Multi-station reciprocating die roll forming machine

A reciprocating die, pattern forming machine, including

• a pair of reciprocal slide members movable along parallel paths on opposite sides of a longitudinal plane with at least one pair of pattern forming dies thereon reciprocal between an insert position and an eject position relative to an associated center of process within said longitudinal plane and a plane perpendicular thereto,
• drive mechanism to reciprocate said dies between said insert position and said eject position,
• mechanism to deliver and position a pattern receiving blank at the center of process associated with said at least one pair of dies when said dies of said pair are in said insert position,
• axial translation of said dies from said insert position to said eject position causing said dies to rotate the blank at said center of process and impart a pattern upon the blank and release a patterned part when said dies are in said eject position,
• wherein said delivery and positioning mechanism includes reciprocal arms having fingers operable when said dies of said at least one pair of dies are positioned in the insert position to reciprocate toward a blank therebetween to position said blank at the center of process,
• wherein said arms are reciprocal by servo-motors and said fingers are arranged to remain in closely spaced relation to the delivered blank during movement of said at least one pair of dies from said insert position to said eject position, said servo-motors providing feedback based on movement of the blank, and
• wherein each reciprocal slide member includes a die holder attached thereto, each said die holder comprising spaced end blocks and a center block connected to said slide member and defining die receiving pockets.

A method of patterning blanks using a multi-station, reciprocating die, pattern forming machine comprising:

• a pair of reciprocal slide members movable along parallel paths on opposite sides of a longitudinal plane with spaced pairs of pattern forming dies thereon reciprocal between an insert position and an eject position relative to an associated center of process within said longitudinal plane and spaced planes perpendicular thereto, wherein each reciprocal slide member includes a die holder attached thereto, each said die holder comprising spaced end blocks and a center block connected to said slide member and defining die receiving pockets;
• a drive mechanism to reciprocate the dies between said insert position and eject position and
• a mechanism to deliver and position a pattern receiving blank at the center of process associated with a pair of dies in the insert position, said method comprising:
• delivering a blank to a center of process when said dies associated with said center of process are in said insert position;
• and
• axially translating said dies from said insert position to said eject position and causing said dies to rotate the blank at said center of process and impart a pattern upon the blank and release a patterned part from said center of process when said dies are in said eject position.

A multi-station, reciprocating die, pattern forming machine, including

• a pair of reciprocal slide members movable along parallel paths on opposite sides of a longitudinal plane with spaced pairs of pattern forming dies thereon reciprocal between an insert position and an eject position relative to an associated center of process within said longitudinal plane and spaced planes perpendicular thereto, wherein each reciprocal slide member includes a die holder attached thereto, each said die holder comprising spaced end blocks and a center block connected to said slide member and defining die receiving pockets,
• wherein each die of each said pair of dies includes a leading edge, a trailing edge and a pattern forming face in facing relation to the pattern forming face of the other die of said pair, and wherein, in said insert position, said leading edge of said dies of a pair are equidistant from the associated center of process and spaced apart a distance sufficient to receive a blank therebetween and wherein, in said eject position, said trailing edges of said dies of a pair are equidistant from the associated center of process and spaced apart a distance sufficient to discharge a patterned part therefrom,
• drive mechanism to reciprocate the dies between said insert position and eject position,
• mechanism to deliver and position a pattern receiving blank at the center of process associated with a pair of dies when said dies of a pair are in said insert position,
• axial translation of said dies from said insert position to said eject position causing said dies to rotate the blank at said center of process and impart a pattern upon the blank and release a patterned part when said dies are in said eject position,
• wherein said delivery and positioning mechanism includes a pair of reciprocal plungers each aligned with one of the centers of process, and operable when said dies of a pair of dies are positioned in the insert position to deliver a blank to a center of process between said dies,
• wherein said plunger is reciprocal by a servo-motor and is arranged to remain in closely spaced relation to the delivered blank during movement of the pair of dies from said insert position to said eject position, said servo-motor providing feedback based on movement of the blank,
• wherein said delivery and positioning mechanism includes reciprocal arms having fingers operable when said dies of a pair of dies are positioned in the insert position to reciprocate toward a blank therebetween to position said blank at the center of process, and
• wherein said arms are reciprocal by servo-motors and said fingers are arranged to remain in closely spaced relation to the delivered blank during movement of said pair of dies from said insert position to said eject position and said servo-motors providing feedback based on movement of the blank.