Univers cam unit

For use in a power press having a die set, a pressure pad unit which is movable relative to the die set to hold a workpiece therebetween, and a ram, a universal cam assembly having means for receiving a working tool for performing an operation on the workpiece, comprising, in combination:

• a mounting bracket fixedly attached to the power press, the mounting bracket having two oppositely disposed closed sides and two oppositely disposed open sides, and further including rails forming inwardly directed ledges, the rails being attached to the oppositely disposed open sides of the mounting bracket such that the mounting bracket and the rails define a channel;
• a slide block slidably coupled to the inwardly directed ledges of the mounting bracket to move between a retracted position and an extended position, the slide block having an inclined cam bearing surface and a working surface and further including a support block slidably disposed within the channel defined by the mounting bracket and the rails;
• a spring assembly disposed within the support block, the spring assembly including a return spring attached to the support block for movement therewith, the return spring being positioned for compression between the support block and a first one of the closed sides of the mounting bracket as the slide block moves from the retracted position to the extended position, the spring assembly further including a spring can having a top and a bottom with the return spring being disposed within the spring can, a washer disposed within the spring can between the return spring and the bottom of the spring can, and a rod attached to the washer and extending beyond the top of the spring can for contacting a second one of the closed sides of the mounting bracket when the slide block moves from the extended position to the retracted position such that the spring can exerts a force directed opposite to the movement of the slide block;
• and,
• a driver assembly fixedly attached to the power press opposite the slide block, the driver assembly having an inclined driver bearing surface disposed substantially parallel to the inclined cam bearing surface such that when the cam bearing surface abuts the driver bearing surface, the cam bearing surface slides along the driver bearing surface and the slide block moves between the retracted and the extended positions.