US3323400A

US3323400A - Kicker mechanism for stamping press

Info

Publication number: US3323400A
Application number: US439672A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bobby C Thompson
Original assignee: FREEWAY WASHER AND STAMPING CO
Current assignee: FREEWAY WASHER AND STAMPING CO
Priority date: 1965-03-15
Filing date: 1965-03-15
Publication date: 1967-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1984-06-06

Description

June 6, 1967 B. c. THOMPSON KICKER MECHANISM FOR STAMPING PRESS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1965 M: 75, 4 W; W07 mm w .ar C w m Y/ a v m; 5 DJ Y B June 6, 1967 B. c. THOMPSON KICKER MECHANISM FOR STAMPING PRESS Filed March 15. 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet '2 INVENTOR.

5058) C THOMPSON BYW 6g June 6, 1967 B. c. THOMPSON 3,323,400

KICKER MECHANISM FOR STAMPING PRESS Filed March 15, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.- 5

FIG: 7

IN VENT OR.

BOBBY C. THOMPSON United States Patent 3,323,400 KIQKER MEEHANISM FDR STAMPZNG PRESS Bobby C. Thompson, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Freeway Washer 8; Stamping Company, a corporation of Qhio Filed Mar. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 439,672 12 Claims. (Cl. 83-160) My invention relates to kicker mechanisms whereby stampings and the like are diverted or kicked aside upon being ejected from a die of a stamping press.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved mechanism for readily and efficiently diverting from the path of a punch of a stamping press a stamping ejected from the die thereof.

Another object is the provision for minimizing lag or delay in the operation of a kicker mechanism to obtain a more efiicient operation.

Another object is the provision of a mechanism for operating a kicker by the reciprocating action of the ram rather than by a flywheel or other parts in the power train of the press.

Another object is the provision of a kicker mechanism so arranged and constructed as to minimize shock and vibration in the operation of the same.

Another object is the provision of an improved mechanism which is so arranged as to provide for rapid kicking or diverting action and for rapid withdrawal of the kicker from the path of the punch in its forward stamping movement.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a stamping press showing my improved kicker mechanism mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of my improved kicker mechanism showing the kicker device in raised position, withdrawn from the path of the punch of the press;

FIGURE 3 is a partial side view of the kicker mechanism as shown in FIGURE 2 but showing the kicker device in lowered position athwart the line of movement of the punch of the press;

FIGURE 4 is a partial plan view of the kicker mechanism, partly in section, looking in the direction of the arrows 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a view looking forwardly of the press and is a view looking in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the kicker mechanism, partly in section, looking in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken through the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5.

My kicker mechanism is particularly adapted for diverting or kicking to one side stampings as they are ejected outwardly of a die during the withdrawing movement of the punch from the die. An example of means for ejecting stampings from a die during the withdrawing movement of the punch is shown in US. Patent No. 2,584,168, issued Feb. 5, 1952, to Walter S. Sutowski. After stampings are so ejected from a die, it is necessary that they be rapidly diverted or kicked aside out of the path of the punch prior to the time the punch begins its next forward or stamping movement and thus clear the way for the punch. My kicker mechanism herein shown and described is particularly adapted for such purpose.

A press frame indicated generally by the reference character 11 carries at the forward end a bolster 12 upon which is mounted a die 10. A ram 13, partially shown in 3,323,400 Patented June 6, 1967 "ice FIGURE 1, is operatively connected to a flywheel or other driving mechanism for reciprocation of the ram so as to move forwardly in a stamping operation punches 14 and to withdraw the punches 14 in the alternate rearward movement of the ram 13. The punches 14 stamp out stampings from a strip of stock material 16, such as steel, being progressively moved across the face of the die 10. A. stripper plate 15 has openings through which the punches 14 reciprocally move toward and away from the die 10. A guide element 18 aids in guiding the strip 16 from Which the stampings have been punched as the strip 16 leaves the face of the die and moves laterally thereof.

Bolted to the bolster 12 by means of bolts 29 is a block 27, the block 27 having slots 27A through which the bolts 29 extend and which provide for adjustment of the position of the block 27 relative to the bolster 12. As seen in the drawings, the block 27 is stepped. Secured by means of bolts 28 to the rearward face of the block 27, that is, on the side toward the ram 13, there is a plate 20A forming the back wall on an upright guide member 20. This guide member 20 has two parallel bar portions extending downwardly in a plane generally normal to the line of movement of the ram 13. Secured to the opposing faces of the guide bars 20 carried by back plate 20A are upright ways 21. Four bolts 22 secure the ways to the upright bars of the guide member 20. For facilitating adjustment to accommodate for wear, nut and bolt assemblies 23 are provided. These adjusting nut and bolt assemblies 23 permit one of the ways to be moved toward and away from its corresponding bar portion of the upright guide 20.

Each of the ways 21 has disposed along its face directed toward the other ways 21 a plurality of ball bearings 24 arranged in a straight row. The ball bearings 24 are held in position by a longitudinal retainer 25 adjacent each way 21.

Positioned between the opposed faces of the ways 21 and within the two rows of ball bearings 24 is a kickercarrying slide member 19 having bearing engagement with the opposed balls 24. The arrangement of the ways 21 and the kicker-carrying slide member 19 is such that the member 19 may be moved upwardly and downwardly in a plane substantially normal to the line of movement of the ram 13. In other words, the movement of the member 19 is in a plane that is generally transverse to the punching movement of the punches 14 carried by the ram 13. Firmly secured to the slide member 19 by bolts 26 is a kicker plate or device 17. This plate 17 moves upwardly and downwardly with the kicker-carrying member 19 in a lane parallel to the plane of the member 19, that is, normal to the line of movement of the ram 13. The kicker plate 17 is located immediately forward of the strip material 16, that is, between the strip material 16 and the die 10 so that upon downward movement of the kicker plate 17, stampings ejected from the die are diverted or kicked downwardly by the lower edge of the kicker plate 17. Upon upward movement of the member 19, the kicker plate 17 is also moved upwardly out of the path of the punches 14 as they move forwardly in a stamping operation.

Secured to the top wall of the supporting block 27 by means of bolts 31 is a bracket guide or key holder 30. As seen in FIGURE 5, the bracket guide 30 has an overhang portion 30A and held within and extending downwardly from the overhead portion 30A is a longitudinal guide key 32 held there by bolts 33. The guide key 32 extends in a longitudinal direction relative to the press.

Carried by the ram 13 there is a bracket member 37 secured thereto by means of bolts 38. At the free end of the bracket 37, a bolt 39 secures the rearward end 35A of an arm member 35 in such manner that the arm memher 35 reciprocates forwardly and rearwardly in correspondence with the movement of the ram 13. Secured to the arm 35 is another arm 34 so that the two

arms

34 and 35 in effect provide one longitudinal arm member extending generally longitudinally of the press. The arm member 35 has a slot 35B through which extend adjusting bolts 36 which upon being tightened firmly secure the

arms

34 and 35 together so as to move as an integral arm member. By loosening the adjusting bolts 36, the relative extension of the arm member may be adjusted by changing the position of the

arms

34 and 35 relative to each other and by again tightening the bolts 36. The rearward end 35A of arm 35 is firmly held to the bracket 37 by tightening the bolt 39.

The arm 34 has a longitudinally extending groove 34B extending along its upper surface, the arm 34 terminating in a forward end portion 34A which is ungrooved. The key or block 32 held by bolts 33 in the overhang portion 30A of bracket guide 30' slidably rides in the longitudinal groove 34B. By the arrangement shown, the arm member made up of

arms

34 and 35 may slide in a reciprocal movement longitudinally of the press and in a path generally parallel to the line of movement of the ram 13. The lower surface of the arm 34 rides in a sliding fit with the top surface of the supporting block 27. By this means, there is a free sliding movement of the arm in a longitudinal direction and slapping or striking of the arm against the supporting block 27 during movement of the arm 34 is minimized.

Secured to a side of the arm 34 by firmly threaded interengagement therewith is a pin 40. This pin 40 has an axis which is in a plane normal to the line of movement of the arm member made up of

arms

34 and 35 and hence also normal to the line of movement of the ram 13. Pivotally carried by means of a pivot pin 41 in the supporting block 27 is a bell crank 42 having one crank arm 42A and another crank arm 42B disposed substantially at right angles to each other. The crank arm 42B is directed generally rearwardly toward the location of the ram 13 and the arm 42A is directed generally upwardly therefrom. The pivot pin 41 extends through the fulcrum of the bell crank 42 whereby the

arms

42A and 42B pivotally swing in a plane disposed generally parallel to the line of movement of the ram 13. The bell crank 42 is swingable in an are between its position shown in FIGURE 2 and its position shown in FIGURE 3, these showing the two extreme locations of the bell crank 42 in its swinging movement.

Extending through the free end of the crank arm 42B is a pivot pin 43 whereby a link member 44 is pivotally connected by means of the pivot pin 43 to the free end of the arm 42B. The lower end of the link member 44 is pivotally connected by means of a pivot pin 45 to a clevis member 46, which in turn is firmly secured to the upper portion of the kicker-carrying slide member 19.

The pin 40 carried by the arm members made up of

arms

34 and 35 to reciprocate therewith in a longitudinal direction extends through a slot 47 which is provided in the crank arm 42A. The pin 40 extends through the slot 47 from the side of the arm 34 which carries the same. The slot 47 is of generally arcuate form and is elongated to provide opposite

arcuate edges

47A and 47B. The arcuate edge 47A is considerably longer than the edge 47B by reason of the arcuate form of slot 47. Also while the edge 47A is of one long curve, the edge 47B is composed of two curves blending or running into each other at a location intermediate the ends of the slots 47 The length of the elongated slot 47 is such that the pin 40 never reaches the extreme ends of the slot in the swinging movement of the bell crank 42, that is, the pin 40 does not strike or engage the terminal edge portions of the slot 47 and thus there is avoidance of a jarring or striking action. The shape and dimensions of slot 47 are such as to provide the required amount of lag or dwell time in the downward swinging of the crank arm 42 so as to permit the stampings to be ejected from the die 10 by an ejecting mechanism before being kicked by the kicker plate 17.

The

edge portions

47A and 47B defining the opposite sides of the slot 47 provide camming surfaces which are alternately engaged by the pin 40. Upon the pin 40 being moved toward the right in FIGURES 2 and 3, that is, on the withdrawing action of the ram 13, the pin 4%! cammingly engages the edge portion 47A and swings the bell crank 42 from the position shown in FIGURE 2 to the position shown in FIGURE 3. As the slot 47 has the generally arcuate shape shown, there is an avoidance of any upward and downward movement of the arm 34 and hence an avoidance of striking of the arm 34 against the supporting block 27. The contour of the slot edges is generated to provide the desired swinging action of the bell crank 42 by maintaining the longitudinal sliding action of the arm 34 along the supporting block 27.

Upon the ram 13 moving forwardly in a stamping operation and the arm 34 being moved therewith from its relative position shown in FIGURE 3 toward its position shown in FIGURE 2, the pin 46 cammingly engages the edge portion 47B of the slot 47 and thus swings the bell crank 42 from the position shown in FIGURE 3 toward the position shown in FIGURE 2. Thus, the pivotally swinging bell crank 42 with its slot 47 and pin 46 provides a motion-transmitting means which translates longitudinal movement of the arm member made up of

arms

34 and 35 to a pivotal swinging movement of the bell crank 42. The bell crank 42, in turn, being connected by link 44 to the kicker-carrying slide member 19 transmits this movement to a reciprocal movement of the member 19 in the plane generally normal to the line of movement of the ram 13. Thus, the combination of parts provides for a motion-translating means which is effective, which provides only the required degree of lag, and which also minimizes a jarring or striking action of the parts in the operation of said motion-translating means.

As will be readily appreciated, the arrangement provides marked improvements, benefits and advantages over the kicker devices heretofore known and in use.

The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description.

Although this invention has been described in its prefered form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A kicker mechanism for a stamping press to divert ejected stampings from the path of a punch carried by a ram of the press reciprocably movably toward and away from a die-supporting frame of the press, comprising in combination, a supporting member carried by said frame, a bell crank having its fulcrum pivotally carried by a fixed pivot on said supporting member to provide for pivotal swinging of the bell crank on said fixed pivot in a plane substantially parallel to the line of movement of said ram, a slide member adapted to carry a kicker plate, a guide member carried by said frame and guiding said slide member for reciprocal movement in a plane substantially normal to said line of movement of said ram to move a kicker plate recurrently athwart the path of said punch to divert stampings formed by said punch from said path upon withdrawal of the punch from said die, a link member pivotally connecting the free end of a first arm of said bell crank to said slide member to reciprocate the slide member upon pivotal swinging of said bell crank, a bracket member mounted to said ram to reciprocate therewith, an arm member having a first end portion operatively connected to said bracket memher to reciprocate therewith, said arm member having an opposite end portion reciprocally slidable along said supporting member upon said reciprocation of said arm member in a path generally parallel to said line of movement of said ram, and a pin carried by said opposite end portion to reciprocation therewith and disposed along an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of said arm member, said bell crank having an elongated slot extending through a second arm thereof adjacent the free end thereof and accommodating said pin therethrough, said elongated slot having oppositely disposed fixed edge portions substantially equally spaced along the lengths thereof and alternately engageable by said pin as said pin reciprocates with said arm member, said edge portions being arranged to accommodate for said reciprocal movement of said pin and said pivotal swinging of said bell crank arm, the said pin reciprocating with said arm member alternately hearing on said opposite edge portions and movable therealong to pivotally swing said bell crank and to thereby reciprocate said slide member and a kicker plate carried thereby, said bell crank, slot, and fixed pivot being arranged relative to the said opposite end portion and said slide member to move the slide member in a direction toward the path of said punch upon withdrawing movement of the punch in a direction away from the said die-supporting frame of the press to the fully withdrawn position of the punch.

2. A kicker mechanism as claimed in claim 1 and including roller bearing means interposed between said slide member and guide member for minimizing friction therebetween, and adjustable means associated with said arm member for adjusting the effective length of said arm member.

3. A kicker mechanism for a stamping press to divert ejected stampings from the path of a punch carried by a ram of the press reciprocably movable toward and away from a die-supporting bolster of the press frame, comprising in combination, a bell crank having its fulcrum pivotally carried by a fixed pivot on said bolster and disposed to pivotally swin on said fixed pivot in a plane parallel to the line of movement of said ram, said bell crank having a first arm and a second arm disposed at an angle to each other from said fulcrum, a slide member adapted to carry a kicker device therewith, a guide member having opposed bearing ways adapted to embrace and guide said slide plate in reciprocal movement in a plane substantially normal to said line of movement of the said ram to move the kicker device carried thereby alternately in a direction athwart the line of movement of said punch upon withdrawing movement of the punch to divert stampings ejected from the die and in a direction away from said line of movement upon punching movement of the punch to clear said punch, a link member connecting said first arm of the crank arm to said slide member to translate pivotal swinging movement of said crank arm in alternate opposite directions to reciprocal longitudinal movement of said slide member, an arm member extending longitudinally of said press and having a rearward end portion operatively connected to said ram to cause the arm member to be reciprocated longitudinally of the press in correspondence with the reciprocal movement of said ram, the said arm .member having a forward end portion movable relative to and along said bolster, and motion-transmitting means interconnecting said forward end portion of the arm member and said second arm of the bell crank to translate reciprocal longitudinal movement of the arm member to pivotal swinging of said crank arm in alternate opposite directions whereby reciprocation of the ram causes corresponding reciprocation of said slide member, said motion-translating means, arm member and bellcrank being arranged to cause the slide member to move in a direction away from said path of the punch as said ram moves in a punching direction toward said diesupporting bolster.

4. A kicker mechanism as claimed in claim 3 and in which said motion-translating means includes a pin and a slideway for said pin, the slideway having opposed bearing surfaces alternately engageable by said pin, said bearing surfaces being contoured in generally concentric urves to provide a component of force between the pin and opposed bearing surfaces engage-d thereby at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of said arm member, said curves being generated on centers disposed on the side of the slideway towards said fixed pivot, one of said pin and slideway being carried by the forward end portion of said arm member to longitudinally reciprocate therewith and the other of said pin and slideway being carried by the said second arm of the bell crank to pivotally swing therewith in opposite directions.

5. A kicker mechanism as claimed in claim 3 and in which the first arm of the bell crank is directed generally rearwardly of the press and the second arm is directed generally upwardly, and in which said forward end portion of the arm is slidably guided in its reciprocal movement relative to said bolster.

6. In a stamping press having a ram reciprocably movable along a line of movement relative to a die-supporting bolster of the press frame, an improved kicker mechanism for diverting from said line of movement stampings ejected from the die upon withdrawal therefrom of a punch carried by the ram comprising the combination of a supporting member carried by said bolster, a guide member carried by said supporting member, a carrying member adapted to carry a kicker device and guided by said guide member to reciprocally move in a plane substantially normal to said line of movement of said ram to move a kicker device carried thereby recurrently across said line of movement to divert said ejected stampings from said line of movement, an arm member operatively connected to said ram to reciprocably move therewith along a path longitudinally of the press generally parallel to said line of movement, said arm member being slidably supported by said support member in moving along said path, and motion-transmitting means operatively connecting by mechanical non-resilient means said arm member and said kicker-carrying member and translating reciprocal movement of said arm member along said path into direct positive reciprocal movement of the kicker-carrying memher in said plane to cause the kicker carried by said kickercarrying members to move positively athwart said line of movement for diverting stampings during rearward withdrawing movements of the ram and to withdraw positively from said line of movement for clearing said punch during forward stamping movement of the ram, said kickercarrying member being moved to its most extended diverting position toward said line of movement upon said arm member being moved to its most withdrawn position by the withdrawing movement of said ram.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 6 and in which said motion-transmitting means includes a bell crank pivotally mounted on a fixed pivot carried by said supporting member, a link member operatively connecting the bell crank to the kicker-carrying member to reciprocate the kicker-carrying member in said plane upon the pivotal swinging of said bell crank on said fixed pivot in opposite directions, and a pin-and-slot connection between the bell crank and arm member to cause the swinging of the bell crank in opposite directions by the reciprocal movement of the arm member in said path, the slot of said connection being disposed generally in an are generated on a center disposed on the same side of the slot as said fixed pivot.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 7 and in which said bell crank is mounted to pivotally swing in a plane parallel to said line of movement of the ram, and in which the pin of said pin-and-slot connection is carried by said arm member and the slot of said pin-and-slot connection is carried by said bell crank.

9. In a stamping press having a ram reciprocably movable along a line of movement relative to a die-supporting bolster of the press frame, an improved kicker mechanism comprising the combination of first means carried by the bolster reciprocably movable in a plane generally normal to said line of movement for recurrently moving a kicker device carried by the first means across said line of movement for diverting from said line of movement stampings ejected from the die carried by the bolster upon withdrawal from the die of a punch carried by the ram, second means carried by the ram and reciprocably movable therewith in a longitudinal path generally longitudinally of said press frame, third means carried by said bolster and operatively interconnecting by mechanical non-resilient means said first means and second means for translating reciprocal movement of said second means along said longitudinal path to direct positive reciprocal movement of the first means in said plane, said third means including a fixed pivot carried by said bolster and about which said third means moves, said third means being arranged to move positively the first means in a diverting direction across said line of movement upon movement of the second means in a withdrawing direction with said ram and to move positively the first means in a direction away from said line of movement upon the movement of second means in a forward direction with said ram, said movement of the first means in said diverting direction continuing through the movement of the second means in a Withdrawing direction as the ram moves away from the diesupporting bolster.

10. The combination as claimed in claim 9 and including fourth means associated with said third means for maintaining movement of the second means in said longi- 8 tudinal path substantially parallel to said line of movement.

11. The combination as claimed in claim 9 and in which said third means includes a first member carried by one of said first and second means and a second member carried by the other one of said first and second means, said first member having opposed camming surfaces substantially equally spaced apart and alternately cammingly engageable by said second member to cause movement of the first member in alternate opposite directions upon movement thereagainst in corresponding opposite directions of the second member, said movements of the first and second members being in planes at an angle to each other.

12. The combination as claimed in claim 11 and in which said first member is pivotally carried by said bolster to pivotally swing in a plane parallel to said line of movement and said second member is carried by said second means and movable therewith parallel with said longitudinal path.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 947,3 1/1910 Wallenthin 83-160 X 1,677,151 7/1928 Simkins et a1. 83160 X 1,799,229 4/ 1931 Hanna 74-110 2,521,461 9/1950 Jordan 83160 ANDREW R. IUHASZ, Primary Examiner.

Claims

6. IN A STAMPING PRESS HAVING A RAM RECIPROCABLY MOVABLE ALONG A LINE OF MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO A DIE-SUPPORTING BOLSTER OF THE PRESS FRAME, AN IMPROVED KICKER MECHANISM FOR DIVERTING FROM SAID LINE OF MOVEMENT STAMPINGS EJECTED FROM THE DIE UPON WITHDRAWAL THEREFROM OF A PUNCH CARRIED BY THE RAM COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A SUPPORTING MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID BOLSTER, A GUIDE MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, A CARRYING MEMBER ADAPTED TO CARRY A KICKER DEVICE AND GUIDED BY SAID GUIDE MEMBER TO RECIPROCALLY MOVE IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SAID LINE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID RAM TO MOVE A KICKER DEVICE CARRIED THEREBY RECURRENTLY ACROSS SAID LINE OF MOVEMENT TO DIVERT SAID EJECTED STAMPINGS FROM SAID LINE OF MOVEMENT, AN ARM MEMBER OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID RAM TO RECIPROCABLY MOVE THEREWITH ALONG A PATH LONGITUDINALLY OF THE PRESS GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID LINE OF MOVEMENT, SAID ARM MEMBER BEING SLIDABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID SUPPORT MEMBER IN MOVING ALONG SAID PATH, AND MOTION-TRANSMITTING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING BY MECHANICAL NON-RESILIENT MEANS SAID ARM MEMBER AND SAID KICKER-CARRYING MEMBER AND TRANSLATING RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ARM MEMBER ALONG SAID PATH INTO DIRECT POSITIVE RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT OF THE KICKER-CARRYING MEMBER IN SAID PLANE TO CAUSE THE KICKER CARRIED BY SAID KICKERCARRYING MEMBERS TO MOVE POSITIVELY ATHWART SAID LINE OF MOVEMENT FOR DIVERTING STAMPINGS DURING REARWARD WITHDRAWING MOVEMENTS OF THE RAM AND TO WITHDRAW POSITIVELY FROM SAID LINE OF MOVEMENT FOR CLEARING SAID PUNCH DURING FORWARD STAMPING MOVEMENT OF THE RAM, SAID KICKERCARRYING MEMBER BEING MOVED TO ITS MOST EXTENDED DIVERTING POSITION TOWARD SAID LINE OF MOVEMENT UPON SAID ARM MEMBER BEING MOVED TO ITS MOST WITHDRAWN POSITION BY THE WITHDRAWING MOVEMENT OF SAID RAM.