Punching machine with automatic cycle control

Claim 2

Apparatus for punching holes in an elongated member, said apparatus comprising a conveyor for advancing said member along a generally horizontal path to a punching station, a punch press supported for movement in said punching station, means for causing said press to advance in one direction from a home position and for stopping said press when the latter reaches a preselected punching position relative to said member, means for causing actuation of said press when the latter is in said punching position thereby to effect punching of a hole in said member, means for thereafter causing said press to return in the opposite direction from said punching position at substantially the same velocity as undertaken by the press in advancing to said punching position, means for storing the time interval required for said press to advance from said home position to said punching position, and means for causing the return of said press toward said home position to stop when the press has been returned through the substantially same time interval whereby the press is stopped in said home position.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said storing means comprise a reversible power-driven actuator, said last-mentioned means comprising means positioned to be operated by said actuator when the latter is in a predetermined starting position, said apparatus further including means for driving said actuator away from said starting position during advance of said press from said home position to said punching position and for stopping said actuator when said press reaches said punching position, and means for causing said actuator to be driven reversely toward said starting position during the return of said press toward said home position.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 further including means operable to cause said press to advance and return without causing driving of said actuator whereby the home position of said press may be changed without changing the starting position of said actuator.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said actuator comprises a rotatable cam.

Claim 6

Apparatus for punching holes in an elongated member, said apparatus comprising a conveyor for advancing said member along a generally horizontal path to a punching station, a punch press located in said punching station and supported for vertical bodily movement relative to said member, means for causing said press to advance vertically in one direction from a home position and for stopping said press when the latter reaches a preselected punching position relative to said member, a rotary control element, a reversible rotary motor connected to rotate said control element, means for causing said motor to advance said control element in one direction from a starting position when said press advances from said home position and to stop said element when said press stops in said punching position, a switching device associated with said control element and adapted to be switched from a first state to a second state as said element leaves said starting position, means for causing actuation of said press when the latter is in said punching position thereby to effect punching of a hole in said member, means for thereafter causing said press to return reversely toward said home position and simultaneously causing said motor to return said control element toward said starting position, said press and said control element returning at substantially the same velocities as undertaken by the press and the element, respectively, during their advance, said control element causing said switching device to switch from said secOnd state to said first state when said element returns to said starting position, and means responsive to said switching device and operable to stop the return of said press and said control element when said switching device switches to said first state.

Claim 7

Apparatus for punching holes in an elongated member, said apparatus comprising a conveyor for advancing said member along a generally horizontal path to a punching station, a punch press located in said punching station and supported for vertical bodily movement relative to said member, means for causing said press to advance vertically in one direction from a home position and for stopping said press when the latter reaches a preselected punching position relative to said member, a rotary control element, a reversible rotary motor connected to rotate said control element, means for causing said motor to advance said control element in one direction from a starting position when said press advances from said home position and to stop said element when said press stops in said punching position, a switching device associated with said control element and adapted to be switched from a first state to a second state as said element leaves said starting position, means for causing actuation of said press when the latter is in said punching position thereby to effect punching of a hole in said member, means for thereafter causing said press to return reversely toward said home position and simultaneously causing said motor to return said control element toward said starting position, said press and said control element returning at substantially the same velocities as undertaken by the press and the element, respectively, during their advance, said control element causing said switching device to switch from said secOnd state to said first state when said element returns to said starting position, and means responsive to said switching device and operable to stop the return of said press and said control element when said switching device switches to said first state.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 5 further including means operable to cause said press to advance and return without causing driving of said control element whereby the home position of said press may be changed without changing the starting position of said control element.