US3239039A - Punch press with adjustable ram - Google Patents

Description

March 8, 1966 M. BURGETT PUNCH PRESS WITH ADJUSTABLE RAM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1964 March 8, 1966 M. BURGETT PUNCH PRESS WITH ADJUSTABLE RAM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8, 1964 United States Patent 3,239,039 PUNCH PRESS WITH ADJUSTABLE RAM Leslie M. Burgett, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Whitney Metal Tool Company, Rockford, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed May 8, 1964, Ser. No. 365,899 .7 Claims. (Cl. 19212) This invention relates to punch presses and particularly to a punch press with an adjustable ram.

An important object of this invention is to provide a punch press in which the ram can be manually adjusted to facilitate positioning of the punch with respect to a preselected area or spot on the workpiece.

Another object of this invention is to provide a punch press having a manually adjustable ram to facilitate positioning of the punch with respect to the workpiece, and selectively engageable power operated mechanism for driving the punch through the remainder of a cycle, and in which the power operated mechanism will automatically return the ram to substantially the same initial position after each punching operation, independent of the previous manual adjustment of the ram.

Another object of this invention is to provide a punch press having a manually adjustable ram and a one revolution clutch for selectively establishing a drive between the power operated flywheel and the ram, and which is so arranged as to minimize wear and damage to the inter-engaging members of the clutch.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a punch press with a manually adjustable ram, and which is of simple and economical construction, and which is durable and reliable in use.

These, together with other objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a punch press embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the plane 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the plane 44 of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views taken on the plane 55 of FIG. 3, and illustrating the parts in different moved positions; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken on the planes 77 of FIG. 5.

The punch press in general includes a frame 10 having a work support 11 and a ram 12 reciprocable toward and away from the work support. The punch is mounted for reciprocation in guideways 13 on the frame and is operatively connected through an eccentric means to a drive shaft 14. In the embodiment shown, the shaft 14 has an eccentric crank-15 on one end which is connected through a connecting rod 16 to the ram. The connecting rod has a pivotal connection at 17 to the ram and may, for example, have a ball and socket connection (not shown). A punch or die indicated at 18 is mounted on the ram as by a punch retainer 19. A die shoe 21 is mounted on the support 11 and has means such as clamps 22 for clamping the workpiece W to the die shoe.

The punch press is power operated and includes a drive motor 25 which is connected as through a pulley 26 and belts 27 to a flywheel 28. The motor is continuously energized while the press is in operation to continuously rotate the flywheel 28 and, as shown, is operated under the control of a switch 30 conveniently located alongside the frame 10.

A selectively operable drive mechanism is provided for establishing a drive between the flywheel 28 and the shaft 14 to drive the punch through a cycle. In order to facili- Patented Mar. 8, 1966 tate positioning of the punch with respect to the workpiece W, the drive mechanism is so arranged as to permit manual adjustment of the ram 12 downward to a level adjacent the workpiece, while the flywheel 28 is rotating and the drive mechanism is then operable to establish a driving connection from the flywheel to the shaft 14, to power operate the ram through the remainder of a cycle.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 37, the shaft 14 is rotatably supported in bearings 32 on the frame 10 and a hand wheel 33 is non-rotatably connected as by a key 34 to a stub 35 on the end of the shaft 14. The hand wheel 33 is disposed coaxial to the shaft and is located at the end of the shaft adjacent the ram to enable manual turning of the shaft and the eccentric 15 for positioning of the ram with respect to the workpiece. The selectively operable drive mechanism for establishing a driving connection between the flywheel 28 and the shaft includes a driven member or hub 41 which is nonrotatably connected as by a key 42 to the shaft. An annular drive member 43 extends around the driven member and is rotatably supported as by anti-friction bearings 44 on the shaft for rotation relative to the hub and shaft about the axis of the latter. The flywheel 28 is supported for rotation relative to the shaft and, as shown, has a bearing 46 which rotatably supports the same on the end of the shaft. The flywheel is retained in position on the shaft by a collar 47 and locking screw 48. A one revolution clutch is provided for drivingly connecting the drive member 43 to the flywheel to rotate the drive member through one revolution each time the clutch is operated. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the clutch includes a first clutch member, advantageously in the form of a reciprocable clutch pin 51 which is mounted on the drive member 43 for limited sliding movement relative thereto. A second clutch member 52 is connected to the flywheel 28 for rotation therewith and, as shown, is attached to the flywheel by bolts 53. The clutch member 52 has one or more recesses 54 therein which are adapted to receive the end 51' of the clutch pin 51. The recesses define a shoulder or drive lug 54 at the side of the recess that trails during rotation of the flywheel, and which shoulder engages the end 51 of the drive pin to rotate the drive member with the flywheel, when the drive pin is in its engaged position. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the drive pin is yieldably urged into engaged position by a compression spring 56 interposed between a spring retainer 57 and the clutch pin 51. A clutch operating cam 58 is disposed in the path of movement of a finger 59 on the clutch pin 51 and is arranged to move the clutch pin to its retracted position, when the drive member 43 approaches a preselected angular position. As best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7, the clutch operating cam 58 has a cam face 58' which is inclined to a radial plane to the shaft 14, and which earns the clutch pin away from the clutch member 52. The clutch operating cam is selectively movable in a plane disposed radially of the shaft out of engagement with the finger 59 on the clutch pin, in a manner described hereinafter, to effect selective engagement of the one-revolution clutch.

A lost-motion connection is provided between the drive member 43 and the driven member 41 to enable manual turning of the shaft through a part of a revolution for positioning of the ram and punch with respect to the workpiece. As best shown in FIGS. 5-7, the drive member 43 has a generally cylindrical bore 43 and a drive lug 61 is mounted on the drive member and extends inwardly of the bore. The drive lug is preferably in the form of an elongated bar which is mounted in the recess in the drive member and is retained in position therein by a fastener 62. The driven member 41 is turnable relative to the drive member and has an outwardly extending lug 64 defining a shoulder 64' disposed in the path of rotation of the drive lug 61. The angular width of the drive lug 61 and the driven lug 64 are selected so as to enable manual turning of the shaft 14 relative to the drive member 43 through approximately 180. Thus, the shaft can be turned approximately 180 from the position shown in FIG. 5 before the shoulder 64" on the driven lug engages the shoulder 61" on the drive lug. As is apparent, the lugs 61 and 64 can be formed integrally with the respective members 43 and 41 or may be formed separate from the members and secured thereto. The clutch mechanism is preferably so arranged as to stop the shaft 14 with the eccentric 15 near upper dead center, and the shaft 14 is manually turnable by the hand wheel 33 to lower the ram to a position adjacent the workpiece for more accurate positioning of the punch with relation to the prescribed area or spot on the workpiece. As the shaft is manually turned, the shoulder 64' on the driven lug moves away from the shoulder 61' on the drive lug, as shown in FIG. 6. The clutch release cam 58 can then be withdrawn from engagement with the finger 59 on the clutch pin 51 to establish a driving connection between the flywheel and the drive member 43. After an initial lost motion corresponding to the angle through which the shaft was manually adjusted, the drive lug 61 will engage the driven lug 64 to drive the shaft through the remainder of the revolution of the drive member 43. As the latter approaches its initial position shown in FIG. 3, the clutch release cam withdraws the clutch pin from the clutch member 52 and disengages the flywheel from the drive member. Brake bands 71 and 72 are provided around the drive member 43 and around a drum 73 keyed to the shaft, to respectively retard rotation of the drive member and shaft when the one revolution clutch is disengaged. As shown, the brake bands are anchored against rotation by an anchor pin 75 connected to the frame 10. The braking action of the brakes 71 and 72 are individually adjustable and, as shown in FIG. 4, the braking pressure applied by spring 76 is adjustable by means of a nut 77. The brake band 72 is preferably adjusted so as to stop rotation of the shaft 14 when the eccentric 15 is near top dead center. The band 71 is adjusted so as to stop rotation of the drive member 43, after the clutch pin 51 is disengaged and is in a position such as shown in FIG. 4.

Any suitable mechanism may be provided for selectively moving the clutch release cam 58 out of engagement with the clutch pin. As shown in FIG. 1, a foot treadle 81 is pivotally mounted on the frame and if connected through a link 82 and lever 83 to a clutch operating rod 84. The clutch operating rod is yieldably urged to a raised position by a compression spring 85 which is interposed between a bracket 86 on the frame and a stop 87 on the rod. A lower stop 88 is preferably provided on the rod to limit upward movement of the same. The clutch operating mechanism shown in FIG. 4 is arranged so as to operate the clutch through only one revolution, even if the treadle 81- is held in a depressed position. As shown, the rod 84 is connected to a trip lever 91 which is pivotally mounted at 92 on the frame. A latch lever 93 is pivotally mounted at 94 on the trip lever 91 and has a latch finger 95 engageable with a pin 96 on the clutch release cam to draw the cam downwardly away from the clutch pin 51, when the lever 91 is depressed. The clutch release lever 58 is yieldably urged to its engaged position as by a plunger 97 and spring 98 and a dog 99 is mounted on the drive member 43 and is arranged to engage the latch lever 93 to disengage the latch lever from the pin 96, after the drive member starts to rotate. Thus, the release cam 58 is automatically returned to a position in the path of rotation of the finger 59 on the clutch pin, independent of whether the treadle 81 is released. The latch lever 93 is yieldably urged toward its latched position by a plunger 101 and spring 102, and an adjustable stop 103 is provided for limiting movement of the release cam 58 to its engaged position.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction and operation of the punch will be readily understood. The clutch and brakes are so arranged as to normally stop the shaft 14 in a position in which the eccentric 15 is at or near top dead center, as shown in FIG. 3. The hand wheel 33 can then be manually turned to lower the ram and position the punch adjacent the workpiece, for more accurate location of the punch with respect to the area to be punched. As the hand wheel is turned, the shoulder 64' on the driven member moves away from the shoulder 61' on the drive member, as shown in FIG. 6. When the clutch release cam 58 is thereafter withdrawn from engagement with the clutch pin 51, the latter is moved under the bias of spring 56 into engagement with the clutch member 52 and the drive member 43 is then rotated with the flywheel 28. After an initial lost motion corresponding to the angle between the shoulder 61 and 64', the drive lug 61 engages the driven lug 64 to rotate the driven member 41 and shaft 14 with the drive member 43 through the remainder of the revolution of the drive member. When the drive member completes one revolution, the release cam 58 disengages the clutch pin 51 and the brakes 71 and 72 function to stop the drive member and shaft.

As will be seen, the ram is manual-1y adjustable to any position and the clutch will then automatically operate to drive the ram through the remainder of the stroke and return it to the same initial position. Because of the lost motion between the drive lug 61 and driven lug 64, it is apparent that when the clutch pin 51 is initially engaged by the rotating shoulder 54 on the clutch member 52, it is not subjected to a high impact or load since it is only necessary to overcome the inertia of the drive member 43 at that time. After the lost motion determined by the spacing between the shoulder 61' and 64 on the drive and driven lugs, the drive member is drivingly connected to the driven member to drive the ram through the remainder of its stroke. At this portion of the cycle, however, the clutch is in its fully engaged position so that damage and Wear on the clutch pin 51" and lug 54 is minimized. Moreover, it will be seen that the driven member is effectively enclosed by the drive member and that the outer surface of the drive member also functions as a brake drum. In addition, the one revolution clutch is carried by the drive member. This provides a simple and compact overall arrangement which is durable and rugged in use.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a punching machine including a frame, a reciprocable ram mounted on said frame, shaft means having an eccentric for reciprocating the ram as the shaft is rotated, power drive means including a flywheel disposed coaxial to the shaft means and mounted for rotation relative to the shaft means, an adjustable clutch mechanism for selectively establishing a driving connection between the flywheel and the shaft means while permitting manual adjustment of the ram, said adjustable clutch mechanism including a drive member mounted for rotation relative to the shaft means and having a first drive lug thereon, a selectively operable one revolution clutch for drivingly connecting the drive member to the flywheel to rotate the drive member through one revolution, a driven member non-rotatably mounted on the shaft means and having a second drive lug disposed in the path of movement of said first lug on the drive member, a hand wheel connected to the shaft means for manually turning the same through a portion of one revolution to adjust the position of the same, said second drive l-ug being turn-. able with said shaft means and away from said first drive lug when the shaft means is manually turned thereby providing an angular lost motion between the lugs on the drive and driven members corresponding to the portion of the revolution through which the shaft means is manually turned, said first lug being operative when the drive member is rotated to engage said second lug after said angular lost motion to thereby drive the shaft means through the remainder of the revolution of the drive member.

2. The combination of claim 1 including first and second brake means for respectively retarding rotation of said shaft means and said drive member.

3. In a punching machine including a frame, a reciprocable ram mounted on said frame, shaft means having an eccentric for reciprocating the ram as the shaft means is rotated, power drive means including a flywheel disposed coaxial to the shaft means and mounted for rotation relative to the shaft means, an adjustable clutch mechanism for selectively establishing a driving connection between the flywheel and the shaft means while permitting manual adjustment of the ram, said adjustable clutch mechanism including a driven member non-rotatably connected to the shaft means and having an outwardly extending driven lug thereon, an annular drive member extending around the driven member and mounted for rotation relative to the shaft means, the drive member having an inwardly extending drive lug, a selectively operable one revolution clutch for drivingly connecting the flywheel to the drive member to rotate the drive member through one revolution, manually operable means connected to the shaft means for manually turning the same through a portion of one revolution to adjust the position of the ram, said driven lug being turnable with said shaft means and away from said drive lug when the shaft means is manually turned thereby providing an angular lost motion between the drive and driven lugs corresponding to the portion of the revolution through which the shaft means is manually turned, said drive lug being operative when the drive member is rotated to engage said driven lug after said angular lost motion to thereby drive the shaft means through the remainder of the revolution of the drive member.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said drive member is rotatably supported by bearings on said shaft means.

5. The combination of claim 3 including first and second brake means for respectively retarding rotation of said shaft means and said drive member.

6. The combination of claim 3 wherein said one revolution clutch includes a first clutch member on the flywheel and a second clutch member slidably mounted on said 6 drive member for movement into and out of engagement with the first clutch member.

7. In a punching machine including a frame, a reciprocable ram mounted on said frame, shaft means having an eccentric for reciprocating the ram as the shaft means is rotated, power drive means including a flywheel disposed coaxial to the shaft means and mounted for rotation relative to the shaft means, an adjustable clutch mechanism for selectively establishing a driving connection between the flywheel and the shaft means while permitting manual adjustment of the ram-s, said adjustable clutch mechanism including a driven member non-rotatably connected to the shaft means and having an outwardly extending driven lug thereon, an annular drive member extending around the driven member and mounted for rotation relative to the shaft means, the drive member having an inwardly extending drive lug, a one revolution clutch including a first clutch member on said flywheel, a second clutch member slidably mounted on said drive member, means yieldably urging said second clutch member into engagement with said first clutch member, a clutch release cam for moving said second clutch member out of engagement with said first clutch member when the drive member reaches a preselected position, manually operable means connected to said shaft means for manually turning the same through a portion of a revolution to adjust the position of the ram, said driven l-ug being turnable with said shaft means away from said drive lug when the shaft means is manually turned thereby providing an angular lost motion between the drive and driven lugs corresponding to the portion of the revolution through which the shaft means is manually turned, selectively operable means for moving said release cam away from the second clutch member to thereby allow the second clutch member to engage the first clutch member and drive the drive member through one revolution, said drive lug being operative when the drive member is rotated to engage the driven lug after said angular lost motion to thereby drive the shaft means through the remainder of the revolution of the drive member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,686,584 10/1928 Thomas 192-24 2,492,284 12/1949 Heim 192--12X DON A. WAITE, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN W. WYCHE III, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A PUNCHING MACHINE INCLUDING A FRAME, A RECIPROCABLE RAM MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, SHAFT MEANS HAVING AN ECCENTRIC FOR RECIPROCATING THE RAM AS THE SHAFT IS ROTATED, POWER DRIVE MEANS INCLUDING A FLYWHEEL DISPOSED COAXIAL TO THE SHAFT MEANS AND MOUNTED FOR ROTATION RELATIVE TO THE SHAFT MEANS, AN ADJUSTABLE CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR SELECTIVELY ESTABLISHING A DRIVING CONNECTION BETWEEN THE FLYWHEEL AND THE SHAFT MEANS WHILE PERMITTING MANUAL ADJUSTMENT OF THE RAM, SAID ADJUSTABLE CLUTCH MECHANISM INCLUDING A DRIVE MEMBER MOUNTED FOR ROTATION RELATIVE TO THE SHAFT MEANS AND HAVING A FIRST DRIVE LUG THEREON, A SELECTIVELY OPERABLE ONE REVOLUTION CLUTCH FOR DRIVINGLY CONNECTING THE DRIVE MEMBER TO THE FLYWHEEL TO ROTATE THE DRIVE MEMBER THROUGH ONE REVOLUTION, A DRIVEN MEMBER NON-ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE SHAFT MEANS AND HAVING A SECOND DRIVE LUG DISPOSED IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST LUG ON THE DRIVE MEMBER, A HAND WHEEL CONNECTED TO THE SHAFT MEANS FOR MAUALLY TURNING THE SAME THROUGH A PORTION OF ONE REVOLUTION TO ADJUST THE POSITION OF THE SAME, SAID SECOND DRIVE LUG BEING TURN-

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