US2815709A - Power presses with multiple point drive means - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 10, 1957 o. PUHLMANN I 2,815,709

POWER PRESSES WITH MULTIPLE POINT DRIVE MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 11, 1956 'lli f illllllllml 0770 PUHLM/WN Dec. 10, 1957 o, PUHLMANN I 2,815,709

POWER PRESSES WITH MULTiPL-E POINT DRIVE MEANS Filed Oct. 11, 1956 I s Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 10, 1957 l o. PUHLMANN 2,815,709

POWER PRESSES WITH MULTIPLE POINT DRIVE MEANS m d Oct. 11, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 iA/VE/VTGR 07 70 PUHL MAW/V PDWER PRESSES WITH MULTIPLE POINT DRIVE MEANS Otto Puhlmann, Goppingen-Wurttemberg, Germany, as-

signor to L. Schuler Ag., Goppingen-Wurttemberg, Germany Application October 11, 1956, Serial No. 615,324

Claims priority, application Germany October 14, 1955 12 Claims. (Cl. 100-257) The invention relates to power presses and likemachines, and more specifically to a press with multiple point drive means for the workholder, ram or like press or machine part, said drive means including spindles to transmit to the press part or parts the necessary displacement forces, common drive means being arranged for the various adjustment elements associated with the respective drive or actuating points. a

In order to ensure adjustment or attainment of th proper working height and like working conditions in known presses of this type, the individual adjustment elements at the drive points of the workholder or ram are operated jointly with one another by means of a handwheel, for example, and thus the associated press part is either raised or lowered slightly substantially parallel to itself. Should the workholder or the ram become tilted in its guides or when it was desired to rearrange the same exactly parallel to the guides, it was necessary in known presses of this type to manually rotate an eccentric arranged at the respective drive point through the intermediary of a suitable gear train.

In contradistinction to known press structures of this type the invention resides in the fact that independently actuatable clutches or couplings are connected in the individual drive branches leading to the various adjustment elements, and in the fact that the angle through which the two clutch halves of each of these clutches can be rotated relative to one another is limited by means of a catch arrangement bridging the clutch or coupling.

It is one of the principal objects and advantages of the present invention to provide means envisaging that the movable and guided press part cannot be tilted or canted to more than a maximum permissible extent.

Through the restriction of the angle through which the two clutch halves can be rotated relative to one another, the possible degree or extent of canting is predetermined to a certain magnitude. When the maximum permissible extent of canting has been obtained, the clutch half or section leading to the output of the press drive means is automatically engaged through the intermediary of the aforesaid catch arrangement by the clutch half or section means rendering the possibility of easily straightening oraligning the guided press part through a simpleengagement;

and release of the clutches which are. arrangedinthe drive branches for the I adjustment elements associated with the various drive points. w 1 i The invention contemplatesthat the catchlarrangement nited States Patent ice bridging each coupling or clutch is provided with a catch pin or dog fixedly connected to one of the clutch sections for rotation therewith, while in the path of movement of this dog or pin .is arranged an abutment fixedly connected to and rotatable with the other clutch section.

The invention further envisages that there is arranged in the path of movement of the dog or pin of one of the clutch halves an intermediate piece which transmits a part of the rotary movement of said one clutch half or section to the other clutch half or section.

It is, therefore, another object of the invention to provide means facilitating a limited or predetermined relative movement between the two coupling or clutch sections which extend through-an arc of more than 360.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means conductive to a very efiicacious indicating mechanism responsive to the relative rotation between the two coupling sections of each of the individual couplings or clutches and making discernible the extent of canting of the guided press part.

The Various characteristics and features of the invention may be embodied either singly or jointly in a press constructed as indicated hereinabove.

The invention, of course, may be applied advantageously not only to presses, but also to stamping or punching machines, trimming, folding and cutting machines and the like, which are similarly equipped with movable parts of the aforesaid type.

These and other objects of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a sheet metal or work holder employed in a press or machine made according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is partly in section an enlarged side elevational view of the workholder of Fig. 1, additional parts being shown in connection with said workholder;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line lII-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale of a type of clutch employed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VIIVII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII- VIII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of another type of clutch employed in accordance with the present invention; Q

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of still another type of clutch employed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line XII XII of Fig. 11; j

Fig. 13 is alongitudinal sectional view of yet another type of clutch employed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional view of the clutch shown in Fig. 13; i

Fig. 15 is a side elevational view of the clutch shown in Fig..13.;' and "0 :1 l

Fig; 16. is a sectional view of a detail of the clutch shown in Figs. 13 to'15.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to of the drawings, there is disclosed a sheet metal or workholder 1 which is displaceably guided in the press frame or standards by means of suitable guide means (not shown) and is driven, during operation of the press, by four connecting rods 2 (partly shown) which are linked to spindles 3 journalled on the workholder 1 at the four corners A, B, C and D thereof by means of screw-threaded nuts 4. The spindle engaging nuts 4 are rotatably supported by the workholder so that upon rotation of the nuts 4 the length of each spindle between said nuts and the junction of said spindle with the respective connecting rod 2 can be varied. As will be readily realized, upon simultaneous rotation of the nuts at all four drive points (corners A to D), the sheet or workholder 1 will be adjusted to a higher or lower position as it may be required for the correct positioning of the tools.

The drive for the individual s indle nuts 4 at the four drive points A to- D is effected jointly by a motor 5 through the intermediary of a transmission system in cluding bevelgearing 6, shaft 7, bevel gears 8 and 9, shaft 10 and meshing spur gears 11 and 12. The gear 12 is fixedly keyed to a shaft 13.

Interconnected between shaft 13 and each respective spindle-nut 4 is a claw clutch 14, 15. The clutch sleeve 14 is keyed to the shaft 13 by means of keys 53 (Fig. 5), whereby sleeve 14 rotates with the shaft but may be axially displaced relative thereto. The sleeve 14 is provided at its end facing the clutch section 15 with claws or teeth 16 which engage in corresponding claws or teeth of the clutch section 15. The latter is fixedly connected or integral with a bevel gear 17, which meshes with corresponding bevel crow'n4" of the spindle-nut 4.

The clutch sleeve 14is pressed against the clutch section 15 by means of a spring 18. Engagement and disengagement of the clutch is effectedby a shaft 19 rotatably supported in the workholder 1 (Fig. 3). A handle or manipulating lever 20 is connected to one end of the shaft 19 for swinging movement about an axle 21 perpendicular to the shaft 19,- the other end of the shaft 19 having fixed thereto a head 24 provided with slide blocks 22 engaging, respectively, in grooves 23 formed on the periphery and extending longitudinally of the clutch sleeve 14 (Fig. 2). The lever 20 extends through a face plate 25 exteriorly of the workholder, the front or face plate 25 being provided with a stamped out guide slot 59 and catch depressions 60 determining respective end positions of the lever 20'.

When the motor 5 is started, all spindle nuts 4 are uniformly driven if all the clutches 14, 15 are engaged or closed, whereby the workholder 1 is displaced in a direction parallel to its guides so as to alter its working height.- If it is desired, however, that the workholder 1 be canted slightly and not displacedparallel to itself, then one or more of the clutches 14, 15 will be disengagedor opened, as required, so that the respective spindle nuts 4 which are associated with these clutches are not driven or actuated.

In order to ensure that the canting or tilting of the workholder in its guides does not exceed a permissible maximum extent, the sleeve 14 is provided with a dog or catch 26 while the clutch section 15 is providedwith an abutment or projection 27 which extends along the sleeve 14 to such an extent that it is still in the path of movement of the dog 26 even when the sleeve 14 is disengaged from the clutch section 15.

Thus, even when the clutch 14, 15 is disengaged, the dog 26' entrains' the clutch section 15 after at most one complete rotation of the shaft 13, whereby the spindle nut 4 associated with this clutch is again actuated so that the workholder no longer performs its canting motion.

The press is provided with mechanisms which indicate the extent to which 'the workholder has been: canted in its guides. The rotary motion ofeach' clutchrseciiion 15 4 is transmitted through the intermediary of sprockets 2S encircling the section 15, to a sprocket wheel 30 via a sprocket chain 29, the wheel 30 driving a shaft 37 through a gear train 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 (Fig. 3) and 36. The shaft 37 is rotatably arranged in the workholder 1 and carries at one of its ends an indicator 38. A disc 39 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 37, the hub of this disc being constructed in the form of a sprocket wheel 40.

The disc 39 is driven by the shaft 13 through the intermediary of a chain drive or transmission 41, 42 and 43 and a gear train 44, 45, 46, 47 48' (Fig. 4) and 49, the last element of this gear train being a sprocket wheel 50 the rotation of which is transmitted to various discs 39 by means of a chain 51 also engaging the sprocket wheel-like hubs 40.

When any of the clutches 14, 15 is closed or engaged, the indicator 38 and the corresponding disc 39 associated with this particular clutch rotate jointly and at the same angular speed. If this clutch is now opened or disengaged while the motor 5 is still running, the respective indicator 38 remains stationary relative to the disc 39 still rotating with the clutch sleeve 14 until such time as the clutch I4, 15 is again closed or until the clutch section 15 is entrained into rotation upon engagement of the dog 26 on the clutch sleeve 14 with the abutment 27 the clutch section 15.

The relative rotation between the indicator 33 and the disc 39 which may be read off from the disc 39 by virtue of suitable gr'aduations or indicia (not shown) provided thereon, is thus a measure of the extent of canting or tilting of the workholder.

The pitches of the threaded portions on the spindles 3 and the transmission ratios between the pairs of bevel gears 17 and 4" are so determined with respect to the angle through which the sleeve 14 can rotate relative to the clutch section 15 depending on the respective widths of the-dog 26 and abutment 27 that the maximum possible relative rotation between; the clutch halves or sections 14 and 15 corresponds exactly to the maximum permissible extent of can-ting of the workholder.

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 8, it will be seen that the clutch has been slightly modified by the provision of intermediate ring 52 which isrotatably supported on an extended portion of a clutch section 15 corresponding otherwise to the clutch section 15 illustrated in Figs. 1 to"5. The intermediate ring 52 is provided with an abutment 54 extending into the path of movement of the dog 26 connected to the clutch sleeve 14. At the end of the ring 52 opposite the abutment 54 is arranged a dog- 55 in the path of movement of which is positioned an abutment 56 fixedly connected to the clutch section 15'.

Uponopening or disengaging of the clutch 14, 15' while themotor 5 remains running, the stillrotating clutch sleeve'14 first entrai'n's the intermediate ring 5?. into rotation as soon as the dog 25 contacts the abutment 5'4. Only when the dog 55 of the now rotating i-i'itermediate ring 52' comes into engagement with the abutment 56 is-the'v clutch' section 15" entrained to follow said rotation. The provision of this intermediate ring 52 thus renders it possible to set the clutch section 15' into rotation only after the sleeve 14 has been rotated through an angle of more than 360.

In lieu of only one intermediate ring 52, it will, of course, be realized that a plurality of such intermediate rings could be provided so as to enable any desired relative rotation between the clutch sections 14 and 15 to be attained.

Turning now to Figs. 9 and 10, it will be seen that the embodiment ofa clutch shown diners from that illustrated on Figs. l to 5 only in that the clutch section 15" is provided at its end facing. the sleeve 14 with a sleevelike extension 57 partly surrounding the sleeve 14-. An abutment- 58' is arranged on the inner surface of the extension 57 with which abutmentdog. 26* of sleeve 14 may engage to"entr"ai'n the clutch section 15 into rotation.

In the embodiment of the clutch illustrated in .Figs. 11 and 12, the dog is constituted by a vertical pin26' threaded into a corresponding recess in the sleeve 14. Similarly, the abutment is constituted by a horizontal pin 27' threaded into a corresponding recess in the clutch section 15.

It will be readily understood that the principles of the invention may be applied equally well to a ram of a press or to any type of tool or tool holder the driving of which is effected over a plurality of spaced points.

The angle through which the two coupling sections may be rotated relative to one another can also be limited by other means employed in lieu of a dog or catch arrangement bridging the clutch. Merely by way of example, means may be provided to re-engage the clutch automatically as soon as the maximum permissible extent of canting of the workholder (or of the ram, tool or tool holder) has been attained.

As may be seen from Figs. 13, 14 and 15, the clutch sections 14, 15" are provided with electric contacts which, upon attainment of the aforesaid maximum permissible degree of canting, stop the motor or re-engage the clutch through the intermediary of suitable electromagnets (not shown).

To this end, the clutch sleeve 14 is provided with an abutment or extension 61 in the path of movement of which are located electric limit switches 62 fixed to the clutch section 15'. Current is fed to the switches 62 by means of suitable brushes 63 and commutator rings 64.

If the canting of the workholder exceeds the maximum permissible extent, the abutment 61 is pressed against one of the limit switches 62 to thereby either open or close a suitable electric circuit (not shown). By such opening or closing of the circuit the electric motor 5 may be deactuated either directly or through the intermediary of relays.

As may be seen from Fig. 16, in accordance with a refinement of the present invention an electromagnet 65 is fixed to the workholder 1 in the vicinity of the front plate 25. Connected to the core or armature of this electromagnet is an extension 66 which is linked to the manipulating lever 20. The magnet 65 is energized through the limit switches 62 (see Fig. 15) mounted on the clutch section 15 upon attainment of the maximum permissible extent of relative rotation between the clutch sections, at which time the magnet lifts the lever through the intermediary of the extension 66, so that the clutch is closed or engaged by the action of the spring 18, enabling the corresponding spindle nut 4 to be driven again.

It can thus be seen, that there has been provided according to the invention a machine or press having a plurality of drive points for a workholder, ram, and like press part comprising respective spindle means passing through said press part at said drive points, first means on said press part engaging said spindle means, second means connectable with said first means for adjusting said spindle means relative to said press part, said second means'including clutch means, shaft means, drive means common to said shaft means being in operative connection through said shaft means with said common drive means, respectively, each clutch means being coordinated to respective spindle means for bringing about engagement and disengagement of the latter with respect to said common drive means to thereby permit adjustment movement of said spindle means independently of each other and relative to said press part at said drive points, each coupling means being provided with two cooperable coupling parts, first catch means connected with one of the said coupling parts, second catch means attached to the other coupling part and forming abutment means thereon, said abutment means being angularly displaced with respect to but arranged in the path of said first catch means of said one coupling part for acting upon said second means, even if the respective coupling parts are in disengagement position, thereby establishing again connection between said first and second means and limiting said adjustment of the respective spindle means to a predetermined extent relative to the remaining spindle means, and respective operable means for actuating said clutch means, respectively.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that such obvious changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a power press and like machine having a plurality of drive points for the workholder, ram, and like press part; spindle means engaging said press part at said drive points, means for transmitting displacement forces to said spindle means relative to said press part, means for adjusting said transmitting means relative to said press part, common drive means for said adjusting means, independently actuatable clutch means each including complementary clutch sections and operatively connectable with said adjusting means, respectively, and means limiting the angle through which respective complementary clutch sections of said clutch means may be rotated relative to one another.

2. In a press having a plurality of drive points for the workholder, ram, and like press part; respective spindle means engaging said press part at said drive points, means for transmitting displacement forces to said press part via said spindle means, shaft means located above said press part, means for adjusting said transmitting means relative to said press part, common drive means operatively connectable with said adjusting means, independently actuatable clutch means positioned on said shaft means, respectively, and located between said common drive means and said adjusting means and for operation of the latter, respectively, and means operatively related to said clutch means for limiting the angle through which respective clutch means may be actuated relative to one another.

3. A press having a plurality of drive points for the workholder, ram, and like press part comprising respective spindle means engaging said press part at said drive points, means for transmitting displacement forces to said press part via said spindle means, means for adjusting said spindle means relative to said press part, common drive means operatively related with said adjusting means, respective clutch means in operative connection with said common drive means, respectively, and coordinated to said spindle means for bringing about engagement and disengagement of the latter, respectively, with said common drive means to thereby permit adjustment movement of said spindle means independently of each other relative to said press part at said drive points, and respective operable means in driving relation with said clutch means for limiting the angle through which said clutch means may be actuated for effectuating said adjustment movement.

4. A press according to claim 3, each of said coupling means being provided with two complementary parts, first catch means fixedly connected with one of the said coupling parts, and second catch means attached to the other coupling part and forming abutment means thereon, said abutment means being arranged in the path of said first catch means of said one coupling part.

5. A press according to claim 3, each of said coupling means being provided with two complementary parts, one of said coupling parts including an intermediary member carried thereon, said intermediary member being provided with first catch means, said other coupling part being provided with second catch means for cooperation with said first catch means, whereby rotary movement of said one coupling part may be transferred through said intermediary member and its coordinated first catch means through engagement with said second catch means to said other coupling part.

6. A press according to claim 3, each coupling means being provided with two complementary coupling parts, one of said coupling parts being provided with first catch means, the other coupling part being provided with abut ment-forming second catch means, said second catch means being rotatable about the axis of said second coupling part, and third catch means associated with said abutmentforming second catch means and in the path of which a further abutment is disposed on said second coupling part.

7. A press according to claim 3, including two rotary coupling parts associated with each coupling means, catch means on one of the said coupling parts, abutment means on the other coupling part and arranged for cooperation with said catch means, and at least one intermediary member located between said coupling parts, whereby rotative movement of said one coupling part is transferred via said intermediary member onto the other coupling part.

8. A- press according to claim 3, each of saidcoupling means including two engageable coupling parts, and indicat'ing means operatively connected to said coupling means to perceive relative movement between said two coupling parts of each coupling means.

9. A press according to claim 8, said indicating means including disc means driven by one of the said coupling parts, and indicator hand means operatively connected to the other coupling part of said coupling means.

10. A press having a plurality of drive points for a workholder, ram, and like press part comprising respective spindle means passing through said press part at said drive points, first means on said press part engaging said spindle means, second means connectable with said first means for adjusting said spindle means relativeto said press part, said second means including clutch means, shaft means, drive means common to said shaft means, said clutch means being in operative connection through said shaft means with said common drive means, respectively, each clutchmeans being coordinated to respective spindle means for bringing about engagement and disengagement of the latter with respect to said common drive means to thereby permit adjustment movement of said spindle means independently of each other and relative to said press part at said drive points, each coupling means being provided with two coopera-ble coupling parts, first catch means connected with one of the said coupling parts, second catch means attached to the other coupling part and forming abutment means thereon, said abutment means being angularly displaced with respect to but arranged in the path of said first catch means of said one coupling part for acting upon said second means, even if the respective coupling parts are in disengagement position, thereby establishing again connection between said first and second means and limiting said adjustment of the respective spindle means to a predetermined extent relative to the remaining spindle means, and respective operable means for actuating said clutch means, respectively.

11. A press and like machine havinga plurality of drive points for a workholder, ram, and like part adapted to be adjusted in its working position comprising respective spindle means passing through said part at said drive points, first operable means located on said part engaging said spindle means, second operable means connectable with said first operable means for position adjusting said spindle means relative to said part, said second operable means including clutch means, shaft means, drive means common to said shaft means, said clutch means being in operative connection through said shaft means with said common drive means, respectively, each clutch means being coordinated to a respective spindle means for bringing about engagement and disengagement of the latter with respect to said common drive means to thereby permit adjustment movement of said spindle means independently of each other and relative to the position of said part at said drive points, each coupling means being provided with two cooperable coupling parts, first catch means connected with one of the said coupling parts, second catch means operatively connected with the other coupling part, said second catch means being disposed in the path of, but angularly displaced with respect to said first catch means for acting upon said second operable means, even if the respective coupling parts are in disengagement position, thereby establishing connection between said first and second operable means and limiting said position adjustment of the respective spindle means to a predetermined extent relative to the remaining spindle means.

12, In a press and like machine having a plurality of drive points for a workholder, ram, and like part adapted to be adjusted in its working position and having respective spindle means passing through said press part at said drive points; first operable means located on said part and engaging said spindle means, second operable means connectable with said first operable means for position adjusting said spindle means relative to said part, said second operable means including clutch means, shaft means, drive means common to said shaft means, said clutch means being in operative connection through said shaft means with said common drive means, respectively, each clutch means being coordinated to a respective spindle means for bringing about engagement and disengagement of the latter with respect to said common drive means to thereby permit adjustment movement of said spindle means independently of each other and relative to the position of said part at said drive points, each coupling means being provided with two cooperable coupling parts,

respective catch means operatively connected to said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Treet Dec. 26, 1939 Byerlein July 11, 1950

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