US3885680A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus provided at presses for the lifting and conveying of workpieces
Assignee: L Schuler GmbH
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Filing: 1974-04-01
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1994-04-01
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for lifting and conveying workpieces in a press or the like including work handling fixtures attached to a bar which is axially reciprocably movable along the work stations of the press. The drive system for imparting lifting motions to a lifting element of the work handling fixtures includes a driven lever and a rocker arm which are pivotal about mutually parallel axes fixed in a fixture housing. The driven lever and rocker arm are joined together by a coupler which is also attached to the lifting element. The driven lever is pivotally joined to the coupler at a position intermediate the attachment point of the lifting element and coupler and the junction point of the coupler and the rocker arm. The simple pivotal connection of the drive system to the reciprocating drive rod which moves the driven lever optimizes the lifting movement while minimizing the space taken up by the fixture when not in a lifting position. The housing for the fixture is constructed so as to extend in the lifting direction outwardly of all of the elements of the fixture when not in the lifting position. In gang press arrangements, a plurality of similar fixtures are arranged at each side of the press station and are drivingly interconnected to effect sequential handling of workpieces through the work stations.
Inventors
- 👤 Otto Rasenberger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:43
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D43/00; B21D43/02; B21D43/04; B21D43/05; B21D43/055
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
Apparatus for lifting and conveying workpieces in a machine tool or the like, comprising: a bar reciprocably movable in the machine tool, and at least one work handling fixture attached to and movable with said bar, said work handling fixture including a lifting element directly engageable with a workpiece and a drive system for effecting workpiece lifting movements of said lifting element, wherein said drive system includes a driven lever and a rocker arm which are pivotal about mutually parallel axes and are joined together by a coupler means attached to said lifting element, said driven lever being pivotally joined to said coupler means at a position intermediate the attachment point of said lifting element and coupler means and the junction point of said coupler means and rocker arm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus for lifting and conveying workpieces in a machine tool or the like, comprising: a bar reciprocably movable in the machine tool, and at least one work handling fixture attached to and movable with said bar, said work handling fixture including a lifting element directly engageable with a workpiece and a drive system for effecting workpiece lifting movements of said lifting element, wherein said drive system includes a driven lever and a rocker arm which are pivotal about mutually parallel axes and are joined together by a coupler means attached to said lifting element, said driven lever being pivotally joined to said coupler means at a position intermediate the attachment point of said lifting element and coupler means and the junction point of said coupler means and rocker arm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said work handling fixture includes a housing fixed to and movable with said bar, and wherein said mutually parallel axes are fixed in position with respect to said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said driven lever is a two armed lever having one arm attached to and movable with a driving rod and the other arm pivotally joined to the coupling means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said driving rod extends parallel to said bar and is movable with respect to said bar in a direction parallel thereto for effecting movement of said lifting element in a direction transverse to said bar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the housing extends transversely of said bar by a greater distance than does the rocker arm, coupler means, and driven lever when the drive system is in a position with said lifting element closest to said bar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said machine tool is a press, wherein the direction of movement of said bar is transverse to the stroke direction of said press, and wherein the direction of movement of said lifting element is parallel to the stroke direction of the press.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein at least one gripper member is carried by said lifting element to grip the workpiece.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said lifting element carries at least one gripper member which is movable by means of a pressure medium toward and away from the workpiece.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of said work handling fixtures are arranged in series along said bar in the reciprocating direction of said bar, and wherein lifting elements of said fixtures are connected together by means of a connecting rod.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of said work handling fixtures are arranged in series along said bar in the reciprocating direction of said bar, and wherein the coupler means of a plurality of said fixtures are connected to at least one common lifting element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a pair of said bars with an associated at least one work handling fixture each are provided at respective opposite sides of said tool.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claIm 11, further comprising means for moving said bars toward and away from one another to effect joint handling of a workpiece disposed therebetween.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of said work handling fixtures are arranged in series along said bar in the reciprocating direction of said bar, and wherein lifting elements of said fixtures are connected together by means of a connecting rod.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of said work handling fixtures are arranged in series along said bar in the reciprocating direction of said bar, and wherein the coupler means of a plurality of said fixtures are connected to at least one common lifting element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the coupler means consists of two mutually parallel legs, said lifting element being attached to the end of one of said legs which faces away from the joint connecting the coupler means with the rocker arm, said last-mentioned one of said legs being longer than the other to accommodate attachment thereof to said lifting element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one gripper member is carried by said lifting element to grip the workpiece.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lifting element carries at least one gripper member which is movable by means of a pressure medium toward and away from the workpiece.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said work handling fixtures are arranged in series along said bar in the reciprocating direction of said bar, and wherein lifting elements of said fixtures are connected together by means of a connecting rod.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said work handling fixtures are arranged in series along said bar in the reciprocating direction of said bar, and wherein the coupler means of a plurality of said fixtures are connected to at least one common lifting element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pair of said bars with an associated at least one work handling fixture each are provided at respective opposite sides of said tool.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for moving said bars toward and away from one another to effect joint handling of a workpiece disposed therebetween.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |