Apparatus for and method of forming a sheetlike workpiece

Claim 1

An apparatus for scoring a closed-loop score line in a workpiece so that a known substantially exact amount of residual material remains after scoring said workpiece, said apparatus comprising, a first forming die having a scoring blade extending therefrom which extends in a closed-loop path and having an associated first control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said first forming die, a second forming die having an anvil adapted to cooperate with said scoring blade and having an associated second control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said second forming die, a supporting structure for supporting each of said first and second forming dies and their associated control surfaces for relative movement, said supporting structure supporting said dies for solely axial movement toward each other during scoring of said workpiece, and said supporting structure including retaining means and resilient means, said resilient means holding one of said forming dies and its associated control surface in a forming position in a resilient manner and with a predetermined force substantially greater than the force required to accomplish the desired scoring of said workpiece, said first and second forming dies cooperating to score a closed-loop score line practically instantaneously upon movement thereof against opposite surfaces of said workpiece and said exact amount of residual material being precisely controlled by said control surfaces abutting each other, said retaining means serving to restrain said resilient means with respect to the control surface of said one die at least until said control surfaces abut each other and said resilient means serving as an overtravel device for its associated forming die to prevent damage to said forming dies and excessive Wear of said control surfaces.

Claim 2

An apparatus for scoring a closed-loop score line in a workpiece so that a known substantially exact amount of residual material remains after scoring said workpiece, said apparatus comprising, a first forming die having a scoring blade extending therefrom which extends in a closed-loop path and having an associated first control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said first forming die, a second forming die having an anvil adapted to cooperate with said scoring blade and having an associated second control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said second forming die, a supporting structure for supporting each of said first and second forming dies and their associated control surfaces for relative movement, said supporting structure supporting said dies for solely axial movement toward each other during scoring of said workpiece, and said supporting structure including retaining means and resilient means, said resilient means holding one of said forming dies and its associated control surface in a forming position in a resilient manner and with a predetermined force substantially greater than the force required to accomplish the desired scoring of said workpiece, said first and second forming dies cooperating to score a closed-loop score line practically instantaneously upon movement thereof against opposite surfaces of said workpiece and said exact amount of residual material being precisely controlled by said control surfaces abutting each other, said retaining means serving to restrain said resilient means with respect to the control surface of said one die at least until said control surfaces abut each other and said resilient means serving as an overtravel device for its associated forming die to prevent damage to said forming dies and excessive Wear of said control surfaces.

Claim 11

An apparatus for scoring a closed-loop score line in a workpiece so that a known substantially exact amount of residual material remains after scoring said workpiece, said apparatus comprising, a first forming die having a scoring blade extending therefrom which extends in a closed-loop path and having an associated first control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said first forming die, a second forming die having an anvil adapted to cooperate with said scoring blade and having an associated second control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said second forming die, a supporting structure for supporting each of said first and second forming dies and their associated control surfaces for relative movement toward and away from each other, means holding one of said forming dies and its associated control surface in a forming position in a resilient manner and with a predetermined force substantially greater than the force required to accomplish the desired scoring of said workpiece, said first and second foRming dies cooperating to score a closed-loop score line substantially instantaneously upon movement thereof against opposite surfaces of said workpiece and said exact amount of residual material being precisely controlled by said control surfaces abutting each other, said holding means serving as an overtravel device for its associated forming die to prevent damage to said forming dies and excessive wear of said control surfaces, and means for ejecting a fluid under pressure against at least one of said control surfaces to prevent the accumulation of dirt and foreign materials on said control surfaces and thereby assure unobstructed contact thereof.

Claim 12

An apparatus for scoring a closed-loop score line in a workpiece so that a known substantially exact amount of residual material remains after scoring said workpiece, said apparatus comprising, a first forming die having a scoring blade extending therefrom which extends in a closed-loop path and having an associated first control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said first forming die, a second forming die having an anvil adapted to cooperate with said scoring blade and having an associated second control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said second forming die, a supporting structure for supporting each of said first and second forming dies and their associated control surfaces for relative movement toward and away from each other, means holding one of said forming dies and its associated control surface in a forming position in a resilient manner and with a predetermined force substantially greater than the force required to accomplish the desired scoring of said workpiece, said first and second foRming dies cooperating to score a closed-loop score line substantially instantaneously upon movement thereof against opposite surfaces of said workpiece and said exact amount of residual material being precisely controlled by said control surfaces abutting each other, said holding means serving as an overtravel device for its associated forming die to prevent damage to said forming dies and excessive wear of said control surfaces, and means for ejecting a fluid under pressure against at least one of said control surfaces to prevent the accumulation of dirt and foreign materials on said control surfaces and thereby assure unobstructed contact thereof.

Claim 14

A method of forming a workpiece so that a substantially exact amount of working material remains after forming said workpiece, said method comprising the steps of, inserting said workpiece between first and second relatively movable forming dies which are relatively movable solely toward each other along a common axis during forming of said workpiece, said first forming die having a first control surface supported at a fixed position relative thereto and said second forming die having a second control surface supported at a fixed position relative thereto, holding one of said forming dies and its associated control surface in a forming position with an associated holding means which includes resilient means with a force greater than the force required to accomplish the desired forming of said workpiece, relatively moving said forming dies toward each other along said common axis a distance determined by said control surfaces abutting each other and irrespective of the dimensional size of said workpiece to sandwich and practically instantaneously form said workpiece between said forming dies, and during said relatively moving step retaining said resilient means with respect to the control surface of said one die at least until said control surfaces abut each other and said resilient means serving as an overtravel device to prevent damage to said forming dies and excessive wear of said control surfaces upon forming said workpiece between said forming dies said greater force assuring forming of said workpiece and said control surfaces assuring said substantially exact amount of working material remains after said forming.

Claim 15

A method of forming a workpiece so that a substantially exact amount of working material remains after forming said workpiece, said method comprising the steps of, inserting said workpiece between first and second relatively movable forming dies which are relatively movable solely toward each other along a common axis during forming of said workpiece, said first forming die having a first control surface supported at a fixed position relative thereto and said second forming die having a second control surface supported at a fixed position relative thereto, holding one of said forming dies and its associated control surface in a forming position with an associated holding means which includes resilient means with a force greater than the force required to accomplish the desired forming of said workpiece, relatively moving said forming dies toward each other along said common axis a distance determined by said control surfaces abutting each other and irrespective of the dimensional size of said workpiece to sandwich and practically instantaneously form said workpiece between said forming dies, and during said relatively moving step retaining said resilient means with respect to the control surface of said one die at least until said control surfaces abut each other and said resilient means serving as an overtravel device to prevent damage to said forming dies and excessive wear of said control surfaces upon forming said workpiece between said forming dies said greater force assuring forming of said workpiece and said control surfaces assuring said substantially exact amount of working material remains after said forming.

Claim 20

A method of forming a workpiece so that a known substantially exact amount of working material remains after forming said workpiece, said method comprising the steps of, inserting said workpiece between a first and a second forming die which are relatively movable toward and away from each other along a common axis, said first forming die having a first control surface supported at a fixed position relative thereto and said second forming die having a second control surface supported at a fixed position relative thereto, resiliently holding one of said forming dies and its associated control surface in a forming position with an associated holding means and with a predetermined force substantially greater than the force required to accomplish the desired forming of said workpiece, and relatively moving said forming dies toward each other a distance determined by said control surfaces abutting each other and irrespective of the dimensional size of said workpiece to sandwich and substantially instantaneously form said workpiece between said forming dies, said step of resiliently holding enabling said one forming die to move relative to its supporting structure to prevent damage to said forming dies and excessive wear of said control surfaces upon sandwiching said workpiece between said forming dies during said step of relatively moving, said predetermined force assuring forming of said workpiece and said control surfaces assuring said known substantially exact amount of working material remains after said forming, and ejecting a fluid under pressure against at least one of said control surfaces to prevent the accumulation of dirt and foreign materials on said control surfaces and thereby assure unobstructed contact thereof.

Claim 21

A method of forming a workpiece so that a known substantially exact amount of working material remains after forming said workpiece, said method comprising the steps of, inserting said workpiece between a first and a second forming die which are relatively movable toward and away from each other along a common axis, said first forming die having a first control surface supported at a fixed position relative thereto and said second forming die having a second control surface supported at a fixed position relative thereto, resiliently holding one of said forming dies and its associated control surface in a forming position with an associated holding means and with a predetermined force substantially greater than the force required to accomplish the desired forming of said workpiece, and relatively moving said forming dies toward each other a distance determined by said control surfaces abutting each other and irrespective of the dimensional size of said workpiece to sandwich and substantially instantaneously form said workpiece between said forming dies, said step of resiliently holding enabling said one forming die to move relative to its supporting structure to prevent damage to said forming dies and excessive wear of said control surfaces upon sandwiching said workpiece between said forming dies during said step of relatively moving, said predetermined force assuring forming of said workpiece and said control surfaces assuring said known substantially exact amount of working material remains after said forming, and ejecting a fluid under pressure against at least one of said control surfaces to prevent the accumulation of dirt and foreign materials on said control surfaces and thereby assure unobstructed contact thereof.

Claim 22

An apparatus for forming a sheetlike workpiece comprising, a first forming die having a nipple bushing and having an associated first control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said first forming die, a second forming die having a nipple pin and having an associated second control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said second forming die, a supporting structure for supporting each of said first and second forming dies and their associated control surfaces for relative movement, said supporting structure supporting said dies for solely axial movement toward each other during forming of said workpiece, said control surfaces being adapted to abut each other, and said supporting structure including retaining means and resilient means, said resilient means holding one of said forming dies and its associated control surface in a forming position with a force substantially greater than the force required to accomplish the forming of said workpiece, said nipple pin and nipple bushing cooperating to practically instantaneously form an integral rivet-defining nipple in said sheetlike workpiece upon movement thereof against opposite surfaces of said workpiece and upon said control surfaces abutting each other, said retaining means serving to restrain said resilient means with respect to the control surface of said one die at least until said control surfaces abut each other.

Claim 23

An apparatus for forming a sheetlike workpiece comprising, a first forming die having a nipple bushing and having an associated first control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said first forming die, a second forming die having a nipple pin and having an associated second control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said second forming die, a supporting structure for supporting each of said first and second forming dies and their associated control surfaces for relative movement, said supporting structure supporting said dies for solely axial movement toward each other during forming of said workpiece, said control surfaces being adapted to abut each other, and said supporting structure including retaining means and resilient means, said resilient means holding one of said forming dies and its associated control surface in a forming position with a force substantially greater than the force required to accomplish the forming of said workpiece, said nipple pin and nipple bushing cooperating to practically instantaneously form an integral rivet-defining nipple in said sheetlike workpiece upon movement thereof against opposite surfaces of said workpiece and upon said control surfaces abutting each other, said retaining means serving to restrain said resilient means with respect to the control surface of said one die at least until said control surfaces abut each other.

Claim 24

An apparatus for scoring a workpiece so that a predetermined amount of residual material remains after scoring said workpiece, said apparatus comprising, a first forming die having a scoring blade extending therefrom and having an associated first control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said first forming die, a second forming die having an anvil adapted to cooperate with said scoring blade and having an associated second control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said second forming die, a supporting structure foR supporting each of said first and second forming dies and their associated control surfaces for relative movement, said supporting structure supporting said dies for solely axial movement toward each other during scoring of said workpiece, and said supporting structure including retaining means and resilient means, said resilient means holding one of said forming dies and its associated control surface in a forming position with a force substantially greater than the force required to accomplish the scoring of said workpiece, said first and second forming dies cooperating to score said workpiece practically instantaneously upon movement thereof against opposite surfaces of said workpiece and said predetermined amount of residual material being precisely controlled by said control surfaces abutting each other, said retaining means serving to restrain said resilient means with respect to the control surface of said one die at least until said control surfaces abut each other.

Claim 25

An apparatus for scoring a workpiece so that a predetermined amount of residual material remains after scoring said workpiece, said apparatus comprising, a first forming die having a scoring blade extending therefrom and having an associated first control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said first forming die, a second forming die having an anvil adapted to cooperate with said scoring blade and having an associated second control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said second forming die, a supporting structure foR supporting each of said first and second forming dies and their associated control surfaces for relative movement, said supporting structure supporting said dies for solely axial movement toward each other during scoring of said workpiece, and said supporting structure including retaining means and resilient means, said resilient means holding one of said forming dies and its associated control surface in a forming position with a force substantially greater than the force required to accomplish the scoring of said workpiece, said first and second forming dies cooperating to score said workpiece practically instantaneously upon movement thereof against opposite surfaces of said workpiece and said predetermined amount of residual material being precisely controlled by said control surfaces abutting each other, said retaining means serving to restrain said resilient means with respect to the control surface of said one die at least until said control surfaces abut each other.

Claim 27

An apparatus for forming a workpiece, said apparatus comprising, a first forming die having a material forming surface and having an associated first control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said first forming die, a second forming die having an anvil adapted to cooperate with said material forming surface and having an associated second control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said second forming die, said control surfaces being adapted to abut each other, a supporting structure for supporting each of said first and second forming dies and their associated control surfaces for relative movement, aid supporting structure supporting said dies for solely axial movement toward each other during forming of said workpiece, and said supporting structure including retaining means and resilient means, said resilient means holding one of said control surfaces in a position with a force substantially greater than the force required to accomplish the forming of said workpiece, said first and second forming dies cooperating to form said workpiece practically instantaneously upon movement thereof against opposite surfaces of said workpiece and upon said control surfaces abutting, said material forming being controlled by said control surfaces abutting each other, said retaining means serving to restrain said resilient means with respect to said one control surface at least until said control surfaces abut each other.

Claim 28

An apparatus for forming a workpiece, said apparatus comprising, a first forming die having a material forming surface and having an associated first control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said first forming die, a second forming die having an anvil adapted to cooperate with said material forming surface and having an associated second control surface supported at a fixed position relative to said second forming die, said control surfaces being adapted to abut each other, a supporting structure for supporting each of said first and second forming dies and their associated control surfaces for relative movement, aid supporting structure supporting said dies for solely axial movement toward each other during forming of said workpiece, and said supporting structure including retaining means and resilient means, said resilient means holding one of said control surfaces in a position with a force substantially greater than the force required to accomplish the forming of said workpiece, said first and second forming dies cooperating to form said workpiece practically instantaneously upon movement thereof against opposite surfaces of said workpiece and upon said control surfaces abutting, said material forming being controlled by said control surfaces abutting each other, said retaining means serving to restrain said resilient means with respect to said one control surface at least until said control surfaces abut each other.