Automatic shearing method and apparatus

Claim 2

A shearing machine comprising: base means; first and second pairs of power driven shears mounted on said base means, a cutting edge of said first pair being disposed in a first plane and a cutting edge of said second pair being disposed in a second plane intersecting said first plane, said cutting edges meeting at a corner; and power driven material positioning means mounted on said base means and associated with said shears, and including material edge margin gripper means for gripping a piece to be sheared, and including drive means coupled to said gripper means to drive said gripper means, and thereby said piece, to various positions with respect to edges of shears of said first and second pair, to locate said piece for shearing by at least one of said pairs of shears at a location on the piece determined by the positioning of said gripper means prior to operation of said shears.

Claim 3

The machine of claim 1 and further comprising: a ram on said base means and supporting one shear of each of said pairs; a frame on said base means and supporting the other shear of each of said pairs; inflatable and deflatable pneumatic bag means disposed between said ram and said frame for driving said ram supported shears into shearing cooperation with said frame supported shears.

Claim 4

The machine of claim 1 and further comprising; ram means on said base means and supporting One shear of each of said pairs; frame means on said base means and supporting the other shear of each of said pairs; said material positioning means including carriage means mounted on said frame means, said edge margin gripper means being mounted on said carriage means.

Claim 5

The machine of claim 3 wherein said carriage means include first and second carriages, said first carriage being mounted to said frame for movement thereon in a Y axis direction toward said shears, and said second carriage being mounted to said first carriage for movement thereon in an X axis direction perpendicular to said Y axis direction, said gripper means being mounted on said second carriage.

Claim 6

The machine of claim 4 wherein said drive means include: a source of pneumatic pressure: first pneumatic cylinder means having piston rods thereof affixed to said frame means, and selector valve means coupled to said source and to said first cylinder means and operable to pressurize chambers in said cylinder means alternately on opposite sides of a piston therein, to drive said first cylinder means in opposite directions, and means coupling said first carriage to said first cylinder means.

Claim 7

The machine of claim 5 wherein said coupling means include: a bi-directional belt and pulley combination connecting said first carriage to said first cylinder means.

Claim 8

The machine of claim 5 wherein said drive means further include: additional pneumatic cylinder means having piston rods thereof parallel to said piston rods of said first cylinder means and affixed to said frame means, said selector valve means being coupled to said additional cylinder means and operable to pressurize chambers in said additional cylinder means alternately on opposite sides of piston means therein, to drive said additional cylinder means along with said first cylinder means, and coupling said first carriage to said additional cylinder means.

Claim 9

The machine of claim 7 and further comprising: hydraulic cylinders, one of said cylinders being affixed to each of said pneumatic cylinder means, and hydraulic communication means between chambers of said cylinders to accommodate shuttling of hydraulic fluid between chambers of different ones of said cylinders as said cylinder means are driven by pneumatic pressure, said communication means and cylinders being filled with hydraulic fluid to assure positive simultaneous tracking of said cylinder means with each other.

Claim 10

The machine of claim 8 and further comprising: hydraulic cylinder bore difference compensating means including a storage member associated with said communication means, and a cam member and a follower associated with said cam member and said storage member, one of said members being fixed with respect to said frame means, and the other of said members being fixed with respect to one of said cylinders, said compensating means being adjustable to cause said cam and follower member to displace fluid from said storage member as said follower is operated by said cam member upon movement of said one cylinder.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 8 and further comprising: valve means in said hydraulic communication means and normally precluding the shuttling of oil between said chambers of at least two of said hydraulic cylinders, and operable, when actuated, to permit said shuttling of oil and movement of said first carriage in a direction as determined by said selector valve means.

Claim 12

The machine of claim 8 wherein said drive means further include: further pneumatic cylinder means having piston rods affixed to said first carriage; means coupling said second carriage to said further pneumatic cylinder means; and second selector valve means coupled to said source and to said further pneumatic cylinder means and operable to pressurize chambers in said further pneumatic cylinder means alternately on opposite sides of a piston therein, to drive said further pneumatic cylinder means, and thereby said gripper means, in opposite directions.

Claim 13

The machine of claim 11 and further comprising: a further hydraulic cylinder Affixed to said further pneumatic cylinder means, divided into two chambers by a piston therein; and further valve means in a conduit between said two chambers and normally closed preventing shuttling of oil between said two chambers to lock up said second carriage with respect to said first carriage, said further valve means being operable, when actuated, to permit communication between said two chambers accommodating drive of said second carriage with respect to said first carriage in a direction designated by said second selector valve means.

Claim 14

The machine of claim 4 wherein said drive means include: first and second cylinders in fixed relation to each other and having, respectively, first and second piston rods therein affixed to said first carriage; a pair of pistons, one of said pistons being disposed in each of said cylinders and connected to the respective piston rod therefor; a first source of pressurized fluid; first multi-condition valve means having a first condition providing a balance of force on both sides of the piston in said first cylinder, said valve means having a second condition coupling said source to a chamber at one side of the piston in said first cylinder and discharging the chamber at the opposite side of the piston in said first cylinder to drive said first cylinder in one direction, and said valve means having a third condition coupling said source to said chamber at the opposite side and discharging said chamber at the said one side to drive said first cylinder in the opposite direction; first passageway means coupled between a first chamber of said second cylinder and a second chamber of said second cylinder; liquid filling said chambers of said second cylinder and said first passageway means; second valve means in said first passageway means and normally precluding shuttling of liquid in said first passageway means, said second valve means being operable, when actuated, to permit shuttling of liquid between said first and said second chambers of said second cylinder whereby motion of said cylinders in response to pressure from said source as directed by said first valve means in said second and third condition thereof is controlled by said second valve means, said second carriage being coupled to said first cylinder to be driven thereby on said first carriage.

Claim 15

The machine of claim 13 wherein said second valve means includes: first and second separately operable valves in parallel passageway paths and operable simultaneously and in sequence to provide different transfer rates and thereby different speeds of motion of said second carriage.

Claim 16

The machine of claim 3 wherein: said carriage means include first and second carriages, said first carriage being mounted to said frame for movement thereon back and forth in one direction, and said second carriage being mounted to said first carriage for movement back and forth with respect to said first carriage; said shears include lower blades, each having an upper edge; table means are included having top surface means substantially co-planar with said upper edges; said first carriage being disposed substantially entirely below the level of said top surface means; and said second carriage being disposed substantially entirely below the level of said top surface means.

Claim 17

The machine of claim 15 wherein said table means include: a plurality of slats disposed parallel to said first plane of said cutting edge of said first pair of shears; means normally holding said slats with the top surfaces thereof substantially co-planar with said upper edges, said holding means being responsive to movement of said first carriage toward said first cutting edge to permit descent of said slats progressively to clear said second carriage passing thereover.

Claim 18

The machine of claim 16 wherein: said slats are pivotally connected and have support rollers at one end thereof; said holdIng means include a generally S-shaped track disposed at one end of said slats and receiving said rollers, said track being secured to said first carriage and movable therewith.

Claim 19

The machine of claim 16 wherein: said slats are pivotally connected and have support rollers at one end thereof; said holding means include a plurality of support plates individually supported by a stationary portion of said table means, and said holding means further include a track secured to said first carriage, said rollers being normally supported on said plates; said first carriage including a cam engageable with said plates for displacing said plates from supporting position under said rollers and substituting said track as the support for said rollers successively, as said first carriage moves toward said first cutting edge.

Claim 20

The machine of claim 3 wherein said drive means include: first and second cylinders affixed together and having, respectively, first and second piston rods therein and affixed to said frame means; third and fourth cylinders affixed together and having, respectively, third and fourth piston rods therein affixed to said frame means; a plurality of pistons, one of said pistons being disposed in each of said cylinders and connected to the respective piston rod therefor; a first source of pressurized fluid; first multi-condition valve means having a first condition providing a balance of force on both sides of the pistons in said first and third cylinders, said valve means having a second condition coupling said source to chambers at one side of the pistons in said first and third cylinders and discharging chambers at the opposite side of pistons in said first and third cylinders to drive said first and third cylinders in one direction, and said valve means having a third condition coupling said source to said chambers at the opposite sides and discharging said chambers at the said one side, to drive said first and third cylinders in the opposite direction; first passageway means coupled between a first chamber of said second cylinder and a second chamber of said fourth cylinder, and second passageway means coupled between a second chamber of said second cylinder and a first chamber of said fourth cylinder; liquid filling said chambers of said second and fourth cylinders and said first and second passageway means; second valve means in said first passageway means and normally precluding the shuttling of liquid in said first passageway means, said second valve means being operable, when actuated, to permit shuttling of liquid in said first passageway means whereby motion of said third and fourth cylinders is synchronized with motion of said first and second cylinders caused by pressure from said source as directed by said first valve means in said second and third condition thereof, said carriage means being coupled to said cylinders for movement by said cylinders.

Claim 21

The machine of claim 19 and further comprising: a source of liquid stored under pressure and coupled to said passageway means through unidirectional valve means to supply make-up liquid to said passageway means.

Claim 22

The system of claim 20 wherein: said source is an accumulator.

Claim 23

The system of claim 19 and further comprising: third valve means operable, when actuated, to provide communication between said first and second passageway means.

Claim 24

The system of claim 19 and further comprising: first compensating liquid storage chamber means having a movable wall, and filled with liquid, and coupled to said second passageway means; and first cam means coupled to said second cylinder and operable on said wall in response to movement of said second cylinder to receive liquid into said storage chamber means from said second passageway means.

Claim 25

The system of claim 23 wherein: said cam means include a ramp connected to said second cylinder, and a follower on said ramp and Connected to said movable wall, the shape of said ramp with reference to said second cylinder, and the size of said wall being such that the volume of liquid received in said first storage chamber means as said second cylinder moves equals a difference in volume change between said second chamber of said second cylinder and said first chamber of said fourth cylinder as said second cylinder moves.

Claim 26

The system of claim 24 and further comprising: second compensating liquid storage chamber means having a movable wall, and filled with liquid, and coupled to said first passageway means; second cam means including a second ramp connected to said fourth cylinder, and a follower on said second ramp and connected to the movable wall of said second storage chamber means, the shape of said second ramp with reference to said fourth cylinder, and the size of said wall of said second storage chamber means being such that a volume of liquid is discharged from said second storage chamber means into said first passageway means as said fourth cylinder moves, said discharged volume equalling a difference in volume change between said first chamber of said second cylinder and said second chamber of said fourth cylinder as said fourth cylinder moves.

Claim 27

The machine of claim 1 wherein: said first and second planes are substantially perpendicular to a third plane, said cutting edge of said first pair having a rake extending from a first point near one end thereof to a second point near the opposite end thereof, and said cutting edge of said second pair having a rake extending from a third point near one end thereof to a fourth point near the opposite end thereof, said first, second, and fourth points being disposed at increasingly greater distances from said third plane.

Claim 28

The combination of claim 26 wherein: said second and third points are coincident, and lie in the intersection of said first and second planes.

Claim 29

The combination of claim 26 and further comprising: ram means on said base means and supporting said cutting edges; and ram drive means on said base means and coupled to said ram means for driving said cutting edges; limit means on said ram means and coupled to said ram drive means to limit the stroke of said ram means whereby; said ram means are drivable through a partial stroke to engage only said cutting edge of said first pair with said piece to be sheared, for shearing only with said cutting edge of said first pair.

Claim 30

The machine of claim 1 and further comprising: material hold-down means on said base means and associated with said shears; said hold-down means having actuator means energized to grip said piece during shearing, said actuator means being energizable for holding down said piece during release of said gripper means; said drive means being operable during release of said gripper means and actuation of said hold-down actuator means for shifting said gripper means on said piece for regripping of said piece at another location on said piece.

Claim 31

The machine of claim 1 and further comprising: ram means on said base means and supporting one shear of each of said pairs; and frame means on said base means and supporting the other shear of each of said pairs, said ram means being pivotally connected to said frame means for movement of the shears mounted on said ram means up and down as said ram means pivots in opposite directions on said frame means.

Claim 32

The machine of claim 30 wherein: the shears supported on said ram means are affixed thereto and have cutting edges meeting in a corner; and the shears supported on said frame means are affixed thereto and have cutting edges meeting in a corner.

Claim 33

The machine of claim 31 wherein: said shears supported on said ram means are immediately within the corner defined by the cutting edges of the shears supported on said frame means; and said gripper means are outside the corner defined By edges of the shears supported on said frame means.

Claim 34

The machine of claim 1 wherein: said first and second planes are perpendicular to each other and the corner meeting of said edges is at the intersection of said planes; and said gripper means are located outside said corner.

Claim 35

The machine of claim 33 wherein said gripper means are located in front of said shears.

Claim 36

A shearing machine comprising: a pair of shears; material positioning means associated with said shears and including gripper means to grip a piece to be sheared and drive means to drive said piece toward said shears; a plurality of slats disposed parallel to said shears; means normally holding said slats with the top surfaces thereof in a feeding plane for material being fed into said shears; the said holding means being responsive to movement of a portion of said drive means toward said shears to permit descent of said slats progressively to clear said gripper means passing thereover.

Claim 37

A shearing machine comprising: a pair of shears; material positioning means associated with said shears and including gripper means to grip a piece to be sheared and drive means to drive said piece toward said shears; a plurality of slats disposed parallel to said shears; means normally holding said slats with the top surfaces thereof in a feeding plane for material being fed into said shears; the said holding means being responsive to movement of a portion of said drive means toward said shears to permit descent of said slats progressively to clear said gripper means passing thereover.

Claim 38

The combination of claim 35 wherein: said slats are pivotally connected together and have support rollers at one end thereof; said holding means including a generally S-shaped track disposed at one end of said slats and receiving said rollers, said track being secured to said portion of said drive means and movable therewith.

Claim 39

The combination of claim 35 wherein: said slats are pivotally connected together and have support rollers at one end thereof; said holding means including a plurality of support plates individually supported at a substantially constant elevation, said holding means further including a track secured to said portion of said drive means, said rollers being normally supported on said plates; said drive means portion including a cam engagable with said plates for displacing said plates from supporting position under said rollers and substituting said track as support for said rollers successively as said drive means portion moves toward said shears.

Claim 40

A shearing machine comprising: a pair of shears; material positioning means associated with said shears and including gripper means to grip a piece to be sheared and drive means to drive said sheet toward said shears, said positioning means further including first and second carriages, said first carriage being mounted for movement back and forth toward said shears, and said second carriage being mounted to said first carriage for movement back and forth with respect to said first carriage; stock support table means having a top surface means at an elevation providing a stock feed line into said shears, said first carriage being disposed substantially entirely below the level of said top surface means; and said second carriage being disposed substantially entirely below the level of said top surface means.

Claim 41

A shearing machine comprising: a pair of shears; material positioning means associated with said shears and including gripper means to grip a piece to be sheared and drive means to drive said sheet toward said shears, said positioning means further including first and second carriages, said first carriage being mounted for movement back and forth toward said shears, and said second carriage being mounted to said first carriage for movement back and forth with respect to said first carriage; stock support table means having a top surface means at an elevation providing a stock feed line into said shears, said first carriage being disposed substantially entirely below the level of said top surface means; and said second carriage being disposed substantially entirely below the level of said top surface means.