GB827872A - A method of and means for feeding workpieces in sheet form - Google Patents

Abstract

827,872. Metal sheet feeds. SCHROTER, F. Sept. 17, 1956 [Oct. 21, 1955; Jan. 2, 1956], No. 28400/56. Class 83 (4). [Also in Groups XVI and XXX] Sheets, plates, &c. are fed into and out of processing stations such as stamping and embossing machines 6, Fig. 1, by gripper bars 18 which are intermittently carried forward by continuously-moving means such as endless chains, ropes, belts 7 and are uncoupled and decelerated to zero speed for the processing operations and are then accelerated and recoupled. To provide accurate location the gripper bars 18 are also moved a small amount transversely to the normal feed path on to accurate locating means. The gripper bars 18 are supported at each end on carriages 16, Fig. 9, running on wheels 17 along a pair of continuous tracks 8 in which the chains 7 also slide. Coupling between the chains 7 and carriages 16 is provided by hooked arms 14, Fig. 2, pivoted to the carriages 16 and engaging projecting pins 13 on the chains. At the positions at which the bars 18 are to be disconnected from the chains 7, portions 20 of the tracks 8 have a cam 21 which disengages the arms 14 from the pins 13. In each of these positions, toothed segments 23, 54, 58 engage racks 22 on the carriages 16 and are oscillated by cams 27 through followers 26 and rack and pinions 24, 25 so that the carriages 16 are gradually brought to rest. Further cams 29 lower the track portion 20 through pushrods 31 so that the carriages 16 complete with the gripper bars 18 are lowered on to conical or wedge-shaped pins 33, Fig. 10, which provied accurate location for the bars 18 in recessed bushes 36. Spring grippers 19 on the bars 18 are automatically opened by rotation of a camshaft 49 through an arm 48 when the carriages 16 are brought to rest on the entry side (right of Fig. 1) of the machine 6 so that the sheets 52, Fig. 5, can be inserted into the opened grippers 19 from a table 50. At this position the arm 48 is engaged by a hooked member 47 actuated by a further cam 45 to open and close the jaws 19. At the next position, while the gripper bar 18 is accurately located on the lefthand side of the machine 6, it holds the sheet in the correct position for the stamping &c. operation. After the operation has been completed, the removal of the sheet 52 from the die platen 3 is eased by the raising of the carriages 16 in the tracks 20 so that the sheet 52 is lifted from the die 3 before it is withdrawn. At a third position of the carriages 16 (extreme left of Fig. 1) a cam-actuated arm 59 engages the arm 48 to release the sheet and allow it to drop on to a stacking table 67.