Roll forming machine with reciprocating dies
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsKenneth R. LeVey, Thomas S. King, Michael J. Marchese, III, Daniel A. Dechant
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reciprocating die roll forming machine for forming a pattern such as a thread form on the outer surface of a cylindrical blank includes at least one set of reciprocating dies operating upon the blank which rotates in place. The machine includes a slide and bearing combination to support the dies belt driven by a servo-motor controlled by a central processing unit. Mechanism is provided to deliver and position a blank for engagement by the dies. In one form, the machine includes multiple die sets to produce multiple parts during one die reciprocation cycle. In another form, the machine employs separate drive mechanisms to independently drive each die of a set.
Claims20
A method of forming a pattern on a blank having a cylindrical pattern receiving surface comprising:
- providing a first pair of pattern forming dies each having a leading edge and a trailing edge and a pattern forming face mounted in facing relation for reciprocal movement between a fully retracted position and a fully inserted position on opposite sides of a longitudinal plane,
- positioning a longitudinal center of the cylindrical pattern receiving surface of the blank in the longitudinal plane equidistant from said leading edges of said dies,
- simultaneously engaging said faces of said dies with said blank at said cylindrical pattern receiving surface at diametrically opposite surfaces on the cylindrical pattern of the blank,
- axially translating said dies toward said fully inserted position causing the blank to rotate about its longitudinal center to impart said pattern to the cylindrical pattern receiving surface of the blank, wherein the blank remains in a fixed location while the blank rotates about its longitudinal center, and
- supporting said blank solely by engagement of said pattern forming faces of said dies with said pattern receiving surface of the blank during said axial translation of said dies.
A method of forming a pattern on a blank having a cylindrical pattern receiving surface comprising:
- providing a first pair of pattern forming dies each having a leading edge and a trailing edge and a pattern forming face mounted in facing relation for reciprocal movement between a fully retracted position and a fully inserted position on opposite sides of a longitudinal plane;
- positioning a longitudinal center of a cylindrical pattern receiving surface of the blank in the longitudinal plane equidistant from the leading edges of the pattern forming dies;
- simultaneously engaging the pattern forming faces of the pattern forming dies with the blank at the cylindrical pattern receiving surface at diametrically opposite surfaces on the cylindrical pattern of the blank;
- axially translating the pattern forming dies toward the fully inserted position causing the blank to rotate about its longitudinal center to impart the pattern to the cylindrical pattern receiving surface of the blank, wherein the blank remains in a fixed location while the blank rotates about its longitudinal center;
- and
- supporting the blank by engagement of the pattern forming faces of the pattern forming dies with the pattern receiving surface of the blank during the axial translation of the pattern forming dies.
A method of roll forming a cylindrical blank comprising:
- providing a first pair of pattern forming dies each having a leading edge and a trailing edge and a pattern forming face mounted in facing relation for reciprocal movement between a fully retracted position and a fully inserted position on opposite sides of a longitudinal plane;
- positioning a longitudinal center of the blank in the longitudinal plane equidistant from the leading edges of the pattern forming dies;
- simultaneously engaging the pattern forming faces of the pattern forming dies with the blank at diametrically opposite surfaces of the blank;
- axially translating the pattern forming dies toward the fully inserted position causing the blank to rotate about its longitudinal center to impart the pattern on the blank, wherein the blank remains in a fixed location while the blank rotates about its longitudinal center;
- supporting the blank by engagement of the pattern forming faces of the pattern forming dies with the blank during the axial translation of the pattern forming dies;
- and
- releasing the blank from the pattern forming faces of the pattern forming dies when the pattern forming dies reach the fully inserted position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.