Mechanical parts ejector for trim press

Apparatus for trimming and ejecting articles integrally thermoformed in a sheet of thermoplastic material from the sheet comprising:

• a frame;
• means for indexing a sheet of thermoplastic material having articles thermoformed therein to a trim station;
• a pair of opposed trim dies mounted on said frame for relative movement toward and away from each other between a closed position engaging opposite sides of said sheet to trim an article in said sheet from said sheet at said trim station and a retracted spaced apart position allowing the sheet to be indexed therebetween;
• and
• ejector means received by one of said trim dies and movable relative thereto, between a retracted, rearward rest position and a forward ejecting position for ejecting a severed article from said trim station and moving the severed article relative to said trim dies;
• ejector moving means for moving said ejector means between said retracted position and said forward ejecting position including
• means responsive to said relative movement of said trim dies away from each other for initiating forward movement of said ejector means at a predetermined velocity;
• means for accelerating the forward movement of said ejector means at a predetermined higher velocity;
• and
• means for retracting said ejector means from said forward ejecting position to said rest position at a still higher predetermined velocity;
• said ejector moving means comprising a lever having first and second ends and a portion between said first and second ends pivotally mounted on said frame to allow said lever to pivotally move between an ejector advance position and an ejector retract position;
• means coupling said first end of said lever to said ejector means;
• yieldable means yieldably urging said lever to said ejector retract position but allowing movement thereof to said ejector advance position;
• and toggle linkage means coupled between one trim die and said second end of said lever for moving said lever from said ejector retract position to said ejector advance position to move said ejector means between said retracted rest position and said forward ejecting position.

Apparatus for trimming articles which are integrally differentially pressure thermoformed in a sheet of thermoplastic material from the sheet and stacking the severed articles comprising:

• a frame;
• means on said frame for delivering a sheet of thermoplastic material having articles differentially pressure formed therein to a trim station;
• first and second trim dies mounted on said frame for relative movement toward and away from each other between a closed position clamped to opposite sides of said sheet to sever articles at said trim station and a removed position allowing the sheet to be moved therebetween;
• ejector means received by one of said trim dies and movable relative thereto between a rearward rest position and a forward article ejecting position, for ejecting a severed article from said trim station and moving it downstream relative to said trim dies;
• ejector moving means for moving said ejector means between said rearward rest position and said forward ejecting position comprising:
• a lever pivotally mounted about a first axis on said frame and having one end pivotally coupled about a second axis to said ejector means;
• and
• toggle linkage means coupled to said one trim die for movement therewith and for movement relative thereto;
• and coupled to the other end of said lever for pivoting said lever in a to-and-fro pivoting path of travel to move said ejector means between said rearward rest position and said forward ejecting position.

Apparatus for trimming articles which are integrally differentially pressure thermoformed in a sheet of thermoplastic material from the sheet and stacking the severed articles comprising:

• a frame;
• means on said frame for delivering a sheet of thermoplastic material having articles differentially pressure formed therein to a trim station;
• first and second trim dies mounted on said frame for relative movement toward and away from each other between a closed position clamped to opposite sides of said sheet to severe articles at said trim station and a removed position allowing the sheet to be moved therebetween;
• ejector means received by one of said trim dies and movable relative thereto between a rearward rest position and a forward article ejecting position, for ejecting a severed article from said trim station and moving it downstream relative to said trim dies;
• ejector moving means for moving said ejector means between said rearward rest position and said forward article ejecting position comprising:
• first and second toggle links each having one end pivotally coupled to said one end of the other toggle link for pivoting movement about a first axis;
• said first toggle link including an opposite end pivotally coupled to said first trim die for movement therewith and for pivoting movement relative thereto about a second axis;
• said second toggle link including an opposite end pivotally coupled to said ejector means for movement therewith and for pivoting movement relative thereto about a third axis;
• and
• means on said frame for moving said toggle links between relatively folded positions on one side of a plane intersecting said first, second and third axes and oppositely relatively folded positions on the opposite side of said plane as said trim dies relatively move between said closed positions and said removed positions.

Apparatus for trimming and ejecting articles integrally thermoformed in a sheet of thermoplastic material from the sheet comprising:

• a frame;
• means for indexing a sheet of thermoplastic material having articles thermoformed therein to a trim station;
• a pair of opposed trim dies mounted on said frame for relative movement toward and away from each other between a closed position engaging opposite sides of said sheet to trim an article in said sheet from said sheet at said trim station and a retracted spaced apart position allowing the sheet to be indexed therebetween;
• and
• ejector means received by one of said trim dies and movable relative thereto, between a retracted, rearward rest position and a forward ejecting position for ejecting a severed article from said trim station and moving the severed article downstream relative to said trim dies;
• ejector moving means operable between a first position and a second position for moving said ejector mans in a forward direction from said retracted rest position to said forward ejecting position at a predetermined maximum velocity and for returning said ejector means to said retracted rest position at a higher velocity;
• and
• yieldable means on said frame for yieldably urging said ejector moving means to said first position in which said ejector means is in said retracted rest position but allowing movement of said ejector moving means to said second position in which said ejector means is in said ejecting position;
• said ejector moving means including toggle link means coupled between said one trim die and said ejector means for movement therewith and for movement relative thereto.

Apparatus for trimming and ejecting articles integrally thermoformed in a sheet of thermoplastic material from the sheet comprising:

• a frame;
• means for indexing a sheet of thermoplastic material having articles thermoformed therein to a trim station;
• a pair of opposed trim dies mounted on said frame for relative movement toward and away from each other between a closed position engaging opposite sides of said sheet to trim an article in said sheet from said sheet at said trim station and a retracted spaced apart position allowing the sheet to be indexed therebetween;
• ejector means received by one of said trim dies and movable relative thereto, between a retracted, rearward rest position and a forward ejecting position for ejecting a severed article from said trim station and moving the severed article downstream relative to said trim dies;
• toggle linkage means coupled to at least one of said trim dies, operable in response to movement of said at least one of said trim dies from said closed position to said retracted position, for moving said ejector means from said retracted rearward rest position to said ejecting position and returning said ejector means to said rest position but allowing said ejector means to remain in said rest position as said one trim die moves forwardly relative to said ejector means between said retracted position and said closed position.

Apparatus for trimming and ejecting articles integrally thermoformed in a sheet of thermoplastic material from the sheet comprising:

• a frame;
• means for indexing a sheet of thermoplastic material having articles thermoformed therein to a trim station;
• a pair of opposed trim dies mounted on said frame for relative movement toward and away from each other between a closed position engaging opposite sides of said sheet to trim an article in said sheet from said sheet at said trim station and a retracted spaced apart position allowing the sheet to be indexed therebetween;
• and
• ejector mans received by one of said trim dies and movable relative thereto, between a retracted, rearward rest position and a forward ejecting position for ejecting a severed article from said trim station and moving the severed article relative to said trim dies;
• ejector moving means for moving said ejector means between said retracted position and said forward ejecting position including
• means responsive to said relative movement of said trim dies away from each other for initiating forward movement of said ejector means at a predetermined velocity;
• means for accelerating the forward movement of said ejector means at a predetermined higher velocity;
• and
• means for retracting said ejector means from said forward ejecting position to said rest position at a still higher predetermined velocity;
• said ejector moving means comprises toggle linkage means coupled to said one trim die for movement therewith and for movement relative thereto.