# US 11,077,479 B2 · Pressing device and method for controlling pressing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,479 B2 - Document ID: US11077479B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/348,693 - Filed: 2017-11-01 - Published: 2019-09-19 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-28 - Assignees: Komatsu Industries Corporation - Applicants: Komatsu Industries Corporation - Inventors: Takashi Moriyasu; Masaaki Kashiwa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077479B2 ## CPC - B21D 37/04: Movable or exchangeable mountings for tools - B21D 43/00: Feeding, positioning or storing devices combined with, or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, apparatus for working or processing sheet metal, metal tubes or metal profiles; Associations therewith of cutting devices - B21D 43/02: Advancing work in relation to the stroke of the die or tool - B21D 43/05: specially adapted for multi-stage presses {(B21D43/145 takes precedence)} - B30B 13/00: Methods of pressing not special to the use of presses of any one of the preceding main groups - B30B 15/30: Feeding material to presses - 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) - B30B: PRESSES IN GENERAL (producing ultra-high pressure or ultra-high pressure and high temperature to effect modifications of a substance, e.g. for making artificial diamonds B01J3/00 ){(compressing means for refuse receptacles B65F1/1405)} ## Abstract A pressing device is capable of selectively pressing either a coiled material or a sheet material. The pressing device includes a pair of bars and a first retracting mechanism. Each bar includes a holding section capable of holding the sheet material, a first end section separably linked to the holding section on an upstream side of the holding section along a conveyance direction of a material, and a second end section separably linked to the holding section on a downstream side of the holding section along the conveyance direction. The first retracting mechanism is configured to move the first end sections to an upper first retracted position during the pressing of the coiled material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pressing device comprising: a pair of bars, each of the bars including a holding section configured to hold a sheet material, a first end section separably linked to the holding section on an upstream side of the holding section along a conveyance direction of a material, and a second end section separably linked to the holding section on a downstream side of the holding section along the conveyance direction; and a first retracting mechanism that is disposed above the first end sections and configured to move the first end sections up and down in a vertical direction of the pressing device, the first retracting mechanism moving the first end sections upward to a first retracted position during pressing of a coiled material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pressing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a slide configured to move up and down in the vertical direction; a die clamper arranged to move together with the slide and configured to attach an upper die to a lower face of the slide; and a second retracting mechanism configured to retract the holding sections of the pair of bars to a second retracted position that is outside a working region, the working region being a region where the slide and the die clamper move during the pressing of the coiled material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The pressing device according to claim 2, further comprising: a moving bolster provided with the second retracting mechanism, the moving bolster being configured to move between a pressing position where the pressing is performed and a die replacement position where die replacement is performed, the second retracting mechanism including a support member configured to support the holding sections of the bars; and a support member movement mechanism configured to move the support member outside of the working region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The pressing device according to claim 2, further comprising: a crown disposed above the slide, the crown being configured to support the slide so that the slide is movable up and down in the vertical direction; and a plurality of uprights supporting the crown above the slide, each of the uprights having an inner face that faces inward in a width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction and the vertical direction, the second retracted position being located farther outside the working region than the inner faces of the uprights along the width direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pressing device according to claim 1, wherein the first retracting mechanism is a lift drive mechanism that is disposed above the first end sections, the lift drive mechanism being configured to move the first end sections of the pair of bars up and down when the sheet material is conveyed, the lift drive mechanism executing the moving of the first end sections to the first retracted position during the pressing of the coiled material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The pressing device according to claim 5, wherein the first retracted position is above an uppermost position to which the lift drive mechanism moves the first end sections when the sheet material is conveyed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pressing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a lift drive mechanism disposed above the first end section, the lift drive mechanism being configured to move the first end sections of the pair of bars up and down in the vertical direction when the sheet material is conveyed; and a clamp drive mechanism disposed above the first end section, the clamp drive mechanism being configured to move the first end sections of the pair of bars along the conveyance direction and along a width direction during the conveyance the sheet material, the width direction being perpendicular to the vertical direction and the conveyance direction, the first retracting mechanism moving the lift drive mechanism and the clamp drive mechanism upward when the first retracting mechanism moves the first end sections upward to the first retracted position during the pressing of the coiled material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The pressing device according to claim 7, wherein the first retracted position is above an uppermost position to which the lift drive mechanism moves the first end sections when the sheet material is conveyed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The pressing device according to claim 7, wherein the lift drive mechanism is disposed in a box, and the first retracting mechanism is configured to move the box up and down in the vertical direction. ### Claim 10 A method for controlling a pressing device comprising: moving first end sections of a pair of bars upward in a vertical direction of the pressing device to a first retracted position during pressing of a coiled material, each of the bars including a holding section configured to hold a sheet material, one of the first end sections, the first end section being separably linked to the holding section on an upstream side of the holding section along a conveyance direction of a material, and a second end section separably linked to the holding section on a downstream side of the holding section along the conveyance direction; and transmitting a signal as a trigger in order to cause a feeder to supply the coiled material to the pressing device to enter the pressing device once the moving of the first end sections is complete the moving of the first end sections to the first retracted position being executed using a first retracting mechanism that is disposed above the first end sections and configured to move the first end sections up and down in the vertical direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method for controlling a pressing device according to claim 10, further comprising: retracting the holding sections of the pair of bars to a second retracted position that is outside a working region where a slide and a die clamper of the pressing device move up and down in the vertical direction during the pressing of the coiled material. ### Claim 12 A press system comprising: a pressing device; a coil line configured to supply a coiled material to the pressing device; and a destacker unit configured to supply a sheet material to the press device, the pressing device being configured to selectively press the coil material or the sheet material, and the pressing device including a pair of bars and a first retracting mechanism, each of the bars including a holding section configured to hold a sheet material, a first end section separably linked to the holding section on an upstream side of the holding section along a conveyance direction of a material, and a second end section separably linked to the holding section on a downstream side of the holding section along the conveyance direction, and the first retracting mechanism being disposed above the first end sections of the pair of bars and configured to move the first end sections up and down in a vertical direction of the pressing device, the first retracting mechanism moving the first end sections upward in the vertical direction to a first retracted position during pressing of the coiled material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The press system according to claim 12, wherein the pressing device further includes a lift drive mechanism disposed above the first end section, the lift drive mechanism being configured to move the first end sections of the pair of bars up and down in the vertical direction when the sheet material is conveyed, the first retracted position is above an uppermost position to which the lift drive mechanism moves the first end sections when the sheet material is conveyed.