Link system

A link for connecting an upstream and a downstream multi-turret processing machines, comprising:

• a base;
• a bridge disposed on the base and forming a cross-piece for a T to the base to allow connection on one end of the cross-piece to a base of an upstream multi-turret processing machine and to allow connection at the opposite end of the cross-piece to a base of a downstream multi-turret processing machine, the bridge having a center aperture, an upstream aperture on an upstream side of the center aperture, and a downstream aperture on a downstream side of the center aperture opposite to the upstream side, the three apertures for holding a last existing upstream turret on the upstream multi-turret processing machine in the upstream aperture, for holding a link processing turret in the center aperture, and for holding a first existing downstream turret in the downstream multi-turret processing machine in the downstream aperture, all three turrets being in parallel;
• a link processing turret disposed in said center aperture;
• one or more gears for meshing indirectly with gears in the upstream and downstream multi-turret processing machines;
• and
• a temporary alignment beam disposed on the base on an opposite side from but in parallel to the bridge for connecting at one portion thereof to the upstream multi-turret processing machine, at a second portion thereof to the link base, and at a third portion thereof to the downstream multi-turret processing machine.

A link for connecting an upstream and a downstream multi-turret processing machines, comprising:

• a base;
• a bridge disposed on the base and forming a cross-piece for a T to the base to allow connection on one end of the cross-piece to a base of an upstream multi-turret processing machine and to allow connection at the opposite end of the cross-piece to a base of a downstream multi-turret processing machine, the bridge having a center aperture, an upstream aperture on an upstream side of the center aperture, and a downstream aperture on a downstream side of the center aperture opposite to the upstream side, the three apertures for holding a last existing upstream turret on the upstream multi-turret processing machine in the upstream aperture, for holding a link processing turret in the center aperture, and for holding a first existing downstream turret in the downstream multi-turret processing machine in the downstream aperture, all three turrets being in parallel;
• a link processing turret disposed in said center aperture;
• and
• one or more gears for meshing indirectly with gears in the upstream and downstream multi-turret processing machines,
• wherein the bridge connects to and supports a tooling cam for each of the upstream, link and downstream turrets.

A link for connecting an upstream and a downstream multi-turret processing machines, comprising:

• a base;
• a bridge disposed on the base and forming a cross-piece for a T to the base to allow connection on one end of the cross-piece to a base of an upstream multi-turret processing machine and to allow connection at the opposite end of the cross-piece to a base of a downstream multi-turret processing machine, the bridge having a center aperture, an upstream aperture on an upstream side of the center aperture, and a downstream aperture on a downstream side of the center aperture opposite to the upstream side, the three apertures for holding a last existing upstream turret on the upstream multi-turret processing machine in the upstream aperture, for holding a link processing turret in the center aperture, and for holding a first existing downstream turret in the downstream multi-turret processing machine in the downstream aperture, all three turrets being in parallel;
• a link processing turret disposed in said center aperture;
• and
• one or more gears for meshing indirectly with gears in the upstream and downstream multi-turret processing machines,
• wherein an upstream bearing plate bears a substantial portion of weight of the last turret and a downstream bearing plate bears a substantial portion of weight of the first turret, and further comprising at least one shim between one of the bearing plates and the bridge in order to align one of the last turret or the first turret in an axial direction with respect to the link turret.

A multi-turret processing machine comprising:

• an upstream multi-turret processing machine with a base and with a plurality of in-line parallel turrets including a last upstream turret and an upstream gear train;
• a downstream multi-turret processing machine with a base and with a plurality of in-line parallel turrets including a first downstream turret and a downstream gear train;
• a separable link connecting the upstream and the downstream multi-turret processing machines, the link including a base, a bridge disposed on the base and forming a cross-piece for a T to the base, one end of the cross-piece being connected to the base of the upstream multi-turret processing machine and the opposite end of the cross-piece being connected to the base of the downstream multi-turret processing machine, the bridge including a center aperture, an upstream aperture on an upstream side of the center aperture holding the last upstream turret therein, a downstream aperture on a downstream side of the center aperture opposite to the upstream side holding the first existing downstream turret therein, and a link processing turret held in the center aperture, all three turrets being in-line and in parallel, the link further including one or more gears for meshing indirectly with gears in the upstream and downstream gear trains, and
• a gearcase near to the bridge for encasing the one or more gears for the link processing turret, the gearcase having a mating surface for mating with an upstream gearcase for the upstream multi-turret processing machine and a different mating surface for mating with a downstream gearcase for the downstream multi-turret processing machine, with at least one of these mating surfaces being adjustable.

The multi-turret processing machine comprising:

• an upstream multi-turret processing machine with a base and with a plurality of in-line parallel turrets including a last upstream turret and an upstream gear train;
• a downstream multi-turret processing machine with a base and with a plurality of in-line parallel turrets including a first downstream turret and a downstream gear train;
• a separable link connecting the upstream and the downstream multi-turret processing machines, the link including a base, a bridge disposed on the base and forming a cross-piece for a T to the base, one end of the cross-piece being connected to the base of the upstream multi-turret processing machine and the opposite end of the cross-piece being connected to the base of the downstream multi-turret processing machine, the bridge including a center aperture, an upstream aperture on an upstream side of the center aperture holding the last upstream turret therein, a downstream aperture on a downstream side of the center aperture opposite to the upstream side holding the first existing downstream turret therein, and a link processing turret held in the center aperture, all three turrets being in-line and in parallel, the link further including one or more
• gears for meshing indirectly with gears in the upstream and downstream gear trains,
• wherein the bridge connects to and supports a tooling cam for each of the upstream, link and downstream turrets.

A multi-turret processing machine comprising:

• an upstream multi-turret processing machine with a base and with a plurality of in-line parallel turrets including a last upstream turret and an upstream gear train;
• a downstream multi-turret processing machine with a base and with a plurality of in-line parallel turrets including a first downstream turret and a downstream gear train;
• a separable link connecting the upstream and the downstream multi-turret processing machines, the link including a base, a bridge disposed on the base and forming a cross-piece for a T to the base, one end of the cross-piece being connected to the base of the upstream multi-turret processing machine and the opposite end of the cross-piece being connected to the base of the downstream multi-turret processing machine, the bridge including a center aperture, an upstream aperture on an upstream side of the center aperture holding the last upstream turret therein, a downstream aperture on a downstream side of the center aperture opposite to the upstream side holding the first existing downstream turret therein, and a link processing turret held in the center aperture, all three turrets being in-line and in parallel, the link further including one or more gears for meshing indirectly with gears in the upstream and downstream gear trains,
• wherein an upstream bearing plate bears a substantial portion of weight of the last turret and a downstream bearing plate bears a substantial portion of weight of the first turret, and wherein at least one shim between one of the bearing plates and the bridge is disposed in order to align one of the last turret or the first turret in an axial direction with respect to the link turret.

A method for linking an upstream and a downstream multi-turret processing machines, comprising the steps of:

• removing a last turret and any discharge transfer assembly therefor from the upstream multi-turret processing machine;
• removing the first turret and any infeed therefor from the downstream multi-turret processing machine;
• aligning the upstream and downstream multi-turret processing machines with a link so that turrets in the upstream and downstream multi-turret processing machines and a link turret will be substantially in parallel, wherein the link comprises a base and a bridge, with the bridge forming a cross-piece for a T to the base to allow connection on one end of the cross-piece to a base of the upstream multi-turret processing machine and to allow connection at the opposite end of the cross-piece to a base of the downstream multi-turret processing machine, the bridge including a center aperture, an upstream aperture on an upstream side of the center aperture, and a downstream aperture on a downstream side of the center aperture, the center aperture for holding a link turret for processing, the upstream aperture for holding the last turret from the upstream multi-turret processing machine and the downstream aperture for holding the first turret of the downstream multi-turret processing machine;
• connecting the one end of the cross-piece to the base of the upstream multi-turret processing machine and connecting the opposite end of the cross-piece to the base of the downstream multi-turret processing machine;
• inserting the link turret for processing in the center aperture of the bridge;
• disposing the removed last turret from the upstream multi-turret processing machine into the upstream aperture of the bridge and disposing the removed first turret from the downstream multi-turret processing machine into the downstream aperture of the bridge so that a work object may be passed from the last turret to the link turret to the first turret;
• and
• inserting one or more link gears to mate with a last gear of the upstream multi-turret processing machine and a first gear of the downstream multi-turret processing machine.