Toggle press

Abstract

A press for translating a tool includes a first member, a second member and a plurality of retention members. The first member is drivingly coupled to an actuator. The first member is axially moveable between first and second positions in response to movement of the actuator. The first member includes a first end surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart detents. The second member is threadably engaged with the first member. The first and second members define an assembly having a length. The retention members are positioned between the first and second members. Each retention member is biasedly engaged with one of the detents to provide resistance to relative rotation between the first and second members. The resistance to relative rotation may be overcome to adjust the length of the assembly.

1 . A press for translating a tool, comprising: 
 a press body defining a cavity;    a piston disposed within said cavity, said piston being pivotable between a first position and a second position, said piston including a trunnion defining a trunnion face and a plurality of pin recesses aligned on an arc;    a sensor pin disposed in one of said plurality of pin recesses substantially flush with said trunnion face; and    a sensor supported by said press body and substantially axially aligned with said trunnion, said sensor being operable to detect the presence of said sensor pin when said piston is in said first and second positions.    
   
   
       2 . The press of  claim 1  wherein said trunnion face further includes an arcuate slot surrounding said plurality of pin recesses.  
   
   
       3 . The press of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of pin recesses each include a threaded blind bore for receiving said sensor pin.  
   
   
       4 . The press of  claim 1  wherein said sensor is a proximity sensor having a sensing element disposed substantially flush with said trunnion face.  
   
   
       5 . The press of  claim 1  wherein said sensor includes a magnetic device and said sensor pin is constructed of a ferromagnetic material.  
   
   
       6 . The press of  claim 1  wherein said sensor is operable to output a first signal when said piston is in said first position and a second signal when said piston is in said second position.  
   
   
       7 . The press of  claim 1  wherein said trunnion further defines a substantially cylindrical bearing surface in sliding rotational engagement with said press body.  
   
   
       8 . The press of  claim 7  wherein said trunnion further includes a network of internal cavities in fluid communication with said bearing surface for containing and dispensing a lubricant thereto.  
   
   
       9 . The press of  claim 8  wherein said press body includes a first lubrication port in fluid communication with said network of internal cavities for injecting a lubricant therein.  
   
   
       10 . The press of  claim 1  wherein said press includes a first pneumatic port in communication with said cavity for selectively supplying pressurized fluid to one side of said piston.  
   
   
       11 . A press for translating a tool, comprising: 
 a press body having a cavity;    a piston rotatably positioned within said cavity and moveable between a first position and a second position;    a press link including a first yoke and having a first leg defining a first aperture and a second leg defining a second aperture, wherein said second aperture includes a rotation limiting surface; and    a first link pin drivingly interconnecting said first yoke and said piston, said first link pin including:    a first end engaging said first aperture;    a body portion having a substantially cylindrical bearing surface rotatably engaging said piston;    a second end engaging said second aperture such that said rotation limiting surface prevents said first link pin from rotating relative to said first yoke; and    a network of internal cavities in fluid communication with said bearing surface, said network adapted to contain and dispense a lubricant to said bearing surface.    
   
   
       12 . The press of  claim 11  wherein a portion of said second aperture includes a curved wall portion and a substantially planar wall portion.  
   
   
       13 . The press of  claim 12  wherein a portion of said second aperture is substantially D-shaped.  
   
   
       14 . The press of  claim 13  wherein said second end of said first link pin is substantially D-shaped.  
   
   
       15 . The press of  claim 11  wherein said network of internal cavities includes an axial cavity and a plurality of radial cavities in fluid communication with said axial cavity.  
   
   
       16 . The press of  claim 11  wherein said press link further includes a second yoke opposite said first yoke.  
   
   
       17 . The press of  claim 16  further comprising a second link pin, wherein said second yoke includes a third leg defining a third aperture and a fourth leg defining a fourth aperture, said second link pin extending through said third and fourth apertures of said second yoke wherein said second link pin is prevented from rotating relative to said second yoke.  
   
   
       18 . A press for translating a tool, comprising: 
 a first member drivingly coupled to an actuator, said first member being axially moveable between first and second positions in response to movement of said actuator, said first member including a first end surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart detents;    a second member threadably engaging said first member, said first and second members defining an assembly having a length;    a plurality of retention members positioned between said first and second members, each retention member biasedly engaging one of said detents, thereby providing resistance to relative rotation between said first and second members, wherein said resistance to relative rotation may be overcome to adjust said length of said assembly.    
   
   
       19 . The press of  claim 18  wherein said second member includes a plurality of axially extending bores in receipt of said retention members.  
   
   
       20 . The press of  claim 19  further including a plurality of biasing members positioned within said bores between said retention members and said second member.  
   
   
       21 . The press of  claim 20  wherein said plurality of detents includes eight detents.  
   
   
       22 . The press of  claim 21  wherein said plurality of engaging members includes eight pins.  
   
   
       23 . The press of  claim 18  further including a press body and a strain gauge mounted to said press body, said strain gauge being operable to indicate an overload condition and provide a signal to discontinue the application of force by said actuator.  
   
   
       24 . The press of  claim 18  wherein said plurality of detents are equally spaced apart and aligned substantially in a circle.  
   
   
       25 . The press of  claim 18  wherein said second member includes an annular surface substantially parallel to and axially spaced apart from said first end surface, said annular surface including a plurality of bores alignable with said detents, said bores receiving at least a portion of said plurality of retention members.  
   
   
       26 . The press of  claim 18  wherein said plurality of retention members each include a first end having a longitudinal bore in receipt of a biasing member.  
   
   
       27 . The press of  claim 26  wherein said plurality of retention members each include a second end that is curved and received by said detents.  
   
   
       28 . The press of  claim 27  wherein said plurality of detents are conically shaped.  
   
   
       29 . The press of  claim 18  wherein one of said first and second members includes a marking on an outer surface thereof to provide a datum for said length of said assembly of said first and second members.  
   
   
       30 . The press of  claim 18  further including a retainer aligning said retention members in a spaced apart relation to one another.  
   
   
       31 . The press of  claim 30  wherein said retainer is axially translatable to allow said retention members to enter and exit said detents during adjustment of said length of said assembly.  
   
   
       32 . The press of  claim 31  further including a spring biasedly loading said retainer toward said first member.  
   
   
       33 . The press of  claim 32  wherein said first member includes eight equally spaced apart detents and said retainer aligns four retention members in an equally spaced apart relation.  
   
   
       34 . The press of  claim 30  wherein said retainer and said retention members are positioned within a cavity formed in one of aid first and second members.  
   
   
       35 . A press for translating a tool, comprising: 
 a press body;    an actuator supported by said press body;    a ram assembly drivingly coupled to said actuator, said ram assembly linearly moveable in an advancing direction and a retracting direction;    a tool assembly coupled to an end of said ram assembly opposite said actuator; and    a quick release mechanism including a pin removably attaching said tool assembly to said ram assembly wherein a load being transferred to said tool assembly during movement in said advancing direction bypasses said pin, said tool assembly being disconnectable from said ram assembly by removal of said pin without the use of hand tools.    
   
   
       36 . The press of  claim 35  wherein said tool assembly includes a punch having a transverse aperture extending therethrough.  
   
   
       37 . The press of  claim 36  wherein said ram assembly includes an elongated tube having a pair of transverse apertures substantially aligned with said transverse aperture in said punch.  
   
   
       38 . The press of  claim 37  wherein said pin extends through said apertures in said punch and said elongated tube to limit axial and rotational movement of said punch relative to said elongated tube.  
   
   
       39 . The press of  claim 38  wherein a clearance exists between said pin and said punch aperture such that load travels through said punch to said ram assembly without loading said pin during movement of said ram assembly in said advancing direction.  
   
   
       40 . The press of  claim 37  further including a stripper at least partially surrounding said punch, said stripper being biased in a direction away from said elongated tube.  
   
   
       41 . The press of  claim 40  wherein said stripper includes a pair of spaced apart axially extending slots in receipt of said pin.  
   
   
       42 . The press of  claim 41  wherein said ram assembly further includes an annular collar threadably engaging said elongated tube to retain a spring in a cavity of said elongated tube, said spring being operable to provide said biasing load to said stripper.  
   
   
       43 . The press of  claim 42  wherein said annular collar includes a pair of axial slots aligned to receive said pin.  
   
   
       44 . A press for translating a tool, comprising: 
 a press body having an upper jaw and a lower jaw;    an actuator supported by said press body;    a ram assembly drivingly coupled to said actuator and slidably positioned within said upper jaw;    a lower tool assembly supported by said lower jaw of said press body axially below said ram assembly, said lower tool assembly including a shoulder portion engaging said lower jaw and a shank portion including a transverse aperture engaging an axial bore extending through said lower jaw; and    a quick release mechanism including a pin removably attaching said lower tool assembly to said press body, said lower tool assembly being disconnectable from said press body by removal of said pin without the use of hand tools.    
   
   
       45 . The press of  claim 44  wherein said lower jaw portion defines a first axial bore receiving said lower tool assembly.  
   
   
       46 . The press of  claim 45  wherein said lower tool assembly includes a tool holder positioned in said first axial bore.  
   
   
       47 . The press of  claim 46  wherein said press body defines a transverse bore extending through said first axial bore substantially aligned with said transverse aperture in said shank portion of said tool holder.  
   
   
       48 . The press of  claim 47  wherein said press body further includes a second axial bore substantially parallel to said first axial bore and intersecting said transverse bore, said second axial bore receiving a locking portion of said quick release mechanism.  
   
   
       49 . The press of  claim 48  wherein said detent pin is disposed through said transverse bore and transverse aperture, thereby restricting relative rotational displacement of said tool assembly and press body.  
   
   
       50 . The press of  claim 49  wherein said locking portion of said quick release mechanism includes a spring biased detent retained on said pin.  
   
   
       51 . The press of  claim 47  wherein said tool holder includes an axial recess for receiving a tool.  
   
   
       52 . The press of  claim 51  wherein said tool includes a die for forming a workpiece compressed between said ram assembly and said lower assembly.  
   
   
       53 . The press of  claim 52  wherein said tool holder further includes a fastener bore for receiving a fastener to secure said tool in said tool holder, said fastener bore extending substantially coaxially to and in communication with said axial recess.  
   
   
       54 . A press for translating a tool, comprising: 
 a press body;    a first actuator coupled to said press body;    a tool assembly coupled to said first actuator and supported by said press body for drivingly engaging a workpiece;    a second actuator attached to said press body and adapted to translate said press body relative to a mounting member;    a guide assembly interconnecting said mounting member and said press body, said guide assembly including a translation limiting mechanism operable to adjust a range of translation of said press body between various extended and retracted positions; and    a sensor fixedly attached to said guide assembly and operable to detect the position of said press body when located at said extended and retracted positions.    
   
   
       55 . The press of  claim 54  wherein said actuator includes a cylinder fixedly attached to said press body and a piston fixedly attached to said mounting member.  
   
   
       56 . The press of  claim 55  wherein said mounting member slidably engages a stop adjust rod, wherein said stop adjust rod is fixedly attached to said press body.  
   
   
       57 . The press of  claim 56  wherein said translation limiting mechanism includes a stop collar selectively positioned on said stop adjust rod.  
   
   
       58 . The press of  claim 57  wherein said translation limiting mechanism further includes a screw for selectively fixing said stop collar to said stop adjust rod in said plurality of positions.  
   
   
       59 . The press of  claim 58  wherein said sensor includes a sensing element disposed in a plane substantially parallel to a peripheral edge of said translation limiting mechanism.  
   
   
       60 . The press of  claim 59  wherein said sensing element is a magnetic device and said stop collar is constructed of a ferromagnetic material.