Abstract: A mechanism for hemming the beltline of a vehicle door panel is combined with a mechanism for hemming the outside perimeter of the door panel, and the two mechanisms are driven by a common drive. The beltline hemming steel acts on the beltline hem before the outside perimeter hemming steel acts on the outside perimeter hem, and lost motion in the actuation of the beltline hemming steel allows the beltline hemming steel to complete the beltline hem before the outside perimeter hem is completed. The lost motion mechanism provides reduced interaction or sensitivity between the steels, and the delay in the completion of the outside perimeter hem allows the entire hemming apparatus to be more easily tuned during set-up. The lost motion allows the entire mechanism to be less sensitive to variations in workpiece thickness.

Abstract: The upper platen of a press is driven by a ballscrew that is rotated by an electric motor. The ballscrew is suspended from the crown of the press, and the force on the ballscrew shaft when the upper platen is driven into the workpiece causes the crown to flex upward. The flexure of the crown is sensed by a position transducer mounted on a cantilever support. The position transducer generates a signal that can be used to determine the tonnage force developed by the press.

Abstract: A mechanical press drive that uses a ballscrew apparatus to move the upper platen of a press upward and downward. A first coupling is connected to a screw of the ballscrew apparatus and connects the screw to one of a movable platen of a press or a stationary member of the press. A second coupling is connected to and couples a nut of the ballscrew apparatus to the other of the platen and the stationary member of the press. A drive motor is operably connected to one of the nut and screw and relatively rotates them to impart reciprocal motion to a movable press platen coupled to the other of the nut and screw. The two couplings cooperatively isolate the ballscrew apparatus from offset and moment loading that may occur during press operation.

Abstract: A mechanical press drive that uses a ballscrew apparatus to move the upper platen of a press upward and downward. A first coupling is connected to a screw of the ballscrew apparatus and connects the screw to one of a movable platen of a press or a stationary member of the press. A second coupling is connected to and couples a nut of the ballscrew apparatus to the other of the platen and the stationary member of the press. A drive motor is operably connected to one of the nut and screw and relatively rotates them to impart reciprocal motion to a movable press platen coupled to the other of the nut and screw. The two couplings cooperatively isolate the ballscrew apparatus from offset and moment loading that may occur during press operation.

Abstract: An automotive framing apparatus with a support frame having a frame roof supported above a generally horizontal support surface. At least four gate assemblies are carried by a carrousel supported on the frame roof for rotational movement around a common vertical axis and form two gate assembly pairs of diametrically-opposed gate assemblies. The gate assemblies of each gate assembly pair are supported for pivotal movement between generally horizontal stowed and generally vertical working positions. A rotary drive selectively positions one gate assembly pair at a time in a framing position from which the two gate assemblies of the selected gate assembly pair can be pivoted by a drive downward to respective diametrically opposed working positions on opposed sides of a vehicle body to be welded.