EP1162013A1 - Workpiece transfer device for a stamping and/or cutting press - Google Patents

Abstract

A vertical press (7) bearing stamping or cutting tools (6) has workpiece transfer arms (10). The arms are located on either side of the workpiece and engage with workpiece elongations. A pin driven by the action of the press and attached to the transfer arms slides in a two channel slot (20) in a cycle guide (18). The pin thus imparts a cyclic lifting and advancing motion to the transfer arms giving transfer between tools or delivery (9)

Description

The invention relates to a device for transferring coins under a stamping and / or cutting press, in particular for parts from a strip material, to ensure the transfer multiple rooms simultaneously from one area feed on a first die of a press table, arranged under one or more stamping tools and / or cutting associated with a press slide, subjected to a alternative movement up and down, and / or from a such matrix from the press table to another for a new machining operation and / or to an evacuation zone, device comprising at least one transfer arm for the taking charge of said documents during transfer, this or these arms being cycled in a vertical plane driven by control means.

The present invention will find its application more particularly in the area of stamping presses.

The document FR-A-2,647,390 already describes a device for transfer corresponding to the description above, in the context of a stamping process and installation pre-cut parts from strip material. In this previous document it is particularly raised a production rate problem. Specifically, it agreed to adjust the rate of the cutting operation in predefined sections of a strip from a reel, relative at the rate of stamping of these strip sections.

Thus, it is planned to supply, via multiple strips from separate coils, one device cutting so as to constitute sections of strips of length corresponding to the parts to be produced. Then we bring the different sections of pre-cut strips in one position waiting to build up a buffer stock. Finally, we take the sections of tape thus stored and in the standby position for progressively forward them under the various stations machining of a stamping press.

As for the installation allowing the implementation of this process, it includes first transfer means for bring the pre-cut strip section (s) from a cutting device in a waiting position, at the entrance a stamping press. Then, second transfer means are able to take, one by one, said sections of strip in waiting position to route them under the machining stations cited above.

Both the first means of transfer and the second are constituted by two arms extending, as the case may be, below the cutting device or under the waiting strip sections on the table placed upstream of the press. These arms have in their upper songs housing for taking charge of these parts and, through a cyclic movement, the file, with regard to the arms of the first means of transfer, to the waiting table and, for the arms of the latter transfer means, under the stamping press.

Ultimately, the transfer device that constitutes two arms with cyclic movement allows these parts from strip material, systematically one step during a cycle.

As for the control means for actuating these arms of a transfer device, they are constituted by a system of the cam-motor type. The operation of the latter is managed by the stamping press, so that the rise followed by the one step of the different strip sections and the lowering of the arms takes place during the rising phases and lowering of the stamping press.

The problem encountered through this state of the art resides, precisely, in this indirect drive mode, by through a motor, transfer devices parts driven by the press. Such a solution well effective, does not optimize the operation of presses, especially with regard to their rate of production which in some cases could be even more fast, all the more so because of document FR-A-2,647,390 the problem of the speed of their feeding parts from strip material.

Finally, the present invention aims to further improve the design of these presses, in particular through a perfect synchronism between the rise and fall operations lowering of the press ram in relation to the transfer of parts under the different machining stations.

To this end, the invention relates to a device for transferring parts under a stamping and / or cutting press, in particular of parts from strip material, for transfer several parts simultaneously from a feeding zone on a first matrix of a table press, placed under one or more stamping tools and / or cutting associated with a press slide subjected to an alternative movement of ascent and descent, and / or from one such matrix from the press table to another in sight a new machining operation and / or to a zone evacuation device comprising at least one transfer to take charge of said parts during transfer, this or these arms being animated in a cyclic movement in a vertical plane under the impulse of control means, characterized in that said control means are formed, substantially, by the press ram to which the transfer arm or arms are made integral through connecting means with relative mobility, while a cycle guide with which said co-operate simultaneously press slide and this or these arms, is defined suitable for convert the up and down movement of said press slide in one movement according to the predefined cycle of said one or more arms.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows with reference to the attached drawings illustrating exemplary embodiments.

Figures 1 to 4 each illustrate schematically a stamping and / or cutting press with which is associated a transfer device according to the invention, this in each of the positions during a stamping cycle.

Figure 5 illustrates, schematically, the cycle of movement of the transfer device arm (s) in the frame of the embodiment corresponding to FIGS. 1 to 4.

Figures 6 to 10 correspond to representations similar to the figures, respectively, 1 to 5 for a mode of different realization leading to a displacement cycle of rectangular type of the transfer arm (s).

As shown in the accompanying drawings, this invention relates to the field of cutting presses and / or stamp and relates, more particularly, to a device for transfer 1 under such a press 2, of parts in particular from of strip material.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4 and 5 to 9, a press stamping 2 comprises a frame 3 on which is mounted a press table 4 on which are arranged, all particularly, one or, more often, several matrices stamping 5 on which come to be arranged, successively, the parts to undergo, different operations stamping and / or cutting.

Furthermore, above these matrices 5 of the press table 4 are the press tools 6 secured to a slide press 7 to which a movement may be printed alternative ascent and descent.

In this regard, during the rise of the press slide part supply operations take place stamp, if necessary, the transfer of parts from a die to the other and, of course, the evacuation of the part (s) completed. To ensure these parts transfer operations from one station to another, from a feeding zone 8 to an evacuation zone 9, use is made, precisely, of the device according to the invention.

Such a transfer device 1 comprises at least one arm for transfer 10. More particularly concerning parts to be taken care of, this device will include, preferably, two identical transfer arms 10 able to extend on either side of the matrices 5 on the press table 4, for taking from a die and / or arrange in one of these, these elongated pieces in grabbing them from their ends.

Note that these transfer arms 10 include in their song upper 11 of the housing 12 likely to accommodate said coins during their transfers, from the area 8 to the evacuation zone 9. Space 13 preserved between two successive housings 12 corresponds, substantially, at the step P to which these parts are subjected during a movement cycle of this or these transfer arms 10.

This cyclic movement of the transfer arms 10 occurs under the impulse of control means 14 which, within the framework of the configuration according to the invention are defined, substantially, by the press slide 7 to which are joined directly or indirectly these arms 10 by connection means with relative mobility 15, 16, 17. While that a cycle guide 18 is provided to guide, during each of the stages of the stamping cycle, the displacements of these transfer arms 10.

Insofar as these intervene in a plan vertical, parallel to the movement of the press slide 7 and that the latter is limited in its movements to one direction vertical, the means of connection to relative mobility 15, 16, 17, connecting the press slide 7 the arms 10, are configured to allow movement of these arms 10 by report to said press slide 7 in a direction to horizontal components, taking into account that the stroke horizontal 19 allowed must be at least P that should be communicated to the pieces during their transfer under the press, between said feed zone 8 and the evacuation zone 9.

• une première I servant à lever les pièces pour les saisir depuis la zone d'alimentation 8 ou d'une matrice 5, correspondant aux figures 1 et 5 des dessins ci-joints ;
• une seconde étape II correspond au transfert de ces pièces sur une course horizontale 19 de longueur égale à un pas P, position visible dans les figures 2 et 7 ;
• une troisième étape III où ces pièces sont déposées, un pas plus loin, soit sur une nouvelle matrice 5, soit, en ce qui concerne la pièce terminée, à hauteur de la zone d'évacuation 9, étape correspondant aux figures 3 et 8 ;
• et une dernière étape IV correspondant au retour des bras en position initiale en vue de recommencer le cycle, position telle que visible dans les figures 4 et 9.

Furthermore, a movement cycle of the transfer arms 10 necessarily breaks down into four stages, including:

• a first I used to lift the pieces to grip them from the feeding zone 8 or from a matrix 5, corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 5 of the attached drawings;
• a second step II corresponds to the transfer of these parts over a horizontal stroke 19 of length equal to a pitch P, position visible in Figures 2 and 7;
• a third step III where these parts are deposited, a step further, either on a new die 5, or, as regards the finished part, at the level of the evacuation zone 9, step corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 8;
• and a last step IV corresponding to the return of the arms to the initial position in order to restart the cycle, position as visible in FIGS. 4 and 9.

If the first I and the third stage III of the cycle consist in substantially vertical movements of the transfer arms 10, the intermediate stages of transfer II and of return to initial position IV can cause displacements of this or these transfer arms 10 which are not strictly rectilinear.

Thus, if we refer to Figure 5, illustrating the cycle of movement of the arms according to the embodiment of Figures 1 at 4, during transfer stages III and IV, the arms of transfer 10 start, after having respectively withdrawn the parts or proceeded to deposit them a step P further, a movement component, both vertical and horizontal to come position the parts at a TDC top dead center located above of the position which these parts must adopt during the next stamping step or, respectively, at a point dead low PMB below these parts, in order to come them sample after such a stamping step.

Thus, if one refers to the corresponding embodiment in these figures 1 to 5, the cycle guide 18 comprises, in a plane vertical parallel to the plane of movement of the transfer arms 10, a light 20 taking up, exactly and to scale, the movement cycle communicated to these transfer arms 10.

Under these conditions, this light 20 has two portions vertical 21, 22 corresponding to the vertical displacements of these transfer arms 10 during steps I and III and spaced apart by a distance corresponding to a step P. The respectively lower upper ends of these vertical portions 21, 22 meet through portions of inclined light 23, 24 corresponding, respectively, to stages II and IV of the cycle.

This light 20, in a vertical plane, is crossed by a horizontal axis 25 perpendicular to the plane of movement of transfer arm 10, this axis 25 being, moreover, rendered integral with an extension 26 of this or these latter.

We understand, therefore, by moving this axis 25 along of said light 20 in the cycle guide 18, which it drives, systematically and following identical movements these arms transfer 10.

The move command is generated, as shown previously, by the press ram 7. In fact, since this press slide 7 extends, vertically, a bracket support 27 on which the axis 25 is also engaged. However so as to authorize component movements horizontal of this axis 25, it crosses, at the level of this support bracket, a horizontal oblong opening 28 adjusted to the section of this axis 25. The length of this horizontal oblong opening 28 is at least equal to one pitch P.

So, as we can see during the second stage II of the cycle (passage from Figure 1 to Figure 2), consisting, after having removed the parts, to move them one step P towards evacuation zone 9 while bringing them to neutral high TDC, axis 25 progresses along the inclined portion 23 of light 20 of cycle guide 18 under the influence of press slide assembly 7. As it is a displacement at horizontal component, the axis 25 slides, moreover, along of the horizontal opening 28 of the support bracket 27.

When placing the pieces again (passage of the figure 2 in FIG. 3), the axis 25 moves vertically, simultaneously with the lowering movement of the slide press 7. After that and continuing its downward movement, the press slide 7 generates the displacement of the axis 25 the along the inclined portion 24 of the lumen 20 which leads, again, to a displacement of the transfer arms 10 according to a stroke equal to the pitch P, so as to be positioned under the parts to be removed during the next transfer cycle.

More particularly, the vertical portion 21 joined by axis 25 in order to restart the parts transfer cycle has a lower extension 29 which extends below the level of the inclined portion 23 of this light 20 and which corresponds noticeably at the drawing stroke proper. This extension 29 allows, in any case, to position strictly in vertical alignment axis 25 with respect to this portion vertical light 21 for the next step.

If the axis 25 constitutes substantially a means of connection to relative mobility 15 connecting the transfer arms 10 to the press slide 7, this through the bracket 27, other axes 30, 31 can thus connect, so complementary, these transfer arms 10 to a bracket 27. In particular, this may include extensions 32 extending parallel to these transfer arms 10.

Whenever such an axis 30, 31, moreover perpendicular to the plane of movement of this or these transfer arms 10, is made integral with the bracket 27 or respectively, of the transfer arm or arms 10, it comes to cooperate with the through a horizontal oblong opening 28 ₁ , 28 ₂ , with, respectively, the transfer arms 10 or the bracket 27.

If in the embodiment corresponding to FIGS. 1 to 5, the vertical displacements of the press slide 7 are systematically accompanied by a component trip at least vertical transfer arms 10, in the mode of embodiment corresponding to FIGS. 5 to 10, these movements of up and down of this press slide 7 generate displacements which either are strictly vertical or strictly horizontal transfer arms 10.

It is, therefore, in this embodiment of a cycle rectangular breaking down into four stages I, II, III, IV running, for the first two, in the ascent phase of the press slide 7 and, for the last two, in the descent of the latter. During the first stage I, corresponding substantially to Figure 5, the parts are taken from the feeding zone 8 or from the matrices 5. In a second step II, visible in FIG. 6, these parts are moved horizontally by one step P before they are not redeposited, as the case may be, on a matrix 5 or on evacuation zone 9 during the third stage III and as shown in Figure 8. In the context of the fourth step IV (figure 98) we return, simply and through horizontal displacement, in the initial phase of the cycle.

Again, the cycle guide 18A has a light 20A strictly identical to the movement cycle to be transmitted to transfer arm. So, this light breaks down into two vertical portions 21A, 22A and two horizontal portions 23A, 24A.

As for the axis 25A made integral with the transfer arms 10 and intended to move along this light 20A, it cooperates, moreover, with the support bracket 27A of the slide of press 7 through an oblong oblong opening 28A of width adjusted to the section of the axis 25A and provided suitable for authorize a horizontal displacement of the latter according to a stroke at least equal to the length of the horizontal portions 23A, 24A, i.e. at least equal to the step P.

So, in order to collect coins from the area feed 8 or dies 5, transfer arms 10 must execute the first step I corresponding to the passage of the state of the press shown in Figure 9 to that of the figure 6. For this purpose, the press slide 7 must execute a first vertical race during which he trains the axis 25A along the vertical portion 21A of the light 20A. It follows, therefore, a strictly vertical displacement transfer arms 10. Then continuing its rise, the axis 25A, immobilized vertically through the light 20A, is caused to progress, however, along the oblong opening inclined 28A in the stem 27. This leads to a displacement horizontal of axis 25A along the horizontal portion 23A of this light 20A and, therefore, to a strictly displacement horizontal of the transfer arm (s) 10 for carrying out the second stage II.

During the descent phase of the press slide 7, are executed, respectively, steps III and IV, i.e. that axis 25A comes, first of all, to progress along the vertical portion 22A before coming to move along the horizontal portion 24A under the action of the oblong opening of inclined shape 28A on this axis 25A.

Just as in the previous embodiment describes the relative mobility link means 15 that here constitutes the axis 25A, on the one hand, integral with the arms of transfer 10 and, on the other hand, cooperating with the gallows 27A of the press slide 7 through the inclined opening oblong 28A, can be repeated in several places along of these transfer arms 10 and an extension 32 of this bracket 37 on either side of the latter.

Note, however, that the axes 30A, 31A corresponding to these auxiliary relative mobility connecting means 16, 17, can, as already indicated above, be made united indifferently, transfer arms 10 or extension 32 of the gallows 27 and cooperate through oblong openings inclined 28A1, 28A2 formed at the level of this extension 32 of the bracket 27 or, respectively, of the transfer arms 10.

Claims (7)

Device for transferring parts under a stamping and / or cutting press (2), in particular parts from a strip material, to ensure the transfer, simultaneously, of several parts from a feeding zone (8) on a first die (5) of a press table (4) arranged under one or more stamping and / or cutting tools associated with a press slide (7) subjected to an alternating movement of up and down and / or from such a die (5) from the press table (4) to another for a new machining operation and / or to a discharge zone (8), device comprising at least one transfer (10) for taking charge of said parts being transferred, this or these arms (10) being driven in a cyclic movement in a vertical plane under the impulse of control means (14), characterized in that said control means (14) are constituted, substantially, by the slide of press (7) to which the transfer arm (s) are made integral (10) through relative mobility connecting means (15, 16, 17), while a cycle guide (18) with which cooperate, simultaneously, said press slide (7) and this or these arms (10), is defined capable of converting the upward and downward movement of said press slide (7) into a movement according to the predefined cycle of said one or more arms (10). Transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cycle guide (18) comprises, in a vertical plane parallel to the plane of movement of the transfer arms (10), a light (20; 20A) taking up, at the scale, the movement cycle of the transfer arms (10), this lumen (20; 20A) being traversed by a horizontal axis (25; 25A), perpendicular to the plane of movement of the transfer arms (10), while being made in solidarity with them. Transfer device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that on the axis (25; 25A), integral with the transfer arms (10) and passing through the lumen (20; 20A) in the cycle guide (18) is still engaged a support bracket (27; 27A) integral with the press slide (7), this through an oblong horizontal opening (28) or inclined (28A), capable of authorizing said axis (25; 25A) a stroke, in a horizontal direction, of a length at least equal to the length of the step P communicated to said parts during a movement cycle of the transfer arms (10). Transfer device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the relative mobility connecting means (15, 16, 17) are defined by one or more axes (25, 30, 31; 25A, 30A, 31A ) extending in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the plane of movement of the transfer arms (10) and made integral, as the case may be, with said arms (10) or with a support bracket (27; 27A) connected to the press slide ( 7) and cooperating through an opening (28, 281, 282; 28A, 28A1, 28A2), respectively, with said support bracket (27, 27A) or said transfer arms (10). Transfer device according to claim 4, characterized in that the support bracket (27; 27A) has an extension (32) extending on either side of the transfer arms (10) so as to cooperate with the latter through axes (25, 30, 31; 25A, 30A, 31A) corresponding to the connecting means with relative mobility (15, 16, 17). Transfer device according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the light (20) in the cycle guide (18) is defined so as to give the transfer arms (10) a movement cycle of trapezoidal type, consisting, in a first stage I, of an upward vertical displacement followed, in the course of a second stage II, by a displacement with horizontal component following a stroke (19) of a length corresponding to a step P for reach a top dead center, followed, during a third step III, by a vertical downward movement and, during a fourth step IV, by a horizontal component movement to a bottom dead center corresponding to the start of cycle. Transfer device according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the light (20A) in the guide cycle guide (18) is defined so as to give the transfer arms (10) a movement cycle rectangular type.

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