US 6,668,612 B2Granted

Device for holding a sheet metal blank in a forming press

AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation

InventorsGary A. Kruger, Mark G. Konopnicki

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A device is provided comprising a guide mechanism used to position and securely hold a sheet metal blank in a sheet metal forming press that is operated at high temperatures. A sheet metal blank is initially positioned in the forming press by resting the sheet metal blank on the highest portion of the convex surface of the lower tool member and counter balancing it with a blank loading device that includes a support hand to initially hold the blank. The guide apparatus comprises an engagement tool mounted to a beam that is slidably attached to guide supports. As the upper tool member drops, the engagement tool pinches and securely holds the sheet metal blank as the guide supports slide along the beam in sync with the downward movement of the upper tool member.

Claims7

Dependent claims

An apparatus for use in positioning and securing a sheet metal blank in a forming press for the forming of sheet metal blanks, said press having a convex lower forming tool and a complementary concave upper forming tool, said upper tool being movable from a press open position for insertion of a sheet metal blank between said tools to a press closed position in which said blank is formed between said upper and lower tools, said tools each having sheet metal forming surfaces, said blank extending over said sheet metal forming surfaces to sides of said tools, said apparatus comprising:

a first sheet metal gripping tool comprising a beam including a knife edge, said beam being slidably supported by at least one guide support mounted on a side of said upper tool;
a second sheet metal gripping tool underlying said knife edge and fixed at a side of said lower tool;
whereby as said upper tool closes toward said sheet metal forming position, said first gripping tool presses said sheet metal blank against said second gripping tool to hold said sheet metal blank in position during forming tool closure and said beam slides with respect to said guide support during said closure.

An apparatus for securing a sheet metal blank in a forming press, where said forming press comprises a concave upper tool and a complementary convex lower tool, said tools each having sheet metal forming surfaces, said blank being formed between said upper and lower tools as said tools move from a press open to a press closed position, said apparatus comprising:

guide supports mounted to a side of said upper tool member;
a beam slidably attached to said guide supports, wherein said beam comprises a block with a knife edge for engaging said sheet metal blank as said upper forming tool moves to a press closed position;
and
a load bearing block mounted at said margin of said lower tool for supporting an edge of an overlying sheet metal blank, as said upper forming tool moves to said press closed position, said block having a sheet metal pressing surface comprising a channel underlying said knife edge, said channel having tapered sides for receiving said sheet metal engaged by said knife edge.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/080,054Filed 21 Feb 2002
Published: US 2003/0154760 A121 Aug 2003
Granted: 30 Dec 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B21D 26/055
Characterised by the material of the blanks: blanks having super-plastic properties
B21D 5/0281
On press brakes without making use of clamping means: workpiece supporting devices
B21D 43/00
Feeding, positioning or storing devices combined with, or arranged in, or specially
Y10S 72/709
Metal deforming: superplastic material