Modular pilot assembly with self-contained stripper and method for metal forming dies

A modular pilot assembly with self-contained stripper for multi-station progressive metal forming dies having at least two mutually converging and diverging die members between which an elongate stock strip is shifted longitudinally to form parts from the stock strip, comprising:

• a pilot sleeve configured for operable support on an associated die member, and having a generally cylindrical shape with an outer end portion oriented toward the stock strip, an oppositely disposed inner end portion oriented away from the stock strip, and a central aperture extending through said outer and inner end portions, and wherein;
• said outer end portion of said pilot sleeve has a generally flat outer end oriented toward the stock strip, a generally recessed inner end oriented away from the stock strip, and an outer sidewall with a least one fastener relief therein having an arcuately shaped, radially inwardly curved relief sidewall that extends axially from said flat outer end face to a generally flat arcuately shaped relief end surface facing toward the stock strip and spaced axially outwardly a predetermined distance from said recessed inner end, as well as at least one axially extending ejector pin aperture which opens through said flat outer end and into said recessed inner end;
• and
• said inner end portion of the pilot sleeve has a generally annularly shaped spring retainer collar, with an outer end oriented toward the stock strip, an inner end oriented away from the stock strip, and an outer sidewall with a diameter that is less than the diameter of said outer sidewall of said outer end portion of said pilot sleeve, thereby forming an annularly shaped spring groove adjacent said outer end of said spring retainer collar;
• a rigid pilot pin having at least a portion thereof shaped for close reception in said central aperture of said pilot sleeve in an assembled condition, and including a circularly shaped innermost collar portion disposed adjacent said flat outer end of said pilot sleeve when in said assembled condition and shaped for close reception in a pilot hole in the stock strip, a generally frusto-conically shaped outer portion configured to engage the pilot hole in the stock strip and guide the stock strip to a predetermined position in an associated die forming station, and a base portion positioned opposite said frusto-conically shaped outer portion;
• at least one rigid ejector pin slidingly received and retained in said ejector pin aperture in said outer end portion of said pilot sleeve, having an inner end oriented away from the stock strip and an outer end oriented toward the stock strip and protruding outwardly from said flat outer end of said outer end portion of said pilot sleeve when urged to an extended position to contact the stock strip and strip the same away from said pilot pin, and retracts toward said outer end portion of said pilot sleeve when urged to a retracted position;
• a spring member having a generally hollow interior that is received onto and over said spring retainer collar on said inner end portion of said pilot sleeve, an outer end oriented toward the stock strip, received in said spring groove and operably engaging said inner end of said ejector pin to bias said ejector pin outwardly to said extended position, and an inner end oriented away from the stock strip and positioned adjacent to said base portion of said pilot pin in said assembled condition;
• and
• a mounting screw having an enlarged head portion with a circular plan shape that is at least partially, closely received in said fastener relief in said outer end portion of said pilot sleeve, an annularly shaped inner face oriented away from the stock strip and abuttingly engaging said relief end surface of said fastener relief in said outer end portion of said pilot sleeve, and a threaded shank portion shaped for anchoring in the associated die member to securely, yet detachably mount said pilot assembly on the associated die member in a manner which causes said ejector pin to automatically reciprocate between said retracted and extended positions relative to said pilot sleeve during operation of the metal forming die to insure that the stock strip is consistently stripped away from said pilot pin.

A modular pilot assembly with self-contained stripper for multi-station progressive metal forming dies having at least two mutually converging and diverging die members between which an elongate stock strip is shifted longitudinally to form parts from the stock strip, and at least one pilot pin to precisely locate the stock strip in the die stations, comprising:

• a pilot sleeve configured for operable support on an associated die member, and having a generally cylindrical shape with an outer end portion oriented toward the stock strip, an oppositely disposed inner end portion oriented away from the stock strip, and a central aperture extending through said outer and inner end portions shaped to closely receive and selectively retain the pilot pin therein, and wherein;
• said outer end portion of said pilot sleeve has a generally flat outer end oriented toward the stock strip, a generally recessed inner end oriented away from the stock strip, and an outer sidewall with a least one fastener relief therein having an arcuately shaped, radially inwardly curved relief sidewall that extends axially from said flat outer end face to a generally flat arcuately shaped relief end surface facing toward the stock strip and spaced axially outwardly a predetermined distance from said recessed inner end, as well as at least one axially extending ejector pin aperture which opens through said flat outer end and into said recessed inner end;
• and
• said inner end portion of the pilot sleeve has a generally annularly shaped spring retainer collar, with an outer end oriented toward the stock strip, an inner end oriented away from the stock strip, and an outer sidewall with a diameter that is less than the diameter of said outer sidewall of said outer end portion of said pilot sleeve, thereby forming an annularly shaped spring groove adjacent said outer end of said spring retainer collar;
• at least one rigid ejector pin slidingly received and retained in said ejector pin aperture in said outer end portion of said pilot sleeve, having an inner end oriented away from the stock strip and an outer end oriented toward the stock strip and protruding outwardly from said flat outer end of said outer end portion of said pilot sleeve when urged to an extended position to contact the stock strip and strip the same away from the pilot pin, and retracts toward said pilot sleeve when urged to a retracted position;
• a spring member having a generally hollow interior that is received onto and over said spring retainer collar on said inner end portion of said pilot sleeve, an outer end oriented toward the stock strip, received in said spring groove and operably engaging said inner end of said ejector pin to bias said ejector pin outwardly to said extended position, and an inner end oriented away from the stock strip and positioned adjacent to said inner end of said spring retainer collar in said assembled condition;
• and
• a mounting screw having an enlarged head portion with a circular plan shape that is at least partially, closely received in said fastener relief in said outer end portion of said pilot sleeve, an annularly shaped inner face oriented away from the stock strip and abuttingly engaging said relief end surface of said fastener relief in said outer end portion of said pilot sleeve, and a threaded shank portion shaped for anchoring in the associated die member to securely, yet detachably mount said pilot assembly on the associated die member in a manner which causes said ejector pin to automatically reciprocate between said retracted and extended positions relative to said pilot sleeve during operation of the metal forming die to insure that the stock strip is consistently stripped away from the pilot pin.