U.S. patent number 3,817,135 [Application Number 05/302,345] was granted by the patent office on 1974-06-18 for flange punch positioning apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Manco Mfg. Co.. Invention is credited to Raymond L. Valente.
United States Patent |
3,817,135 |
Valente |
June 18, 1974 |
FLANGE PUNCH POSITIONING APPARATUS
Abstract
The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is directed to
a flange punch positioning apparatus for locating holes to be
formed through flange portions of structural members such as
I-beams, channels, and angles. In the case of I-beams, the holes
formed in the flanges are located with respect to the horizontal
line or plane bisecting the horizontal web portions. In the case of
forming holes in channels or angles the holes are located in the
flange with respect to the bottom surface of the horizontal web.
The apparatus automatically positions the punch at the desired
height along the flange by using a pair of diametrically opposed
axially movable sensing rods which engage both sides of the web
portion of the structural member to sense the relative level of the
web. Once the proper reference level is sensed, the punch mechanism
is moved into position above and/or below the web and the hole is
formed.
Inventors: |
Valente; Raymond L. (Kankakee,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Manco Mfg. Co. (Bradley,
IL)
|
Family
ID: |
23167363 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/302,345 |
Filed: |
October 30, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
83/368;
83/522.22; 83/405; 83/560 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B21D
28/243 (20130101); Y10T 83/538 (20150401); Y10T
83/6484 (20150401); Y10T 83/8743 (20150401); Y10T
83/86 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
B21D
28/24 (20060101); B26f 001/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;83/368,522,560,71,405
;408/18 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Meister; J. M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Olson, Trexler, Wolters, Bushnell
& Fosse, Ltd.
Claims
The invention is claimed as follows:
1. Apparatus for forming holes in flange portions of structural
members, comprising in combination: conveying means over which
structural members are transported, a reference level corresponding
to a surface of said conveying means, sensing means for sensing the
web surface portions of the structural members relative to said
reference level, indicating means responsive to said sensing means
and indicating the relative spacing between said reference level
and said web portions, hole forming means to produce a hole through
the flange portion of the structural members, and positioning means
for moving said hole forming means to a desired predetermined
position represented on said indicating means thereby to precisely
locate said hole forming means adjacent the flange and relative to
the web portion of the structural members.
2. The apparatus for forming holes in flange portions according to
claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes a pair of diametrically
opposed sensing probes movable toward one another on opposite sides
of the web portion of the structural member to be punched, a
carriage assembly into which said hole forming means is movably
mounted, lever means connected to said sensing probes and pivotally
secured to said carriage assembly, said lever means including a
cross link connection to effect movement of said sensing probes
toward and away from one another upon actuation of one of said
lever means, whereby bringing said sensing probes together on
opposite sides of the web portion of the structural member to be
punched will effect shifting of said carriage assembly to a center
position defined by the web portion, said hole forming means being
positioned adjacent the flange portion with reference to the center
position as defined by the web portion.
3. The apparatus for forming holes in flange portions according to
claim 2 wherein said indicating means is operatively connected to
one of said sensing probes to indicate the distance of the web
portion relative to said reference level when they are
different.
4. The apparatus for forming holes in flange portions according to
claim 2 further including actuating means carried within said
carriage assembly and movably supporting said hole forming means,
said actuating means being energized to locate said hole forming
means at the desired position on the flange relative to the web to
form a hole.
5. The apparatus for forming holes in flange portions according to
claim 1 wherein said indicating means includes, a scale, a first
movable pointer adjacent said scale, and a second movable pointer
adjacent said scale and operatively connected to said sensing
means, said scale and said first pointer being fastened to stop
nuts which threadedly engage a shaft for movement in opposite
directions upon rotation of said shaft, a slide collar about said
shaft and between said stop nuts, and means connecting said slide
collar to said hole forming means so it can move freely upwardly
and downwardly until said collar is stopped by one of said stop
nuts.
6. Apparatus for forming holes in the upstanding flange portions of
structural members, comprising in combination: movable sensing
means engageable with the web portion of structural members, a
scale having indicating indicia thereon, a first pointer
operatively connected with said sensing means and movable adjacent
to said scale to set a reference position from which measurement on
said scale can be made, hole forming means for receiving the
flanges of structural members which are to have holes formed
therein, motive means connected to said hole forming means for
moving the same relative to said flanges positioned adjacent
thereto, and second pointer means positioned adjacent said scale
and movable relative thereto to indicate a position on the flange
at which holes are to be formed, this indication being made by the
relative spacing between said first and second pointers as read on
said scale.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 further including a shaft having first
and second oppositely directed thread portions, a freely movable
collar positioned about said shaft, first and second threaded stop
nuts threadedly secured to said first and second threaded portions,
respectively, means connecting said first stop nut to said scale
for movement therewith and for connecting said second stop nut to
said second pointer for movement therewith, whereby rotation of
said shaft causes said scale and said second pointer to move in
opposite directions either toward or away from one another.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said stop nuts set the limit of
travel of said hole forming means.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said limit of travel
corresponds to the location of the holes to be formed in the
upstanding flanges.
10. Apparatus for forming holes in the upstanding flange portions
of structural members, comprising in combination: a movable
carriage to be positioned adjacent the structural member to be
worked on, a pair of spaced apart pivotal arms pivotally secured to
said movable carriage, a cross link connected to one pivotal arm on
one side of the pivot point thereof and to the other pivotal arm on
the other side of the pivot point thereof so as to cause the ends
of the pivotal arms to move in diametrically opposed directions
upon actuation of one of the arms, probe means connected to the
free ends of said pivotal arms and extending toward and engageable
with opposite sides of the web portion of the structural member to
be worked to cause movement of said carriage to a center position
corresponding to the position of the web of the structural member,
indicating means, a reference pointer actuated by said probe means
and positioned adjacent said indicating means to provide a
reference position on the indicating means which corresponds to the
position of the web of the structural member, and hole forming
means movably carried within said carriage and including means
adjustable along said indicating means, such that the distance of
said hole forming means from the position of the web is measured
from a point corresponding to the reference pointer also positioned
adjacent the indicating means.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said hole forming means
includes a C-frame movably suspended within said carriage by a
hydraulic cylinder, and said means adjustable along said indicating
means includes a second point associated therewith, and stop means
associated with said indicating means at said second pointer to
effect the limit of travel of said C-frame upon actuation of the
hydraulic cylinder.
12. In an apparatus for processing a workpiece such as a structural
member having a horizontal portion and an upstanding flange
portion, the combination comprising: means for supporting workpiece
positioning tool means adjacent said flange portion of a workpiece,
positioning means for moving said tool support means transversely
of said flange for selectively positioning the tool means in
accordance with the location of one side surface of the horizontal
portion and in accordance with a plane substantially bisecting said
horizontal portion, said positioning means including opposed
sensing elements engageable with opposite side surfaces of said
horizontal portion and including means for engaging and maintaining
said elements in fixed relationship against said opposite side
surfaces, and indicating means for indicating the position of said
tool support means relative to said one side surface.
13. A combination, as defined in claim 12, which includes second
indicating means for indicating the position of said tool support
means relative to said plane.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to apparatus for punching holes in
structural members such as I-beams, channels and angles, and more
particularly to an apparatus for automatically positioning a punch
mechanism at the desired level above a reference line to form holes
in the flange portions of the structural members.
The ever increasing use of structural steels for building materials
has prompted the advent of prefabricated structural subassemblies
to be formed prior to positioning the structural members in place
on a building, or the like, and secured thereto. Such
prefabrication of subassemblies can take place either at the
manufacturer's plant or on the site at ground level before the
structural unit is hoisted into position. Because of the tolerances
required of prefabricated subassemblies, each of the structural
components that go into its making must be controlled for proper
tolerance in such things as the location of holes which receive
fasteners such as bolts, rivets and the like. Heretofore, the
accurate location of such holes was accomplished manually. Because
of the large number of such structural members being used today in
the construction of highrise buildings and the like, it has become
financially disadvantageous to continue manual location of such
holes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an
apparatus for automatically sensing a reference level of a
structural member and therefrom automatically position a punch at
the desired location above the reference levels to form holes in
the flange portions thereof.
Another object of this invention, particularly from a manufacturing
standpoint, is to provide an apparatus for quickly and
inexpensively sensing the web portion of structural members and
forming holes a precise location in the flange portion as measured
from the web portion.
Briefly, the present invention is directed to positioning apparatus
for locating and punching holes in the upstanding flanges of such
workpieces as I-beams, channels and angles. The holes are located
with respect to the horizontal web portion of these workpieces. In
the case of I-beam structural members the holes are located above
and below the horizontal center line passing through the horizontal
web portion of the I-beam. In the case of angles and channels the
holes are located by reference to the bottom surface of the
horizontal web, this bottom surface corresponding to the top bed
surface of a roller conveyor, or the like. The present apparatus
includes means for automatically positioning a C-frame carrying a
pair of punches at the diametrically opposed open end portions of
the C-frame so that either the upper flange or the lower flange
portions can be punched. The C-frame receives the flange portions
therein and is actuated to the proper position to form the hole in
either the lower flange or the upper flange, whichever the case may
be.
Many other objects, features and advantages of this invention will
be more fully realized and understood from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings wherein like reference numerals throughout the various
views of the drawings are intended to designate similar elements or
components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a hole forming machine
utilizing the flange punch mechanism of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the machine of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partial elevational sectional view of a C-clamp punch
frame and positioning mechanism constructed in accordance with this
invention;
FIG. 4 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an end view of an I-beam structural member which has
holes formed therein in accordance with this invention;
FIG. 6 is an end view of an angle structural member which has holes
formed therein in accordance with this invention; and
FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view of the scale and indicating
mechanism of the apparatus of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is seen a punching apparatus
designated generally by reference numeral 10 which includes two
punching stations 11 and 12 for forming holes in the web and flange
portions, respectively, of structural members such as I-beam,
channel and angles. A roller conveyor 13 is positioned at the input
side of the punching apparatus 10 and directs structural members
along a conveying path over an open top table 14. The web punch 11
forms holes through the web portion at desired locations therein
while the flange punch 12 forms holes in the flanges, these
operations being made either sequentially or simultaneously as
desired. An output roller conveyor 16 is positioned at the other
end of the open top table 14 to receive the finished structural
member and transport it to a loading or assembling station. The
configuration of the web punch 11 may take any suitable form as
this portion of the punching apparatus does not form part of this
invention.
More specifically, the novelty of this invention is directed to the
arrangement by which the flange punch 12 can be positioned to an
accurate location on either side of a web of an I-beam or along the
flange portion of a channel or angle. FIG. 5 illustrates an I-beam
17 into which holes are to be formed in the flange portions 17a and
17b. The web portion 17c may have holes formed therein by the web
punch 11. The distance of the holes in the flange portions 17a and
17b is determined by measurement from the center line of the web
17c, this being sensed by sensing probes 19 and 20 of the flange
punch mechanism 12. On the other hand, an angle iron 18 at FIG. 6
will have the holes formed through the flange portion 18a thereof
as measured from the bottom surface of the web portion 18b. When
this is the case the top surface of the roller conveyors 13 and 16
define a reference level corresponding to the bottom surface of the
web 18b.
The flange punch mechanism 12 includes a C-frame 21 having
diametrically spaced apart portions 21a and 21b each carrying
horizontally disposed punch and die units 22 and 23, respectively.
The C-frame is movably mounted in a movable carriage 24 and
supported therein by a hydraulically actuated cylinder 26 fastened
to the top end of the C-frame. The carriage 24, together with the
C-frame 21 therein, is laterally movable relative to a support
frame 27 while the C-frame is movable relative to the carriage. As
a workpiece is conveyed from the roller conveyor 13 between the
spaced arm portions 21a and 21b of the C-frame 21, the C-frame is
moved transversely of the conveying path so that no frictional
contact is made with the flange portions passing therethrough.
After positioning of the flange of the workpiece at the proper
location and before punching operation takes place, the sensing
probes 19 and 20 are moved into contact with the web portion of the
workpiece so that the carriage 24 and C-frame therein can be
positioned at the proper reference line, either the web of the
I-beam or the bottom portion of the L or channel member. After the
carriage 24 is centered, an indicator and pointer means 28 is
adjusted so that the C-frame can be moved either upwardly or
downwardly by the cylinder 26 and position the appropriate punch at
the proper location. After this positioning is accomplished, the
punch mechanism is actuated to form the hole in the flange with the
center line of the hole being measured from the reference line of
the web portion.
To locate the position of the holes to be formed in the flanges, a
hand wheel adjustment means 29 is connected to a chain drive 30 via
a shaft 31. The chain drive 30 is then coupled to a sprocket 32
which, in turn, is secured to a threaded shaft having both right
hand and left hand threads extending in opposite directions from
the center thereof. This shaft transports a pair of upper and lower
threaded stop nuts 33 and 34 and a nonthreaded central collar 36 is
secured to the C-frame 21 and positioned about the shaft between
the stop nuts. The extent of upward or downward travel of the
C-frame is then limited by the position of the stop nuts 33 and 34,
this limiting action taking effect when the collar 36 engages the
appropriate stop nut.
For a better understanding of the operation of the sensing probes
19 and 20, reference is now made to FIGS. 3 and 4. Here the sensing
probe 19 is connected to a first link 40 secured to a horizontally
disposed pivotal arm 41 which is secured to the inner wall surface
of the carriage 24 by means of a pivot pin 42. The arm 41 has the
other end thereof pivotally connected to a cross link 43 which, in
turn, is connected to a second pivotal arm 44. This second pivotal
arm has one end thereof connected to the sensing probe 20 via a
link 46 and the other end thereof connected to a hydraulically
actuated cylinder 47. When the probes 19 and 20 are sufficiently
spaced apart to allow passage of the workpiece 48, here being shown
as a channel, or a second workpiece such as the I-beam 17 of FIG.
5, the center position of the carriage 24 is arbitrary at the level
of the conveyors. When the probes 19 and 20 are brought into
contact with opposite surfaces of the web portion of the workpiece,
by outward actuation of the hydraulic cylinder 47, the carriage 24
will be centered at the location of the web. This is accomplished
by the fact that the pivotal arm 44 is pivotally secured to the
wall of the carriage 24 by means of a pivot pin 50 which
corresponds to the pivot pin 42 of the arm 41 and the entire
carriage 24 moves in one direction or another so as to cause
centering thereof about the web portion of the workpiece being
sensed.
As best seen in FIG. 7 the probe 19 is connected to a movable
pointer 50 through a rod 51 thereby giving a relative indication of
the level of the web with respect to the reference level previously
indicated as the top surface of the roller conveyors 13 and 16.
When a channel or angle iron is being operated on, the pointer 50
will indicate a zero reference level, this corresponding
substantially to the level of the roller conveyor. On the other
hand, should the probe 19 be in an elevated position, thus
corresponding to the position of the web portion of an I-beam, the
pointer 50 will be shifted upwardly to, for example, the two or
three inch mark on a scale 52.
In the illustrated embodiment of this invention the scale 52 is
carried by a support rod 53 which, in turn, is secured to the stop
nut 34 and movable therewith. On the other hand, a second pointer
54 is carried by a rod 56 which is secured to the other stop nut 33
and movable therewith. Therefore, cranking of the hand crank 29 to
rotate the threaded shaft 32 will cause the stop nuts 33 and 34 to
move in opposite directions, in this instance they are being moved
apart to set the upper and lower limits of travel of the C-frame.
The collar 36 is secured to the C-frame 21 by a bracket 57.
To observe a relative distance between the appropriate reference
line, either the central web of an I-beam or the bottom surface of
a channel or angle, the second pointer 54 is compared with the
position of the first pointer 50 and the distance between these
pointers, as measured on the scale 52, is that distance between the
center line of the particular web involved and the center line of
the hole to be formed. For example, cranking the hand wheel 29 will
cause pointer 54 and scale 52 to move in diametrically opposite
directions by the corresponding threaded movement of the stop nuts
33 and 34. However, during this cranking operation the first
stationary pointer 50 does not move, but the scale 52 moves
relative thereto. The scale 52 and pointer 54 move in opposite
directions and thus will provide a two to one motion between the
pointer 54 and the right hand side of the scale and a one to one
motion between the pointer 50 and the left hand side of the scale.
The observation of the desired dimension is taken between the
relative spacing between the two pointers 50 and 54.
Referring again to FIG. 3 the carriage 24 is suspended within the
support housing 27 by a roller truck unit 60 actuated by the
hydraulic cylinder 61. As mentioned previously, the punch and die
portion of the C-frame are moved to be disengaged from the flanges
as the workpiece is transported through the apparatus. When the
proper position is obtained the hydraulic cylinder 61 is actuated
to the left, as seen on the drawing, and the die portions of the
punches are brought into engagement with the inside surface of the
corresponding flanges whereupon the punches are actuated to form
the holes.
While a single embodiment of this invention has been illustrated,
it will be understood that variations and modifications may be
effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel
concepts disclosed and claimed herein.
* * * * *