Device for controlled application of compacting forces in powder press

Claim 1

In a powder press for compacting powdered material into an article having a substantially stepped configuration, said powder press having a vertically reciprocable upper punch, a floating die platen carrying a die, at least one floating punch platen carrying a movable lower punch, a stationary lower punch disposed in axial alignment with said upper punch, said die and said movable and stationary lower punches being arranged telescopically to define a die cavity, and releasable stop means for said punch platen, the improvement comprising: horizontally retractable wedge members respectively positioned on said die platen and said punch platen in vertically registered relationship; means operatively connected to each of said wedge members for providing regulated resisting force against the retracting motion thereof; push rod means passing vertically through a slot formed in said wedge member positioned on said die platen and extending downward; said push rod means having a first contact means for making sliding contact with the upper surface of said wedge member positioned on said die platen and a second contact means on the lower end thereof for making sliding contact with the upper surface of said wedge member positioned on said punch platen; the lower surfaces of said first and second contact means being formed correspondingly to the upper surfaces of said wedge members to cause retracting motion thereof when said push rod 1means are forced downward; and depressing means rigidly attached to said upper punch to force said push rod means downward upon descent of the upper punch into said die cavity.