US3831426A

US3831426A - Progressive stamping device having work stations in a curvilinear path

Info

Publication number: US3831426A
Application number: US00293413A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Hakner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-09-29
Filing date: 1972-09-29
Publication date: 1974-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 1991-08-27

Abstract

An automatic stamping machine for stamping by means of punches of metal articles from a feed strip and performing various work operations thereon in which the work stations are mounted in a curved pattern on the periphery of at least one or more interacting rotatable segments. The work path thus follows a sinuous line. The machine is provided with a central guide shaft that guides both the vertical and lateral movement of the mechanism. In addition, the central shaft serves as a guide for auxiliary devices, for example, such as the punch knock out and switching mechanisms. The mechanism has a top and bottom set of rollers engaging the central shaft and a set of needle bearings which eliminate the tendency toward binding of the mechanism.

Description

United States Patent [191 Hakner Aug. 27, 1974 PROGRESSIVE STAMPING DEVICE HAVING WORK STATIONS IN A CURVILINEAR PATH [76] Inventor: Robert Hakner, 76-78 Vernon Ave.,

Brooklyn, NY. 11206 [22] Filed: Sept. 29, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 293,413

52 us. Cl. 72/405 [51] Int. Cl B21d 43/00 [58] Field of Search 113/1 F; 29/208 F, 33 J, 29/37 R, 36, 38 A, 563; 72/405 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,245,370 4/1966 Bofinger 113/1 3,371,514 3/1968 Venables 72/420 3,534,582 10/1970 Hakner 72/405 3,571,873 3/1971 Muller 29/38 3,616,513 11/1971 3,735,470 5/1973 Elmer et al 29/208 F Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-M. .1. Keenan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Alfred E. Miller ABSTRACT An automatic stamping machine for stamping by means of punches of metal articles from a feed strip and performing various work operations thereon in which the work stations are mounted in a curved pattern on the periphery of at least one or more interacting rotatable segments. The work path thus follows a sinuous line. The machine is provided with a central guide shaft that guides both the vertical and lateral movement of the mechanism. In addition, the central shaft serves as a guide for auxiliary devices, for example, such as the punch knock out and switching mechanisms. The mechanism has a top and bottom set of rollers engaging the central shaft and a set of needle bearings which eliminate the tendency toward binding of the mechanism.

11 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures A ,5? I l til. l lz t wg i lUQlQ G Ql PATENTEDAUBZYIQH' 3.831.426

SHEET 50$ 6 The present invention relates to an automatic stamping mechanism for metal articles wherein the work stations are arranged in a curved or circular pattern thereby simplifying the structure and improving the guidance resulting in a smooth and precision-type mechanism. The present apparatus further includes a rotatably reciprocating independent segment or segments. If a plurality of segments are employed there may be different spacing between the stages of operation.

An object of the present inventionis to provide stan dardized die sets suitable for die manufactures to incorporate in tools for automatic stamping which can be accomplished more conveniently and less expensively than heretofore.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a central guide shaft for both the vertical and lateral movement of the mechanism. The central shaft controls, in part, the alignment of opposing punches and dies. It also serves as a guide for auxiliary devices such as the punch knock-out bushing, switching mechanisms, guide pins or bushings for precision alignment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for the discharge of scrap resulting from the trimming and piercing of the work pieces. This is accomplished by the use of a complete indexing segment in which the punch and die meet each other after every second stroke of the machine.

Heretofore, progressive stamping has been carried out in a linear manner which required a longer, spaceconsuming construction. On the other hand, the present invention consists of metal stamping machine having a number of curved segments which intermesh in order to transfer the work from station to station whereby the work path follows a sinuous line; thus, the work pieces can be transferred from one rotatable segment to the adjacent rotatable segment. Thus, the work is performed in a closer area.

It is another object of the present invention to provide automatic stamping of metal articles in which the work stations are arranged to follow a curved or completely circular path. The mechanism automatically transfers the work from one segment to the adjacent or consecutive segment.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatic stamping mechanism for the progressive stamping of metal articles which is provided with a central shaft encircled by a bushing. The bushing supports a series of hollow punches mounted circularly on a rotatable carrier. Each of the punches is provided on the periphery of the carrier and includes a punch knockout. The arrangement is further provided with a top and bottom set of rollers within the bushing which engages the central shaft and since there is lateral movement a further set of needle bearings are provided which have the desirable function of eliminating any tendency of the bushing and central shaft binding.

The invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of a rotatable segment for an automatic stamping mechanism constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention and taken along the lines 1-] of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing two rotatable segments of the present mechanism interacting in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are partial sectional and partial side elevational views of the rotatable segment together with the hollow punch, knockout, pawl and catch arrangement, shown in various positions during the vertical movement of the central shaft.

FIG. 8 is a further top plan view showing spaced rotatable segments 10 and an intermediate table rotating continuously in one direction.

FIG. 9 is a modification of the present invention showing a segmentlO together with the associated structure and having sets of upper and lower rollers engaging the central shaft.

FIG. 10 is a further top plan view showing a rotatable segment 10 and slots therein which permit the segment to reciprocate and the device to be lowered and elevate'd.

FIG. 1 1 is a top plan view of the pawl and ratchet arrangement for indexing segments relative to each other.

Referring to FIG. I, it should be understood that the segment 10 can make a partial reciprocating rotary movement or a full circular movement. Aseries of hollow punches 12 are mounted circularly on the rotatable carrier 14. The carrier 14 has an upstanding shank 15 which is shown displaced from the center of the carrier and is designed to be fastened to a well-known powered ram (not shown). Each punch 12 is provided with a punch knockout l6, movable vertically within the hollow punch. As seen in FIG. 2, each punch knockout 16 is normally held in an elevated position within the hollow punch 12 by means of a helical spring 18. The height of punch knockout 16 may be selectively portions by means of a slidable rod 20 in bushing 22. Screw-threaded nuts 24 are adjustable on the threaded portiosn of rod 20 in order to vary the height of the punch knockout l6.

It will be noted that the carrier 14 rotates while the central shaft 26 merely moves up and down.

As seen in FIG. 1, a cam arrangment referred to gen erally by the number 30 may be utilized for effecting the stepped movements of the rotatable segment 10 such as that shown by me in my US. Pat. No. 3,534,582 except that as shown in FIGS. 8-11, the roller 50 may be eliminated and a rod or other projection may be utilized to'operate the triangular shaped cam 46 linearly behind the central shaft 26. The hollow punches 12 punch the work piece out of the strip 32 and pass the piece from work station to work station in a curvilinear path. As seen in FIG. 3, adjacent segments 10 work in synchronism so that the work piece follows the path indicated by the arrows and consequently form a sinuous pattern. As shown in full lines in FIG. 3, the left hand segment 10 moves backwards to permit the right hand segment to pick up the work piece W.

As seen in FIG. 2, a pivotable latch 34 is pivotably secured to bushing 22. The latch 34 has a spring-loaded finger 46 which nomially urges the latch 34 toward the central shaft 26. Secured to the base member 38 of the mechanism is a hasp or catch 40 for receiving the As seen in FIG. I, the metal strip 32 is shown moving I hooked end 34a of the latch 34. The hasp 40 is pivotably mounted at 42 to the base member 38 and is engaged at the opposite end by another spring-loaded finger 44. It should be noted that the central shaft 26 is provided with an indentation 47 which is complementary to a corresponding projection 34b of the latch 34. Thus, when the central shaft 26 is moved downwardly, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lever 34 has its projection 34b drop into the complementary indentation 47. When this occurs, the hooked end 340 of the lever 34 is engaged in hasp 40 and spring-loaded finger 46 maintains the lever 34 in its hooked condition, and the carrier 14 and punch 12 are held in a stationary position while the knockout 16 continues downwardly and separates the workpiece form the punch, while the latter moves upwardly.

As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the central shaft 26 moves upwardly due to the action of cam arrangement 30 and when this occurs, the lever 34 is cammed out of the indentation 47 in the shaft 26, thus releasing the carrier 14 for movement both vertically and rotationally. As seen in FIG. 6, there is a space f between the carrier 14 and the bushing 22 which permits the latter to move vertically. It should also be noted that the present machine, even though operating in a semirotary manner, has linear characteristics.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the method of operation of the present invention showing two spaced rotatable segments and a fully rotatable circular disc table 62 which is located between and below said segments 10. It will e noted that the segments 10 engage in reciprocating rotation or pivoting action while the table 62 rotates fully but only continuously in one direction. The present arrangement is such that the work pieces are worked on only in every other position. In the positions between the work positions are holes 64 through which the trimming and piercing scrap on the work pieces are ejected. Thus, every other station is a stripping station in the present apparatus.

FIG. 9 discloses an arrangement in which the central shaft 26 is provided with a bushing 22 having a set of rollers 66 located at the top of the bushing 22 and another set of rollers 68 located adjacent to the bottom of bushing 22. It should be noted that the construction shown herein results in a smooth functioning of the central shaft 26 within the bushing 22 when the punch knockout 16 functions, and eliminates any tendency of the two interengaging elements to bind.

The bushing 22 is provided with a spring-urged adjustable stop member 70. The base member 38 has a spring-biased, upwardly directed finger 72 that engages the undersurface of one end of an elongated bar 74. The bar 74 is pivotable on the pivot 76 and is provide with an end 740. A hook member 78 is pivoted on the pivot 79 and engages the end 74a of the bar 74. The enlarged end 78a of the hook member 78 is cammed on cam surface 81 upon the upward movement of central shaft 26 thereby disconnecting the hook end 78a from the bar end 740. It should be noted that the movement of the shaft 26 upwardly will automatically clear the hook and catch arrangement thereby permitting the bushing 22 and the rotatable segment 14 to be elevated.

FIG. 10 shows a top plan view of a reciprocating segment 10 in which slots 63 are shown through which the threaded pins 65 project. The construction is such that the segment 10 is permitted to reciprocate to accomplish article feed as well as to move vertically respon sive to the activation of the powered ram.

FIG. 11 shows the preferred form of rotating a segment continuously in one direction by means of a reciprocating segment In the illustration, adjacent segments 10a and 10b are shown in which reciprocating segment 10a is provided with a pawl arm having a pawl 92 that is adapted to engage a ratchet wheel 94 on the segment 1012. A spring biased holding pawl 96 for engaging the ratchet wheel 94 is also shown. The action of the pawl 92 on on the ratchet wheel 94 functions to cause the segment 10b to rotate continuously in one direction even though the segment 10a reciprocates, as indicated by the arrows. The number of teeth on the ratchet wheel 94 may be varied in accordance with the number of stations required for the present machine.

It should be noted that the triangular shaped cam 46, as seen in FIG. 1, may be moved to a position which is radially displaced from the location shown. This position permits a longer stroke of the stamping and transferring mechanism shown herein.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic stamping mechanism for metal articles which require more than one operation performed thereon and in which the same tools that perform the stamping also transfer the articles to successive stages of operation in a curved line comprising: a die bed, at lease one rotatably reciprocating segment which additionally moves vertically, each segment being provided with spaced punches mounted in a curved pattern, means mounting said segment for movement in a curvilinear path, means for limiting the movement of said segment in a substantially vertical plane, and a central post element acting as a guide axis for vertical and rotatable movement of said segment.

2. An automatic stamping mechanism as claimed in claim 1 further providing a disc table located adjacent to but in a plane below the plane of said segment, said disc table rotating continuously in one direction and in an opposite direction to the movement of said segment, and constituting alternate work stations and holes through which the trimming and piercing scrap on the work pieces are ejected.

3. An automatic stamping mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein each segment is provided with selected same or different spacing of said punches thereon.

4. An automatic stamping mechanism for progressive stamping of metal articles which require more than one operation performed thereon and in which the same tools that perform the stamping also transfer the articles to successive stages of operation comprising: a stationary die bed, a plurality of rotatable segments which additionally selectively move vertically, each of the segments being provided withspaced hollow punches mounted in a curved pattern, means mounting said segments for movement in a curvilinear path whereby said metal articles are transferred from one rotatable segment to an adjacent rotatable segment, a punch knockout operable within each of said hollow punches, a bushing for said rotable segments, a pawl operatively connected to said bushing, a catch for said pawl mounted on said die bed, said pawl engaging said catch when said bushing of the rotatable segment moves vertically downwardly. and a central shaft movable vertically and having means thereon whereby when said shaft moves upwardly said means disengages said pawl from said catch after said punch knockout functions to eject the metal article in the punch holder, and said rotable segments are movable relative to said stationary die bed.

5. An automatic stamping mechanism for progressive stamping of metal articles as claimed in claim 4 further comprising upper and lower set of rollers, mounted on said bushing for rolling engagement with said central shaft.

6. An automatic stamping mechanism for progressive stamping of metal articles as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pawl is provided with a peripheral projection adjacent to said central shaft, and said means on the central shaft for co-acting with said peripheral projection is a groove whereby when said projection drops in said groove the upward movement of said central shaft cams said pawl out of engagement with said catch.

7. An automatic stamping mechanism for progressive stamping of metal articles as claimed in claim 4, wherein said catch is spring-urged and pivotally mounted on said die bed.

8. An automatic stamping mechanism as claimed in claim 4 further comprising means for adjusting the height of said punch knockout relative to said die bed.-

said work is discharged or scrap therefrom ejected.

* l =l =I= UNITED STATES PATENT OF FI CE I 1 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. I 3, 3 Dated ugust27, 1974 Inventor(s) ROBERT HAKNER It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 36, after "of", there should be an --a--. Column 2, lines 37- 38, portions" should. be --'-adjusted- Column 2, line 40, 'portiosn" should be --por tio'ns-. Column 3, line 31, f'e," should be --be--. 1

C l 3, in 53,...'i'p v el b lld ber-p id d-w v s r In Claim 3, line 3, de1ete."s'ame or".

Signed and sealed this 7th day of"Ja,nuary 1975.

(SEAL) Attest: I

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. "c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer r Commissioner of Patents FORM po-wso (IO-69) USCOMM-DC scan-Pea u.s. coviulnllin: PRINTING orilc: I"! o-a'ia-m.

Claims

4. An automatic stamping mechanism for progressive stamping of metal articles which require more than one operation performed thereon and in which the same tools that perform the stamping also transfer the articles to successive stages of operation comprising: a stationary die bed, a plurality of rotatable segments which additionally selectively move vertically, each of the segments being provided with spaced hollow punches mounted in a curved pattern, means mounting said segments for movement in a curvilinear path whereby said metal articles are transferred from one rotatable segment to an adjacent rotatable segment, a punch knockout operable within each of said hollow punches, a bushing for said rotable segments, a pawl operatively connected to said bushing, a catch for said pawl mounted on said die bed, said pawl engaging said catch when said bushing of the rotatable segment moves vertically downwardly, and a central shaft movable vertically and having means thereon whereby when said shaft moves upwardly said means disengages said pawl from said catch after said punch knockout functions to eject the metal article in the punch holder, and said rotable segments are movable relative to said stationary die bed.

8. An automatic stamping mechanism as claimed in claim 4 further comprising means for adjusting the height of said punch knockout relative to said die bed.

9. An automatic stamping mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein said hollow Punches are located on each of said segments at a distance remote from said central shaft.

10. An automatic stamping mechanism as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a pivotable mount for said pawl, and an adjustable stop member on said bushing which engages said pivotable mount, the latter acting as an abutment.

11. An automatic stamping mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said segment in one position has work performed on said metal article and in another position said work is discharged or scrap therefrom ejected.