The present invention relates to a device for automatically adjusting control cams in a forging machine.
As is known, in forging machines for cold forging metal workpieces, are conventionally used grippers which can be opened and closed in a controlled manner, to provide an automatized transfer of the workpieces from a forging station to another forging station. The grippers are opened by gripper operating control cams supported by a rotary shaft.
For changing the production mode of operation of the machine, for example to make workpieces of different shapes, it is necessary to adjust the angular positions of the above mentioned cams, to properly fit them to the opening and closing movement of the workpiece transfer grippers.
At present, the above mentioned adjustment of the control cams, in the most part of metal workpiece forging machines, is manually performed by a machine operator and, to that end, the machine operator must sometime access the space between the punches and dies of the machines, which is a disadvantageous position from an ergonomic standpoint.
A device for automatically adjusting control cams controlling the opening and closing movements of the transfer grippers in a forging machine of the above mentioned type is already known. Such prior mechanism, however, comprises several mechanical components and auxiliary devices, thereby the prior machine is subjected to undesirable mechanical malfunctions, related to the opening, respectively closing, of the workpiece transfer grippers.
Accordingly, the aim of the invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks affecting the prior art and provide simple means allowing to accurately and automatically adjust the control cams used for opening respectively closing the workpiece transfer grippers.
According to the present invention, the above aim is achieved by a device for automatically adjusting control cams in a forging machine, including means for releasing an operating position of said cams, in which a cam supporting shaft swingably supports, and with a controlled movement with respect to the shaft longitudinal axis, radially extending brackets, said brackets supporting a bar extending through the overall length of said control cam supporting shaft and in which, moreover, at each said control cam, said bar comprises cylinder-piston unit including movable pins which can be engaged with recesses formed in said cams.
Further advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the dependent claims, the following disclosure and the accompanying drawings.
The subject matter according to the present invention will be disclosed in a more detailed manner hereinafter with reference to an exemplary embodiment thereof, shown in the accompanying drawings, where:
As shown in
Said cylinder-piston unit 5, in particular, are so designed as to carry a plurality of pins 6 from a rest position, shown in
The cylinder-piston units 5 are mounted on a bar 8, extending in parallel to the shaft 3, and which is supported by brackets 30, through gears 9, 9′, a controllable driving mechanism 10 allowing to drive the bar 8 with a swinging movement with respect to the axis X of the main shaft 3.
The body 16 locking under preload the cup springs 15 is operatively coupled to a cylinder-piston unit 17 allowing to neutralize the operation of the cup springs.
A plurality of springs M operate to provide an axial pushing force on the cams, said force being sufficient to prevent said cams from being accidentally displaced as the angular position thereof is adjusted.
Advantageously, the driving motor 10 is associated with a control means 20, for example an encoder or like control element, thereby controlling the driving motor 10 and accordingly the movement transmitted to the can driving gear 9.
During the automatic adjustment of the cam 2, the cam supporting shaft 3 is restrained to the mechanical driving elements.
After having adjusted said cams 2, the cam supporting shaft 3 will perform a low speed full revolution, to verify a proper correspondence between the actual position of each individual cam 2 and a set position thereof.
To that end, each cam 2 comprises a position sensor P (see
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
MI2007A0269 | Feb 2007 | IT | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4344312 | Flamme et al. | Aug 1982 | A |
5666838 | Dudick et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
5732589 | McClellan et al. | Mar 1998 | A |
6446479 | Garlaschi | Sep 2002 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20080202194 A1 | Aug 2008 | US |