US3324703A

US3324703A - Forging press

Info

Publication number: US3324703A
Application number: US237685A
Authority: US
Inventors: Foster John; Ball Peter
Original assignee: B&S Massey and Sons Ltd
Current assignee: B & S MASSEY Ltd OPENSHAW MANCHESTER ENGLAND A BRITISH Co
Priority date: 1962-11-14
Filing date: 1962-11-14
Publication date: 1967-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1984-06-13

Description

June 13, 1967 J. FOSTER ETAL.

FORGING PRESS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 14. 1962 FIG.

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FORGING PRESS Filed Nov. 14. 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

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FORGING PRESS Filed Nov. 14, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 7

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I IN VEN TORS' Em/um United States Patent 3,324,703 FORGING PRESS John Foster, Manchester, and Peter Ball, tocirport,

Cheshire, Engiand, assignors to B. & S. Massey 8: Sons Limited, a corporation of Great Britain, Northern Ireiand and Isle of Man Filed Nov. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 237,685 19 Claims. (Ci. 72-421) This invention concerns forging presses.

Forging presses are Well known and are used to produce a large variety of forgings. Basically the press consists of a fixed bottom member or bolster and a movable tup. Die parts are removably secured to the bolster and to the tup.

To produce a forging it is in many cases necessary to use a multi-stage die set-up in which a blank is for example, initially pressed to concentrate metal into the required positions, is rough forged and finally forged and then trimmed.

Such a sequence of operations is carried out by hand, the press operator moving the forging during production from die to die as requested. As Will be appreciated it is essential that the forging during production is accurately located in the various dies so that the end product is accurately formed. As a result of this requirement, and the fact that the forging is moved by hand during production the output of forgings is relatively low.

Automatic transfer mechanisms have in the past been used in sheet metal working but when applied to hot forging it is inevitable that the operating mechanism will become fouled with scale. In some automatic transfer mechanisms the transfer is controlled by pneumatic or electro-pneumatic means and in such arrangement difficulties arise due to varying time constants in the pneumatic valves and cylinders and also in their operating solenoids. In consequence of variations in time constants it is extremely difficult to achieve and maintain exact synchronism of movement with the rotation of the eccentric shaft of the tup, particularly at the high operating speeds which are desirable in hot forging operations.

It is therefore a further object of the present invention to overcome the above difiiculties.

According to the present invention there is provided an automatic transfer mechanism arranged to transfer a blank during forging from one die of a multistage die set to the next, said transfer mechanism including a series of pairs of gripping fingers each pair being arranged for movement into a gripping position and subsequent movement from one stage to the next whilst carrying the metal to be forged, and return movement of its initial position whilst forging is proceeding.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a part sectional elevation of a forging press;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the press of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view of the press;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged part sectional detail view of part of the press, and

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are enlarged part sectional detail views of another part of the press;

FIG. 7 is a diagramatic end view on FIG. 3 with parts omitted, and

FIG. 8 shows a section view of the pump unit.

In the following description, reference will be made to the production of a forging that can be produced in four stages but of course this does not restrict the invention to the production of such a forging.

Basically the forging, given the blank piece, can be produced by carrying out the following steps;

(1) Forming a basic shape to concentrate metal in the Patented June 13, 1967 required parts thereof and to de-scale the metal (herein referred to as pre-forming) (2) Rough forging from the pre-formed piece.

(3) Final forging of the rough forging, and

(4) Trimming of the final forging.

Prior to pre-forming and de-scaling, a basic shape is sheared from fiat bar.

The basic shapes are cut out to the required size in an operation which produces the minimum of waste. To achieve this the shapes may be cut diagonally from a long flat metal bar.

In addition to the four forging stages above referred to it is necessary correctly to locate the basic shape for transfer to the pre-forming die of the forging press. Preforming in the instance being described is carried out with the shape initially located on edge, the remaining stages are carried out after the pre-formed piece has been turned through so that the forging press transfer mechanism to be described must be arranged not only to transfer the piece from one stage to the next but also to turn it between the pre-forrning and the rough forging stages through the said 90.

The steps above referred to have in the past been carried out manually.

The general lay-out of one form of forging press and transfer mechanism will be described.

The press is provided, between the frame members 10, with a bolster 11 upon which can be mounted a multistage die set 12. The die set is adjustable for height and between it and the bolster 11 and the base of the press are located wedges 13. The dies 14 lie in line one behind the other from front to rear of the bolster 11. There is also provided a receiving station 15 (FIG. 3) for the basic shapes.

The receiving station 15 is in effect formed by the end of a belt or chain conveyor (not shown). The conveyor is driven in synchronism with transfer mechanism yet to be described. Shapes are fed to the conveyor from a furnace or furnaces (not shown) and in the latter case there would be provided a means for depositing the heated shape on the conveyor from each furnace, for example, a chute or pivoted arm could be provided to transfer the shapes from the furnace to the conveyor.

The conveyor is arranged to receive shapes edgeon in spaced relationship, the spacing being determined by the speed of operation of the transfer mechanism. Preferably the conveyor is driven from the eccentric drive of the press.

Extending along the sides of the press from front to rear and on a level corresponding to the level of the die set 12 are two box section frames 16 within each of which is located mechanism for operating gripping fingers. In the arrangement being described there are five transfer operations to be carried out in succession and therefore there are four sets of fingers in each box frame 16. The fingers of the box frames 16 are aligned across the width of the press so that a basic shape, rough blank, rough forging or finished forging can be gripped at each end during a transfer operation. The ends of each box frame 16 are slidably carried on cross bars 17 located respectively at the front and the of the die set 12. Each cross bar 17 is provided with notches 18 which are spaced on either side of the centre of cross bars. The ends of the box frames 16 are provided with locking bolts not shown, which can be seated in the notches 18 to lock each of the box frames 16 in any one of a number of positions depending upon the width of die set being used.

Alongside the outer face of each of the box frames 16 is located a cam shaft 20 (FIG. 3). At thefront of the press each of the cam shafts 20 is secured, by means of a universal coupling 21, to a splined rod 22 the splines of which enter a corresponding internally splined tube 23 to which is attached, by means of a further universal coupling 24, the output shaft of a mitre gear unit 26. The input shaft 27 of the gear unit 26 extends towards the centre line of the press and there carries a chain sprocket 28 which is driven via a chain 29 directly in synchronism with the eccentric shaft 30 of the press.

The notched cross bars 17 are pivotally attached to the upper ends of cranked support (or side) arms 31, there being one side arm 31 located adjacent each end of the box frame 16. The side arms 31 each have, at their lower ends, pivotal connection with a bell crank lever system. The bell crank lever system comprises at the front and the rear of the press, a cross shaft 32 journalled in the frame 10. The cross shaft 32 carries at its centre a single centre arm 33 which extends substantially vertically upwardly. Aligned with each side arm 31 and mounted on the shafts 32 is a substantially horizontally disposed lever arm 34.

Mounted on a bracket 35a in the base of the press is pivoted lever 35 which extends upwardly below the centre of the bolster 11. The upper end of the lever 35 has pivotally attached thereto an articulated connecting rod 36 one end of which is attached to the rear centre arm 33 and the other is attached to the front centre arm 33. Below the pivot point of the articulated rod 36 is a pivoted link 37 one end of which is connected to the lever 35 and the other end of which is connected to an eccentric shaft 38. Each side arm 31 is connected to its associated lever arm 34 by a shaft 101, see FIG. 7.

The above described arrangement serves to cause upward and downward movement of the side arms and thus the box frames 16. This movement is caused as the eccentric shaft 38 rotates and therefore pivots the lever 35 about its pivot on the bracket 35a. The articulated rod 36 is thus moved forwardly and rearwardly by the lever to cause reciprocation of the cross shafts 32 and thus movement in a vertical arc of the lever arms 34 to vertically move the shaft 101, and the cross braced frame 102 and side arms 31 connected thereto.

Combined with this movement is forward and rearward movement of the box frames 16 and this is caused by cams 39 mounted upon a camshaft 40 carried by a bracket 41 on the press frame 10. The cam shaft 40 is located at the front of the press frame 10 and transversely of the latter. Auxiliary arms 42 carry at their upper ends cam followers 43 which bear on the cams 39 on the cam shaft 40. The auxiliary arms 42 are connected to the side arms 31 by means of resiliently mounted drag links 44 shown in chain lines on the drawings, and thus rotation of the camshaft 40 causes the auxiliary arm to move in a horizontal arc thereby moving the side arms 31 forwardly and rearwardly. The cam followers 43 are maintained in contact with the cams 39 by the action of a pneumatic piston 92 during rearward movement of the auxiliary arms 42.

The cross braced frames 102 are also provided at each side with a hydraulic slave cylinder the ram of which is attached to the adjacent side arm 31. Side arms 31 have resilient mountings (rubber bush) slidably connecting the arms on shaft 101. Since the arms 31 are rubber mounted they can be pushed outwardly when the rams of slave cylinders 45 extend. This arrangement serves to allow the side arms 31 to be moved away from each other and thus to move the box frames 16 and away from the die set during forward movement. A return spring 45a shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3 is provided to cause the inward movement of the side arms 31 and box frames 16 prior to rearward movement.

A pump unit 46 for actuating the slave cylinders 45 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 8. The pump unit contains a pumpshaft 103 rotatably driven by a chain wheel 104 in contact with chain 85a. The pumpshaft has a cam face 105 which engages a cam follower 106 on a rocker arm 107 pivotally mounted on a shaft 108. The upward and downward motion of the rocker arm actuates the plunger 109 of the master clylinder 110 to provide fluid to one of the slave cylinders 45. It is to be understood that there will be a total of four such master cylinders within the pump unit 46, one for each slave cylinder 45. Each master cylinder is actuated by a separate rocker arm and by a separate cam face on pumpshaft 103, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

Movement of the box frames 16 and thus their associated cam shafts 20 towards and away from the die set does not affect drive to the cam shafts, again due to the provision of the universal couplings 21 and 24 above referred to.

Movement of the box frames 16 forwardly and rearwardly is also ineffective insofar as drive to the cam shafts 20 is concerned, because of the provision of the splined rod 22 and splined tube 23 in the drive to the cam shafts 20.

The complete cycle of movement of the box frames 16 is as follows:

Inward movement combined with upward movement to bring the fingers (yet to be described) into a gripping position, continued upward movement to lift the gripped workpiece out of the lower die 12, rearward movement to transfer the workpiece from one stage to the next, downward movement to deposit the workpiece in the next successive die 14, outward and downward movement, after release of the workpiece by the fingers, and forward movement to the initial starting position of the box frame 16. The above described cycle is accomplished as a smooth flowing movement of the box frame 16 and thus the movements set out overlap to give the smooth resultant movement.

As referred to above both of the box frames 16 are mounted for adjustment toward or away from each other to cater for the use of various sizes of die set 12. Although the provision of universal couplings 21 and 24 in the camshaft drives is flexible enough to allow for the normal operating cycle of the box frames 16 to be carried out it is undesirable to except the universal couplings and splines 22 to cope with the relatively large differences in operating position of the box frames 16 and the camshafts 20 dependent upon the sizes of die set 12 that can be used (this difference in position for each box frame may be up to four inches) and therefore provision is made to move the gear boxes 26 in unison wtih the side arms 31 and their associated box frames 16 and the cam shafts 20.

The arrangement consists of mounting the gear boxes 26 on dovetail slides 47 and providing in a channel in the base of the slides a left and right hand threaded screw 48. That is to say, the end portion of the screw which threadably engages one of the gear boxes 26 is the righthand threaded portion, and that part which engages the second gear box 26 is left-hand threaded. One end of the screw 48 is provided with a hand wheel 49 so that upon rotation of the hand wheel 49 the gear boxes 26 will be moved as a result of their engagement with the right and left hand threads of the screw 48 towards or away from each other to positions which will allow drive to the cam shaft 20 regardless of the size of die set 12 being used. The small scale in which the screw 48 is drawn does not permit of the showing of the right and left threads on it, but feed screws of this nature are known per se.

Referring now to the fingers used to grip a workpiece and transfer it from one die to the next it has already been stated that in one transfer (namely from the preforming to the rough forging) the workpiece is turned through This trans-fer calls for a special finger arrangement which will be described after reference has been made to the normal finger arrangement which serves to grip and transfer a workpiece without turning it.

The normal gripping finger arrangement consists of a bracket 50 supported on the box frame 16 below an aperture 51 in the innermost wall thereof. The bracket 50 carries a circular spigot 52 onto which can be removably located a lower gripping finger 53 which has in its end a socket 54 into which the spigot 52 can be located and held by a removable pin 55. The face of the finger 53 is provided with a V groove 56 hereinafter referred to, extending along its longitudinal axis.

Aligned with the aperture 51 in the inner most face of the box frame is an aperture 57 in the outermost face. The apertures 51 and 57 are themselves aligned with a cam 58 on the cam shaft 20. Pivotally mounted on a bracket 59 on the outermost face on the box frame 16 is a moving finger support. This support comprises an arm 60 extending through the box frame 16 and terminating at one end in a spigot 61 which is similar to the spigot 52 of the lower gripping finger. The other end of the arm 60 is bifurcated and carries a cam follower 62 mounted for rotation on a cam follower pin 63 which is retained in rubber bushes in the bifurcations of the arm 60. The arm 60 is pivoted adjacent the cam follower 63.

Below the cam follower is located a coil spring 64 which seats on a further bracket 65 attached to the outermost wall of the box frame 16. The spring 64 serves to normally urge the fingers 53 into a gripping position and, whilst the fingers 53 are being opened by the cam 58 to retain the cam follower 62 in contact with the cam 58.

Since the fingers 53 are mounted on the box frame 16 they will describe the cycle of movements of the box frame 16.

In addition, they will be opened and closed by combined action of the spring 64 and rotation of the cam shaft 20. The opening and closing of the fingers 53 is synchronised so that as the box frame 16 is travelling towards the die set 12 the fingers 53 are commencing their closing movement to grip the workpiece when this movement is completed.

The dwell of the cam 58 causes the gripping to be maintained until the box frame 16 has almost completed its downward movement. Release of the grip is completed before the fingers 53 are fully opened and at that time the downward movement of the box frame 16 is completed. Complete opening of the fingers 53 is reached when the outward movement of the box frame 16 is completed.

To enable the gripping action to be achieved, the dies 14 are so formed as to cause, at each stage of the forging a predetermined shape of tongue to be formed at the ends of the workpiece and therefore the shape of the groove in the fingers 53 can be made accurately to conform to this shape.

The gripping is achieved by pairs of fingers 53 disposed one at each end of the die set 12.

In the case of the gripping arrangement which also serves to transfer a workpiece and also to rotate the workpiece through 90 the fingers 53 are similar to those above described and are removably mounted on spigots 52 and 61 in the same manner.

One finger 53 is mounted upon a spigot 52 which is carried in a blind bore 66 in a rotatable outer sleeve 67 which passes through the box frame 16. The outer sleeve 67 itself is mounted on ball races 68 which are sealed by oil seals. The outer sleeve 67 is provided between its ends with a partition 69 through which passes a push rod 70 pivotally connected to the upper finger spigot 61. The spigot 61 itself is provided with a lug 71 through which passes a pivot pin 72 which the spigot 61 is pivotally connected to the outer sleeve 67.

The partition 69 serves as an abutment for one end of a coil spring 73 which encircles the push rods 70, the other end of the spring 73 abuts a stop 74 on a spring locating sleeve 73a which lies between the spring 73 and the push rod 70. Encircling the outer sleeve 67 is a locking ring 75. A housing 76 contains a centre plug 77 having a seating for the end of the push rod 70. The plug 77 is carried by a thrust bearing 78 mounted in trunnion carrier 79. The housing 76 and centre plug 77 are slidable on the outer sleeve 67 under the influence of a cam follower 80 which is carried between a pair of arms 81 which encircle and grip the trunnion carrier 79. The arms 81 are themselves pivoted below the carrier on a bracket 83 depending from the box frame 16. The spring 73 within the outer sleeve 67 serves normally to urge the fingers 53 into a gripping position and, whilst the fingers 53 are being opened to hold the cam follower 80 against a cam 84 on the cam shaft 20.

The opening and closing of the fingers 53 is controlled by rotation of the cam shaft 20 and the spring 73 which in turn causes the arms 81 and thus the carrier 79 to move towards the box frame 16. Movement of the carrier 79 towards the frame 16 causes the push rod 70 to move and pivot its spigot 61 away from the fixed spigot 52. Movement in the opposite direction causes the spigot 61 attached to the push rod 76 to move towards the fixed spigot 52 to cause gripping of the workpiece. As above described the opening and closing of the fingers 53 is synchronised with the movement of the box frame 16.

Rotary motion of the outer sleeve 67 and thus the fingers 53 is caused by pivotally attaching a connecting rod 85 to a bracket 86 clamped onto the sleeve 67. The connecting rod 85 is pivotally attached to the bolster 11 so that as the box frame 16 moves the connecting rod 85 pivots about a centre on the bolster 11 thereby to cause rotation of the outer sleeve 67 and its associated fingers 53 about the axis of the sleeve 67.

In order to prevent scale from entering the box frame 16 at the sides of the die set 12 low pressure air is supplied to the interior of the box frames 16. The air is at sufficient pressure to blow through the apertures in the box frames 16 through which the gripping fingers spigots 52 and 61 pass and thus scale which flies from the workpiece is deflected from the apertures and does not enter the box frames 16.

The air supplied from piper (not shown) which are connected to the lower ends of the side arms 31. The latter are hollow and therefore form a conduit along which the air passes. Flexible connecting pipes (not shown) are provided at the upper ends of the side arms 31 and these are attached to union on the box frames 16. The air also serves to cool the mechanism within the box frames 16 and prevent distortion of the frames. Additional cooling is achieved by securing polished heat deflector plates (not shown) on the inner faces of the box frames 16. These plates are spaced from the box frames 16 and air is supplied along the channels thereby formed.

The drive for the various motions above referred to is from the eccentric shaft 30 of the press. On this shaft are located two chain sprockets one of which is wrapped by a chain 85a which drives a pump unit 46 serving to control inward and outward movement of the box frames 16.

A chain 86 wraps the second sprocket and this serves to drive the cam shaft 40 for the transverse mechanism and, via a further chain drive 29 and mitre gear boxes 26, the finger operating camshafts 20. The chain 86 wrapping the second sprocket is tensioned by means of a pair of idler sprockets, 88, one located in each run of the chain 86. The idler sprockets 88 are adjustable towards and away from each other.

Drive for the eccentric shaft 38 which serves to lift box frames 16 is by means of a chain 89 which wraps a second chain sprocket on the cam shaft 40. This latter chain 89 is tensioned in the manner above referred to by two further idler sprockets 90.

The pump unit 46 with its hydraulic fluid tank, is located at position near .to the top of the press frame 10 and is provided with four master cylinder pump units. The plungers of the four master cylinders are reciprocated under spring influence by means of a single cam which bears against four cam followers. Four pipes are attached, one to each outlet, and these pipes lead to .the slave cylinders 45 which control the outward movement of the box frames 16. Since the drive for '7 the pump units 46 is derived directly from the eccentric shaft 30 the movements of the box frames 16 can be accurately synchronised with the rise and fall of the .tup. The pump unit 46 is eccentrically mounted and therefore the chain 85a can be synmmetrically tensioned,

Similar exact synchronism can be achieved for all of the other mechanical operations of the press.

At the trimming station 14 the forging is located over an open central die which allows the forging to fall through onto a-chute which lies directly below chute 92 after the flash has been trimmed off. The flash itself is carried away by further fingers (not shown) on the box frames to be deposited on a further chute 92. These fingers operate in the manner above described in relation to the non-rotatable transfer fingers.

The above description is intended to set out only by way of example, one form of mechanism which will operate and changes in the layout described may be made without departing from the basic invention which lies in the provision of an automated forging press which is capable of high speed continuous operation whilst maintaining a high degree of accuracy. One of the principal reasons for desiring high speed operation is to reduce wear in the dies 14 which occurs when the temperature of the metal, and thus its ability to flow, is allowed to fall. If the forging takes place without considerable heat loss the die life is increased and press loading is kept down.

Although an arrangement has been described in which the dies are arranged front to rear of the press it is possible to use .the same arrangement in a press in which the dies are arranged side by side. In this case however, it may be necessary to provide additional side frames in the press for carrying the various mechanisms above referred to.

As an alternative to the conveyor system for bringing the shapes to the receiving station there may be provided a chute along which the pieces travel after they have been heated in a furnace. The chute is provided with an escapement which serves to ensure that one shape only is fed to the receiving station at any one time. The chute divides a part way along its length so that heated pieces from several furnaces (for example) three, can be fed to the press. The pieces are fed to the branches of the chute on their sides and are turned edge on, due .to the shaping of the chute adjacent its junction with the branches, prior to being fed to the receiving station.

We claim:

1. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a tup and a multi-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of opposite sides of said die set, means for rotating said camshafts in unison, a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers at least one of which is operable by said camshafts .to move into and out of a gripping position, means for moving said camshafts and said pairs of gripping fingers towards and away from said die set and means to synchronise said movement with rise and fall of the tup of said forging press.

2. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a tup and a multi-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of opposite sides of said die set, a box section frame between each camshaft and said adjacent side of said die set, means for rotating said camshafts in unison, a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers at least one of which is operable by said camshafts to move into and out of a gripping position, means for moving said camshafts and said pairs of gripping fingers towards and away from said die set and means to synchronise said movement with rise and fall of the tup of said forging press.

3. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a tup and a multi-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of opposite sides of said die set, a box section frame between each camshaft and said ad- 0 jacent side of said die set, drive mechanism for said camshafts including universal couplings on each of said camshafts, splined couplings attached to each of said universal couplings, and means for rotating said couplings and .thus said camshaft is unison, a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers at least one of which is operable by said camshafts to move into and out of a gripping position, means for moving said camshafts and said pairs of gripping fingers towards and away from said die set and means to synchronise said movement with rise and fall of the tup of said forging press.

4. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a reciprocating tup and a multi-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of opposite sides of said die set, a box section frame between each camshaft and said adjacent side of said die set, drive mechanism for said camshafts including universal couplings on each of said camshafts, splined couplings attached to each of said universal couplings, an eccentric shaft on said press, chain and pulley drive from said eccentric shaft, a pair of mitre gear boxes to receive said drive from said eccentric shaft, an output shaft on each of said mitre gear boxes attached to one of said splined couplings whereby said couplings and thus said camshafts are rotatable in unison, a series of gripping fingers each having two fingers at least one of which is operable by said camshafts to move into and out of a gripping position, means for moving said camshafts and said pairs of gripping fingers towards and away from said die set and means to synchronise said movement with rise and fall of the tup of said forging press.

5. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a tup and a multi-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of opposite sides of said die set, a box section frame between each camshaft and said adjacent side of said die set, drive mechanism for said camshafts including a universal coupling on each of said camshafts, splined couplings attached to each of said universal couplings, an eccentric shaft on said press, chain and pulley drive from said eccentric shaft, adjusting means for said mitre gear boxes for alterating the distance therebetween, an output shaft on each of said mitre gear boxes, attached to one of said splined couplings whereby said couplings and thus said camshafts are rotatable in unison, a series of gripping fingers each having two fingers at least one of Which is operable by said camshafts to move into and out of a gripping position, means for moving said camshafts and said pairs of gripping fingers towards and away from said die set and means to synchronise said movement with rise and fall of the tup of said forging press.

6. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a tup and a multi-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of opposite sides of said die set, a box section frame between each camshaft and said adjacent side of said die set, drive mechanism for said camshafts including a universal coupling on each of said camshafts, splined couplings attached to each of said universal couplings, an eccentric shaft on said press, chain and pulley drive from said eccentric shaft, a slide upon which said mitre gear boxes are mounted, a traverse screw associated with said mitre gear boxes and having left and right hand screw threads and a handwheel on said traverse screw for altering the distance between said mitre gear boxes, an output shaft on each of said mitre gear boxes, attached to one of said splined couplings whereby said couplings and thus said camshafts are rotatable in unison, a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers at least one of which is operable by said camshafts to move into and out of a gripping position, means for moving said camshafts and said pairs of gripping fingers towards and away from said die set and means to synchronise said movement with rise and fall of the tup of said forging press.

7. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a rising and falling tup and a multi-stage die set,

a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of opposite sides of said die set, a box section frame between said camshafts and said adjacent side of said die set, a mounting bracket on each of said box section frames to carry one end of each of said cam shafts, drive mechanism for said camshafts including universal couplings on each of said camshafts, splined couplings attached to each of said universal couplings, an eccentric shaft on said press chain and pulley drives from said eccentric shaft, a pair of mitre gear boxes to receive said drive from said eccentric shaft, a slide upon which said mitre gear boxes are mounted, a traverse screw associated with said mitre gear boxes, left and right hand screw threads on said traverse screw and a handwheel on said traverse screw for altering the distance between said mitre gear boxes, an output shaft on each of said mitre gear boxes, and attached to one of said splined couplings whereby said couplings and thus said camshafts are rotatable in unison, a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers at least one of which is operable by said camshaft to move into and out of a gripping position, means for moving said camshafts and said pairs of gripping fingers towards and away from said die set and means to synchronise said movement with rise and fall of the tup of the said forging press.

8. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a tup and a multi-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of opposite sides of said die set, a box section frame between each adjacent side of a pair of opposite sides of said die set, a box section frame between each said camshaft and said adjacent side of said die set pivotal side arms carrying said box section frames, a lever system for moving said side arms including a cross shaft at each end of said press, a bell crank lever arrangement on each of said cross shafts having one arm extending upwardly from said cross shaft and connected to a common articulated rod movable by an eccentric shaft and a pair of second arms extending substantially parallel to the plane of said die set, the latter arms being connected to said side arms, means for oscillating said cross shafts thereby to move said side arms, said camshaft and said adjacent side of said die set pivotal side arms carrying said box section frames, means for moving said side arms in a vertical arc to raise and lower said box section frames and said camshafts, and means for moving said side arms, towards and away from each other during operation of said forging press, a mounting bracket on each of said box section frames to carry one end of each of said camshafts, drive mechanism for said camshafts including universal couplings on each of said camshafts, splined couplings attached to each of said universal couplings, an eccentric shaft on said press chain and pulley drives from said eccentric shaft, a pair of mitre gear boxes to receive said drive from said eccentric shaft, a slide upon which said mitre gear boxes are mounted, a traverse screw associated with said mitre gear boxes, left and right hand screw threads on said traverse screw and a handwheel on said traverse screw for altering the distance between said mitre gear boxes, an output shaft on each of said mitre gear boxes, attached to one of said splined couplings whereby said couplings and thus said camshafts are rotatable in unison, a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers at least one of which is operated by said camshaft to move into and out of a gripping position, means for moving said camshafts and said pairs of gripping fingers towards and away from said die set and means to synchronize said movement with rise and fall of the tup of the said forging hammer.

9. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a multi-stage die set, a camshaft in a vertical arc, and means for moving said side arms towards and away from each other during operation of the said forging press, a mounting bracket on each of said box section frames to carry one end of each of said camshafts, drive mechanism for said camshafts, including universal couplings on each of said camshafts, splined couplings attached to each of said universal couplings, an eccentric shaft on said press chain and pulley drives from said eccentric shaft, a pair of mitre gear boxes to receive said drive from said eccentric shaft, a pair of mitre gear boxes to receive said drive from said eccentric shaft, a slide upon which said mitre gear boxes are mounted, a traverse screw associated with said mitre gear boxes, a left and right hand screw threads on said traverse screw and a handwheel on said traverse screw for altering the distance between said mitre gears boxes, an output shaft on each of mitre gear boxes, attached to one of said splined couplings whereby said couplings and thus said camshafts are rotatable in unison, a series of pair of gripping fingers each having two fingers at least one of which is operable by said camshaft to move into and out of a gripping position, means for moving said camshafts and said pairs of gripping fingers towards and away from said die set and means to synchronise said movement with rise and fall of the tup of said forging hammer.

10. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a multi-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of opposite sides of said die set, a box section frame between each said camshaft and said adjacent side of said die set pivotal side arms carrying said box section frames, a lever system for moving said side arms including a cross shaft at each end of said press, a bell crank lever arrangement on each of said cross shafts having one arm extending upwardly from said cross shaft and connected to a common articulated rod movable by an eccentric shaft and a pair of second arms extending substantially parallel to the plane of said die set, the latter arms being connected to said side arms, means for oscillating said cross shafts thereby to move said side arms in a vertical are, an auxiliary frame located between said side arms at each end of said press, a pair of hydraulic slave cylinders at each end of said press and attached to said side arms and said auxiliary frames, return springs adjacent each slave cylinder adapted to return said side arms to their initial positions after being moved apart by hydraulic pressure in said slave cylinders and after said pressure is relieved, a master cylinder and pump connected to said slave cylinders to operate same and means for operating said master cylinder in synchronism with movements of the tup of said press, a mounting bracket on each of said box section frames, to carry one end of each of said camshafts, drive mechanism for said camshafts including universal couplings on each of said camshafts, splined couplings attached to each of said universal couplings, an eccentric shaft on said press, chain and pulley drives from said eccentric shaft, a pair of mitre gear boxes to receive said drive from said eccentric shaft, a slide upon which said mitre gear boxes are mounted, a traverse screw associated with said mitre gear boxes, left and right hand screw threads on said traverse screw and a handwheel on said traverse screw for altering the distance between said mitre gear boxes, an output shaft on each of said mitre gear boxes, attached to one of said splined couplings whereby said couplings and thus said camshafts are rotatable in unison, a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers at least one of which is operable by said camshaft to move into and out of a gripping position, means for moving said camshafts and said pairs of gripping fingers towards and away from said die set and means to synchronize said movement with rise and fall of the tup of the said forging press.

11. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a multi-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of opposite sides of said die box set, a box section frame between each said camshaft and said adjacent side of sa d die set pivotal side arms carrying said box section frames, a lever system for moving said side arms including a cross shaft at each end of said press, a bell crank lever arrangement on each of said cross shafts having one arm extending upwardly from said cross shaft and connected to a common articulated rod movable by an eccentric shaft and a pair of second arms extending substantially parallel to the plane of said die set, the latter being connected to said side arms, means for oscillating said cross shaft thereby to move said side arms in a vertical are, an auxiliary frame located between said side arms at each end of said press, a pair of hydraulic slave cylinders at each end of said press and attached to said side arms and said auxiliary frames, return springs adjacent each slave cylinder adapted to return said side arms to their initial positions after being moved apart by hydraulic pressure in said slave cylinders and after said pressure is relieved, a master cylnder and pump connected to said slave cylinders to operate same and means for operating said master cylinder in synchronism with movements of the tup of said press, means for moving said side arms and said box section frames alongside said die set when said side arms are being moved in said vertical are, said means including a camshaft mounted on said press, cam followers on said auxiliary frame cooperating with said camshaft and drag links between said side arms and said auxiliary frame, a mounting bracket on each of said box section frames to carry one end of each of said camshafts, drive mechanism for said camshafts including universal couplings on each of said camshafts, splined couplings attached to each of said universal couplings, an eccentric shaft on said press chain and pulley drives from said eccentric shaft, a pair of mitre gear boxes to receive said drive from said eccentric shaft, a slide upon which said mitre gear boxes are mounted, left and right hand screw threads on said traverse screw and a handwheel on said traverse screw for altering the distance between said mitre gear boxes, an output shaft on each of said mitre gear boxes, attached to one of said splined couplings whereby said couplings and thus said camshafts are rotatable in unison, a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers at least one of which is operable by said camshaft to move into and out of a gripping position, means for moving said camshafts and said pairs of gripping fingers towards and away from said die set and means to synchronise said'movement with rise and fall of the tup of the said forging press.

12. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a multi-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of opposite sides of said die set, means for rotating said camshafts in unison, a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers, said gripping fingers of a first type being arranged to move a workpiece from one die to the next and said gripping fingers of a second type being arranged to rotate said workpiece in addition to moving it from one die to the next, said gripping fingers of both types being operable by said camshafts to move into and out of a gripping position whilst said camshafts and said gripping fingers are moving towards and away from said die set in synchronism with the rise and fall of the tup of the forging press.

13. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a tup and a multi-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of opposite sides of said die set, a box section frame between each of said camshafts and said die set, means for rotating said camshafts in unison, a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers, each of said gripping fingers of the first type having a spigot mounted on said box section frame at its face adjacent said die set and arranged removably to carry one of said gripping fingers, a second spigot adjacent said fixed spigot arranged removably to carry the other said gripping finger of said pair, means for moving said second spigot and thus said other gripping finger towards and away from said fixed spigot, means for moving said gripping fingers from one die to the next of said die set whilst carrying a workpiece, and to return to said one die after depositing said workpiece in said next die of said die set, and gripping fingers of a second type arranged to rotate said workpiece through 90 in addition to moving it from one die to the next of said die set, said gripping fingers of both types 12. being operable by said camshafts to move into and out of a gripping position whilst said camshafts and said gripping fingers are moving towards and away from said die set in synchronism with the rise and fall of the tup of said forging press.

14. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a multi-stage die set as set forth in claim 13 in which said second spigot passes through an aperture in said box ection frame, an arm in said box section frame to which said second spigot is attached, a pivot on said arm remote from said second spigot, a bracket carrying said pivot, a cam follower on said bracket located adjacent said camshaft and means for retaining said cam follower in abutment with said camshaft.

15. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a multi-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of opposite sides of said die set, a box section frame between each of said camshafts and said die set, means for rotating said camshafts in unison, a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers, each of said gripping fingers of a first type having a spigot mounted on said box section frame at its face adjacent said die set and arranged removably to carry one of said gripping fingers, a second spigot adjacent said fixed spigot arranged removably to carry the other said gripping finger of said pair, means for moving said second spigot and thus said other gripping finger towards and away from said fixed spigot, means for moving said gripping fingers from one die to the next of said die set whilst carrying a workpiece, and to return to said one die after depositing said workpiece in said next die of said die set, said second spigot passing through an aperture in said box section frame, an arm in said box section frame to which said second spigot is attached, a pivot on said arm remote from said second spigot, a bracket carrying said pivot secured to said box section frame, a cam follower on said bracket located adjacent said camshaft and a spring mounted between said bracket and a further bracket mounted on said box section frame for retaining said cam follower in abutment with said camshaft, and gripping fingers of a second type arranged to rotate said workpiece through in addition to moving it from one die to the next of said die set, said gripping fingers of both types being operable by said camshafts to move into and out of a gripping position whilst said camshafts and said gripping fingers are moving towards and away from said die set in synchronism with the rise and fall of the tup of said press.

16. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a multi-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of opposite sides of said die set, a box section frame between each of said camshafts and said die set, means for rotating said camshaft in unison, a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers, said gripping fingers of a first type being arranged to move a workpiece from one die to the next, and gripping fingers of a second type arranged to rotate said workpiece through 90 in addition to moving it from one die to the next of said die set, said gripping fingers of said second type including a first spigot, an outer sleeve upon which is fixedly mounted said first spigot, a ball bearing mounting for said outer sleeve whereby it can rotate about its longitudinal axis, a second spigot pivotally mounted in a bore in said outer sleeve, means for removably attaching a gripping finger to each spigot, means for pivoting said second spigot and thus said gripping fingers attached thereto towards and away from said first spigot and means for rotating said outer sleeve and thus said spigots through 90 whilst moving said gripping fingers from one die to the next of said die set, said gripping fingers being operable by said camshaft to move into and out of the gripping position whilst said camshafts and said gripping fingers are moving towards and away from said die set in synchronism with the rise and fall of the tup of the forging press.

17. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a multi-stage die set as set forth in claim 16 in which said outer sleeve is mounted in said box section frame.

18. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a multi-stage die set, a camshaft adjacent each of a pair of opposite sides of said die set, a box section frame between each of said camshafts and said die set, means for rotating said camshafts in unison, a series of pairs of gripping fingers each having two fingers, said gripping fingers of a first type being arranged to move a workpiece from one die to the next of said die set, and gripping fingers of a second type arranged to rotate workpiece through 90 in addition to moving it from one die to the next of said die set, said gripping fingers of said second type including a first spigot, an outer sleeve upon which is fixedly mounted said first spigot, a ball bearing mounting for said outer sleeve and between it and said box section frame whereby said outer sleeve can rotate in said 'box section frame about its longitudinal axis which is located transversely of said box section frame, a second spigot pivotally mounted in a bore in said outer sleeve, means for removably attaching a gripping finger to each spigot, a partition in said outer sleeve intermediate its ends, a push rod passing through said partition and attached to said spigot adjacent its pivot whereby said second spigot and thus said gripping finger attached thereto may be moved towards and away from said first spigot and means for rotating said outer sleeve and thus said spigots through 90 while moving said gripping fingers from one die to the next of said die set, and said gripping fingers being operable by said camshaft to move into and out of the gripping position whilst said camshafts and said gripping fingers are moving toward and away from said die set in synchronisrn with the rise and fall of the tup of said press.

19. Automatic transfer mechanism for a forging press having a multi-stage die set as set forth in claim 18 in which said push rod is encircled by a spring, said spring abutting said partition with one of its ends and abutting a stop with its other end, a spring locating sleeve carrying said stop located between said spring and said push rod.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,426,039 8/1922 Candee 1012 2,974,811 3/1961 Dammert 214-1 3,079,817 3/1963 Sanford 7899 3,105,399 10/1963 Strugala 7896 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. \VILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Examiner. GENE P. CROSBY, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. AUTOMATIC TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR A FORGING PRESS HAVING A TUP AND A MULTI-STAGE DIE SET, A CAMSHAFT ADJACENT EACH OF A PAIR OF OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID DIE SET, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CAMSHAFTS IN UNISON, A SERIES OF PAIRS OF GRIPPING FINGERS EACH HAVING TWO FINGERS AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH IS OPERABLE BY SAID CAMSHAFTS TO MOVE INTO AND OUT OF A GRIPPING POSITION, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CAMSHAFTS AND SAID PAIRS OF GRIPPING FINGERS TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM SAID DIE SET AND MEANS TO SYNCHRONISE SAID MOVEMENT WITH RISE AND FALL TO THE TUP OF SAID FORGING PRESS.