# US 11,305,328 B2 · Blanking die apparatuses with infeed assemblies

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- Number: US 11,305,328 B2
- Document ID: US11305328B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/454,270
- Filed: 2019-06-27
- Published: 2020-12-31
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2019-06-27
- Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
- Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
- Inventors: Thoney R. Charles; George A. Weiss
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305328B2

## CPC

- B21D 43/287: {Devices for handling sheet or strip material (B21D43/282 takes precedence)}
- B21D 28/02: Punching blanks or articles with or without obtaining scrap (cutting nails or pins from strips or sheet material B21G3/26); Notching
- B21D 28/26: in sheets or flat parts
- B21D 37/10: Die sets; Pillar guides
- B23D 33/02: Arrangements for holding, guiding, and/or feeding work during the operation
- 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)
- B23D: PLANING; SLOTTING; SHEARING; BROACHING; SAWING; FILING; SCRAPING; LIKE OPERATIONS FOR WORKING METAL BY REMOVING MATERIAL, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (making toothed gears or the like B23F; cutting metal by applying heat locally B23K; arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q)

## Abstract

A blanking die apparatus includes a first blanking die including an upper die shoe including an upper die shoe cutting surface and a lower die shoe including a lower die shoe cutting surface. A second blanking die including an upper die shoe including an upper die shoe cutting surface and a lower die shoe including a lower die shoe cutting surface. An infeed assembly that is configured to form a continuous strip of a metal sheet into a non-planar, arc-shape as the continuous strip of metal sheet enters the first blanking die.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A blanking die apparatus comprising:
a first blanking die comprising an upper die shoe including an upper die shoe cutting surface and a lower die shoe including a lower die shoe cutting surface;
a second blanking die comprising an upper die shoe including an upper die shoe cutting surface and a lower die shoe comprising a lower die shoe cutting surface; and
an infeed assembly configured to form a continuous strip of a metal sheet into a non-planar, arc-shape in a cross-feed direction as the continuous strip of metal sheet enters the first blanking die;
wherein the infeed assembly comprises multiple shaping members having gaps located in the arc-shape in the cross-feed direction that receive the continuous strip of the metal sheet, the first and second blanking dies cooperate to cut a first metal blank that travels in the cross-feed direction along a ramp between the first and second blanking dies and a second metal blank that travels along another ramp in a feed direction from the second die.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The blanking die apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower die shoe cutting surface of the first blanking die has an arc-shape.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The blanking die apparatus of claim 2, wherein the upper die shoe cutting surface of the first blanking die has an arc-shape that is complementary with the arc-shape of the lower die shoe cutting surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The blanking die apparatus of claim 3, wherein the lower die shoe cutting surface of the second blanking die has an arc-shape.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The blanking die apparatus of claim 4, wherein the upper die shoe cutting surface of the second blanking die has an arc-shape that is complementary with the arc-shape of the lower die shoe cutting surface.