Amplified toggle press for rule bending and notching

A manually operated press comprising:

• a base;
• a platen fixed to said base;
• a ram attached to said base, said ram being movable toward and away from said platen;
• and
• a toggle linkage comprising:
• a handle having an end attached to said base through a first rotatable pivot, the end of said handle having an input link attachment point offset radially from said rotatable pivot;
• a rotary member, said rotary member attached to said base through a second rotatable pivot, said rotary member having a first and second crank attachment point, the first and second crank attachment points being offset radially from the second rotatable pivot, with the first crank attachment point being at a greater radius than the second crank attachment point;
• an input toggle link having a first and second end, said first end being pivotally attached to said input link attachment point, said second end being attached to said first crank attachment point;
• and
• an output link having a proximal and distal end, said proximal end being pivotally attached to said second crank attachment point, said distal end being pivotally attached to said ram;
• said toggle linkage being dimensioned such that said input toggle link is substantially at top dead center with respect to said handle when said ram is fully retracted and said input toggle passes through a mid-stroke position as said ram is advanced toward said platen;
• whereby motion imparted to said handle is imparted to said input toggle link, which imparts rotary motion to said rotary member, which, in turn, imparts motion to said output link for moving said ram toward and away from said platen.