The National Machinery Company

Gene E Allebach

William H Hite

Robert E Wisebaker

Dennis N Roush

A thread rolling machine in which the dies are monitored for a mismatch condition by a proximity sensor responsive to displacement of the moveable die in a direction parallel to the axis of the workpiece. This displacement, which occurs when a mismatch condition exists, is permitted by the running clearances in the slide carrying the moveable die. When more than a negligible displacement occurs, corrective action can be taken to reject out of specification workpieces and to adjust the relative positions of the dies to maintain them in a matched condition.

Thread rolling monitor

A progressive former having quick-change tooling provides tooling supports with means for adjusting the tools. The tooling is mounted so that the tooling and the structure for adjusting the tooling can be removed as units without loss of the fine-tuning of the adjustments and so that reinstallation does not require readjustment of the tooling. A transfer also provides adjustable cams for opening and closing gripper fingers which transport workpieces from one work station to the next. The adjustable cams are removable with the dies as units and can be reinstalled without further fine-tune adjustment. With the invention, entire tool sets can be changed in a very short time to eliminate loss of production capacity of the machine. Similar sized machines are provided with a fixed spacing between the locating surfaces for the stationary dies and the reciprocating tools so that tool sets having adjustments fine-tuned in one machine can be installed in a similar machine without further retuning of the adjustments.

Method of producing forging machines

Method for providing progressive formers with quick-change tooling

Quick-change tooling for progressive formers and the like

A thread rolling monitoring system in which one or more signal generating devices is provided in the mounting system of the stationary die of a pair of thread rolling dies. A sensor develops a signal which is a function of the reaction forces in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the workpiece being threaded. The signal provides a running indication of the match or mismatch of the dies, as well as other conditions of improper operation. The signal is used to control the operation of the machine and to separate improperly formed parts as they are produced.

Thread rolling monitoring system

A forging machine transfer is disclosed which is operable in response to transfer movement to turn a gripped workpiece about an axis perpendicular to a plane containing the axis of an elongated workpiece. A single pivoted gripper grips the workpiece against a flat, nonrotating platform and causes the workpiece to slide along such platform as the workpiece is transferred to a subsequent work station. The pivot axis is eccentrically located so that the workpiece is moved toward the die face during transfer to be properly positioned for subsequent working at the delivery position. A pivoted drive linkage provided to produce the rotation is located above the work station to reduce the likelihood of bearing damage resulting from scale or the like. The angle through which the workpiece is rotated can be selected within a range substantially greater than 90 degrees and substantially less than 90 degrees.

Workpiece turning transfer

A transfer for a forging or forming machine is disclosed in which the transfer assembly is journaled for pivotal rotation about an axis midway between adjacent die stations. The transfer fingers are mounted to extend radially from the pivot axis to gripper portions at the distal end. The structure provides a minimum rotational moment of inertia and dynamic imbalance to permit the transfer to operate at higher speeds. An embodiment is disclosed in which a parallelogram type mechanism connects between adjacent transfer assemblies to permit transfer without turning of the workpiece to one station and transfer with turning of the workpiece at another die station. The transfer drive is arranged on the side of the machine remote from the operator's position to provide better operator access to the machine. A simple connection is provided between the transfer and its drive which is automatically disconnected when the transfer is raised and which is reconnected when the transfer is again lowered to the operative position.

Growing community of inventors

Tiffin, OH, United States of America

Gene E Allebach