US3318762A

US3318762A - Retractable eccentric press

Info

Publication number: US3318762A
Application number: US399302A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald T Daniele
Original assignee: Diamond International Corp
Current assignee: Diamond International Corp
Priority date: 1964-09-25
Filing date: 1964-09-25
Publication date: 1967-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-09

Description

May 9, 1967 D. T. DANIELE RETRACTABLE ECCENTRIC FRESS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1964 INVENTOR DONALD T. DANIELE ATTORNEY May 9, 1967 D. T. DAMELE RETRACTABLE ECCENTRIC PRESS 6 Sheets--$heet 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1964 INVENTOR DONALD T. DANIELE ATTORNEY y 9, 1967 D. T. DANIELE 3,318,762

RETRACTABLE ECCEN'IRIC PRESS Filed Sept. 25, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR DONALD T. DANIELE BY LLQLCQEQCH ATTORNEY May 9, 1967 D. T. DANIELE 3,318,762

RETRACTABLE ECCENTRIC PRESS Filed Sept. 25, 1964 6 Sheets-She et 4 INVENTOR DONALD T. DANIELE ATTORNEY y 1967 D. T. DANHELE 3,31$,762

RETRACTABLE ECCENTRIC PRESS Filed Sept. 25, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR DONALD T. DANIELE BY I KQRL CU-HOCNS ATTORNEY May 9, 1967 0. T. DANIELE RETRACTABLE ECCENTRIC PRESS 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 25, 1964 INVENTOR DONALD T. DANIELE dj ocks A'ITORNE Y United States Fatent O 3,318,762 RETRAQTABLE ECQENTRIC PRESS Donald T. Daniele, East Longrneadow, Mass, assignor to Diamond International (Iorporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 399,302 7 Claims. (Cl. 162-394) The present invention relates to a retractable eccentric press and, more particularly, to a retractable eccentric pressing die for pressing pulp molded articles, which die may be continuously reciprocated while simultaneously retracted so that it does not come into contact with its mating dies.

On any fixed stroke pressing device, it is often desirable to continue to operate the device, i.e. continue reciprocation of the press, without providing any actual pressing. Particularly in the pressing of molded pulp articles it is desirable to initially start the pressing die and then continue operation of the pressing die even during certain operations when no pulp molded articles are produced.

When a pulp molding machine is started in operation, no formed articles are presented to the pressing die until after the machine has tun for a period of time since it takes time for the articles to form and then be carried into position under the reciprocating pressing die. With a fixed stroke pressing device the press dies will contact the empty forming dies if there are no products on the forming dies and this particularly happens during start up and shut down. This contact causes damage to the forming dies, crushing of the die wire and scufling of the pressing dies.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art, such as indicated above.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pressing die which may be reciprocated continuously and which may be simultaneously retracted so as to move the pressing die out of contact with its mating die.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device and method to retract an eccentric operated press head at start up.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device and method by which a press head may be ex tended automatically and by remote control after the device is in operation and when the product is ready to be pressed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a safety device for retracting a pressing head to prevent damage to the machine should trouble occur while the machine is running.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic device for retracting a press die normally contacting a pulp molded article on a forming die so that no damage to empty molding dies and wire can occur if no article is present on the forming die.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a press die which can be retracted at any time while the machine is in operation.

These and other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational View partly in section of the left-hand side of a device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1A is a front elevational view of the righthand side of a device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed sectional side view of certain details of the device of FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

Patented May 9, 1967 FIG. 4 is a View similar to FIG. 3 showing the device in operation and in pressing position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the device in retracted position; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the operation of the device while in retracted position.

The pressing machine of the present invention is shown in general in FIGS. 1 and 1A. A drum 10 carrying a plurality of pulp forming dies 12 in series is provided as is well known in the pulp molding art. The drum is rotated to pass the mold 12 into a slurry of pulp where articles are deposited in a layer by applying vacuum through the forming die 12. After passing out of the slurry, the forming dies 12 pass to a pressing station, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A where a pressing die 14 comes into contact with and presses the pulp deposit on and against the forming die 12. The drum 10 conventionally operates in an intermittent manner.

The pressing die 14 reciprocates periodically to mate with the article deposited within the female forming die. As the forming dies 12 advance by the intermittent movement of the drum 10, the pressing dies 14 reciprocate in the same period of movement so that the dies 12 and 14 are always in proper registry.

The pressing dies 14 are mounted in a conventional manner, such as via springs, to a platen 16. The platen 16 comprises essentially four

vertical walls

161, 162, 163 and 164. The outer surfaces of the walls 161 and 164 are connected to sliding members 18. The platen 16 also comprises a horizontal wall connecting the vertical walls.

Adjacent the outer surface of each of the walls 161 and 164 and around each slide 18 is provided a U-shaped guiding means 20 having an inner bearing surface to match with the bearing surfaces of the slides 18. The guiding means 20 permit the platen 16 to slide vertically up and down as the press reciprocates to maintain the movement of the platen 16 and the pressing die 14 in a straight line. The guiding means 20 is connected via suitable connecting structure 22 to support pillars 24 which support the entire press in proper relation to the drum 10.

At the upper end of the pillars 24 are provided a pair of bearings 26. Supported within the bearings for rotation is a rotating shaft 28. A suitable motor or prime mover means 30 is provided to maintain the shaft 28 constantly rotating.

Along the length of the shaft 28 are provided two eccentrics 32 which are attached to the shaft 28 via keys 34 to rotate with the shaft 28. The eccentrics 32 and the pressing dies 14 are attached to each other via suitable connecting and supporting means which are described in greater detail below. Since the two pressing dies 14 and the two eccentrics 32, as well as their intermediate connecting structure, are identical in both cases, the remaining description will be directed to only one eccentric and its attendant structure, it being understood that they preferably operate in pairs, but that suitable structure, within the scope of the present invention, may be provided so that only one eccentric is necessary.

FIGS. 26 show the eccentric 32 and the-platen 16 as well as their connecting inter-structure in greater detail. FIGS. 3-6 show the platen 16 in various positions of its vertical travel during both reciprocation and retraction and also show schematically the guide means 20 for maintaining the movement of the platen 16 and the pressing die 14 in a straight line.

An eccentric strap 36 is rotatably supported in a groove 37 on the eccentric 32 so that the eccentricmay continuously rotate without causing the eccentric strap 36 to rotate.

As is seen in FIG. 4 the shaft 28 and the eccentric 32 rotate about the axis of the shaft 28 and thereby cause the eccentric 32 to translate its rotary motion into a reciprocatory motion of the eccentric strap 36. Through suitable connections the reciprocation of the eccentric strap 36 causes the platen 16 to reciprocate within the guide means 20 so that the pressing die 14 periodically mates with a forming die 12. The eccentric strap 36 comprises an upward projection 38 and a downward supporting section 40. Rigidly mounted with the downward portion 40 of the eccentric strap 36 is a slide guide 42 for maintaining suitable linkage, described below, in proper alignment during retraction.

Directly below the eccentric 32 on the eccentric strap 36 is provided a first pair of links 44 connected to the eccentric strap 36 by a pin 46 (note particularly FIG. 2). The lower extremity of the first pair of links 44 is in turn connected to a second pair of links 48 via a second pin 50. At the lower extremity of the second pair of links 48 is provided a third pin 52 which attaches the links 48 to a slide member 54. The slide 54 is in turn connected through suitable means, such as a pivot pin 56, to the platen 16. The slide 54 is adapted to slide within the slide guide 42 during retraction of the platen 16.

On either side of the eccentric strap 36 is provided a shifter plate 58 which, like the eccentric strap 36, is rotatably supported in a groove 59 on the eccentric 32. The shifter plates 58 each have an upper projection 60 extending from the eccentric 32 in the same general direction as the projection 38 of the eccentric strap 36, and a lower portion 62 having a groove 63 at the lower extremity thereof. Recessed within the groove 63 is a shifter shoe 64 which straddles and is supported by the pin 50, thereby engaging the junction of the first and

second links

44 and 48.

Connecting the upper projection 38 of the eccentric strap 36 and the upper projections 60 of the shifter plates 58 is a suitable means to move the eccentric strap projection 38 in relation to the shifter plate projection 60. Any suitable means for exerting force between the two projections will satisfy the need. A solenoid, a rack and pinion, a screw, or a fluid pressure (hydraulic or pneumatic) cylinder may be used, but preferably a pneumatic cylinder 66 is provided which is attached to the eccentric strap projection 38 by means of a shaft rod 68. In turn, the piston 70 of the cylinder 66 is connected to the projections 60 of the shifter plates 58 by means of a second shaft rod 72. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 1A, the

shaft rods

68 and 72 may pass between the two pairs of eccentrics. Flexible air lines extend from a remote controlled four-way valve to the pneumatic cylinder 66.

With the

links

44 and 48 straight (i.e. in vertical alignment), as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the platen 16 is in pressing position and as the shaft 28 and the eccentrics 32 rotate, the platen 16 will reciprocate as shown in FIG. 4 to effect pressing via the pressing dies 14. When the air cylinder 66 is activated to extend the piston 70 as shown in FIG. 5 (the unextended position being shown in phantom), the shaft rod 72 is forced away from the shaft rod 68. This in turn forces the shifter plate projections 60 to move, i.e. the shifter plates 58 rotate about the eccentric 32, thereby moving the lower end 62 of the shifter plates 58 in the direction opposite from the projection 60. With the shifting shoes 64 contacting the pin 50, the

links

44 and 48 are forced out of vertical alignment. This causes the lower link 48 to rise slightly, thereby pulling the slide 54 upwardly in the slide guide 42, thereby raising the platen 16 and the connected pressing dies 14. In other words, the actuation of the air cylinder 66 moves the eccentric strap 36 in relation to the shifting plate 58 to move the shifting shoe 64 and the pinned junction of the

links

44, 48 in a direct-ion normal to the direction of the guide means 18-20 to thereby shorten the effective length of the links to cause the pressing die 14 to separate from the forming dies as shown in FIG. 5 and this position may be maintained during continual reciprocation as shown in FIG. 6.

The machine continues to run during the actuating sequence of the pneumatic cylinder 66 and a complete retracting stroke happens as fast as the pneumatic cylinder 66 can operate.

To re-extend the platen 16, the piston is retracted within the pneumatic cylinder 66 and the sequence, in reverse, extends the platen 16 to its pressing position. A stop pin 74 is provided to allow the

links

44 and 48 to pass dead center which allows full press loads and prevents the links from snapping open during pressing.

While the device has been described in relation to a press for pulp molded articles, it is understood that such a device can be used for any pressing operation and the retracting feature during continued reciprocation provides an added safety feature in any press device. It will also be understood that certain other changes and modifications of the details and design may be made in the embodiment of the invention described above in connection with the accompanying drawings without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. By way of example only, a variety of means to move the eccentric strap projection in relation to the shifter plate projection may be provided, various changes .in the mechanical linkage may be provided, and/ or one eccentric and/or one shifter plate may be provided in place of a plurality.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings, and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A retractable press comprising: a pair of matching dies; means to reciprocate one said matching die in a first direction, said reciprocating means comprising a shaft, means to rotate said shaft, means carrying said reciprocating die to translate the rotary motion of said shaft to the reciprocatory motion of said reciprocating die, and means connecting said translating means to said reciprocating die; first and second retracting elements carried by said reciprocating means, said first and second retracting elements being integrally associated with said connecting means; and means to move said first and second retracting elements in relation to one another in a second direction to shorten the effective length of said connecting means to cause said reciprocating die to separate and retract from said other matching die generally in said first direction during continued reciprocation.

2. In a reciprocating press for pressing pulp molded articles comprising: a pressing station; a plurality of forming dies passing said pressing station; a matched pressing die complementary to said forming dies; and means to reciprocate in a first direction said matched pressing die into pressing relationship with each one of said forming dies as it passes said pressing station, the improvement wherein said means to reciprocate comprises a shaft, means to rotate said shaft, an eccentric keyed to said shaft; and means connecting said eccentric to said reciprocating die; the improvement further comprising a first retracting element for said eccentric and said connecting means; a second retracting element for said eccentric and said connecting means; means to move said first and second retracting elements in relation to one another in a second direction to shorten the effective length of said connecting means to cause said pressing die to separate and retract from said forming dies during continual reciprocation, and means to fix the movement of said pressing die in said first direction during both reciprocation and retraction.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said connecting means comprises a linkage having two rigid links connected by a cross-pin and further having another cross-pin at the opposite extremities of each rigid link, said cross-pins providing axes of rotation.

4. A reciprocating press for pressing pulp molded articles comprising a pressing station; a plurality of forming dies passing said pressing station; a matched pressing die complementary to said forming dies; at platen supporting said pressing die; guide means for maintaining the movement of said platen and pressing die in a straight line; means to reciprocate said pressing die into pressing relationship with each one of said forming dies as it passes said pressing station, said reciprocating means comprising a rotating shaft, means to rotate said shaft continuously, and an eccentric keyed to said shaft; an eccentric strap rotatably supported on said eccentric; a first link pinned to said eccentric strap; a second link pinned to said first link at the opposite extremity thereof from said strap; a slide pinned to said second link at the opposite extremity thereof from said first pin, said platen being connected to the opposite extremity of said slide from said second pin; a slide guide rigidly mounted with said eccentric strap for maintaining the movement of said slide in a straight line; a projection on said eccentric strap extending from said eccentric in a direction opposite from said pressing die; a shifter plate rotat-ably supported on said eccentric; a projection on said shifter plate extending from said eccentric in the same general direction as said eccentric strap projection; a shifting shoe grasped by said shifter plate and engaging the pinned junction of said first and second links; and means to move said eccentric strap projection in relation to said shifter plate projection to move said shifting shoe and pinned junction of said first and second links in a direction normal to the direction of said guide means to thereby shorten the effective length of said links to cause said pressing die to separate from said forming dies during continual reciprocation.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4 comprising a pivot pin connecting said platen to said slide.

6. A device in accordance with claim 4 wherein a shifter plate is provided adjacent each surface of said eccentric strap along the axis of said rotating shaft and said shifter plate projections are connected by a rod parallel to said shaft.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means to connect said translating means to said reciprocating die comprises a pair of pinned links, the first of which is pinned to said first retracting element, a slide pinned to the second of said links, said die being connected to said slide, a slide guide being rigidly mounted with said first retracting element for maintaining the movement of said slide in a straight line, and a shifting element connected to said second retracing element and grapsing the junction between said pinned links; wherein said means to relatively move said first and second retracting elements causes shortening of the effective length of said links to thereby effect said separating and retracting of said reciprocating die from said other matching die.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,434,060 10/ 1922 Lautenschlager 82-527 DONALL H. SYLVESTER, Primary Examiner. I. H. NEWSOME, H. CAINE, Assistant Examiners.

Claims

1. A RETRACTABLE PRESS COMPRISING: A PAIR OF MATCHING DIES; MEANS TO RECIPROCTE ONE SAID MATCHIND DIE IN A FIRST DIRECTION, SAID RECIPROCATING MEANS COMPRISING A SHAFT, MEANS TO ROTATE SAID SHAFT, MEANS CARRYING SAID RECIPROCATING DIE TO TRANSLATE THE ROTARY MOTHION OF SAID SHAFT TO THE RECIPROCATORY MOTION OF SAID RECIPROCATING DIE, AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID TRANSLATING MEANS TO SAID RECIPROCATING DIE; FIRST AND SECOND RETRACTING ELEMENTS CARRIED BY SAID RECIPROCATING MEANS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND RETRACTING ELEMENTS BEING INTRGRALLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CONNECTING MEANS; AND MEANS TO MOVE SAID FIRST AND SECOND RETRACTING ELEMENTS IN RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER IN A SECOND DIRECTION TO SHORTEN THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF SAID CONNECTING MEANS TO CAUSE SAID RECIPROCATING DIE TO SEPARATE AND RETRACT FROM SAID OTHER MATCHING DIE GENERALLY IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION DURING CONTINUED RECIPROCATION.