Method and apparatus for deep drawing using a rotary turret
AssigneeRD Systems
InventorJames E. Ribordy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for continuously forming cases from blanks using a rotary turret. Blanks are deposited near dies located on the turret. Each blank is centered on the rotary turret using an associated centering mechanism so that the blank is centered over the die. A punch aligned with the die is drives toward an extended position to push the blank through the die, thereby forming a case. The punch and centering mechanism retract as an ejector extends to remove the case from the die. A redraw sleeve coaxial with the punch strips the case from the punch to deposit the punch on the extended ejector. Subsequent turrets may be connected through transfer wheels to the first turret for performing redrawing operations until a case with the desired dimensions is obtained.
Claims19
A method of drawing a workpiece into a battery case having relatively lone side walls and a relatively small diameter, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a plurality of drawing turrets for continuously partly drawing the battery cases, and transfer turrets positioned to pass workpieces or partly formed battery cases to subsequent drawing turrets, each of the drawing turrets comprising a continuously rotating support plate carrying a plurality of tool sets each including a punch and die and a centering mechanism, the plurality of tool sets of a first of the drawing turrets being of a larger diameter than the other pluralities of tool sets, and the plurality of tool sets of each successive drawing turret being of progressively smaller diameter;
- b. loading the workpiece onto the continuously rotating support plate of a first drawing turret;
- c. centering the workpiece over one of the dies with the centering mechanism;
- d. drawing the workpiece with the punch associated with said one of the dies as the first drawing turret rotates, the punch operable between a retracted position, in which the punch is spaced from the die, and an extended position, in which the punch extends at least partially through the die, the punch operating from the retracted position by rotation of the first drawing turret to the extended position to draw the workpiece into the battery case;
- e. removing the case from the die after drawing;
- f. depositing the case onto a transfer turret for transfer to a successive drawing turret to ultimately reduce the diameter and increase the length of the case to battery size;
- and
- g. repeating the loading, centering, drawing, removing and depositing steps with a new workpiece for each tool set as the first drawing turret rotates.
Drawing apparatus for drawing a workpiece into a battery case having relatively long side walls and a relatively small diameter, the drawing apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of drawing turrets for continuously partly drawing the battery cases, and transfer turrets positioned to pass workpieces or partly formed battery cases to subsequent drawing turrets, each of the drawing turrets comprising:
- a continuously rotating turret having a support wheel and carrying a plurality of tool sets each including a die and a concentric punch and redraw sleeve unit,
- a centering mechanism mounted on the turret and rotating with the support plate, the centering mechanism operable in a plane perpendicular to the punch between a retracted position, in which the centering mechanism is spaced from the workpiece, and a centered position in which the centering mechanism engages a periphery of the workpiece to center the workpiece over the die,
- each of the punches and redraw sleeve units mounted on the turret and rotating with the support plate, the punches being substantially aligned with the dies and operable between a retracted position, in which the punch is spaced from the die, and an extended position, in which the punch extends at least partially through the die to form the case, and
- means for operating the centering mechanism and punch and redraw sleeve units as the turret rotates, the operating means driving the centering mechanism toward the centered position before driving the punch to the extended position and the redraw sleeve to a clamp position, the operating means driving the punch back toward the retracted position after the case is drawn and the redraw sleeve to a position to strip the case from the punch;
- and
- the plurality of tool sets of a first of the drawing turrets being of a larger diameter than the other pluralities of tool sets, and the plurality of tool sets of each successive drawing turret being of progressively smaller diameter to ultimately reduce the diameter and increase the length of the case to batters size.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.