Abstract: A can end is punched from a sheet of material, formed and curled in a single station with a single movement of the punch. An intermediate axial peripheral wall is formed by the blanking punch and a cooperating die core ring. A pressure sleeve surrounding the die core ring has a chamfered inner edge which engages a peripheral edge of the blank at the lower end of the axial peripheral wall. While the formed end is held between the punch and the die, the pressure sleeve moves upward, forcing the peripheral wall outward into a recess, either in the blank punch or the die pressure sleeve, moving the metal outward into the curl. The curl is thus expansion formed rather than compression formed. The formed and curled end is removed from the assemblies by knockout rings.

Abstract: Can ends are ejected from a tool station by a lifter ring and air currents in an ejector chute provided by a curved nozzle assembly adjacent an opening in the lower edge of the chute. It entrains can ends in air current across the die station and over a knife edge in the lower opening of the chute. The lower wall of the chute is positioned on top of the blanking die during the can end entrainment. The punch assembly moves down through the lower opening and through a larger opening in the chute. After can end clears the tooling and continues down the chute with air streams that are augmented by nozzles in the upper wall, the chute is lifted. Double-acting cylinder actuators lift the chute. Side walls of the chute taper inwardly to align the can ends for precise release from the discharge end. Sensor emitters sense passage of the can ends. Solenoid valves control application of fluid pressure to opposite ends of the actuator cylinders.

Abstract: A lightweight, high speed, quick change transfer for a press has plural slide assemblies. Each slide assembly has an elongated rectangular base plate, two U-shaped end support plates, and parallel guide shafts extending between the support plates. Linear bearings on the guide shaft and pillow blocks on the linear bearings support a reciprocating transfer slide with parallel sides and a central opening. A finger lift bar extends within the central opening. Sloped slots in the lift bars engage cam rollers held on shafts between the parallel sides of the transfer slides. Any number of slide assemblies and repeater slide assemblies may be used. Transfer bars with workpiece-engaging fingers connect ends of the finger lift bars in the slide assemblies, driving the finger lift bars in the repeater assemblies while moving the product-engaging fingers. Parallel lift drive bars move the transfer slides in repeater slide assemblies.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus has longitudinal, transverse and vertical movements. Transfer bars are mounted on a frame which moves longitudinally as a unit. The bars move transversely on the frame. A drive box mounted on a side of the frame has transverse and longitudinal drive levers. The longitudinal drive lever has a roller which slides in a transverse track in one of the transfer bars to drive the frame forward and rearward. The transverse drive lever is pivotally connected to a link which is pivotally connected to a pivotally mounted crank arm. A roller on one side of the crank arm pivot slides in a longitudinal track in one transfer bar to push that bar in and out. A slideable transverse rod pivotally connected to the crank arm on the other side of the pivot has a roller on a remote end which slides in a longitudinal track in the other of the transfer bars to push that transfer bar in and out.

Abstract: Slidably mounted blocks with toothed wheels supporting arms of various radial extension provide variable travel distances for the gripper bar when moving in the transfer direction.

Abstract: A barrel cam turns with a shaft mounted on bearings in a cam box. Four linear bearings mounted on the outside of the box receive hollow slider tubes which are clamped to legs of an H-shaped frame which holds roller cam followers. Bearings and followers are lubricated with pressure fittings, and the cam box is drained. Parallel transfer bars connected to the frame support a feeder plate with spring loaded fingers and divider bars with inward facing forward and downward sloped channels to remove lowermost articles from stacks and to feed the articles forward. The transfer bars have pockets which receive inserts with recesses for holding edges of articles. Some of the inserts have openings for receiving horizontally oriented spring loaded retainers with inward and upward sloping article engaging faces. This application is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 005,268, filed 1-22-79, now abandoned.

Abstract: A transfer has gripper bars capable of grasping, lifting and transferring a work piece. The grasping and lifting motions are actuated by face cams. The face cams act through rocker arm linkages connected to rotatable rods having arms connected to the gripper bars. The transferring motion is actuated by a barrel cam having an axial cam curve positioned between cam followers. A lifting frame has diagonal slots which receive guide pins connected to a base frame. A rack and pinion assembly connected to the gripper bars facilitates the gripping motion. Slidably mounted blocks with toothed wheels supporting arms of various radial extension provide variable travel distances for the gripper bar when moving in the transfer direction.

Abstract: A transfer has gripper bars capable of grasping, lifting and transferring a work piece. The grasping and lifting motions are actuated by face cams. The face cams act through rocker arm linkages connected to rotatable rods having arms connected to the gripper bars. The transferring motion is actuated by a barrel cam having an axial cam curve positioned between cam followers. A lifting frame has diagonal slots which receive guide pins connected to a base frame. A rack and pinion assembly connected to the gripper bars facilitates the gripping motion. Slidably mounted blocks with toothed wheels supporting arms of various radial extension provide variable travel distances for the gripper bar when moving in the transfer direction.