Workpiece transfer system for stamping press

Abstract

A transfer system for transferring workpieces between successive die stations in a stamping press employing elongate bars with workpiece grippers mounted thereon. Two elongate support beams are mounted on vertical primary supports on opposite sides of the press. Two mounting heads are mounted on each beam and are horizontally movable thereon. Each head is independently movable and is connectible by one elongate bar to either the mounting head on the same beam or to an opposing mounting head mounted on the other beam, the choice dependent on the workpiece flow direction

1 . A transfer system for transferring workpieces between successive die stations in a stamping press having a left side, a right side, a front side, and a back side, said transfer system comprising: 
 a primary support arrangement adapted for mounting adjacent said stamping press,    two elongate support beams mountable on said primary support arrangement and positionable on first and second opposite sides of said stamping press during use of said transfer system,    two mounting heads mounted on each support beam and spaced from each other,    each mounting head including    a coupling for detachably connecting an elongate bar to the mounting head, the bar having a series of workpiece grippers mounted thereon for engaging workpieces at the successive die stations,    a vertical transport mechanism for moving said coupling vertically,    a lateral transport mechanism for moving said coupling in a front-back direction relative to said press, and    a longitudinal transport mechanism for moving said elongate bar in a left-right direction relative to the press;    wherein said transfer system is capable of transferring said workpieces either in a left-right flow direction relative to the press or in front-back flow direction relative to the press.    
   
   
       2 . A transfer system according to  claim 1  wherein said vertical transport mechanism comprises a supporting body mounted for vertical movement relative to its respective support beam and each lateral transport mechanism includes a horizontally extending, elongate support member mounted for substantially horizontal movement on said support body.  
   
   
       3 . A transfer system according to  claim 2  wherein each mounting head includes a carriage assembly mounted for horizontal movement on its respective support beam and said supporting body is mounted for vertical movement on said carriage assembly.  
   
   
       4 . A transfer system according to  claim 2  wherein each of said support beams is vertically movable on said primary support arrangement and said system includes a vertical drive unit at each end of the support beam for moving its respective support beam upwardly or downwardly as required.  
   
   
       5 . A transfer system according to  claim 4  wherein said primary support arrangement comprises four vertical, elongate beam-supporting posts each adapted for mounting to or adjacent to said stamping press, each end of each support beam is movably mounted on a respective one of said beam-supporting posts, and each vertical drive unit is mounted on a respective one of said beam-supporting posts.  
   
   
       6 . A transfer system according to  claim 1  including two of said elongate bars, each elongate bar being adapted to connect a respective one of the mounting heads on one support beam to a respective one of the mounting heads on the other support beam with the two mounting heads that are connected by each elongate bar being positioned opposite each other, wherein during use of the two elongate bars said transfer system can be used to transfer workpieces in a front-back flow direction.  
   
   
       7 . A carriage apparatus for use in a transfer system for transferring workpieces between successive die stations in a stamping press having a left side, a right side, and front and back sides, said carriage apparatus comprising: 
 a primary carriage body adapted for mounting on a horizontally extending support beam so as to be movable along said support beam in a substantially horizontal direction;    a primary drive mechanism adapted for moving said carriage body along said support beam;    a secondary support body mounted for vertical movement on said carriage body;    a secondary drive assembly connected to said secondary support body and adapted to move said secondary support body vertically relative to said carriage body;    a horizontally extending, elongate support member mounted for substantially horizontal movement on said secondary support body in a front-back direction relative to said press and having an inner end that can be moved away from said secondary support body and towards the stamping press during use of the apparatus, a coupling being provided at said inner end for connecting an elongate bar having a series of workpiece holders mounted thereon; and    a power drive system connected to said elongate support member and adapted to move said elongate support member horizontally relative to said secondary support body.    
   
   
       8 . A carriage apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein during use of the carriage apparatus, said primary carriage body is movable along said support beam in a left-right direction relative to the press and wherein said primary drive mechanism includes a carriage drive motor mounted on said carriage body.  
   
   
       9 . A carriage apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein said elongate support member has a guide rail mounted thereon and extending in the lengthwise direction of the support member and wherein said secondary support body has ball slides for slidably engaging said guide rail.  
   
   
       10 . A carriage apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein said power drive system is a belt drive assembly including a drive belt connected to said elongate support member and a further drive motor mounted on said secondary support body and operatively connected to a drive pulley in order to rotate same during use of said carriage apparatus, said drive pulley engaging said drive belt.  
   
   
       11 . A carriage apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said drive pulley is rotatable about a horizontal axis by said further drive motor.  
   
   
       12 . A carriage apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein said secondary drive assembly comprises a secondary drive motor and a ballscrew drive unit operatively connected at one end thereof to said secondary drive motor for rotation thereby, said ballscrew drive unit including a ballscrew rotatably mounted on said primary carriage body.  
   
   
       13 . A carriage apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein said primary drive mechanism comprises a primary belt drive assembly that includes said carriage drive motor and a flexible primary drive belt adapted for mounting on said support beam, said carriage drive motor being operatively connected to a rotatably primary drive pulley that engages said primary drive belt.  
   
   
       14 . A carriage apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said elongate support member has a guide rail mounted thereon and extending in the lengthwise direction of said support member and wherein said secondary support body has ball slide means for slidably engaging said guide rail.  
   
   
       15 . A carriage apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein said carriage body includes a substantially L-shaped support bracket having a vertical leg with two opposing vertically extending sides, said support body being slidably mounted on one of these two opposing sides for vertical movement and the other of said two opposing sides being adapted for slidably connecting said carriage body to said support beam for said horizontal movement.  
   
   
       16 . A carriage apparatus for use in transfer system for transferring workpieces between successive die stations in a stamping press having a left side, a right side, a front and back sides, said carriage apparatus comprising: 
 a primary carriage body adapted for mounting on a horizontally extending support for substantially horizontal movement on said support in a left-right direction relative to said press during use of the carriage apparatus;    a secondary support body mounted for vertical movement on said carriage body;    a secondary drive assembly connected to said secondary support body and adapted to move said secondary support body vertically relative to said carriage body;    a horizontally extending, elongate support member mounted for substantially horizontal movement on said secondary support body in a front-back direction relative to said press and having an inner end that can be moved away from secondary support body and towards the stamping press during use of the apparatus, a coupling being provided at said inner end for connecting an elongate bar having a series of workpiece holders mounted thereon; and    a belt drive assembly adapted to move said elongate support member horizontally relative to said secondary support body, said belt drive assembly including a drive belt connected to said elongate support member, a drive motor mounted on said secondary support body at a location spaced above said elongate support member, and a drive pulley operatively connected to said drive motor for rotation thereby and engaging said drive belt, said drive pulley being rotatable about a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said elongate support member.    
   
   
       17 . A carriage apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein said secondary support body has a first housing section and a second housing section rigidly connected together, said elongate support member is slidably mounted in said second housing section, and said drive motor is mounted on one side of said first housing section.  
   
   
       18 . A carriage apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein said secondary drive assembly comprises a secondary drive motor and a ballscrew drive unit operatively connected at one end thereof to said secondary drive motor for rotation thereby, said ballscrew drive unit including a ballscrew rotatably mounted on said primary carriage body.  
   
   
       19 . A carriage apparatus according to  claim 16  including a primary power drive assembly adapted for moving said primary carriage body selectively in said left-right direction and connected to said primary carriage body.  
   
   
       20 . A carriage apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein said carriage body includes a substantially L-shaped support bracket having a vertical leg with two opposing vertically extending sides, said support body being slidably mounted on one of the two opposing sides for vertical movement and the other of said two opposing sides being adapted for slidably connecting said carriage body to said horizontally extending support for said horizontal movement.