Abstract: The disclosure describes a new type of pressure cylinder to provide clamping force while fabricating deep drawn metal parts. The piston is a hollow cylinder connected to the clamping pad. The drawing tools are connected to the draw ram by a rod passing through the hollow piston. This arrangement provides a smaller overall press height and an axisymmetric clamping force. In addition, the symmetry of the parts described means that the wear parts can be reversed to double their useful lives.

Abstract: An inverted press for producing multiple drawn metal containers combines in one press the functions of cupping and drawing presses. The press includes a blanking and cupping station and several drawing and redrawing stations, disposed one adjacent the other and rendered serially operative by a vertically reciprocable slide assembly. At each stage of operation the material, semifinished article or finished article is under complete control. A method for producing a drawn container by multiple forming and reforming of a drawn article, is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for the high speed transfer of workpieces in a multi-station machine. The stations are located in a common plane, in axial alignment and are equidistantly spaced. The apparatus utilizes a carrier assembly, which incorporates a pair of parallel barrels with a shaft received within the bore of each barrel. A series of confronting openings, which expose the shafts, are formed in the barrel walls at intervals which correspond with the spacing of the machine stations. A pair of gripping fingers are located at each barrel opening. A first finger is affixed to the barrel, extending outwardly therefrom, while a second finger which is affixed to the shaft, extends through the barrel wall opening to cooperate with the first finger. By pivoting the barrels in unison, with respect to the shafts, which are rotatably locked, the fingers can be caused to assume either a gripping or releasing attitude.

Abstract: A thickness gauge is shown for measurement with each stroke of a metal blanking and cupping press. The gauge is adapted to be carried with the press ram adjacent to the blanking die. The gauge includes a thickness feeler plunger and reference support for carrying contact pins. The feeler and the support for the pins are mounted for relative motion with respect to the moving part of the press and for limited relative motion with respect to each other whereby the gauge can accommodate press overstroke and varying thicknesses of stock.

Abstract: A cyclically operable machine having a work station where a blank is deformed into a work product and in which the work product is ejected on to a conveyor oscillated between that station and another conveyor to which the work product is delivered synchronously.