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US 4,655,071 AGranted
Transfer press with quick change die set arrangement
AssigneeThe U.S. Baird Corporation
InventorsWerner K. Allweier, David W. Knight
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A metal forming press having a reciprocating ram and a transfer mechanism for transferring workpieces sequentially between a multiplicity of work stations located on a multi-post die set has a quick change die set arrangement enabling the press to be utilized in a "just-in-time" manufacturing system. The knockout and stripper mechanism of the press are designed to eliminate the need for disassembly of the same during removal and replacement of die sets.
Claims40
A multi-station metal forming press comprising:
- a press frame having a press bed with a substantially planar, horizontally orientated die set supporting surface, said press bed having a vertical slot therethrough;
- a single ram mounted on said frame for vertical reciprocation above said press bed;
- power drive means operationally connected to said ram to reciprocate said ram;
- a die set having a punch block secured to said ram and a die block secured to said press bed in a face-to-face relationship with said die set supporting surface, said die block having a plurality of apertures spaced along its longitudinal axis aligned with said slot of said press bed, each of said apertures having an intermediate knockout pin located therein, said die set including a plurality of guide post arrangements extending between said punch and die blocks;
- a plurality of metal forming dies mounted on said die block, each of said dies having a centrally located work forming opening therein aligned with a selected one of said die block apertures, each of said openings having a knockout plunger located therein;
- a plurality of metal forming punching tools mounted on said punch block and corresponding in number to said plurality of metal forming dies, each of said punching tools being aligned with and configured to enter into the centrally located work forming opening of its associated die, the associated pairs of dies and punches forming work stations spaced longitudinally within said die set;
- transfer means mounted on said frame and extending within said die set for carrying a workpiece sequentially in a predetermined manner to each of said work stations;
- and
- a knockout mechanism having a plurality of knockout rods, each having upper and lower ends, mounted for longitudinal movement within said slot of said press bed, means positioning each of said knockout rods to a position where its upper end is normally flush with said horizontal surface of said press bed and into operative engagement with its associated intermediate knockout pin, each of said knockout rod and its associated intermediate knockout pin are separate elements, and means engaging said lower ends of said knockout rods for providing a periodic positive upward force on the same within said slot to move said knockout rods out of their normally flush position with said horizontal surface of said press bed;
- whereby said die set, said dies and punching tools, said knockout plungers and intermediate knockout pins can be removed from said frame without interference from said knockout mechanism when said knockout rods have said upper ends thereof flush with said horizontal surface of said die bed.
7 more elements
A multi-station metal forming press comprising:
- a press frame having a press bed;
- a single ram mounted on said frame for vertical reciprocation above said press bed;
- power drive means operationally connected to said ram to reciprocate said ram;
- a die set having a punch block secured to said ram and a die block secured to said press bed, said die set including a plurality of guide post arrangements extending between said punch and die blocks;
- a plurality of metal forming dies mounted on said die block, each of said dies having a centrally located work forming opening therein;
- a plurality of metal forming punching tools mounted on said punch block and corresponding in number to said plurality of metal forming dies, each of said punching tools being aligned with and configured to enter into the centrally located opening of its associated die;
- the associated pairs of dies and punches forming work stations spaced longitudinally within said die set;
- transfer means mounted on said frame and extending within said die set for carrying workpieces sequentially in a predetermined manner to each of said work stations;
- and
- a stripper mechanism having a stripper sleeve surrounding each of said punching tools and a plurality of stripper levers corresponding in number to the number of said stripper sleeves and operatively engaged therewith, said stripper levers being supported for pivotal movement adjacent said die set;
- and
- stripper relief means mounted on said frame and having a removable bar carrying a plurality of adjustable contact elements operatively engageable with said stripper levers and means to move said removable bar in a timed relationship to the operation of said ram whereby said stripper relief means permits upward movement of said stripper sleeves to allow workpiece transfer by said transfer means.
9 more elements
A multi-station metal forming press comprising:
- a press frame having a press bed with a substantially planar, horizontally orientated die set supporting surface, said press bed having a vertical slot therethrough;
- a single ram mounted on said frame for vertical reciprocation above said press bed;
- power drive means operationally connected to said ram to reciprocate said ram;
- a die set having a punch block secured to said ram and a die block secured to said press bed in a face-to-face relationship with said die set supporting surface, said die block having a plurality of apertures spaced along its longitudinal axis aligned with said slot of said press bed, each of said apertures having an intermediate knockout pin located therein, said die set including a plurality of guide post arrangements extending between said punch and die blocks;
- a plurality of metal forming dies mounted on said die block, each of said dies having a centrally located work forming opening therein aligned with a selected one of said die block apertures, each of said openings having a knockout plunger located therein;
- a plurality of metal forming punching tools mounted on said punch block and corresponding in number to said plurality of metal forming dies, each of said punching tools being aligned with and configured to enter into the centrally located work forming opening of its associated die, the associated pairs of dies and punches forming work stations spaced longitudinally within said die set;
- transfer means mounted on said frame and extending within said die set for carrying workpieces sequentially in a predetermined manner to each of said work stations;
- a knockout mechanism having a plurality of knockout rods, each having upper and lower ends, mounted for longitudinal movement within said slot of said press bed, means positioning each of said knockout rods to a position where its upper end is normally flush with said horizontal surface of said press bed and into operative engagement with its associated intermediate knockout pin, each of said knockout rods and its associated intermediate knockout pin are separate elements, and means engaging said lower ends of said knockout rods for providing a periodic positive upward force on the same within said slot to move said knockout rods out of their normally flush position with said horizontal surface of said of said press bed;
- a stripper mechanism having a stripper sleeve surrounding each of said punching tools and a plurality of stripper levers corresponding in number to the number of said stripper sleeves and operatively engaged therewith, said stripper levers being supported for pivotal movement adjacent said die set;
- and
- stripper relief means mounted on said frame and having a removable bar carrying a plurality of adjustable contact elements operatively engageable with said stripper levers;
- whereby said die set, said dies and punching tools, said knockout plungers and intermediate knockout pins can be removed from said frame without interference from said knockout mechanism when said knockout rods have said upper ends thereof flush with said horizontal surface of said die bed.
9 more elements
A multi-station metal forming press comprising:
- a press frame having a press bed;
- a single ram mounted on said frame for vertical reciprocation above said press bed;
- power drive means operationally connected to said ram to reciprocate said ram;
- a die set having having a punch block secured to said ram and a die block secured to said press bed, said die set including a plurality of guide post arrangements extending between said punch and die blocks;
- a plurality of metal forming dies mounted on said die block;
- each of said dies having a centrally located work forming opening therein;
- a plurality of metal forming punching tools mounted on said punch block and corresponding in number to said plurality of metal forming dies, each of said punching tools being aligned with and configured to enter into the centrally located opening of its associated die;
- the associated pairs of dies and punches forming work stations spaced longitudinally within said die set;
- transfer means mounted on said frame and extending within said die set for carrying workpieces sequentially in a predetermined manner to each of said work stations;
- and
- a stripper mechanism having a stripper sleeve surrounding each of said punching tools and a plurality of stripper levers corresponding in number to the number of said stripper sleeves and operatively engaged therewith, said stripper levers being supported for pivotal movement adjacent said die set;
- and
- stripper relief means mounted on said frame and having a removable bar carrying a plurality of adjustable contact elements operatively engageable with said stripper levers and a pair of spaced apart stripper relief levers pivotally mounted above said stripper levers, said removable bar extends between said relief levers.
10 more elements
A multi-station metal forming press comprising:
- a press frame having a press bed;
- a single ram mounted on said frame for vertical reciprocation above said press bed;
- power drive means operationally connected to said ram to reciprocate said ram;
- a die set having a punch block secured to said ram and a die block secured to said press bed, said die set including a plurality of guide post arrangements extending between said punch and die blocks;
- a plurality of metal forming dies mounted on said die block;
- each of said dies having a centrally located work forming opening therein;
- a plurality of metal forming punching tools mounted on said punch block and corresponding in number to said plurality of metal forming dies, each of said punching tools being aligned with and configured to enter into the centrally located opening of its associated die;
- the associated pairs of dies and punches forming work stations spaced longitudinally within said die set;
- transfer means mounted on said frame and extending within said die set for carrying workpieces sequentially in a predetermined manner to each of said work stations;
- and
- a stripper mechanism having a stripper sleeve surrounding each of said punching tools and a plurality of stripper levers corresponding in number to the number of said stripper sleeves and operatively engaged therewith, said stripper levers being supported for pivotal movement adjacent said die set;
- and
- stripper relief means mounted on said frame and having a removable bar carrying a plurality of adjustable contact elements operatively engageable with said stripper levers, said stripper levers have half bearings which support said levers for pivotal movement adjacent said die set and facilitate removal of said levers during die set changeover.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.