US2835152A - Stock feeding device for forging machine - Google Patents

Description

y 1958 M- w. LAMPRECHT 2,835,152

STOCK FEEDING DEVICE FORGING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Merle 14/. [omprc/ n Filed Feb. 24, 1953 ATTORNEYS May 20, 1958 M. w. LAMPRECHT s ocx FEEDING DEVICE FORGING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24, 1953 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS May 20, 1958 M. w. LAMPREYCHT STOCK FEEDING DEVICE FORGING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 24, 1955 JII y f 6 a W mw$- 1% W; 8

May 20, 1958 M. w. LAMPRECHT 2,835,152

STOCK FEEDING DEVICE FORGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1953" 6 Sheets-$heet 4 I I YIIIIIIIIIIIIIA'II ATTOR/VZYJ May 20, 1958 M. w. LAMPRECHT STOCK FEEDING DEVICE FORGING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 24, 1953 X WELL INVENTOR. Merle lomprec/rf BY /%&, 7%a, Zia? a 374W ATTOR/VL'YJ 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 H l I I I:

Merle 14/ lamp evil!- M. W. LAMPRECHT STOCK FEEDING DEVICE FORGING MACHINE May 20, 1958 Filed Feb. 24, 1953 United States PatntO STOCK FEEDINGDEVICE FOR FORGING MACHINE Application February 24, 1953, Serial No. 338,257

6 Claims. (Cl. 78-99) This invention relates to improvements in stock feeding or transfer mechanism and one which is particularly adapted to forging machines.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel mechanism for transferring work pieces progressively along a series of work-operation stations located in a plane, wherein a pair of dies have mutually engaging faces meeting in the plane, a pair of stock trans fer fingers having mutually engaging faces meeting in the same plane, a plurality of work-piece-embracing recesses are provided in the mutually engaging faces of the pairs of dies and of the pair of fingers, these recesses being spaced apart by the same predetermined distance in the case of each pair, together with coordinating means causing closing of the dies, opening of the fingers, raising of the fingers, closing of the fingers, opening of the dies and lowering of the fingers progressively in that order.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device as above described wherein the number of recesses in the pair of fingers is one greater than the number of recesses in the pair of dies, the dies being cut away at the above-mentioned predetermined distance below the lowest recess where work is performed so as to release a workpiece there, together with means' for releasably holding a work-piece in the same plane with the work-operation stations at the predetermined distance above the upper: most recess Where work is done upon a piece, whereby the fingers grip a new work piece at their every up excursion, and the dies drop a completed work-piece upon every down excursion of the fingers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel mechanism for raising and lowering the fingers mentioned hereinabove by parts coacting with the header slide of a forging machine.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide novel finger closing and finger separating mechanism which is simple in operation and requires very little maintenance. i

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and description and the essential features thereof will be set forth in the appended claims. i

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a fragmental top plan view of a forging machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l; I

Fig. 3 is a fragmental sectional view enlarged taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental transverse sectional view enlarged taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is afragmental sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; r

Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are views similar to Fig. 2 and showing successive positions of the stock transfer fingers;

Fig. 11 is a fragmental sectional view enlarged taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 7;

r Fig. 12 is a fragmental sectional view enlarged taken along the line 12-12 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 13 is a fragmental sectional view enlarged taken along the line 13-13 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 14 and 15 are fragmental sectional views enlarged taken alongsimilarly numbered lines on Fig. 9;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view enlarged taken along the line 16-16 of Fig. 2; while Fig. 17 is a fragmental sectional view enlarged taken along the line 17-17 of Fig. 8.

While my invention has many uses, I have chosen to show the same as applied to a forging machine of the type fully described in United States Patent No. 2,011,106 granted August 13, 1935 to myself. Reference may be had to this patent for a more complete description of the forging machine. It will suffice to say here that a frame 20 provides a die slide 21 in which a movable die 22 is moved toward and away from a stationary die 23, by means of a toggle arrangement 24 which. is operated by toggle operating mechanism 25 which moves in a toggle slide way 26 in the frame 20. A header slide 27 reciprocates in ways 28, and carries at its forward end a set of tools, one of which is indicated at 29 in full lines and in broken lines in its retracted position. A shaft 30 extending crosswise of the frame 20 and driven by a source of power connected at 31 operates the header slide 27 and the toggle slide 25.

The die 22 is moved toward and away from the die 23 by means of the toggle mechanism 24 operated by the toggle slide 25. The dies meet in a common plane indicated at 32 in Fig. 2. Positioned substantially in thisplane, are

a plurality of work-gripping recesses 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d which are spaced apart a predetermined distance. Fixed to the die 23 by means of bolts 33 is a block which provides a shelf 34 for supporting a new work-piece 35 at the above-mentioned predetermined distance above the top first operation cavity 32a. A recess 32) is cut away in the mutually engaging faces of the dies 22 and 23 extending from just above a work station 32a which is the predetermined distance below the last work operating position at 32d. The recess 32f extends to the bottom of the die so that a piece reaching the location 322 will drop out the bottom of the dies.

Referring now to Fig. 16, slots 22:: and 23a in dies 22 and 23 repectively extend the full length of the die blocks in a vertical direction. These recesses open toward the mutually engaging faces of the dies. Fingers 36 and 37 are slidably mounted in the slots 22a and 23a respectively. At their lower ends, these fingers are connected for vertical movement together but permitting relative horizontal movement between them. A short rectangular bar 38 is firmly secured in a square shouldered recess 37a by means of a bolt 39. The bar 38 is slidable in a square shouldered recess 36a in the finger 36. A friction reducing roller 40 is rotatably mounted on a pin 41 fixed in the finger 36. This bar 38 causes the fingers 36, 37 to move vertically together but permits horizontal movement of the fingers by relative approach movement to a work-gripping position and upon relative separating movement to a work-releasing position.

The fingers 36 and 37 have mutually engaging faces which are provided with a series of work-gripping recesses numbered respectively 42a, 42b, 42c and 42d corresponding to the work operating stations and die recesses 32a,

32b, 32c and 32d previously described. The distance be .pair of recesses on the fingers at 42c corresponding to fit the work position 32c but it will be remembered that at this location there are no work gripping recesses on the dies, the same being there cut away as indicated at 32f.

Resilient means is provided at all times urging the fingers 36 and 37 toward workgripping position;- There are four of these, all identical, and indicatedrby the reference numeral 43. One of them 'is shown indetailrimFigs. l1 and 12. A plunger 44 is slidably mounted iura recess 45 in the die block 23. A helical spring ddis engaged between the plunger 44 and a screw 47 threaded intoa suitable opening in the die block 23. At the fingerengaging end of the plunger 44, a roller 48 is rotatably mounted on a short shaft 49. Each spring 4 6 always urges its plunger 44 against its associated finger 37 or-36, so that these fingers arealways urged toward work-gripping position. The springs 46 and screws 47 are 'so'adjusted that equal tension is exerted on all of the plungers 44.

Means isprovided for causing separating movement of the fingers 36 and 37 operative for separation of the fingers by closing movement of the dies 22 and 23, but only when the fingers are at or near their lowermost position as seen in Fig. 2. This means comprises four struts 50 each of which is engageable between the back of its associated slot 22a or 230 and the face of the opposing finger. A friction reducing roller 51 is rotatably mounted at the slot-engaging end of eachstrut. A spring 52 is so held in'the associated finger as to always urge the struts t towardthe back wall of the slots 22a and 2311. This'structure is clearly shown in Figs. 13 and 14. When the fingers are near their lowermost position shown in Figs. 2 and 13, the struts 50 are operative to push the fingers apart as shown in Fig. 2 to a. position where they clear the work pieces in the die recesses.

At positions just above the struts 50 in Fig. 2, there are provided pockets 53 in the back walls of the slots 22a and 230. There are four of these pockets corresponding to the four struts 51 It results from this construction, that as the fingers 36 and 37 move upwardly from the position "of Fig. 2 to the position of Fig. 7, the rollers'51 ofeach strut structure drop into the pockets 53 as shown in Fig. 7. At such times, and also when the dies are open as shown in Fig. 9, the springs 52 are fully extended as shown in-Fig. l4 and the struts 5ft are pulled wholly within the mutually engaging faces of the fingers 36 and 37, so that they are no longer effective tospread the fingers apart. -At such times, the fingers are under the lateral compulsion'of thercsilient means 43 only.

Means is provided for causing upward movement of the fingers 36 and 37 whilethe dies 22 and 23 are closed, and means are provided for causing downward movement of the fingers while the dies are open. A preferred form for thismeans is associated with the header slide 27 which makes its forward or working stroke downwardly as viewed in Fig. 1 when the dies are closed. Referring now to Figs. 1, 5 and-6, a can-r54 ismounted in a suitable position on the header slide 27 and .a'diustable by means of bolts 55 which engage in slotted openings in the base of the cam 54. The cam has a low horizontal portion 54a and a. higher horizontalportion 54!) connected by an inclined portion 540. A follower roller-56 is rotatably mounted on a lever 57 which is fixed on shaft 58. The Shaft 58 is oscillatably mounted :in bearing caps 59 secured to the frame 20. The end of lever 57 opposite the roller 56 is provided with a pin 6i) pivotally'mounted in the lever 57 at 61. A spring 162 is held 'betweena fixed plate 63 and shoulder 60a on pin 6&3 as clearly: shown in Fig. 5, so as to at all times urge .roller56 against the cam 54.

On the other end shaft 52) is provided 'an operative connection whereby oscillating movement of shaft 58, caused by reciprocation of header slide 27 .and 'cam 54,

is transmitted to the fingers 36 and37. The-mechanism for this purposeis clearly seenin .1, 2,3 and 4. To the front end of shaft 58 is secured a finger operating causes the lever--57 .to so :move.

bracket 64 by means of a key 65 which is held in a reces in the shaft by means of set screws 66. The free end of bracket 64 is bifurcated and an adjusting block 67 lies between the bifurcated arms 64a, adjustably held in position by the screws 68 which are locked by the nuts 69. A short shaft 70 extends from block 67 into a snug recess 71a in the lever 71. This lever has an opening 715 through which the shaft 58 passes. The lever has slotted openings 716 through which pass bolts 72 which are threaded into the bracket 64. It results from this construction, that the lever 71 may be very nicely adjusted angularly with respect to the bracket 64 so as to give the exact movement desired to fingers 36 and 37 in a vertical direction. The connection between lever 71 and the finger 37 comprises a pin '73 secured to the lever 71 and having its other end surrounded by a free riding roller 74 which engages in an elongated opening 75 in the upper end of finger 37. Through this mechanism, the oscillation of shaft 58 causes movement of finger 37 up and down in timed re lation to the movements of the header slide 27 and the toggle slide 25. Through the connection 38, previously described, finger 36 partakcs of the same movement as finger 37.

Those familiar with this art will recognize that the work-piece progresses downwardly from a first position on the workrests 34 fromthe position indicated 35 to a first operation cavity 32a when an appropriate tool on the header :slideperforms a first operation on the end of the work-piece. The piece then travels progressively to thensecond-opera-tion position at 32b, to the third operation position 320, and to the fourth operation position 32d wheredifferent shaped tools properly positioned ontheheader slide produce further change in the work-piece as desired.

Referring nowy-to Figs. 2, 7,8, 9 and 10, it is believed the operation of my device will be clearly shown. Starting' at Fig. 2, the dies 22 and 23 are closed upon the work-pieces in the various operating positions, the .tools of-which 29 is representative are coming toward the work on the header slide 27, and the fingers 36 and 37 are open and ready to move upwardly. The fingers are being pressed toward each other by the resilient devices 43, but the: struts 50 engaging against-the back walls 22a and 23a of the slots in the fingers are pushing the fingers apart so that they clear the work-pieces at the various stations. Passing to Fig. 7, the dies are still closed and the .fingers are moving upwardly due :to the oscillation of the shaft 58 by cam 54 as the header slide'moves forward on its working stroke. The rollers 51 on the ends of the struts .50 have dropped into'the pockets 53 so that these struts are no longer holding the fingers 36 and 37 apart. Instead, the resilient devices 43 are urging the fingers toward each other and the mutually engageable faces of the fingers are rubbing against the work-pieces mat the various work stations 32a, 32b. 32c and 32d. In Fig. '8, the fingers have completed their upward movement and havesnapped onto vthe various work-pieces .at the various .working stations as well .as the uppermost work-piece 35 ylation ofshaft 58 caused byroller 56 moving from the cam portion 54b to the cam .por-tion 54a. Spring 62 The movement of the fingers 36 and 37 from the position of Fig. 8 to the position of Fig. -9 :has carried each work-piece downwardly by the predetermined distanceA so thatthe new piece 35 :is carried tothe first operation station 3.2a, eachof these pieces being worked upon has been lowered one position,

and ithe il'owerrnostrpie'ce is at the location .322 indicatedv iin-Eig. .2. keferring nowtoFig. '10, the diesare closing and the fingers are ready to open. The engagement-of the struts 50 through their rollers 51 against the back walls 22a and 23a of the slots in the dies is so arranged that the fingers 36 and 37 do not release the work-pieces until the recesses in the dies are starting to engage the work-pieces. As the dies continue to close from the position of Fig. to the position of Fig. 2, the fingers continue to open until they approach the position of Fig. 2. The completed piece at the location 32e then drops out downwardly to a suitable receptacle. The timing of the cams controlling the header slide 37 and the toggle slide are so coordinated with the movements of shaft 58 that the above described series of operations takes place smoothly.

One unexplained point should now be taken up. It was early stated that the die 23 is stationary and only the die 22 is movable. Referring to Figs. 16 and 17 the closed position of the dies is indicated in Fig. 16 and the open position of the dies in Fig. 17 with the parts properly aligned vertically in the drawing. The die 22 moves from its closed position shown in full lines in Fig. 16 in the direction of the arrow toward the right to the line B there shown in dot-dash lines. The open position of the die 22 is shown in Fig. 17. Due to the resilient devices 43 being set for equal tension, as previously described, the fingers 36 and 37 are automatically centered with respect to the opening between the dies as the parts are seen in Fig. 17. Referring to Figs 7 and 8, it will be noted in Fig. 7 that the new work-piece is lying upon the work rests 34. In Fig. 8, die 22 is moved toward the right but the resilient devices 43 have centered the fingers 36 and 37 which results in the work-piece 35 being carried toward the right from the position of Fig. 7 to the position of Fig. 8, where the work-piece clears the work rests 34 so that the piece 35 may move downwardly as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. This shifting of the work piece is also clearly illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17.

What I claim is:

l. Mechanism for transferring work pieces progressively along a series of work-operation stations located in a plane comprising a pair of dies having mutually engaging faces meeting in said plane, a pair of fingers having mutually engaging faces meeting in said plane,

a plurality of workpiece-embracing recesses in said mutually engaging faces of said pairs of dies and of said fingers, said recesses being spaced apart the same predetermined distance in each pair, the number of recesses in said fingers being one greater than the number of recesses in said dies, said dies being cut away at said predetermined distance below the associated lowest recess to a distance greater than the dimension of a work piece, means for releasably holding a work piece in saidplane at said predetermined distance above the uppermost recess in said dies, each of said dies having an elongated slot extending at right angles to said plane, said slots opening toward said mutually engaging die faces, said fingers slidingly held in said slots, there being stints engageable between the backs of said slots and said fingers and separating said fingers by closing movement of said dies only when said fingers are at and near their lowermost position, resilient means urging said fingers toward work gripping position, means for causing alternate closing and opening movement of said dies, means for causing upward movement of said fingers while said dies are closed, means for causing downward movement of said fingers while said dies are open, there being pockets provided in the backs of said slots permitting movement of said struts away from said plane corresponding to work releasing position of said fingers, said pockets being positioned to receive said struts as said fingers move upwardly and shortly after said fingersleave their lowermost position, whereby said fingers grip a new work piece at the top at their every up excursion and said essence 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said resilient means urging said fingers toward work gripping position comprise plungers movably mounted in said dies and engaging said fingers, and equally stressed springs on opposite sides of said plane urging said fingers toward work gripping position.

3. Mechanism for transferring work pieces progressively along a series of work-operation stations located in a plane comprising a pair of dies having mutually engaging faces meeting in said plane, a pair of fingers having mutually engaging faces meeting in said plane, a plurality of workpiece-embracing recesses in said mutually engaging faces of said pairs of dies and of said fingers, said recesses being spaced apart the same predetermined distance in each pair, means providing relative approach to work gripping position and separating move ment to work releasing position of said dies and of said fingers, means providing up and down movement of said pair of fingers relative to said dies for said predetermined distance and parallel to said plane, and coordinating means causing closing of said dies, opening of said fingers, raising of said fingers, closing of said fingers, opening of said dies and lowering of said fingers progressively in that order, an elongated slot being provided in each of said dies and open toward said mutually engaging die faces, said slots extending at right .angles to said plane, and said fingers slidingly held in said slots, struts engageable between the backs of said slots and said fingers and separating said fingers by closing movement of said dies only when said fingers are at and near their lowermost position.

4. Mechanism for transferring work pieces progressively along a series of work-operation stations located in a plane comprising a pair of dies having mutually engag ing faces meeting in said plane, a pair of fingers having mutually engaging faces meeting in said plane, a plurality of workpiece-embracing recesses in said mutually engaging faces of said pairs of dies and of said fingers, said recesses being spaced apart the same predetermined distance in each pair, means providing relative approach to work gripping position and separating movement to work releasing position of said dies and of said fingers, means providing up and down movement of said pair of fingers relative to said dies for said predetermined distance and parallel to said plane, and coordinating means causing closing of said dies, opening of said fingers, raising of said fingers, closing of said fingers, opening of said dies and lowering of said fingers progressively in that order, an elongated slot being provided in each of said dies and open toward said mutually engaging dies faces, said slots extending at right angles to said plane, and said fingers slidingly held in said slots, struts engageable between the backs of said slots and said fingers and separating said fingers by closing movement of said dies only when said fingers are at and near their lowermost position, pockets being provided in the backs of said slots permitting move ment of said struts away from said plane corresponding to work releasing position of said fingers, and said pockets being positioned to receive said struts as said fingers move upwardly and shortly after said fingers leave their lowermost position.

5. Mechanism for transferring workpieces progressively along a series of work operation stations located in a plane comprising a pair of dies having mutually engaging faces meeting in said plane, a pair of fingers having mutually engaging faces meeting in said plane, a plurality of workpiece embracing recesses in said mutually engaging faces of said pairs of dies and of said fingers, said recesses being spaced apart the same predetermined distance in each pair, guide means provided in said dies, said guide means comprising vertically aligned recesses in the engaging faces of said dies, said fingers being snugly received in said recesses and slidably supported therein over substantially their entire length, first means providing relative approach to work gripping position and separating movement to work releasing position of said dies, first resilient means mounted in said dies urging said fingers toward work gripping position, second resilient means urging said fingers toward Work releasing position, second means providing up and down movement of said fingers relative to said dies for said predetermined distance and parallel to said plane, and coordinating means for actuating said first-named means to close said dies, for actuating said second resilient means to open said fingers, for actuating said second means to raise said fingers, for actuating said first resilient means to close said fingers, for actuating said first means to open said dies and for actuating said second means to lower said fingers progressively in that order.

6. Mechanism for transferring workpieces progressively along a series of'work operation stations located in a plane comprising a pair of dies having mutually engaging faces meeting in said plane, a pair of fingers having mutnally engaging faces meeting in said plane, a plurality of workpiece embracing recesses in said mutually engaging faces of said pairs of dies and of said fingers, said recesses being spaced apart the same predetermined distance in each pair, guide means associated with said dies defining a path of movement for said fingers, said guide means comprising an elongated slot provided in each of 'said dies and open toward said mutually engaging die faces, said slots extending at right angles to said plane, said fingers slidably held in said slots and said workpiece embracing recesses extending substantially continuously across said mutually engaging faces of said pair of dies and fingers, first means providing relative approach to work gripping position and separating movement to work releasing position of said dies, first resilient means mounted in said dies urging said fingers toward work gripping position, second resilient means urging said fingers toward work releasing position, second means providing up and down movement of said fingers relative to said dies for saidpredetermined distance and parallel to said plane, and coordinating means for actuating said first-named means to close said dies, for actuating said second resilient 'rneans to open said fingers, for actuating said second means to'raise said fingers, for actuating said first resilient means to close said fingers, for actuating said first means to open said dies and for actuating said second means to lowersaid fingers progressively in that order.

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