US2773403A - Press with automatic kick-out mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 11, 1956 R. E. McCLEARY PRESS WITH AUTOMATIC KICK-OUT MECHANISM FiIed June 17, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l MIVE/VTOR Roy E Medea y Dec. 11, 1956 R. E. MOCLEARY PRESS WITH AUTOMATIC KICK-OUT MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 17, 1953 J lA/VE/V7DR.

Pay 5 4706/90? United States Patent PRESS WITH AUTOMATIC KICK-OUT MECHANISM Roy E. McCleary, Rockford, 111., assignor to Atwood Vacuum Machine Company, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 17, 1953, Serial No. 362,253

12 Claims. (Cl. 78-17) This invention relates to presses adapted for use in cold upsetting operations and is more particularly concerned with the provision of an automatic kick-out mechanism, whereby the upset blanks areejected speedily, enabling quicker feeding of blanks into the dies and accordingly greatly increasing production.

in the press to which the improvements of my invention have been added a slide carrying the movable one of two lower die sections is arranged to be moved automatically to retracted position in the up-stroke of the ram after each upsetting operation, and at this moment the upset blank is automatically forcefully ejected from between the separated die sections by a pneumatically operated shoe thrown forward to strike the upset blank a hard blow and kick it out into a suitable receptacle placed on the floor in front of the press to one side of the operators station so that there is no danger of the operator being struck. The operator then inserts another blank and operates a hand lever to move the slide inwardly again toward closed position and in so doing closes a control switch provided in accordance with my invention to start another cycle of operation. The lower die sections thus partially closed are fully closed positively in the first portion of the downward stroke of the ram and in this closing of the ie sections a drift pin, that is provided in accordance with my invention and is slidable in the fixed lower die section, is set with its cam end projecting from the fixed lower die section into the path of a cam movable with the ram, so that in the up-stroke of the ram the drift pin will be camrned in the direction of the slidable lower die section positively to separate the die sections and at the same time shift the blank partway into the path of the kickout shoe. Spring-pressed plungers are also provided in accordance with my invention in the fixed lower die section and are arranged first to cooperate with the drift pin in the initial movement of the slide and then serve alone thereafter in moving the slide farther and shifting the blank laterally the rest of the way into the path of the kick-out shoe.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a more or less diagrammatic vertical section through a portion of a press showing a set of dies adapted to perform the upsetting operation, the parts being shown in the position wherein the drift pin, cammed out of the way by the upwardly moving ram has started to open the dies and shifted the upset blank part of the way toward the position for ejection, cross-hatching of parts being purposely omitted to enable better reading of numerals and easier understanding of the construction and mode of operation;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the ram fully retracted and the blank shifted all the way with the slidable die section under the action of the spring-pressed pins to the position for ejection;

Figs. 3 and 4 are a vertical and a horizontal section, respectively, taken on the correspondingly numbered lines 2,773,403 Patented Dec. 11, 1956 iCC of Fig. 2, showing the kick-out shoe and its operating means, Fig. 4 also showing the manually operable hand lever for moving the slide and closing the die switch controlling the cycle ofoperation;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of the press;

Fig. 6 is an electrical control diagram, and

Fig. 7 is an air flow diagram for the kick-out shoe.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

In the copending application of Harold H.-Ring et 211., Serial No. 354,256, filed May 11', 1953, is disclosed a novel method of upsetting the knuckle or head end on blanks like that shown at A in Figs. 1 to 4 having a projecting tang portion 8, which, when upset, forms the knuckle portion 9 that need only be 'drilledthereafter to provide a bearing for the hinge pintle. A special feature of the novel method that is disclosed in the said copending application is the confinement of the tang 8' at its lateral edges during the upsetting operation so that there is no necessity after the upsetting operation is completed to do any machining on the ends of the knuckle portion 9 to provide the flat end bearing surfaces 10, the metal as a result of the long stroke upsetting being so compacted that these bearing surfaces 10 are extremely hard and have a glassy finish, giving much longer wear than was obtainable heretofore where the surfaces were machined.

The die set is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 and the blank A is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 supported on end between two lower die sections 11 and 12, section 11 being supported on fixed blocks 13 and 14 carried on a die shoe 15 fastened to bolster B (Fig. 5), and section 12 being mounted on a slide 16 movable on the shoe 15 between fixed guides 16a laterally toward and away from block 13 r and having a filler plate 17 secured thereto. The latter has on its lower portion a shoulder 18 for support of the blank thereon. The inclined side 19 of the slide 16 cooperates with the inclined inner side 20 of a clampingring 21 that is slidable in keeper blocks 22 suitably secured to the punch holder 23 carried by the ram R (Fig. 5). The slide 16 in accordance with my invention is arranged to be moved automatically toward retracted position in the up-stroke of the ram after each upsetting operation, at which time the upset blank A is automatically ejected from between the separated die sections 11 and 12. Then, in accordance with my invention, after the operator has inserted another blank A, tang end 8 up, he operates a hand lever 24 that is pivoted at 24a relative to the bolster B to move the slide 16 inwardly toward closed position to approximately the position illustrated in Fig. 1, which is just enough to close a control switch 25 so that the cycle of operation will be started when the operator depresses the run switch 60. The die sections 11 and 12 are fully closed positively in the first portion of the downward stroke of the ram. Coiled compression springs 26 are interposed between the punch holder 23 and ring 21 to allow the ram to continue its downward stroke after the clamping ring 21 has performed its die closing and clamping function, the springs 30 in such further movement of the ram being further compressed. The die sections 11 and 12 are recessed, as indicated'at 27, to provide the lower half of the die cavity that is shaped to predetermine the form of the head or knuckle 9 in the upsetting of the tang 8. The recess 28 forming the upper half of the die cavity is provided in the punch or upper die 29 that is suitably secured to the punch holder 23 and is slidable in a retaining ring 30, which in turn is slidably connected, as indicated at 31, with the punch holder and has coiled compression springs 32 interposed between it and the punch holder so as to allow the ram to continue its downward stroke after the ring 30 has seated on the lower die blocks 13 and 16, namely, at the commencement of the upsetting operation. In the last portion of the downward stroke of the ram the punch :29 upsets the tang 3 to form the head 9. In accordance with the copending application, the tang 8 is closely confined at its lateral edges between opposed filler plates 33 fixed in the retaining ring 30 and having the punch 29 slidable closely therebetween. In that way, since the tang is held to its width dimension during the upsetting, the metal is not permitted to bulge outwardly at the lateral edges of the tang and there is accordingly much greater and more uniform compression of all of the metal through the tang end of the blank, the compression actually extending well down into the shank portion. The surfaces on the ends of the knuckle or head 9 are extremely hard and smooth and also in accurate parallelism and held closely to dimension Without the necessity for any machining. In the upsetting of two tangs on a single blank, namely, on the companion blanks for blanks A, two punches similar to the punch 29, but, of course, much narrower, are required and they work in laterally spaced relation between three filler plates similar 7 to plates 33, so that each tang is confined at its lateral edges during the upsetting operation in a. similar manner for the same reasons.

The fixed die block 13, in accordance with my invention, has a plurality of spring-pressed pins 34 arranged with their head ends 35 working in bores 36 provided in the block, and coiled compression springs 37 confined in these bores exert heavy pressure on the head ends of the pins, so that, once the die blocks 13 and 16 have been forced apart by the positive actuation of a drift pin 33 in the manner shown in Fig. 1, these pins 34 serve to move the slide 16 and with it the blank A the rest of the way to fully retracted position, as appears in Fig. 2. The blank A in the fully retracted position of the slide 16 shown in Figs. 2 and 4 is aligned with the kick-out shoe 39 so that it can be instantly ejected when the shoe is operated by the piston 40 working in an air cylinder 41 mounted on an extension 42 on the back of the shoe 15. Air under pressure is supplied through line 43 to the cylinder 41 to kick the piston 40 suddenly forward against the action of a return spring 44 when a valve 45 (Fig. 7) in the air line 43 is opened. This valve 45 may be operated automatically in any suitable way to time the kick-out operation correctly in relation to the return movement of the ram. Thus, in Fig. 7 a finger 46 is shown turning with a shaft 47 which turns with the main gear 48 of the press in a clockwise direction as viewed in this figure, and this finger carries a roller 49 on the outer end thereof arranged to ride against the under-side of an arm 51) to raise the spring-pressed valve plunger 51 off its seat for just an instant at the proper time in the rotation of the gear 48 and accordingly at the right time in the return movement of the ram, whereby to give the shoe 39 its kick operation and eject the blank, after which the piston 44) is returned again under action of the spring 44 to move the shoe 39 to retracted position. There is ample room between the end of the one guide 16a and the filler plate 14 on the fixed die block 13, as indicated at 52 in Fig. 4, to provide working clearance for the shoe 39, and the latter has an extension 53 on the lower end thereof connected with the piston 44 as indicated at 54 in Fig. 3, so that there is ample working clearance for the ring 21 in the down-stroke of the ram. The lowermost position of the ring 21 is indicated in dot and dash lines at the right in Fig. 3, and the forward operative position of the shoe 39 is also indicated in dot and dash lines, as is also the expelled or ejected position of the blank A at the left, the latter serving to indicate, of course, only the direction of movement of the blank in the ejection thereof.

The drift pin 38, which is slidable in a bore 55 and is suitably held against turning in said bore, as by means of a pin 56 entered in a longitudinal groove 57 in the pin 38, has the outer end thereof bevelled on the top and bottom,

as indicated at 58, so that the pin 38 will he slid inwardly when it projects from the block 13 and is engaged by the cam-shaped projection 59 on the inside of the ring 21 in the downward and upward movement of the ram. In Fig. 1, as mentioned before, the pin 38 is shown as having been moved inwardly by the. cam 59 in the upward movement of the ram, the press being shown with the ram near the end of the up-stroke in Fig. 1 and at the end of the up-stroke in Fig. 2. Just before the ram reaches the end of the up-stroke the blank A that has been upset is ejected and the operator places another blank A between the lower die sections 11 and 12 and closes these die sections at least part-way by means of the hand lever 24. In so doing, the pin 38 may be projected a little bit from block 13. If so, it will be moved inwardly by the cam projection 59 as the ring 21 comes down over the blocks 13 and 16, but an instant later in the further downward movement of the ring 21 the dies are closed by the wedging engagement of surface 20 on surface 19, and in this operation the pin 38 is pushed out again and farther than it was previously by hand. The pin is later forced inwardly again by the cam 59 as the ram returns on the up-stroke, as illustrated in Fig. 1, thereby positively opening the dies at least part-way, as shown, the slide 16 being moved the rest of the way to fully retracted position by the action of the spring-pressed pins 34, as shown in Fig. 2, when the ram is fully retracted.

In operation, the operator during regular operation of the press keeps one foot near a pedal to operate once per cycle of the press a run switch indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 6 by the numeral 60. This run switch 60 is held depressed by the operator at the start of each cycle just long enough to close a circuit through a relay 62 and start a drive motor 64 and close a switch 63. The operation of the motor 64 is thereafter under control of switch 63 to the end of the cycle, and at the end of the cycle, the opening of the circuit by switch 63 resets the relay 62 for the start of the next cycle, which commences when switch 60 is closed again. Current is supplied to relay 62 from the line indicated at 61. The control switch 25, as mentioned before, is arranged to be closed when the hand lever 24 has shifted the slide 16 forward far enough to make it safe to operate the press. This switch 25 is connected in series with the run switch 60. Motor 64 is connected through a drive belt 65 and a reduction drive pinion 66 with the main drive gear 48 to operate the press through a complete cycle each time the switch 60 is closed, the gear 48 making onecomplete turn per cycle. The switch 25 serves as a safety switch to prevent damage to the press by insuring movement of the slide '16 far enough to permit the final closing of the dies to be taken care of automatically in the downward stroke of the ram. In other words, if the blank A is not inserted correct-1y then the operator could not move the slide 16 by means of the hand lever 24 forward far enough to close the switch 25, and costly damage to the dies is avoided by maintaining an open circuit until the difficulty is corrected. At the end of each cycle a cam 67 turn-ing with the shaft 47 opens the switch 63 to stop the motor 64. Near the end of the cycle the drift pin 38 is moved forward in the manner shown in Fig. 1 as the ram is on the up-stroke after the upsetting operation is completed, thereby positively opening the dies to loosen the upset b'lank in relation to the lower die sections, so that as soon as the ring 21 is clear of the die blocks 13 and 16, the spring-pressed plungers 34 are free to move the slide 16 the rest of the way and the blank -A with it into the path of movement of the kick-out shoe 39. The operation of the latter is nicely timed to occur as the dies 11 and 12 are fully opened and the blank A is in readiness for ejection, so that there will be no unnecessary delay in the feeding of blanks to the press.

stopped at the end of each cycle, it shouldtbe' understoodthat it is commonpractice in the operation oi pressesto have the motor 64 run continuously and toengage and disengage a clutch C (Fig. 6) by electrical means atthe beginning and end of each cycle, the electrical means (such as .a solenoid) preferably actuating a valve to engage the clutch C under air pressure. The compressed air is supplied from the same source connected with line 43, so the air pipe indicated in Fig. 6 as associated with clutch C is numbered 43G With that combination the gear 48 is driven continuously but shaft 47 is turned only when clutch C is engaged. Here again, the run switch 60 is held closed at the start of a cycle to maintain the circuit through the relay 62 long enough to close the switch 63 and then it maintains the circut until the end of the cycle when it is opened by cam 67 to stop the press by disengaging the clutch C.

-It is believed the foregoing description conveys a goodunderstanding of the objects and advantages of my in vention. The appended claims have been drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

1. In a press comprising .a lbolster and a [ram reciprocable toward and away from the bolster, the combination with lower die sections carried on the bolster, and a punch to cooperate therewith carried on the ram, of a kick-out shoe movable between the lower die sections when they are separated and arranged to strike and eject a blank disposed between said die sections, a drift pin guided for reciprocation laterally relative to one of said lower die sections and engageable with the blank to move it and the companion lower die section laterally toward a retracted open die position wherein the blank is in the path of movement of the kick-out shoe for ejection thereby, means movable with the ram arranged to close said lower die sections in the downstroke of the ram, another means movable with the ram arranged to operate said drift pin in the upstroke of the ram to open said lower die sections, and means for operating said shoe in timed relation to the opening of said die sections.

2. In a press comprising a bolster and .a ram reciprocable toward and away from the bolster, the combination with lower die sections carried on the bolster, and a punch to cooperate therewith carried on the ram, of a kick-out shoe movable between the lower die sections when they are separated and arranged to strike and eject a blank disposed between said die sections, a drift pin guided for reciprocation laterally relative to one of said lower die sections and engageable with the blank to move it and the companion lower die section laterally toward a retracted open die position wherein the blank is in the path of movement of the kick-out shoe for ejection thereby, means movable with the ram arranged to close said lower die sections in the downstroke of the ram, another means movable with the ram arranged to operate said drift pin in the upstroke of the ram to open said lower die sections, an air cylinder having a piston reciprocable therein and movable forwardly under air pressure, spring means returning said piston, means connecting said piston to said shoe for reciprocation of the latter, an air valve controlling the delivery of air to said cylinder from :a source of compressed air, and means [for opening said valve momentarily in timed relation to the opening of said die sections.

3. In a press comprising a bolster and a ram reciprocable toward and away from the bolster, the combination with lower die sections carried on the bolster, and a punch to cooperate therewith carried on the ram, of a kick-out shoe movable between the lower die sections when they are separated and arranged to strike and eject a blank disposed between said die sections, a drift pin guided for reciprocation laterally relative to one of said lower die sections and engageable with the blank to move it and the companion lower die section laterally toward a retracted open die position wherein the blank is in the path of movement of .v the kick l-out shoe for ejection thereby, spring-pressed pins also guided for reciprocation laterally relative to the same lower die section as the drift pin and engaging the blank to help move it-and the companion lower die section laterally toward the retracted open die position, said springapressed pins being extensible farther than the drift pinto open the dies an and position the blank for eject-ion, means movable with the ram arranged to close said lower die sections in the downstroke of the ram, another means movable with the ram arranged to operate said drift pin in the upstroke of the ram to open said lower die sections, and mean-s for operating said" sh'oe in timed relation to the opening of said die sections.

4. In a press comprising a bolster and a ram reciprocable toward and away from the bolster, the combination with lower die sections carried on the bolster, and a punch to cooperate therewith carried on the ram, of a kickout' shoe movable between the lower die sections when they are separated and arranged to strike and eject a blank disposed between said die sections, a drift pin guided for reciprocation laterally relative to one of said lower die sections and engageable with the blank to move it and the companion lower die section laterally toward a retracted open die position wherein the blank is in the path of movement of the kick-out shoe for ejection thereby, spring-p'ressed pins also guided for reciprocation laterally relative to the same lower die section as the drift pin and engaging the blankto help move it and the companion lower die section laterally toward the retracted open die position, said spring-pressed pins being extensible farther than the drift pin to open the dies fully and position the blank for ejection, means movable with the ram arranged to close said'lower die sections in the downstroke of the ram, another means movable with the ram arranged to operate said drift pin in the upstroke of the ram to open said lower die section's, an air cylinder having a piston reciprocabl'e therein and movable forwardly under air pressure, spring means returning said piston, means connecting said piston to said shoe for reciprocation of the 1atter, an air valve controlling the delivery of air to said cylinder from a source of compressed air, and means for opening said valve momentarily in timed relation to the opening ofsa'id' die sections.

5. In a press comprisinga bolster a'n'da ram reciprocable toward and away from the bolster, the combination with lower die sections carried on the bolster, and a punch to cooperatetherewi th carried on the ram, of a kick-out shoe movable between the lower die sections when they are separated and arranged to strike and eject a blank disposed between said die sections, a manually operable hand lever swingable relative to said bolster and engageable with one of' the lower die sections to move it partway toward closed position after a blank to be operated upon is inserted between the diesections, a control device controllingloperation of the ram operable by said lever when it has moved the die section a predetermined distance, means movable with the ram in its downstroke for closing the die sections, and means for operating said shoe in timed relation to the opening of said die sections.

6. In a press comprising a bolster and a ram reciprocable toward and away from the bolster, the combination with lower die sections carried on the bolster, and a punch to cooperate therewith carried on the ram, of a kick-out shoe movable between the lower die sections. when they are separated and arranged to strike and eject a blank disposed between said die sections, a manually operable hand lever swingable relative to said bolster and engageablewith-one of thelower die sections to move it partway toward closed position after a blank to be operated upon is inserted between the diesections, a con trol device controlling operation of the ram operable by'said lever when it hasrnoved the'die'section a predetermined' distance, means movable with the ram in its downstroke for closing the-die sections, an air cylinder having a piston reciprocable therein and movableforwardly under air pressure, spring means returning said piston, means connecting said piston to said shoe for reciprocation of the latter, an air valve controlling the delivery of air to said cylinder from a source of compressed air, and means for opening said valve momentarily in timed relation to the opening of said die sections. a 1

7. In a press comprising a bolster and a ram reciprocable toward and away from the bolster, the combination with a fixed die blockon the bolster supporting a fixed lower die section, a slidable die blockreciprocable in guides on the bolster and supporting a companion lower die section, and a punch carried on the ram to cooperate with the lower die sections, ofa kick-out shoe guided for reciprocation between the fixed die block and one of the guides for the slidable die block and extensible between the die sections when they are separated so as to strike and eject a blank disposed between said die sections, a manually operable hand lever swingable relative to said bolster and engageable with the slidable die block to move it partway toward closed position after a blank to be operated upon is inserted between the die sections, a control device controlling operation of the ram operable by said lever when it has moved the die block a predetermined distance, means movable with the ram in its downstroke for closing the die sections, and means for operating said shoe in timed relation to the opening of said die sections.

8. In a press comprising a bolster and a ram reciprocable toward and away from the bolster, the combination with a fixed die block on the bolster supporting a fixed lower die section, a slidable die block reciprocable in guides on the bolster and supporting a companion lower die section, and a punch carried on the ram to cooperate with the lower die sections, of a kick-out shoe guided for reciprocation between the fixed die block and one of the guides for the slidable die block and extensible between the die sections when they are separated so as to. strike and eject a blank disposed between said'die sections, a manually operable hand lever swingable relative to said bolster and engageable with the slidable die block to move it partway toward closed position after a blank to .be' operated upon is inserted between the die sections, a control device controlling operation of the ram operable by said lever when it has moved the die block a predetermined distance, means movable with the ram in its downstroke for closing the die sections, an air cylinder having a piston reciprocable therein and movable forwardly under air pressure, spring means returning said piston, means connecting said piston to said shoe for reciprocation of the latter, an air valve controlling the delivery of air to said cylinder from a source of compressed air, and means for opening said valve momentarily in timed relation to the opening of said die sections.

9. In a press comprising a bolster and a ram reciprocable toward and away from the bolster, the combination with lower die sections carried on the bolster, and a punch to cooperate therewith carried on the ram, of a kick-out shoe movable between the lower die sections when they are separated and arranged to strike and eject a blank disposed between said die sections, a drift pin guided for reciprocation laterally relative to one of said lower die sections and engageable with the blank to move it and the companion lower die section laterally toward a retracted open die position wherein the blank is in the path of movement of the kick-out shoe for ejection thereby, a manually operable hand lever swingable relative to said bolster and engageable with one of the lower die sections to move it partway toward closed position after a blank to be operated upon is inserted between the die sections, a control device controlling operation of the ram operable by said lever when it has moved the die section a predetermined distance, another means movable with the ram arranged to operate said drift pin in the upstroke of the ram to open said lower die sections, and meansfor operating said shoe in timed relation to the opening of said die sections.

10. In a press comprising a bolster and a ram recip rocable towardand away from the bolster, the combination with lower die sections carried on the bolster, and a punch to cooperate therewith carried on the ram, of a kick-out shoe movable between the lower die sections when they are separated and arranged to strike and eject a blank disposed between said die sections, a drift pin guided for reciprocation laterally relative to one of said lower die sections and engageable with the blank to move it and the companion lower die section laterally toward a retracted open die position wherein the blank is in the path of movement of the kick-out shoe for ejection thereby, a manually operable hand lever swingable relative to said bolster and engageable with one of the lower die sections to move it partway toward closed position after a blank to be operated upon is inserted between the die sections, a control device controlling operation of the ram operable by said lever when it has moved the die section a predetermined distance, another means movable with the ram arranged to operate said drift pin in the upstroke of the ram to open said lower die sections, an air cylinder having a piston reciprocable therein andmovable forwardly under air pressure, spring means returning said piston, means connecting said piston to said shoe for reciprocation of the latter, an air valve controlling the delivery of air to said cylinder from a source of compressed air, and means for opening said valve momentarily in timed relation to the opening of said die sections.

ll. In a press comprising a bolster and a ram reciprocable toward and away from the bolster, the combination with lower die sections carried on the bolster, and a punch to cooperate therewith carried on the ram, of a kick-out shoe movable between the lower die sections when they are separated and arranged to strike and eject a blank disposed between said die sections, a drift pin guided for reciprocation laterally relative to one of said lower die sections and engageable with the blank to move it and the companion lower die section laterally toward a retracted open die position wherein the blank is in the path of movement of the kick-out shoe for ejection thereby, spring-pressed pins also guided for reciprocation laterally relative to the same lower die section as the drift pin and engaging the blank to help move it and the cornpanion lower die section laterally toward the retracted open die position, said spring-pressed pins being extensible farther than the drift pin to open the dies fully and position the blank for ejection, a manually operable hand lever swingable relative to said bolster and engageable with one of the lower die sections to move it partway toward closed position after a blank to be operated upon is inserted between the die sections, a control device controlling operation of the ram operable by said lever when it has moved the die section a predetermined distance, another means movable with the ram arranged to operate said drift pin in the upstroke of the ram to open said lower die sections, and means for operating said shoe in timed relation to the opening of said die sections.

12. In a press comprising a bolster and a ram reciprocable toward and away from the bolster, the combination with lower die sections carried on the bolster, and a punch to cooperate therewith carried on the ram, of a kick-out shoe movable between the lower die sections when they are separated and arranged to strike and eject a blank disposed between said die sections, a drift pin guided for reciprocation laterally relative to one of said lower die sections and engageable with the blank to move it and the companion lower die section laterally toward a retracted open die position wherein the blank is in the path of movement of the kick-out shoe for ejection thereby, spring-pressed pins also guided for reciprocation laterally relative to the same lower die section as the drift pin and engaging the blank to help move it and the companion lower die section laterally toward the retracted open die position, said springpressed pins being extensible farther than the drift pin to open the dies fully and position the blank for ejection, a manually operable hand lever swingable relative to said bolster and engageable with one of the lower die sections to move it partway toward closed position after a blank to be operated upon is inserted between the die sections, a control device controlling operation of the ram operable by said lever when it has moved the die section a predetermined distance, another means movable with the ram arranged to operate said drift pin in the upstroke of the ram to open said lower die sections, an air cylinder having a piston reciprocable therein and movable forwardly under air pressure, spring means returning said piston, means connecting said piston to said shoe for reciprocation of the latter, an air valve controlling the delivery of air to said cylinder from a source of compressed air, and means for opening said valve momentarily in timed relation to the opening of said die sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 316,082 Tyler et al. Apr. 21, 1883 397,786 Davis Feb. 12, 1889 458,240 Seaton et al. Aug. 25, 189i 458,408 Partington et al. Aug. 25, 1891 718,961 Yeatman et al Ian. 20, 1903 1,204,217 Canda Nov. 7, 1916 1,766,484 Clouse June 24, 1930 1,898,279 West Feb. 21, 1933 1,983,935 Fassinger Dec. 11, 1934 2,023,042 Brennan Dec. 3, 1935 2,187,479 Zwierlein Jan. 16, 1940 2,264,826 Butterfield Dec.2, 1941 2,302,531 Devine Nov. 17, 1942 2,396,727 Voity Mar. 19, 1946 2,430,986 Kline et al. Nov. 18, 1947 2,575,504 Wright Nov. 20, 1951 2,639,632 Criley et al. May 26, 1953 2,667,203 Kurland et al. Jan. 26, 1954

Images