Lift control system for press unloader or the like

Claim 2

A control system for a press unloader having a movable arm carrying jaw means movable between a retracted position and an extended position for gripping a part in a die cavity and for carrying the part away from the die cavity, comprising air operated jaw operating power cylinder means for moving the jaw means between the extended position and the retracted position, frame means pivotally supporting said jaw operating power cylinder means and said jaw means, air operated frame operating power cylinder means for pivotally moving said frame means jaw operating power cylinder means and said jaw means between a part gripping position and a part lifting position whereby a gripped part is lifted from a die cavity in a press with which the press unloader is associated, timing means integral with said air operated frame operating power cylinder means to cause the pivotal movement after the jaw means has been extended and the part gripped, a pair of high pressure air hose means connected to said air operated jaw operating power cylinder means and said air operated frame operating power cylinder means to deliver high pressure air thereto and to exhaust air therefrom, said air operated jaw operating power cylinder means and said air operated frame operating power cylinder means being connected in series, first and second pivotal connecting means between said air operated frame operating power cylinder means and said frame means, one of said air hose means being connected to said power cylinder means through one of said pivotal connecting means, and the other of said air hose means being connected to said power cylinder means through the other of said pivotal connecting means.

Claim 3

A control system for a press unloader having a movable arm carrying jaw means movable between a retracted position and an extended position for gripping a part in a die cavity and for carrying the part away from the die cavity, comprising air operated jaw operating power cylinder means for moving the jaw means between the extended position and the retracted position, frame means pivotally supporting said jaw operating power cylinder means and said jaw means, air operated frame operating power cylinder means for pivotally moving said frame means jaw operating power cylinder means and said jaw means between a part gripping position and a part lifting position whereby a gripped part is lifted from a die cavity in a press with which the press unloader is associated, timing means integral with said air operated frame operating power cylinder means to cause the pivotal movement after the jaw means has been extended and the part gripped, an air cylinder having spaced end walls, piston means in said air cylinder movable therein by air pressure during and after movement of said jaw means to the extended position, piston rod means operable by said piston and operably associated with said frame means to cause pivotal movement thereof, and connecting means operable after the movement of said jaw means to the extended position to connect said piston means and said piston rod means to said frame means to cause pivotal movement thereof, said piston means being slidably supported on and movable relative to said piston rod means during the first portion of the piston movement, said piston means being movable relative to said piston rod means during movement of said jaw means to the extended position, and said connecting means connecting said piston means to said piston rod means aFter the movement of said jaw means to the extended position during the last portion of the movement of said piston means.

Claim 4

A control system for a press unloader having a movable arm carrying jaw means movable between a retracted position and an extended position for gripping a part in a die cavity and for carrying the part away from the die cavity, comprising air operated jaw operating power cylinder means for moving the jaw means between the extended position and the retracted position, frame means pivotally supporting said jaw operating power cylinder means and said jaw means, air operated frame operating power cylinder means for pivotally moving said frame means jaw operating power cylinder means and said jaw means between a part gripping position and a part lifting position whereby a gripped part is lifted from a die cavity in a press with which the press unloader is associated, timing means integral with said air operated frame operating power cylinder means to cause the pivotal movement after the jaw means has been extended and the part gripped, an air cylinder having spaced end walls, piston means in said air cylinder movable therein by air pressure during and after movement of said jaw means to the extended position, piston rod means operable by said piston and operably associated with said frame means to cause pivotal movement thereof, and connecting means operable after the movement of said jaw means to the extended position to connect said piston means and said piston rod means to said frame means to cause pivotal movement thereof, said piston means being slidably supported on and movable relative to said piston rod means during the first portion of the piston movement, said piston means being movable relative to said piston rod means during movement of said jaw means to the extended position, and said connecting means connecting said piston means to said piston rod means aFter the movement of said jaw means to the extended position during the last portion of the movement of said piston means.

Claim 5

The invention as defined in claim 2 and there being air flow rate adjustment means to control the rate of movement of said piston means by controlling the rate of flow of air to enable said jaw means to reach the extended position before said connecting means is effective to connect said piston means to said piston rod means.

Claim 6

The invention as defined in claim 3 and wherein said connecting means comprising spaced abutment flanges on said piston rod means engageable with said piston means after sliding movement of said piston means therebetween.

Claim 7

The invention as defined in claim 4 and wherein said spaced abutment flanges alternately engaging opposite ones of said spaced end walls of said air cylinder and being held thereagainst by high pressure air until said piston means engages one of said abutment flanges and moves said rod means.

Claim 8

A control system for a press unloader having a movable arm carrying jaw means movable between a retracted position and an extended position for gripping a part in a die cavity and for carrying the part away from the die cavity, comprising air operated jaw operating power cylinder means for moving the jaw means between the extended position and the retracted position, frame means pivotally supporting said jaw operating power cylinder means and said jaw means, air operated frame operating power cylinder means for pivotally moving said frame means jaw operating power cylinder means and said jaw means between a part gripping position and a part lifting position whereby a gripped part is lifted from a die cavity in a press with which the press unloader is associated, timing means integral with said air operated frame operating power cylinder means to cause the pivotal movement after the jaw means has been extended and the part gripped, a first frame means fixed to the movable arm, a second frame means pivoted to the first frame means and supporting said jaw means, said frame operating power cylinder means comprising an air cylinder, a movable piston, and a piston rod, a first pivotal connecting means pivotally mounting said frame operating power cylinder means between said air cylinder and said first frame means on said first frame means, a second pivotal connecting means between said piston rod and said second frame means whereby said frame operating power cylinder means is movable relative to said first frame means and said second frame means during pivotal displacement of said second frame means, air hose means connected to said frame operating power cylinder means to supply high pressure air thereto and exhaust air therefrom, a first air hose connection integral with said first pivotal connecting means, first air passage means extending from said first air hose connection through said first pivotal connecting means to one side of said piston, a second air hose connection integral with said second pivotal connecting means, and second air passage means extending from said second air hose through said second pivotal connecting means and said piston rod to the other side of said piston.

Claim 9

A control system for a press unloader having a movable arm carrying jaw means movable between a retracted position and an extended position for gripping a part in a die cavity and for carrying the part away from the die cavity, comprising air operated jaw operating power cylinder means for moving the jaw means between the extended position and the retracted position, frame means pivotally supporting said jaw operating power cylinder means and said jaw means, air operated frame operating power cylinder means for pivotally moving said frame means jaw operating power cylinder means and said jaw means between a part gripping position and a part lifting position whereby a gripped part is lifted from a die cavity in a press with which the press unloader is associated, timing means integral with said air operated frame operating power cylinder means to cause the pivotal movement after the jaw means has been extended and the part gripped, a first frame means fixed to the movable arm, a second frame means pivoted to the first frame means and supporting said jaw means, said frame operating power cylinder means comprising an air cylinder, a movable piston, and a piston rod, a first pivotal connecting means pivotally mounting said frame operating power cylinder means between said air cylinder and said first frame means on said first frame means, a second pivotal connecting means between said piston rod and said second frame means whereby said frame operating power cylinder means is movable relative to said first frame means and said second frame means during pivotal displacement of said second frame means, air hose means connected to said frame operating power cylinder means to supply high pressure air thereto and exhaust air therefrom, a first air hose connection integral with said first pivotal connecting means, first air passage means extending from said first air hose connection through said first pivotal connecting means to one side of said piston, a second air hose connection integral with said second pivotal connecting means, and second air passage means extending from said second air hose through said second pivotal connecting means and said piston rod to the other side of said piston.

Claim 10

The invention as defined in claim 6 and further comprising adjustable valve means in each of said first and second passage means to variably control the rate of flow of high pressure air to said air cylinder.