Abstract: First and second gripping heads consisting of a manipulator and a holder-up, respectively, are disposed on opposite sides of a swaging box. First and second sleeves are rotatably mounted in said first and second gripping heads, respectively and aligned on a horizontal axis which extends through said swaging box. A mandrel is non-rotatably and axially immovably mounted in said first sleeve and adapted to carry a tubular workpiece surrounding said mandrel. First and second abutments are carried by said first and second gripping sleeves, respectively, and have first and second annular gripping surfaces, respectively. Axial drive means serve to move said first gripping head along said horizontal axis toward said swaging box and to simultaneously move said second gripping head in the same direction.

Abstract: The machine disclosed includes apparatus for splining thin-walled sleeves of power transmission members that are mounted on a toothed mandrel between a pair of toothed dies by an automatic loader which also removes the members from the mandrel after the splining. Loading and unloading members of the loader are moved axially along the axis of mandrel rotation by associated actuating cylinders to move members to be splined from an indexer onto the mandrel and to move the members after splining from the mandrel back to the indexer. Clamping surfaces on the end of the mandrel and a rotatable clamp of the loading member position the sleeve of a member being splined over the mandrel teeth. The unloading member is received within a central opening of the mandrel and has an annular centering surface that properly locates the member being splined.

Abstract: A press brake plate lifter has horizontally extending lift rails pivotally mounted to a supporting framework, for supporting and lifting sheet stock during press brake operations. The lift rail pivot axis is coextensive with the bending axis of the press brake die. The material support lift rails are horizontally adjustable to accommodate sheet stock of varying dimensions, while plate clamps mounted on the lift rails hold the sheet stock firmly during the bending operation.

Abstract: A pneumatically buffered drive system is provided which quickly moves a movable member, such as a press safety curtain or press bolster, a predetermined length in three sequential speed stages to prevent maximum acceleration from occurring at the end of the predetermined length. The movable member is coupled to a differential pressure piston which is initially pressurized on only one side of the piston to initiate movement. After traversing approximately half the predetermined length both sides of the piston are pressurized to decelerate the piston during the member movement for approximately the next third of the predetermined length. The remaining length is traversed with the decelerating pressure being vented to positively finish the motion along the predetermined path. In vertical moving members having significant mass such as press safety curtains, a higher pressure is used to decelerate the piston than the pressure used to drive the piston.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding strip stock into a machine, such as a press, in which opposed feed rolls are closed on the strip stock for frictionally engaging the strip stock and one thereof is accelerated from a stopped position and is then decelerated back to a stopped position for a feed cycle with a control system provided for determining the precise point during a feed cycle to initiate deceleration of the feed roll. At the end of a feed cycle, the feed rolls are again separated.

Abstract: A method for automatically controlling the operation of a rod-working apparatus of the type including a rod-feeding unit which feeds towards a cyclically operating work tool a certain length of rod per work cycle of the tool. There are selected a minimum and a maximum distance through which a rod to be fed towards the work tool is to be permitted to advance per work cycle of the tool. A rod is fed towards and into the range of operation of the tool. The actual distance advanced by the rod during a work cycle of the tool is determined. It is also determined whether the actual distance of advancement falls within the range defined between the preselected minimum and maximum distances. When the actual distance falls outside such range, operation of the rod-feeding unit is terminated.

Abstract: A device for inserting a hot, heavy blank into a drop hammer die comprises a car mounted on rails for movement toward and away from the die and supporting a unit thereon adapted to be positioned in at least partially overlying relation to the die. The unit includes a pair of elongated rotatable shafts positioned in spaced parallel relation to one another with each shaft supporting a plurality of elongated rollers extending from that shaft partially across the space between the shafts. Positioning means are provided for selectively rotating the elongated shafts to vary the planar relationships of the rollers relative to one another, and further positioning means are provided for varying the orientation of the plane defined by the shafts between horizontal and inclined positions.

Abstract: A work transfer and drive device in a transfer press is disclosed having a stationary shaft supported in the framework of said press and an actuator gear rotatably mounted on said shaft to be driven by the drive means of said press. A sun gear is mounted on said shaft in coaxial relationship to said actuator gear, a planetary gear is secured to an eccentric shaft on said actuator gear in meshing with said sun gear, and a first eccentric pin integral with said eccentric shaft is slidably received in a radial groove formed in a rotary member rotatably mounted on said stationary shaft. A second eccentric pin in said rotary member is operatively connected to a first slidable member to be guided by a stationary guide bar parallel to feed bars and a second slidable member is operatively connected to said first slidable member and one of feed bars.

Abstract: A tube bending machine includes a carriage mounted rotatable chuck for grasping and positioning a length of tube with respect to the bending head of the machine. Motion of the carriage along the bed of the machine toward the bending head and rotation of the chuck relative to the carriage are both powered by a single remotely mounted motor driving an endless chain. The chain engages a drive sprocket rotatable on the carriage and gear connected to rotate the chuck. A chuck brake and a carriage distance brake are selectively energized so that when chuck rotation is prevented, the sprocket is locked to the chain and the carriage will be driven by the chain, and when carriage travel is prevented, the chuck is rotated by the chain driven sprocket. The remote motor is connected in a primary servo system to provide a closed loop drive of either the chuck rotation or the carriage travel. A closed loop brake control system is provided for each of the chuck rotation and carriage travel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for blanking from coil stock blanks to be supplied to and formed by a transfer press having a transfer feed line through the transfer press along which the blanks are fed. The coil stock is fed along a coil stock feed line which is below the transfer feed line of the transfer press over a male blanking punch. A female blanking die is lowered from above the transfer feed line of the press over the male blanking punch for blanking blanks from the coil stock. The blanks so formed are elevated from the male blanking punch to the transfer feed line of the press for transfer thereof along the transfer feed line. The scrap of the coil stock resulting from such blanking operation is discharged along the coil stock feed line below the transfer feed line of the press so as not to interfere with the transfer of the blanks along the transfer feed line of the press.

Abstract: A press line system in which there is provided a series of individually driven presses arranged in a line and each having a work loading means and an unloader and in which each of said presses is fed with a workpiece by activation of its associated loading means. As the loading means returns to its initial position, a signal is generated for operating the press for a stroke of operation. After the stroke of operation has been completed, a further signal is generated for actuating the unloader associated with the press for discharging the work from the press.

Abstract: This invention relates to a workpiece translation mechanism for moving successive workpieces through successive stations of a transfer stamping die. Workpiece engaging mechanisms are provided on a top subframe which is mounted on an intermediate subframe for horizontal motion parallel to the path of the workpieces through the transfer die. The intermediate subframe is mounted on a bottom subframe for horizontal reciprocating movement transverse to the path of the workpieces. The bottom subframe is mounted for relative vertical reciprocating motions with respect to the bed of the transfer press. Appropriate mechanical driving arrangements are provided for both the top and intermediate subframes so that both horizontal movements are respectively accomplished with an harmonic acceleration and deceleration of the respective subframes so that they are at essentially zero velocity when they reach each extreme of their reciprocatory positions.