Two stage die set

A two stage die set for use in a rotary apparatus, having upper and lower rotary members, and having at least one generally semi-cylindrical die support member in each of said upper and lower rotary members, for sequentially blanking an opening in a work piece, and thereafter forming edge formations on said work piece around said opening and being characterized by:

• a male die assembly (14), in turn comprising a male blanking die member (30) defining a male blanking edge (48);
• a male forming die member (32) spaced from said male blanking die member (30) defining a male forming corner (50);
• recess means (34) between said blanking die (30) and said forming die (32);
• a female die assembly (16) in turn comprising a generally hollow female die sleeve member (52), said female die sleeve member (52) being shaped and dimensioned to correspond to said male blanking die member (30) and to receive the same in telescopic relation and defining inner and outer sides;
• wherein said male die assembly (14) is supported on said semi-cylindrical die support member (10) of said upper rotary apparatus and wherein said female die assembly (16) is supported on said semi-cylindrical die support member (12) of said lower rotary apparatus, and having upper spring recess means (44, 42) in said upper semi-cylindrical die support member (10), and including lower spring recess means (76, 78) in said lower semi-cylindrical die support member (12);
• blanking edge means (60) on the inner side of said female die sleeve (52);
• forming corner means (62) on the outer side of said female die sleeve (52);
• a moveable female support plate means (64) located around said outer side of said female die sleeve member (52), and pressure means (76) operable on said moveable female support plate means (64), whereby to urge the same into a first position, and said moveable plate means (64) being adapted to yield to said male forming die member (32) of said male die assembly (14), when said male and female dies (14, 16) are closed together, whereby said male blanking die (30) co-operates with said female die sleeve (52) of said female die assembly (16) to blank out a portion of a work piece (W) and form an opening therein, and whereby upon further relative movement between said male and female die assemblies (14, 16) towards one another, said male forming die sleeve (32) will co-operated with said moveable support plate means (64) and said female die sleeve (52), to cause deformation of an edge portion of said work piece (W) around said opening;
• wherein said female die sleeve (52) defines a predetermined first height, and wherein said movable support plate means (64), in its said first position, defines a predetermined second height, greater than said first height, whereby upon closing of said male and female die assemblies (14, 16), said work piece (W) is initially clamped between said male forming die member (32) and said moveable support plate means (64), just prior to blanking of said opening, and said work piece (W) is blanked prior to any deformation thereof;
• ejector means (38) in said male blanking die member (30), said ejector means (38) being resiliently moveable, whereby the same may be withdrawn into said blanking die member (30), upon closure of said blanking die member (30) on said work piece (W), and, after blanking of said portion of said work piece (W) by said male and female die members, said ejector means (38) being adapted to be extended from said male blanking die (30), whereby to displace said blanking out portion;
• and,
• passageway means (88) in said female die assembly (16) communicating with the interior of said female die sleeve (52) for receiving said blanked out portion of said work piece (W), whereby the same may be disposed of through said passageway means.