator guidance and monitor control.
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For example, a lifting spindle drive 30 serves as the
adjustment drive for the vertical displacement of the bracket
18 in the direction of double arrow 22 by means of the
vertical carriage 19 along the guide member 20 or the press
frame 21. The lifting spindle drive 30 rests, on the one
hand, in a support joint 31 of the guide member 20 for the
press frame 21, and, on the other hand, in a connecting joint
32 of the bracket 18. The axes of the support joint 31 and
the connecting joints 32 are aligned parallel to the driven
shaft 12 of the oscillating shaft mechanism 13.
~ '
The adjustment drive for the longitudinal carriage 25 of ~`
the cross-slide 4, on the other hand, is a screw spindle
drive 33 which is mounted on the bracket 18 and engages with
its screw spindle 34 in a spindle nut 35 of the longitudinal
carriage 25.
A similar screw spindle drive 36 is mounted on the :
longitudinal carriage 25 and interacts with the transverse ~-
carriage 27 through its screw spindle 37.
Finally, another adjustment drive 38 can be provided :
which is mounted on the swing lever 11 and acts on the joint
carrier 10. This adjustment drive 38 makes it possible to -
change the effective length of the swing lever relative to
the driven shaft 12 of the oscillating cam mechanism 13. As a .
result, preferably by means of remote control from the ~-
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control desk of the powder press, the length of the distance
or stroke 5 of the filling shoe 3 between its waiting
position and its filling position can be influenced in an
infinitely variable manner.
In order to obtain a proper interaction between the
filling device 1 and the die 2 or die plate 4 mounted in the
powder press, it is of significant importance that the
cantilever arm 9 travels longitudinally movably in a guide
joint 40 which is pivotable about an axis 39 which extends
parallel to the driven shaft 12 of the oscillating cam
mechanism 13 and, thus, to the bearing axis of the swing
lever 11. The guide joint 40, in turn, is mounted in a ~:
carrier 41 which travels on a vertical guide member 42
mounted on a cantilever 43 which, in turn, is supported by
the oscillating cam mechanism 13. The carrier 41 of the
guide joint 40 is acted on by a compressed air or compressed
gas cylinder 44 which is subjected to a preferably :
controllable initial pressure and, thus, continuously holds
the filling shoe 3 in contact with the end face of the die
plate 4. The effective length of the vertical guide member
42 is adjusted to the maximum vertical difference of the die .
2 mounted in the powder press. The stroke of the compressed
air or compressed gas cylinder 44 is also adjusted to the
maximum respective length of the vertical guide member 42,
wherein the filling space of the cylinder 44 is automatically
readjusted, so that the adjusted initial pressure is
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maintained, i.e., the filling shoe 3 is always pressed with
the same contact force against the end face of the die plate
4.
As Figs. 1 and 2 further show, the bracket 18 has an arm
45 underneath the cantilever 43 mounted on the oscillating ;~
cam mechanism 13. A support plate 46 is mounted on the arm
45 at the same level as the die plate 4. The support plate ;
46 is mounted on the arm 45 so as to be pivotable about a
vertically directed bearing 47, so that, if necessary, the
support plate 46 can be pivoted immediately closely adjacent
to the die plate 4, as shown in dash-dot lines in Figs. 1 and
2. In this case, the support plate 46 may form a support on -
which the filling shoe 3 can be moved from its waiting
position into a position of rest by means of the longitudinal .~-
carriage 25. The filling shoe 3 must be moved into this
position of rest when the die 2 or an adapter device
including the die 2 has to be changed. The support plate 46
prevents the loss of any metal powder and/or ceramic powder
in the filling shoe 3.
.
Flg. 3 of the drawing shows, on a larger scale and
partially in section, the operationally important structural
components of the adjusting device which operates the filling
device 1. As can be seen in Fig. 3, the drive shaft 14 for ~
the oscillating cam mechanism 13 extends through an opening --
48 of the bracket 18. The dlmensions of the opening 48 are
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adjusted to the adjusting distance of the longitudinal
carriage 25 and the adjusting distance of the transverse
carriage 27. The drive shaft 14 also extends through a
transverse slot 49 in the longitudinal carriage 25 and a
cutout 50 in the transverse carriage 27 of the cross-slide
24, wherein the transverse slot 49 is adjusted in its length
to the adjustment distance of the transverse carriage 27.
As Fig. 3 further shows, the intermediate transmission
16 constructed as an angular transmission, for example, a
bevel gear unit, includes a shifting device including, for
example, a shifting lever 51. This shifting device
preferably makes possible a shifting particularly by 180, so
that the powder press equipped with the filling device 1 can
not only be used for the actual manufacture of blanks from
powder material but also makes possible a calibration of such
blanks. In the latter case, the filling shoe 3 of the
filling device can also be used as a transfer device for the
calibrated blanks in the push-off position of the calibrating
tool.
! . .
As Fig. 3 additionally shows, clamping cylinders 52 are
provided between the vertical carriage 19 and a guide member
20. Clamping cylinders 53 are additionally mounted between
the bracket 18 and the longitudinal carriage 25 of the cross-
slide 24. Finally, such clamping cylinders 54 are also
19
mounted between the longitudinal carriage 25 and the traverse
carriage 27 of the cross-slide 24.
The adjusting drives 30, 33, 36 and 38 are each equipped
with incremental sensors which determine the position of the
respective carriage and convey the position to the control
desk, the monitor and the operator control.
''''~,
As Fig. 3 further illustrates, the guiding joint 40 for
the cantilever arm 9 is equipped with ball cages 55 in which ;
the cantilever arm 9 travels longitudinally slidably so as to
be easily movable at any angular position.
As Fig. 3 further indicates, covers 56 and 57 are
arranged in the longitudinal carriage 25 and its guide member
23 as well as the transverse carriage 27 and its guide member
26. These covers 56 and 57 overlap in the manner of scales
and are longitudinally displaceable in adjusting direction,
in order to protect particularly the screw spindles 34 and 37
of the screw spindle drives 33 and 36.
Fig. 4 of the drawing shows on a larger scale that the
cantilever arm 9 in the guiding joint 40 is easily slidably
guided by means of two ball cages which are arranged one -
after the other. As Figs. 4 and 5 also clearly show, the -~
compressed air or compressed gas cylinder 44 with piston rod
58 acts on the carrier 41 for the guiding joint 40 in the
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middle between two vertical guiding columns of the vertical `
guide member 42 which can be seen in Figs. 5 and 6.
The easy pivoting motion of the guiding joint 40 about
its axis 39 in carrier 41 is ensured by pins 60 arranged in
alignment with the axis 39 on both sides of the guiding joint
40 which pins 60 are received by roller bearings 61 which are
mounted in side walls 62 of the carrier 41. The roller
bearing 61 in one wall 62 of the carrier 41 can be a radial
ball bearing, while the roller bearing 61 in the other wall
62 of the carrier 41 may be an axial/radial double ball
bearing. A particularly easy mobility of the carrier 41 for
the guiding joint 40 along the guide column 69 of the
vertical guide 42 can be achieved if, in accordance with Fig.
6, two ball cages 63 are also arranged in the side walls 62,
wherein the ball cages 63 provide the exact longitudinal
guidance.
As can be concluded from Figs. 4 to 6 of the drawing,
the supply with compressed air or compressed gas of the
compressed air or compressed gas cylinder 44 is provided
through one of the guide columns 59 of the vertical guide
member 42. For this purpose, at least one of the guide
columns 59 is tubular or provided with a bore in the
longitudinal direction. A check valve 66 is arranged between
the line 65 from the pressure regulator 64 and the lower end
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of the tubular guide column 59. The locking position of the
check valve 66 acts against the line 65 (see Figs. 4 and 5).
As shown in Fig. 5, a connecting line 67 is provided
between the upper end of the tubular guide column 59 and the
compressed air or compressed gas cylinder 44. As a result of
this configuration, the hollow space of the tubular guide
column 59 seen in Fig. 6 is in communication as an air or gas
reservoir with the compressed air or compressed gas cylinder
44, so that the air or gas volume acting on the cylinder 44
is substantially greater than the volume of the cylinder 44
itself. Accordingly, the compressed air or compressed gas
cylinder 44 may have a relatively short structural length,
wherein this structural length does not have to be
significantly greater than the maximum ad~usting distance
traveled by the carrier 41 on the guide member 42. In any
case, a sufficiently great air or gas cushion is still -~
available at the cylinder 44 in order to provide the elastic
support effect of the cylinder 44 for the carrier 41.
':
, I Finally, it is noted that not only the guide member 20
for the vertical carriage 19 at the press frame, but also the
guide members 23 and 26 for the longitudinal carriage 25 and
the transverse carriage 27 of the cross-slide 24 are arranged
and constructed such that they can be released or loosened by ;~
means of remote controlled clamping cylinders 52, 53 and 54
prior to the actuation of the respective adjusting drive 30
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or 33 or 36. When the adjusting drives 30, 33 and 36 are
stopped, the guide members 20, 23 and 26 are also tightened
by means of these clamping cylinders.
While a specific embodiment of the invention has been
shown and described in detail to illustrate the application
of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the
invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from
such principles.
