Forging machine with a workpiece-holding mechanism and a cutting mechanism that are driven by the same driving device

Abstract

A forging machine includes a housing unit fixed on a machine bed and having opposite first and second side portions. A workpiece-holding mechanism and a cutting mechanism are disposed on the first side portion of the housing unit, and are driven by a first driving device which is activated by a second driving device that drives a holder-opening mechanism disposed on the second side portion of the housing unit. An outer shield is disposed to cover the housing unit. A platform is disposed outside the outer shield, and is adjacent to the holder-opening mechanism such that a technician can stand thereon to monitor the forging operation. The workpiece-holding mechanism has a plurality of holders that do not move between a forging module and the platform.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a forging machine, more particularly to a forging machine, which includes a workpiece-holding mechanism and a cutting mechanism that are driven by a driving device disposed on a side of a housing unit.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are respectively schematic top, left and right side views of a conventional forging machine 1 which is employed to cut and forge a linear workpiece 100 to form a plurality of forged products, such as bolts. The conventional forging machine 1 includes a housing unit 10, a power supply 11, a first rotating wheel 12, a second rotating wheel 13, a third rotating wheel 14, a feeding mechanism 15, a cutting mechanism 16, a workpiece-holding mechanism 17, a holder-opening mechanism 18, a discharging mechanism 19, a forging module 20, a platform 21, and an outer shield 22.

[0005] The power supply 11 provides electric power to rotate the first rotating wheel 12. The first rotating wheel 12 is connected to the second rotating wheel 13 in such a manner to transfer rotation therebetween. The third rotating wheel 14 engages the second rotating wheel 13 via a gearing so as to permit rotation transfer therebetween. The third rotating wheel 14 is connected to a fourth rotating wheel 152 by means of a link 141 such that rotation of the third rotating wheel 14 can be transferred to the fourth rotating wheel 152, thereby rotating a plurality of feeding rollers 151 of the feeding mechanism 15. As such, the workpiece 100 is fed into the housing unit 10 by the rollers 151 in a direction indicated by an arrowhead (F) in FIG. 1.

[0006] The cutting mechanism 16 is connected to the second rotating wheel 13 by a link 131 so that the second rotating wheel 13 activates the cutting mechanism 16 to cut the workpiece 100, thereby forming a plurality of workpiece sections.

[0007] The workpiece-holding mechanism 17 includes a plurality of holders (not shown), and is connected to the first rotating wheel 12 by means of a link 121 so that the holders are driven by the first rotating wheel 12 to hold and move the workpiece sections to a plurality of forging dies of the forging module 20. Subsequently, the workpiece sections are forged to form a plurality of forged products. The holder-opening mechanism 18 is driven by the link 121 to open the holders, thereby permitting the release of the forged products from the holders. Finally, the forged products are removed from the housing unit 10 by the discharging mechanism 19.

[0008] The outer shield 22 is disposed to cover the housing unit 10 for increasing aesthetic appearance of the machine 1 and for preventing any interference to the operation of the same. The platform 21 is disposed outside the outer shield 22 so that a technician can stand thereon to monitor the forging process. When the forged products are found to be defective, the technician will adjust some moving parts and/or the forging dies.

[0009] The aforesaid conventional forging machine 1 suffers from the following disadvantage:

[0010] Because the workpiece-holding mechanism 17 and the platform 21 are disposed at the same side of the machine 1, and because the holders of the workpiece-holding mechanism 17 are moved between the forging module 20 and the platform 21, it will be difficult for the technician to see whether the forging dies and the forged products are in good condition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The object of this invention is to provide a forging machine with a workpiece-holding mechanism that is positioned such that a technician can easily monitor the forging operation.

[0012] According to this invention, a forging machine includes a housing unit fixed on a machine bed and having opposite first and second side portions. A workpiece-holding mechanism and a cutting mechanism are disposed on the first side portion of the housing unit, and are driven by a first driving device which is activated by a second driving device that drives a holder-opening mechanism disposed on the second side portion of the housing unit. An outer shield is disposed to cover the housing unit. A platform is disposed outside the outer shield, and is adjacent to the holder-opening mechanism such that a technician can stand thereon to monitor the forging operation. The workpiece-holding mechanism has a plurality of holders that do not move between a forging module and the platform. As such, a technician who stands on the platform can easily monitor the forging operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a conventional forging machine;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic left view of the conventional forging machine;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a schematic right view of the conventional forging machine;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of the preferred embodiment of a forging machine according to this invention;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a schematic left side view of the preferred embodiment; FIG. 6 is a schematic right side view of the preferred embodiment;

[0019] FIG. 7 is a schematic fragmentary side view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating arrangement of a carrier plate relative to a cutting mechanism and a workpiece-holding mechanism;

[0020] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along Line 8-8 in FIG. 5, illustrating how the cutting mechanism is connected to the carrier plate;

[0021] FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along Line 9-9 in FIG. 5, illustrating arrangement of a holder-opening mechanism relative to the workpiece-holding mechanism; and

[0022] FIG. 10 is a schematic top view of the preferred embodiment, which further includes an outer shield and a platform.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] Referring to FIG. 4, the preferred embodiment of a forging machine 3 according to this invention is shown to include a machine bed 31, a feeding mechanism 32, a cutting mechanism 33, a forging module 34, a workpiece-holding mechanism 35, a holder-opening mechanism 36, a discharging mechanism 37, and a carrier plate 4.

[0024] A housing unit 311 is fixed on the machine bed 31, and has a front portion (311F), a rear portion (311R), a left or first side portion (311A), and a right or second side portion (311B). The feeding mechanism 32 is disposed on the front portion (311F) of the housing unit 311. The cutting mechanism 33, the forging module 34 and the workpiece-holding mechanism 35 are disposed on the first side portion (311A) of the housing unit 311. The holder-opening mechanism 36 and the discharging mechanism 37 are disposed on the second side portion (311B) of the housing unit 311.

[0025] A driving unit is disposed on the rear portion (311R) of the housing unit 311, and includes a power supply 312, a first driving device 313, a second driving device 314 and a third driving device 315. The first driving device 313 is disposed on the first side portion (311A) of the housing unit 311. The second driving device 314 is disposed on the second side portion (311B) of the housing unit 311. The third driving device 315 is disposed on the first side portion (311A) of the housing unit 311 under the first driving device 313.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the power supply 312 provides electric power to rotate a rotating wheel (314a) of the second driving device 314, which is disposed rotatably on the housing unit 311. The rotating wheel (314a) is connected fixedly to a gear (313a) of the first driving device 313 by a first rotating shaft (S1) (see FIG. 4) to transfer rotation therebetween. The third driving device 315 includes a gear (315a), which meshes with the gear (313a) of the first driving device 313 so as to transfer rotation therebetween, thereby permitting reciprocal movement of a driving rod (315b) that is connected pivotally to the gear (315a). The reciprocal movement of the driving rod (315b) results in rotation of two gears 321 of the feeding mechanism 32 such that the feeding mechanism 32 feeds a linear workpiece 300 into the housing unit 311 in a direction indicated by an arrowhead (F′) (see FIG. 4).

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 8, the cutting mechanism 33 includes a cutter portion 331 and a sliding base 332 which is connected fixedly to the cutter portion 331 and which is mounted pivotally on a first sliding block 41 that is fixed on the carrier plate 4. A link (313b) has two ends that are connected respectively and pivotally to the carrier plate 4 and the gear (313a) of the first driving device 313. When the carrier plate 4 is activated by the gear (313a) of the first driving device 313 via the link (313b) to reciprocate relative to the housing unit 311, the cutter portion 331 of the cutting mechanism 33 reciprocates relative to the machine bed 31, thereby cutting the workpiece 300 to form a plurality of workpiece sections.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 9, the workpiece-holding mechanism 35 includes a sliding plate 351 disposed slidably on the housing unit 311, a plurality of holders 352 disposed operably on the sliding plate 351, a driving member 353 mounted pivotally on a second sliding block 42 that is disposed fixedly on the carrier plate 4, and a connecting rod 354 (see FIG. 9) connected pivotally to the sliding plate 351 and the driving member 353. As such, when the carrier plate 4 reciprocates, the holders 352 hold and move the workpiece sections to a plurality of forging dies of the forging module 34, in which the workpiece sections are formed into a plurality of forged products.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 4, 6 and 9, the second driving device 314 further includes a sector gear (314b) (see FIG. 6), which is connected fixedly to the gear (315a) of the third driving device 315 by means of a second rotating shaft (S2) so as to rotate synchronously therewith. The sector gear (314b) engages a threaded portion (G) (see FIG. 6) of a driving rod (314c), thereby reciprocating the driving rod (314c) when the sector gear (324b) rotates. The holder-opening mechanism 36 includes a central rotating shaft 361 (see FIG. 9), which is journalled on the housing unit 311 and which is connected to the driving rod (314c) by means of a sector gear 362 (see FIG. 6). When the driving rod (314c) reciprocates, the central rotating shaft 361 rotates so as to activate a plurality of cam and follower assemblies (not shown), which drive the holders 352, thereby releasing the forged products from the holders 352. Finally, the forged products are removed from the housing unit 311 by the discharging mechanism 37 that is driven by the driving rod (314c).

[0030] Because the cutting and forging operations of the machine 1 are not pertinent to the scope of this invention, a detailed description of the same will be omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 10, an outer shield 5 is disposed to cover the housing unit 311 for increasing aesthetic appearance of the machine 3 and for preventing any interference to the forging operation. In addition, a platform 51 is disposed outside the outer shield 5, and is adjacent to the holder-opening mechanism 36 such that a technician can stand thereon to monitor the forging operation.

[0032] Because the holders 352 (see FIG. 9) of the workpiece-holding mechanism 35 will not move between the forging module 34 and the platform 51, the technician can easily observe whether the forging dies and/or the forged products are in good condition.

[0033] Furthermore, because the workpiece-holding mechanism 35 is disposed adjacent to the cutting mechanism 33, the production rate of the machine 3 can be increased significantly. It has been proven that the production rate of the machine 3 is about 320 pieces/minute, which is much higher than that of prior art that is about 180 pieces/minute.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, a counterweight (314d) is attached to the rotating wheel (314a) of the second driving device 314 so as to stabilize rotation of the rotating wheel (314a), thereby reducing vibration of the machine 3.

[0035] With this invention thus explained, it is apparent the numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that this invention be limited only as indicated by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A forging machine comprising: a machine bed with a fixed housing unit that has a front portion, a rear portion, and opposite first and second side portions; a driving unit disposed on said rear portion of said housing unit and including a first driving device that is disposed on said first side portion of said housing unit, a second driving device that is disposed on said second side portion of said housing unit, and a third driving device that is disposed on said first side portion of said housing unit; a feeding mechanism disposed on said front portion of said housing unit and driven by said third driving device so as to be adapted to feed a linear workpiece into said housing unit; a cutting mechanism driven by said first driving device so as to be adapted to cut the workpiece to form a plurality of workpiece sections; a forging module disposed on said housing unit and adapted to forge the workpiece sections; a workpiece-holding mechanism including a sliding plate that is disposed movably on said housing unit and that is driven by said first driving device, and a plurality of holders that are disposed operably on said sliding plate and that are adapted to hold and move the workpiece sections to said forging module, thereby subsequently forming a plurality of forged products; a holder-opening mechanism including a central rotating shaft that is journalled on said housing unit and that is rotated by said second driving device so as to be adapted to release the forged products from said holders; and a discharging mechanism adapted to remove the forged products from said housing unit.

2. The forging machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said driving unit further includes a power supply that is disposed on said rear portion of said housing unit, said second driving device including: a rotating wheel disposed rotatably on said housing unit and driven by said power supply to activate said first and third driving devices; and a counterweight attached to said rotating wheel so as to stabilize rotation of said rotating wheel.