US3571891A

US3571891A - Press feed and ejector apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3571891A
Application number: US860451*A
Authority: US
Inventors: Seward M Roberts
Original assignee: American Flange and Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: American Flange and Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1969-07-15
Filing date: 1969-07-15
Publication date: 1971-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-23

Abstract

A press feed and ejector mechanism is operatively mounted in conjunction with a die for securing closure flanges within openings in drum heads. The press operation is automated to the extent that a pair of closure flanges are fed into properly aligned work receiving position in the press die and the finished drum head with flanges inserted is ejected from the die each time the press cycles.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Seward M. Roberts San Mateo, Calif.

Appl. No. 860,451

Filed JulyV l5, 1969 ivis'i'n 0f ser. No. 590,993, oct. 31, 1966, ahfmdwsi;

Patented Mar. 23, 1971 Assignee American Flange & Manufacturing Co.,

Inc. New York, N.Y.

PRESS FEED AND EJECTOR APPARATUS 4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl. 29/208, 29/211, 29/243.52, 29/512, 113/121 Int. Cl B23p 19/04 Field of Search ..29/512, 208

v@,208(1-:),211,211 (D),243.52; 113/121 (E) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,777,772 10/1930 Shera 29/243.52 2,325,929 8/1943 Amesbury et al (29/512UX) 2,591,203 4/1952 Schmalz (29/211UX) 2,930,114 3/1960 Erdmann 29/211X 3,039,179 6/1962 Benichasa 29/208(C) 3,093,102 6/1963 Gardner.... (29/512UX) 3,265,781 8/1966 Peterson (29/512UX) Primary Examiner-Charlie T. Moon Attorney-Albert M. Parker ABSTRACT: A press feed and ejector mechanism is operatively mounted in conjunction with a die for securing closure flanges within openings in drum heads. The press operation is automated to the extent that a pair of closure flanges are fed into properly aligned work receiving position in the press die and the finished drum head with flanges inserted is ejected from the die each time the press cycles.

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PATENUU MAR23 IBYI -v -TLV lli PRESS FEED ANlll lElEt'l'Ult AlPlPAltA'llllS This is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 590,993, filed Oct. 3 l 1966, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a method an apparatus for the automated manufacture of drum heads and is particularly concerned with feeding closure flanges into and ejecting finished drum heads out of metal working presses.

ln the manufacture of heads for steel drums one operation is concerned with the provision of a 2-inch and a a)fi-inch threaded plug opening in each head through which the finished drum may be subsequently filled, emptied and vented. During this operation the head is perforated at two diametri cally opposed positions and about each perforation there is formed a suitable opening neck for mated engagement with an internally threaded closure flange. A 2inch and a lli-inch flange are then permanently secured within the perforations to complete the operation. Although these steps may be combined or broken down as desired depending on manufacturing conditions, the operation requires the placing of closure flanges and drum heads in a metalworking press and removal of the head with its inserted flanges therefrom. Automation of this operation and more precisely the simultaneous feeding of closure flanges into operative position within a metal working press and ejection of the finished head from the press is the subject of this invention.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a new and improved method for automating press operations. A

Another object is to provide a new and improved apparatus for carrying out that method.

Another object is to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for feeding and discharging component parts in a press operation.

Another object is to provide new an improved method and apparatus for the insertion of closure flanges in drum heads.

A further object is tolprovide an improved method and apparatus for feeding closure flanges into a flange insertion die in a metal working press.

A further object is to provide an improved method and apparatus for ejectng drum heads out of a flange insertion die in a metal working press.

A still further object is to provide a method and apparatus for effecting flange feeding and head ejecting simultaneously.

Further and more detailed objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part pointed out as the description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing proceeds. ln that drawing:-

FlG. ll is a perspective view of the flange feed and drum head ejector mechanism in accordance with the invention operatively positioned in conjunction with a flange insertion die in a metalworking press;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the lower die showing the flange feed and head ejector mechanism in fully retracted position;

FlG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the flange feed and head ejector mechanism in fully extended position;

FIG. 4l is a front elevational view of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on lines 5-5 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FlG. ti is a sectional view taken on lines 6-6 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FlG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view through the die showing the relationship of the parts prior to the flange insertion;

FlG. d is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the insertion die in closed position; and

FlG. 9 is a perspective view of the die ring and flange feed chute.

p The metal working press within which the flange feed and ejector mechanism of the invention is installed is illustrated schematically in FlG. l and is seen to comprise a bolster plate l seated on the press bed and a ram 2 operatively connected to a conventional double acting hydraulic cylinder 3 is positioned above the bolster plate l. Hydraulic cylinder 3 is connected to a hydraulic source (not shown) and is controlled by a conventional valve (not shown) which, upon actuation, operates through one complete cycle to move the ram 2 downwardly toward bolster plate l. to the end of a predetermined stroke and then to return to its starting position. The ram could of course be mechanically driven through a motor driven flywheel if desired. Seated within the press is a die set including an upper die shoe l secured to the ram 2 and a lower die shoe 5 secured to the bolster plate l.

The particular die shown is a tandem flange insertion die for permanently and simultaneously securing a 2-inch closure flange and a Brt-inch closure flange within corresponding preformed openings in a steel drum head. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 7 the drum head 6 is a substantially flat disclike member having formed about itsperiphery a short upstanding wall 7 terminating at its upper end in a radially outwardly extending rim 8. The wall 7 and rim 8 cooperate with the drum body during subsequent fabrication thereof to form the chime of the finished drum. Diametrically aligned within the head 6 are two openings formed to receive the flanges and having the identical configuration differing only in size. As seen in FIG. '7 these openings are surrounded by a recessed pocket 9 having a polygonal configuration. A short cylindrical neclr l0 extends upwardly from the pocket 9. vThe two closure flanges are also identical in configuration differing only in size and generally indicated by numeral lll. Each flange ll comprises a cylindrical wall l2 internally threaded at 13 throughout its lower portion and surrounded by a radially extending polygonal base ld. A rubber gasket l5 surrounds the wall l2 and rests on the upper surface of the polygonal base M.

The insertion operation is effected by placing the drum head over the two flanges with the polygonal flange bases i4 vertically aligned with the polygonal pockets 9. The two members are then matingly engaged with the gasket l5 therebetween and the upper end of the flange wall 12 is then curled over the upper end of the opening neck lll as seen in FIG. b thus permanently securing the flange within the head.

rl"he die for effecting the flange insertion is arranged in tandem with the 2inch and M4-inch sides of the die being identical in construction and differing only in size. Each of the upper dies is in the form of a curling anvil 16 secured to the upper die shoe 4 and which, as seen in FIG. has a working surface contoured to form the upper end ofthe flange cylindrical wall l2 over the upper end ofthe neck lll in the drum head to form a tight bead. Each of the lower dies are in the form of an anvil ll7 having an enlarged base l0 mounted on the lower die shoe 5. Four equally spaced upwardly opening bores i9 are formed in the base lwithin which guide pins 20 are threadedly engaged. Each guide pin 20 has an enlarged head 2l slideably received within corresponding upwardly opening bores 22 formed in a ring 23 which is slideably mounted about the anvil i7. The lower portion of each bore 22 is reduced to the diameter of the pin 2l) so that the head 2l of each pin 2l) is retained within said bore. A coil spring 24 is mounted about each pin 20 in a slightly compressed condition and extends between the bottom surface of bore t9 and the lower surface of ring 23 to resiliently retain ring 23 positioned at its uppermost position. The inner cylindrical surface 25 of the ring 23 is interrupted by an upwardly facing shelf 26 surrounded by a vertical wall 27 having apolygonal configuration corresponding to the base ld of the flange lll so that when a flange is fully seated in the die, the flange bore ld rests on the shelf 26 of ring 23.

As shown in FlG. 9 a portion of the upper sidewall of ring 23 is cut away to provide for feeding of flanges onto the polygonal shaped shelf 26. The cut away portion is provided with a flat surface 26a which is parallel to and spaced above the shelf 26 a distance equal to the thickness ofthe flange base lll so that as a flange is fed across flat surface 26a it will drop onto and be retained on shelf 26. A flange feed chute 2@ having a base 23a and side rails 29 is provided to feed flanges to ring 23. The forward end of chute base 2da is shaped to conform to the outside curvature of the ring 23. Side rails 29 are secured to the top surface of base 2da and extend'forwardly thereof to overlie the surface 26a and are secured thereto by suitable means such as screws lill. The upper surface of base 2da is thus retained in alignment with surface 26a of ring 23 so that flanges may be moved across them without obstruction. As shown in FIG. i the flange feed chutes 28 extend outwardly away from each ring 23 for a substantial distance.

The mechanism 'for feeding the flanges along the chutes 28 and simultaneously ejecting the finished head is best shown in FIGS. i, 2 and 3. A conventional double acting air cylinder 3l having a piston and piston rod 37 is positioned between the feed chutes 28 and extends in parallel relationship thereto. The cylinder 31. is secured by screws 32 to the upstanding flange of a mounting bracket 33 which is in turn secured to the rear portion of the lower die shoe by screws 34. An air line 3S is connected to the inner end of cylinder 31 to selectively permit compressed air to be supplied to move the piston and piston rod 37 in its return stroke and to permit the evacuating of air from the inner end of the cylinder when the piston and piston rod 37 are moved in its working stroke. Air line 36 is connected to the outer end of cylinder 31 to selectively permit compressed air to be supplied to move the piston and piston rod 37 in its working stroke and to permit the evacuating of air from the outer end of the cylinder when the piston and piston rod 37 are moved in its return stroke. Both air lines 35, 36 are connected to a remote four-way control valve, (not shown) of the type manufactured by the Nopak Division, Gallari- Henning Manufacturing Co. and known as a Nopaxam Model No. 54-52-10.

Channel members

38 and 39 are positioned on either side of air cylinder 31 and extend beyond said cylinder where their inner ends are joined together and held in said spaced apart position by a plate 40. The outer end of piston rod 37 is threaded and is secured through an aperture in plate 40 by means of a nut 4l. ln this manner the

member

38, 39 move in a reciprocating path with said piston rod. One end of an arm 42 is secured to the outer end of channel member 38 and extends outwardly therefrom to a position where its other end overlies the side rails 29 of one of the flange feed chutes 28. One end of another arm 43 is secured to the outer end of channel member 39 and extends outwardly therefrom to a position where its other end overlies the side rails 29 of the other of the flange feed chutes 28. A drum head supporting bracket 45 spans the outer ends of

channel members

38, 39 and is secured to arms 42, 43 by bolts 46 to retain the outer ends of

channel members

38, 39 in spaced apart position. An upstanding wall 46a having a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the peripheral wall 7 of the drum head 6 is formed on the leading edge of bracket 45. When the drum head is in operative relation to the die members the wall 7 is in contact with the bracket wall 45a and the rim 8 rests on the top of wall 45a. A pusher lip 44 extends downwardly from the undersurface of the outer ends of each arm 42 and 43 into the space formed between the side rails 29 of the flange feed chute 28. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 side rails 29 are spaced apart a distance equal to the width of a flange to be fed. Thus as the piston rod 37 is moved outwardly from cylinder 3l in its working stroke the

channel members

38, 39 are moved forward and carrying the bracket wall 45a and arms 42, 43. As the bracket 45 moves forward it pushes the drum head with the secured flanges out of the die and at the same time pushes a new pair of flanges into proper alignment within ring 23.

The pneumatic circuit for actuating the piston and piston rod 37 of air cylinder 37 is controlled by the above mentioned remote four-way control valve which is connected to a source of compressed air (not shown). The remote four-way control valve is actuated by a conventional air valve 47 to cause the piston and piston rod 37 to move in its working stroke and by a conventional air valve 55 to cause the piston and piston rod 37` to move in its return stroke. The air valve 47, which is normally closed, is connected to the source of compressed air by air line 48a to one side of the valve and to the remote four-way control valve by means of air line 4g on the other side of the valve. Air valve 47 is operated by a spring loaded plunger 47a. An L-shaped lever 49 having an upwardly extending leg 5l is pivotally connected at 50 to the body of switch 47. A spring 51a retains leg S1 in an upstanding position adjacent the end of plunger 47a. A pawl member 52 is pivotally mounted at 52a to leg 51. A pin 54 secured to leg 5l restricts the upward movement of pawl 52. A spring 54a retains pawl 52 against pin 54 and in a horizontal plane in the path of finger 53 secured to the end surface ofthe vertically moving die shoe 4. Thus as the die shoe 4 moves downwardly the pawl 52 will freely swing downwardly when contacted by finger 53 without moving lever 49. When the die shoe 4 moves upwardly the finger 53 will contact the lower surface of pawl 52. Since pawl 52 cannot pivot upwardlydue to pin 54 continued upward movement of die shoe 4 will cause lever to pivot upwardly so that leg 5l will push plunger 47a inwardly and open valve 47. The opening of valve 47 permits the passage of compressed air through line 45 to actuate the remote four-way control valve whereby compressed air is directed, through line 36, to cylinder 3l.

Air valve 55 is positioned adjacent the inner end of cylinder 3l and is operated by a spring loaded plunger 55a. Valve 55, which is nonnally closed, is connected to the source of compressed air by air line 56a to one side of the valve and to the remote four-way control valve by means of air line 56 on the other side of the valve. A cam 57 is secured to the outer end of channel member 38 to push plunger 55a inwardly and open valve 55 when the 'piston rod reaches its fully extended position as shown in FIG. 3. The opening of valve 55 permits the passage of compressed air through line 56 to actuate the remote four-way control valve whereby compressed air is directed, through line 37to cylinder 3l.

ln back of the press there is an endless conveyor belt 5B mounted at one end on a pulley 59. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, the upper reaches of the conveyor belt 58 is positioned below the piston rod 37 when in its extended position so that the finished head can slide off of the supporting bracket wall 45a and over the end of the piston rod and plate 40 onto the discharge belt 58.

The operation of the above described apparatus is as follows. Upon initial cycling of the press a pair of closure flanges is first placed by hand in the two sides of the insertion die with the flange base 14 resting on the shelf 26 in the ring 23. This priming step is only necessary at the start of a production run. The operator then places a drum head 6 in the die on top of the flanges with the flange wall 12 extending up into the opening neck 10 and with the drum head rim 8 resting on top of the supporting bracket wall 45a. Two flanges are then placed by the operator in the respective 2-inch and 3ft-inch feed chutes 28 at the outer ends thereof. The press is cycled by the operator and as the ram 2 descends the finger 53 moves ineffectively past valve 47 and the upper die members 16 push the opening neck 10 and pocket 9 down around the flange wall l2. Continued downward movement of the upper die member 16 depresses ring 23 below the top surface of anvil 17 and seats the flange base 14 on the anvil 17 whereby the upper end of the flange wall 12 is beaded over the opening neck l0. On the return upward stroke of the ram 2 and die 4 the finger 53 opens valve 47 and actuates the working stroke of air cylinder 31 as described above. As the piston rod 37 advances, carrying with it the head supporting bracket 4S and the arms 42 and 43, the finished drum head 6 is ejected from the press onto the conveyor belt 58 and at the same time the two flanges previously placed on the outer ends of the feed chutes 28 are pushed by the lip 44 on arms 42, 43 along the chutes and automatically positioned in the lower die rings 23. Upon reaching the end of its stroke as shown in FIG. 3 the action of the cylinder is reversed by opening valve 5S by the cam element 57 which actuates the return stroke of cylinder 31 as described above. The flange feeding apparatus is thus returned to its initial position as illustrated in FIG. 2 whereupon the operator places another head in position in the die and two more flanges in the ends of the feed chutes. The press is then cycled and the operation repeated.

Changes in and modifications of the method and apparatus of the invention as might suggest themselves to those skilled in the art could be made withort departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example the improved feeding and ejecting apparatus could easily be used in conjunction with press operations employing different dies for assembling other parts. lt is accordingly intended that all matter contained in respect to said lower die and to thereafter move said upper die away from said lower die, means to move said supporting frame between a first position spaced from said lower die to a second position adjacent said lower die, means responsive to the movement of said upper die away from said lower die to actuate the moving means of said supporting frame to move said frame into said second position thereby moving the first and second components out of said lower die and simultaneously moving a new first component into work receiving position within said lower die, and means responsive to the movement of said supporting frame into said second position to actuate said frame moving means thereby moving said frame into said first position.

2. ln a press as in claim 1, and including a first component closure flange and a second component drum head wherein said first and second components are assembled when said upper die is in work preforming relationship with respect to said lower die.

3. ln a press as in claim l, said means for moving said supporting frame including a power operated cylinder and piston.

4. ln a press as in claim l, said supporting frame having a portion directly engaging said first component part within said feed chute to effect said feeding.

Claims

1. In a press, an upper die, a lower die, a first component feed chute operatively connected to said lower die, a second component supporting frame operatively associated with said lower die and with said first component feed chute, means to move said upper die into work performing relationship with respect to said lower die and to thereafter move said upper die away from said lower die, means to move said supporting frame between a first position spaced from said lower die to a second position adjacent said lower die, means responsive to the movement of said upper die away from said lower die to actuate the moving means of said supporting frame to move said frame into said second position thereby moving the first and second components out of said lower die and simultaneously moving a new first component into work receiving position within said lower die, and means responsive to the movement of said supporting frame into said second position to actuate said frame moving means thereby moving said frAme into said first position.

2. In a press as in claim 1, and including a first component closure flange and a second component drum head wherein said first and second components are assembled when said upper die is in work preforming relationship with respect to said lower die.

3. In a press as in claim 1, said means for moving said supporting frame including a power operated cylinder and piston.

4. In a press as in claim 1, said supporting frame having a portion directly engaging said first component part within said feed chute to effect said feeding.