Drive mechanism for a mechanical press

Claim 1

A drive mechanism for imparting up-and-down motion to a ram in a mechanical press wherein the ram is moved up and down relative to a bed, comprising: (a) a drive housing immovably supported over the ram; (b) a main shaft rotatably supported within said drive housing; (c) a drive gear fixedly mounted on one end of said main shaft; (d) a drive shaft rotatably supported in parallel relation to the main shaft; (e) a drive pinion fixedly mounted on said drive shaft and meshing directly with said drive gear; (f) a flywheel having a clutch and fixedly mounted on said drive shaft for imparting rotation to said main shaft via the intermeshing drive pinion and drive gear, the flywheel and clutch being disposed on one side of said drive housing; (g) braking means disposed on the other side of said drive housing and acting on the other end of said main shaft, said braking means comprising a brake shaft rotatably mounted to said drive housing in parallel relation to said main shaft, gear means connecting said main shaft to said brake shaft, and a brake on said brake shaft; (h) at least one pair of main pinions fixedly mounted on said main shaft intermediate its ends; (i) at least one pair of main gears rotatable about a fixed axis within said drive housing and meshing with said pair of main pinions; and (j) means for translating the rotation of said main gears into said up-and-down motion of said ram, said translating means comprising eccentric means on said main gears, and means for operatively connecting said eccentric means to said ram.