RETRACTABLE HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSFER PRESS SPLIT IDLE STATION

Abstract

A split idle station assembly, a transfer press assembly including a split idle station assembly and a method of operating on a work piece in a transfer press assembly. The split idle station assembly is situated adjacent one or more work stations of the transfer press assembly such that an operator may manipulate a handle in order to adjust the split idle station assembly between a support configuration where a work piece is secured and a split configuration where the operator may perform one or more operations on the work piece consistent with known idle station functions. The handle has a retractable construction such the handle can be stowed regardless of whether the idle station is in a split or support configuration. As such, the handle need not extend into a work space adjacent the transfer press assembly during periods where it would otherwise be unattended, thereby avoiding becoming a tripping hazard in or around the work space. In addition, the construction of the handle is such that it remains in a generally similar vertical distance above the floor of the work space regardless of whether it is deployed or stowed, thereby reducing operator fatigue associated with lifting a handle off the floor once the operator's idle station activities are complete.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present specification relates generally to transfer press assemblies and, more particularly, to a split idle station assembly for a transfer press assembly that has improved user ergonomics.

BACKGROUND

Transfer presses are generally used in metal-stamping operations and in particular for deep-drawn metal forming operations. Such a press typically includes numerous sequentially-arranged stations each of which receives and transfers a metal blank as it is being successively formed into its desired shape along numerous die stations.

Typically, the transfer press includes one or more idle stations situated between the successive punch-and-die stations as a way to provide locating and positioning functions for the part being formed. Because the parts being formed may be of different sizes or shapes, it is beneficial to provide the idle stations with the ability to accurately support, position and locate the parts, regardless of such size or shape. One conventional way to achieve this is to have the part-holding portion of the idle stations be of divided construction so that they can be split laterally (i.e., sideways) along the part-forming and transferring direction. During such splitting, an operator unhooks a hinged, spring loaded handle from a retainer and pulls one half of the part-holding portion of the idle station toward him or her, while the other half moves in an opposing direction via cable or related linkage.

Unfortunately, while the handle is deployed in this manner, it projects significantly into the assembly or work area floor space. At such times, the operator must lower the handle to his or her feet and then hinge it partially away from the work area. Such a handle—even when hinged away as far as possible from the feet—forms a tripping hazard. Furthermore, the deployed handle forms an ergonomic burden to the operator to pick up and re-insert once the idle station part moving activity is complete.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a split idle station for a transfer press is disclosed. The station includes a track assembly, first and second base assemblies slidably connected to the track assembly and a drive assembly that moves at least one of the first base assembly and the second base assembly relative to one another along the track assembly. The drive assembly includes a coupling mechanism and a handle cooperative that together cause selective movement between the base assemblies. The handle has a retractable construction such that it substantially fits within the dimensions defined by the track assembly. As such, the handle does not extend substantially beyond one or both of an elongate dimension and a lateral dimension defined by the track assembly when the handle is either stowed when the base assemblies are in their support configuration or deployed when the base assemblies are in their split configuration. Such handle construction avoids having to have the handle be left out as a tripping hazard in portions of a manufacturing environment that is adjacent the transfer station.

In another embodiment, a transfer press assembly is disclosed. The transfer press assembly includes a first work station, a second work station, a transfer feed assembly that transfers a work piece from the first work station to the second work station and a split idle station assembly disposed between the first work station and the second work station, the split idle station assembly including a track assembly, first and second base assemblies slidably connected to the track assembly and a drive assembly that moves at least one of the first base assembly and the second base assembly relative to one another along the track assembly. The drive assembly includes a coupling mechanism and a handle cooperative that together cause selective movement between the base assemblies along the track assembly, where the handle has a retractable construction such that it substantially fits within the dimensions defined by the track assembly.

In yet another embodiment, a method of operating on a work piece in a transfer press assembly is disclosed. The method includes moving the work piece to a split idle station from the work station, moving the handle along a substantially elongate dimension of the track assembly and selectively moving the work piece on the idle station. The idle station includes a track assembly, a pair of base assemblies slidably connected to the track assembly, and a drive assembly that moves at least one of the first base assembly and the second base assembly relative to one another along the track assembly to define one of a support configuration and a split configuration. In one form, the drive assembly includes a coupling mechanism and a selectively lockable handle, while in another, the handle may be directly coupled to the base assemblies without the drive assembly acting as an intermediary. The handle has retractable construction such that when in a locked condition, any of its inward or outward movement substantially prevents the handle from retracting, which in turn causes a change from one of the support configuration and the split configuration to the other of the support configuration and the split configuration. Likewise, when the handle is in an unlocked condition, any of its inward or outward movement corresponds to the handle extending or retracting such that the movement does not substantially result in the station changing from one of the support configuration and the split configuration to the other of the support configuration and the split configuration during such extending or retracting. Moreover, the retractable construction permits the handle to move from a deployed position to a stowed position while the station remains in its split configuration, the stowed position configured such that the handle does not substantially extend beyond at least one of the elongate dimension and a lateral dimension defined by the track assembly.

These and additional features provided by the embodiments described herein will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a plan view of a transfer press assembly including an idle station assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments shown or described herein;

FIG. 2A depicts a perspective view of a split idle station assembly in a split configuration with a handle in accordance with the prior art;

FIGS. 2B and 2C depict details of the handle of FIG. 2A, as well as an operating sequence therefor;

FIG. 3A depicts perspective view of a split idle station assembly in a split configuration with a handle in accordance with one or more embodiments shown or described herein;

FIG. 3B depicts details of the handle of FIG. 3A;

FIGS. 4A and 4B depict an operating sequence for the handle of FIG. 3B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed herein include a handle used in a transfer press assembly to eliminate tripping hazards associated with its use in a split idle station, to reduce interference with the part-forming process of the transfer press and related die-forming stations, and to reduce ergonomic strain associated with the use of the handle in the split idle station. In one particular form, the handle is retractable to remain in an ergonomic neutral position (i.e., neither raised nor lowered) when pulling out or pushing it in as part of changing the idle station from a support configuration to a split configuration of vice versa. In a more particular form, a 90° (i.e., quarter rotation) twist of the handle, followed by a pushing half of the shaft inside the other half, retracts the handle away from the working area and back into the track assembly to eliminate any tripping hazard, as well as reduces the ergonomic burden of the operator having to bend over to retrieve the handle.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a transfer press assembly 10 includes a transfer feed assembly 12 with transfer feed bars 14 and 16 located at opposite sides of numerous work stations 18 and 20. The transfer feed bars 14 and 16 are substantially parallel with one another to define an axial feed direction 22 for a work piece (not shown). Each transfer feed bar 14 and 16 includes a plurality of fingers 24 that extend inwardly toward each other and into a transfer region 26 through which the work piece is conveyed. The transfer feed bars 14 and 16 and fingers 24 are used to move the work piece between a pair of work stations 28, 30 during a forming process. The work stations 28, 30 are used to form the work piece and may include one or more inline presses 34 and 36 that can perform various portions of an overall forming process, such as drawing, trimming, bending, piercing, stamping or the like.

A split idle station assembly 32 is sized and located between the two work stations 28 and 30 within the transfer region 26 to receive a work piece between working operations. Additionally, while only two work stations 28 and 30 and one split idle station assembly 32 are shown for illustrative purposes, it will be appreciated that any number of work stations 28 and 30 and split idle station assemblies 32 can be employed, and that all such variants are within the scope of the present disclosure. The feed transfer assembly 12 is used to transfer the work pieces from one work station 28 to the split idle station assembly 32 and then to the second work station 30, and so on. Two or more types of transfer motion may be used by the transfer feed bars 14 and 16. In some embodiments, the transfer motion of the transfer feed bars 14 and 16 may include a lateral engagement motion in the direction of arrow 38, into and away from the transfer region 26. Within the present context, the axial feed direction 22 and the lateral engagement motion 38 correspond to the X and Y axes respectively of a conventional Cartesian coordinate system as shown. It will be appreciated that such labels are arbitrary and a matter of descriptive convenience, and as such may vary depending on the context. For example, within the larger transfer press assembly 10, the axial dimension may correspond to the direction of flow of the work piece, whereas within individual components such as the track assembly 66 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 3A and discussed in more detail below, the axial dimension will be understood to correspond to the elongate direction of a rail 68 (as shown in FIGS. 2A and 3A) that is orthogonal to the axial dimension of the transfer press assembly 10. The split idle station assembly 32 includes a first base assembly 60 and a second base assembly 62 that together form a work piece support assembly 64 for placement of the work piece thereon. The first base assembly 60 and the second base assembly 62 are both movably mounted to the track assembly 66 that allows movement of the first and second base assemblies 60 and 62 toward and away from each other between the support and split configurations. Operation and construction of the split idle station assembly 32 is discussed in more detail below.

This transfer motion of the transfer feed bars 14 and 16 and the fingers 24 engage the work pieces for a transfer operation. Movement of the feed bars 14 and 16 may be controlled using a feed control system 50. In one form, the feed control system 50 may include a computer 52 having logic for controlling operation of various transfer motors 54 and 56 for the transfer, indexing and lifting motions associated with moving the work pieces. In one form, the computer 52 may be used to control operation of the presses 34 and 36 as well as the motors 54, 56. Automated operation may take place through control logic, program code or a related algorithm in the form of computer-executable (i.e., machine-readable) instructions that can be performed, run or otherwise conducted on the computer 52. Such computer-executable instructions may be written in any programming language, including machine language that may be directly executed by a processor as discussed below, assembly language, object-oriented programming (OOP) language, scripting languages, microcode or the like that may be compiled or assembled and stored in memory as discussed below. Alternatively, the machine readable instructions may be written in a hardware description language (HDL), such as logic implemented via either a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) configuration or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), as well as their equivalents. As such, the system and methods described herein may be implemented in any conventional computer programming language, as pre-programmed hardware elements, or as a combination of hardware and software components.

In one form, the computer 52 may be configured to include one or more of an input and output (I/O), a processing unit (often referred to as a central processing unit (CPU) or more generally as a processor) and memory the last of which can temporarily or permanently store such a code, program or algorithm such that the instructions contained in the code are operated upon by the processing unit based on input data received by I/O such that output data generated by the code and the processing unit can be conveyed to another program or a user via I/O. It will be appreciated that instead of a single CPU, the processing unit may be in the form of numerous distributed microprocessors or related processing means, and that either variant is deemed to be within the scope of the present disclosure as long as they are capable of executing the machine-readable versions of the control logic, program code or related algorithm. In one form, a data-containing portion of the memory—also associated with volatile working memory—is referred to as random access memory (RAM), while an instruction-containing portion of the memory—also associated with permanent or non-volatile memory—is referred to as read only memory (ROM). Thus, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that computer-executable instructions that embody the calculations discussed elsewhere in this disclosure can be placed within an appropriate location (such as the aforementioned memory) within computer 52 in order to achieve the objectives set forth in the present invention. In one form, the computer 52 may include additional chipsets (not shown) for peripheral functions. A data bus or related set of wires and associated circuitry forms a suitable data communication path that can act as a local interface or related interconnect for the I/O, processing unit and memory, as well as any peripheral equipment in such a way as to permit the computer 52 to communicate with the transfer press assembly 10 and its associated assemblies, components or related functional modules. Details associated with the operation of the transfer press assembly 10 may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 8,925,363 that is owned by the assignee of the present disclosure and the details of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Referring next to FIG. 2A, the work stations 28, 30 have been removed for clarity to show the split idle station assembly 32 in isolation. The split idle station assembly 32 is elevated on a pair of vertical legs 33 such that the working area associated with the first and second base assemblies 60, 62 is situated an ergonomically suitable distance above the floor; in one example, such distance may be between about three feet and four feet. The split idle station assembly 32 includes the track assembly 66 that supports the first base assembly 60 and the second base assembly 62 thereon. As can be seen, the track assembly 66 defines a relatively long, narrow profile in the form of a rail 68 that has an elongate (i.e., axial) dimension that is substantially collinear with the Y axis. The first and second base assemblies 60 and 62 are slidably received on the rail 68 to effect movement along this elongate axial dimension. Bearings, wheels or other suitable components (none of which are shown) may be used by one or all of the track assembly 66 and the first and second base assemblies 60 and 62 to facilitate such movement.

The split idle station assembly 32 is presently illustrated with particularity in its split configuration, where the first base assembly 60 spaced apart from the second base assembly 62 along the length (i.e., elongate, axial) dimension of the rail 68 of the track assembly 66. The base assemblies 60, 62 include a track support (not shown) that rides along the rail 68 horizontally or side-to-side (i.e., substantially transverse to the feed direction 22 shown in FIG. 1) in a sliding fashion. In one form, the first and second base assemblies 60, 62 define a generally L-shaped construction with planar horizontal and vertical plate-like surfaces within which a generally planar work piece (not presently shown) may be placed. Thus, in one exemplary form, the support surface may be formed to nest with the work piece. Thus, a variety of shapes and/or profiles can be used for the support surface.

The first base assembly 60 and the second base assembly 62 are connected to a drive assembly 100. The drive assembly 100 may be used to move the first base assembly 60 and the second base assembly 62 toward and away from each other between the split configuration and the support configuration (the latter not shown). In one form, the drive assembly 100 includes a coupling mechanism 102 that has a pulley 104 located at a first base assembly side 106 of the rail 68 and a pulley 108 located at a second base assembly side 110 of the rail 68. A continuous belt or cable 112 may be trained around the pulleys 104 and 108. The cable 112 may include a first leg 114 and a second leg 116. The first leg 114 may be connected to a cable connect arm 118 of the first base assembly 60 and the second leg 116 may be connected to a cable connect arm 120 of the second base assembly 62.

Referring next to FIGS. 2B and 2C, a conventional handle 122 may be connected to the second base assembly 62 and supported by a bracket 70 that is situated at the lateral edge of one of the legs 33. In other embodiments, the handle 122 may be connected to the first base assembly 60. Regardless, when the handle 122 is deployed and the operator needs to attend to the split idle station assembly 32 or the work piece situated therein, the remote end of the handle 122 that corresponds to the T-shaped grip must be lowered for placement on the floor of the work space. In so doing, an angle θ that corresponds to the length of the handle 122 and the vertical distance to the floor shows that there is a significant amount of lifting that the operator must undertake when picking up the handle 122 to return it to a common vertical height with the connected second base assembly 62. Over the course of a typical workday shift, this lowering and lifting may be repeated numerous times, thereby contributing to operator fatigue.

The handle 122 can be used to slide the second base assembly 62 along the rail 68. Because the second base assembly 62 is connected to the second leg 116 of the cable 112, the cable 112 moves about the pulleys 104 and 108. When moving the first base assembly 60 and the second base assembly 62 toward each other to the support configuration, the operator typically grasps the handle 122 and pushes the second base assembly 62 toward the first base assembly 60. Such movement of the second base assembly 62 causes the second leg 116 to move in the direction of arrow 124 due to the connection between a cable connect arm 120 of the second base assembly 62 and the second leg 116. Such movement of the second base assembly 62 also causes simultaneous movement of the first leg 114 in the direction of arrow 126, opposite the direction of arrow 124. Such movement of the first leg 114 causes the first base assembly 60 to move toward the second base assembly 62 due to the connection between the first leg 114 and a cable connect arm 118 of the first base assembly 60. Thus, the combination of the track assembly 66 along with the coupling mechanism 102 promotes sympathetic movement between the base assemblies 60, 62 to allow positioning of the first and second base assemblies 60, 62 apart from each other and near respective lateral sides 106 and 110 of the split idle station assembly 32. Such positioning of the first base assembly 60 near the side 106 and the second base assembly 62 near side 110 can allow for greater reach-in access by an operator or other personnel during a split configuration.

Referring next to FIGS. 3A and 3B, details of the handle 222 as applied to the split idle station of FIG. 2A (sans handle 122) are shown. Handle 222 is the same overall length as the conventional handle 122 of FIG. 2A, but also employs a split dowel-based construction with telescopic features so that at least portion of a shaft of the handle 222 slides into another portion, thereby allowing it to retract out of the factory floor, work space or other working area. The handle 222 defines a retractable construction such that it substantially does not extend beyond an elongate dimension 66E defined by the track assembly 66 when the handle 122 is placed in a stowed position. More significantly, the retractable nature of the handle 222 is such that even when in a deployed position (such as to change the first and second base assemblies 60, 62 from one of the support and split positions to the other), the split dowel-based construction with telescopic features allows an operator to quickly return the handle 222 to a stowed position alongside or within the track assembly 66. The handle 222 may include a spring to provide a biased position into a tubular receiver formed at the proximal end of the handle 222.

As shown with particularity in FIG. 3B, the handle 222 includes numerous telescopic portions 223, 224 and 225 to give it its retractable features. Although presently shown with three portions 223, 224 and 225, it will be appreciated that a greater or fewer number of such portions are also possible, and that all such variants are within the scope of the present disclosure. Each of the first and second portions 223 and 224 define a tubular construction with successively smaller outer surface diameters in order to promote a nesting relationship of the latter into the former. In one form, the spring may be formed in a tubular receiver of least one of the telescopic portions 223, 224 and 225 so that it biases to keep the handle 222 in a locked condition (also referred to herein as locked position) as shown by an axial groove 223A formed in the first portion 223 along with a cooperating dowel (or pin) 224A that radially projects and is sized to slidingly fit within groove 223A such that when the second portion 224 is moved axially relative to the first portion 223, the groove 223A and pin 224A cooperate to keep the two portions 223 and 224 in constant rotational orientation relative to one another. In one form, the end of the groove 223A that is closest to the distal end 222B of the handle 222 includes a J-shaped locking section 223B such that once the pin 224A is secured therein, the two portions 223, 224 do not move axially (i.e., along the Y axis) relative to one another. The telescopic construction of the handle 222 is such that its proximal end 222A is secured to a brace, wall, bracket, plate or other rigid structure associated with the second base assembly 62, while the distal end 222B defines a T-shaped end that can be readily grasped by an operator of the split idle assembly 32.

The locked condition associated with the pin 224A being secured within the locking section 223B may remain at least until the operator applies a sufficient force to overcome any bias, such as that associated with the spring mentioned above. The tubular receiver of the first portion 223 has an inner diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the adjacent second portion 224 so that it is sized to receive at least the second portion 224 in a nesting fashion within its tubular cavity. When the handle 222 is in the locked position, the various telescopic portions 223, 224 and 225 cannot translate relative to one another. Thus, when an operator pulls on the T-shaped end of the handle 222, the entire handle 222 moves laterally rightward relative to the remainder of the split idle station assembly 32 along the elongate dimension 66E, such action has the effect of pulling the second base assembly 62 away from the first base assembly 60 so that the split idle station assembly 32 is in its split (i.e., out or deployed) position. After that, the operator can rotationally turn the handle 222 a quarter turn T (i.e., 90°) and then telescopically slide the handle 222 back into itself along the elongate dimension of the various portions 223, 224 and 225 so that the handle 222 retracts out of the way of laterally-adjacent floor space or other work area while still leaving the idle station 32 in its split position to permit the operator to proceed with normal part-forming process operations on the work piece. Thus, once the work is complete, the operator may pull the handle 222 back out to its fully extended position, and perform an opposing turn T to lock the various portions 223, 224 and 225 of the handle 222 into place in order to push the extended handle 222 and the first and second base assemblies 60, 62 of the split idle station 32 back into the transfer press assembly 10 for subsequent forming operations. Depending on the precise construction of a slotted locking section 223B that extends away from the main groove 223A (for example, whether or not it includes a laterally-spaced projection that extends a small amount along the elongate direction of the main groove 223A), the force applied by the operator to overcome the spring bias may include not just rotational movement of the handle 222, but slight translational movement as well to further promote locking integrity. This locked condition construction creates a fail-safe device so the split idle station assembly 32 cannot be pushed in without the handle being returned 90° and fully extended, thereby ensuring that the split idle station assembly 32 is completely engaged for when the transfer press assembly 10 is in a running condition.

Referring next to FIGS. 4A and 4B, an operational sequence of moving the handle 222 between a stowed position and a deployed position is shown. The construction of the handle 222 is such that—save the rotational movement associated with the turning an returning movement T discussed above—it doesn't deviate from purely translational movement along the elongate axis 66E of the track assembly 66. This in turn ensures that substantial collinearity exists with the track assembly during periods where the handle 222 is either stowed or deployed, but also in transitional handle 222 positions between such stowed and deployed positions. This collinearity means that the handle 222 and the track assembly 66 define a substantially straight angle θ between them when the handle 222 is in the deployed and stowed positions, as well as all positions therebetween. Significantly, by not deviating from the straight angle θ, there is no need for an operator to lay the handle 222 down on the floor before and subsequently lift it up to a neutral potion after performing the work piece operations associated with the split idle station 32. Furthermore, by the retractable construction discussed herein, the handle 222 does not extend substantially beyond the lateral dimension defined by the track assembly 66 for any appreciable time, as the operator may—in one substantially continuous movement—take the handle between stowed and deployed positions without having to interfere with the movement that takes the split idle station 32 from its support to split configurations. This provides significant benefits to the operator in that the extra length associated with a full telescopic extension of handle 222 (an example of which may be seen in FIG. 4A) that is certain to project into the workspace during periods associated with deployment of the handle 222 only lasts as long as the operator manipulates the handle 222 while changing between the split and support configurations. Because the substantially continuous manipulation made possible with the retractable, lockable construction of the handle 222, at no time is the handle 222 both projecting an unattended. Furthermore, at no time during such manipulation does the handle 222 need to be vertically raised or lowered, thereby reducing operator fatigue that would otherwise be associated with bending down to perform handle 222 floor placement and subsequent lifting motions.

It is noted that the terms “substantially” and “about” may be utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. These terms are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.

While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. For example, the system and methods using the system may be implemented in one or both of software and hardware, and that all variations on the embodiments of such system and method as discussed herein will be understood to be within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the order of steps associated with such methods may be changed, while various features of the system may be combined, added, removed, reordered, modified or the like, and still be within the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimed subject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. It is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Claims

1. A split idle station for a transfer press assembly, the station comprising:

a track assembly;

a first base assembly slidably connected to the track assembly;

a second base assembly slidably connected to the track assembly; and

a drive assembly that moves at least one of the first base assembly and the second base assembly along the track assembly to define one of a support configuration and a split configuration, the drive assembly comprising: a coupling mechanism; and a selectively lockable handle defining a retractable construction and cooperative with the coupling mechanism such that inward and outward-movement of the handle takes place along an elongate dimension of the track, the inward and outward movement while the handle is in a locked condition is such that it substantially prevents the handle from retracting such that the corresponding movement causes the coupling mechanism to effect a change from one of the support configuration and the split configuration to the other of the support configuration and the split configuration, the inward and outward movement of the handle while the handle is in an unlocked condition corresponds to a respective extending or retracting of the handle such that the corresponding movement does not result in the station changing from one of the support configuration and the split configuration to the other of the support configuration and the split configuration during such extending or retracting, wherein the retractable construction permits the handle to move from a deployed position to a stowed position while the station remains in its split configuration, the stowed position configured such that the handle does not substantially extend beyond at least one of the elongate dimension and a lateral dimension defined by the track assembly.

2. The station of claim 1, wherein the retractable construction of the handle defines at least one telescopic section along an elongate dimension thereof.

3. The station of claim 2, wherein the at least one telescopic section comprises a first portion sized to receive at least a second portion in a nesting fashion.

4. The station of claim 3, wherein the first portion defines a groove formed along an elongate dimension thereof and the second portion comprises a pin that extends radially from a surface thereof such that the first and second portions cooperate to have the pin travel along the groove during telescopic movement between them.

5. The station of claim 4, wherein the selectively lockable handle comprises a slotted section of the groove that extends away from the elongate dimension of the first portion such that upon rotational movement of the handle while the pin is adjacent the slotted section of the groove, the pin becomes secured within the locking section.

6. The station of claim 5, further comprising a spring formed in at least one of the telescopic portions, the spring defining a bias to keep the handle in a locked condition.

7. The station of claim 2, wherein the track assembly and the handle are substantially collinear such that direction of movement between the first base assembly and the second base assembly and the direction of movement of the telescopic section take place exclusively along the elongate dimension of the track assembly and the handle.

8. The station of claim 7, wherein the handle and the track assembly remain substantially collinear throughout each of the stowed position and the deployed position, as well as during movement of the handle therebetween.

9. The station of claim 1, wherein the station changing from one of the support configuration and the split configuration to the other comprises a change in spacing between the first base assembly and the second base assembly.

10. The station of claim 1, wherein the retractable construction is such that at no time during the deployed position of the handle does a remote end thereof define a vertically higher or lower position than when the handle is in its stowed position.

11. A transfer press assembly comprising:

a first work station;

a second work station;

a transfer feed assembly that transfers a work piece from the first work station to the second work station; and

a split idle station assembly disposed between the first work station and the second work station, the split idle station assembly comprising: a track assembly; a first base assembly slidably connected to the track assembly; a second base assembly slidably connected to the track assembly; and a drive assembly that moves at least one of the first base assembly and the second base assembly relative to one another along the track assembly to define one of a support configuration and a split configuration, the drive assembly comprising: a coupling mechanism; and a selectively lockable handle defining a retractable construction and cooperative with the coupling mechanism such that inward and outward-movement of the handle takes place along an elongate dimension of the track, the inward and outward movement while the handle is in a locked condition is such that it substantially prevents the handle from retracting such that the corresponding movement causes the coupling mechanism to effect a change from one of the support configuration and the split configuration to the other of the support configuration and the split configuration, the inward and outward movement of the handle while the handle is in an unlocked condition corresponds to a respective extending or retracting of the handle such that the corresponding movement does not result in the station changing from one of the support configuration and the split configuration to the other of the support configuration and the split configuration during such extending or retracting, wherein the retractable construction permits the handle to move from a deployed position to a stowed position while the station remains in its split configuration, the stowed position configured such that the handle does not substantially extend beyond at least one of the elongate dimension and a lateral dimension defined by the track assembly.

12. The transfer press assembly of claim 11, wherein the retractable construction of the handle defines at least one telescopic section along an elongate dimension thereof, the telescopic section comprising a first portion sized to receive at least a second portion in a nesting fashion.

13. The transfer press assembly of claim 12, wherein the first portion defines a groove formed along an elongate dimension thereof and the second portion comprises a pin that extends radially from a surface thereof such that the first and second portions cooperate to have the pin travel along the groove during telescopic movement between them.

14. The transfer press assembly of claim 13, wherein the selectively lockable handle comprises a slotted section of the groove that extends away from the elongate dimension of the first portion such that upon rotational movement of the handle while the pin is adjacent the slotted section of the groove, the pin becomes secured within the locking section.

15. The transfer press assembly of claim 11, wherein the retractable construction is such that at no time during the deployed position of the handle does a remote end thereof define a vertically higher or lower position than when the handle is in its stowed position.

16. A method of operating on a work piece in a transfer press assembly, the method comprising:

moving the work piece to an idle station from a work station, the idle station comprising: a track assembly; a first base assembly slidably connected to the track assembly; a second base assembly slidably connected to the track assembly; and a drive assembly that moves at least one of the first base assembly and the second base assembly relative to one another along the track assembly to define one of a support configuration and a split configuration, the drive assembly comprising: a coupling mechanism; and a selectively lockable handle defining a retractable construction and cooperative with at least one of the coupling mechanism, the first base assembly and the second base assembly;

moving the handle along a substantially elongate dimension of the track assembly such that: while the handle is in a locked condition, the moving substantially prevents the handle from retracting, causing a change from one of the support configuration and the split configuration to the other of the support configuration and the split configuration; while the handle is in an unlocked condition, the moving corresponds to the handle extending or retracting such that the corresponding movement does not substantially result in the station changing from one of the support configuration and the split configuration to the other of the support configuration and the split configuration during such retracting, wherein the retractable construction permits the handle to move from a deployed position to a stowed position while the station remains in its split configuration, the stowed position configured such that the handle does not substantially extend beyond at least one of the elongate dimension and a lateral dimension defined by the track assembly; and

selectively moving the work piece on the idle station.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the retractable construction of the handle defines at least one telescopic section along an elongate dimension thereof, the telescopic section comprising a first portion sized to receive at least a second portion in a nesting fashion, the first portion defining a groove formed along an elongate dimension thereof and the second portion comprising pin that extends radially from a surface thereof such that the first and second portions cooperate to have the pin travel along the groove during telescopic movement between them.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the handle is selectively lockable in that the groove further defines a slotted section that extends away from the elongate dimension of the first portion such that upon rotational movement of the handle while the pin is adjacent the slotted section, the pin becomes secured within the slotted section.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the retractable construction is such that at no time during the deployed position of the handle does a remote end thereof define a vertically higher or lower position than when the handle is in its stowed position.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein moving the work piece to an idle station takes place after the work station has performed at least one of a stamping, drawing, trimming, bending or piercing operation on the work piece.