Rotatable press die

Claim 2

In a press including a reciprocating top separator having a longitudinal axis, die means mounted on said top separator for acting on a workpiece during reciprocation of said top separator and releasable clamping means for releasably clamping said die means to said top separator, the improvement comprising; power rotating means on said press for rotating said die means relative to said top separator about said longitudinal axis.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said releasable clamping means includes first and second pairs of clamping members, said first pair of clamping members clamping said die means to said top separator in a first rotated position of said die means relative to said top separator, and said second pair of clamping members clamping said die means to said top separator in a second rotated position of said die means relative to said top separator.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2 wherein each of said clamping members has a longitudinal clamp axis and at least one of said clamping members is rotatable about said longitudinal clamp axis thereof.

Claim 5

The device of claim 3 and further including power means for selectively rotating said one clamping member about said longitudinal clamp axis thereof.

Claim 6

The device of claim 4 wherein said longitudinal clamp axes extend substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said top separator, and power means for selectively moving said clamping members along said longitudinal axes thereof.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1 wherein said clamping means comprises a plurality of individual clamping members each of said clamping members having a longitudinal clamp axis extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said top separator, and power means for selectively moving each of said clamping members along said longitudinal axis thereof.

Claim 8

The device of claim 6 wherein at least one of said clamping members is rotatable about said longitudinal axis thereof, and power means for selectively rotating said one clamping member.

Claim 9

The device of claim 1 wherein said releasable clamping means includes bolster means adjustably connected to said top separator for adjustable movement between a first position held tightly against said top separator and a second position spaced from said top separator, power adjustment means for adjusting said bolster means between said first and second positions, said die means being releasably carried by said bolster means, and said power rotating means being selectively operable to rotate said bolster means substantially ninety degrees in said second position thereof.

Claim 10

The device of claim 8 wherein said power adjustment means includes a rotatable shafT non-rotatably connected with said bolster means, said shaft having a longitudinal shaft axis and being movable therealong, said power adjustment means selectively moving said shaft along said shaft axis during operation thereof, releasable holding means for holding said shaft against rotation during operation of said power adjustment means, said power rotating means being connected with said shaft to rotate said shaft and bolster during operation thereof, said holding means being releasable during operation of said power rotating means.

Claim 11

The device of claim 9 wherein said releasable clamping means includes a plurality of clamping members for clamping said die means to said bolster means, certain ones of said clamping members clamping said die means to said bolster means in a first rotated position of said bolster means and certain others of said clamping members clamping said die means to said bolster means in a second rotated position of said bolster means.

Claim 12

The device of claim 8 wherein said releasable clamping means includes a plurality of clamping members for clamping said die means to said bolster means, certain ones of said clamping members clamping said die means to said bolster means in a first rotated position of said bolster means and certain others of said clamping members clamping said die means to said bolster means in a second rotated position of said bolster means.

Claim 13

The device of claim 11 wherein said plurality of clamping members have longitudinal clamp axes extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said top separator, and power clamp moving means for selectively moving said clamping members along said longitudinal axes thereof.

Claim 14

The device of claim 12 wherein at least one of said clamping members is rotatable about said longitudinal axis thereof, and power clamp rotating means for selectively rotating said one clamping member.

Claim 15

The device of claim 13 wherein said power clamp rotating means includes bracket means fixedly attached to said one clamp member and hydraulic cylinder means connected with said bracket for swinging said bracket to rotate said one clamping member.

Claim 16

The device of claim 8 wherein said power adjustment means includes a rotatable shaft non-rotatably connected with said bolster means, said shaft having a longitudinal shaft axis and being movable therealong, said power adjustment means selectively moving said shaft along said shaft axis during operation thereof, a bracket fixedly attached to said shaft, and hydraulic cylinder means connected with said bracket for holding said shaft against rotation during operation of said power adjustment means and for rotating said shaft when energized.

Claim 17

The device of claim 1 wherein said die means is movable between a first position held tightly against said top separator and a second position spaced from said top separator, power adjustment means for selectively moving said die means between said first and second positions, said power rotating means being operative in said second position of said die means to selectively rotate said die means substantially ninety degrees.

Claim 18

The device of claim 16 wherein said power rotating means includes a rotatable shaft non-rotatably connected to said die means, and a hydraulic cylinder connected with said shaft for selectively rotating said shaft when energized.