CA1338797C - Dual lane conversion system - Google Patents

Abstract

A press for converting work pieces into finished parts has an elongated bolster mounted on a press bed. The bolster supports columns on which a ram is slidable. The bolster also supports the lower die shoe of the press tooling.
A conveyor transfer system mounted on the bolster carries work pieces into and out of the area of the tooling. The bolster is a unitary piece which integrates support of the die shoe, columns and conveyor to assure proper cooperation and alignment among them. A pivotable carrier mounts a feed mechanism for feeding a stock strip into the tooling. Power to the feed mechanism supplied through a shaft which is coaxial with the hinge line of the carrier, so that the carrier can be swung away from the tooling for service access without requiring disconnection of the power supply. A
traveling vacuum box on the lower die shoe supports the conveyor for vertical as well as longitudinal motion, and retains the work pieces on the conveyor.

Description

,:j I ._ r~ o1- tht. InV~n~t~n This inventlon disclosed ln thls division~l t~r~ n and in tho parent Canadian ~pplication Serial No.
588,260, relates to dual lane ccnversion systems. It is particularly adapted llor ccnver~3ion systems making easy-open can ends, although it will be ~ that it could apply to presses ,_,...r.~, 1 ~ In~ cther types of parts.
PresGes for converting ends for cans and the lLko ~re known. Presses of thLs general type are av~Ll~ble from tho NLnster NachLno Company of NLn~ter, OhLo. U.S. patent no.
4,568,230 show~ a genoral l~yout of a pross for processLng work pLeceti or shells Lnto fLnlshed c~n ends wLth an openLng tclb attached thereto.
The presses used for the m~nufacturo of easy-open c~n ends generally comprLse a press bed mounted on legs whlch reGt on the floor. Four columns or uprLght3 or pLllars ~ro mounted on the press bed. The columns support a crown ln whlch a maln drLve fcr the varLoua press components Ls mounted. Tho columns also h2ve slLdes or ways attachod thereto for ~iupportLng ~ reclproc~tlng r~m. The r~m c~rrLei upper toolinq, whlch cooperates wlth lower toolLng on the bed.
Tho toolLng dofLnos a plur~lLty of st~tLons Ln whLch tho t~hells tlre progre6sLvely converted lnto easy-open can ends.
conveyor carrLes the shells into ~md through the stations of the dLc toolLng. The tihells merely rest in openings in the conYeyor. Thoy are hold in pltlco by ~ vacuum box placed genorally underneath the forward run of the conveycr ~t tho orea of the toolLng.
The t~bs ~re formod by tab toolLng, which is supplied wlth strLp titcck by ~ stock feed mech~nism. The tab toolLng forms a tab and separates Lt from tho strlp stock, and ~ttaches lt to a can ond.
Whilo prosso8 a8 gonor~lly doscribod above ~ro known, thore remain sovor~ll difficultLes ~ t~ t~ with tho 2 y setup, operatlon and mAIntPn~n~-P of the presses, which reduco productLvity. Pirst, it c~n be ilrrrpr~ pd that the variou6 moving parts of the press must be precisely alignod to assure production of high qnality parts. Ilost obviously, the upper tooling which reciprocatos on the ram must be precisely in ~lignment with the stationary lower tooling. This requires that the ram and, therefore, the columns be prec~sely located.
Similarly, the conYoyor or transfer system must cooperate with the toollng to place the worX pieces or 6hells in the proper placo for conversion by the tooling. Operation of the conveyor system i6 complicated by the fact that the shell6 must be indexed through the stations of the die tooling not only lnn~ nAl ly, but also in a vertical direction to ^ the reciproc~ting motion of the upper tooling.
Location of the tab stock feeder mechanism further 1 il"i~tP~3 tho alignment problems encountered in setting up the machine.
q`he second difficulty with prior art pre~ses was just eluded to, n~mely, the need to maintain registration of the ahells as they move from one station to the next. Nhlle it iL known to use a vacuum box to keep the shells from flying off the conveyor entirely, prior art vacuum boxe6 m~lce no provision for the vertical motion of the upper tooling. That is, in order to move the shells longitudlnally from statlon to station, they must be spaced from the upper and lower tooling during indexlng. ~owever, during a downstroAe of the r~m the shells must come into cont~ct with the tooling in order for it to perform convers$on oper~tlons. In prlor vacuum boxes thls vertical motion results simply by sllowing flexura of the conveyor belt und2r the influence of the upper tools driving the shells and conveyor belt downwardly. ~his can lead to loss of registration of the shells on the conveyor.
A third dlfficulty of prior press designs is the _ _ _, _ 13~8797 down time c4used by lnconvenient acce~s to the toolLng. .a primary reason for poor sorvLco ~cc~ss i8 the necoss4ry location of tho tab stock foeder mechani3m ad~acent or opposite the tooling. Thus, only one side of tho tooling is Arr-e~ hln for mA~ntr-^n~n~ purposes. While the tab 6tock foeder mech4ni~m can be ~ r ' lnrl for acce~s to the tooling, ~uch a process i~ timo consuming and inconvenient.
The 0achine and Lt0 timing mu~t be totally ~et up ~gain, because once the tab stock feeder is di6conneGted from the drivQ, the necossary timing is lout.
of th~ InYent~rn The present invention addrosses e~ch of tho three dLfficulties 1~:~ above. The alignment and registration problems during setup are resolved by the present invention.
This is done by providing a unitary, elongated bolster which fLts betwoen tho press bed and the columns. lrhat is, the columns rost on the bolster r~ther than on the press bed.
~180, the dic ~hoe of tho lowor tooling is located and affixed to the 3:~olster. Similarly, the conveyor or transfer system is mounted on the bolstor. The bol3ter has locators or keys ormed theroin, which coopor~te with simildr ~lign00nt keys on the lower dio shoo, tho colu0ns, and the conveyor system.
Thi8 A~ J. '1 ~ssuros precise locAtions of 411 of theso ~5 cooperating p4rts of the press. I~eys are provided to locate the columns both longitudinally ~nd 14tor~11y of the bolDter.
Thus~ tho bolstor IntrAJrA~ support of the press elements.
RegistratLon of the shells on the conveyor 18 maln-t~ined by a traveling vacuum box. The vacuU0 box h~s n ca~e mounted on the lower die shoe, and a fra0e which is vertically slidable within the c~se. The frame hAs edge tracks which engage the 13teral edges of the conveyor as it moves through ~3,~87~7 the vdcuum box. It dlso includes n central quide. Flange3 on thc tracks ~nd guLde overlie the upper surfaco of thc conveyor such that the edges of the shellG are trapped 2gdlnst vertlcal separ~ltlon from the conveyor. Thu6, the shell6 are posltive-ly retalned ln pos~tlon on the conveyor, in addltLon to the ,.,_ vdcuum rDtentLon.
--~ The frQme Ls mounted on sprLng supports, and there dre actuators dependLng from the upper die shoe on the ram.
These actuators ~re ~lso spring loaded with ~prings that are 10 stronger th~n those of the frame 6upports. The dctudtors are sized to contact the frame prior to the ram reaching the bottom of Ltts .l-,w.. L~ . This pusheG the frame downw~rdly, and carries the shells lnto contact with the lowor tooling.
When thc frame bottoms out, the sprlngs of the actuators compress, providing a lost motion which allows thD rt~m to reach bottom dead center without damdging the v~cuum box. On the upstroke of the ram, the actuators will hold the frame in its down position untll the upper tools have moved out of contdct with the shells. Once that ocours, the fr~lme will move baclc up to lts r~iDAed position under the influencD of the frame supports. This rdi3es the shellli off of the lower tooling where they drD ready for Lndexing to thc next station.
AccestJ to tho tooling is fPAl~itpt~d by a hlnged t~b stock feeder mechanism. The feeder3 QrD loc~ted withln a cArrier which is mounted on one of the columns. Tho cnrrler is pivot~ble away from the toollng about a hinge line.
MDAhPn~APl power i5 gupplled from the maLn drlve to the feeders through a drLve shaft whLch ls co~ial wLth the hLnge llne. ThLs permitD pLvotLng motLon of the cdrrler wlthout tl~An--^At~n7 the drivo. r~ D¢~--tly/ the timlng between the feeder dnd the other p~rts of the press 15 not lost when the _d r cdrrier i8 plvoted to its soryice posltion.

A press for convertlng work piece~ into parts, comprislng a bed, a bolster mounted on the bed, a plur~llty of columns mounted on the bolster and havlng a way ~ttached to each column, meln drlve mean3 mounted on 5 the columns, ~ rem slLd~ble upon the w~ys and driven by the main drive means to reciprocate toward and away from the bolster, upper and lower toolirg means ~ttached to the '~ ,, r~m and bolster, respectively, having a pLurality of - stations for convertlng said work pieces into p~rts, conveyor drive means mounted on the bolster, and conveyor means mounted on the conveyor drive means ~or carrylng work pieces into and through the toollng mean3 ~tctlons, the bolster comprlslng a one-piece member which includes locating means engageable with the conveyor drive means, columns and lower tooling means for estebli3hing the correct positlona of the conveyor drive mean~, the columns ~nd the lower toollng means with respect to one ~nother, ~uch that thny are aligned for cooper~tion.
A pres3 for converting work piece6 lnto parts, ,~ 20 comprislng a bed, ~ plur~llty of columns mounted on the - ~, bed and havlng ~ w~y ~ttached to ~ech column, main drlve r means mounted on the columns, a rnm slldable upon the ways and driven by the main drive me~ns to reciprocate toward ~md away from the bed, upper and lower tooling means as attached to the ram and bed, respectively, having a plurelity of stations Por processing said work piecer into parts, conveyor drive means mounted on the bed, and conveyor means mounted on the conveyor drive means for carrying work pieces into eLnd through the tooling means _ 5~ _ 133~7g7 stations, a feeder carrier mounted on a column opposite the tooling means and pivotaole about a hinge line away from the tooling means to provi~e service eccess thereto, stocX feed means mounted on the feeder carrier for feeding S a strip 8tock into the stations of the tooling mesns, feeder drlve means connected to the m~in drive means for ~\ - drlving said stock fee~l means, the feeder drive means including a drive shaft mounted coaxially with the hinge line 80 as to permit pivoting of the feeder carrier 10 without dlsconnecting the feeder drive means from the stock feed means.
A press for converting work pieces into parts, comprising a bed, a plurality of columns mounted on the bed and having a way attached to each column, main drlve lS means mounted on the column, a ram slidable upon the way~
znd driven by the main ~rive means to reciprocate toward and away from the bed, upper and lower tooling means ~ttached to the ram znd bed, respectively, having a plur~lity of st~tions for processing said work pieces into 20 parts, a feeder c~rrier mounted on a column oppoQite the tooling me~ns and pivot~ble about a hinge line away from the tooling means to provide service ~ccess thereto, stock feed means mounted on the feeder carrier for feeding strip stock into the stztions of the tooling me~ns, feeder dr~ve 25 means connected to the main drive means for driving said stock feed means, the feeder drive means inoluding a drive shaft mounted co~xially with the hinge line 80 as to permit pivoting of the feeder carrier without - Sb -. --. ~, 13387g7 disconnecting the feeder drive means from the stock feed meens .
In the press for converting work pieces into parts, the press having lower tooling includiny c tool shoe S mounted on c bed ~nd upper tooling mounted on a reciprocating ram which moves the upper tooling into and out of 9operative e~ycly_.~ t with the lower tooling the upper and a lower tooling having a plurallty of stations where work is performed on the work pieces, and an endless conveyor having a forward run disposed between the upper and lower tooling for successively advancing work pieces to each of the stations of the tooling, the conveyor having openings therein in which work pieces rest normally sp~ced from the tooling, the i~ comprising a lS travelling v~cuum box which applies a vacuum to the side of the convcyor opposite the work pieceG so as to hold them on the conveyor, the vccuum box compri31ng:
an open-top case surroundlng the lower toollng statlons cnd flxed to the lower tool shoe; ~nd a frame engcgeable wlth the case and verticclly slideble with respect to the case, at le~st one of the frame and case h~ving seal mecns engageable with the other such that the frame and ccse are slidable in sealing relation, the frame having a palr of lnwardly-facing, longitudlncl tracks which support the lateral edges of the conveyor such that the conveyor moves vertic~llly with the frame, the frame being open on its top and bottom to permit access by the top and bottom tooling to the work pieces.
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Rr~ef rl~nr~ntinn of th~ Dr~winC~ -FLg. 1 L~ d front elevation view of the converslon 3ystem of the present invention.
Fi~. 2 Ls an end elovatlon vLew of the conversion 6y6tem, looking from the right 3ide of Fig 1.
Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the bolster with the lower die shoe omitted for clarity.
Fig. 4 Ls sn enlarged front elevation view of the bolster, with portion6 omitted, showing the conveyor system mounted thereon.
Fig. 5 is an end elevation vLew of the bolster looking from the right end of Fiq. 4.
Fig. 6 i8 an clevation view of the tab stock feeder mechanL6m, looking in the dlrectLon of.lLne 6-6 of Fiy. 2.
Fig. 7 is a pldn view of the tab stock feeder mecha-nism .
Fig. 8 i6 an enl~rged front elevation view of the tab feeder, with the cover omLtted.
Fig. 9 i3 a side el~vation view of the t~b stock feeder, looking from the right side of Fig. 8.
Fiy. 10 is a Gide elovatLon view of the tao 3tock feeder, lookLng from the left side of Fig. 8.
Fig. 11 Ls a dL~grammatLc perspectLve vLew of the v~cuum box and A~ t~i appardtu8.
Fiq. 12 Ln a sectLon taken yenerally ~long line 12-12 of Fiy. 11, with thQ ram in A r~Lsed posLtion.
Fig. 13 Ls a section taken generdlly along line 13-13 of FLg. 11, wLth the r~m ~n ~ lowered po6LtLon.
Fig. 14 is a detail view showing the construction of , 30 the vdcuum box frame.
, =s:
13387g7 Det~ i n~R~-rir~lrn of ~ nvf.n~nn The conversLon systom or press is shown generally at 10 in PLgs. 1 and 2. For purpo~es of de~icriptLon, the portlon of the press shown in Fig. 1 will be termed the front of tho S machine. The right hand side as seen in Fig. 1 wLll be called the input side with the left hand side referred to as the output ~Lde. The side not shown in Fig. l will be denoted the back of the machine. The preRs includes a pair of legs 12 _ aupporting ~ preLs bed 14. Certain auxiliary equipment such d8 d vacuum pump 16, and a vdcuum manifold 18 mtly be ~tt~ched to the press bed.
A unitary bol~ter 20 reGts on top of the preRs bed 14, and is koyed thereto as at 22. It w$11 be noted th~t the bolster 20 extendR beyond the edges of tho bed 14. Details of the lnventive bolster will be described bolow.
Four columns or uprLghts 24 dre mounted on top of the bolster 20. ~ach column Lnclude_ a way or track 25. A
crown 26 is ~;upported on top of the columns 24. The bed 14, bolster 20, columns 24 Rnd crown 26 are fastened together by tie rods 27 extending through these, . Inside thc crown ig a mdin drive means, including a motor, crankRh~ft, and flywheel (not Rhown). The various ~ of the prc_s -- are drivon by means of r~ hAnl~ mn~ nR to the cr~nk-shdft. For example, rotdry down stackers 28 which place 2s shells onto a conveyor ~re driven by belts connected to the cr~nkshaft. The housings for the belt~ are shown ~t 30. They are connected to gear boxes 32. DrLve shdfts Lhown schemati-cally at 34 connect the gear boxes 32 to the down stackers.
A ram 36 is sliddble on the ways 25. It is driven by the crankshaft in a reciprocdting motion. Tooling shown generdlly at 38 is locdted between the ram 36, and the bolster 20. The tooling shown Ls lAne and tdb toolLng for converting ~. '' .
.. ... _ .. .. . _ . ..... . . , _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

/

can endG. This tooling comprises the usual dles ~md punches requLred to form the ends. As is customary, the tooling 1G
divided Lnto upper and lower set6, including an upper die shoe 40, and a lower die shoe 42. ~he upper shoe 40 i8 affixed to the r_m 36, and moves therewith. The lower die shoe is keyed to the bolster 20, ~s descrLbed below. ~he usual die fixtures and punch holders are mounted on the die shoes. A traveling vacuum box is indicated schtmDt~rJ~ly at 44.
The press includes a transfer or conveyor system, including n m_in gear box 46 driven from the cranksh~ft by belt 47 (seen in Fig.4). The gear box 46 drlves a heAd end pulley 48, whlch is mounted for rotatLon on a pair of brackets 50. ~he br_ckets Are Dttached to the bolster. A tall cnd pulley 52 18 mountod ~t the other of the bolster. rt ls lS covered by a shroud 54. An endless conveyor belt lllustr~ted schem~tically at 56 is driven by the pulley 48, and revolvos about pulley 52. The belt S6 h_s openings 57 for recelvlng shells .
A strip stock feeder shown generally at 58 i6 mounted at the back of the press, opposite the area of the tooling. Thls appDratus feeds a strLp stock material whLch, in the embodiment shown, is used to make the tab parts of the cDn ends. Details of the stock feed mechanlsm 58 will be - described below.
Turning now to Figa. 3-5, det~il3 of the bolster 20 ~nd the conveyor system _re shown. The bolster i8 ~n elongated slab of steel, approximately 6 inches thick. The upper surf~ce of the bolster has ~ plurnlity of locating means in the form of keyw~ys for e6t_blishing thc po~it$ons of , mounted on the bolster, nemely, the columns 24 _nd lower die shoe 42. There is a lateral keyway 60 for e~ch of the columns, which is aligned with a mDtching keyw~y 62 (Fig.

. . ~
_, , ,,,, , -- _ _ ,, , _, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . , _ 1,~38797 4) on the bottom of the coLumns to precisely set the posLtion of the columns along the length of the bol3ter. ~ key 61 fLts Lnto the m3tchLng keyways. The two columns At the re~r of the bolster Also have longitudinal keyways 64 (FLg. 3). These keys fLx the lateral posLtLon of the rear two columns.
Central keyways 66 establL3h the center line of the bolster.
They Are used to fix the lower die shoe 42 in positLon. ~rhey also establLsh a reference lLne for drLlling the bolt holes used to mount the brackets 50. The keyways 60 and 64 are machined Lnto the bolster with reference to the centrAl koyways .
The bolster has vacuum supply ports 68 Ln communLc~-tion wLth passages 70, whLch extend through the bolster.
PassAges 70 are connected to the vAcuum manifold 18 through matLng pAssages in the bed 14.
The Lnput end of the bolster has a U-fihaped cutout shown At 72. The cutout forms a paLr of arms 74. The U-shaped cutout 72 ~ the taLl end pulley 52 between the arms 74, T '1At--ly ad~Acent the cutout, on the upper surf~co of the bolstor Ls a rlr~rrr~ rn 76. A saddle 78 fLts Ln the depres310n 76, and c~rries the beArLngs for mountlng the tail ond pulley 52. A cylLnder 80 Ls mounted between the \ bol6ter ~nd the SAddlo 78 for 2~d~u3tLng the longLtudLnal posLtLon of the saddle, thereby rrn~rrl 1 i n~ the tensLon on the conveyor belt 56. A pALr of restraLnLng bars 82 ~re fLxed to the bolster arm3 74 to hold the saddle Ln the ~rrr-~irn 76.
The conveyor belt 56 Ls supported on its forward run adjAcont the taLl end pulley 52 by A platc 84. The plate i5 mounted on a bridge structure 86 att~ched to the bolstor. The brLdge 86 also supports the down stackers 28.
From the plAto 84 tho forward run of the conveyor eD between two of the columns 24, And then Lnto the i~' .. . ... , ... . . _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ .

area of the toolLng. The forw,~rd run of the COnVQyOr ls supported in tho toolinq area by tho vdcuum box 44, ~_ will bo dcscrlbed in detail bolow. Upon leaving the tooling area, the forw_rd run of the conveyor proceeds between tho two output side columns to an output device where the fini3hed can ends are rllRrhArr~pd. ~he conveyor belt wind6 around tho head end or drlve pulley 48 to begin the return run. The return run is r ~ArPd by a channel 88 cut in tho underside of the bolster as shown ln Fig. 4.
The bolster 20 provldes ~n 1ntPr~rA~ upport member for the variou~ pres3 component~. In the AmhnA1m~nt shown the bolster oxtends beyond tho columns to provlde support for the tr_n6fer fiystém or conveyor. The bolster also a6fiures proper ~lignment of the ~ ~ R mounted thereon.
Looklng now at Figs. 6-10, the stock feed mech_nism 58 18 shown in detail. Although lt could be u~ed to feed any type of work pieces or stock, in the illu3trated ~Amhnrlim~n~ lt 1~ used to feed the tab stock strlp, 80 hereinafter the Rtock feeder wlll be referred to as tho tab feeder. Since the feoder 18 6upplylnq tho tab atoclc to tho tab toolinq, it 18 loc~ted opposlte or ~d~acent to the tab tooling, on the re~r sldo of tho machine. Thus, the tab stock is fed t v.~ ly -- .
to the directlon of the maln conveyor belt. As ~ result of thls rer~ulred positlonlng for the feeder, lt blocks servlce accoss to the tooling. The prosont lnvention dllevl~tes thLs difficulty by plvotally mountlng tho tab foedor 58 to ono of tho columns 24. Tho foedor plvots ~bout a hingo llno from lts normA-l worklng posltlon to A servlco E?osltlon shown in phantom ~Lt 90 in Flg. 7.
Tho foodor, ~ aro mounted on a carrlor comprlslng tOp ~nd bottom plates 92 and 94, and flrst and socond slde plates 96 and 98. A removable covor 100 encloses the carrier on three sides, The feedQr carrier is pivotally mounted by a br~cket 118, which i8 bolted to ~ column 24. The bracXet includes 2 ~tiffener 120, and upper and lowcr ~tRn~inn~ 122. The exten-S ~ions mount bearing~ about which the top and bottom plates are pivotable. The~e bearing~ deflne a hinge line or rotational ~- axis 124.
The first side plate 96 carrie~ a pair of locating pads 102 and 104 (Piy. 10), which define hnr~7nnt:l1 and vortical locating surfaces, respectively. The first ~lde plate Illso h~s a pin 106, on which a latch 108 is pivot~lly mounted .
The re~r edge of the lower die ~hoe 42 has milled surface~ 110 and 112. When the feeder 18 Ln the closed or operating position, the pads 102 and 104 of the first end plate engage theso milled surfaces to loc~te the carrier in the correct position with respect to thc die shoe. Immedlate-ly ~d~acent these milled surface~ is d slot 114 into which a hook portion of the latch 108 fits to engage a removable bolt 116 ior holdlng the feeder in the closed posltion.
The actual apparatus for feeding the tab stock i~i conventLonal, and may be purcha3ed from Fergurson Nanufactur-ing of St. I.ouis, ~issouri. Briefly, th~t mechanism includes a right angle gear box 126 having a shaft 128, which i8 2s coaxiAl with the hingo line 124. Gear box 126 drives ~ belt 130 ~bout an ad~ustable idler 132, which is mounted on the second side plate 98. The side plate h~s a U-shaped cutout 134 permitting passage of the belt and idler. The belt 130 drives a stock input device 136 and a stock output device 138.
Tho stock itself is shown ~ l ly at 140 in Fig. 7 .
It will be ~ deLRl.o~ld that ~OOC'~J'R~ e~uipment"~uch as lubo units and a scrap chopper h~ve been omitted or only partially : " .
_ _ _ _ , _ _ _ _ _ , .. , .. . ...... . _ .. . . . .... _ _ _ . , 133879~
shown .
MorhAn~rAl power to the gear box 126 is provided through a belt 142, drlven by a right angle drive 144 (Figs. 6 and 7). This drive in turn recelvea power from belt 146, which engages an output shaft of the main gear box 46.
It c~n be seen that with this drive ArrAn~m~nt tho carrier csn bo rotated about the hinge line 124 without thc need i~or rll~ - ing any of the belts. The tlming of the tab feeders is not lost when the carrier pivots botween operating and service positions . The locatlng surfaces on ----' pads 102 and 104 assure that the c~rrier will always line up in the correct position with respect to the lower dLo fihoe.
Looking now at Figs. 11-14, the traveling vacuum box 44 is ahown in detail. The vacuum box 44 is located on the lower die shoe 42. The lower dLe shoe also has _ plurality of guide sleeves 148 fixed thereto. Guide posts 150 depending from the upper die shoe 40, slide in the 61eeves 148 to maintain registr~tion between the upper ~md lower tooling.
The upper ~md lower die shoes also have stop blocks 152, which limit the downwArd motion of the die shoe 40. A plur~lity of tool holders or fixtures 154, which define the progressive : work stations of the tooling, are fixed to tho upper ~nd lower die shoes. t The traveling vacuum box itself comprises ~n open_ top case 156 bolted to the lower die shoe 42. The case surrounds the tool holders 154 of the work stations. The upper inside edgo of the ca6e has a seal element 158 tFig.
14). The r,asc also includes end blocks 160 tPigs. 11 and 13).
The end blocks mount stop members 162 and 164. stops 162 may be ret~ined by bolts 165. The interior of tho case communi-- c~tes with vacuum supply p~ssages 166 tPig. 12) formed in the die plato 42. Theso communicnte with the vacuum ports 68 in . ' , _ _ _ .. . ... .

the bolster.
The vacuum box ~lso includes a traveling frame shown generally at 168, The end5 of the frame are defined by belt lowering b~rs 170 on each end. The bolt lowerlng bar~ havo S corner membera through whlch bolts connect the bars to end support r~ils 172. Thc end support rail8 172 have openings 174, which r ' ' ~ thc stop members 162 . The openings 174 and stops 162 cooperato to provide an up limit stop for the frame 168. The ond support rails 172 are also boltod to lipring-loaded frame supports 176. These supports oxtend through the blocks 160 into roceptacles in the lower dLe shoo 42. Springs 178 bias the frame upwardly. There in a frame support 176 at each corner of the frame.
The belt lowering bars 170 and end 6upport rails 172 ~re connectod by three 60ts of rails, e~ch having ~n upper ~nd lower member. An upper center rail 180 is ~ttached to the belt loworing bars 170, ~nd located by a spacer 182. As best seen Ln Flg, 12 the upper center rail 180 ha8 three central ribs 183, and cornera 184. A lower center rail 186 is connected to the end support rails 172 and has dimple8 187.
First and l;econd sets of outor r~Lls include a top outer rail 188, which is a generally Z-shaped part with its upper surface havLng ~ singl~ rLb 190 nnd a llp or fl~ngo 192.
The top outer r~ ; oooperate wlth lower outcr r~ils 19'1, which are channel sh~ped members hr~vlng a pair o~ dLmples 195 on Lts upper edge. The ends of the lower outor r~ils are ~ttached to the end support rails 172. It wilL be noted that the outside surfaces of the lower outer rl~ils 194 enq~ge tho ~eals 158 of the case in soAling relr~tion. Together the upper and lower outer reils 188 and 194 define tracks in which the forw~lrd run of tho conveyor belt 56 travels.
The uppor die shoe 40 h~s four sockets in which , . ....... , _ _ _ _ .... _ _ _ _ _ , .

4ctuators 196 are placed. The ~ctuators are biased downwardly - by springs 198. The movement of the actuators within the socket 18 constrained by flanges 200, which ~re trapped between a stop 202 and ~ plste 204. The actuators have feet 206, which are ngA~Ahl~- with the belt lowerlng bar 170 when the ram lower~ the dis shoe 40. The springs 198 h~ve a higher spriny rate than that of springs 178.
The operation of the vacuum box i~ as followc. The conveyor 56 is threaded through the three sets of rAils in the vacuum box frame 168. That is, the later~l edges o the convoyor belt are held in the tracks formed by the upper and lower outer rails 188 and 194. ~n p~rticular, the outer edqes of the belt are held between the ribs 190 and dimples 195.
This iG best seen in Fig. 14. The center of the belt is trapped between center r~ils 180 And 186, and particularly between the ribs 183 and dlmples 187. Thus, the conveyor belt 56 is constrained to travel with the frame of the vacuum box.
The shells are shown at 208. They rest in the openings 57 in the conveyor belt 56. The lateral edges of the shells are trapped between the belt on the underside, and the lips or flanges 192 of the outer rails, and the corners 184 of the center upper r~il. Thus, the shells are positlvely held ln place in the conveyor belt by the llps 192, and corners 184, as well as being held by the vacuum in the interior of the vacuum box 44.
During a d~ LL~ of the ram, the upper die plate 40 carrles the actuators 196 lnto engagement with the belt lowering bars 170. since the actuator springs 198 are stiffer than the frame support springs 178, the actuators force the frame 168 downwardly until the stops 164 bottom on the blocks 160. AB the frame tr~vels down it carries the conveyor belt 56 with it, thereby carrylng the shells into contact with the _ _ _ _, ~ ,,, .... , , . , .. _ ...... . .... . . .. .. . ..

-~ ! 1 3 3 8 7 9 7 lower tools prior to th2 upper tools coming down on the shells. When the frAme bottoms, the ActUAtOr sprlngs 198 compress wlthin the uppcr die shoe socket~ to ~llou the r~m to cArry the upper tools to bottom dead center without damAying S the v~ouum box. Upon retraction of the ram, the tools leave :. contAct with the shells flr6t, and then the actuator stops 202 engage the flange 200 to lift the actuator~ off of the vacuum box framc. A3 the actuAtora rlse, the frame also moveG
upwArdly under the lnfluence of Lts support springs 178 untLl 10 slots 174 engage stops 162. Once the ~hells are out of contact with the lower toolG, the conveyor belt indexes them forwardLy to the next work Gtatlon.
Nhlle a preferred form of the invention has been shown and descrlbed, it will be L~l~d~JL~.LVOll that Alter~tion~
lS could be mado thereto without departing from the scope of the follo~ ng claimG.

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Claims (3)

1. In a press for converting work pieces into parts, the press having lower tooling including a tool shoe mounted on bed and upper tooling mounted on a reciprocating ram which moves the upper tooling into and out of operative engagement with the lower tooling, the upper and a lower tooling having a plurality of stations where work is performed on the work pieces, and an endless conveyor having a forward run disposed between the upper and lower tooling for successively advancing work pieces to each of the stations of the tooling, the conveyor having openings therein in which work pieces rest normally spaced from the tooling, the improvement comprising a traveling vacuum box which applies a vacuum to the side of the conveyor opposite the work pieces so as to hold them on the conveyor, the vacuum box comprising:
an open-top case surrounding the lower tooling stations and fixed to the lower tool shoe; and a frame engageable with the case and vertically slidable with respect to the case, at least one of the frame and case having seal means engageable with the other such that the fame and case are slidable in sealing relation, the frame having a pair of inwardly-facing, longitudinal tracks which support the lateral edges of the conveyor such that the conveyor moves vertically with the frame, the frame being open on its top and bottom to permit access by the top and bottom tooling to the work pieces.

2. The vacuum box of claim 1 further spring-loaded supports on which the frame is mounted, the supports biasing the frame upwardly, and spring-loaded actuators depending from the ram and sized so as to contact the frame prior to the upper tooling reaching its operative position, the spring force of the actuators being greater than that of the supports so that during the downstroke of the ram the frame moves downwardly under the influence of the actuators, thereby also moving the conveyor downwardly and carrying the work pieces into contact with the lower tooling stations prior to the upper tooling reaching its operative position.

3. The vacuum box of claim 1 wherein the tracks have a flange extending over the upper surface of the conveyor to a point adjacent the openings such that the flange engages the work pieces to retain them in the openings.