Hot stamping press machine

Claim 2

A hot stamping press apparatus for stamping a piece of work comprising: a. a ram having an operating head assembly affixed to one end thereof; b. first pressure means for driving said ram from a first position wherein said operating head assembly is out of engagement with a workpiece to a second position wherein said operating head assembly is in engagement with a workpiece, said first pressure means comprising a first operating cylinder operatively connected to the other end of said ram; c. second pressure means operative when said ram is in said second position to provide an increase in the pressure applied by said operating head assembly to the workpiece, said second pressure means comprising a second operating cylinder and mechanical lever means; i. said mechanical lever means including a lever arm having one end thereof operatively connected to said second operating cylinder, and means pivotally mounting said lever arm for movement from a first position wherein said lever arm is ineffective to impart pressure to said ram to a second position wherein said lever arm is effective to impart pressure to said ram and therethrough to said operating head assembly; d. a source of fluid supply; e. valve means fluidically connected in circuit relation with said source of fluid supply and said second operating cylinder; and f. means connected in circuit relation with said valve means to control the operation of said valve means thereby to cause actuation of said second operating cylinder, as said ram moves to said second position thereof wherein said operating head assembly engages the workpiece, to cause said lever arm to move to said second position thereof, wherein said lever arm is effective to impart additional pressure to said ram.

Claim 3

A hot stamping press apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means pivotally mounting said lever arm comprises a pair of platelike members, a pair of links and a rod, said pair of platelike members each having a substantially L-shaped track formed therein, said pair of links each having one end thereof pivotally mounted to said lever arm and the other end thereof pivotally mounted to a corresponding one of said pair of platelike members, said rod being operatively connected to said second operating cylinder and to said lever arm, and said rod further having each of its ends mounted for movement in a corresponding one of said substantially L-shaped tracks such that upon actuation of said second operating cylinder said rod is caused to move within said substantially L-shaped tracks thereby causing said lever arm operatively connected thereto to pivot from said first position thereof to said second position thereof.

Claim 4

A hot stamping press apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first operating cylinder comprises a first air cylinder, said second operating cylinder comprises a second air cylinder, and said first and second air cylinders operate to apply a constant preset level of pressure during the final portion of the movement of said ram from said first position thereof to said second position thereof.

Claim 5

A hot stamping press apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for actuating said second operating cylinder comprises a limit switch having a switch arm portion and switch means connected in series circuit relationship with said limit switch, said limit switch being mounted with said switch arm portion thereof in the path of movement of said operating head assembly such that as said operating head assembly moves into engagement with the workpiece said operating head assembly engages said switch arm portion of said limit switch thereby actuating said limit switch, and said switch means being actuatable in response to said first operating cylinder reaching a pre-established pressure such that the actuation of said switch means subsequent to the actuation of said limit switch controls the operation of said valve means to cause actuation of said second operating cylinder.

Claim 6

A hot stamping press apparatus for stamping a piece of work comprising: a. a ram having an operating head assembly affixed to one end thereof; b. a first operating cylinder operatively connected to the other end of said ram, said first operating cylinder operating to drive said ram from a first position wherein said operating head assembly is out of engagement with a workpiece to a second position wherein said operating head assembly is in engagement with the workpiece; c. pressure means operative when said ram is in said second position to provide an increase in the pressure applied by said operating head assembly to the workpiece, said pressure means comprising a second operating cylinder and mechanical lever means; i. said mechanical lever means comprising a lever arm, a pair of platelike members, a pair of links and a rod, said pair of platelike members each having a track formed therein, said pair of links each having one end thereof pivotally mounted to said lever arm and the other end thereof pivotally mounted to a corresponding one of said pair of platelike members, said rod being operatively connected to said second operating cylinder and to said lever arm, and said rod further having each of its ends mounted for movement in a corresponding one of said tracks such that upon actuation of said second operating cylinder said rod is caused to move within said tracks thereby causing said lever arm operatively connected thereto to pivot from a first position wherein said lever arm is ineffective to impart pressure to said ram to a second position wherein said lever arm is effective to impart pressure to said ram and therethrough to said operating head assembly; d. a source of fluid supply; e. valve mEans fluidically connected in circuit relation with said source of fluid supply and said second operating cylinder; and f. switch means connected in circuit relation with said valve means to control the operation of said valve means thereby to cause actuation of said second operating cylinder as said first operating cylinder drives said ram from said first position thereof to said second position thereof to cause said lever arm to move to said second position thereof wherein said lever arm is effective to impart additional pressure to said ram.

Claim 7

A hot stamping press apparatus for stamping a piece of work comprising: a. a ram having an operating head assembly affixed to one end thereof; b. a first operating cylinder operatively connected to the other end of said ram, said first operating cylinder operating to drive said ram from a first position wherein said operating head assembly is out of engagement with a workpiece to a second position wherein said operating head assembly is in engagement with the workpiece; c. pressure means operative when said ram is in said second position to provide an increase in the pressure applied by said operating head assembly to the workpiece, said pressure means comprising a second operating cylinder and mechanical lever means; i. said mechanical lever means comprising a lever arm, a pair of platelike members, a pair of links and a rod, said pair of platelike members each having a track formed therein, said pair of links each having one end thereof pivotally mounted to said lever arm and the other end thereof pivotally mounted to a corresponding one of said pair of platelike members, said rod being operatively connected to said second operating cylinder and to said lever arm, and said rod further having each of its ends mounted for movement in a corresponding one of said tracks such that upon actuation of said second operating cylinder said rod is caused to move within said tracks thereby causing said lever arm operatively connected thereto to pivot from a first position wherein said lever arm is ineffective to impart pressure to said ram to a second position wherein said lever arm is effective to impart pressure to said ram and therethrough to said operating head assembly; d. a source of fluid supply; e. valve mEans fluidically connected in circuit relation with said source of fluid supply and said second operating cylinder; and f. switch means connected in circuit relation with said valve means to control the operation of said valve means thereby to cause actuation of said second operating cylinder as said first operating cylinder drives said ram from said first position thereof to said second position thereof to cause said lever arm to move to said second position thereof wherein said lever arm is effective to impart additional pressure to said ram.

Claim 8

A hot stamping press apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said switch means includes a limit switch having a switch arm portion mounted in the path of movement of said operating head assembly such that as said operating head assembly moves into engagement with the workpiece said operating head assembly engages said switch arm portion of said limit switch thereby actuating said limit switch, and a switch actuatable in response to said first operating cylinder reaching a preestablished pressure such that the actuation of said switch subsequent to the actuation of said limit switch controls the operation of said valve means to cause actuation of said second operating cylinder.

Claim 9

A hot stamping press apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first operating cylinder comprises an air cylinder, said second operating cylinder comprises an air cylinder, and said first and second operating cylinders operate to apply a constant preset level of pressure during the final portion of the movement of said ram from said first position thereof to said second position thereof.