Steel stock cutting

Abstract

A shearing assembly and method of effecting shearing utilizing the same. Any tendency of further the edges of steel stock being cut to roll is eliminated by providing a male die cutting blade (which cooperates with a female die) having a pair of shelf members, one associated with each cutting blade side face, for engaging the edge of material being sheared during the shearing operation. An actuator element is operatively connected to the male die for moving the cutting blade in a given linear direction, the rolling preventing being accomplished by providing a control structure for positively controlling the length of the stroke of the actuator element and attached cutting blades so that at the limit of travel of the cutting blade in the given linear direction the shelf members are spaced apart from the female die a distance corresponding to the thickness of material being sheared. A plurality of die groups are mounted on a rotating wheel. The wheel has an open side and any of the materials severed during cutting passes through a chute to the open wheel side so that it moves away from interfering engagement with the male and female dies. The male and female die groups are readily releasably mounted to the wheel, and rotate into operative engagement with the actuating element. The male dies will not become detached from the male-female die groups during rotation of the wheel because of particular stop members associated therewith.