US 4,048,833 A · Gripping arrangement

Abstract

A gripping arrangement for longitudinally advancing elongated workpieces, particularly for use in a drawing bench, a stripping machine and the like, comprises a pair of supports which are mounted on guide rails for movement in paths which are parallel to one another and to the direction of advancement of the workpiece, and coextensive. Jaw elements are mounted on the supports for movement therewith and for displacement between closed positions in which they engage, and open positions in which they are disengaged from, the workpiece. The gripping arrangement is located downstream of a die and operates in such a manner that always at least one pair of jaw elements associated with one of the supports engages the workpiece and advances the same in a given direction, thus drawing the workpiece through the die. While one of the supports with its jaw elements draws the workpiece through the die, the other support with its jaw elements in their open positions returns to the upstream end of its path the one support and its associated closed pair of jaws. The jaw elements of each of the support extend beyond the support toward the path of movement of the other support, but the jaw elements of the two supports do not interfere with one another as long as at least one pair of the jaw elements is in the open position thereof. A drive for displacing the jaws between the positions thereof includes a movable member and a pair of links which are pivoted to the jaws and to the movable member. The two supports are independently driven into movement in their paths so that the speed and direction of movement of each support can be selected independently of the speed and direction of movement of the other support.

Drawings

Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO

Drawings

Claims10

Dependent claims

A gripping arrangement for continuously advancing elongated workpieces longitudinally thereof in an advancement path, comprising, in combination, elongated guide means parallel to a section of the advancement path;

a pair of supports each mounted on said guide means for reciprocatory movement along the same in a reciprocatory path that is parallel to, offset from, and coextensive with, the advancement path section and the reciprocatory path of the other support;
means for reciprocating each of said supports in the respective reciprocatory path thereof in an advancement and a return direction, respectively, past the other support;
at least a pair of jaws for each respective support;
means for mounting each respective jaw pair on the respective support for displacement relative thereto only in a pivoting movement between a closed and an open position in which said respective jaw pair engages, and is disengaged from, a workpiece, respectively, and for joint reciprocation with said respective support, when in said closed position, in a first path having a path portion about the advancement path section in common with the first path of the other jaw pair, and, when in said open position, in a second path spaced from the advancement path section and from said common path portion;
and means for so displacing said jaws of each respective pair between said positions thereof that at least one of said jaw pairs is always in said closed position thereof while moving with the respective support in said advancement direction for engaging and continuously advancing the workpiece, while each of said jaw pairs is in said open position thereof at least while moving with the respective support in said return direction past the other jaw pair for avoiding interference with the movement of the latter by moving in said second path that is outside said common path portion.

2 more elements

In a machine for treating elongated workpieces, such as a drawing bench, stripping machine and the like, a combination comprising a die having an opening for passage of a workpiece therethrough;

and means for continuously advancing the workpiece in an advancement path through said opening of said die, including elongated guide means parallel to a section of the advancement path downstream of said die, a pair of supports each mounted on said guide means for reciprocatory movement along the same in a reciprocatory path that is parallel to, offset from, and coextensive with, the advancement path section and the reciprocatory path of the other support;
means for reciprocating each of said supports in the reciprocatory path thereof in an advancement and a return direction, respectively, past the other support;
at least a pair of jaws for each respective support;
means for mounting each respective jaw pair on the respective support for displacement relative thereto only in a pivoting movement between a closed and an open position in which said respective jaw pair engages, and is disengaged from, the workpiece, respectively, and for joint reciprocation with said respective support, when in said closed position, in a first path having a path portion about the advancement path section in common with the first path of the other jaw pair, and, when in said open position, in a second path spaced from the advancement path section and from said common path portion;
and means for so displacing said jaws of each respective pair between said positions thereof that at least one of said jaw pairs is always in said closed position thereof while moving with the respective support in said advancement direction for engaging the workpiece and continuously advancing the same through said opening of said die, while each of said jaw pairs is in said open position thereof at least while moving with the respective support in said return direction past the other jaw pair for avoiding interference with the movement of the latter by moving in said second path that is outside said common path portion.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description2,971 words

Summary1,723 words

#The present invention relates to a gripping arrangement in general, and more particularly to a gripping device for use in machines for treating elongated workpieces, such as draw benches, stripping machines and similar arrangements.

#There are already known various gripping arrangements for use in drawing or stripping machines and, generally speaking, they include a plurality of jaw elements which sequentially close around the workpiece and advance the workpiece in a predetermined direction, thus drawing the workpiece through a die. Among the known gripping arrangements, there are already such in which two supports are guided on rails or similar guiding arrangements for reciprocation in the direction of advancement of the workpiece, which supports are equipped with jaw elements, such jaw elements being mounted on their respective supports for movement generally in the radial direction of the workpiece between a closed and an open position thereof so as to engage and disengage the workpiece.

#Some of the important problems which have to be solved when drawing long or endless workpieces through a die or out of a treating machine are, on the one hand, to obtain high throughput of the drawing arrangement and of the gripping arrangement and, on the other hand, to obtain uniform drawing speed despite the fact that the drawing force is exercised upon the workpiece by one support and its associated jaw elements for part of the operating cycle, and by the other support and its associated jaw elements for another part of the cycle. A further requirement which must be satisfied in connection with each gripping or drawing arrangement is that it be simple, economical and reliable.

Brief description of the drawings2 figures

#FIG. 1 is a partly sectioned end view of the gripping arrangement of the present invention when considered in direction of advancement of the workpiece; and

#FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the arrangement of FIG. 1.

Detailed description1,209 words

#Referring now to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1 thereof, it may be seen therein that the advancing and drawing gripping arrangement of the present invention includes two supports 1, 2 which are mounted on guide rails 3, 4 and 5 and each of which includes gripping units which are designated in toto with reference numerals 6 and 7. The two supports 1 and 2 are similar in construction to one another so as to be interchangeable with one another. The support 1 is equipped with the gripping unit 6, while the support 2 carries the gripping unit 7. The gripping units 6 and 7 are also one like the other so that there is no difference between the construction of the support 1, together with its accessories, from that of support 2 with the accessories thereof.

#Cylinder-and-piston units 8 and 9 of conventional constructions are mounted on the supports 1 and 2, respectively, and they are connected with the gripping units 6 or 7. Reference numerals 10 and 11 designate toothed racks each of which is associated with one of the supports 1 and 2 and each of which constitutes part of a conventional drive, such as a rack and pinion drive, for the respective support 1 or 2.

#Each of the gripping units 6 and 7 includes a pair of jaw elements 12 and 13 for the gripping unit 6, and 14 and 15 for the gripping unit 7. Each pair of the jaw elements 12, 13; 14, 15 is interconnected by means of pivots 16 or 17. Each pivot 16 or 17 is supported in bearings 43, 44 on the one hand, and 45, 46 on the other hand. The bearings 43, 44; 45, 46 are rigidly and stationarily connected with the respective supports 1 or 2. Connecting links 18, 19; 20, 21 are pivotably connected to the respective jaw elements 12, 13; 14, 15. The jaw elements 12, 13; 14, 15 have clamping depressions 26, 27; 28, 29, and the jaw elements are so constructed, and the links 18, 19; 20, 21 are so pivoted thereto, that the depressions 26, 27; 28, 29 are located at the free ends of the jaw elements 12, 13; 14, 15. In this manner, the clamping force is applied by the jaw elements 12, 13; 14, 15 at points which are outwardly spaced from the pivots 16, 17.

Gripping arrangement

Life of this patent

Gripping arrangement

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims10

Description2,971 words

Drawings

Classification5 codes

Life of this patent

Description2,971 words