# US 10,307,928 B2 · Device for punching an opening into a lightweight metal sheet and a method for performing the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,928 B2 - Document ID: US10307928B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/682,598 - Filed: 2015-04-09 - Published: 2015-10-15 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-09 - Assignees: thyssenkrupp AG; ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG - Applicants: Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG; Thyssenkrupp AG - Inventors: Azeddine Chergui; Andreas Niesen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307928B2 ## CPC - B26D 7/10: by heating (with Laser B23K26/00; severing by heating B26F) - B21D 28/26: in sheets or flat parts - B21D 28/265: {with relative movement of sheet and tools enabling the punching of holes in predetermined locations of the sheet, e.g. holes punching with template} - B26D 7/1863: {by suction} - B26D: CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING (for growing crops or plants A01D, A01G; for fodder or straw A01F; for bulk butter A01J; for dough A21C; slaughtering A22B; for tobacco, cigars or cigarettes A24; marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; manufacturing footwear A43D; brushmaking A46D; surgery A61B; disintegrating, mincing or shredding in general B02C; cutting wire, making pins or nails B21F, B21G; of the kind used formetal B23; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; hand-held cutting tools B26B; perforating, cutting-out, stamping-out or punching, or severing by means other than cutting B26F; for wood B27; for stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices B65H35/00; for leather or upholstery B68, C14B; for glass C03B; making matches C06F; for peat C10F; for sugar C13B45/00; for textile materials D06H; civil engineering, building, mining, see Section E; for light guides G02B6/25; cutting processed photographic material G03D15/04) - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) ## Abstract The present invention proposes a device, robot with such a device, punch for such a device and method for punching an opening into a lightweight metal sheet that has at least two metallic outer layers and at least one non-metallic core layer arranged between the metallic outer layers, the device having means for carrying out a relative movement of a punch with respect to the lightweight metal sheet and a quill with an integrated heat source, the punch being able to be heated up by the heat source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for punching an opening into a lightweight metal sheet having at least two metallic outer layers and at least one non-metallic inner core layer disposed between said metallic outer layers, the device comprising: a quill having a heat source integrated therewith; a punch coupled to said quill and configured to be heated by said heat source; a flat matrix disposed opposite said quill in a first direction of movement, and configured to support said lightweight metal sheet, wherein said flat matrix comprises a continuous opening configured to extract a portion of the lightweight metal sheet displaced during movement of said punch; a means for moving said punch in the first direction relative to said lightweight metal sheet, said quill, punch, and means for moving said punch forming a punching device; wherein said punch comprises at least a punching region and a stamping region at least partially surrounding said punching region in a peripheral manner; and wherein the stamping region deforms and brings a portion of the at least two metallic outer layers surrounding the punching region into contact. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said punch is configured to be exchangeable in said quill. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said heat source is at least partially disposed within said quill. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said quill has auxiliary means for arresting said punch on said quill. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said quill has at least one of a conical or frustoconical shaped neck configured to provide an interlocking connection between said quill and said punch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a gripper having a first gripper jaw onto which said quill is disposed, and a second opposing gripper jaw onto which said flat matrix is disposed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein said gripper further has a lever arm operatively coupled to at least one of said first or second gripper jaws, and wherein said first gripper jaw is moveable in relation to said second gripper jaw by said lever arm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a robot in operative communication with said punching device, said robot being configured to transfer said punching device to a punch changing table and move said coupled quill and punch into communication with a physical stop that is configured to release said punch from said quill. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said heat source comprises a heating pin, and wherein a heat output of said heating pin is controllable. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said punching region extends past said stamping region in the first direction of movement, and wherein an outer diameter of said stamping region is greater than an outer diameter of said punching region. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method of punching an opening into a lightweight metal sheet, comprising: providing the device for punching of claim 1; providing a lightweight metal sheet comprising at least two metallic outer layers and at least one non-metallic inner core layer disposed between the metallic outer layers; disposing said flat matrix opposite said quill in the first direction of movement, and configured to support the lightweight metal sheet; moving the punch relative to the lightweight metal sheet; heating at least a portion of the punch by the heating source; forcing the punch through the lightweight metal sheet so as to cause an opening to be punched there through; at least partially displacing the nonmetallic core layer of the lightweight metal sheet by thermal energy transferred from the heat source to the punch and to the nonmetallic core layer; and urging the metallic outer layers of the lightweight metal sheet into contact with each other in a region adjacent to the opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said flat matrix comprises a suction-extraction opening configured to extract a portion of the core layer displaced during movement of the device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said punch is configured to be exchangeable in said quill. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising a gripper having a first gripper jaw onto which said quill is disposed, and a second opposing gripper jaw onto which said flat matrix is disposed.