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AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
InventorsShozo Tomioka, Shujiro Matsushima, Yokichi Koezuka, Geniti Tanabe, Koichi Nakasyo
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Process and apparatus are disclosed for automatically interchanging die assemblies in a metal working press having a pair of moving bolsters to be used alternately in the press. An initial condition setting device having control circuits connected to various portions of the press for setting data such as the number of products, the pressing force of the slide of the press for working, the die height for different die assemblies, the balancer air pressure, the die cushion stroke, the die cushion air pressure, the kind of operation of the die cushion for the drawing, the locking or the shearing and the blank holder air pressure is provided for sequentially carrying out various steps. The steps include moving the bolster having the used die assembly thereon out of the press to a predetermined exterior position after unclamping the die assembly and moving another bolster having a new die assembly to be used next set thereon in position into the press for the next operation and clamping the die assembly to be ready for the next operation with removal of safety pins in the die assembly. The die height adjustment, the die cushion air pressure adjustment are carried out fully automatically during the operation, thereby permitting the changing of die assemblies in the entire press line or the changing of die assembly in an individual press to be automatically carried out while the operation of the operator is simplified and the safety in operation is insured so as to improve the efficiency of the press.
Process for automatically interchanging die assemblies, which assemblies are to be used in succeeding operations, in a metal working press in which a first moving bolster is located in a position in the press having mounted thereon a die assembly consisting of an upper die and a lower die which have been used in a preceding operation of the press with the slide of the press being located at the upper dead point thereof and a second moving bolster being located in a position exterior to the press having mounted thereon a die assembly consisting of an upper die and a lower die which are to be used in a succeeding operation of the press, wherein the improvement comprises the steps of adjusting the die assembly on the second bolster including effecting die height adjustment for providing a set clearance for the next die assembly, balancer air pressure adjustment, die cushion stroke adjustment and blank holder air pressure adjustment for the next die assembly according to predetermined set values set for the next operation of the press using the next die assembly on the second bolster upon receipt of an interlocking signal for operating the first and second moving bolsters, moving the first bolster out of the press into position exterior to the set position, moving the second bolster into position in the press, moving the slide which has been located at the upper dead point downwardly to the lower dead point for securing an adapter attached to the upper die mounted on the second bolster to the slide by the clamping action of a die clamper of the slide, moving the slide again to the upper dead point for simultaneously readjusting the die height for applying infeed or pressing force to the slide, lifting a die cushion pad and adjusting the die cushion air pressure, carrying out the pressing operation for producing products in accordance with a predetermined set number, moving the slide again to the upper dead point for adjusting the die height thereby providing a set clearance for the next die assembly, lowering the die cushion pad upon receipt of an interlocking signal for operation of the press and the first and second moving bolsters, moving the slide to the lower dead point for separating the adapter attaching thereto the upper die from the slide by the unclamping action of the die clamper, moving the slide to the upper dead point for readjusting the assembly, and interchanging the die assembly on the first moving bolster located in position at the exterior position with a succeeding die assembly to be used in a succeeding operation, wherein all of the steps are automatically carried out in accordance with a predetermined pattern thereby permitting the changing of the die assemblies to be carried out automatically during the pressing operation by the press.
Apparatus for automatically interchanging die assemblies in a metal working press having a pair of moving bolsters alternately used in the press, wherein the improvement comprises means provided with an initial condition setting device for setting the required die height value, a slide position detecting device for actuating a slide driving motor intermittently by means of a timer through a synchronizing control for automatically adjusting the die height and the die cushion stroke, means having a voltage controlled reducing valve unit including a plurality of check valves and a discharging electromagnetic valve for automatically adjusting the air pressure in an air tank for a balancer, die cushion and blank holder, means having a plurality of electromagnetic valves and a coupling body for automatically connecting and disconnecting the flow of working fluid from the press body to the die assembly attached thereto, and means having an electromagnetic valve for automatically setting the die protecting clearance in the die assembly by operating safety pins mounted in the die assembly, wherein a first series of operations including the adjustments of the die height, the blank holder air pressure, the balancer air pressure and the die cushion stroke and the movement of the moving bolsters out of and into the press body, a second series of operations including clearance adjustment for operation of the die assembly, removal of safety pins, die height readjustment for applying a pressing force to the slide, lifting of the die cushion pad and die cushion air pressure adjustment and a third series of operations including readjustment of the clearance for protection of the die assembly, locking of the safety pins, die height adjustment for removing the pressing force of the slide and lowering the die cushion pad are automatically effected simultaneously in accordance with a predetermined pattern thereby permitting the time required for the changing of the die assemblies in a metal working press to be shortened.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.