High speed ejector mechanism

Claim 2

An ejector mechanism for ejecting a workpiece from a drawing and ironing press having at least one die, a means adapted for receiving said workpiece, and a punch mounted to a powered punch carriage so adapted and arranged that the punch moves in the die(s) during a forward stroke to draw and iron the workpiece and moves out of the die(s) during a rearward stroke to permit ejection of the workpiece from the press, said ejector mechanism comprising: a. A nosepiece reciprocally mounted with respect to the working end of the punch, said nosepiece having a forward working end For drawing and ironing the workpiece and for ejecting said workpiece by moving forward with respect to the punch just after the punch begins its rearward stroke, and having a rear end rigidly attached to a push rod for transmitting reciprocal motions from the push rod to said nosepiece; b. A push rod for transmitting reciprocal motions to the nosepiece by having one end of said push rod rigidly attached to the nosepiece and another point fixedly mounted for reciprocation therewith, to a damping means and by having another point on said push rod fitted with at least one connector for pivotal connection with at least one actuator arm and by having another point fitted with a means for fitting a biasing means which returns the push rod to a position far enough to the rear that the nosepiece returns to the working end of the punch after a forward force delivered by the actuator arm is removed and before the punch carriage completes its rearward stroke; c. At least one actuator arm for transmitting forward forces to the push rod from an actuator arm and for transmitting rearward forces from the push rod biasing means to the actuator arm by having one end of the actuator arm pivotally connected to the push rod and the other end pivotally connected to an actuator; d. At least one actuator pivotally mounted to the ram carriage at one end and pivotally mounted to the actuator arm at some point adjacent to the actuator''s punch carriage pivot mounting so that the actuator pushes the actuator arm forward when the actuator is forced to pivot forward about the actuator''s punch carriage pivot mounting by a levered pivot action delivered to the actuator by a trip dog after the punch carriage begins its rearward stroke with said actuator being so adapted and arranged that it initially jams against the trip dog to create the levered pivot action of the actuator about its punch carriage pivot mounting and then slides past the trip dog when the actuator has pivoted far enough forward to allow the actuator to slide past the trip dog as the punch carriage continues on its rearward stroke and then allows the actuator to slide past the trip dog without creating any levered pivot action during the forward stroke of the punch carriage; e. At least one trip dog, having a biasing means to return the trip dog to an actuating position when the trip dog is not in contact with the actuator, and having an actuating end so adapted and arranged that the actuating end initially jams against the actuator after the punch carriage begins its rearward stroke and then allows the actuator to slide past the actuating end of the trip dog as the punch carriage continues on its rearward stroke and then allows the actuator arm to slide past the biased trip dog without pivoting of the actuator forward as the punch carriage makes its forward stroke; f. A biasing means for returning the push rod to its rearward position with respect to a damping means after the actuator slides past the trip dog, but before the punch carriage completes its return stroke: g. A damping means mounted to the punch carriage and reciprocally mounted to the push rod for damping the return of the nosepiece to the punch during the period the push rod is under the influence of the biasing means after the actuator slides past the trip dog during the rearward stroke of the punch carriage.

Claim 3

The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the workpiece receiving means is adapted to receive a blank of material capable of undergoing drawing and ironing.

Claim 4

The mechanism of claim 2 wherein the workpiece receiving means is adapted to receive a blank of ductile metal.

Claim 5

The mechanism of claim 3 wherein the workpiece receiving means is adapted to receive a blank of aluminum.

Claim 6

The mechanism of claim 3 wherein the workpiece receiving means is adapted to receive a blank of mild steel.

Claim 7

An ejector mechanism for ejecting a thin-walled cylindrical metal can having a bottom from around a ram of a drawing and ironing press having a means adapted for receiving a ductile metal blank, a hollow cylindrical die or dies and a punch mounted to a powered punch carriage so adapted and arranged that a working end of said punch moves into the die(s) during a forward stroke to draw and iron the ductile metal blank into a can and moves out of the die during a rearward stroke to permit ejection of the can, said ejector mechanism comprising: a. A nosepiece reciprocally mounted with respect to the working end of the punch, said nosepiece having a forward working end for drawing and ironing the can and for ejecting the can from around the punch by a forward movement with respect to the punch just after the punch starts the rearward stroke, and having a back end rigidly attached to a push rod for transmitting reciprocal motions from the push rod to the nosepiece; b. A push rod for transmitting reciprocating motions to the nosepiece by having one end rigidly attached to said nosepiece and the other end fixedly mounted for reciprocation therewith, to a damping means with said push rod being fitted with a plurality of connectors for pivotal connection with a plurality of actuator arms and being fitted with a biasing means to return said push rod to a rearward position after forward forces delivered by the actuator arms are removed and before the punch carriage completes its rearward stroke; c. A plurality of actuator arms for tramsmitting forward forces to the push rod from a plurality of actuators and for transmitting rearward forces from the push rod biasing means to the actuators by having each actuator arm pivotally connected to the push rod at one end and the other end pivotally connected to an actuator which pushes the actuator arm forward after the punch begins its rearward stroke; d. A plurality of actuators, each pivotally mounted to the punch carriage at one end and each pivotally mounted to an actuator arm at some point adjacent to the actuator''s punch carriage pivot mounting so that the actuator pushes the actuator arm forward when the actuator is forced to pivot forward about the actuator''s punch carriage pivot mounting by a lever action delivered to the actuator by a biased trip dog after the punch carriage begins its rearward stroke with said actuator being so adapted and arranged that it initially jams against the trip dog to create the pivot action of the actuator about its punch carriage pivot mounting then slides past the trip dog when the actuator has pivoted far enough forward to allow the actuator to slide past the trip dog as the punch carriage continues on its rearward stroke and allows the actuator to slide past the trip dog without creating any lever actions during the forward stroke of the punch carriage; e. A plurality of trip dogs, each having a biasing means to return the trip dog to an actuating position when the trip dog is not in contact with the actuator, and each having an actuating end so adapted and arranged that the actuating end initially jams against the actuator after the punch carriage begins its rearward stroke, and then allows the actuator to slide past the actuating end of the trip dog as the actuator pivots forward as the punch carriage continues its rearward stroke and subsequently allows the actuator arm to slide past the biased trip dog without forward actuation of the actuator as the punch carriage makes its forward stroke; f. A spring resting between the push rod and a spring housing which forms a fixed part of the punch carriage, for returning the push rod to a rearward position with respect to the damping means after the spring has been put in compression by the forward force of the actuator arm as the actuator jams against the trip dog, with said spring being allowed to decompress and hence push the push rod rearward after the actuator slides past the trip dog during the punch carriage''s return stroke, with said spring having sufficient force to return the push rod to the rearward position before the punch carriaGe completes its rearward stroke; g. A hydraulic damping means fixedly mounted to the ram carriage and having means for fixedly mounting for reciprocation therewith, the push rod, for damping the closing of the nosepiece to the punch during the period when the push rod is under the influence of the decompressing spring after the actuator has slid past the trip dog during the rearward stroke of the punch carriage;

Claim 8

An ejector mechanism for ejecting a thin-walled cylindrical metal can having a bottom from around a ram of a drawing and ironing press having a means adapted for receiving a ductile metal blank, a hollow cylindrical die or dies and a punch mounted to a powered punch carriage so adapted and arranged that a working end of said punch moves into the die(s) during a forward stroke to draw and iron the ductile metal blank into a can and moves out of the die during a rearward stroke to permit ejection of the can, said ejector mechanism comprising: a. A nosepiece reciprocally mounted with respect to the working end of the punch, said nosepiece having a forward working end for drawing and ironing the can and for ejecting the can from around the punch by a forward movement with respect to the punch just after the punch starts the rearward stroke, and having a back end rigidly attached to a push rod for transmitting reciprocal motions from the push rod to the nosepiece; b. A push rod for transmitting reciprocating motions to the nosepiece by having one end rigidly attached to said nosepiece and the other end fixedly mounted for reciprocation therewith, to a damping means with said push rod being fitted with a plurality of connectors for pivotal connection with a plurality of actuator arms and being fitted with a biasing means to return said push rod to a rearward position after forward forces delivered by the actuator arms are removed and before the punch carriage completes its rearward stroke; c. A plurality of actuator arms for tramsmitting forward forces to the push rod from a plurality of actuators and for transmitting rearward forces from the push rod biasing means to the actuators by having each actuator arm pivotally connected to the push rod at one end and the other end pivotally connected to an actuator which pushes the actuator arm forward after the punch begins its rearward stroke; d. A plurality of actuators, each pivotally mounted to the punch carriage at one end and each pivotally mounted to an actuator arm at some point adjacent to the actuator''s punch carriage pivot mounting so that the actuator pushes the actuator arm forward when the actuator is forced to pivot forward about the actuator''s punch carriage pivot mounting by a lever action delivered to the actuator by a biased trip dog after the punch carriage begins its rearward stroke with said actuator being so adapted and arranged that it initially jams against the trip dog to create the pivot action of the actuator about its punch carriage pivot mounting then slides past the trip dog when the actuator has pivoted far enough forward to allow the actuator to slide past the trip dog as the punch carriage continues on its rearward stroke and allows the actuator to slide past the trip dog without creating any lever actions during the forward stroke of the punch carriage; e. A plurality of trip dogs, each having a biasing means to return the trip dog to an actuating position when the trip dog is not in contact with the actuator, and each having an actuating end so adapted and arranged that the actuating end initially jams against the actuator after the punch carriage begins its rearward stroke, and then allows the actuator to slide past the actuating end of the trip dog as the actuator pivots forward as the punch carriage continues its rearward stroke and subsequently allows the actuator arm to slide past the biased trip dog without forward actuation of the actuator as the punch carriage makes its forward stroke; f. A spring resting between the push rod and a spring housing which forms a fixed part of the punch carriage, for returning the push rod to a rearward position with respect to the damping means after the spring has been put in compression by the forward force of the actuator arm as the actuator jams against the trip dog, with said spring being allowed to decompress and hence push the push rod rearward after the actuator slides past the trip dog during the punch carriage''s return stroke, with said spring having sufficient force to return the push rod to the rearward position before the punch carriaGe completes its rearward stroke; g. A hydraulic damping means fixedly mounted to the ram carriage and having means for fixedly mounting for reciprocation therewith, the push rod, for damping the closing of the nosepiece to the punch during the period when the push rod is under the influence of the decompressing spring after the actuator has slid past the trip dog during the rearward stroke of the punch carriage;

Claim 9

The ejector mechanism of claim 6 wherein two actuator arms, two actuators, and two trip dogs are mounted in bilateral symmetry about the push rod.

Claim 10

The ejector mechanism of claim 7 wherein the trip dogs are mounted so that contact with the actuators is made near the end of the actuator which is opposite the actuator''s punch carriage pivot mounting and at a time before the actuator has traveled rearward a distance of less than two inches.

Claim 11

The ejector mechanism of claim 8 wherein the means to bias the trip dogs into the actuating position is air pressure.

Claim 12

The ejector mechanism of claim 6 wherein the hydraulic damping means operates in two stages to allow a first stage for a rapid initial closing of the distance between the nosepiece and the punch when the spring is moving the push rod rearward and a slower closing during a second stage before the nosepiece and the punch come into actual contact so as to prevent harmful impacts between said nosepiece and punch.