Machine for punching and shearing angle iron and flat stock
AssigneeW. A. Whitney Corp.
InventorsLouis G. Cowan, Dale L. Cardey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Elongated metal stock is advanced intermittently past punch presses which form holes in the stock when the stock dwells. A shear cuts off successive leading end portions of the stock and forms the stock into short pieces. The same machine is capable of running both angle iron and flat stock without making any significant conversons to the machine between runs. This is achieved through the provision of a feed mechanism and clamping units which are adapted to feed and clamp flat stock as well as angle iron.
Claims18
A machine for punching holes in either an elongated piece of flat stock or an elongated piece of angle stock of substantially V-shaped cross-section, said machine comprising means for supporting said stock for endwise movement along a generally horizontal path, means for advancing the stock intermittently along said path, a punch press positioned along said path and operable to punch a hole in said stock when the latter dwells, said supporting means comprising in part an upwardly opening V-shaped cradle having first and second inclined sides for supporting said angle stock in a position with the V thereof opening upwardly, said first side of said cradle supporting said flat stock in an inclined position in which one edge of the flat stock engages the second side of the cradle, and a mechanism for selectively clamping said stock to said cradle, said mechanism comprising a fluid-operated actuator having a cylinder and having a rod adapted to advance and retract vertically relative to said cylinder, a clamping nose on the lower end of said rod and adapted to engage said stock and clamp said stock against said cradle when said rod is advanced, and means mounting said cylinder for pivoting on said supporting means about an axis located above and extending substantially parallel to said path thereby to enable said nose to tilt as necessary to clamp said stock against said cradle.
A machine for punching holes in either an elongated piece of flat stock or an elongated piece of angle stock of substantially V-shaped cross-section, said machine comprising means for supporting said stock for endwise movement along a generally horizontal path and for advancing the stock intermittently along said path, a punch press positioned along said path and operable to punch a hole in said stock when the latter dwells, said supporting and advancing means comprising in part a sheave located below said path and defining a circumferentially extending groove of substantially V-shaped cross-section, said groove having first and second inclined sides of substantially equal length, said sides of said groove engaging said angle stock and supporting said angle stock in a position with the V thereof opening upwardly, said first side of said groove supporting said flat stock in an inclined position in which one edge of the flat stock engages the second side of said groove, means for rotating said sheave about a generally horizontal axis extending transversely of said path thereby to cause said stock to advance along said path, a pinch roller located above said path and engageable with the upper side of said stock to hold said stock against said sheave, said pinch roller being rotatable about a preselected axis extending substantially parallel to the axis of said sheave, and means biasing said pinch roller to move axially along said preselected axis and in a direction away from said first side of said groove.
A machine for punching holes in and shearing either an elongated piece of flat stock or an elongated piece of angle stock of substantially V-shaped cross-section, said machine comprising means for supporting said stock for endwise movement along a generally horizontal path, means for advancing the stock intermittently along said path, a punch press positioned along said path and operable to punch a hole in said stock when the latter dwells, a shear spaced downstream from said punch press and operable to cut off the leading end portion of said stock when the stock dwells, said supporting means comprising in part an upwardly opening V-shaped cradle positioned between said punch press and said shear and having first and second inclined sides, said cradle being located beneath said path with said sides supporting said angle stock in a position with the V thereof opening upwardly, said first side of said cradle supporting said flat stock in an inclined position in which one edge of the flat stock engages the second side of the cradle, and a mechanism for selectively clamping said stock to said cradle, said mechanism comprising a roller located above said path and engageable with the upper side of said stock to hold said stock against said cradle as said stock is being cut by said shear, said roller being rotatable about a generally horizontal axis extending transversely of said path, and means biasing said roller to move axially along said axis and in a direction away from said second side of said cradle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.