Girard Associates, Inc. & Girard Engineering, Inc. - Cleveland, Ohio - Forging and Industrial Controls / Enclosures

GIRARD HOME >> HATEBUR >> COLDFORMERS >> GRIPPERS

SPECIALIZED GRIPPERS GIVE YOU COMPLETE CONTROL

Grippers 'Leap-Frog' The Punches

During the forming operation, grippers transfer the parts straight across, then open, lift up, and move back over the punches to pickup position.

Short Parts: No Problem!

Even tapered parts with several diameters that tend to tip the second they're ejected are no problem. No need to support them with some kind of counter-holder until the grippers are ready to pick them up, as with conventional transfer systems.

Even parts formed completely inside the punch can be picked up directly by the Coldmatic grippers.

Swing up to change tools

For tool changing, the transfer unlocks and swings up hydraulically at the push of a button and locks automatically when it's back in working position.

Safety

The transfer movement and the opening and closing of every gripper is monitored by proximity switches. They stop the machine instantly whenever proper functioning is impaired. Indicator lights on the control desk show where the trouble is.

The grippers can grip a part at the punch-side end, if that's safer. This makes it easier to push them into the next die.

Optional: Parts Transfer Monitor

Stops the machine if a part is not transferred correctly -- before double-loading occurs.

No play at all!

This transfer has no sliding motion whatsoever; everything turns on pivots, with no play at all. As a result, the parts are always precisely centered in front of the dies.

Another advantage: the parts can't strike against the dies during transfer, because they're moved along a slightly curved path -- away from the front faces of the dies. (Tool designers note: that's why all dies are the same length on the Coldmatic. No need for cascading.)

They go their own way

Conventional grippers have to wait for the punches to retract after the forming operation before they can travel back and pick up the next blanks. And the ejectors have to wait until the grippers are ready to grip. Not so with the patented Coldmatic grippers: they travel back during the forming operation, up and over the punches. So they're back much quicker and ready to grip again when ordinary grippers would just be starting the return trip.

As soon as the punches start retracting, with just enough room for the gripper fingers, the grippers dive down and grab the parts as they're ejected.

That's why the ejectors are able to kick out the parts much earlier, so they're still guided in the dies when the grippers get hold of them.

BACK TO COLDMATICS INFORMATION PAGE <<<<<