Locking device for transfer feeder

A locking device for a transfer feeder of a transfer press, in which the transfer feeder comprises a pair of transfer bars adapted to be movable in a feeding direction, a lifting direction and a clamping direction, a feed drive means having a feed carrier mechanically connected to the transfer bars and a feed drive mechanism mechanically connected to the feed carrier for driving the feed carrier so as to move the transfer bars along the feeding direction, a lift/clamp drive means having a lift drive mechanism mechanically connected to the transfer bars, a clamp drive mechanism mechanically connected to the transfer bars and an equalizer bar mechanically connected to the feed drive mechanism, the lift drive mechanism and the clamp drive mechanism, said equalizer bar moving along the feeding direction in accordance with the drive of the feed drive mechanism and said lift drive mechanism and clamp drive mechanism being driven in accordance with the movement of the equalizer bar so as to move the transfer bars along to the lifting and clamping directions, a power take off means for providing driving power for the feed drive mechanism of the lift drive means, and a braking means for stopping providing driving power for the feed drive mechanism thereof so as to stop moving the transfer bars in the feeding direction, lifting direction and clamping direction, and in which the press main body is provided with a stationary structure which is always at a stand still, said locking device comprising:

• engaging means fixedly mounted on at least one of the feed carrier and the equalizer bar;
• locking means fixedly mounted on the stationary structure for engaging with the engaging means, said locking means cooperating with the engaging means for selectively establishing locking engagement at a plurality of preselected relative positions between the at least one of the feed carrier and the equalizer bar and the stationary structure;
• driving means for driving the locking means for establishing locking at a selected relative position of at least one of the feed carrier and the equalizer bar and the stationary structure in response to the stop of the movement of the transfer bars and the equalizer bar by the braking means so as to fix at least one of the feed carrier and the equalizer bar at the stationary structure thereby preventing the transfer bars from moving unexpectedly.