Abstract: A slide lock is adapted for positioning within the upper portion, or crown, of a stamping press adjacent its eccentric gears. The slide lock includes a hydraulically actuated, electrically controlled module pivotally mounted to the press crown and including an acme screw and pivoting nut combination, a sector gear, an eccentric, and a sliding block attached to the eccentric. Locking of the slide of the press at any position of the press stroke is initiated by the linear displacement of the slide lock module and by rotating the eccentric to lower the slide lock module toward an eccentric gear. If the sector gear is able to fully mesh with the eccentric gear, the slide lock will continue to lower, with the eccentric rotating beyond its centerline, or beyond bottom dead center, until it contacts a closed, or locked, mechanical stop. The sector gear and eccentric gear are fully in mesh with the eccentric in an axial positive mechanical locked position to prevent press eccentric gear rotation and slide movement.

Abstract: A mechanical transfer press employs a plurality of paired self-supporting, stroke doubling transfer/feed mechanisms, with each pair of transfer/feed mechanisms coupled to a cross bar, for sequentially transferring piece parts to a series of stamping stages in the press. Vacuum cups attached to the cross bar engage one or more piece parts for transferring the piece parts to the next stage. Each transfer/feed mechanism includes a lift/lower drive as well as a feed/return drive for positioning piece parts intermediate upper and lower dies of the press and for removing the cross bar and vacuum cups from the stamping stage prior to the stamping operation. Each pair of transfer/feed mechanisms is positioned above its associated stamping stage to facilitate access to and increase clearance from the dies.