Anti-friction gibs for presses

Abstract

In an industrial mechanical press, anti-friction gibs are provided to replace conventional V-type bronze gibs without requiring extensive rebuilding of the press. Linear roller bearings, and their associated flat races, are substituted for plain bronze gibs which enable zero clearance to be obtained between the press slide and frame, thereby effectively reducing off-center die loading and friction on the slide.

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:  .[.1. In a mechanical press having a frame including a pair of side members and a press slide mounted therebetween, the improvement in anti-friction gib means comprising: a flat steel race secured to a vertical surface on each side of said press slide adjacent a side member; flat steel races positioned opposite each of said press slide races and secured to vertical surfaces of each of said press side members and parallel to said press slide races; rollers positioned between said opposed races; roller retaining means to retain said rollers between said races; and means to reciprocate said roller retaining means responsive to the movement of said slide..]. .[.2. The device of claim 1, including means to reciprocate said roller retaining means at one-half the speed of said slide..]. .[.3. The device of claim 1, including means to provide clearance between said press slide races and said press side member races..]. .[.4. The device of claim 1, including rack and pinion means to reciprocate said roller retaining means..]. .[.5. The device of claim 1, including a vertically shiftable block mounted on said press frame; connecting means between said shiftable block and said roller retaining means; and means to reciprocate said block responsive to movement of said slide..]. .[.6. The device of claim 1, including a shiftable block mounted on said press frame; connecting means between said shiftable block and said roller retaining means; and means to reciprocate said block comprising a rack secured to said slide, a rack secured to said press frame; a pinion in rolling engagement between said 
     
        racks, said pinion being rotatably mounted on said block..]. 7. In a mechanical press having a frame including a pair of side members and a press slide therebetween, anti-friction gib means comprising: first flat rectangular steel races secured to opposite sides of said press slide; second flat rectangular steel races secured to said press side members opposite and parallel to said first steel races; rollers positioned to run between said opposed races; linear cage means to contain said rollers; a vertically reciprocable block mounted on said press frame; means to attach the upper end of said cage means to said block; rack means secured to said press slide and adapted to reciprocate therewith; non-reciprocating rack means secured to said press frame; a pinion rotatably mounted on said reciprocable block in driven engagement with said reciprocating rack and in rolling engagement with said stationary rack, whereby said pinion reciprocates said block and said block reciprocates said linear cage 
     
     
        responsive to the movement of said slide. 8. In a mechanical press having a frame including a pair of side members, a press slide and conventional plain metal gib means secured to the opposite sides of said press slide and to said side members to align said slide with said side members for reciprocal sliding movement therebetween, the method of replacing said plain metal gib means with anti-friction gib means comprising the steps of: (1) removing said plain metal gib means from said press slide and from said side members;   (2) machining first flat vertical surfaces on opposite sides of said press slide;   (3) machining second flat vertical surfaces on said side members opposite and parallel to corresponding first flat vertical surfaces on said press slide;   (4) securing opposed flat hardened steel linear bearing races to said opposed machined surfaces;   (5) positioning bearing cage contained bearings between opposed bearing races; and   (6) securing said bearing cages to said press slide for reciprocal movement   
     
     
        therewith. 9. The method of claim 8, including the step of: (1) interposing connecting means between said bearing cages and said press slide adapted to reciprocate said bearing cage at a slower speed than said   
     
     
        press slide. 10. The method of claim 8, including the steps of: (1) securing a rack to said frame;   (2) securing a rack to said press slide;   (3) positioning a pinion to be driven by said press slide rack and to run on said frame rack;   (4) securing a reciprocable connecting means on said frame;   (5) securing said bearing cages to said reciprocable connecting means; and   (6) rotatably securing said pinion to said reciprocable connecting means, whereby said pinion reciprocates said reciprocable connecting means at a   
     
     
        slower speed than said press slide. 11. The method of claim 8, including the step of providing means to adjust the spacing between said flat hardened steel linear bearing races.