Abstract: A drive disk assembly for use in a press machine is segmented into a plurality of discrete drive disk segments each having a friction pad attached thereto. The segmented drive disk permits individual disk segments and friction pads to be removed after installation without disassembling the entire arrangement. The disk segments may grow thermally without causing the flex disk being utilized to shift axially or radially. A slot formed throughout the disk segment acts as an effective heat barrier to protect sensitive parts from undue thermal exposure.

Abstract: A mechanical bodymaker drive system for an under drive type vertical punch including a scotch yoke mechanism utilized to drive the punch. Two counterrotating cranks with counterweights are geared together to balance inertial forces on the scotch yoke driven slide. The scotch yoke mechanism, employing a slider block and slide, eliminates second harmonic inertia forces acting on the machine and allows counterrotating counterweights to totally balance inertia forces throughout the stroke. The punch is additionally hydrostatically attached to the scotch yoke mechanisms to compensate for deflections and thermal stress during operation. The hydrostatic pads eliminates the clearance between the face of the punch and the scotch yoke yet permits small lateral movements.

Abstract: A shutheight adjustment mechanism of a mechanical press including a piston member restrained from moving vertically by a sealed liquid-filled chamber of relatively short height. The chamber acts as a stiff liquid-spring that limits deflection and movement of the piston member and ultimately the slide or bolster. Seals define the chamber to assure that the chamber is filled with liquid. The liquid-filled chamber damps free movement between parts thereby helping to resist changes in shutheight. Liquid also is injected between the piston member and both the adjustment nut and the housing. This liquid reduces torque requirements for shutheight adjustment.

Abstract: A shutheight adjustment mechanism of a mechanical press including a piston member restrained from moving vertically by a sealed liquid-filled chamber of relatively short height. The chamber acts as a stiff liquid-spring that limits deflection and movement of the piston member and ultimately the slide or bolster. Seals define the chamber to assure that the chamber is filled with liquid. The liquid-filled chamber damps free movement between parts thereby helping to resist changes in shutheight. Liquid also is injected between the piston member and both the adjustment nut and the housing. This liquid reduces torque requirements for shutheight adjustment.

Abstract: A shutheight adjustment system incorporating hydraulic tie rod nut assemblies for dynamically altering the tensioning and compression of the tie rods of a power press. Each hydraulic tie rod nut assembly includes a cylinder with an inner sliding piston threadably engaging the tie rod. A pressurizing mechanism injects pressurized fluid within a chamber formed by the piston and cylinder. By increasing pressure within the chamber of the hydraulic tie rod nut assembly, compression between the press bed and press crown may be increased thereby reducing the press shutheight.

Abstract: A process for stroke adjustment employs an adjustable stroke punch press which has a crankshaft with an integral eccentric portion around which is disposed an eccentric sleeve, a connection arm, an L-shaped piston-like sleeve, a locking plate, and a clamping plate. During press operation, the eccentric sleeve is locked to the crankshaft through the locking plate and the clamping plate. Stroke length is adjusted by changing the eccentricity of the integral crankshaft eccentric portion relative to the eccentric sleeve. The eccentric sleeve is unlocked from the crankshaft and locked to the connection arm during stroke adjustment allowing the crankshaft to rotate relative thereto by utilizing the inching mode of the press.

Abstract: A double action mechanical press, especially for cupping operations in which an outer slide is provided within which an inner slide is reciprocally mounted on a common crankshaft. According to the present invention, a single dynamic balancer, out of phase from both the inner and outer slides, is provided on the crankshaft in order to counterbalance the inertial forces generated by the inner and outer slides during press operation.

Abstract: A double action mechanical press, especially for cupping operations in which an outer slide is provided within which an inner slide is reciprocally mounted on a common crankshaft. According to the present invention, a single dynamic balancer, out of phase from both the inner and outer slides, is provided on the crankshaft in order to counterbalance the inertial forces generated by the inner and outer slides during press operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adjustable stroke punch press which has a crankshaft with an integral eccentric portion around which is disposed an eccentric sleeve, a connection arm, an L-shaped piston-like sleeve, a locking plate, and a clamping plate. During press operation, the eccentric sleeve is locked to the crankshaft through the locking plate and the clamping plate. Stroke length is adjusted by changing the eccentricity of the integral crankshaft eccentric portion relative to the eccentric sleeve. The eccentric sleeve is unlocked from the crankshaft and locked to the connection arm during stroke adjustment allowing the crankshaft to rotate relative thereto by utilizing the inching mode of the press.

Abstract: A conversion press assembly for forming easy open beverage cans and a transfer belt conveyor therefor. The press assembly comprises a main press having tooling therein for forming the can ends and a can end transfer belt extends therethrough to carry can end blanks from a downstacker or other supply apparatus. Attached to the main press frame is an auxiliary, tab press having its own crankshaft but being driven off the same drive assembly as the main press. Strip stock is fed into the tab press wherein the tabs are formed, and the tabs, still in strip form, are then fed transversely into the main press for attachment to the can ends at a stacking station. The transfer belt comprises a plurality of carriers mounted on a flexible belt wherein the carries include flexible fingers for resiliently gripping the can ends.

Abstract: A conversion press assembly for forming easy open beverage cans and a transfer belt conveyor therefor. The press assembly comprises a main press having tooling therein for forming the can ends and a can end transfer belt extends therethrough to carry can end blanks from a downstacker or other supply apparatus. Attached to the main press frame is an auxiliary, tab press having its own crankshaft but being driven off the same drive assembly as the main press. Strip stock is fed into the tab press wherein the tabs are formed, and the tabs, still in strip form, are then fed transversely into the main press for attachment to the can ends at a staking station. The transfer belt comprises a plurality of carriers mounted on a flexible belt wherein the carriers include flexible fingers for resiliently gripping the can ends.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mechanical press, and in particular to such a press having a crown portion with an open top thereby permitting the crankshaft and connection arm assembly to be lowered therein in a preassembled state. Next, a cover plate is connected to the crown and the press motor assembly is mounted thereon. Belt connections to the drive assembly can be made through openings in the cover plate and access to the drive assembly can be had through removable doors on the ends of the crown. Preferably, the press frame comprising the bed, uprights and crown are formed as a single casting thereby avoiding the necessity for tie rods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mechanical press, and in particular to such a press having a crown portion with an open top thereby permitting the crankshaft and connection arm assembly to be lowered therein in a preassembled state. Next, a cover plate is connected to the crown and the press motor assembly is mounted thereon. Belt connections to the drive assembly can be made through openings in the cover plate and access to the drive assembly can be had through removable doors on the ends of the crown. Preferably, the press frame comprising the bed, uprights and crown are formed as a single casting thereby avoiding the necessity for tie rods.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulically actuated feed roll lift mechanism for feeds utilized to feed strip stock into a machine, such as a mechanical press. Regulated hydraulic pressure acting against a piston that is connected to one of the feed rolls through a yoke forces the feed roll against the stock to grip the stock and cause an increment thereof to be fed into the press when the rolls are rotated. A roll opening cam, which is connected to the press crankshaft, advances a small piston to displace oil against the other side of the piston while the stock is at rest to thereby separate the rolls during the time that the dies are in contact with the stock in the press. The time at which roll separation is initiated is controlled by adjusting the angular position of the cam on its shaft, as by releasing a frictional lock mechanism, rotating the cam to the desired position, and then again locking it in place.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanism for adjusting the feed length of a rack and pinion roll feed mechanism of the type generally used for feeding strip stock into presses. The feed length adjusting mechanism comprises a hub member connected to the press shaft, a throw block connected to the hub, and a slide rotatably connected to the connecting rod of the rack and pinion drive for the feed. A slide is locked to the block by means of a piston and cylinder lock mechanism, and a lead screw is threadedly connected to the slide and rotated by a bidirectional pneumatic motor mounted to the block, whereby rotation of the lead screw causes the slide to translate within the slideway. This changes the length of the eccentric connection between the rotating block and connecting rod thereby proportionately changing its stroke and the amount of strip stock which is fed into the press during each cycle of the feed mechanism.