Geared power amplification unit for presses

A stamping press with an augmented power stroke comprising:

• a. a support having a guide portion;
• b. a ram slidably seated in said guide portion of said support for movement between first and second positions, said ram having a head portion at one end thereof adapted for mounting tool means thereon, said head portion being spaced from a workpiece when said ram is in said first position thereof and being spaced adjacent the workpiece when said ram is in said second position thereof;
• c. elongated movable rack means providing a rack surface thereon extending generally parallel to the axis of movement of said ram;
• d. drive means operatively connected to said movable rack means for reciprocation of said movable rack means in the direction of movement of said ram;
• e. elongated stationary rack means fixedly mounted on said support and providing a rack surface extending generally parallel to said movable rack surface;
• f. gear means on the end of said ram opposite said head portion, said gear means meshing with said rack surface of said movable rack means, said gear means being spaced from said stationary rack surface in said first position of said ram, said gear means meshing with said stationary rack surface, when said movable rack means move to a predetermined engagement distance from said second position, to produce movement of said ram in the direction of movement of said movable rack means but at a speed lower than that of said movable rack means, thereby affording said movable rack means in a mechanical advantage while said ram is between said second position and the predetermined engagement distance from said second position;
• and
• g. means for maintaining said ram substantially in a predetermined position relative to said movable rack means while said stationary rack surface is spaced from said gear means but permitting relative movement while said stationary rack surface meshes with said gear means, said ram thereby moving with substantially the same velocity as that of said movable rack means while said stationary rack surface is spaced from said gear means but moving with a velocity whose ratio to that of said movable rack means is determined by said gear means when said stationary means meshes with said gear means.