PRESS LOADING AND UNLOADING

A power press arrangement including a series of power presses (11) operating synchronously with intervening loader (21), unloader (22) and conveyor mechanisms (23). The various intervening mechanisms are controlled in synchronism with the presses (11) in the press line through numerical control systems which are co-ordinated with press slide positions. For the loader and unloader mechanism (21 and 22), for each axis thereof, a discrete number of desired position locations are loaded into an associated press control memory, and the data is processed into a derived motion table for each loader and unloader axis and followed to effect axis motion in co-ordination with press slide position. During operation of each press, the associated control system continuously derives motion control parameters for the loader and unloader axes based upon the tubular values. Other peripheral devices such as conveyors and turnover mechanisms are also operated by the control systems.