Abstract: The present invention provides for a press feed apparatus for use in feeding stock material to a high speed automatic press. The feed roller is driven by a servo motor integral with the shaft of the roller, the feed roller release mechanism is infinitely adjustable, and a feedback system is used to accurately determine the position of various shafts. The apparatus is controlled electronically, by a microprocessor or the like, which permits the press feed to be electronically geared to the press and accurately operate at high speeds.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a press feed apparatus for use in feeding stock material to a high speed automatic press. The feed roller is driven by a servo motor integral with the shaft of the roller, the feed roller release mechanism is infinitely adjustable, and a feedback system is used to accurately determine the position of various shafts. The apparatus is controlled electronically, by a microprocessor or the like, which permits the press feed to be electronically geared to the press and accurately operate at high speeds.

Abstract: A press feed capable of being driven in synchronization with a press. The press feed includes a sensor for sensing a selected phase of a press cycle of the press, structure for engaging stock material adapted to be fed by the press feed to the press, and an infinitely variable release device connected to the stock material engaging structure and communicating with the sensor. The infinitely variable release device operates to move the stock material engaging structure in a first direction relative to the stock material responsive to detection by the sensor at the onset of the selected press cycle phase, and to move the stock material engaging structure in a direction generally opposite the first direction responsive to detection by the sensor at the termination of the selected press cycle phase. The infinitely variable release device may be a servo controlled drive screw.

Abstract: A press feed apparatus for use in feeding stock material to a high speed automatic press. The feed roller is driven by a servo motor integral with the shaft of the roller, the feed roller release mechanism is infinitely adjustable, and a feedback system is used to accurately determine the position of various shafts. The apparatus is controlled electronically, by a microprocessor or the like, which permits the press feed to be electronically geared to the press and accurately operate at high speeds.

Abstract: A press feed is provided having a simple, low-friction, low-inertia linkage mechanism to positively drive feed rolls or grippers of the press feed with substantially uniform pressure. The linkage mechanism includes a three-link assembly having first and second substantially parallel links and a third cross link pivotally connected to the first and second links. The first and second links are pivotally mounted to a housing of the press feed substantially equidistant from the connections to the third cross link. The third cross link has a groove extending substantially at right angles to the transverse axis of the third cross link extending between the connections of the third cross link to the first and second links.

Abstract: An input shaft of a press feed is rotated at a preselected speed and is drivingly connected to a cam that rotates the input shaft. Continuous rotation of the cam is converted to oscillating rotational movement of a cam follower through a preselected angle of rotation. The cam follower is nonrotatably connected to an output shaft that is connected by an adjustable drive link and gear arrangement to a driven feed roll. Oscillating rotational movement of the output shaft is transmitted to the driven feed roll to advance the driven feed roll in contact with the strip material through a preselected degree of rotation corresponding to a preselected feed length of the strip material to the press. The end of the drive link adjacent to the output shaft is movable relative to the output shaft.

Abstract: A two part input shaft is drivingly connected to a crankshaft of a punch press for rotation at a predetermined speed. An adjustable cam drive mechanism drivingly connects the input shaft to a driven feed roll. Continuous rotation of the input shaft is converted by the adjustable cam drive mechanism to intermittent rotation of the feed roll. The intermittent rotation of the feed roll is timed with the press operation so that the feed roll intermittently advances a preselected length of the workpiece to the press after each press operation. A clamp arrangement releasably engages a first portion of the input shaft to a second portion of the input shaft so that, upon disengagement of the clamp arrangement, relative rotation is permitted between the input shaft first and second portions. The input shaft first portion is drivingly connected to the crankshaft of the press and the shaft second portion is drivingly connected to the adjustable cam drive mechanism.

Abstract: The input shaft of a punch press is rotated at a continuous preselected speed and is drivingly connected by a cam drive mechanism to an output shaft to generate oscillating rotational movement of the output shaft. Upper and lower feed rolls are rotatably supported in a frame in overlying relation to engage stock material extending between the upper and lower rolls. A combination linkage and gear cluster transmits the oscillating rotation movement of the output shaft to one of the feed rolls. The second feed roll is pivotally supported in the frame for movement toward and away from the first feed roll. A coupling drivingly connects the gear cluster to the second feed roll to oscillate the second feed roll through an angle of rotation corresponding to the angle of rotation of the first feed roll and thereby drive both of the feed rolls to intermittently feed a preselected length of the stock material to the press.

Abstract: A pair of continuously driven pull rolls of stock puller supported on a table having a longitudinal bed engage a web of the stock material to continuously unreel the stock material from a coil. The pull rolls are rotated by a drive shaft that is coupled to an input shaft of a feed roll unit. The input shaft is continuously rotated by a pulley-belt drive connection from a common power shaft. Continuous rotation of the input shaft is converted to intermittent rotation of a feed roll that intermittently advances the stock material to a stock material forming device, such as a material stamping or punching unit followed by a material cutting unit. The stamping and cutting units also include input shafts that are drivingly connected by pulleys and continuous belts to the common power shaft. The common power shaft is continuously rotated by a pulley-belt drive connection from an output shaft of a variable speed DC motor supported by the table.

Abstract: An input shaft of a press feed is rotated at a preselected speed and is drivingly connected to a cam that rotates with the input shaft. Continuous rotation of the cam is converted to oscillating rotational movement of a cam follower through a preselected angle of rotation. The cam follower is nonrotatably connected to an output shaft that is connected by an adjustable linkage mechanism through a pair of meshing gears to a driven feed roll. The oscillating rotational movement of the output shaft is transmitted to the driven feed roll to advance the driven feed roll in contact with stock material through a preselected degree of rotation corresponding to a preselected feed length of the stock material to the press. The feed length is adjustable by changing the length of travel of the linkage mechanism with respect to the degree of rotation of the output shaft.

Abstract: An input shaft is drivingly connected to a crankshaft of a punch press for rotation at a preselected speed. A geared cam drive drivingly connects the input shaft to a driven feed roll so that continuous rotation of the input shaft is converted to intermittent rotation of the feed roll. The intermittent rotation of the feed roll is timed with the punching operation so that the feed roll intermittently advances a preselected length of stock material to the punch press after each punching operation. Bevel gears drivingly connect the input shaft to a pull roll that rotates to continuously unreel stock material from a coil. During the punching operation, rotation of the feed roll is interrupted forming a loop in the stock material between the pull roll and the feed roll.

Abstract: Drive and driven shafts are rotatably supported in a wall portion of a press frame and have free end portions extending into a gear case. A first drive gear is nonrotatably secured to the drive shaft and a second driven gear is nonrotatably secured to the driven shaft. A T-shaped member is pivotally connected to the wall and has an intermediate shaft member nonrotatably positioned in a slot for longitudinal movement therein. The intermediate shaft has a free end portion extending into the gear case with intermediate gears rotatably mounted thereon. The T-shaped member is arranged to be suitably adjusted to maintain different sized intermediate gears in meshing relation with different sized drive and driven gears so that the drive shaft imparts a preselected angular velocity to the driven shaft through the gear train. A pair of support arms each have an aperture adjacent one end and an elongated longitudinally extending slot adjacent the other end.

Abstract: An idler roller assembly is provided which permits angular adjustment of the idler roller relative to the housing of the punch press feed so that accurate tracking of the feed stock may be accomplished. The idler roller rotates within a frame that is supported by trunions within the housing of the feed. The trunions permit pivoting of the frame to move the idler roller toward and away from the driven roller of the feed. An eccentric adjustment is provided between one of the trunions and the housing of the feed so that minute angular adjustments may be made to the idler roller.

Abstract: A self-contained unit to be attached to a power punch press to provide a feed for stock being fed to the press. The unit contains a direct drive from the punch press crankshaft to feed rolls which are located adjacent to the table of the press. A non-slip, positive, drive is provided from the crankshaft of the punch press to an index drive which receives continuous, uniform rotary motion and converts it into non-continuous, incremental movement of the index drive output shaft. A positive, non-slip drive is provided between the index drive output shaft and the power driven feed roll. The feed roll unit also contains a compressed air-operated cylinder arrangement to release the idler feed roll at a predetermined period during the punch press cycle so that the stock being fed to the press is free from the feed rolls during the pressing portion of the punch press operating cycle.