Material handling apparatus

Claim 2

In apparatus for introducing a raw material sheet into a press, a carriage extendable into said press and retractable therefrom, a lip carried by said carriage and extendable under an edge portion of said sheet, said lip having a strip extending transversely thereof, a plurality of spaced needles carried by said carriage, and means for driving said needles through an edge portion of said sheet to a position behind said strip.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means includes a plurality of cylinders carried by said carriage having pistons which when extended drive said needles.

Claim 4

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 inCluding switch means for connecting air pressure to said cylinders to extend said pistons when said carriage has moved to a predetermined position as it is extended into said press.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said strip is cylindrical in form.

Claim 6

In apparatus of the character set forth, a press having jaws which open to receive material between said jaws, a carriage which is movable between said jaws into and out of said press, a fluid cylinder having a piston therein, means connecting said piston with said carriage whereby movement of said piston in one direction in said cylinder produces movement of said carriage into said press between said jaws and movement of said piston in another direction in said cylinder produces movement of said carriage out of said press, first means for introducing fluid into said cylinder on one side of said piston to move said piston in one direction to extend said carriage between said jaws, second means for introducing fluid into said cylinder on the other side of said piston to move said piston in said other direction to withdraw said carriage, and means for stopping the flow of fluid produced by said first means when said carriage has advanced to a predetermined position, and means for starting the flow of liquid into said cylinder on said other side of said piston after a time delay period to withdraw said carriage from said press.

Claim 7

In apparatus of the character set forth, a press having jaws which open to receive material between said jaws, a carriage which is movable between said jaws into and out of said press, a fluid cylinder having a piston therein, means connecting said piston with said carriage whereby movement of said piston in one direction in said cylinder produces movement of said carriage into said press between said jaws and movement of said piston in another direction in said cylinder produces movement of said carriage out of said press, first means for introducing fluid into said cylinder on one side of said piston to move said piston in one direction to extend said carriage between said jaws, second means for introducing fluid into said cylinder on the other side of said piston to move said piston in said other direction to withdraw said carriage, and means for stopping the flow of fluid produced by said first means when said carriage has advanced to a predetermined position, and means for starting the flow of liquid into said cylinder on said other side of said piston after a time delay period to withdraw said carriage from said press.

Claim 8

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including means on said carriage for grasping raw material sheets during said period of time delay.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including means on said carriage for picking up finished sheets within said press during said period of time delay.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 including means for releasing said grasping means when said carriage has moved to a predetermined position where said raw material sheet is between the jaws of said press.

Claim 11

Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 including means for discharging said finished sheet from said carriage when said carriage has moved to a predetermined position beyond said position at which said releasing means is actuated.

Claim 12

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including means on said carriage for picking up finished sheets within said press during said period of time delay.

Claim 13

In apparatus of the character set forth, a press having jaws which open to receive material between said jaws, a carriage which is movable between said jaws into and out of said press, a fluid cylinder having a piston therein, means connecting said piston with said carriage whereby movement of said piston in one direction in said cylinder produces movement of said carriage into said press between said jaws and movement of said piston in another direction in said cylinder produces movement of said carriage in another direction out of said press, first means for introducing fluid into said cylinder on one side of said piston to move said piston in said one direction to extend said carriage into said press between said jaws, second means for introducing fluid into said cylinder on the other side of said piston to move said piston in said other direction to withdraw said carriage from said press, means on said carriage for picking up a finished sheet within said press after said carriage has been extended into said press, and means for starting the operation of said second means after the operation of said pickup means.

Claim 14

In apparatus of the character set forth, a press having jaws which open to receive material between said jaws, a carriage which is movable between said jaws into and out of said press, a fluid cylinder having a piston therein, means connecting said piston with said carriage whereby movement of said piston in one direction in said cylinder produces movement of said carriage into said press between said jaws and movement of said piston in another direction in said cylinder produces movement of said carriage in another direction out of said press, first means for introducing fluid into said cylinder on one side of said piston to move said piston in said one direction to extend said carriage into said press between said jaws, second means for introducing fluid into said cylinder on the other side of said piston to move said piston in said other direction to withdraw said carriage from said press, means on said carriage for picking up a finished sheet within said press after said carriage has been extended into said press, and means for starting the operation of said second means after the operation of said pickup means.

Claim 15

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said pick up means includes cylinder means for raising said sheet from its position within said press prior to the removal of the sheet from the press.

Claim 16

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including means for discharging said finished sheet from said carriage when said carriage is moved to a predetermined position out of said press.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including means for actuating said first means when the jaws of said press have been opened to a predetermined position.

Claim 18

Apparatus as set forth in claiM 11 including means for starting the jaws of said press to close when said carriage has withdrawn to a predetermined position.

Claim 19

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 including means for producing a signal as said carriage is withdrawn and before it reaches said predetermined position.

Claim 20

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said pick up means includes a plurality of vacuum cups adapted to engage the finished sheet.

Claim 21

Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said discharge means includes mechanism for cutting off vacuum to said cups.

Claim 22

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said pick up means includes a cylinder and a piston, said piston being arranged to move downwardly toward said finished sheet when extended, means for attaching the downward end of said piston to said sheet whereby to raise said sheet when said piston is retracted, and means for retracting said piston to elevate said sheet after said sheet has been picked up and before said period has expired.

Claim 23

Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 including switch means operable when said sheet has been elevated to a predetermined position for starting flow of fluid to said other side of said first mentioned piston to start said carriage to move in said other direction out of said press.

Claim 24

Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 in which said switch means is operable to contact with said finished sheet.

Claim 25

Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 including time delay means for actuating said retracting means after a period following downward movement of said piston.

Claim 26

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including means on said carriage for grasping a sheet to be fed to the press, and means for releasing said grasping means after said carriage has been withdrawn with said sheet in tow to a predetermined position, said starting means being operable after the operation of both said releasing means and said pickup means.

Claim 27

Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 including means for releasing said pickup means to drop said finished sheet when said carriage has been withdrawn to a predetermined position beyond said predetermined position.

Claim 28

In apparatus of the character set forth, a press having jaws which open to receive material between said jaws, a carriage which is movable between said jaws into and out of said press, a fluid cylinder having a piston therein, means connecting said piston with said carriage whereby movement of said piston in one direction in said cylinder produces movement of said carriage into said press between said jaws and movement of said piston in another direction in said cylinder produces movement of said carriage in another direction out of said press, first means for introducing fluid into said cylinder on one side of said piston to move said piston in said one direction to extend said carriage into said press between said jaws, second means for introducing fluid into said cylinder on the other side of said piston to move said piston in said other direction to withdraw said carriage from said press, means on said carriage for grasping an edge of a sheet to be fed to the press, means for starting the operation of said second means after the operation of said grasping means, and means operable when said carriage has moved with said sheet in tow to a predetermined position for releasing said grasping means to drop said sheet.

Claim 29

In apparatus of the character set forth, a press having jaws which open to receive material between said jaws, a carriage which is movable between said jaws into and out of said press, a fluid cylinder having a piston therein, means connecting said piston with said carriage whereby movement of said piston in one direction in said cylinder produces movement of said carriage into said press between said jaws and movement of said piston in another direction in said cylinder produces movement of said carriage in another direction out of said press, first means for introducing fluid into said cylinder on one side of said piston to move said piston in said one direction to extend said carriage into said press between said jaws, second means for introducing fluid into said cylinder on the other side of said piston to move said piston in said other direction to withdraw said carriage from said press, means on said carriage for grasping an edge of a sheet to be fed to the press, means for starting the operation of said second means after the operation of said grasping means, and means operable when said carriage has moved with said sheet in tow to a predetermined position for releasing said grasping means to drop said sheet.

Claim 30

Apparatus as set forth in claim 25 in which said grasping means includes a fluid cylinder and in which said releasing means actuates said cylinder to release said grasping means.

Claim 31

Material handling apparatus for a press comprising a frame, a carriage carried by said frame and reciprocally movable therein, said carriage having a material engaging mechanism on its forward portion and being extensible to bring said forward portion into the open jaws of said press and retractable to remove said portion from the jaws of said press, said material engaging device including a lip arranged to extend on one side of sheet material to be fEd to the press and including also needles arranged for movement through said sheet material and toward said lip, a fluid cylinder fixedly mounted in said frame and having a piston therein, and means for connecting said piston to said carriage to extend said carriage forwardly into said press when said piston is moved rearwardly within said cylinder and to retract said carriage rearwardly when said piston is moved forwardly within said cylinder.

Claim 32

Material handling apparatus for a press comprising a frame, a carriage carried by said frame and reciprocally movable therein, said carriage having a material engaging mechanism on its forward portion and being extensible to bring said forward portion into the open jaws of said press and retractable to remove said portion from the jaws of said press, said material engaging device including a lip arranged to extend on one side of sheet material to be fEd to the press and including also needles arranged for movement through said sheet material and toward said lip, a fluid cylinder fixedly mounted in said frame and having a piston therein, and means for connecting said piston to said carriage to extend said carriage forwardly into said press when said piston is moved rearwardly within said cylinder and to retract said carriage rearwardly when said piston is moved forwardly within said cylinder.