Mechanical press

A press (1) for shaping large metal sheets, comprising:

• a plunger (3) supported so as to be linearly movable back and forth, at least two drive means disposed at a distance from one another and connected to the plunger at spaced locations for moving the plunger (3), each drive means including at least a first servomotor (23, 25) and a second servomotor (24, 26) operatively connected via separate transmissions (28, 29, 31, 32) to the plunger (3) at said spaced locations for synchronously and uniformly moving the plunger (3), a rotatably supported inertia body (16, 17) connected to each of the servomotors (23, 24) and, respectively, (25, 26)) for rotation therewith and having each an inertia moment which is small enough so as to permit retardation of the inertia bodies for reversal of the servomotor before the end of the full plunger stroke is reached for generating an adjustable travel stroke of the plunger (3), a control device (33) connected to at least one of the servomotors of each drive means for controlling the operation of the at least one servomotor (23, 25) of each drive means on the basis of travel distance/time curves and motion transmitting means (21, 22) disposed between the inertia bodies (16, 17) so as to transmit any motion therebetween to ensure uniform movement of the plunger (3) operated by the spaced drive means for controlling the operating stroke of the plunger (3).