GB1095266A - Improvements relating to feed units for machine tools - Google Patents

Abstract

1,095,266. Metal sheet feeds; bar feeds. BOUCHER & CO. Ltd. May 26, 1965 [April 16, 1964], No. 15729/64. Headings B3B and B3W. A strip feed, for a power press comprises holding gripper means for alternately holding the stock so as to restrain it against movement and releasing it for movement, a feeding head including releasable feeding gripper means for periodically gripping the stock to advance it intermittently along the feed path, and a traversing means for moving the feeding head forwardly and reversely of the feed path, the feeding gripper means and the traversing means being operated by respective pressure fluid operated gripper and traverse actuating devices, and respective gripper valve means and traverse valve means being provided which are operable independently from a controlling member of the machine tool and so connected with their respectively associated gripper and traverse actuating devices as to produce operation thereof in the required sequence to effect stepwise advancement of the strip along the feed path. The device is supported by a bracket 10 which is bolted to the work table of a press and which has three bosses 14 supporting three guide rods 15, which are connected at their free ends by plates 16, 18. An anchor bracket 20 is clamped to the rods 15 and supports a fluid cylinder 25. The piston rod of the cylinder is connected to a movable bracket 26 which slides on the rods 15 and carries the feeding gripper. The top surface of the movable bracket forms one clamping surface and the lower end of the piston rod of a fluid cylinder 34 forms the co-operating clamping surface of the gripper. Retrograde movement of the metal sheet is prevented by a stationary gripper 35 of similar construction mounted on the bracket 10. The flow of fluid to the cylinders is controlled by two valves (39) and (40), Fig. 2 (not shown), which are operated by push rods actuated by two eccentrics (41) (42), Fig. 4 (not shown), which are driven from the press to which the device is attached. In a modification electropneumatic valves are used controlled by microswitches operated by cams driven by the press.