1420646 10 30 35 40 45 PATENT SPECIFICATION (21) Application No. 9732/73 G1) Convention Apphiation No, 2209880 3) Germany (DT) (44) Complete Specification published 7 Jan, 1976 (51) INTCL? B23D 15/12 BaID 28/20 (62) Index at acceptance B3W 10L3C 10LY 9A3C SAY (22) Fie 28 Feb. 1973 3, (19). Ble Nach ioin OYE ay (54) CUTTING PRESS (1) We, L. SCHULER GMBH, a Body Corporate organised under the Laws of Germany, of 7320 Céppingen, Germany, do hereby declare this invention, for which we pray that 2 patent may be granted to us and the method by which itis 0 be performed to be particularly described in and by the follow- ing statement: — ‘The invention relates to cutting press having a mechanical drive, for example a crank or eccentric drive, for the press ram. With presses of this type there are sudden cracking noises at every cuting stroke which inevitably cause considerable nuisance ina press shop. Investigations have shown that, apart from the noises due to the impact of the tools on the material, eg. sheet metal, to be cut and the springing back of the sttipper after the cut, the main source of noise production lies in the sudden and uncontrolled relaxation of the mechanical drive and of the press body at the moment when the tool breaks through the saterial 10 be cut Duting this breaking through of the material the forces released generate vibra tioas in the frame of the press which fall Within the audible range and are’ magnified by the body of the press. ‘The present invention therefore secks 10 prevent the uncontrolled relaxation of the rive during break through of th tool through the material and to resultant production of noise. ‘Accordingly the invention relates to a cut- ting press comprising a press ram, a mechani cal drive for moving the ram through a cutting cycle during which it moves a cutting tool through a cutting phase in which it performs a cutting operation on a workpiece and a connterpressure means acting between the am and the press frame or drive, said means being operative progressively to apply and then relieve a force on the ram opposing that applied thereto by the mechanical drive just before, and just after the cutting tool breaks through material to be cut, respectively. The force applied by the counterpressure means is preferably at least equal to that required for the cutting. operation. ‘The counterpressure means may be com- pletely independent of the drive to the ram, or driven from the drive to the ram. The inevitable high Joadings occurring in the ram drive and counterpressore means when the latter are effective to stress the ram should not be effective throughout the entie period ‘of a working cycle, and this may be achieved when the counterpressure means is a cyclic~ ally operating drive by arranging for this drive to be out of phase with that to the press ram, so that the counterpressure force is pro- gressively applied and relieved respectively just before and just after the ram breaks ‘through material to be cut as it passes through cutting position, ‘The phasing and motion characteristic ofthe drive forming the counter- pressure means is of course chosen 10 achieve this ‘As a result of the position of the counter- pressure means, which need not necessarily comprise a mechanical such as an eccentric, cam or crank drive, but may” aso ‘be hydraulically or pneumatically operated, it is possible to prevent uncontrolled release of the forces acting on the ram at the moment cutting is completed so that the production of noise from this source is prevented. ‘Two embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying Giagramatic drawings, in whic Figure 1 is an elevation of one embodi- ‘ment of cutting press; and Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of an alternative construction. Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a press having @ ram 2 guided in a frame 1 and driven through a main drive jn the form of 2 crank mechanism 3, 4. Dis- posed in a lower part 5 of the press i counter- pressure means in the form of an additional ative mechanism 6 the position of a cam plate 7 of which indicates in a simplified manner that the additional drive mechanism 6 is out of phase with the main drive mechanism 3, 4. In the position shown, corresponding’ approximately to the start of 1420646 55 B 8510 30 35 0 1,420,646 4 cutting operation by 2 pair of tools 8, 9, @ pair of upwardly extending posts 10, which afe,driven by the additional drive mechanism 6, 7, ate being forced against the ram 2, 28 a result of which there is a progrestive increase of the stress applied to the press frame 1, 5 which eventually reaches its maxi- ‘mam when the lower dead centre position of the crank mechanism 3, 4 is arrived at as the tools 8, 9 break through the workpiece and then progressively decreases. This force, applied through the posts 10 to the ram 2, i preferably at least equal to the required cutting force, and prevents the uncontrolled release of stored energy and hence also the uncontrolled relaxation of the press steucture at the moment of cutting through the material being cut, which material is of course located between the tools 8, 9. Inthe alternative construction shown in Figue 2, the requisite counterpressure is, transmitted not through a body 11 of the press but through a common shaft 12 mount ing a main drive cam 13 for a ram 15, and an. additional cam acting through 2” cam follower and post on the ram 15 s0 28 t0 apply thereto 2 counterpressure and thus stress the ram and its drive formed by part 12, 13 and 14, The double cam. drive mechanism shown in this embodiment has ‘been chosen for simplicity of illustration, but other forms of drive may be employed within the scope of the appended claims. As in the first embodiment, the profile and phasing of the cams is selected to provide a progressive application and relief of the counterpressure on the ram, WHAT WE CLAIM I 1. A cutting press comprising a press ram, 4 mechanical” drive for moving the ram through a cutting eycle during which it moves a cutting tool through a cutting phase in Which it performs a cutting operation on a workpiece and a counterpressure means acting between the ram and the press frame or drive, said means being operative progressively 10 seply and then tle a force on the ram ‘opposing that applied thereto by the mechani- cal drive just before and just after the cutting ‘tool breaks through material to be cut, respec- tively. 2. A press as claimed in claim 1, wherein the force applied by the counterpressure ‘means is at least equal to that required for the cutting operato 3. A press as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the counterpressure means is indepen- dent from the drive to the ram. 4. A press a5 claimed in claim 1 of 2, wherein the counterpressure means is driven from the drive to the xam, 5. A press as claimed in any of the pre- ceding claims wherein the counterpressure means is a cyclically operating drive which operates out of phase with the drive to the PGA pics a8 claimed in claim 1, 2 of 3 wherein” the counterpressure means is hydraulically or pneumatically operated. 7. A press. substantially as_ hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the secompanying. drawings. 8. Apress substantially as hereinbefore described: with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. For, the Applicants, CARPMAELS & RANSFORD, Chartered Patent Agents, 43 Bloomsbury Square, London, WCIA 2RA. Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, by the C Published by The Patont Offco, 25 Southasapton Buil ‘whieh copies may bo obtal Press, Leamington Spa, 1976, ings, London, WO2A TAY, from, 46 50 51420645. COMPLETE SPECIFICATION This drowing Is 0 reproduction of 2 SHEETS ‘the Original on a reduced scale Sheet I 4 +—1 —) a cL! cS 10, 10——+ 5 ~—| Fig 11420646 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION This drawing 1s 0 reproduction of 2 sneens "HE Sagi tole se Sheet 2