A manual feed device for accurately locating parts within the work station of a power press includes an elongated feed rod having a manual drive handle for effecting linear and rotational movement of the feed rod and associated clamping jaws toward and away from the work area of the power press. A jaw actuating mechanism is operatively connected to the drive handle and includes adjustable limit means preventing linear movement of the feed rod beyond predetermined forward and rearward limit positions, jaw stabilizing and aligning means controlling movement of the jaws between their open and closed positions and a jaw actuator interposed between the jaws and moveable axially relative to the feed rod to effect opening and closing of the jaws. The jaw actuator is operative, upon movement of the feed rod to its limit position in response to operation of the drive handle, to move axially relative to the feed rod and effect the desired relative movement of the jaws between their open and closed positions.

A transfer feeder (2) that is operable in a mechanical synchronism with a press machine (1) to prevent an interference of a movable part in the press machine (1) and a movable part in the transfer feeder (2) is disclosed that comprises a feed drive means (10) having a feed lever (10a) adapted to be swung for moving a group of feed carriers (6) or a transfer bar that carries workpieces in a workpiece feed direction. The feed drive means (10) is further provided with a cam drive means (12) comprising a feed cam (12b) adapted to be rotated in a mechanical synchronism with an operation of the press machine (1) by power taken out of the press machine with a power takeout means (14). The feed cam (12b) and the feed lever (10a) are associated with a switching means (19) for coupling them together and decoupling them each other. A servo drive means (13) comprising a servo controllable feed motor (21) is also provided to swing the feed lever (10a). A clutch (24) is disposed between the feed motor (21) and the feed lever (10a) for coupling them together and decoupling them each other. In the transfer feeder (2) so constructed, the switching means (19) and the clutch (24) are actuated to render one of cam drive means (12) and the servo drive means (13) selectively operable to swing the feed lever (10a).

There is provided a refuging system for transfer bars of a transfer feeder of a transfer press, in which the transfer bars are driven by a transfer bar driving mechanism including an induction type servo motor. The refuging system includes a servo control for controlling the induction type servo motor, a detector for detecting an occurrence of an abnormal condition of the servo control and urgently stopping operations of a slide of a press body of the transfer press and the induction type servo motor, a detector for detecting a crank angle of the press body and discriminating an area in which the slide or a mold of the press body interfere with the transfer bar of the transfer feeder or an attachment therefor attached to the transfer bar, and a driver for driving the transfer bar to a position at which the slide and the mold of the press body do not interfere with the transfer bar of the transfer feeder and the attachment by applying an A.C. voltage to the induction type servo motor at a time when the operations of the slide and the induction type servo motor begin to be urgently stopped in the interference area.

This invention relates to punch presses having a transfer die and a work transfer mechanism for advancing individual workpieces progressively through successive tooling stations of such die at high speed comprising dual intermittent-feed transfer bars slidingly mounted for rotary movement and lifting of said workpieces off the tooling stations of said die, and associated clampbars which retain each workpiece on the transfer bars by free retention of the edges of the workpiece during transfer movement, and which transfer bars deposit said workpieces at the next successive tooling station by rotary movement to release the lifting support of each workpiece from below the same and from the free-retention clamping thereof from above in readiness for the next tooling operation.

A handling device has a flexible gripper having a drive associated with one movement of the gripper and including a member which is caused to move against an adjustable force when an actuating force determined by the adjustable force acts on the gripper, and a switch element operable by the displaced member and serving to control at least one movement of the handling device and/or the gripper.