Importance

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Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed for shuttling a workpiece to a work station in a forging press and rotating the workpiece about a vertical axis to orient different portions thereof relative to the work station. The apparatus includes a workpiece support mounted on a horizontally reciprocable shuttle plate for displacement therewith toward and away from the press and for displacement relative thereto about and along a vertical axis. A workpiece to be forged is positioned on the workpiece support while the shuttle plate is displaced from the press, and displacement of the shuttle plate toward the press positions a portion of the workpiece at the press work station. A pair of leveling units are mounted on the shuttle plate adjacent the workpiece support and are operable to support portions of the workpiece outside the work station during a forging operation. During the forging operation, the workpiece support is lowered out of engagement with the workpiece and, following the forging operation, the workpiece support is raised to lift the workpiece from the leveling units and the press anvil at the work station. The workpiece support is then pivoted about the vertical axis to position another portion thereof at the work station, whereafter the workpiece support is lowered for the workpiece to be supported by the anvil and leveling units. When the entire forging operation has been completed, the workpiece is again elevated by the workpiece support and the shuttle plate is displaced outwardly from the press to facilitate removal of the finished workpiece.

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First Claim