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US 6,311,597 B1Granted
Self-guiding punch and die set
AssigneeHumdinger, Inc.
InventorsMichael Schroth, Thomas Rooney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A punch and die set is provided for use in a stamping press having a punch assembly and a die assembly reciprocated by a driving mechanism. The punch and die assemblies are aligned to a common center and are structured to slidably engage one another for positive guidance of the punch and die tools without the need for other guidance by shafts, bars or the like. One of the punch assembly and die assembly can be non-fixedly carried by the drive mechanism, allowing the guidance of the engaged punch and die assemblies to define the relative positions of the tools. This arrangement eliminates any stack-up of tolerances between the assemblies and substantially reduces misalignment during stamping, including any misalignment that may be introduced by the press driving mechanism.
Claims20
A self-guiding punch and die set for forming metal parts, comprising:
- a punch assembly having:
- a punch shoe including a first side and a second side operatively engaged by a portion of a stamping press on said second side, said first and second sides being referenced to a common center, said punch shoe to hold at least one tool
- a stripper guide bushing comprising a cylindrical outer wall having an inner surface, an outer surface and a bottom annular wall projecting radially inwardly from said inner surface so as to define a central opening dimensioned to permit passage of said at least one tool and such that said stripper guide bushing is disposed in surrounding and enclosing relation to said punch shoe wherein said punch shoe and said stripper guide bushing are formed so as to be symmetric about said common center;
- and a die assembly having
- a die shoe aligned with and confronting said punch shoe, including a die nest having at least one through-bore;
- and,
- die nest guide bushing disposed in surrounding and enclosing relation to said die nest, wherein said die nest guide bushing is symmetric about said common center and is dimensioned larger than said punch shoe and said stripper guide bushing, such that when said stamping press is actuated, said die nest guide bushing slidingly receives and guides said punch shoe and said stripper guide bushing around a full periphery of said punch shoe and said stripper guide bushing during substantially a full stroke of said stamping press. and the die shoe during at least a portion of a stroke of said stamping press.
4 more elements
A self-guiding punch and die set for use in a stamping press, comprising:
- a punch assembly including a punch shoe having a first side and a second side operatively engaged by a portion of a stamping press on said second side, said first and second sides being referenced to a common center, said punch shoe adapted to hold at least one tool;
- and,
- a stripper guide bushing comprising a cylindrical outer wall having an inner surface and a bottom annular wall projecting radially inwardly from said inner surface so as to define a central opening dimensioned to permit passage of said at least one tool and such that said stripper guide bushing envelopes and surrounds said punch shoe wherein said punch shoe and said stripper guide bushing are circularly symmetric about said first and second side centers;
- and,
- a die assembly including a die nest having a cylindrical guide bushing having an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of said punch shoe and said stripper guide bushing and with said die nest positioned in the die assembly such that said cylindrical guide bushing slidingly received and guides said punch shoe and said stripper guide bushing, said stripper guide bushing bearing against said punch shoe around a full periphery thereof for guiding the punch shoe relative to the die nest during a full stroke of said stamping press.
2 more elements
A self-guiding punch and die set for forming metal parts, comprising:
- a punch shoe including a first side and a second side operatively engaged by a portion of a stamping press on said second side, said first and second sides being referenced to a common center, said punch shoe adapted to hold at least one tool;
- a stripper guide bushing comprising a cylindrical outer wall having an inner surface and a bottom annular wall projecting radially inwardly from said inner surface so as to define a central opening dimensioned to permit passage of said at least one tool and such that said stripper guide bushing is disposed in surrounding and enclosing relation to said punch shoe wherein said punch shoe and said stripper guide bushing are formed so as to be symmetric about said common center;
- a ball cage comprising a cylindrical wall having a plurality of through holes and an inner diameter;
- a plurality of balls positioned within said holes and together defining an outer diameter of said ball cage that is greater than said inner diameter, wherein said ball cage is positioned in surrounding and slidingly engaging relation to said cylindrical outer wall of said stripper guide bushing;
- a die shoe aligned with and confronting said punch shoe, including a die nest having at least one through-bore;
- and,
- a cylindrical die nest guide bushing having an outer surface and disposed in surrounding and enclosing relation to said die nest, wherein said die nest guide bushing is symmetric about said common center and is dimensioned larger than said inner diameter and smaller than said outer diameter of said ball cage such that when said stamping press is actuated, said die nest guide bushing slidingly receives and guides said punch shoe and said stripper guide bushing around a full periphery of said punch shoe and said stripper guide bushing during substantially a full stroke of said stamping press.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.