Selective stripper mechanism

Claim 2

A machine for performing work operations on a workpiece with a tool, said machine comprising a workpiece support surface, ram means for moving the tool through an operating cycle which includes moving the tool into engagement with the workpiece and retracting the tool from the workpiece, selectively operable stripper means associated with said ram means for pressing the workpiece against said support surface as the tool is retracted from the workpiece by said ram means, transfer means operable between an active condition in which said transfer means is effective to transmit actuating forces to said stripper means and an inactive condition in which said transfer means is ineffective to transmit actuating forces to said stripper means to render said stripper means ineffective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface as the tool is retracted, and actuator means for effecting operation of said transfer means between the active condition and the inactive condition.

Claim 3

A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transfer means includes a plurality of actuator elements and mounting means for supporting said actuator elements for movement in a first direction to transfer actuating forces to said stripper means, said actuator means including means for moving said actuator elements in a second direction transverse to said first direction to effect operation of said transfer means between the active and inactive conditions.

Claim 4

A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transfer means and stripper means include a plurality of sets of pins, said transfer means including means for moving one of said sets of pins from a first position in which said one set of pins is axially aligned with another set of pins to a second position in which said one set of pins is axially offset from said other set of pins upon operation of said transfer means from the active condition to the inactive condition.

Claim 5

A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said stripper means includes a stripper plate fixedly connected with one of said plurality of sets of pins.

Claim 6

A machine as set forth in claim 1 further including control means for controlling the operation of said machine, said control means including detector means for detecting when said transfer means is in the inactive condition and in the active condition, and interlock means for preventing movement of the tool by said ram means when said detector means detects that said transfer means is in a condition other than the active condition or the inactive condition.

Claim 7

A machine as set forth in claim 1 further including ram control means for controlling operation of said ram means, main control means for activating said ram control means and interlock means for preventing activation of said ram control means by said main control means when said transfer means is in a condition other than the active or inactive conditions.

Claim 8

A turret punch press for performing work operations on a workpiece with a tool, said punch press comprising a base, an upper turret rotatably mounted on said base, a lower turret rotatably mounted on said base and at least partially defining a workpiece support surface, ram means for effecting relative movement between the tool and said upper and lower turrets to move the tool through an operating cycle which includes moving the tool into engagement with the workpiece and retracting the tool from the workpiece, selectively operable stripper means mounted on said upper turret and actuatable under the influences of forces transmitted to said stripper means from said ram means to press the workpiece against the workpiece support surface on said lower turret as the tool is retracted from the workpiece by said ram means, transfer means operatively connected with said stripper means and said ram means for transmitting actuating forces from said ram means to said stripper means during an operating cycle of said punch press, said transfer means being operable between an active condition in which said transfer means is effective to transmit actuating forces from said ram means to said stripper means to render said stripper means effective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface on said loWer turret as the tool is retracted and an inactive condition in which said transfer means is ineffective to transmit actuating forces from said ram means to said stripper means to render said stripper means ineffective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface as the tool is retracted, actuator means for effecting operation of said transfer means between the active condition in which said stripper means is effective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface during retraction of the tool and the inactive condition in which said stripper means is ineffective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface during retraction of the tool, detector means for detecting when said transfer means has been operated to one of said conditions, and control means for initiating operation of said ram means to move the tool through an operating cycle only after detection by said detector means that said transfer means is in either said active or inactive condition.

Claim 9

A turret punch press for performing work operations on a workpiece with a tool, said punch press comprising a base, an upper turret rotatably mounted on said base, a lower turret rotatably mounted on said base and at least partially defining a workpiece support surface, ram means for effecting relative movement between the tool and said upper and lower turrets to move the tool through an operating cycle which includes moving the tool into engagement with the workpiece and retracting the tool from the workpiece, selectively operable stripper means mounted on said upper turret and actuatable under the influences of forces transmitted to said stripper means from said ram means to press the workpiece against the workpiece support surface on said lower turret as the tool is retracted from the workpiece by said ram means, transfer means operatively connected with said stripper means and said ram means for transmitting actuating forces from said ram means to said stripper means during an operating cycle of said punch press, said transfer means being operable between an active condition in which said transfer means is effective to transmit actuating forces from said ram means to said stripper means to render said stripper means effective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface on said loWer turret as the tool is retracted and an inactive condition in which said transfer means is ineffective to transmit actuating forces from said ram means to said stripper means to render said stripper means ineffective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface as the tool is retracted, actuator means for effecting operation of said transfer means between the active condition in which said stripper means is effective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface during retraction of the tool and the inactive condition in which said stripper means is ineffective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface during retraction of the tool, detector means for detecting when said transfer means has been operated to one of said conditions, and control means for initiating operation of said ram means to move the tool through an operating cycle only after detection by said detector means that said transfer means is in either said active or inactive condition.

Claim 10

A turret punch press as set forth in claim 7 wherein said stripper means includes a stripper element disposed between said upper and lower turrets and defining opening through which the tool passes to engage a workpiece, a plurality of stripper support members fixedly connected with said stripper element and movably mounted on said upper turret, and stripper springs operatively interconnecting said stripper support members and said lower turret to bias said stripper element upwardly against said upper turret, said transfer means including resilient drive means for transmitting force from said ram means and for enabling said ram means to move relative to said stripper means when the workpiece is pressed against said support surface with a predetermined force by said stripper means, a transfer member, and a plurality of transfer pins mounted on said transfer member, said transfer pins being effective to transmit force between said drive means and said stripper means when said transfer means is in the active condition, said transfer pins being movable axially relative to said stripper means by said drive means when said transfer means is in the inactive condition to thereby render said transfer pins ineffective to transmit forces between said drive means and said stripper means.

Claim 11

A turret punch press as set forth in claim 7 wherein said control means includes means for effecting operation of said transfer means between the active and inactive conditions in accordance with a predetermined program.

Claim 12

A turret punch press for performing work operations on a workpiece, said punch press comprising a base, an upper turret rotatably mounted on said base, a plurality of punches mounted on said upper turret, a lower turret rotatably mounted on said base and at least partially defining a workpiece support surface, drive means for rotating said turrets to move each of the punches in turn to a work station, ram means at the work station for effecting relative movement between one of the punches and said upper and lower turrets to move the one punch through an operating cycle which includes moving the one punch into engagement with the workpiece and retracting the one-punch from the workpiece, a plurality of selectively operable stripper means mounted on said upper turret, each of said stripper means being associated with one of said punches and being actuatable at the work station under the influences of forces transmitted to the stripper means at the work station from said ram means to press the workpiece against the workpiece support surface on said lower turret as the punch at the work station is retracted from the workpiece by said ram means, transfer means operatively connected with said ram means for transmitting actuating forces from said ram means to each of said stripper means in turn at the work station during operating cycles of said punch press, said transfer means being operable between an active condition in which said transfer means is effective to transmit actUating forces from said ram means to a stripper means at the work station to render the stripper support surface on said lower turret as the punch at the work station is retracted and an inactive condition in which said transfer means is ineffective to transmit actuating forces from said ram means to the stripper means at the work station to render the stripper means at the work station ineffective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface as the punch at the work station is retracted, actuator means for effecting operation of said transfer means between the active condition in which the stripper means at the work station is effective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface during retraction of the punch at the work station and the inactive condition in which the stripper means at the work station is ineffective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface during retraction of the punch at the work station, detector means for detecting when said transfer means has been operated to one of said conditions, and control means for initiating operation of said ram means to move a punch through an operating cycle only after detection by said detector means that said transfer means is in either said active or inactive condition.

Claim 13

A turret punch press for performing work operations on a workpiece, said punch press comprising a base, an upper turret rotatably mounted on said base, a plurality of punches mounted on said upper turret, a lower turret rotatably mounted on said base and at least partially defining a workpiece support surface, drive means for rotating said turrets to move each of the punches in turn to a work station, ram means at the work station for effecting relative movement between one of the punches and said upper and lower turrets to move the one punch through an operating cycle which includes moving the one punch into engagement with the workpiece and retracting the one-punch from the workpiece, a plurality of selectively operable stripper means mounted on said upper turret, each of said stripper means being associated with one of said punches and being actuatable at the work station under the influences of forces transmitted to the stripper means at the work station from said ram means to press the workpiece against the workpiece support surface on said lower turret as the punch at the work station is retracted from the workpiece by said ram means, transfer means operatively connected with said ram means for transmitting actuating forces from said ram means to each of said stripper means in turn at the work station during operating cycles of said punch press, said transfer means being operable between an active condition in which said transfer means is effective to transmit actUating forces from said ram means to a stripper means at the work station to render the stripper support surface on said lower turret as the punch at the work station is retracted and an inactive condition in which said transfer means is ineffective to transmit actuating forces from said ram means to the stripper means at the work station to render the stripper means at the work station ineffective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface as the punch at the work station is retracted, actuator means for effecting operation of said transfer means between the active condition in which the stripper means at the work station is effective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface during retraction of the punch at the work station and the inactive condition in which the stripper means at the work station is ineffective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface during retraction of the punch at the work station, detector means for detecting when said transfer means has been operated to one of said conditions, and control means for initiating operation of said ram means to move a punch through an operating cycle only after detection by said detector means that said transfer means is in either said active or inactive condition.

Claim 14

A turret punch press as set forth in claim 10 wherein each of said stripper means includes a stripper element disposed between said upper and lower turrets and defining opening through which an associated one of said punches passes to engage a workpiece, a plurality of stripper support members fixedly connected with said stripper element and movably mounted on said upper turret, and stripper springs operatively interconnecting said stripper support members and said lower turret to bias said stripper element upwardly against said upper turret, said transfer means including resilient drive means for transmitting force from said ram means and for enabling said ram means to move relative to the stripper means at the work station when the workpiece is pressed against said support surface with a predetermined force, a transfer member, and a plurality of transfer pins mounted on said transfer member, said transfer pins being effective to transmit force between said drive means and the stripper means at the work station when said transfer means is in the active condition, said transfer pins being movable axially relative to the stripper means at the work station by said drive means when said transfer means is in the inactive condition to thereby render said transfer pins ineffective to transmit forces between said drive means and the stripper means at the work station.

Claim 15

A turret punch press as set forth in claim 10 wherein said control means includes means for effecting rotation of said upper and lower turrets to move one of said punches and the associated one of said stripper means to the work station in accordance with a predetermined program and means for effecting operation of said transfer means between the active and inactive conditions in accordance with the predetermined program.

Claim 16

A turret punch press for performing work operations on a workpiece with a tool, said punch press comprising a base, an upper turret rotatably mounted on said base, a lower turret rotatably mounted on said base and at least partially defining a workpiece support surface, ram means for effecting relative movement between the tool and said upper and lower turrets to move the tool through an operating cycle which includes moving the tool into engagement with the workpiece and retracting the tool from the workpiece, selectively operable stripper means mounted on said upper turret and actuatable under the influences of forces transmitted to said stripper means from said ram means to press the workpiece against the workpiece support surface on said lower turret as the tool is retracted from the workpiece by said ram means, transfer means operatively connected with said stripper means and said ram means for transMitting actuating forces from said ram means to said stripper means during an operating cycle of said punch press, said transfer means being operable between an active condition in which said transfer means is effective to transmit actuating forces from said ram means to said stripper means to render said stripper means effective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface on said lower turret as the tool is retracted and an inactive condition in which said transfer means is ineffective to transmit actuating forces from said ram means to said stripper means to render said stripper means ineffective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface as the tool is retracted, actuator means for effecting operation of said transfer means between the active condition in which said stripper means is effective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface during retraction of the tool and the inactive condition in which said stripper means is ineffective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface during retraction of the tool, and control means for initiating operation of said ram means to move the tool through an operating cycle when said transfer means in in either said active or inactive condition.

Claim 17

A turret punch press for performing work operations on a workpiece with a tool, said punch press comprising a base, an upper turret rotatably mounted on said base, a lower turret rotatably mounted on said base and at least partially defining a workpiece support surface, ram means for effecting relative movement between the tool and said upper and lower turrets to move the tool through an operating cycle which includes moving the tool into engagement with the workpiece and retracting the tool from the workpiece, selectively operable stripper means mounted on said upper turret and actuatable under the influences of forces transmitted to said stripper means from said ram means to press the workpiece against the workpiece support surface on said lower turret as the tool is retracted from the workpiece by said ram means, transfer means operatively connected with said stripper means and said ram means for transMitting actuating forces from said ram means to said stripper means during an operating cycle of said punch press, said transfer means being operable between an active condition in which said transfer means is effective to transmit actuating forces from said ram means to said stripper means to render said stripper means effective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface on said lower turret as the tool is retracted and an inactive condition in which said transfer means is ineffective to transmit actuating forces from said ram means to said stripper means to render said stripper means ineffective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface as the tool is retracted, actuator means for effecting operation of said transfer means between the active condition in which said stripper means is effective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface during retraction of the tool and the inactive condition in which said stripper means is ineffective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface during retraction of the tool, and control means for initiating operation of said ram means to move the tool through an operating cycle when said transfer means in in either said active or inactive condition.

Claim 18

A turret punch press as set forth in claim 13 wherein said stripper means includes a stripper element disposed between said upper and lower turrets and defining opening through which the tool passes to engage a workpiece, a plurality of stripper support members fixedly connected with said stripper element and movably mounted on said upper turret, and stripper springs operatively interconnecting said stripper support members and said lower turret to bias said stripper element upwardly against said upper turret, said transfer means including resilient drive means for transmitting force from said ram means and for enabling said ram means to move relative to said stripper means when the workpiece is pressed against said support surface with a predetermined force by said stripper means, a transfer member, and a plurality of transfer pins mounted on said transfer member, said transfer pins being effective to transmit force between said drive means and said stripper means when said transfer means is in the active condition, said transfer pins being movable axially relative to said stripper means by said drive means when said transfer means is in the inactive condition to thereby render said transfer pins ineffective to transmit forces between said drive means and said stripper means.

Claim 19

A turret punch press as set forth in claim 13 wherein said control means includes means for effecting operation of said transfer means between the active and inactive conditions in accordance with a predetermined program.

Claim 20

A turret punch press for performing work operations on a workpiece, said punch press comprising a base, an upper turret rotatably mounted on said base, a plurality of punches mounted on said upper turret, a lower turret rotatably mounted on said base and at least partially defining a workpiece support surface, drive means for rotating said turrets to move each of the punches in turn to a work station, ram means at the work station for effecting relative movement between one of the punches and said upper and lower turrets to move the one punch through an operating cycle which includes moving the one punch into engagement with the workpiece and retracting the one punch from the workpiece, a plurality of selectively operable stripper means mounted on said upper turret, each of said stripper means being associated with one of said punches and being actuatable at the work station under the influences of forces transmitted to the stripper means at the work station from said ram means to press the workpiece against the workpiece support surface on said lower turret as the punch at the work station is retracted from the workpiece by said ram means, transfer means operatively connected with said ram means for transmitting actuating forces from said ram means to each of said stripper means in turn at the work station during operating cycles of said punch press, said transfer means being operable between an active condition in which said transfer means is effective to transmit actuating forces from said ram means to a stripper means at the work station to render the stripper support surface on said lower turret as the punch at the work station is retracted and an inactive condition in which said transfer means is ineffective to transmit actuating forces from said ram means to the stripper means at the work station to render the stripper means at the work station ineffective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface as the punch at the work station is retracted, actuator means for effecting operation of said transfer means between the active condition in which the stripper means at the work station is effective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface during retraction of the punch at the work station and the inactive condition in which the stripper means at the work station is ineffective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface during retraction of the punch at the work station, and control means for initiating operation of said ram means to move a punch through an operating cycle when said transfer means is in either said active or inactive condition.

Claim 21

A turret punch press for performing work operations on a workpiece, said punch press comprising a base, an upper turret rotatably mounted on said base, a plurality of punches mounted on said upper turret, a lower turret rotatably mounted on said base and at least partially defining a workpiece support surface, drive means for rotating said turrets to move each of the punches in turn to a work station, ram means at the work station for effecting relative movement between one of the punches and said upper and lower turrets to move the one punch through an operating cycle which includes moving the one punch into engagement with the workpiece and retracting the one punch from the workpiece, a plurality of selectively operable stripper means mounted on said upper turret, each of said stripper means being associated with one of said punches and being actuatable at the work station under the influences of forces transmitted to the stripper means at the work station from said ram means to press the workpiece against the workpiece support surface on said lower turret as the punch at the work station is retracted from the workpiece by said ram means, transfer means operatively connected with said ram means for transmitting actuating forces from said ram means to each of said stripper means in turn at the work station during operating cycles of said punch press, said transfer means being operable between an active condition in which said transfer means is effective to transmit actuating forces from said ram means to a stripper means at the work station to render the stripper support surface on said lower turret as the punch at the work station is retracted and an inactive condition in which said transfer means is ineffective to transmit actuating forces from said ram means to the stripper means at the work station to render the stripper means at the work station ineffective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface as the punch at the work station is retracted, actuator means for effecting operation of said transfer means between the active condition in which the stripper means at the work station is effective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface during retraction of the punch at the work station and the inactive condition in which the stripper means at the work station is ineffective to press the workpiece against said workpiece support surface during retraction of the punch at the work station, and control means for initiating operation of said ram means to move a punch through an operating cycle when said transfer means is in either said active or inactive condition.

Claim 22

A turret punch press as set forth in claim 16 wherein each of said stripper means includes a stripper element disposed between said upper and lower turrets and defining opening through which an associated one of said punches passes to engage a workpiece, a plurality of stripper support members fixedly connected with said stripper element and movably mounted on said upper turret, and stripper springs operatively interconnecting said stripper support members and said lower turret to bias said stripper element upwardly against said upper turret, said transfer means including resilient drive means for transmitting force from said ram means and for enabling said ram means to move relative to the stripper means at the work station when the workpiece is pressed against said support surface with a predetermined force, a transfer member, and a plurality of transfer pins mounted on said transfer member, said transfer pins being effective to transmit force between said drive means and the stripper means at the work station when said transfer means is in the active condition, said transfer pins being movable axially relative to the stripper means at the work station by said drive means when said transfer means is in the inactive condition to thereby render said transfer pins ineffective to transmit forces between said drive means and the stripper means at the work station.

Claim 23

A turret punch press as set forth in claim 16 wherein said control means includes means for effecting rotation of said upper and lower turrets to move one of said punches and the associated one of said stripper means to the work station in accordance with a predetermined program and means for effecting operation of said transfer means between the active and inactive conditions in accordance with the predetermined program.