US4660406A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Die manipulator
Assignee: MWA Co
•
Filing: 1985-08-08
•
Granted: 1987-04-28
•
Expires: 2005-08-08
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for manipulating the upper and lower dies of a die set comprising a gantry having a fixture mounted on a main frame for up and down movement, and a sub-frame mounted on the fixture for 180° of rotation. Clamping units are mounted on the sub-frame for clamping the upper die to the sub-frame when the fixture is in a lower position at a work-transfer station. The die set is transported on a cart to the work-transfer station where the upper die is clamped to the sub-frame. The fixture is raised to elevate the upper die to an upper position. The cart is moved away from the work-transfer station carrying only the lower die with it. The upper die is inverted, lowered onto a second cart and it, too, is then moved away from the work-transfer station. Both dies now face upwardly for convenient inspection, cleaning and/or repair. The transporter cart table on which the die set is supported can be rotated to any desired angle such as 90°, so that after the upper die has been removed, the lower die may be turned to a position suitable for inspection, cleaning and/or repair.
Inventors
- 👤 Clyde J. Rugh
- 👤 John L. King, Jr.
- 👤 Francis M. Tuttle
- 👤 William E. Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:36
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21J; B21J13/00; B21J13/08; B21J13/085; B21D; B21D37/00; B21D37/14; B21D37/142; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S100/00; Y10S100/918
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
Apparatus for manipulating the upper and lower dies of a die set for maintenance procedures, comprising means providing a work-transfer station, a main frame adjacent said work-transfer station, a fixture, means mounting said fixture on said main frame for up and down movement away from and toward said work-transfer station, a sub-frame, means mounting said sub-frame on said fixture for rotation about a horizontal axis, clamping means on said sub-frame to clamp the upper die of a die set at said work-transfer station when said fixture is in a lower position, means for raising said fixture to pick up and elevate said upper die to an upper position and for rotating said sub-frame to turn said upper die, a cart for supporting and advancing the die set to said work-transfer station for pick up of the upper die and for withdrawal of the lower die after pick up of the upper die, and means for lowering said fixture back to said lower position to return said upper die to said work-transfer station in turned position, said sub-frame having a pair of laterally spaced frame members, said clamping means comprising a plurality of clamp bars extending between said frame members and connected thereto for sliding movement lengthwise thereof, means for securing said clamp bars to said frame members in adjusted positions along the length thereof, and clamping elements on said clamp bars for engaging and clamping the upper die.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
Apparatus for manipulating the upper and lower dies of a die set for maintenance procedures, comprising means providing a work-transfer station, a main frame adjacent said work-transfer station, a fixture, means mounting said fixture on said main frame for up and down movement away from and toward said work-transfer station, a sub-frame, means mounting said sub-frame on said fixture for rotation about a horizontal axis, clamping means on said sub-frame to clamp the upper die of a die set at said work-transfer station when said fixture is in a lower position, means for raising said fixture to pick up and elevate said upper die to an upper position and for rotating said sub-frame to turn said upper die, a cart for supporting and advancing the die set to said work-transfer station for pick up of the upper die and for withdrawal of the lower die after pick up of the upper die, and means for lowering said fixture back to said lower position to return said upper die to said work-transfer station in turned position, said sub-frame having a pair of laterally spaced frame members, said clamping means comprising a plurality of clamp bars extending between said frame members and connected thereto for sliding movement lengthwise thereof, means for securing said clamp bars to said frame members in adjusted positions along the length thereof, and clamping elements on said clamp bars for engaging and clamping the upper die.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said clamping elements are carried by said clamp bars in adjusted positions lengthwise thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said frame members are channel-shaped and said clamp bars are channel-shaped, said clamp bars are connected to said frame members by nut and bolt assemblies slidably received in the channels of said frame members, and said clamping elements are nut and bolt assemblies slidably received in the channels of said clamp bars.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
248 words
Apparatus for manipulating the upper and lower dies of a die set for maintenance procedures, comprising means providing a work-transfer station, a main frame adjacent said work-transfer station, a fixture, means mounting said fixture on said main frame for up and down movement away from and toward said work-transfer station, a sub-frame, means mounting said sub-frame on said fixture for rotation about a horizontal axis, clamping means on said sub-frame to clamp the upper die of a die set at said work-transfer station when said fixture is in a lower position, means for raising said fixture to pick up and elevate said upper die to an upper position and for rotating said sub-frame to turn said upper die, a cart for supporting and advancing the die set to said work-transfer station for pick up of the upper die and for withdrawal of the lower die after pick up of the upper die, and means for lowering said fixture back to said lower position to return said upper die to said work-transfer station in turned position, a table mounted on said cart for rotation about a horizontal axis and adapted to support said die set thereon with the upper die resting on the lower die, clamping means on said table for clamping the lower die thereto, and means operative after raising of said fixture and moving of said cart away from said work-transfer station for rotating said table about said horizontal axis to turn the lower die clamped thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
248 words
Apparatus for manipulating the upper and lower dies of a die set for maintenance procedures, comprising means providing a work-transfer station, a main frame adjacent said work-transfer station, a fixture, means mounting said fixture on said main frame for up and down movement away from and toward said work-transfer station, a sub-frame, means mounting said sub-frame on said fixture for rotation about a horizontal axis, clamping means on said sub-frame to clamp the upper die of a die set at said work-transfer station when said fixture is in a lower position, means for raising said fixture to pick up and elevate said upper die to an upper position and for rotating said sub-frame to turn said upper die, a cart for supporting and advancing the die set to said work-transfer station for pick up of the upper die and for withdrawal of the lower die after pick up of the upper die, and means for lowering said fixture back to said lower position to return said upper die to said work-transfer station in turned position, a table mounted on said cart for rotation about a horizontal axis and adapted to support said die set thereon with the upper die resting on the lower die, clamping means on said table for clamping the lower die thereto, and means operative after raising of said fixture and moving of said cart away from said work-transfer station for rotating said table about said horizontal axis to turn the lower die clamped thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said cart has a sub-frame, and means mounting said table on said sub-frame of said cart and for raising and lowering said table relative thereto, said table being rotated as aforesaid in the raised position of said table.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said clamping means on said table comprises a pair of clamp bars, means for mounting said clamp bars on said table in adjusted laterally spaced relationship, and clamping elements on said clamp bars for engaging and clamping the lower die.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus as define in claim 6, wherein said means for mounting said clamp bars on said table comprise frame members extending transversely of said clamp bars, said frame members and said clamp bars being channel-shaped, said clamp bars being connected to said frame members by nut and bolt assemblies slidably received in the channels of said frame members, and said clamping elements comprising nut and bolt assemblies slidably received in the channels of said clamp bars.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said first-mentioned sub-frame has a pair of laterally spaced second frame members, said clamping means on said first-mentioned sub-frame comprising a plurality of second clamp bars extending between said second frame members and connected thereto for sliding movement lengthwise thereof, means for securing said second clamp bars to said second frame members in adjusted positions along the length thereof, and second clamping elements on said second clamp bars for engaging and clamping the upper die.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said second clamping elements are carried by said second clamp bars in adjusted positions lengthwise thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said second frame members are channel-shaped and said second clamp bars are channel-shaped, said second clamp bars are connected to said second frame members by nut and bolt assemblies slidably received in the channels of said second frame members, and said second clamping elements are nut and bolt assemblies slidably received in the channels of said second clamp bars.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
112 words
A cart for transporting a die set consisting of upper and lower dies to a work-transfer station where the upper die may be removed, a table mounted on said cart for rotation about a horizontal axis and adapted to support said die set thereon with the upper die resting on the lower die in a manner such that the upper die can be removed at said work-transfer station, means on said table for clamping the lower die thereto, and means connected to said table for rotating said table about said horizontal axis after the upper die has been removed to turn the lower die to a position suitable for inspection and cleaning.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
112 words
A cart for transporting a die set consisting of upper and lower dies to a work-transfer station where the upper die may be removed, a table mounted on said cart for rotation about a horizontal axis and adapted to support said die set thereon with the upper die resting on the lower die in a manner such that the upper die can be removed at said work-transfer station, means on said table for clamping the lower die thereto, and means connected to said table for rotating said table about said horizontal axis after the upper die has been removed to turn the lower die to a position suitable for inspection and cleaning.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
A cart as defined in claim 11, wherein said cart has a sub-frame, and means mounting said table on said sub-frame and for raising and lowering said table relative to said sub-frame, said table being rotated as aforesaid in the raised position of said table.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A cart as defined in claim 12, wherein said clamping means comprises a pair of clamp bars, means for mounting said clamp bars on said table in adjusted laterally spaced relationship, and clamping elements on said clamp bars for engaging and clamping the lower die.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
77 words
A cart as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for mounting said clamp bars on said table comprise frame members extending transversely of said clamp bars, said frame members and said clamp bars being channel-shaped, said clamp bars being connected to said frame members by nut and bolt assemblies slidably received in the channels of said frame members, and said clamping elements comprising nut and bolt assemblies slidably received in the channels of said clamp bars.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
177 words
Apparatus for manipulating the upper and lower dies of a die set for maintenance procedures, comprising means providing a working-transfer station, a main frame adjacent said work-transfer station, a fixture, means mounting said fixture on said main frame for up and down movement away from and toward said work-transfer station, a sub-frame, means mounting said sub-frame on said fixture for rotation about a horizontal axis, clamping means on said sub-frame to clamp the upper die of a die set at said work-transfer station when said fixture is in a lower position, means for raising said fixture to pick up and elevate said upper die to an upper position and for rotating said sub-frame to turn said upper die, support means having a table for supporting the die set at said work-transfer station for pick-up of the upper die, clamping means for clamping the lower die to said table, means mounting said table for rotation about a horizontal axis, and means for rotating said table after pick-up of said upper die to turn the lower die clamped thereto.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
177 words
Apparatus for manipulating the upper and lower dies of a die set for maintenance procedures, comprising means providing a working-transfer station, a main frame adjacent said work-transfer station, a fixture, means mounting said fixture on said main frame for up and down movement away from and toward said work-transfer station, a sub-frame, means mounting said sub-frame on said fixture for rotation about a horizontal axis, clamping means on said sub-frame to clamp the upper die of a die set at said work-transfer station when said fixture is in a lower position, means for raising said fixture to pick up and elevate said upper die to an upper position and for rotating said sub-frame to turn said upper die, support means having a table for supporting the die set at said work-transfer station for pick-up of the upper die, clamping means for clamping the lower die to said table, means mounting said table for rotation about a horizontal axis, and means for rotating said table after pick-up of said upper die to turn the lower die clamped thereto.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 15, including means for raising and lowering said table relative to said support means, said table being rotated as aforesaid in the raised position of said table.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said support means is a cart capable of advancing the die set to the work-transfer station for pick-up of the upper die and withdrawing the lower die after pick-up of the upper die.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3111100A
Cited
US3096889A
Cited
US3230869A
Cited
US3182817A
Cited
US3422661A
Cited
US3551982A
Cited
US3610439A
Cited
US3742572A
Cited
US3796011A
Cited
SU518245A1
Cited
US3979939A
Cited
US4305692A
Cited
JPS5218663A
Cited
JPS5497959A
Cited
SU1036416A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-04-27 | 1990-10-27 | 1991-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-04-27 | 1994-10-27 | 1995-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-04-27 | 1998-10-27 | 1999-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |