Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanical press and in particular to a means for achieving thermal stability, particularly shutheight stability, by utilizing the waste heat from lubricant circulated through the drive assembly to heat the uprights. The oil is circulated through the crankshaft and connection arm assembly in the crown and then caused to flow through a thermal transfer device mounted to each of the uprights wherein the heated oil transfers a portion of its heat to the uprights so that they elongate due to thermal expansion at the same rate as the connection arms. The thermal transfer devices comprise a plurality of baffles over and through which the oil flows under gravity or pressure, wherein the baffles cause the oil to form a plurality of vertically spaced pools in good thermal contact with the uprights.

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.