Abstract: A die transfer system that includes a lower die, an upper die carried for reciprocal movement toward and away from the lower die to perform at least one operation on a workpiece positioned therebetween, and a conveyor arrangement for sequentially conveying workpieces between the dies. The conveyor arrangement includes a hollow tubular transfer bar having at least one hand for engaging workpieces. The transfer bar is operatively coupled to an arrangement for reciprocating the transfer bar in at least one direction relative to the lower die. A mass is resiliently suspended within the transfer bar for vibrating with the transfer bar out of phase to vibrations in the transfer bar, and thereby countercyclically damping vibrations in the transfer bar.

Abstract: A die transfer system that includes a lower die, an upper die carried for reciprocal movement toward and away from the lower die to perform at least one operation on a workpiece positioned therebetween, and a conveyor for sequentially conveying workpieces between the dies. The conveyor includes a pair of elongated transfer bars parallel to each other and to the direction of movement of workpieces through the dies. Each transfer bar includes hands for engaging and carrying the workpieces. A pair of transfer drives are each operatively coupled to an associated one of the transfer bars for moving the transfer bars longitudinally parallel to each other independently of each other and out of phase with each other. A workpiece infeed conveyor is disposed adjacent to one end of a first of the transfer bars for feeding workpieces to the first transfer bar.

Abstract: A die transfer system that includes a lower die, an upper die carried for reciprocal movement toward and away from the lower die to perform at-least one operation on a workpiece positioned therebetween, and a conveyor arrangement for sequentially conveying workpieces between the dies. The conveyor arrangement includes a camshaft having an axis of rotation parallel to the direction of movement of workpieces through the die system, a transfer bar parallel to the camshaft axis carrying a plurality of hands for engaging the workpieces, and a cam arrangement coupling the camshaft to the transfer bar for moving the transfer bar both horizontally and vertically orthogonal to the camshaft axis. The cam arrangement includes a cam arm coupled to the camshaft and having a pair of angularly spaced drive rollers mounted thereon.

Abstract: A die transfer system that includes a lower die, an upper die carried for reciprocal movement toward and away from the lower die to perform at least one operation on a workpiece positioned therebetween, and a conveyor arrangement for sequentially conveying workpieces between the dies. The conveyor arrangement includes a conveyor disposed on at least one lateral side of the lower die having hands for engaging successive workpieces and indexing the workpieces longitudinally of the lower die between the die stations. The conveyor is mounted on a wheeled cart carried by a support base, such as a bolster or the plant floor. The wheeled cart is selectively releasably fastened to the support base in such a way that the cart, and the conveyor carried by the cart, may be moved away from the lower die for operator access to the conveyor, and the upper and lower dies.

Abstract: A die transfer system that includes a lower die, an upper die carried for reciprocal movement toward and away from the lower die to perform at least one operation on a workpiece positioned therebetween, and a conveyor arrangement for sequentially conveying workpieces between the dies. The conveyor arrangement includes a pair of conveyors disposed on laterally opposed sides of the lower die, with each of the conveyors having hands for engaging successive workpieces and indexing the workpieces longitudinally of the lower die between the die stations. At least one of the conveyors is mounted to a fixed support base for selectively swinging such conveyor laterally away from the lower die to afford operator access to such conveyor and the lower die.

Abstract: A die transfer system that includes a lower die, an upper die carried for reciprocal vertical movement toward and away from the lower die to perform at least one operation on a workpiece positioned therebetween, and a conveyor for sequentially conveying workpieces between the dies. The conveyor includes a plurality of hands for gripping workpieces and spaced from each other by distances corresponding to stations of the die. The conveyor and hands are indexed in a direction through the die between the stations in synchronism with motion of the upper die. The hands are moved simultaneously in at least one direction perpendicular to the indexing direction by a camshaft that extends through the stations along an axis parallel to the indexing direction. A cam is mounted on the camshaft for rotation with the camshaft in synchronism with motion of the upper die.

Abstract: A transfer die system that includes a fixed lower die, an upper die carried for reciprocal vertical movement toward and away from the lower die to perform operations on workpieces positioned between the dies, and a conveyor for feeding workpieces in sequence between the upper and lower dies. The upper and lower dies define a plurality of die stations, including a workpiece load station at the upstream end of the conveyor, a workpiece unload station at the downstream end of the conveyor, and at least one intermediate station for performing a desired operation on workpieces passing through the die. An improved conveyor that characterizes the present invention comprises an endless loop conveyor that has a reach vertically positioned between the upper and lower dies.

Abstract: A disposable filter bag insert for use in a filter canister assembly that comprises a rigid ring of diameter to overlie a shoulder on the canister and be sealingly captured between the canister base and top. A filter stock of sheet stock construction is suspended from the ring and has a lock stitch extending along the bottom and one side edge thereof. A section of oil-adsorbent material is likewise suspended from the ring, but covers less than the entire surface area of the sock, such that fluid flow through the sock continues even if the oil-adsorbent material becomes clogged. The sock lock stitch is specially contoured where it is looped over the ring for enhanced sealing capture between the canister top and base.

Abstract: An indexing conveyor for receiving and conveying workpiece blanks comprising a base mounting a pair of horizontal chain conveyors having a series of conveying hands in laterally opposed pairs at predetermined spacing along the conveyor chains. A pair of vertical chain conveyors are positioned laterally outwardly of the horizontal conveyors and each carry a pair of workpiece-support fingers. The horizontal and vertical conveyors have chain-drive sprockets mounted on a common drive shaft and are synchronized such that workpiece blanks carried by the vertical conveyor fingers are deposited in horizontal conveyor hands as the vertical conveyor fingers travel downwardly past the horizontal conveyor. A stacker for workpiece blanks includes cam fingers carried by supports above an index position of the horizontal conveyor, and a ram for successively lifting workpieces from the horizontal conveyor against the fingers.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for testing leak integrity of a workpiece such as a wheel rim in which the rim is positioned within a air-tight housing with the axial rim edges in sealing engagement with opposed wall portions of the housing so as to form first and second chambers within the housing internally and externally of the rim. One of such chambers is supplied with air under pressure from a tank which is precharged during the workpiece transfer process. Microphones are positioned in the other chamber for detecting leakage of air through the rim as a function of intensity of ultrasonic radiation emitted thereby. Gross leaks are detected by connecting the pressurized chamber to an air supply through a orifice, and detecting ultrasonic radiation resulting from flow of make-up air through the orifice.

Abstract: Ultrasonic leak detection apparatus which includes a cycloidal transfer mechanism for sequentially feeding a plurality of workpieces to a test station. An elevator at the test station alternately lifts workpieces in sequence to an elevated position to a test chamber and lowers workpieces from the test chamber to the transfer mechanism. An enclosure cooperates with the elevator to form the test chamber in which the workpiece is pressurized and microphones detect any leakage of air through cracks or the like. A reject station downstream of the test station includes facility for removing defective workpieces from the transfer line.

Abstract: A die lifter rail adapted to be inserted into the open end of a conventional inverted T-slot in the bolster plate of a press has a narrow support bar dimensioned to extend lengthwise within the narrower stem portion of the T-slot and a plurality of sets of vertically stacked Belleville springs spaced lengthwise of the support bar and resiliently supporting it for vertical movement. The Belleville springs have a diameter substantially greater than the width of the support bar and corresponding generally to the width of the wider base portion of the t-slot. Studs extending vertically upwardly through the Belleville springs have a sliding fit with bores in the support bar to guide its vertical movement. A plurality of longitudinally spaced rollers are journalled in the support bar and project above the upper face thereof to support a die for sliding movement on the press bolster plate.