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 mechanism is provided for advancing articles step by step between work stations of a press. The mechanism includes a pair of bracket assemblies mounted on opposite sides of the press frame and provided with feed bar support assemblies including members supporting a pair of parallel feed bar-feed finger members for longitudinal and lateral reciprocation to achieve article transfer. The bracket assembly includes a first portion fixed on the press frame and a second portion which carries the corresponding feed bar support assembly and which is pivotal relative to the first bracket portion between use and non-use positions. The drive arrangement for the reciprocable feed bar support members includes portions pivotal with the second bracket portion. The feed bar-feed finger members are detachable, thus enabling the second bracket portions and corresponding portions of the drive arrangements to be pivoted to the non-use position to facilitate access to the press. A plurality of such article feed mechanisms are adapted to be associated with the press and driven in unison by common drive belts and shafts on each of the opposite sides of the press.

A beam-type transfer mechanism for moving workpieces step by step along a row of stations. A pair of laterally spaced beams extend parallel to the row of stations, having opposed work holding fixtures cooperable to grip the workpieces. The beams are movable laterally toward and away from each other, vertically up and down and longitudinally in forward and rearward directions to simultaneously advance the workpieces one step at a time from station to station.

A tilt mechanism for a transfer rail that is used to support a plurality of grippers for engaging and moving workpieces between a series of spaced apart work stations in a linear transfer press. The transfer rail forms part of a press transfer system of the type having a drive mechanism to impart three dimensional movement to the transfer rail. The tilt mechanism comprises at least one connector and at least one actuator. The connector secures the transfer rail to the drive mechanism and permits three dimensional movement of the transfer rail. The connector also permits the transfer rail to be rotated, relative to the drive mechanism, about its longitudinal axis. The actuator is connected to both the drive mechanism and the transfer rail and causes the transfer rail to be rotated between a position where it supports the grippers in an orientation where they generally extend toward the work stations to a position where it supports the grippers in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of said workpieces between said work stations.

A central base of a gripper is adapted to be attached to a robot wrist flange. Carriage rods and stabilizing bars extend outwardly, on both sides of the central base. Sliding carriages, which move along the carriage rods on linear bearings, each carry two flexible urethane grippers which are capable of expanding and gripping a part from the inside when the flexible grippers are pressurized. Each carriage when slid from a first position to a second position by an air cylinder, causes the second flexible gripper of a carriage to occupy the same position in space that the first flexible gripper of the same carriage, previously occupied.