Joseph Michael Wright

US Patent:

47492198, Jun 7, 1988

Filed:

Jun 7, 1988

Appl. No.:

6/926323

Inventors:

Fred Bolle - Milford MI
John R. Herronen - Linden MI
Joseph M. Wright - Fenton MI

Assignee:

Tek-Matik, Inc. - Hartland MI

International Classification:

B25J 1506

US Classification:

294 641

Abstract:

A vacuum lift assembly for lifting sheet members to an elevated position. The assembly comprises an air power cylinder vertically positioned with its piston rod projecting downwardly out of the cylinder; a mounting plate to which the mounting flange on the lower end of the cylinder of the cylinder assembly is mounted; a collar extending rigidly downwardly from the mounting plate in surrounding coaxial relation to the piston rod of the cylinder assembly; a block member secured to the lower end of the piston rod and including a bore at its lower end coacting with a vacuum cup secured to the lower end of the block member to define a vacuum cavity; and a lever extending generally vertically at one side of the block member, pivoted intermediate its upper and lower ends on the block member, carrying a seal member at its lower end for respectively opening and closing a vent passage communicating with the bore in the lower end of the block member, and a cam portion adjacent its upper end sized and configured to engage the lower end of the collar in response to upward movement of the piston rod and then guide upwardly along the inner periphery of the collar member as the block member and lever are moved nestingly into the collar member so as to move the lever to its open position against the bias of a coil spring carried by the block member and engaging the upper end of the lever.

US Patent:

46141081, Sep 30, 1986

Filed:

Apr 12, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/722655

Inventors:

Fred Bolle - Milford MI
John R. Herronen - Linden MI
Joseph M. Wright - Fenton MI

Assignee:

Tek-Matik, Inc. - Hartland MI

International Classification:

B21J 1300

US Classification:

72446

Abstract:

A die cart comprising a carriage adapted to be moved along track means toward and away from a press; a turntable mounted for rotary movement on the carriage and having a first load surface at one end thereof and a second load surface of the opposite end thereof; and a transfer device mounted on the turntable for fore and aft movement over the first and second load surfaces and having coupling means for engaging a die to push or pull a die positioned on either load surface onto or off of the bed of the press. The cart includes a first hydraulic motor carried by the carriage for moving the carriage along the track means; a second hydraulic motor carried by the turntable for rotating the turntable on the carriage; and a third hydraulic motor carried by the turntable for moving the transfer device fore and aft over the first and second load surfaces. The cart further includes a hydraulic pump; an air motor arranged to drive the hydraulic pump to create a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid; hydraulic valve means for selectively routing the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the first, second and third hydraulic motors; and air control means for selectively actuating the hydraulic valve means.

US Patent:

47430060, May 10, 1988

Filed:

Mar 18, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/000165

Inventors:

Fred Bolle - Milford MI
John R. Herronen - Linden MI
Joseph M. Wright - Fenton MI

Assignee:

Tek-Matik, Inc. - Hartland MI

International Classification:

B65H 316

US Classification:

271 181

Abstract:

A fanner magnet assembly including a power actuated carriage and a magnet assembly mounted on the carriage for lost motion relative to the carriage and for pivotal movement relative to the carriage. The magnet assembly is moved forwardly into engagement with a side face of the associated stack of metal sheets, whereafter the forward movement of the carriage is continued as allowed by the lost motion connection between the magnet assembly and the carriage to a predetermined initial position, whereafter proximity switches function to withdraw the carriage relative to the magnet assembly to an operative position in which the desired amount of side loading is applied to the stack. As misaligned sheets are encountered in the stack as the stack is moved incrementally upwardly, a beveled face at the bottom of the magnet is cammed rearwardly to accommodate the misaligned sheets or, in the event of grossly misaligned sheets, the misaligned sheets engage the undersurface of the magnet and pivot the magnet assembly upwardly to generate a signal to totally withdraw the magnet assembly from the side face of the stack whereafter the assembly is again advanced to establish the desired loading against the side face of the stack.