STAMPING PRESS ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

The invention relates to a stamping press arrangement comprising a plurality of first stamping press units arranged adjacent to one another, which have working directions extending parallel in relation to each other in a common plane, and comprising a second stamping press unit, the working direction of which extends perpendicularly in relation to the working directions of the first stamping press units, such that material processed in said stamping press unit can be guided in the direct extension of the working direction thereof into the working regions of the first stamping press units. The stamping press units each have a crankshaft portion or eccentric shaft portion, by means of which the travel movement of the press ram is effected via a connecting rod. The crankshaft portion or eccentric shaft portion of the first stamping press units are driven forcibly together via a common drive unit with the same speed and comprise a common axis of rotation. The crankshaft portion or eccentric shaft portion of the stamping press unit is coupled to the crankshaft portion or eccentric shaft portion of the first stamping press units so as to forcibly rotate therewith in a synchronous manner. The invention allows high-precision and high-speed stamping press arrangements to be provided for economically mass-producing multi-part stamping and shaped and punched products which have low tolerances, such as container ends with press-in or pull tabs for opening without tools, in a cost-effective manner.

Claims

1. A stamping press arrangement comprising at least two adjacent first stamping press units, each of which has a press ram for receiving a first tool part, which works against a receiving plate for receiving a corresponding second tool part, wherein the first stamping press units have working directions extending parallel to each other in a common plane, and comprising at least a second stamping press unit having a press ram for receiving a first tool part which works against a receiving plate for receiving a corresponding second tool part, wherein the working direction of the at least one second stamping press unit extends perpendicularly to the working directions of the first stamping press units, in such a way that material pieces or material strips processed in a working space of the second stamping press unit can be guided in direct extension of the working direction of the second stamping press unit into working regions of the first stamping press units for further processing in the first stamping press units with material pieces or material strips supplied in working direction of the first stamping press units to the first stamping press units, wherein the at least two first stamping press units are driven via a common driving unit, wherein each of the respective first stamping press units has a crankshaft portion or eccentric shaft portion, which is rotatable about a first rotation axis by the driving unit in order to generate a travel movement of the press ram of the respective stamping press unit, in interaction with at least one connecting rod of the respective first stamping press unit, for processing the material pieces and/or the material strips in the first stamping press units, wherein the rotation axes of the crankshaft portions or eccentric shaft portions of the first stamping press units are identical and wherein the crankshaft portions or eccentric shaft portions of the first stamping press units are connected or coupled to one another in such a way that they are rotated forcibly together with the same number of rotations, wherein the at least one second stamping press unit has a crankshaft portion or eccentric shaft portion which is rotatable about a second rotation axis by a driving unit, for generating in interaction with at least one connecting rod of the at least one second stamping press unit a travel movement of the press ram of the at least one second stamping press unit for processing the material pieces or material strips in the second stamping press unit, wherein the crankshaft portion or eccentric shaft portion of the at least one second stamping press unit is coupled to the crankshaft portions or eccentric shaft portions of the first stamping press units in such a way, particularly by a rotational positive fit in both rotation directions, that it is rotatable forcibly synchronously with the crankshaft portions or eccentric shaft portions of the first stamping press units, particularly with the same number of rotations, wherein multiple, particularly three or four, first stamping press units arranged in an adjacent way are coupled to one another to form a common structure, wherein the two outer ones of these first stamping press units coupled to one another to form a common structure are each coupled to a supporting structure, via which the structure formed by it is supported on the floor, and wherein each one of the first stamping press units has an own receiving plate which is separate from the other stamping press units, each of which is supported by a hanging supporting structure.

2. The stamping press arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the supporting structures, via which the structure formed by the adjacent first stamping press units is supported on the floor, carries on its side facing away from the mutually coupled first stamping press units the at least one second stamping press unit.

3. The stamping press arrangement according to claim 1, wherein two groups of first stamping press units, particularly two groups of each three first stamping press units, are coupled to one another to a first common structure and to a second common structure, wherein this first structure and this second structure are coupled to one another via a first supporting structure arranged between them, via which the first structure and the second structure are supported on the floor, wherein each outer first stamping press unit of the respective first or second structure, respectively, is coupled to a further supporting structure, via which it is supported on the floor, and wherein at least one of the further supporting structures carries one of the second stamping press units on its side facing away from the respective first or second structure, respectively.

4. The stamping press arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second rotation axis is parallel to the first rotation axis, and particularly wherein it is identical with it.

5. The stamping press arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first stamping press units have each a separate crankshaft portion or eccentric shaft portion and these crankshaft portions or eccentric shaft portions are coupled to one another by a rotational positive fit in both rotation directions, particularly in such a way that they are axially and radially shiftable with respect to one another, particularly by means of one or more Oldham couplings.

6. The stamping press arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second stamping press unit has a separate crankshaft portion or eccentric shaft portion which is coupled to one crankshaft portion or eccentric shaft portion of one of the first stamping press units by a rotational positive fit in both rotation directions, particularly in such a way that the two crankshaft portions or eccentric shaft portions are axially and radially shiftable with respect to one another, particularly by means of an Oldham coupling.

7. The stamping press arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the press rams of the stamping press units work each from the top against the receiving plates.

8. The stamping press arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the crankshaft portions or eccentric shaft portions are each arranged above the press rams.

9. The stamping press arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit for the at least two first stamping press units has a flywheel and no gears are arranged between the flywheel and the crankshaft portions or eccentric shaft portions of the at least two first stamping press units.

10. The stamping press arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each one of the first stamping press units has a supply device for supplying individual material pieces into a working area of the respective stamping press unit, particularly a conveyor belt with holes for supplying metal can shell blanks.

11. The stamping press arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the supply devices are driven with the driving unit for the at least two first stamping press units.

12. The stamping press arrangement according to claim 11, wherein no separable clutches are present between the supply devices and the driving unit.

13. The stamping press arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the supply devices are integrated into the receiving plates of the first stamping press units.

14. The stamping press arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the stamping press arrangement in the drive train for the stamping press units has precisely one flywheel, precisely one friction and precisely one brake.

15. The stamping press arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first stamping press units in each case have precisely one connecting rod, by means of which the stamping force is introduced centrally into the respective press ram.

16. The stamping press arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second stamping press unit has two connecting rods, by means of which the stamping force is introduced symmetrically into its press ram.

17. The stamping press arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each one of the stamping press units has an own mass compensation device for diminishing or eliminating dynamic forces acting towards the outside.

18. The stamping press arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each one of the stamping press units is adjustable independently from the other stamping press units with respect to press ram stroke and/or closing height.

19. A use of the stamping press unit according claim 1 for manufacturing metal can ends with a push-in or a pull-off tab.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] In the following the prior art and embodiments of the invention will be further explained by means of the figures. Thereby it is shown in:

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a first stamping press arrangement according to the invention;

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the first stamping press arrangement from the direction S of FIG. 1;

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a horizontal section through the first stamping press arrangement along the line X-X of FIG. 1;

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a partial vertical section through the first stamping press arrangement along the line X-Y of FIG. 2;

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a vertical section through the first stamping press arrangement along the line Z-Z of FIG. 4;

[0049] FIG. 6 shows a view like in FIG. 5 of a variant of the first stamping press arrangement; and

[0050] FIG. 7 shows a front view of a second stamping press arrangement according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first stamping press arrangement for manufacturing metal container lids with a push-in or a pull-off tab and which can be opened without tools, once in a front view (FIG. 1) and once in a side view with viewing direction S from the left (FIG. 2).

[0052] As can be seen by viewing together with FIGS. 3 and 4, which show a horizontal section along the line X-X of FIG. 1 (FIG. 3) and a partial vertical section along the line Y-Y of FIG. 2 (FIG. 4) through the press arrangement, the latter comprises three adjacent stamping presses 4a, 4b, 4c (three first stamping press units according to the invention), in the following called conversion-presses, by means of which prefabricated metal sheet lids are provides with different profiles, with a carving for the opening location as well as with an additionally supplied push-in or pull-off tab, respectively. The three conversion presses 4a, 4b, 4c are coupled to one another as common self-supporting structure 4a-4c. The two outer conversion presses 4a, 4c of this structure 4a-4c are each coupled to a supporting structure 9, 11; 10, 11, via which the structure 4a-4c formed by the three conversion presses 4a, 4b, 4c is supported on the floor.

[0053] The left supporting structure 9, 11 consists of a drive housing 9 and a supporting pillar 11, and the right supporting structure 10, 11 consists of a supporting section 10 and a supporting pillar 11. Said supporting structure 10, 11 carries a further stamping press 8 (second stamping press unit according to the claims) on its side which is opposed to the conversion presses 4a, 4b, 4c, by means of which the push-in or the pull-off tabs, respectively, are manufactured from a strip material 22. In the following, this press 8 is called tab press.

[0054] The three conversion presses 4a, 4b, 4c are oriented with respect to one another in such a way that they have mutually parallel working directions B and their working planes are in a same plane.

[0055] The tab press 8 is oriented with respect to the conversion press 4a, 4b, 4c in such a way that its working direction A runs perpendicular to the working directions B of the conversion presses 4a, 4b, 4c and its working plane lies in the same plane, where also the working planes of the conversion presses 4a, 4b, 4c are located. The working direction A of the tab press 8 intersects with the working directions B of the conversion presses 4a, 4b, 4c in the working direction of the conversion presses 4a, 4b, 4c. The push-in or the pull-off tabs, respectively, formed in the working area of the tab press 8 by stamping and reshaping on a material strip 22, are guided with the material strip 22 in direct extension of the working direction A of the tab press 8 in the working areas of the conversion presses 4a, 4b, 4c, where each of them is detached from the material strip with the respective conversion press 4a, 4b, 4c and are riveted with the metal lids passing through the respective conversion press 4a, 4b, 4c in its working direction B. The transport of the material strip 22 in the working direction A of the tab press 8 through the presses 4a, 4b, 4c is done by means of an advancing device 23a at the input of the tab press 8 and a pulling device 23b at the output of the last conversion press, as seen in this direction A.

[0056] As it results particularly from FIGS. 3 and 4 as seen together with FIG. 5, which shows a vertical section through the stamping press arrangement along the line Z-Z of FIG. 4, the conversion presses 4a, 4b, 4c comprise each a press ram 1a, 1b, 1c for receiving the moved top conversion tool half (not shown), which work from above against a receiving plate 2a, 3a; 2b 3b; 2c, 3c, which is separate from the other presses, for receiving the attributed fixed bottom conversion tool half (not shown). The press rams 1a, 1b, 1c are each guided as vertical shifting via four press ram guides 12.

[0057] In the same way, the tab press 8 comprises a press ram 5 for receiving the moved top tab tool half (not shown), which works from above against a receiving plate 6, 7 for receiving the attributed fixed bottom tab tool half (not shown). The press ram 5 is also guided as vertical shifting via four press ram guides 21.

[0058] The conversion presses 4a, 4b, 4c have each separately formed crank shafts 28a, 28b, 28c (crankshaft portions or eccentric shaft portions according to the claims), each of them being arranged above the respective press ram 1a, 1b, 1c and being coupled to the press ram 1a, 1b, 1c of the respective conversion press 4a, 4b, 4c via a single attributed connecting rod 29a, 29b, 29c, for generating the stroke of the press ram 1a, 1b, 1c of this press. The stamping force is introduced into the press ram 1a, 1b, 1c with the connecting rod 29a, 29b, 29c, in each case centrally via a height-adjustable thrust bearing 39.

[0059] The tab press 8 also has a crank shaft 30 (crankshaft portion or eccentric shaft portion according to the claims), which is arranged above its press ram 5 and coupled to the press ram 5 via two connecting rods 31a, 31b, for generating the stroke of the press ram 5 of this press 8. The stamping force is introduced into the press ram 5 with the two connecting rods 31a, 31b, symmetrically via two height-adjustable thrust bearings 39.

[0060] The rotation axis R2 of the crank shaft 30 of the tab press 8 and the rotation axis R1 of the crank shafts 28a, 28b, 28c of the conversion presses 4a, 4b, 4c are identical. The cranks shafts 28a, 28b, 28c, 30 have a rotational positive fit in both rotation directions and are coupled to one another radially and mutually shiftable by means of Oldham-couplings 32. They are driven via a common driving unit comprising an outer main drive motor 24, a friction arrangement and a brake arrangement 34, 35 with a flywheel 33, arranged inside the drive housing 9, as well as a belt drive 25, 26 arranged at the drive housing 9 below a protecting cover 27. No gears are arranged between the flywheel 33 and the crank shafts 28a, 28b, 28c, 30 of the presses 4a, 4b, 4c, 8.

[0061] As particularly visible in FIG. 3, each conversion press 4a, 4b, 4c has an own supplying device 13, 14, 15, integrated in its receiving plate, for supplying the metal shell blanks to their working area, each comprising a transfer system 13 and a transport band 15 with holes 16 for receiving the shell blanks. The transport band 15 extends between two deflection pulleys 14 through the respective conversion press 4a, 4b, 4c. The deflections pulleys 14 at the output of the conversion presses 4a, 4b, 4c are each carried by an axle 17, which is fixedly, with respect to rotation, connected to the respective deflection pulley 14 and which is supported via two bearing blocks 18 in a rotatable way on the structure of the respective conversion press 4a, 4b, 4c. These axles 17 of the three conversion presses 4a, 4b, 4c are coupled to one another via two intermediary axles 19 in a rotational positive fitting way in both rotation directions and they are driven by a stepping gear 20 which is coupled to the crank shafts 28a, 28b, 28c, 30 of the presses 4a, 4b, 4c, 8 in a synchronous way with respect to rotation by means of two angle gears 20a, 20c and a joint shaft 20b. No separable clutchess are present between the supplying devices 13, 14, 15, 16 and the driving unit 24, 25, 26, 33, 34.

[0062] As it is further evident, each of the presses 4a, 4b, 4c, 8 has a compensation mass 36a, 36b, 36c, 37 which is moved up and down by means of further connecting rods arranged on the respective crank shaft 28a, 28b, 28c, 30 in an opposite direction to the respective press ram 1a, 1b, 1c, 5, in order to reduce or eliminate, respectively, dynamic forces acting to the outside.

[0063] FIG. 6 shows a variant of the stamping press arrangement in a vertical section along the line Z-Z of FIG. 4. As can be seen, in case of the conversion presses 4a, 4b, 4c of this variant, the respective connecting rod 29a, 29b, 29c is coupled to the press ram 1a, 1b, 1c of the respective conversion press 4a, 4b, 4c via a lever mechanism, wherein the force introduction is done symmetrically via two pressure tongues 38.

[0064] FIG. 7 shows a front view of a second stamping press arrangement according to the invention. It differs from the above mentioned first stamping press arrangement according to the invention only in that it comprises six adjacent conversion presses 4d, 4e, 4f; 4g, 4h, 4i (six first stamping press units according to the claims), by means of which prefabricated sheet metal shells are provided with different profiles, with a carving for the opening location as well as with a supplied push-in or pull-off tab, respectively.

[0065] These six conversion presses 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, 4h, 4i form two groups of each three conversion presses 4d, 4e, 4f; 4g, 4h, 4i, of which the first group 4d, 4e, 4 forms a first common self-supporting structure 4d-4f and the second group 4g, 4h, 4i forms a second common self-supporting structure 4g-4i. The first structure 4d-4f and the second structure 4g-4i are connected to one another via a middle supporting structure 10a, 11a (first supporting structure according to the claims) arranged between them, which consists of a supporting portion 10 and a supporting pillar 11, and they are supported on the floor by means of this supporting structure 10, 11.

[0066] The first structure 4d-4f is connected at its left end with its outer conversion press 4d to a further supporting structure consisting of a drive housing 9 and a supporting pillar 11 and it is supported on the floor via this supporting structure 9, 11.

[0067] The second structure 4g-4i is connected at its right end with its outer conversion press 4i to a further supporting structure consisting of a supporting portion 10 and a supporting pillar 11 and it is supported on the floor via this supporting structure 10, 11. This supporting structure 10, 11 supports on its side which faces away from the conversion presses 4g, 4h, 4i a tab press 8 (second stamping press unit according to the claims), by means of which the push-in or pull-off tabs, respectively, are produced of a material strip.

[0068] The rest of the construction of this second stamping press arrangement according to the invention is identical to the one of the first stamping press arrangement.

[0069] While the present disclosure has been illustrated and described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications to this disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.