Mechanical press having a drop in drive assembly

A mechanical press comprising:

• a rigid frame including a crown, a bed, and at least one upright interconnecting the crown and bed, and a slide mounted for rectilinear movement between the crown and bed,
• said crown including a crank chamber therein defined by four sides, a bottom and a removable cover plate closing the top of the chamber, said chamber being open in the upward direction when the cover plate is removed,
• said crown including at least two support members in said crank chamber,
• a drive assembly comprising a crankshaft and at least one crank connection arm assembly connected to an eccentric on said crankshaft, and a pair of bearing block means within which said crankshaft is rotatably supported,
• said drive assembly being insertable into and removable from said crank chamber through the open top of said chamber as an assembled unit,
• said bearing block means being supported on said support members when fully inserted into the crank chamber,
• said connection arm assembly protruding through an opening in the bottom of the crown crank chamber and being connected to said slide.