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Figure 1


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Figure 2


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Figure 3


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Figure 4


Punch and Notch Machine



The machine takes a length of rubber extrusion, trims one end to length, cuts two notches at specified locations, applies a part number, and punches 4 holes in the extrusion. The machine will make two different parts, one with the notches and one without the notches. It automatically selects and applies the appropriate part number based on whether the knives that cut the notches are in place or not. The safety guards on the near side of the machine are removed to allow some of the inner detail of the machine to be seen. The machines we build are often equipped with a fan, an operator light, and an air hose. The fan is in the upper left part of the picture, the light in the upper right and the air hose is the round red object near the center bottom of the machine.


Figure 2 shows the front of the machine with the safety gate open. In operation, the operator places a length of extrusion in part nests ( one is marked 1 in the picture) When the part is properly positioned as indicated by a signal light, he starts the cycle. The safety gate is lowered (yellow bar near the top of the picture) The gate looks for obstacles such as a hand as it descends and will automatically reverse if anything is under the gate. Only after the gate closes are the moving parts of the machine allowed to cycle.


Figure 3 shows a computer model of the machine with some of the safety features shown. The safety hooks prevent the cutting dies from descending and block contact with sharp knife-edges until after the gate closes. Then the hooks retract to the position shown in Figure 3 and the knives make their cut. Then the punches pierce the rubber, and retract the cutting dies retract and the hooks reengage. Only then will the safety gate open.


Figure 4 shows two views of the finished extrusion after notching and punching operations are complete.






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