Quick-change tooling for fineblanking presses

Claim 2

In a die set including upper and lower die shoes each having means defining a tapered cavity, a mating tapered die member disposed within each said cavity, and means supporting said die shoes for relative reciprocating axial movement of said die members between an open position for receiving strip material therebetween and a closed position for blanking parts from the strip material, the improvement for retaining and releasing each said die member within the corresponding said die shoe cavity, comprising locking means supported for generally lateral movement on each said die shoe between a locking position positively retaining the corresponding said die member within the corresponding said cavity and a retracted position releasing said die member for removal from said cavity, ejecting means supported for generally axial movement on each said die shoe and positioned to release the corresponding said die member from the corresponding said cavity when said locking means is in said retracted position, and means for actuating said locking means and said ejecting means to facilitate quick interchangement of said die members within said die shoes.

Claim 3

The die set defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises fluid cylinder means for said locking means and fluid cylinder means for said ejecting means.

Claim 4

In a die set for a fineblanking press having upper and lower die shoes each having means defining a cavity, a die member disposed within each said die shoe cavity in tight-fitting relation, each said die member having an opening corresponding in shape to the part to be blanked, a punch member slidably disposed within at least one of said openings, means supporting said die shoes for relative reciprocating axial movement of said die members between an open position for receiving strip material therebetween and a closed position gripping the material, and means for moving said punch member within the corresponding said opening after said die members have moved to said closed position for blanking parts from the strip material, an improved means for retaining at least one of said die members within the corresponding said die shoe cavity, comprising locking means supported for generally lateral movement within said die shoe between a locking position positively retaining said die member within said cavity and a retracted position, means on said die shoe for actuating said locking means to release said die member for removal from said cavity, ejecting means offset laterally from the center of said cavity and supported for generally axial movement within said die shoe and positioned to press said die member from said cavity when said locking means is released, and means on said die shoe for actuating said ejecting means to facilitate quick interchangement of said die member within said die shoe.

Claim 5

In a die set for a fineblanking press having upper and lower die shoes each having means defining a cavity, a die member disposed within each said die shoe cavity in tight-fitting relation, each said die member having an opening corresponding in shape to the part to be blanked, a punch member slidably disposed within at least one of said openings, means supporting said die shoes for relative reciprocating axial movement of said die members between an open position for receiving strip material therebetween and a closed position gripping the material, and means for moving said punch member within the corresponding said opening after said die members have moved to said closed position for blanking parts from the strip material, an improved means for retaining at least one of said die members within the corresponding said die shoe cavity, comprising locking means supported for generally lateral movement within said die shoe between a locking position positively retaining said die member within said cavity and a retracted position, means on said die shoe for actuating said locking means to release said die member for removal from said cavity, ejecting means offset laterally from the center of said cavity and supported for generally axial movement within said die shoe and positioned to press said die member from said cavity when said locking means is released, and means on said die shoe for actuating said ejecting means to facilitate quick interchangement of said die member within said die shoe.

Claim 6

The die set defined in claim 3 wherein said locking means comprises a pair of parallel bores extending laterally within said die shoe and intersecting diametrically opposite sides of said cavity, recess means in diametrically opposite sides of said die member and generally adjacent to and aligned with said bores, a pair of locking pins disposed within said bores, means connecting said actuating means to said locking pins, and said actuating means being operative to move said locking pins between a locking position within said recess means in tight interfitting engagement with said die member and a retracted position removed from said recess means in said die member.

Claim 7

The die set defined in claim 4 wherein said bores have circular cross-sections, wherein said pins have circular cross-sections, and wherein said recess means in said die members are comprise parallel slots for receiving said circular pins and for providing lateral stability.

Claim 8

The die set defined in claim 4 incluDing bearing means positioned within each said bore adjacent said cavity for receiving and supporting said pins when in their locking positions.

Claim 9

The die set defined in claim 3 wherein said actuating means comprises fluid cylinder means, and said fluid cylinder means includes a cylindrical bore in said die shoe which defines a circular opening therein, means forming an end cap connected to said die shoe at said opening and having a hole therein concentric with said opening, a piston rod in said bore extending through said hole in said cap, and a piston within said bore and mounted on said piston rod.

Claim 10

The die set defined in claim 3 including pin means extending axially within each said die member and the corresponding said die shoe for precisely orientating said die member within the corresponding said cavity.

Claim 11

The die set defined in claim 7 wherein said connecting means comprises a plate outboard of said die shoe and having holes therein for receiving said piston rod and said locking pins, and means for securing said piston rod and said locking pins to said plate.

Claim 12

In a die set including upper and lower die shoes each having means defining a tapered cavity, a mating tapered die member disposed within each said cavity, and means supporting said die shoes for relative reciprocating axial movement of said die members between an open position for receiving strip material therebetween and a closed position for blanking parts from the strip material, the improvement for retaining and releasing at least one of said die members from a corresponding said cavity, comprising means for locking said die member within said cavity, ejecting means supported for generally axial movement within said die shoe and positioned to move said die member within said cavity when said locking means is released, and means on said die shoe for actuating said ejecting means to facilitate quick removal of said die member from said die shoe.

Claim 13

In a die set including upper and lower die shoes each having means defining a tapered cavity, a mating tapered die member disposed within each said cavity, and means supporting said die shoes for relative reciprocating axial movement of said die members between an open position for receiving strip material therebetween and a closed position for blanking parts from the strip material, the improvement for retaining and releasing at least one of said die members from a corresponding said cavity, comprising means for locking said die member within said cavity, ejecting means supported for generally axial movement within said die shoe and positioned to move said die member within said cavity when said locking means is released, and means on said die shoe for actuating said ejecting means to facilitate quick removal of said die member from said die shoe.

Claim 14

The die set defined in claim 10 wherein said actuating means comprises fluid cylinder means, and said fluid cylinder means includes a plurality of axially extending bores in said die shoe, means for closing said bores within said die shoes, piston rods extending through said bores, and pistons disposed within said bores and mounted on said piston rods.

Claim 15

The die set defined in claim 11 wherein three of said bores and corresponding said pistons are uniformly spaced within said shoe.

Claim 16

In a die set for use in a fineblanking press and including upper and lower die shoes each having means defining an upper tapered cavity and a lower cylindrical cavity, a mating tapered die member disposed within each said tapered cavity, a sliding punch assembly disposed within said lower cylindrical cavity of said lower die shoe, means supporting said die shoes within said machine for relative reciprocating axial movement of said die members between an open position for receiving strip material therebetween and a closed position for clamping said strip material therebetween, and ram means for actuating said punch assembly to blank parts from said clamped material, the improvement for retaining and releasing at least one said die members within the corresponding said die shoe cavity, comprising a pair of bores extending laterally in at least one said die shoe and intersecting said tapered cavity therein on diametrically opposite sides thereof, a locking pin disposed within each said bore, recess means in diametrically opposite sides of said die member and having curved surfaces adjacent to and aligned with said bores in said die shoe, means extending laterally within said die shoe for actuating said pins within said bores, said actuating means being effective to move said pins between a locking position within said recess means in said die member for positively retaining said die member within its corresponding said cavity and retracted position releasing said die member from said cavity, openings extending axially in said die shoe and communicating wiTh said tapered cavity, ejecting members disposed within said openings, and means within said die shoe for actuating said ejecting members to lift and eject said die member in said tapered cavity when said locking pins are in their retracted position to facilitate quick interchangement of said die member within said die shoes.

Claim 17

In a die set for use in a fineblanking press and including upper and lower die shoes each having means defining an upper tapered cavity and a lower cylindrical cavity, a mating tapered die member disposed within each said tapered cavity, a sliding punch assembly disposed within said lower cylindrical cavity of said lower die shoe, means supporting said die shoes within said machine for relative reciprocating axial movement of said die members between an open position for receiving strip material therebetween and a closed position for clamping said strip material therebetween, and ram means for actuating said punch assembly to blank parts from said clamped material, the improvement for retaining and releasing at least one said die members within the corresponding said die shoe cavity, comprising a pair of bores extending laterally in at least one said die shoe and intersecting said tapered cavity therein on diametrically opposite sides thereof, a locking pin disposed within each said bore, recess means in diametrically opposite sides of said die member and having curved surfaces adjacent to and aligned with said bores in said die shoe, means extending laterally within said die shoe for actuating said pins within said bores, said actuating means being effective to move said pins between a locking position within said recess means in said die member for positively retaining said die member within its corresponding said cavity and retracted position releasing said die member from said cavity, openings extending axially in said die shoe and communicating wiTh said tapered cavity, ejecting members disposed within said openings, and means within said die shoe for actuating said ejecting members to lift and eject said die member in said tapered cavity when said locking pins are in their retracted position to facilitate quick interchangement of said die member within said die shoes.

Claim 18

In a die set for blanking parts in a fineblanking press having upper and lower die shoes, each said die shoe including means defining an upper tapered cavity and a lower cylindrical cavity therein, a cooperating punch member for each die shoe each having the configuration of the part being punched, a pair of bores extending laterally in at least one said die shoe and intersecting said tapered cavity therein generally tangentially on diametrically opposite sides thereof, a locking pin slidably disposed within each said bore, and means on said die shoe for actuating said pins within said bores between an extended position within the corresponding said cavity and a retracted position removed from said cavity, an improved die member adapted for quick interchangement within each of said die shoes and including a tapered surface for mating with the corresponding tapered cavity, an axial cavity having the configuration of the part being blanked for receiving one of said cooperating punch members of the same configuration, and recess means on said tapered surface in lateral alignment with said bores for receiving said locking pins when they are actuated to their extended position, said recess means being formed for receiving said pins in tight mating engagement for retaining said die member within said cavity and for maintaining the alignment of said punch members during blanking.

Claim 19

In a die set for blanking parts in a fineblanking press having upper and lower die shoes, each said die shoe including means defining an upper tapered cavity and a lower cylindrical cavity therein, a cooperating punch member for each die shoe each having the configuration of the part being punched, a pair of bores extending laterally in at least one said die shoe and intersecting said tapered cavity therein generally tangentially on diametrically opposite sides thereof, a locking pin slidably disposed within each said bore, and means on said die shoe for actuating said pins within said bores between an extended position within the corresponding said cavity and a retracted position removed from said cavity, an improved die member adapted for quick interchangement within each of said die shoes and including a tapered surface for mating with the corresponding tapered cavity, an axial cavity having the configuration of the part being blanked for receiving one of said cooperating punch members of the same configuration, and recess means on said tapered surface in lateral alignment with said bores for receiving said locking pins when they are actuated to their extended position, said recess means being formed for receiving said pins in tight mating engagement for retaining said die member within said cavity and for maintaining the alignment of said punch members during blanking.

Claim 20

The die set defined in claim 14 wherein said recess means comprises a pair of parallel slots arranged in diametrically opposite relation within said tapered surface for receiving said pins in tight mating engagement therealong to provide lateral stability during blanking.