US3599467A

US3599467A - Die-changing mechanism for an extrusion press

Info

Publication number: US3599467A
Application number: US762032A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert K Valks
Original assignee: Farrel Corp
Current assignee: Farrel Corp
Priority date: 1968-09-24
Filing date: 1968-09-24
Publication date: 1971-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-17

Abstract

The die is held in axial alignment with the billet container during extrusion by a reciprocable die slide and a cooperating locking member. The die slide has a U-shaped pocket in one end for releasably holding the die carrier and its supporting bolster. The locking member is adapted to engage in a peripheral groove in the die carrier. To change a die, the locking member is disengaged and the die slide is moved laterally to a position where a pivotable receptacle can engage the carrier. The receptacle is then pivoted to lift the carrier out of the pocket in the slide, and swing it to a position where the carrier and die can readily be lifted out of the receptacle. For greater convenience two receptacles may be provided that are movable axially along their common pivotal axis so that a new die can be loaded in one receptacle while the previously used die is being removed from the other receptacle.

Description

0 United States Patent [111 5 1 [7 Inventor Robert Valks 3,025,959 3/1962 Poleschuk 72/263 x [21] AP I N 5323; FOREIGN PATENTS p o. [22] Filed Sept. 24 1968 1,491,886 7/1967 France 72/263 [45] Patented Aug. 17, 1971 Primary ExaminerCharles W. Lanhiam [73] Assignee Farrel Corporation Assistant ExaminerR. M. Rogers Rochester, N.Y. Attorney-B Edward Shlesinger |54| DIE-(JUANl-ING MECHANISM FOR AN I EXTRUSION PRESS 1 ABSTRACT: The die is held m 3X13]. alignment withthe billet 5 chimszbrawing Figs container durmgextrusron by a reciprocable die slide and a cooperating locking member. The die slide has a U-shaped [52] US. Cl 72/263 pocket in one end f releasably holding h die carrier and its Cl s Bzlc 23/00 supporting bolster. The locking member is adapted to engage [50] Field of Search 72/263 in a peripheral groove in the die cal-rigen To Change a die the lockin member is disen a ed and the die slide is moved [56] References Cited laterall y to a position wher e 5 pivotable receptacle can engage UNITED STATES PATENTS the carrier. The receptacle is then pivoted to lift the carrier 3,] 16,833 1/1964 Vogel 72/263 out of the pocket in the slide, and swing it to a position where 3,385,090 5/1968 Walker.. 72/263 the carrier and die can readily be lifted out of the receptacle. 3,391,564 7/1968 Linnerz 72/263 X For greater convenience two receptacles may be provided that 3,465,565 9/1969 Groos.... 72/263 are movable axially along their common pivotal axis so that a 3,175,384 3/1965 Groos.... 72/263 X new die can be loaded in one receptacle while the previously 2,963,151 12/1960 Kent 72/263 used die is being removed from the other receptacle.

PAIENFEB mm 1 new SHEET 1 OF 2 ROBERT K. VALKS PAIENTED mm 1 m1 SHEU 0F 2 ROBERT K. VALKS KTIJRNEY DIE-CIIANGING MECHANISM FOR AN EXTRUSION PRESS This invention relates to extrusion presses, and more particularly to a mechanism for changing dies in an extrusion press.

During extrusion, the die is held in axial alignment with the billet container. In known presses to change the die, a slide, on which the die carrier is mounted, is actuated to move the die carrier from center position to a position at one side of the press where the die can be more conveniently removed from the press and replaced.

The primary object of this invention is to provide means for moving a die carrier to a more convenient location for removal of a die and substitution of another die.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the nature which will minimize handling during die changing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel diechanging mechanism of the type described, which may readily be automated to automatically remove one die from a press and replace it with another. l A more specific object of this invention is to provide a novel die changing mechanism capable of handling a plurality of dies, so that one die can be removed from a die slide and immediately replaced by another.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanyi ng drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of an extrusion press made in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, parts thereof being cut away and shown in section; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1 and looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

In the drawings 22 denotes the conventional end platen, 23 designates the conventional main tie bolts (FIG. .2) and 24 denotes the usual container housing of an extrusion press. Housing 24 is mounted in usual manner on rods 25 (FIG. 2) for reciprocable movement parallel to the tie bolts 23.

20 denotes generally a die slide assembly for the press. This assembly 20 comprises a die slide 30, which is mounted on

guide brackets

32 and 34 for rectilinear sliding movement on the face of the platen 22 transversely of the axis of the container in housing 24. Slide is reciprocated by a piston which is connected to the slide 30 by piston rod 42 and coupling 43. Piston 40 reciprocates in a cylinder 36, which is mounted by bracket 38 on platen 22.

Removably seated coaxially in an arcuate or U-shaped pocket 45 in slide 30 are a cylindrical die carrier 46, and the supporting bolster 48 (FIG. 1 The forward'end of the carrier (lower end in FIG. 1) projects axially beyond the corresponding end of the pocket. Die carrier 46 has an axial bore 47 in which a die (not illustrated) is adapted to be secured in the usual manner. Pocket 45 faces diagonally upwardly and toward the left in FIG. 2, so that the carrier 46 and the associated bolster 48 may be inserted into, or withdrawn from, the pocket radially as indicated by the arrows 49 in FIG. 2.

Mounted for sliding movement on slide 30 radially of carrier 46 isa yoke-shaped locking collar or gate 52, which has a tongue53 that engages in a groove 56 formed in the periphery of die carrier 46 coaxially thereof, thereby to secure the die carrier against axial movement in pocket 45.

Locking member 52 is secured to a pair of spaced, parallel operating rods 58 and 59, which extend slidably through die slide 30 and are secured to a crossplate 64. Crossplate 64 is fastened to the piston rod 62 of a piston (not illustrated) which reciprocates in a cylinder 60 that is mounted to project laterally from slide 30.

Fixed at one end in the platen 22 at the side thereof remote from cylinder 36, and projecting from the face of the platen parallel to the main tie bolts 23 and to the axis of the container I housing- 24, is a shaft 66. Mounted beneath and parallel to shaft 66 is a second shaft 67 (FIG. 2), opposite ends of which are fixed in spaced brackets 68 that are welded to an l-beam 69 that extends along the bottom of the press at one side thereof.

Shafts 66 and 67 support a die changing mechanism 70, comprising a pair of spaced, parallel arms 72 and 73, which are pivotally mounted on a sleeve or bushing 74 (FIG. 2) that is mounted for axial sliding movement on shaft 66. At their free, or right-hand ends as illustrated in the drawings, the arms 72 and 73 carry identical, generally arcuate or U-shaped shoes or

receptacles

76 and 77, respectively, which are integral with the respective arm 72, 73. Medially of its ends each

shoe

76, 77 is formed with an arcuate groove 78, disposed between

arcuate flanges

79 and 80. In each shoe the flange 79 projects in a radial direction slightly beyond the adjacent flange 80, and has a chamfered lower end 79', which registers with a like end 80' on flange 80.

Remote from the

shoes

76 and 77, arms 72 and 73 have projections 82 and 83, respectively, which are pivotally connected by a shaft 81 and a link 85 to the upper end of a piston rod 86. The piston (not illustrated), that actuates rod 86, is housed in a cylinder 87, which is pivotally connected at its lower end by pin 88 to a collar 89 that is carried by a bushing or sleeve 90, that is axially slidable on shaft 67.

Secured at their lower ends to opposite ends of the sleeve 90, and adjacent their upper ends to opposite ends of the sleeve 74, are two, spaced, parallel plates or webs 92, 93. Adjustably secured in a crossbar 95, which extends between the upper ends of the plates 92 and 93 are two, adjustable stops 96, the lower ends of which overlie the projections 82 and 83 on the arms 72 and 73, respectively. The bolts 96 can be adjusted to limit pivotal movement of the arms 72 and 73 clockwise (FIG. 2) about the axis of shaft 66.

Arms 72 and 73 are separated by a spacer 97; and end plates 92 and 93 are separated from arms 72 or 73, respectively, by further spacers 98. The spacers are mounted on sleeve 74. Beneath shaft 66 the end plates 92 and 93 are further secured in spaced relation to one another by a reinforcing plate 99 (FIG. 2), opposite sides of which are bolted or otherwise secured to the confronting faces of end plates 92 and 93.

Secured to the side of platen 22 to the rear of the die-changing mechanism 70 is a cylinder 1104 (FIG. l). The rod 1105 (FIG. 2) of a piston (not shown), which reciprocates in this cylinder, is secured at its outer end by a plate 106 (FIG. 2) to the rear face of plate 92 approximately medially of the upper and lower ends thereof. Cylinder 104 is mounted so that piston rod 105 reciprocates parallel to shafts 66 and 67, thereby to impart reciprocable motion to the mechanism 70 axially of these shafts.

Normally die slide 30 is positioned, as illustrated in the drawings, so that the die carrier 46 registers axially with the main ram of the press; and the locking member 52 is engaged in groove 56 in carrier 46 to hold the carrier against axial movement relative to the bolster assembly 48. Also, the piston rod 86 (FIG. 2) normally is in its retracted position, so that arms 72 and 73 are held in retracted positions. The piston rod 105, too, is in its retracted position, so that the die-changing mechanism 70 is located on the shafts 66 and 67 immediately adjacent to platen 22, that is, in its solid line position in FIG. 1. In this position flange 80 of shoe 77 will register axially with groove 84 in carrier 46.

When it is desired to change dies piston rod 86 is actuated to cause arms 72 and 73 to pivot (clockwise in FIG. 2) downwardly from their inoperative positions (indicated in dash lines in FIG. 2) to their operative positions (shown in solid lines). The piston in cylinder 60 is now actuated to move crossmember 64 towards the right in FIG. ll, thereby to retract the locking member 52, and to disengage the member 52 from the die carrier 46. Simultaneously piston 40 is actuated to advance the die slide 30 toward the left in FIGS. 1 and 2 far enough to cause the projecting end of carrier 46 to be pushed over the

chamfered ends

79 and 80 of the shoe 77 until the flange on the carrier 46 drops into the registering recess 78 in the shoe 77, and the flange 80 on the shoe enters the an i groove 84 on the carrier 46 between the flange 110, and a furtherflange 112 formed on the carrier between

grooves

56 and 84. I

The piston rod 86 is then retracted, causing arms 72 and 73 to be pivoted upwardly. This pivotal movement of the shoe 77 causes the carrier 46 to be swung out of the U-shaped slot 45 in the slide 30 upwardly from the broken line position at 46' in FIG. 2 to its inactive position illustrated'at 46" (FIG. 2) by broken lines. In this position the carrier can be removed from the shoe 77 and replaced by another, if desired. I

In use, it is preferred to employ two horseshoe-shaped :

receptacles

76, 77, and there may always be a new die in receptacle 76. As soon as the old carrier 46 has been swung into its inactive position (46'. then, the piston in cylinder 104 may be actuated to advance its rod 105 axially, thereby shifting mechanism 70 to the position shown inpart by broken lines in FIG. 1, and causing arm 72 and its shoe 76 to be shifted axially to the positions that were previously occupied v by the arm 73 and its shoe 77. The piston in cylinder 87 is now once again energized to advance its rod 86 upwardly, thus causing the arms 72 and 73 to be pivoted downwardly from retracted to transfer positions.

This downward pivotal movement of the arm 72 will cause the new die carrier to be deposited in the pocket 45 in slide 30 adjacenttobolster assembly 48. The piston in cylinder 60 is now again actuated to shift locking member 52 toward the left in FIGS; 1 and 2 into locking engagement with the recess 56 in the newly deposited carrier 46. This locks the new die carrier in slide 30, so that the piston in cylinder 36 can now be actuated to retract die slide 30 away from shoe 76, back to its extrusion position as illustrated in full lines in the drawings. Since during this retraction of slide 30, member 52 is in locking position, the new die carrier 46 will be drawn out of the shoe 76, and into registry with the main ram of the press. The piston in cylinder 87 may then again be energized to retract its rod 86 and swing the arms 72 and 73 to their retracted positions.

The die carrier previously removed from the press by shoe 77 can then be replaced by a new carrier and die.

When it is next decided to change the die, the arms 72 and 73 will again be swung to their transfer positions. This time the die slide 30 will deposit the die carrier, which is to be lrcmoved, into the now-registering shoe 76, which will thereafter be elevated to retracted position for removal of the die and its carrier The piston in cylinder 104 is then actuated to retract rod 105 to shift the die changing mechanism 70 back to its full line position (FIG. 1), after which the arms 72, 73 may be pivoted downwardly to deposit the new die carrier and die from the shoe 77 into the die slide 30.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a relatively simple and compact mechanism for exchanging dies in extrusion presses has been provided. Moreover, this novel mechanism avoids unnecessary shutdown time during the changing of a die.

While in the embodiment illustrated the arms 72 and 73 are mounted to be pivoted in unison about sleeve 74 by means of a vention following,'in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A die-changing mechanism for an extrusion press which is provided with a container housing, comprising a die slide having thereon at one end thereof an arcuateshaped pocket for holding a die carrier,

a transfer member having thereon'a single one-piece pocket forming an arcuate-shaped surface for holding a die carrier, the pocket in said transfer member confronting the pocket in said slide,

means for moving said transfer member onthe press into and out of a transfer position,

means for reciprocating said slide to move said carrier from a position of axial alignment with said container and into axial alignment with said transfer member,

means on said slide to engage and effect transfer of a die carrier in a direction radially of the axes of said pockets from said transfer member to said slide, when said slide and transfer members are in transfer positions and the transfer member is carrying a die carrier, upon movement of said slide away from transfer position to effect transfer of the carrier into axial alignment with the container, and

means on said transfer member to engage and transfer a die carrier radially of the axes of said pockets from said slide to said transfer member, when said slide and transfer member are in transfer positions and the slide is carrying a die carrier, upon movement of said transfer member away from transfer position.

2. A die-changing mechanism for an extrusion press, comprising a rectilinearly reciprocable die slide having therein at one end thereof an arcuate-shaped pocket for housing at least a portion of a die carrier,

a movable transfer member adjacent said slide and having therein a single, one-piece pocket forming an arcuateshaped surface confronting the pocket of said slide for housing at least another portion of said carrier,

means mounting said slide and said transfer member on the press for movement into and out of transfer positions in which said pockets register coaxially with one another, and

means for releasably securing said carrier selectively in said pockets, and operative, when said slide and said member are withdrawn from their transfer positions, selectively to effect transfer of said carrier in a direction radially of the axes of said pockets from said slide to said transfer member, and vice versa.

3. A die-changing mechanism as defined in claim 2, wherein said means for securing the carrier in the pocket of said slide comprises a locking member relative to said slide and in paralsingle cylinder 87 and rod 86, it will be apparent that the arms could be mounted for pivotal movement by gearing, or for pivotal movement independently of one another on sleeve 74, as for example, by two separate cylinders similar to cylinder 87. Both such cylinders, of course, would be mounted for axial shifting movement with the mechanism 70 on shafts 66 and 67. Moreover, the cylinder 104 may be actuated selectively to shift mechanism 70 in'any desired manner. For example, if desired, the cylinder 104 may be actuated to return mechanism 70 to its full line position (FIG. 1) adjacent the platen 22 each time the empty shoe 76 is returned upwardly to its inactive position following the deposit of a new carrier 46 in the slide 30.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood, then, that it is capable of furthermodification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the inlelism thereto between a locking position, in which it engages said carrier to secure the carrier releasably in the pocket of said slide, and a released position in which it is disengaged from the carrier to permit movement of the carrier selectively out of said slide pocket 4. A die-changing mechanism as defined in claim 3, wherein said carrier has at least one integral peripheral projection on it, and the other of said pockets has a recess in it selectively to receive said projection, thereby to secure the carrier releasably in said other pocket, said carrier projects at opposite ends thereof into said pockets, in said slide and transfer member, respectively, when said slide and said transfer member are in their transfer positions, said locking member projects into the pocket of said slide to engage and prevent movement of said carrier therefrom, when said locking member is in its locking position,

the weight of said carrier is operative to hold the projection on said carrier releasably in the recess in said other pocket,'thereby to prevent accidental removal of said carrier from said other pocket during movement thereof into and out of its transfer position, and

wherein said mounting means comprises means for reciprocating said slide horizontally, and operable, when said transfer member is in its transfer position and said locking member is in its locking position, selectively to advance a carrier into, and to withdraw it from the pocket in said transfer member, and

means for pivoting said transfer member about an axis transverse to the path of reciprocation of said slide, and operative, when said slide is in its transfer position, ans said locking member is in its released position, selectively to advance a carrier into, and to withdraw it from, the pocket in said slide. 5. A die-changing mechanism as defined in claim 4, including

Claims

1. A die-changing mechanism for an extrusion press which is provided with a container housing, comprising a die slide having thereon at one end thereof an arcuate-shaped pocket for holding a die carrier, a transfer member having thereon a single one-piece pocket forming an arcuate-shaped surface for holding a die carrier, the pocket in said transfer member confronting the pocket in said slide, means for moving said transfer member on the press into and out of a transfer position, means for reciprocating said slide to move said carrier from a position of axial alignment with said container and into axial alignment with said transfer member, means on said slide to engage and effect transfer of a die carrier in a direction radially of the axes of said pockets from said transfer member to said slide, when said slide and transfer members are in transfer positions and the transfer member is carrying a die carrier, upon movement of said slide away from transfer position to effect transfer of the carrier into axial alignment with the container, and means on said transfer member to engage and transfer a die carrier radially of the axes of said pockets from said slide to said transfer member, when said slide and transfer member are in transfer positions and the slide is carrying a die carrier, upon movement of said transfer member away from transfer position.

2. A die-changing mechanism for an extrusion press, coMprising a rectilinearly reciprocable die slide having therein at one end thereof an arcuate-shaped pocket for housing at least a portion of a die carrier, a movable transfer member adjacent said slide and having therein a single, one-piece pocket forming an arcuate-shaped surface confronting the pocket of said slide for housing at least another portion of said carrier, means mounting said slide and said transfer member on the press for movement into and out of transfer positions in which said pockets register coaxially with one another, and means for releasably securing said carrier selectively in said pockets, and operative, when said slide and said member are withdrawn from their transfer positions, selectively to effect transfer of said carrier in a direction radially of the axes of said pockets from said slide to said transfer member, and vice versa.

3. A die-changing mechanism as defined in claim 2, wherein said means for securing the carrier in the pocket of said slide comprises a locking member relative to said slide and in parallelism thereto between a locking position, in which it engages said carrier to secure the carrier releasably in the pocket of said slide, and a released position in which it is disengaged from the carrier to permit movement of the carrier selectively out of said slide pocket

4. A die-changing mechanism as defined in claim 3, wherein said carrier has at least one integral peripheral projection on it, and the other of said pockets has a recess in it selectively to receive said projection, thereby to secure the carrier releasably in said other pocket, said carrier projects at opposite ends thereof into said pockets, in said slide and transfer member, respectively, when said slide and said transfer member are in their transfer positions, said locking member projects into the pocket of said slide to engage and prevent movement of said carrier therefrom, when said locking member is in its locking position, the weight of said carrier is operative to hold the projection on said carrier releasably in the recess in said other pocket, thereby to prevent accidental removal of said carrier from said other pocket during movement thereof into and out of its transfer position, and wherein said mounting means comprises means for reciprocating said slide horizontally, and operable, when said transfer member is in its transfer position and said locking member is in its locking position, selectively to advance a carrier into, and to withdraw it from the pocket in said transfer member, and means for pivoting said transfer member about an axis transverse to the path of reciprocation of said slide, and operative, when said slide is in its transfer position, ans said locking member is in its released position, selectively to advance a carrier into, and to withdraw it from, the pocket in said slide.

5. A die-changing mechanism as defined in claim 4, including a second transfer member identical to the first-named transfer member pivoted on a common axis with said first-named transfer member, and means mounting said transfer members for movement axially in the direction of the pivotal axis of said transfer members and selectively into an operative position in which the pocket of the transfer member registers with the pocket in said slide, when the transfer member and said slide are moved to their transfer positions.