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US 7,114,436 B1Granted
Safety interlock and retraction mechanism for clinching, crimping, and punching presses
OwnerThomas L. Muellerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A safety interlock and retraction mechanism for all types of presses comprising a sensing or activating valve which does not apply full force to a press ram until the ram displaces to the expected work material thickness and a pneumatically operated retraction mechanism which eliminates the need for a return spring. The art differentiates between the thickness of an operator's finger relative to a work material thickness in order to promote safety. The art further provides an increased press ram force by eliminating the return spring force subtracting from the ram force.
Claims19
A safety interlock and retraction apparatus for presses, comprising;
- one or more actuators connected between a frame of a press and a ram of said press, said press having a stroke actuator;
- and
- a control valve having a first output port and a second output port, said second output port connected with said actuators;
- and
- an activating valve having a first port and a second port and positioned with said press to substantially activate said activating valve second port when said ram reaches a predetermined position toward a work material and said first port is activated via said first output port of said control valve;
- and
- a piloted valve having an actuating port connected with said second port of said activating valve, a first input port connected with said first output port of said control valve, and a second output port connected with said stroke actuator;
- and
- an arm positioned to activate said activating valve when said ram moves sufficiently toward the work material;
- and
- whereby said one or more actuators cause said ram to retract when said second output port of said control valve is activated and allow said ram to displace toward said work material when said second output port of said control valve is not activated;
- and
- said stroke actuator further causing said ram to move toward said work material with full force only when said first output port of said control valve is activated and said second port of said activating valve is activated due to said ram reaching said predetermined position toward said work material.
10 more elements
A safety interlock and retraction apparatus for presses comprising:
- a pneumatic control valve having a first output port, a second output port, and a pressurization port whereby said first output port is pressurized from said pressurization port when said pneumatic control valve is activated and vented when not activated and said second output port is pressurized from said pressurization port when said pneumatic control valve is not activated and vented when activated;
- and
- one or more pneumatic actuators connected with said second output port of said pneumatic control valve and attached and positioned with said press whereby a actuators cause a ram of said press to retract when compressed air is supplied from said second output port of said pneumatic control valve;
- and
- a pneumatic activating valve having a first port connected with said first output port of said control valve and a second port which connects with said first port when said pneumatic activating valve is activated and vents when said pneumatic activating valve is not activated, said pneumatic activating valve positioned to activate when said ram moves sufficiently toward a work material;
- and
- an air piloted valve having an actuating port connected with said second port of said pneumatic activating valve, a first input port connected with said first output port of said pneumatic control valve, and a second output port connected with an air stroke actuator of said press, whereby activation of said pneumatic control valve depressurizes said one or more pneumatic actuators and pressurizes said air stroke actuator when said pneumatic activating valve is activated;
- and
- an arm positioned to activate said pneumatic activating valve when said ram moves sufficiently toward the work material.
6 more elements
A method for providing safety interlocking for presses, the steps comprising:
- obtaining a press;
- and
- mounting one or more actuators onto a ram and a frame of said press;
- and
- biasing said actuators to move said ram towards a work material when not activated;
- and
- positioning and mounting an activating valve near an arm whereby said arm is capable of moving with said ram and said arm activates said activating valve when displaced a predetermined amount towards said work material;
- and
- connecting a first output port of a control valve to a first port of said activating valve and to a first input port of a piloted valve and a second output port of said control valve to said one or more actuators;
- and
- connecting an actuating port of said piloted valve to a second port of said activating valve and a second output port of said piloted valve to a stroke actuator of said press;
- and
- activating said second output port of said control valve;
- and
- deactivating said first output port of said control valve whereby said ram retracts;
- and
- placing a work material between said ram and frame;
- and
- deactivating said second output port of said control valve whereby said ram displaces toward said work material;
- and
- activating said first output port of said control valve whereby said stroke actuator is activated when said activating valve activates;
- and
- contacting said work material with said ram;
- and
- deactivating said first output port of said control valve;
- and
- activating said second output port of said control valve;
- and
- allowing said ram to displace away from said work material;
- and
- removing said work material.
28 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.