Workpiece forming machine

In apparatus for sequentially cold forming a work by changing the configuration thereof through a step-by-step application thereto of opposing mechanical forces, the improvement comprising:

• a frame,
• a drive motor,
• a multiposition turret rotatably mounted in vertical disposition centrally of the frame and about a horizontally-extending central axis and having a plurality of spaced circularly-arranged work cavities extending horizontally therethrough from one vertical face to the opposite vertical face,
• a die receivable in each work cavity,
• a cam-operated multistation indexing mechanism driven by the drive motor and rotatively supporting the turret for intermittently rotating and cyclically indexing the turret at stations through a series of sequential angular steps,
• a ram vertically-disposed relative to the frame on each side of the turret,
• a pair of horizontally-extending ram rails mounted on the frame for supporting the rams coaxially in slidable relationship alternately toward each other in forming strokes and away from each other in non-forming strokes,
• a shuttle bar cylinder and piston,
• power means for cyclically actuating the piston in alternating forming and non-forming strokes,
• a horizontally-extending shuttle bar disposed centrally of the frame and connected to and driven by the piston and reciprocable linearly in forming and non-forming strokes,
• a moving assembly at each end of the frame outboard of a respective ram and including a trio of pivotally interconnected power links consisting of an upper power link pivotally interconnected with the frame and a lower power link pivotally interconnected with the shuttle bar and a forward link pivotally interconnected with the respective ram for effecting simultaneous movements of the rams toward each other in forming strokes and away from each other in non-forming strokes,
• a tool plate mounted on each ram for supporting a plurality of circularly arranged tools extendable therefrom in planes normal thereto toward the respective confronting vertical turret face,
• each tool of the tool plate being disposed in a plane coaxial with the opposed tool of the other tool plate in a tool-couple relationship and with the axis of one of the turret work cavities,
• with turret rotation transferring a work to successive stations of operation along a curvilinear path preparatory to the simultaneous linear reciprocation of a pair of the tools toward the work at the station.