Adjustable clamshell press

Abstract

A clamshell die cutting press (10) that can transition between an opening of three inches and 0.937 and anywhere in between without the requirement of filler plates. This is accomplished by attaching the connecting rod or arm (20) that extends between the fixed platen (14) and the movable platen (16) to the fixed platen through an eccentric bevel gear (26). The bevel gear (26) is driven by an electric motor (28) which allows the adjustment to be made with a push of a button, and by moving the bridge rocker plates (34 and 36) and bridge cam stands using linear slides and servo motors.

Claims

1. A clamshell press comprising: a fixed platen mounted on a base; a slide mounted on a secondary base that is supported by the base; a movable platen supported by a rocker plate that is adjustably mounted on the slide, wherein the movable platen is movable between a close position at which the movable platen is substantially parallel to the fixed platen at a gap distance and an open position at which a portion of the movable platen is away from the fixed platen; and an arm comprising a first end connected to a crank pin mounted on the base and a second end connected to the movable platen, wherein the first end is coupled to the crank pin via an eccentric housing with a bevel gear, and wherein a rotational adjustment of the bevel gear causes a shift of a center position of the eccentric housing and a corresponding movement of the rocker plate along the slide, resulting in an adjustment of the gap distance between the fixed platen and the movable platen at the close position, and an electric motor engaged to the bevel gear to provide a driving force causing the rotational adjustment of the bevel gear and the adjustment of the gap distance, wherein the rocker plate is mounted on the slide, and wherein the electric motor simultaneously drives the bevel gear and activates a jack attached to the slide to cause the movement of the rocker plate.

2. The clamshell press of claim 1, wherein the gap distance is adjusted between a low point corresponding to a first extreme center position of the eccentric housing and a high point corresponding to a second extreme position of the eccentric housing.

3. The clamshell press of claim 1, wherein the gap distance is adjusted in a range between 0.937 inches and three inches.

4. The clamshell press of claim 1, wherein the eccentric housing contains a bushing through which the arm is coupled to the crank pin, and wherein the first end of the arm is coupled to the crank pin at an off-center position of the crank pin.

5. The clamshell press of claim 1, further comprising a computer controller for controlling the electrical motor, the computer controller comprising a button, and wherein an activation of the button causes to adjust the gap distance to a preset value.

6. The clamshell of claim 1, wherein the shift of the center position of the eccentric housing matches the shift of the rocker plate along the slide.

7. The clamshell press of claim 1, further comprising: a second arm that is substantially identical to the arm.

8. An apparatus comprising: a fixed platen mounted on a base; a movable platen supported by a rocker plate that is adjustably mounted on a slide, wherein the slide is supported by a secondary base attached to the base, wherein the movable platen is movable between a close position at which the movable platen is substantially parallel to the fixed platen at a gap distance and an open position at which a portion of the movable platen is away from the fixed platen; and an arm comprising a first end connected to a crank pin mounted on the base and a second end connected to the movable platen, wherein the first end is coupled to the crank pin via an eccentric bevel gear coupled to a bushing, and wherein a rotational adjustment of the eccentric bevel gear causes a shift of a center position of the bushing and a corresponding movement of the rocker plate along the slide, resulting in an adjustment of the gap distance between the fixed platen and the movable platen at the close position, and an electric motor engaged to the eccentric bevel gear to provide a driving force causing the rotational adjustment of the eccentric bevel gear and the adjustment of the gap distance, wherein the rocker plate is mounted on the slide, and wherein the electric motor simultaneously drives the eccentric bevel gear and activates a jack attached to the slide to cause the movement of the rocker plate.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the gap distance is adjusted between a low point corresponding to a first extreme center position of the bushing and a high point corresponding to a second extreme position of the bushing.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the gap distance is adjusted in a range between 0.937 inches and three inches.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a computer controller for controlling the electrical motor, the computer controller comprising a button, and wherein an activation of the button causes to adjust the gap distance to a preset value.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the shift of the center position of the bushing matches the shift of the rocker plate along the slide.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings one form which is presently preferred; it being understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

(2) FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the clamshell press of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the improved toggle connecting rod or arm of the invention;

(4) FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the two extreme adjustment positions that can be obtained using the invention, and

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the adjustable sliding base for supporting and adjusting the position of the movable platen.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(6) Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the various figures to designate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 an adjustable clamshell press constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally as 10. The clamshell press 10 is comprised of a base or frame 12 having a fixed platen 14 secured thereto and a movable platen 16 that is movable between an inoperative position and an operative position. In FIG. 1, the movable platen 16 is shown in its operative position wherein it is adjacent and parallel to the fixed platen 14.

(7) The movable platen 16 is moved through the use of a crank pin gear (or toggle drive or the like) 18 carried by the frame 12 and a connecting arm 20 extending between the crank pin and the movable platen 16. While not shown in the drawing, an identical arrangement is located on the far side of the press. Accordingly, while the following description of the improvement of the invention applies equally to the crank pin drive 18 and connecting arm 20 that are shown, the improvement applies equally to the same components on the far side of the press.

(8) The clamshell press thus far described is conventional in the art and, as pointed out above, is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,453. Accordingly, a detailed description of the operation thereof is not believed to be necessary. Suffice it to say that as the crank pin gear is rotated, the movable platen 16 moves away from or towards the fixed platen 14.

(9) FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 show the details of the improvement of the invention. More particularly, the end 22 of the connecting arm 20 is fitted with a bushing 24 and a drive mechanism 26 and 28, consisting of an eccentric housing driven by a bevel or worm gear etc. and a servo motor or other powered device. These mechanisms are mounted on the connecting arm 20 and are adapted to rotate the eccentric housing containing the bushing so as to change the position of the center 30 thereof. This obviously can be done remotely.

(10) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, by rotating the eccentric housing containing bushing 24 using the attached bevel gear or worm 26 and servo 28, the center 30 of the bushing 24 can be moved between the two extreme positions shown therein. Obviously, FIGS. 3 and 4 show the extreme positions only. The center 30 of the eccentric housing and bushing can be positioned anywhere in between.

(11) As should also be obvious to those skilled in the art, when the center 30 of the eccentric is in the position shown in FIG. 3, the movable platen 16 will be furthest from the fixed platen 14 when in their operative position. When the center 30 of the eccentric is in the position shown in FIG. 4, the movable platen 16 will be closest to the fixed platen 14 when in their operative position. Using the servo motor 28, any position between the extreme positions, and including the extreme positions, can be selected. Furthermore, using the computer controls, any number of fixed positions can be preset and then selected with the simple push of a button.

(12) Because the position of the movable platen 16 is changed by the movement of the eccentric housing 26, it is also necessary to change the position of the movable platen rocker plates 34 and 36 that are part of the sliding base, and bridge cam stands relative to its support 32 in order to maintain the correct geometry of the movable platen.

(13) The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.