Joseph F Gentile

US Patent:

57204217, Feb 24, 1998

Filed:

Dec 6, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/349877

Inventors:

Joseph P. Gentile - Pittsburgh PA
Vaughn H. Martin - Pittsburgh PA
Daniel G. Lukas - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Vamco Machine & Tool, Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B65H 2316
B65H 2000

US Classification:

226 35

Abstract:

A press feed apparatus for use in feeding stock material to a high speed automatic press. The feed roller is driven by a servo motor integral with the shaft of the roller, the feed roller release mechanism is infinitely adjustable, and a feedback system is used to accurately determine the position of various shafts. The apparatus is controlled electronically, by a microprocessor or the like, which permits the press feed to be electronically geared to the press and accurately operate at high speeds.

US Patent:

58682961, Feb 9, 1999

Filed:

Jul 17, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/682232

Inventors:

Joseph P. Gentile - Pittsburgh PA
Vaughn H. Martin - Pittsburgh PA
Daniel G. Lukas - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Vamco Machine & Tool, Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B65H 2316
B65H 2000

US Classification:

226 35

Abstract:

The present invention provides for a press feed apparatus for use in feeding stock material to a high speed automatic press. The feed roller is driven by a servo motor integral with the shaft of the roller, the feed roller release mechanism is infinitely adjustable, and a feedback system is used to accurately determine the position of various shafts. The apparatus is controlled electronically, by a microprocessor or the like, which permits the press feed to be electronically geared to the press and accurately operate at high speeds.

US Patent:

41332164, Jan 9, 1979

Filed:

Dec 16, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/861202

Inventors:

Patrick J. Gentile - Pittsburgh PA
Joseph P. Gentile - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Vamco Machine & Tool, Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

F16H 3500
F16H 106
F16H 2704

US Classification:

74384

Abstract:

Drive and driven shafts are rotatably supported in a wall portion of a press frame and have free end portions extending into a gear case. A first drive gear is nonrotatably secured to the drive shaft and a second driven gear is nonrotatably secured to the driven shaft. A T-shaped member is pivotally connected to the wall and has an intermediate shaft member nonrotatably positioned in a slot for longitudinal movement therein. The intermediate shaft has a free end portion extending into the gear case with intermediate gears rotatably mounted thereon. The T-shaped member is arranged to be suitably adjusted to maintain different sized intermediate gears in meshing relation with different sized drive and driven gears so that the drive shaft imparts a preselected angular velocity to the driven shaft through the gear train. A pair of support arms each have an aperture adjacent one end and an elongated longitudinally extending slot adjacent the other end. Bearing members are mounted in the apertures and the ends of the drive and driven shafts are mounted in the bearings for rotation relative to the support arms.

US Patent:

58845429, Mar 23, 1999

Filed:

Mar 6, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/813828

Inventors:

Joseph P. Gentile - Pittsburgh PA
Vaughn H. Martin - Gibsonia PA
Daniel G. Lukas - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Vamco International, Inc. - Pittsburg PA

International Classification:

B26D 500

US Classification:

83 13

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for protecting a die from damage due to material jams in material stamping equipment wherein feed material is stamped in a die and then advanced through the die by action of press feed rolls powered by a press feed roll drive motor. The position error of the press feed rolls or the torque of the press feed roll drive motor is monitored during the advance of the feed material through the die. The monitored position error of the press feed rolls or the monitored torque of the press feed roll drive motor is then compared to the expected position error of the press feed rolls or the expected torque of the press feed roll motor, respectively. The feed material is moved backwards to a previous position from which the feed material advanced, typically the position at which the feed material was last stamped, if the monitored position error of the press feed rolls or the monitored torque of the press feed roll drive motor deviates by more than a tolerance value from the expected position error of the press feed rolls or the expected torque of the press feed roll motor, respectively. Operation of the material stamping equipment may stopped after the feed material is moved back if desired.

US Patent:

44496583, May 22, 1984

Filed:

Nov 26, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/444604

Inventors:

Joseph P. Gentile - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Vamco Machine & Tool, Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B65H 1726

US Classification:

226138

Abstract:

A two part input shaft is drivingly connected to a crankshaft of a punch press for rotation at a predetermined speed. An adjustable cam drive mechanism drivingly connects the input shaft to a driven feed roll. Continuous rotation of the input shaft is converted by the adjustable cam drive mechanism to intermittent rotation of the feed roll. The intermittent rotation of the feed roll is timed with the press operation so that the feed roll intermittently advances a preselected length of the workpiece to the press after each press operation. A clamp arrangement releasably engages a first portion of the input shaft to a second portion of the input shaft so that, upon disengagement of the clamp arrangement, relative rotation is permitted between the input shaft first and second portions. The input shaft first portion is drivingly connected to the crankshaft of the press and the shaft second portion is drivingly connected to the adjustable cam drive mechanism. When the input shaft first and second portions are drivingly connected, the continuous rotation of the crankshaft is transmitted to the adjustable cam drive mechanism.

US Patent:

48486310, Jul 18, 1989

Filed:

May 27, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/201305

Inventors:

Joseph Gentile - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B65H 2018

US Classification:

226141

Abstract:

A cam shaft of a press feed having a first pair of cam surfaces is rotated at a preselected speed depending upon the speed of the press. Continuous rotation of the cam surfaces is converted to intermittent oscillating rotational movement of an output shaft through a preselected angle of rotation by a pair of cam followers. The cam followers are nonrotatably connected to an output shaft that is connected by an adjustable linkage mechanism to a slide block. The intermittent oscillating rotational movement of the output shaft is transmitted to the slide block to advance the slide block containing stock material such as a bar or wire through a preselected distance corresponding to a preselected feed length. The feed length is adjustable by changing the length of travel of the linkage mechanism with respect to the degree of rotation of the output shaft. The slide block moves horizontally through a preselected distance to feed a preselected amount of material, remains stationary during a first dwell period and releases the material, moves horizontally in the opposite direction back to the initial feed position, remains stationary for a second dwell period and engages the material for another feed cycle.

US Patent:

58084657, Sep 15, 1998

Filed:

Jul 17, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/682199

Inventors:

Joseph P. Gentile - Pittsburgh PA
Vaughn H. Martin - Pittsburgh PA
Daniel G. Lukas - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Vamco Machine & Tool, Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G01B 730

US Classification:

32420717

Abstract:

The present invention provides for a press feed apparatus for use in feeding stock material to a high speed automatic press. The feed roller is driven by a servo motor integral with the shaft of the roller, the feed roller release mechanism is infinitely adjustable, and a feedback system is used to accurately determine the position of various shafts. The apparatus is controlled electronically, by a microprocessor or the like, which permits the press feed to be electronically geared to the press and accurately operate at high speeds.

US Patent:

51816423, Jan 26, 1993

Filed:

May 3, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/695499

Inventors:

Joseph P. Gentile - Pittsburgh PA
Vaughn H. Martin - Aspinwall PA

Assignee:

Vamco Machine & Tool, Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B65H 2018

US Classification:

226137

Abstract:

A press feed is provided having a simple, low-friction, low-inertia linkage mechanism to positively drive feed rolls or grippers of the press feed with substantially uniform pressure. The linkage mechanism includes a three-link assembly having first and second substantially parallel links and a third cross link pivotally connected to the first and second links. The first and second links are pivotally mounted to a housing of the press feed substantially equidistant from the connections to the third cross link. The third cross link has a groove extending substantially at right angles to the transverse axis of the third cross link extending between the connections of the third cross link to the first and second links. First and second slides are positioned in the groove in the third cross link and each slide is connected to a swing arm drivingly connected to the feed roll shafts such that upon operation of the press feed the third cross link moves through an arc defined by a preselected feed length to be fed by the press feed to the press.