Rotary press

Claim 2

A press for manufacturing articles from powdered material comprising: a. base structure; b. table structure supported on said base structure, and disposed about a vertical axis, said table structure having an upper surface and a lower surface; c. a mold stationarily mounted within said table structure, said mold having a cavity extending therethrough in a generally vertical direction; d. an anvil slidably disposed on one of said surfaces, and adapted to be radially movable with respect to said axis over said one of said surfaces, said anvil being adapted to close one end of said mold cavity; e. first cam means disposed about said axis in driving relation to said anvil for effecting said radial sliding movement of said anvil; f. die means operatively associated with said mold, said die Means including a punch adapted to enter the other end of said cavity for pressing said powdered material against said anvil; g. second cam means disposed about said axis in driving relation to at least a portion of said die means for reciprocating said punch within said cavity; and h. means for effecting relative rotation about said vertical axis of said table structure, said anvil, and said die means with respect to said first cam means and said second cam means.

Claim 3

A press according to claim 1 and further including feed means for delivering said powdered material to said cavity, said feed means and said mold being adapted to rotate with respect to each other about said vertical axis.

Claim 4

A press according to claim 2 wherein said anvil is disposed upon said upper surface, said feed means is disposed above said upper surface, and said die means is disposed below said upper surface, and further including vacuum means disposed adjacent to said upper surface and adapted to rotate with respect to said mold about said axis, said vacuum means being located adjacent to a circumferential path extending through said cavity and having said axis as the center of curvature.

Claim 5

A press according to claim 3 and further including third cam means disposed in driving relation to said anvil for periodically clamping said anvil against said upper surface during the compression of said powdered material, said third cam means being adapted to rotate with respect to said mold about said axis, whereby said anvil is periodically clamped against said upper surface.

Claim 6

A press according to claim 4 including an open-ended receptacle for receiving the manufactured articles, said receptacle being disposed radially outward of said cavity, said receptacle being mounted to said table structure, the open end of said receptacle being disposed below said upper surface and facing in an upward direction, whereby upon ejection of each article by said punch, said anvil slides radially outward to move said article into said receptacle.

Claim 7

A press according to claim 5 wherein said table structure includes an opening disposed radially outward of said cavity, and extending from said upper surface to said lower surface, the open end of said receptacle being mounted to said lower surface and surrounding the lower end of said opening.

Claim 8

A press according to claim 6 wherein said table structure, said anvil, and said die means are mounted for rotation as a unit about said vertical axis, said first cam means being disposed above said upper surface, and stationarily supported by said base structure, said second cam means being disposed below said die means and stationarily supported by said base structure, and said third cam means being stationarily disposed above said anvil.

Claim 9

A press according to claim 7 wherein said first cam means comprises a cam plate disposed above said rotary table structure, said cam plate having a recessed cam track disposed on the underside thereof, said cam track being disposed about said vertical axis, and further including slide means mounted to said anvil, said slide means having follower means disposed within said cam track whereby upon rotation of said anvil, movement of said follower means within said stationary cam track effects radial sliding movement of said anvil across said upper surface.

Claim 10

A press according to claim 8 wherein said cam track includes surface means for effecting movement of said anvil over said upper surface (a) radially inwardly from said cavity to permit said powdered material to be fed into said cavity, (b) radially outwardly over said cavity for compression of said powdered material, (c) radially inwardly to permit ejectment of the manufactured article onto said upper surface, and (d) radially outwardly over said cavity to direct the article through said opening.

Claim 11

A press according to claim 9 wherein said second cam means is disposed about said vertical axis, said second cam means including surface means for effectinG movement of said punch (a) downwardly within said cavity to permit said powdered material to be fed into said cavity, (b) upwardly within said cavity to effect compression of said powdered material against said anvil, (c) further upward movement of said punch within said cavity to at least said upper surface to eject the manufactured article, and (d) downwardly within said cavity.

Claim 12

A press according to claim 10 wherein said anvil is disposed under said cam track, and said third cam means is mounted to the top of said cam plate, and disposed over said cam track, said third cam means extending through said cam plate and into said cam track, whereby upon rotation about said vertical axis said anvil is periodically clamped against said upper surface.

Claim 13

A press according to claim 11 wherein said vacuum means is circumferentially located adjacent to said third cam means.

Claim 14

A press according to claim 12 wherein said first cam means, said second cam means, and said third cam means are so disposed with respect to each other that the movements and clamping of said anvil, and the movements of said punch occur in timed relation.

Claim 15

A press according to claim 2 wherein said anvil is disposed upon said upper surface, said first cam means is disposed above said upper surface and stationarily supported by said base structure, said die means is disposed below said upper surface, said second cam means is disposed below said die means and stationarily supported by said base structure, said table structure, said anvil, and said die means are mounted for rotation as a unit about said vertical axis, and said feed means is stationarily disposed above said upper surface comprising a primary hopper for containing a supply of said powdered material, and means for a constant head on said supply.

Claim 16

A press according to claim 14 wherein said means for maintaining a constant head comprises a secondary hopper, said primary hopper having a primary discharge opening disposed in the bottom thereof, said secondary hopper having a secondary discharge opening disposed in the bottom thereof, each of said hoppers tapering inwardly toward said openings, said secondary hopper being disposed within said primary hopper, and said secondary discharge opening being located between the top and bottom of said primary hopper.

Claim 17

A press according to claim 14 wherein said feed means further includes delivery means extending between the bottom of said primary hopper and said table structure, said delivery means having an arcuate portion extending generally over a circumferential path generated by the rotation of said mold about said vertical axis, the bottom of said arcuate portion contacting said upper surface and having arcuate channel structure disposed therein, said channel structure having a first portion and a second portion extending generally over a path generated by the rotation of said cavity about said axis, said delivery means having a passageway disposed therein extending between said primary discharge opening and said first portion.

Claim 18

A press according to claim 16 wherein said first portion is disposed adjacent to one end of said arcuate portion, said first portion being closed at the ends thereof, said second portion beginning at the other end of said arcuate portion and ending adjacent to said first portion, said second portion being adapted to collect excess powder ejected from said cavity.

Claim 19

A press according to claim 17, including vacuum means stationarily disposed adjacent to said upper surface, said vacuum means being located adjacent to said circumferential path generated by the rotation of said cavity about said vertical axis, and further including a scraper blade mounted to said arcuate portion at said other end thereof, said scraper blade contacting said upper surface, and adapted to direct said excess powdered material from said second portion toward a path generated by the relative rotation between said table structure and said vacuum means.

Claim 20

A press aCcording to claim 18 including three adjustable screws operatively connected to said feed means, and disposed in a triangular arrangement for supporting said feed means, on the top surface of said cam plate, and spring means biasing said feed means toward said top surface of said cam plate.

Claim 21

A press for manufacturing articles from powdered material comprising: a. base structure; b. table structure rotatably supported on said base structure, and disposed about a vertical axis of rotation, said table structure having an upper surface, and a lower surface; c. a plurality of molds stationarily mounted within said table structure and disposed about said vertical axis, each mold having a cavity extending therethrough, the axis of each cavity being parallel to said vertical axis; d. feed means for delivering said powdered material to each cavity, said feed means being stationarily disposed above said upper surface; e. a plurality of anvils slidably disposed on said upper surface, there being one anvil associated with each mold, each anvil adapted to be radially movable over said upper surface and adapted to close one end of its respective cavity; f. first cam means disposed in driving relation to each anvil, said first cam means being stationarily mounted to said base structure, and disposed about said vertical axis and above said upper surface; g. a plurality of die means disposed below said upper surface and about said vertical axis, there being one die means associated with each mold, each die means including a punch adapted to enter the other end of its respective cavity for pressing said powdered material against said anvil; h. second cam means disposed about said vertical axis in driving relation to at least a portion of each die means for reciprocating each punch within its respective cavity, said second cam means being disposed below said die means and stationarily mounted to said base structure.

Claim 22

A press for manufacturing articles from powdered material comprising: a. base structure; b. table structure rotatably supported on said base structure, and disposed about a vertical axis of rotation, said table structure having an upper surface, and a lower surface; c. a plurality of molds stationarily mounted within said table structure and disposed about said vertical axis, each mold having a cavity extending therethrough, the axis of each cavity being parallel to said vertical axis; d. feed means for delivering said powdered material to each cavity, said feed means being stationarily disposed above said upper surface; e. a plurality of anvils slidably disposed on said upper surface, there being one anvil associated with each mold, each anvil adapted to be radially movable over said upper surface and adapted to close one end of its respective cavity; f. first cam means disposed in driving relation to each anvil, said first cam means being stationarily mounted to said base structure, and disposed about said vertical axis and above said upper surface; g. a plurality of die means disposed below said upper surface and about said vertical axis, there being one die means associated with each mold, each die means including a punch adapted to enter the other end of its respective cavity for pressing said powdered material against said anvil; h. second cam means disposed about said vertical axis in driving relation to at least a portion of each die means for reciprocating each punch within its respective cavity, said second cam means being disposed below said die means and stationarily mounted to said base structure.

Claim 23

A press according to claim 20 further including a plurality of open-ended receptacles disposed about said vertical axis, there being one receptacle associated with each cavity for receiving the manufactured articles therefrom, each receptacle being disposed radially outwardly from its respective cavity and mounted to said table structure, the open end of each receptacle being disposed below said upper surface and facing in an upward direction.

Claim 24

A press according to claim 21 wherein said table structure includes a plurality of openings disposed about said vertical axis and extending from said upper surface to said lower surface, there being a single opening associated with each cavity and receptacle, each opening being located radially outwardly of its respective cavity, the open end of each receptacle being mounted to said lower surface and surrounding the lower end of its respective opening.

Claim 25

A press according to claim 22 wherein said first cam means includes surface means for effecting sliding movement of each anvil over said upper surface (a) radially inwardly from said cavity to permit said powdered material to be fed into said cavity (b) radially outwardly over said cavity for compression of said powdered material against said anvil (c) radially inwardly to permit ejection of the manufactured article by said punch onto said upper surface and (d) radially outwardly over said cavity to direct the article through the respective opening into its respective receptacle.

Claim 26

A press according to claim 23 wherein said second cam means includes surface means for effecting movement of each punch (a) downwardly within its respective cavity to permit said powdered material to be fed into said cavity, (b) upwardly within its respective cavity to press said powdered material against said anvil, (c) further upwardly to at least said upper surface to eject the manufactured article onto said upper surface, and (d) downwardly to permit said anvil to direct said article into the respective receptacle.

Claim 27

A press according to claim 24 wherein said molds, said feed means, said anvils, said first cam means, said die means, and said second cam means, are so disposed with respect to each other that said feeding of said powdered material and said movements of said anvils and punches occur in timed relation.

Claim 28

A press for manufacturing articles from powdered material comprising: a. base structure; b. table structure supported on said base structure, and adapted to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation; c. a mold stationarily mounted within said table structure, said mold having a cavity extending therethrough in a generally vertical direction; d. an anvil disposed on the upper surface of said table structure, said anvil being adapted to close the upper end of said cavity; e. die means disposed below the upper surface of said table structure, and operatively associated with said mold, said die means including a punch adapted to enter the lower end of said cavity for pressing said powdered material against said anvil; f. means for effecting radial sliding movement of said anvil over said upper surface, while at the same time maintaining constant and positive contact between said anvil and said table structure, during rotation of said table structure.

Claim 29

A press for manufacturing articles from powdered material comprising: a. base structure; b. table structure supported on said base structure, and adapted to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation; c. a mold stationarily mounted within said table structure, said mold having a cavity extending therethrough in a generally vertical direction; d. an anvil disposed on the upper surface of said table structure, said anvil being adapted to close the upper end of said cavity; e. die means disposed below the upper surface of said table structure, and operatively associated with said mold, said die means including a punch adapted to enter the lower end of said cavity for pressing said powdered material against said anvil; f. means for effecting radial sliding movement of said anvil over said upper surface, while at the same time maintaining constant and positive contact between said anvil and said table structure, during rotation of said table structure.

Claim 30

A press according to claim 26 wherein said anvil moving means comprises cam and slide structure for effecting said radial sliding movement, and biasing means for effecting said constant and positive contact.