Abstract: A bandsaw machine has a bandsaw blade frictionally held between opposed first and second guide members. A removably adjustable pressing plate member is connected to the second guide member. The second guide member is movable towards and away from the first guide member in response to adjustable movement of the pressing plate member. A lever-actuated cam acts on the pressing plate member to movably adjust the same.

Abstract: A cutting machine for subdividing material lengths comprises a roller table establishing a transport path along which the material is directed to a cutting zone. A cutting head assembly has a cutting blade for cutting material located at the cutting zone. A front vise assembly is fixed adjacent to the cutting zone with first and second jaws arranged in opposed mutually spaced relationship on opposite sides of the transport path. A first jaw operating mechanism is provided for adjusting the spacing of the first and second jaws between an open position permitting movement therebetween of the material and a closed position clamping the material therebetween. A rear vise assembly is mounted on a carriage underlying the roller table. The carriage is movable in opposite directions parallel to the transport path. The rear vise assembly has third and fourth jaws also arranged in opposed mutually spaced relationship on opposite sides of the transport path.

Abstract: A stroke-adjusting drive mechanism in which the stroke of a reciprocating member, such as a piston, is adjustable for use in machines such as hydraulic presses and press brakes is disclosed. The apparatus includes a cylinder and piston with a piston rod member which projects outwardly from the cylinder. A restricting valve means is arranged between a chamber of the cylinder defined by the piston member and a hydraulic passage connected with a hydraulic pump. An adjusting member is arranged in the piston rod member so as to be adjustably positioned along the axis thereof and a regulating valve is provided for restricting the flow of hydraulic fluid from the first chamber in response to changes of pressure and the hydraulic passage. By means of the apparatus of the present invention, the stroke length of the piston member can be easily and precisely adjusted as well as stopped at a desired position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a horizontal bandsaw machine comprising a bandsaw blade for cutting a workpiece in a cutting zone of the horizontal bandsaw machine, a saw-guide for guiding the bandsaw, a lubricating member located above a back edge of the bandsaw blade, and an elongate plate for contacting the workpiece, and at least aperture for applying lubricant to the back edge of the bandsaw blade. The saw-guide is located at opposite sides of the cutting zone and the elongate plate is located at a side of the bandsaw blade. The aperture for applying lubricant to the back edge of the bandsaw blade is provided at an underside of the lubricating member so as to be aligned in a line in a direction along a length of the bandsaw blade.

Abstract: A press is disclosed having an upper tool which is vertically reciprocated by means of a ram and which is arranged to cooperate with a stationary lower tool in performing work on a workpiece positioned therebetween. The press is characterized by improved apparatus for detachably mounting the upper and lower tools, as well as by an improved apparatus for limiting upward movement of the workpiece during upward retraction of the upper tool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting mis-strippings in a press having a ram and upper and lower tools for punching workpieces. The apparatus comprises an electric circuit which is closed when the ram and the upper tool are in contact with each other. A relay is provided in the electric circuit and is actuated when the ram and the upper tool are brought out of contact with each other when the ram is returning from a bottom dead-center position to a top dead-center position. Also, a contact in the relay is connected with a main circuit for driving the press.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for facilitating safe operation of mechanical presses. The press includes a press ram mounted on a crank shaft and adapted for reciprocatory movement along a vertical path between uppermost and lowermost points on the path. A motor is provided for turning the crank shaft through 360 degrees rotation including an upper dead center position. The press further includes main clutch and brake means for disconnecting the crank shaft from the motor and stopping the ram at the uppermost point of its path of travel after completion of a stroking cycle. At this point the crank shaft is at its upper dead center position. The press also includes an auxiliary clutch which is operatively connected in series with the main clutch and which is normally engaged for transmitting power from the motor to the crank shaft.

Abstract: In a horizontal bandsaw machine of the type having a base with a worktable for supporting a material, and a cutting head assembly carrying a cutting blade which is operable at varying speeds and which is arranged to perform a cutting operation on the material, the cutting head assembly being movable in one direction away from the material by a fluid-actuated mechanism fed by a pump from a fluid reservoir, and being movable in the opposite direction by means of gravity when feeding the cutting blade into the material, a control system for controlling the movement of the cutting head assembly in the aforesaid opposite direction, comprising a plurality of control valves and associated conduits for returning hydraulic fluid from the fluid actuated mechanism to the reservoir during movement of the cutting assembly in its opposite direction, the control valves being responsive in part to changes in the operating speed of the cutting blade.

Abstract: A vertical bandsaw machine having a feed mechanism with a driving component movable in opposite directions in response to the application thereto of hydraulic fluid pressure. A workpiece engaging element urges the workpiece towards the cutting blade in response to movement of the driving component in one direction, while accommodating movement of the workpiece away from the cutting blade during movement of the driving component in the opposite direction. The application of hydraulic fluid pressure to the driving component is controlled by valves which are both manually adjustable and automatically responsive to the forces opposing workpiece movement towards the cutting blade.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for changing dies in a press and for storing dies not in use in a storage rack associated with the press. The press includes a work table disposed beneath the ram of the press and having means for moving dies from a "waiting position" at the left of the ram to a "working position" beneath the ram and then to a "retiring position" to the right of the ram. A die returning conveyor returns dies from the "retiring position" to a die transferring carriage disposed behind the ram from where they are automatically transferred to an adjacent storage rack. When a particular die is desired, it is automatically removed from the storage rack by the die transferring carriage, and then conveyed to the "waiting position" by means of a die advancing conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for blanking wide sheet materials into a plurality of pieces of predetermined shapes are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a blanking die press and first and second carriages movable in a predetermined, numerically controlled and programmable sequence along Y and X axes, respectively, relative to the blanking die press. The blanking die includes upper and lower die holders which are adapted to be automatically rotated approximately 180.degree. to reverse the die orientation and thereby more economically blank the sheet material with a minimum of wastage.

Abstract: A bandsaw wheel having laterally spaced grooves in the periphery thereof. Annular rubber-like members are received in the grooves and protrude therefrom beyond the wheel periphery to provide radial support for a bandsaw blade at a plurality of laterally spaced locations.

Abstract: A rotary shearing apparatus for slitting sheet material into a plurality of strips of predetermined width is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a plurality of tool carriages each having upper and lower tool-holding members supporting upper and lower shearing tools, respectively, and mounted for axial movement in a machine frame for ease of positioning of the tool carriages and replacement of the shearing tools when necessary. Mechanisms are provided for adjusting the vertical overlap of the shearing tools and for automatically moving the tool carriages independently of one another at high or low speed to vary the spacing between the tool carriages and thereby adjust the width of the strips to be slit from the sheet material.

Abstract: Apparatus for making folds or bends of adjustable length in sheet metal. The apparatus includes a retractable chain-like die which can be shortened or lengthened so as to adjust the operative length of the die.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a roll forming machine having a plurality of sequentially-arranged forming units adapted to progressively bend edges of metal sheet into a given shape. The forming units include upper and lower rollers between which the metal sheet is fed and having axes of rotation inclined to one another. Each of the lower rollers includes a bending portion and a holding portion defining a predetermined angle therebetween. The upper roller has two frusto-conical peripheries disposed in confronting relation to the working surfaces of the lower roller and spaced therefrom by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the sheet metal. In order to accommodate sheet metals of different thicknesses, the spacing between the upper and lower rollers may be varied by mounting the upper roller on a swingable mounting means whereby the upper roller is swung along a relatively short arc which approximates a linear path bisecting the angle defined by the working surfaces of the lower roller.

Abstract: A rotary turret numerically controlled punch press is provided with a discharge station at 90.degree. from a punching station. A part is clamped in the turret, separated from a larger workpiece and then rotated with the turret to the discharge station. A transfer arm is slaved to the NC punch press and engages the part at an exact attitude and position relative to a reference point on the part and transfers the part to a rotary chuck. The part is placed in the chuck at an exact attitude and with the reference point at the axis of rotation of the chuck.Four rotary chucks are provided on a rotary turret contouring apparatus. The turret is rotated 90.degree. to position the part at a cutting station.A band saw is provided with rotary guides for changing the angle of the saw. While the part is rotated and linearly translated toward and away from the saw by the contouring apparatus, the saw cuts a peripheral shape on the path with the blade changing its angular attitude where necessary.

Abstract: A rotary turret numerically controlled punch press is provided with a discharge station at 90.degree. from a punching station. A part is clamped in the turret, separated from a larger workpiece and then rotated with the turret to the discharge station. A transfer arm is slaved to the NC punch press and engages the part at an exact attitude and position relative to a reference point on the part and transfers the part to a rotary chuck. The part is placed in the chuck at an exact attitude and with the reference point at the axis of rotation of the chuck.Four rotary chucks are provided on a rotary turret contouring apparatus. The turret is rotated 90.degree. to position the part at a cutting station.A band saw is provided with rotary guides for changing the angle of the saw. While the part is rotated and linearly translated toward and away from the saw by the contouring apparatus, the saw cuts a peripheral shape on the part with the blade changing its angular attitude where necessary.

Abstract: A side feeding shearing apparatus is provided with an upper frame having a side opening to allow sheets to be swung between the shear punch and die to position the sheet for feeding past the shear punch. The shear punch is positioned below the sheet supporting surface of the shearing apparatus and is raised for shearing the sheets. Sheets are delivered to the shearing apparatus by a transfer mechanism that includes a base secured to an adjacent N.C. punch press. An arm which clamps the sheet is pivotally mounted on the base and the arm is accurately aligned on the base by a shot pin and corresponding aperture. Movement of the sheet through the shearing apparatus is provided by the sheet positioning means of the N.C. punch press.

Abstract: A workpiece clamp is provided with a stationary first workpiece-engaging member and a movable second workpiece-engaging member which is slidable along its longitudinal axis from an extended position where it is closely spaced and aligned above the first workpiece-engaging member to a retracted position where it is moved upwardly away from the first workpiece-engaging member and slid longitudinally rearwardly of the first workpiece-engaging member for lifting or placing a workpiece in position for clamping.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a punching apparatus for perforating sheet materials, and comprises a multiple tool holding unit mounted on a press table beneath a vertically movable press ram. The tool holding unit includes a horizontally extending upper arm having a horizontally swingably journalled holding member disposed at the free end thereof. The punch holding member is provided with a plurality of punch holding bores which may be selectively positioned beneath the press ram whereby holes of different diameter may be punched in the sheet material. The punching unit further includes a lower arm disposed beneath the horizontally extending upper arm, and includes a die holding bore having the configuration of two half circles connected with each other by two parallel lines running in the same horizontal direction as the lower arm and is further provided with a horizontally movable clamping member.