Fluid actuated press

Abstract

The press includes a base structure carrying a press platen and an upper floating head carrying a press platen, the floating head being movable toward and away from the base. A fluid-actuated cylinder is provided at each end of the press to raise and lower the head. A load transfer assembly interconnects opposite ends of the press and includes a transfer bar pivotally connected at opposite ends to bellcranks at opposite ends of the base. Rods at opposite ends of the press connect between the bellcranks and head. When the press is subjected to asymmetrical loadings, the load transfer apparatus transfers a portion of the force applied to the head by the cylinder at one end of the press to the head at the opposite end of the press.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A press comprising: a base structure including a press platen, a head including a press platen in opposition to said first mentioned press platen, means connecting said head and said base structure for reciprocating movement of said head relative to said base structure including a fluid actuated cylinder connected between said head and said base structure at each of the opposite ends of said press, and means coupled between opposite ends of said press for transferring a portion of the force applied by the cylinder to said head at one end of said press to the head at the opposite end of said press, said coupling means including a bellcrank at opposite ends of said press, said bellcranks being pivotally carried by said base structure, a transfer bar interconnecting said bellcranks, a rod coupled between said bellcrank and said head at opposite ends of the press, said rods, bellcranks, and transfer bar being arranged such that rotation of one of said bellcranks in response to movement of said head toward said base rotates the other bellcrank in an opposite direction, the rod at one press end being subject to compressive forces and the rod at the other press end being subject to tensile forces in response to asymmetrical press loadings.  .[.2. A press comprising: a base structure including a press platen, a head including a press platen in opposition to said first mentioned press platen, means connecting said head and said base structure for reciprocating movement of said head relative to said base structure including a fluid actuated cylinder connected between said head and said base structure at each of the opposite ends of said press, and means coupled between opposite ends of said press for transferring a portion of the force applied by the cylinder to said head at one end of said press to the head at the opposite end of said press, said coupling means including a force transfer bar coupled to said base structure and said head such that said bar is subjected alternately to tension and compressive forces in response to loadings 
     
     
        concentrated in opposite ends of the press respectively..]. 3. The press according to claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.1.Iaddend.; including a plurality of wheels carried by said base structure for supporting said press, .Iadd.and an elongated track, .Iaddend.said wheels being located adjacent opposite ends of said press with at least one of said wheels engaging said track whereby said press is mounted for longitudinal movement along said track. .[.4. The press according to claim 2 wherein said coupling means includes a bell crank at opposite ends of said press, said bell cranks being pivotally carried by said base structure, a rod coupled between said bell crank and said head at opposite ends of the press, said rods, bell cranks, and transfer bar being arranged such that rotation of one of said bell cranks in response to movement of said head toward said base rotates the 
     
     
        other of said bell crank in an opposite direction..]. 5. A press comprising: a base structure including a press platen, a head including a press platen in opposition to said first mentioned press platen, means connecting said head and said base structure for reciprocating movement of said head relative to said base structure including a fluid actuated cylinder connected between said head and base structure at each of the opposite ends of said press, means coupled between opposite ends of said press for transferring a portion of the force applied by the cylinder to said head at one end of said press to the head at the opposite end of said press, a plurality of rollers disposed on one side of said base structure and above the press platen carried thereby, and means mounting said 
     
     
        rollers for movement below said latter press platen. 6. The press according to claim 5 wherein said coupling means includes a bellcrank at opposite ends of said press, said bellcranks being pivotally carried by said base structure, a transfer bar interconnecting said bellcranks, a rod coupled between said bellcrank and said head at opposite ends of the press, said rods, bell cranks, and transfer bar being arranged such that rotation of one of said bellcranks in response to movement of said head 
     
     
        toward said base rotates the other bellcrank in an opposite direction. 7. The press according to claim 5 wherein said coupling means includes a force transfer bar coupled to said base structure and said head such that said bar is subjected alternately to tension and compressive forces in response to loadings concentrated adjacent opposite ends of the press, 
     
     
        respectively. 8. The press according to claim 5 wherein the rod at one press end is subjected to compressive forces and the rod at the other press end is subjected to tensile forces in response to asymmetrical press loadings.  .[.9. A press comprising: a base structure including a press platen, a head including a press platen in opposition to said first mentioned press platen, means connecting said head and said base structure for reciprocating movement of one of said head and said base structure relative to the other of said head and base structure, a fluid actuated cylinder connected between said head and said base structure at each of the opposite ends of said press for moving said one of said head and said base structure relative to the other of said head and said base structure, and means coupled between opposite ends of said press for transferring a portion of the force applied by the cylinder to said one of said head and said base structure at one end of said press to the other of said head and said base structure at the opposite end of said press, said coupling means including a force transfer bar coupled to said base structure and said head such that said bar is subjected alternately to tension and compressive forces in response to loadings concentrated adjacent opposite ends of the press, respectively..]. .[.10. The press according to claim 9 wherein said coupling means includes a bell crank at opposite ends of said press, said bell cranks being pivotally carried by the other of said head and said base structure, a rod coupled between said bell crank and said one of said head and said base structure at opposite ends of the press, said rods, bell cranks, and transfer bar being arranged such that rotation of one of said bell cranks in response to movement of said one of said head and said base structure toward the other of said head and said base structure rotates the other bell crank in opposite direction..]. .[.11. The press according to claim 10 wherein the rod at one press end is subjected to compressive forces and the rod at the other press end is 
     
     
        subjected to tensile forces in response to asymmetrical loadings..]. 12. The press according to claim .[.9.]. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.including a plurality of rollers disposed on one side of said base structure and above the press platen carried thereby, and means mounting said rollers for movement below said latter press platen. .Iadd. 13. The press according to claim 5 including a plurality of wheels carried by said base structure, a track for supporting said press, said wheels being located adjacent opposite ends of said press with at least one of said wheels engaging said track whereby said press is mounted for longitudinal movement along said track..Iaddend..Iadd. 14. The press according to claim 1 wherein each of said bellcranks includes a pair of legs and a pivot such that the legs relative to the pivot define an angle less than 180 degrees, the legs connecting with said rods extending outwardly from their respective pivots and from one another, the legs connecting with the transfer bar extending from their respective pivots in generally opposite direction such that the axis of said transfer bar defines an acute angle with a line parallel to the direction of movement of said one of said head and said base structure..Iaddend..Iadd. 15. The press according to claim 14 wherein said transfer bar intersects and crosses over a straight line intersecting the bellcrank pivots and at a location between said pivots. .Iaddend.