Tool, method for forming alignment depressed portion, and alignment structure

A method for forming an alignment depressed portion,

• by using a tool that includes a punch;
• and a die disposed to be opposite to the punch in a vertical direction, wherein one of the punch and the die has a flat surface portion on a surface facing another of the punch and the die, wherein the other has a rib-shaped forming portion that extends long in one direction and protrudes toward the one to have a triangular cross-sectional shape, and wherein a dent portion is formed on one of sloped faces of the forming portion so as to be gouged to form a circumferential face of a cylinder with a vertical axis,
• the method comprising:
• by pressing a metal plate between the punch and the die,
• forming an alignment depressed portion on the metal plate, the alignment depressed portion having a V-shaped cross-section that corresponds to the triangular cross-sectional shape of the forming portion and a protrusion protruding to have a circumferential face that extends in the vertical direction and is associated with the dent portion.

An alignment structure comprising:

• an alignment protruded portion formed to be protruded from an end face of a first workpiece that is a metal plate;
• and
• an alignment depressed portion formed on a surface of a second workpiece such that the alignment protruded portion is entered thereinto and engaged therewith,
• wherein the alignment protruded portion is formed to have a tapered shape that has a bottom face extending in an expanding direction of the first workpiece and an inclined face inclined with respect to the bottom face,
• wherein the alignment depressed portion is a depressed portion that extends in one direction to have a given length and whose cross-sectional shape is formed to have a V-shape including a pair of depressed-portion inclined faces inclined with respect to a thickness direction of the second workpiece, a protrusion that has a face extending in the thickness direction being formed in the middle of the length, and
• wherein the first workpiece is aligned in an orthogonal manner with respect to the second workpiece, while engaging the alignment depressed portion is engaged with the alignment protruded portion, due to an alignment in which the inclined face of the alignment protruded portion contacts one of the pair of depressed-portion inclined faces and the bottom face of the alignment protruded portion contacts the face of the protrusion extending in the thickness direction.

An alignment structure comprising:

• an alignment protruded portion formed to be protruded from an edge portion of a first workpiece that is a metal plate;
• and
• an alignment depressed portion formed on a surface of a second workpiece such that the alignment protruded portion is entered thereinto and engaged therewith,
• wherein the alignment protruded portion is formed to have a tapered shape that has a bottom face extending in a thickness direction of the first workpiece and an inclined face inclined with respect to the bottom face,
• wherein the alignment depressed portion is a depressed portion that extends in one direction to have a given length and whose cross-sectional shape is formed to have a V-shape including a pair of depressed-portion inclined faces inclined with respect to a thickness direction of the second workpiece, a protrusion that has a face extending in the thickness direction of the second workpiece being formed in the middle of the length, and
• wherein the first workpiece is aligned in a stacked manner with respect to the second workpiece, while engaging the alignment depressed portion is engaged with the alignment protruded portion, due to an alignment in which the inclined face of the alignment protruded portion contacts one of the pair of depressed-portion inclined faces and the bottom face of the alignment protruded portion contacts the face of the protrusion extending in the thickness direction.