Unloader for press

In an unloader to be attached to a press or the like, the press including a reciprocable ram having a lower position for forming workpieces in a die area and having an upper position where said formed pieces are released or dropped such as by a positive knock out or the like, said ram being driven between said upper and lower positions as is conventional, and an automatic workpiece unloader to be driven by the movement of the ram including a drive rack to be attached to said reciprocable ram for positive synchronized reciprocation therewith;

• a stationary support frame having a distal end extending into said die area, said frame at all times being free from contact with said ram;
• a tray movably mounted on said stationary support frame, said tray having an extended position with the distal end of the tray beyond the distal end of the frame into the die area and beneath the ram when the ram is in its upper position, said tray having a withdrawn position out of the die area;
• and drive means driven by said drive rack for reciprocating said tray between its extended position and its withdrawn position upon reciprocation of said ram between its upper position and its lower position, respectively;
• so that during movement of the ram toward its upper position, the tray is moved toward its extended position under the ram to receive a falling workpiece as the workpiece is released by the press and during movement of the ram toward its lower position the tray is moved toward its withdrawn position clear of the moving ram, the improvement comprising:
• one pair of spaced apart rails on each side of said stationary support frame, each pair including an upper rail and a lower rail defining a single track therebetween;
• roller means positioned in each single track;
• said tray mounted on said roller means;
• and said roller means including first and second sets of three rollers each, said first set of rollers including two rollers contacting only the lower rail and the third roller contacting only the upper rail and said second set of rollers having two rollers contacting only said upper rail and the third roller contacting only said lower rail, said rollers contacting the rails for constraining the tray to linear movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rails, and to prevent bouncing of the tray when workpieces are dropped on the tray.