A press frame assembly includes a base plate, a load cell, and an overload protection element; a first plate, a plurality of guideposts disposed on the base plate; a plurality of springs disposed on the plurality of guideposts, a displacement transducer arranged to monitor a linear displacement of the first plate, and a controller, in communication with the load cell and the displacement transducer. The first plate is disposed to translate on the plurality of guideposts, and wherein the springs are disposed to urge movement of the first plate in relation to the base plate. The load cell is arranged to monitor a load exerted upon the base plate. The controller generates a signal that is based upon the load exerted upon the base plate or the linear displacement of the first plate in relation to the base plate.

A manually operated press comprising an actuating member coupled to a shaft, wherein an actuation of the actuating member is converted into a stroke movement of a press ram coupled to the shaft, and hence also into a change in a relative position of the press ram. The press furthermore comprises a reset mechanism for resetting the actuating member, which reset mechanism counteracts the actuation of the actuating member and causes a return movement of the press ram opposite the stroke movement. The reset mechanism comprises a spiral spring.

A manually operated press comprising an actuating member coupled to a shaft, wherein an actuation of the actuating member is converted into a stroke movement of a press ram coupled to the shaft, and hence also into a change in a relative position of the press ram. The press furthermore comprises a reset mechanism for resetting the actuating member, which reset mechanism counteracts the actuation of the actuating member and causes a return movement of the press ram opposite the stroke movement. The reset mechanism comprises a spiral spring.

A safety power assist for a manual press is provided. In another aspect, a press includes a tool, a manual actuator, a switch and an automatically powered actuator. A further aspect of the present press employs a spring which must be compressed beyond a predetermined pinching force before a switch is activated, where switch activation causes an automatically powered actuator to advance a workpiece-contacting punch or tool.

A slide motion control apparatus for a mechanical press comprising: a slide which is disposed so as to be relatively vertically movable with respect to a driven body to which a drive force is transmitted through a con rod of the mechanical press; a relative position commander that outputs a relative position command indicating a relative position of the slide with respect to the driven body; a relative position detector that detects a relative position of the slide with respect to the driven body, and outputs a relative position detecting signal indicating the detected relative position; a servomotor; a drive mechanism that relatively moves the slide with respect to the driven body by a drive force of the servomotor; and a controller that controls the servomotor based on a relative position command signal output from the relative position commander, and the relative position detecting signal output from the relative position detector.

A slide motion control apparatus for a mechanical press comprising: a slide which is disposed so as to be relatively vertically movable with respect to a driven body to which a drive force is transmitted through a con rod of the mechanical press; a relative position commander that outputs a relative position command indicating a relative position of the slide with respect to the driven body; a relative position detector that detects a relative position of the slide with respect to the driven body, and outputs a relative position detecting signal indicating the detected relative position; a servomotor; a drive mechanism that relatively moves the slide with respect to the driven body by a drive force of the servomotor; and a controller that controls the servomotor based on a relative position command signal output from the relative position commander, and the relative position detecting signal output from the relative position detector.

A slide motion control apparatus for a mechanical press comprising: a slide which is disposed so as to be relatively vertically movable with respect to a driven body to which a drive force is transmitted through a con rod of the mechanical press; a relative position commander that outputs a relative position command indicating a relative position of the slide with respect to the driven body; a relative position detector that detects a relative position of the slide with respect to the driven body, and outputs a relative position detecting signal indicating the detected relative position; a servomotor; a drive mechanism that relatively moves the slide with respect to the driven body by a drive force of the servomotor; and a controller that controls the servomotor based on a relative position command signal output from the relative position commander, and the relative position detecting signal output from the relative position detector.

A slide motion control apparatus for a mechanical press comprising: a slide which is disposed so as to be relatively vertically movable with respect to a driven body to which a drive force is transmitted through a con rod of the mechanical press; a relative position commander that outputs a relative position command indicating a relative position of the slide with respect to the driven body; a relative position detector that detects a relative position of the slide with respect to the driven body, and outputs a relative position detecting signal indicating the detected relative position; a servomotor; a drive mechanism that relatively moves the slide with respect to the driven body by a drive force of the servomotor; and a controller that controls the servomotor based on a relative position command signal output from the relative position commander, and the relative position detecting signal output from the relative position detector.

A collection apparatus weight and fullness level reporting system includes: an inlet; a removable collection bin receiving material placed into the collection apparatus; a compacting mechanism including a ram body, wherein the ram body travels between a home position located above the collection bin to a maximum travel position located inside the collection bin, wherein during each compaction cycle the ram body travels along a variable length of the compaction path; a fullness-reporting module that determines the height of the material in the collection bin; and a controller that determines the length of the compaction path the ram body travels during each compaction cycle based on the input received from the fullness reporting module, wherein at the end of each compaction cycle in which the material height is below a maximum height, the ram body is brought to rest at a height below the home position.

A collection apparatus weight and fullness level reporting system includes: an inlet; a removable collection bin receiving material placed into the collection apparatus; a compacting mechanism including a ram body, wherein the ram body travels between a home position located above the collection bin to a maximum travel position located inside the collection bin, wherein during each compaction cycle the ram body travels along a variable length of the compaction path; a fullness-reporting module that determines the height of the material in the collection bin; and a controller that determines the length of the compaction path the ram body travels during each compaction cycle based on the input received from the fullness reporting module, wherein at the end of each compaction cycle in which the material height is below a maximum height, the ram body is brought to rest at a height below the home position.