Guided keeper assembly and method for metal forming dies

A guided keeper assembly for a metal forming die having a stationary die shoe, a reciprocating die pad mounted a spaced apart distance from the stationary die shoe for reciprocation between converged and diverged positions, and a biasing member disposed operably between the stationary die shoe and the reciprocating die pad for biasing the same to the diverged position, comprising:

• a base having:
• a mounting face shaped to abut an adjacent face of the stationary die shoe;
• at least one fastener aperture extending axially through a marginal portion of said base for detachably mounting said base to the stationary die shoe;
• a central aperture extending axially through a central portion of said base;
• and
• a bushing mounted in said central aperture of said base;
• a guide pin having:
• a cylindrically-shaped central portion closely received in said bushing in said base for precisely guiding reciprocal motion between the reciprocating die pad and the stationary die shoe;
• a first end having an enlarged head shaped to abut said base to positively limit travel between the stationary die shoe and the reciprocating die pad;
• and
• a second end, positioned opposite said first end, and having a shoulder with a rigid center post protruding outwardly therefrom to precisely locate said second end of said guide pin in the reciprocating die pad;
• a first fastener extending through said fastener aperture in said base and securely, yet detachably, connecting said base with the stationary die shoe at a location spaced laterally apart from the biasing member;
• and
• a second fastener securely, yet detachably, connecting said second end of said guide pin with the reciprocating die pad at a location spaced laterally apart from the biasing member and aligned with said base.

In a metal forming die having first and second die members mounted a spaced apart distance for reciprocation between converged and diverged positions, the improvement of a guided keeper assembly, comprising:

• a base having:
• a mounting face abutting an adjacent face of said first die member;
• at least one first fastener aperture extending axially through a marginal portion of said base for detachably mounting said base to said first die member;
• a central aperture extending axially through a central portion of said base;
• and
• a bushing mounted in said central aperture of said base;
• a guide pin having:
• a cylindrically-shaped central portion closely received in said bushing in said base for precisely guiding reciprocal motion between said first and second die members;
• a first end having an enlarged head shaped to abut said base to positively limit travel between said first and second die members;
• and
• a second end, positioned opposite said first end, and having a shoulder with a rigid center post protruding outwardly therefrom to precisely locate said second end of said guide pin on said second die member, and an annularly shaped portion that includes a second fastener aperture located a radially spaced apart distance from said center post, and oriented parallel with said center post;
• a first fastener extending through said first fastener aperture in said base and securely, yet detachably, connecting said base with said first die member;
• and
• a second fastener extending into and anchored in said second fastener aperture in said guide pin and securely, yet detachably, connecting said second end of said guide pin with said second die member.

A guided keeper assembly for a metal forming die having first and second die members mounted a spaced apart distance for reciprocation between converged and diverged positions, comprising:

• a base having:
• a mounting face shaped to abut an adjacent face of the first die member;
• at least one fastener aperture extending axially through a marginal portion of said base for detachably mounting said base to the first die member;
• a central aperture extending axially through a central portion of said base;
• and
• a bushing mounted in said central aperture of said base;
• a guide pin having:
• a cylindrically-shaped central portion closely received in said bushing in said base for precisely guiding reciprocal motion between the first and second die members;
• a first end having an enlarged head shaped to abut said base to positively limit travel between the first and second die members;
• and
• a second end, positioned opposite said first end, and having a shoulder with a rigid center post protruding outwardly therefrom to precisely locate said second end of said guide pin on the second die member, and an annularly shaped portion that includes a second fastener aperture located a radially spaced apart distance from said center post, and oriented parallel with said center post;
• a first fastener extending through said fastener aperture in said base and securely, yet detachably, connecting said base with the first die member;
• and
• a second fastener extending into and anchored in said second fastener aperture in said guide pin and securely, yet detachably, connecting said second end of said guide pin with the second die member.

In a metal forming die having a stationary die shoe, a reciprocating die pad mounted a spaced apart distance from said stationary die shoe for reciprocation between converged and diverged positions, and a biasing member disposed operably between said stationary die shoe and said reciprocating die pad and biasing the same to said diverged position, the improvement of a guided keeper assembly, comprising:

• a base having:
• a mounting face abutting an adjacent face of said stationary die shoe;
• at least one first fastener aperture extending axially through a marginal portion of said base for detachably mounting said base to said stationary die shoe;
• a central aperture extending axially through a central portion of said base;
• and
• a bushing mounted in said central aperture of said base;
• a guide pin having:
• a cylindrically-shaped central portion closely received in said bushing in said base for precisely guiding reciprocal motion between said reciprocating die pad and said stationary die shoe;
• a first end having an enlarged head shaped to abut said base to positively limit travel between said stationary die shoe and said reciprocating die pad;
• and
• a second end, positioned opposite said first end, and having a shoulder with a plurality of second fastener apertures therein extending axially in a mutually parallel orientation and arranged in a circumferentially spaced apart relationship on said shoulder to precisely locate and support said second end of said guide pin on said reciprocating die pad;
• a first fastener extending through said first fastener aperture in said base and securely, yet detachably, connecting said base with said stationary die shoe at a location on said metal forming die that is spaced laterally apart from said biasing member;
• a plurality of second fasteners extending into and anchored in said second fastener apertures in said guide pin and securely, yet detachably, connecting said second end of said guide pin with said reciprocating die pad at a location on said metal forming die that is spaced laterally apart form said biasing member and is aligned with said base.

A guided keeper assembly for a metal forming die having a stationary die shoe, a reciprocating die pad mounted a spaced apart distance from the stationary die shoe for reciprocation between converged and diverged positions, and a biasing member disposed operably between the stationary die shoe and the reciprocating die pad for biasing the same to the diverged position, comprising:

• a base having:
• a mounting face shaped to abut an adjacent face of the stationary die shoe;
• at least one first fastener aperture extending axially through a marginal portion of said base for detachably mounting said base to the stationary die shoe;
• a central aperture extending axially through a central portion of said base;
• and
• a bushing mounted in said central aperture of said base;
• a guide pin having:
• a cylindrically-shaped central portion closely received in said bushing in said base for precisely guiding reciprocal motion between the reciprocating die pad and the stationary die shoe;
• a first end having an enlarged head shaped to abut said base to positively limit travel between the stationary die shoe and the reciprocating die pad;
• and
• a second end, positioned opposite said first end, and having a shoulder with a plurality of second fastener apertures therein extending axially in a mutually parallel orientation and arranged in a circumferentially spaced apart relationship on said shoulder to precisely locate and support said second end of said guide pin on the reciprocating die pad;
• a first fastener extending through said first fastener aperture in said base and securely, yet detachably, connecting said base with the stationary die shoe at a location spaced laterally apart from the biasing member;
• and
• a plurality of second fasteners extending into and anchored in said second fastener apertures in said guide pin and securely, yet detachably, connecting said second end of said guide pin with the reciprocating die pad at a location spaced laterally apart from the biasing member and aligned with said base.