In a transfer press in which a crown (3) is mounted on a plurality of uprights (6) disposed vertically on a bed (4), the crown and the bed are fastened by tie rods (7) penetrating through the respective uprights to thereby constitute a press body (1). A plurality of working stations are set in the press body, the crown and the bed are divided into a plurality of crown sections and bed sections at portions offset from central axes of the tie rods, and the crown sections and the bed sections are respectively fastened by horizontal connection devices (9).

In a large-part transfer press, several forming stations are arranged below a common slide in order to minimize cost. The bedplate construction has two longitudinal or basic supports. On each support, one bedplate per forming station is transversely placed and fastened as required. Driving of the slide takes place by two mutually independent head pieces which, depending on the number of stations, are arranged side-by-side at a distance. Each of the head pieces spans only one forming station.

A transfer press, capable of being easily transported, capable of being adjusted flexibly to changes in specifications, and capable of eliminating the idling of the transfer feeder, has a body (1) which is divided into a bed (2), uprights (3) provided vertically upon the bed, a pair of supporting beams (4) provided upon the uprights and disposed in spaced relationship with each other in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction in which a workpiece is fed, and a plurality of pressing units (5) each of which is independently provided for a respective one of a plurality of pressing operations. Each of the pressing units (5) comprises a crown (6) accommodating a slide-driving mechanism (8), and a slide (7). The crowns (6), provided for the individual pressing operations, are removably mounted upon the supporting beams (4). Slide guides (12) for guiding the vertical motion of the slides (7) are also provided on the supporting beams (4).

A transfer press or similar press installation is provided with a press frame including press supports, a press bed, and headpieces, these press parts being rigidly connected with one another by turnbuckles. The press installation includes slides and a transfer device, which are movable by driving devices. Longitudinal traverses are provided which extend along the length of at least the working stages. The press supports are arranged in front of and behind the working stages, and the longitudinal traverses are placed on these press supports. The longitudinal traverses are provided with guides which interact with guides mounted on the slides for the bearing of the slides which move up and down. As a result, a stable and cost-effective construction of the press installation is achieved while supports in the central working areas are omitted.

A press is provided for forming articles from compressed refractory material such as bricks, the press including a press bed, a crown spaced from the press bed, and a plurality of prestressed support columns rigidly supporting the press bed and the crown in spaced apart relation. The support columns each include a central tie rod including one end extending through a portion of the press bed and including another end extending through a portion of the crown and rigidly engaging the crown. The support columns also include an outer hollow cylindrical member surrounding the tie rods, one end of each of the hollow cylindrical members being positioned against the upper surface of the bed and the opposite end of each of the hollow cylindrical members engaging a lower portion of the crown. The tie rods are subjected to a tensile force while the outer cylindrical members are simultaneously subjected to a compressive force thereby providing a rigid frame structure and one resistive to twisting. The outer cylindrical members also function to provide supporting columns for a mold table and provide for slidable movement of the mold table between the bed and the yoke. The outer cylindrical members also provide for slidable support of a movable crosshead and facilitate movement of the crosshead toward and away from the mold table.