US3842641A

US3842641A - Positioning means and method for containers of a press

Info

Publication number: US3842641A
Application number: US00355234A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Kent
Original assignee: Wean United Inc
Current assignee: WEAN INCORPORATED A CORP OF PA; Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co Ltd
Priority date: 1973-04-27
Filing date: 1973-04-27
Publication date: 1974-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-22

Abstract

The disclosure of this invention pertains to an extrusion, forging or shaping press. The drawings illustrate an extrusion press incorporating three billet containers, the use of which enables three different operating phases to be carried out simultaneously. The disclosure particularly relates to the employment of an hydraulic piston cylinder assembly and rack and gear for providing a finite or definite degree of precise rotation of the containers in their advancement from one phase or station to another phase or station.

Description

[451 Oct. 22, 1974 nite Eaten ntet [191 Kent [ POSITIONING MEANS AND METHOD FOR CONTAINERS ()F A PRESS Primary ExaminerC. W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-Robert M. Rogers Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Henry C. Westin; Daniel Patch [75] Inventor: Francis J. Kent; Wallingford, Pa.

Wean United Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa.

Apr. 27, 1973 [73] Assignee:

[22] Fled: ABSTRACT The disclosure of this invention pertains to an extru- 211 Appl. No.: 355,234

sion, forging or shaping press. The drawings illustrate .g.r.ne m mmm m in nr wtp 0e 0e Cp f t h d o CITIHIB mn naCm bmvr kmm e ym r. U f U m olm o g d 60m enmn mfl ea a a g rte t me me m mu mmm w m w rlnlu m vnvz r w tw my... a m .0 Ta a onwsafiilhz C8 wrum mp .mhwhfi flm s.m l mwno h :l hn ru th m w ml wm m m C D190.. mmnmm n .m u m o v .mw Cm m m m m wm re .1 .lm p e mmem t e fi nwmlm mmnnr aePwdPoo 3 3 DMD 666 2/2 222 /3 WWW n 777 c 9 4 "n" 2, WWW %B3 u .5 H y 4 m 7 n n n & m m m 2 m m M M m A m m m Mme mnm S n E wh mm CT mc m m m m A awn. "u" rTh od up QSERE h ""c MD mmm E457 ""9 us lll N/// l.f U 50 H I I ll UmF 575 3 11]] 625 2 8 6 H hn M 555 5 t [r|l[ 333 POSITIONING MEANS AND METHOD FOR CONTAINERS OF A PRESS Qe disadvantage of not beingable to assure that the containers when advanced, for example, when rotated,

would stop at least in close proximity to the proper registered position in the working station. This is particularly important inmoving the containers into the extrusion station where the billet carried by the container must line up exactly with the opening of the die of the press. One prior mechanism for moving the containers has been in the form of an electric motor and brake assembly. Because of the inertia inherently involved in such power means, however, their use has notbeen found practical or economical in stopping the containers quickly and accurately enough to obtain the desired registry.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide in combination with a press having multiple containers a power means having a finite or definite length of stroke for advancing the containers quickly and accurately into their various operative stations and a method for accomplishing this.

More particularly, the present invention provides a method and means of operating a rack and gear arrangement, the rack being displaced by an hydraulic piston cylinder assembly and the gear being secured to a rotatably supported hub for the containers.

These objects, as well as other novel features and advantages, of the present invention will be better understood when the following description of one embodiment is read along with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view of an extrusion press illustrating three containers and a container rotating apparatus built in accordance with the teaching of the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the container rotating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 illustrates the three horizontally extending tie rods 10, 12 and 14 of an extrusion press, the other components of the press not being illustrated since they follow well-known construction and a showing thereof is not required to describe the present invention. It should be noted, however, that the containers about to be described are located axially of and parallel to the tie rods between the stationary platen and the moveable crosshead of the extrusion press.

It will also be appreciated that the construction of the containers, their association with a common hub and the rotational supports for the hub follow designs familiar to the press industry. As noted before, the press is serviced by three containers l6, l8 and which are shown in their operative positions in three different stations legended in the FIG. 1 as the Loading Station for the container 16, the Extrusion Station for the container 18, and the Cleaning Station for the container 20.

The containers are secured to a common hub 22 which has an open center for encircling the tie rod 10, the hub actually being supported by an outer intermediate sleeve 24 which is supported in turn by two spaced apart stands, which are shown at 26 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Radially outward of the sleeve 24 and concentric therewith there is provided a segmental gear 28, best shown in FIG. 2, where it is seen that the remainder of the segment takes the form of an 180 sleeve 30, the two elements being secured together by a series of bolts 31. As shown in FIG. 2, both the gear 28 and the sleeve 30 at their inside surfaces are keyed to the driving member 32 of a clutch which engages a driven clutch member 33 shown only in FIG. 1, and which is secured to the hub 22 so as to cause its rotation in a clockwise direction as one views FIG. l,'the direction being indicated by the arrow in this FIGURE. The hub not only will be rotated but also, according to familiar practice, will move axially so that the rotational movement will be transferred by the clutch.

The gear segment 28 is rotated by a rack 34 shown in FIG. 2, the lower end of which is connected to the end 'of a piston rod of an hydraulic piston cylinder assembly36, the rack being guided in an elongated guide bar 38 received in guides formed in a housing 40 that encloses the rack 34. The entire rack assembly is carried by an upright L-shaped stand 42, to which also the cylinder of the piston cylinder assembly 36 is secured.

It will be appreciated that during the engagement of the driving and driven

members

32 and 33 of the clutch, the rack 34 will be in its retracted position as shown in FIG. 2 in readiness to rotate the containers, and that when the clutch members are disengaged the rack can be brought from its extended position to the retracted position without causing rotation of the containers. As noted in FIG. 2, the number of teeth provided on the gear segment 28 allows for the required rotation of the containers by providing the required uni-directional and finite rotation of the hub 22 and, hence,of the

containers

16, 18 and 20 to accurately bring them to the three illustrated and legended stations.

In briefly describing the operation of the disclosed form of the present invention, let it be assumed that the rack 34 is in its retracted position as shown in FIG. 2. When it is desired to rotate the hub 22 and, accordingly, the

containers

16, 18 and 20 to advance them to their next stations, for example, when the container in the extrusion station is at the end of its position for withdrawing the stub of the cut off extruded rod or the position for stripping the butt out of the liners of the container, the

clutch elements

32 and 33 will be engaged so that on operation of the piston cylinder assembly 36 the rack 34 will be extended a definite and finite distance whereby the gear 28 will rotate the hub 22 a similar distance to accurately position each container in its next station. Upon the later disengagement of the clutch elements, for example, when the container in the extrusion station is moved to its die sealing position or phase of operation, the piston cylinder assembly 36 can be again operated to return the rack to its retracted position in readiness for the next rotation of the containers In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, l have explained the principles and operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I consider to represent the best embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In combination with a press having a number of billet containers and a number of working stations to which the containers are selectively brought,

common support means for supporting said containers,

means for supporting said common support means in a manner that the containers can be rotated from station to station, and power means having a member drivenly connectable to said common support means, said member having a finite linear working stroke whereby said containers can be rotated a definite and accurate distance for their accurate registry in said stations. 2. In combination with a press according to claim 1, wherein said common support means includes a hub,

said means for rotationally supporting said common support means including a sleeve, and in which said power means includes a gear drivenly connectable to said hub, a rack arranged to mesh with said gear, and a piston cylinder assembly connected to said rack.

3. In combination with a press according to claim 2, including a clutch drivenly associated with said hub, and

means for connecting said gear to said clutch.

4. In a method of succeedingly rotating a number of containers of a press into a number of working stations, including a pressing station, said press also having a means for supporting said containers for rotationally moving the containers from station to station and for moving the container in said pressing station axially of the center axis of pressing in a number of axial positions, said means including a power means having a finite power stroke and a return stroke, comprising the steps of:

operating said power means in its power stroke to cause said containers to be rotated to position one of the containers in said pressing station when another of said container'in said pressing station is in one of said axial positions and is about to be moved away from said pressing station, and

operating said power means in its return stroke when a container in said pressing station is in a different one of said axial positions, and at a time when said containers are not rotatable.

Claims

1. In combination with a press having a number of billet containers and a number of working stations to which the containers are selectively brought, common support means for supporting said containers, means for supporting said common support means in a manner that the containers can be rotated from station to station, and power means having a member drivenly connectable to said common support means, said member having a finite linear working stroke whereby said containers can be rotated a definite and accurate distance for their accurate registry in said stations.

2. In combination with a press according to claim 1, wherein said common support means includes a hub, said means for rotationally supporting said common support means including a sleeve, and in which said power means includes a gear drivenly connectable to said hub, a rack arranged to mesh with said gear, and a piston cylinder assembly connected to said rack.

3. In combination with a press according to claim 2, including a clutch drivenly associated with said hub, and means for connecting said gear to said clutch.

4. In a method of succeedingly rotating a number of containers of a press into a number of working stations, including a pressing station, said press also having a means for supporting said containers for rotationally moving the containers from station to station and for moving the container in said pressing station axially of the center axis of pressing in a number of axial positions, said means including a power means having a finite power stroke and a return stroke, comprising the steps of: operating said power means in its power stroke to cause said containers to be rotated to position one of the containers in said pressing station when another of said container in said pressing station is in one of said axial positions and is about to be moved away from said pressing station, and operating said power means in its return stroke when a container in said pressing station is in a different one of said axial positions, and at a time when said containers are not rotatable.