Abstract:
A self-contained unit to be attached to a power punch press to provide a feed for stock being fed to the press. The unit contains a direct drive from the punch press crankshaft to feed rolls which are located adjacent to the table of the press. A non-slip, positive, drive is provided from the crankshaft of the punch press to an index drive which receives continuous, uniform rotary motion and converts it into non-continuous, incremental movement of the index drive output shaft. A positive, non-slip drive is provided between the index drive output shaft and the power driven feed roll. The feed roll unit also contains a compressed air-operated cylinder arrangement to release the idler feed roll at a predetermined period during the punch press cycle so that the stock being fed to the press is free from the feed rolls during the pressing portion of the punch press operating cycle. A cam secured to the punch press crankshaft actuates a solenoid valve which, in turn, opens a pilot valve and permits flow of compressed air to reverse the power cylinder, which normally urges the idler feed roll against the power driven feed roll, and thereby releases the idler feed roll to release the stock between the feed rolls of the self-contained unit.