GB1192969A - Device for Serially and Synchronously Feeding Workpieces - Google Patents

Abstract

1,192,969. Transferring blanks. AIDA IRON WORKS & CO. Ltd. 23 Aug., 1967, No. 38724/67. Heading B3W. Parallel-bar feed device for advancing workpieces along the stations of a follow-on die comprises a pair of parallel spaced feeding rods located one on each side of the line of stations, means for mounting the rods for movement laterally while maintaining their parallel relationship, and longitudinally, the longitudinal movement being produced by a planetary gear mechanism including a planetary gear driven in a circular orbit and carrying an eccentric pin, the diameters of the gears in the planetary mechanism and the throw of the pin causing the pin to follow an elliptically-shaped path having a pair of linear portions on opposite sides thereof, and transverse moving means coupled to said feeding rods comprising a pair of arcuate levers each having one end pivotally connected to the mounting means for the respective feeding rods, a rotatable disc to which the other ends of said arcuate levers are eccentrically pivoted, transmission means being coupled between said disc and said planetary gear mechanism for rotating the disc in timed relationship with the rotation of said gear mechanism, the speed of motion of the planetary gear mechanism and the transverse moving means being such that the acceleration and retardation of the moving parts at the start and end of the feeding operation is minimal. The device comprises a pair of feed bars F, one on each side of a line of dies D 1 , D 2 ... The movement of the bars parallel to their longitudinal axes is produced by a planetary gear mechanism comprising a pinion W which rolls around a stationary sun gear S and which has an eccentric pin E. The locus of the pin E includes two parallel portions a-b and a 1 -b 1 , Fig. 2. The end of the pin is rotatable in a slide block k which runs in a groove in the underside of a bar 2, the parallel portions of the locus being parallel to the bar 2 which runs on guide rods 3, parallel to the feed bars. The bar 2 has two pairs of spring loaded clamps 13, each pair gripping one feed bar. If the movement of the feed bars is obstructed then the clamps slide along the bars. Each pair of clamps is slidable in a guide-way along the upper side of the bar 2 to allow for the opening and closing movements of the grippers. The mechanism for providing the opening and closing movement comprises a cam 15 which rotates with the sun gear S and which operates a bell crank lever 17. Connected to the lever by a pin and slot 20, 21 is a rod 22 which is guided for sliding movement transversely of the feed bars and which has a rack toothed portion 23 which meshes with a pinion 24, integral with a disc 6. Projecting from the disc 6 are two eccentric pins E<SP>1</SP>, each of which is joined by a connecting rod 7 to a slider 4. The feed bars F slide freely through the sliders 4 which are themselves slidable on guide bars 5 which extend transversely of the feed bars F. As the cam 15 rotates, the bell crank oscillates, the rack reciprocates and the disc 6 oscillates through 180 degrees. The opening and closing movement of the feed bars occurs during the time when the pin E is traversing the straight portions of its locus. The cam shape is such that at the moment when the grippers close on to, or release the workpieces the feed bars are stationary, but the beginning of the inward movement of the grippers and the end of the outward movement take place while the feed bars are at the end and the beginning respectively of their return movement.