US 4,364,505 AGranted

Double feed roll lift mechanism

AssigneeThe Minster Machine Company

InventorRobert L. Schockman

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Abstract

The invention relates to a hydraulically actuated feed roll lift mechanism for feeds utilized to feed strip stock into a machine, such as a mechanical press. Regulated hydraulic pressure acting against a piston that is connected to one of the feed rolls through a yoke forces the feed roll against the stock to grip the stock and cause an increment thereof to be fed into the press when the rolls are rotated. A roll opening cam, which is connected to the press crankshaft, advances a small piston to displace oil against the other side of the piston while the stock is at rest to thereby separate the rolls during the time that the dies are in contact with the stock in the press. The time at which roll separation is initiated is controlled by adjusting the angular position of the cam on its shaft, as by releasing a frictional lock mechanism, rotating the cam to the desired position, and then again locking it in place. The invention is particularly related to a double feed roll system wherein opposing feed rolls are located at the infeed and outfeed sides of the press so that the stock is both pushed and pulled therethrough. Identical cam roll lift mechanisms are utilized for both of the pairs of feed rolls wherein the cams are mounted on the same shaft and can be adjusted independently of each other. This enables the infeed and outfeed rolls to be separated at different times during the cycle of the press.

Claims17

Dependent claims

In a feed apparatus for feeding strip stock into a machine including first and second pairs of feed rolls adapted to be positioned, respectively, at the infeed and outfeed sides of the machine, the improvement being a roll lift system for independently lifting a roll of each pair comprising:

first means for urging one of the rolls of said first pair in a first direction either toward or away from the other roll of said first pair,
a first expansible chamber means connected to said one roll for urging said one roll in a second direction opposite said first direction toward or away from the other roll of said first pair when the expansible chamber means is pressurized,
second means for urging one of the rolls of said second pair in a third direction either toward or away from the other roll of said second pair,
a second expansible chamber means connected to said one roll of the second pair for urging said one roll of the second pair in a fourth direction opposite said third direction toward or away from the other roll of said second pair when the expansible chamber means is pressurized,
first and second positive displacement hydraulic actuator means connected to said first and second expansible chamber means, respectively, and each comprising a plunger, said actuator means pressurizing the respective expansible chamber means when the plunger thereof is actuated,
a shaft rotatable about the axis and having a pair of cam elements mounted thereon, said shaft being mounted in close proximity to said plungers whereby said plungers are actuated by the cam elements as the shaft rotates, and
means for adjusting the angular positions of said cam elements on said shaft independently of each other.

4 more elements

In a feed apparatus for feeding strip stock into a machine including a pair of feed rolls adapted to be positioned either at the infeed or outfeed side of the machine, the improvement being a roll lift system for independently lifting a roll of the pair of feed rolls comprising:

means for urging one of the rolls of said pair in a first direction either toward or away from the other roll of said pair,
an expansible chamber means connected to said one roll for urging said one roll in a second direction opposite said first direction toward or away from the other roll of said pair when the expansible chamber means is pressurized,
positive displacement hydraulic actuator means connected to said chamber means and comprising a plunger, said hydraulic actuator means pressurizing the expansible chamber means when the plunger is actuated,
a shaft rotatable about an axis and having a cam element mounted thereon, said shaft being mounted in close proximity to said plunger whereby said plunger is actuated by the cam as the shaft rotates, and
means for releasably clamping said cam element to said shaft in a selectable angular position about said shaft whereby the angular range of rotation of said shaft during which said plunger is actuated can be varied.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.