MECHANICAL PRESS WITH CAM DRIVE

A mechanical press has a ram carried by a frame and movable to advanced and retracted positions by a ball screw assembly driven by a reversible motor to actuate a cam and follower assembly connected to the ram by a linkage system. The linkag e system has a pair of pivot links pivotally connected at one end to a fixed pivot shaft connected to the press frame and connected at their opposite end to a follower n ut for movement thereby as the follower nut travels along the length of the driven scre w. A pair of roller followers are also driven by the follower nut to move between first an d second positions within cam tracks formed in a pair of first lever arms operably connec ted to the ram. In use, when the motor drives the screw in one direction the first lever ar ms are rotated in one direction to move the ram to its advanced position wherein the ra m urges a die or tool into engagement with a workpiece. When the motor is reversed, the first lever arm is rotated in the opposite direction to move the ram to its retracted position to disengage the die or tool from the workpiece.