Sheet metal forming method and apparatus
AssigneeToyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorKazuyuki Hirata
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fixed die and a punch, which moves toward and away from the die, are provided. A series of bulges is formed in sheet metal between depressions and projections of the die and projections and depressions of the punch. In forming, the punch moves toward the die such that the sheet metal is pressed between first convex sections and second and third convex sections of the die and the punch, and subsequently the sheet metal is pressed between fourth convex sections.
Claims8
A sheet metal forming method using a pair of first and second forming dies, which move toward and away from each other, such that the sheet metal includes bulges, which form a series of projections and depressions and each include inclined side walls, the method comprising:
- superposing first convex surfaces of the first forming die with second convex surfaces of the second forming die such that the first convex surfaces coincide with the second convex surfaces in a pressing direction;
- pressing the sheet metal with the first convex surfaces, in the pressing direction, by moving the first and second forming dies toward each other;
- and
- thereafter, with second convex surfaces, pressing parts of the sheet metal that are opposite to parts that have been pressed by the first convex surfaces, and pressing the side walls between inclined surfaces of the first and second forming dies.
A sheet metal forming apparatus comprising a pair of first and second forming dies, which are moved toward and away from each other to form a sheet metal, wherein
- the first and second forming dies each have a forming surface including a series of alternate depressions and projections,
- an inclined surface is located on each side of each of the depressions and the projections, and
- bottom sections of the depressions and top sections of the projections include convex surfaces that face each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.