Bearing system for a slide element on a press

A press system comprising:

• a frame;
• a slide element that is guided by the frame between a retracted position and an extended position;
• and
• a first bearing assembly acting between the slide element and the frame, the first bearing assembly comprising a first bearing housing on one of the slide element and the frame, a first carrier that is connected to the first bearing housing for pivoting movement relative to the first bearing housing around a substantially fixed first axis as the slide element moves between the extended and retracted positions, a first roller element that is connected to the first carrier for pivoting movement relative to the first carrier around a second substantially fixed axis, and a second roller element that is connected to the first carrier for pivoting movement relative to the first carrier around a third axis that is substantially parallel to the first axis, the first and second roller elements acting against a first surface on the other of the slide element and the frame to guide movement between the slide element and frame as the slide element is moved between the retracted and extended positions.

A method of guiding relative movement between a slide element and a frame on a press system, the frame comprising at least three elongate columns which are located around a space within which the slide element is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of bearing assemblies that cooperate one each between the slide element and each elongate column;
• rotating a plurality of roller elements on a carrier on each bearing assembly around substantially parallel axes and against one of a) the slide element and b) one of the columns to guide relative movement between the slide element and frame as the slide element moves between the extended and retracted positions;
• and
• repositioning the carrier on one of the bearing assemblies as the slide element moves between the extended and retracted positions to permit the plurality of rollers on the carrier on the one bearing assembly to be borne against one of the slide element and frame.

A press system comprising:

• a frame;
• a slide element that is guided by the frame between a retracted position and an extended position;
• and
• a first bearing assembly on the slide element, the first bearing assembly comprising a first carrier that is pivotable relative to the slide element around a first substantially fixed axis as the slide element moves between the extended and retracted positions and first and second roller elements that are connected to the first carrier for pivoting movement relative to the first carrier around second and third axes that are substantially parallel to the first axis for acting against the other of the slide element and frame to guide movement between the slide element and frame as the slide element is moved between the retracted and extended position.

A press system comprising:

• a frame;
• a slide element that is guided by the frame between a retracted position and an extended position;
• and
• a bearing assembly acting between the slide element and the frame, the bearing assembly comprising a bearing housing on one of the slide element and the frame, a carrier that is connected to the bearing housing for pivoting movement relative to the bearing housing around a substantially fixed first axis, and a roller element that is connected to the carrier for pivoting movement relative to the carrier around a second substantially fixed axis and acts against a flat surface on the other of the slide element and the frame to guide movement between the slide element and frame as the slide element is moved between the retracted and extended positions,
• wherein the carrier has an arcuate, concave surface which guides the bearing housing in pivoting movement around the first axis.

A press system comprising:

• a frame;
• a slide element that is guided by the frame between a retracted position and an extended position;
• a first bearing assembly acting between the slide element and the frame, the first bearing assembly comprising a first bearing housing on one of the slide element and the frame, a first carrier that is connected to the first bearing housing for pivoting movement relative to the first bearing housing around a substantially fixed first axis, and a first roller element that is connected to the first carrier for pivoting movement relative to the first carrier around a second substantially fixed axis and acts against a first surface on the other of the slide element and the frame to guide movement between the slide element and frame as the slide element is moved between the retracted and extended positions;
• and
• a first mounting block releasably attached to the one of the slide element and frame,
• wherein the first bearing housing is attached to the first mounting block so that the first bearing housing can be adjusted and maintained in a desired position relative to the first mounting block.