In a transport apparatus for transferring workpieces in a multi-station forming device, gripping tools are arranged on a gripping tool support which is movable back and forth between the stations of the forming device. The gripping tools are each assigned a gripping tool drive, which is arranged on the gripping tool support, for individual operation of the gripping tools for gripping or releasing a workpiece. The gripping tools each have two tong arms which are movable linearly towards one another and away from one another by means of the respective gripping tool drive. The gripping tool drives are each configured to be electrically or hydraulically servo-controlled.

In a transport method for transferring workpieces between a plurality of successive stations of a processing device, especially a forming device, workpieces are in each case transported from one station to the respective next station of the processing device simultaneously by means of a plurality of gripping tools which are movable jointly in a transport cycle. In the event of a process disturbance, the transport cycle is suspended and the gripping tools with the workpieces are moved into a waiting position in which the workpieces are outside the operating range of processing tools of the stations of the processing device. Once the process disturbance has been eliminated, the transport cycle of the workpieces is resumed. By virtue of the movement of the gripping tools into a safe waiting position outside the operating range of the processing tools of the stations, consequent damage resulting from the process disturbance can be prevented.

In a transport method for transferring workpieces between a plurality of successive stations of a processing device, especially a forming device, workpieces are in each case transported from one station to the respective next station of the processing device simultaneously by means of a plurality of gripping tools which are movable jointly in a transport cycle. In the event of a process disturbance, the transport cycle is suspended and the gripping tools with the workpieces are moved into a waiting position in which the workpieces are outside the operating range of processing tools of the stations of the processing device. Once the process disturbance has been eliminated, the transport cycle of the workpieces is resumed. By virtue of the movement of the gripping tools into a safe waiting position outside the operating range of the processing tools of the stations, consequent damage resulting from the process disturbance can be prevented.

A steering yoke cutting equipment with automatic transporting system which comprising a blanking press machine for cutting the yoke, a yoke input mechanism, intermediate transporting mechanism and a yoke output mechanism. The intermediate transporting mechanism which comprising a guide track, two sliding pieces slidably mounted the guide track, sliding piece cylinder, two sets of mechanical hands respectively fix mounted on the two sliding pieces; the yoke input mechanism and the yoke output mechanism are respectively arranged at two end of the intermediate transporting mechanism.

In a method for producing a ring-shaped formed part, by means of a forming device first of all a ring of smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the formed part being produced is formed from a blank in various forming stages. The ring is then expanded to the cross-sectional dimensions of the formed part being produced. The expansion of the ring is effected in an expansion stage of the forming device by means of a die and an expansion punch, where the ring is arranged in the die and the expansion punch is pressed into the ring in the axial direction and thereby expands the ring. The expansion of the ring is effected in two or more steps. In that way, excessive material stresses and any resulting material damage can be avoided.

A progressive cold forming machine and a robot for automatically changing a cutoff cassette, tooling cassettes, a transfer slide and transfer cam. A loading area adjacent the machine and robot has provisions for supporting a tooling cassette pallet and a transfer slide and camshaft pallet and a holding area for temporarily receiving some of the componentry being exchanged.

A progressive cold forming machine and a robot for automatically changing a cutoff cassette, tooling cassettes, a transfer slide and transfer cam. A loading area adjacent the machine and robot has provisions for supporting a tooling cassette pallet and a transfer slide and camshaft pallet and a holding area for temporarily receiving some of the componentry being exchanged.

An apparatus to produce a self-piercing and clinch nut includes a first forging die assembly, a second forging die assembly, a third forging die assembly, a transfer mechanism, and a controller. The first forging die assembly subjects a blank to first processing. The second forging die assembly is adjacent to the first forging die assembly, and subjects the blank, which has undergone the first processing in the first forging die assembly, to second processing. The third forging die assembly is adjacent to the second forging die assembly, and subjects the blank, which has undergone the second processing in the second forging die assembly, to third processing. The transfer mechanism transfers the blank between two adjacent forging die assemblies among the first to third forging die assemblies. The controller controls operations of the first to third forging die assemblies and the transfer mechanism.

An apparatus to produce a self-piercing and clinch nut includes a first forging die assembly, a second forging die assembly, a third forging die assembly, a transfer mechanism, and a controller. The first forging die assembly subjects a blank to first processing. The second forging die assembly is adjacent to the first forging die assembly, and subjects the blank, which has undergone the first processing in the first forging die assembly, to second processing. The third forging die assembly is adjacent to the second forging die assembly, and subjects the blank, which has undergone the second processing in the second forging die assembly, to third processing. The transfer mechanism transfers the blank between two adjacent forging die assemblies among the first to third forging die assemblies. The controller controls operations of the first to third forging die assemblies and the transfer mechanism.

A steering yoke cutting equipment with automatic transporting system which comprising a blanking press machine for cutting the yoke, a yoke input mechanism, intermediate transporting mechanism and a yoke output mechanism. The intermediate transporting mechanism which comprising a guide track, two sliding pieces slidably mounted the guide track, sliding piece cylinder, two sets of mechanical hands respectively fix mounted on the two sliding pieces; the yoke input mechanism and the yoke output mechanism are respectively arranged at two end of the intermediate transporting mechanism.