US2691212A - Die set separator - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 12, 1954 O. G. HILDEBRAND DIE SET SEPARATOR Filed NOV. 30, 1951 INVENTOR. 07710 $1604 OEBEA/Vfl BY 9' I I Array/67.5

Patented Oct. 12, 1954 DIE SET SEPARATOR Otto G. Hildebrand, Brecksville, Ohio Application November 30, 1951, Serial No. 259,203

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a punch press die set separator and it is more particularly di-.

rected to apparatus by which the members comprising a die set may be brought together or separated. The present application is a continuation in-part of my application Serial No. 76,632, filed February 15, 1949 for Die Set Separator, now abandoned.

In the construction of dies and punches, such as those employed for cutting and forming sheet metal parts by punch presses, it is usual to mount the die and punch elements on a die set, which set comprises two relatively heavy metal plates, one of which is adapted to carry the die and to be mounted on the table or stationary member of the press and the other of which is adapted to carry the punch and to be connected to the ram or movable member of the press. In order to maintain the plates of the die set in alignment during use, one plate, usually the die plate, is provided with two or more guide rods which project therefrom and which are adapted to extend through bushings located in the punch plate. During the construction of the die elements on the sets, it is necessary from time to time to check the manner in which the die elements cooperate when the latter are brought together. This is diflicult to do as the die elements and die sets are relatively heavy and the guide rods of the die set have an extremely close fit in the bushings within which they engage, and the principal object of the present invention is the provision of novel and improved apparatus adapted to move the plates of a die set relative to one another to simulate the operation of the die set in a punch press.

Another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of the character referred to in which the plates of the die set are mounted with their major planes vertical, whereby the die elements may be easily observed by the die maker as one of the plates is moved to and from the other.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character referred to in which the plates of the die set rest on a supporting surface during the relative movement thereof so that the guide rods are not subjected to loads tending to cause binding with their corresponding bushings.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which supports the plates of the set throughout the entire closing and opening movements whereby the necessity of manual handling ofeither part of the set at the initia- 2 tion and termination of the separation of th members of the set is obviated.

The invention resides in certain novel constructions and combinations and arrangement of parts, and further objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following disclosure including a description of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a die set separator embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a view in section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 3 is a view in section taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 2..

In general, apparatus embodying the invention comprises means forming a horizontal plane surface upon which the plates of a die set may be supported edgewise so that the major planes thereof extend vertical. A member mounted for movement in opposite directions and in a straight path along the plane surface is engageable with one of the die set plates to translate the same edgewise along the surface. The movement of the die set plate translating member may be precisely controlled by the user of the apparatus for positioning the die setplate as desired. An abutment is provided on the plane surface, which abutment is fixed relative to the movable member and is adapted to engage the other of the die set plates supported on the plane surface for pref venting movement of the latter plate with the plate translated by the movable member. Preferably, a clamp is associated with the abutment to secure the die set plate to the abutment.

Although the invention may be embodied in various forms, it is herein shown, by way of illustration, asembodied in apparatus comprising a plate 6 which, in the preferred form,-is cast iron, and includes depending edge flanges i and reinforcing webs 8 formed on its under side. Preferably, the top surface is machined to provide a smooth, plane surface. The plate 6 is supported horizontally on a suitable base, such as a bench top, or it may be mounted on legs 9' indicated m by broken lines, which legs may be attached thereto by any suitable means, such as by bolts. When the plate is supported on a flat surface, the flanges l, which have depending portions at the corners of the plate,- support the plate proper purpose indicated hereinafter.

A slot-like opening 9 is formed in the plate 6 and extends in a longitudinal direction, preferably midway between the sides of the plate. Two gibs 10, II are provided on the under side of the plate extending along the opposite side of the slot 9. Preferably, the gibs I0, ll comprise rods which are generally rectangular in cross section with one side l2 thereof lying in a plane which slopes relative to the opposite side. The sides 42 are smooth and'form upwardly facingslideways when attached to the underside of the plate 6, as shown. The plate 6 has depending flanges l3 against which the gibs I0, H are positioned and which form backings to prevent spreading of the gibs. The gibs are attached to the plate 6 by bolts M.

A die set plate translating member in the form of a clamp 15, is mounted in the gibs Ni, ii for movement longitudinally along the slot 9. The clamp has longitudinally extending flanges l6, H on opposite sides thereof which cooperate with the gib surfaces 12 and support the clamp for sliding movement longitudinally of the slot '9. Preferably, the outer sides of the flanges #5, ll taper downwardly and inwardly and correspond tothe slope of the sides l2 of the gibs 18, H so thatthe-outer-sides of the flanges are supported onthe inner face of the gibs, as shown. By the construction shown,.clamp I5 may be easily assembled in place by bolting one gib .inplace first, then plaoing one fiangeof the clamp in engagement with the gib and then attaching the other gib in place beneath the other flange of the clamp. Two spaced jaws l8, l9 project upwardly from the central portion of the clamp, which jaws extend above the top surface of plate 6 and-are adapted to receive therebetween one of the plates PI of a die set comprising plates PI and P2. The jaw 18 is reinforcedby pairs of webs 2i and jaw I9 has a threaded opening 22 therethrough for the reception of a clamping rod 23. The lower end of the rod 23 has aclamp foot 24 swivelly connected thereto and the opposite end has a handle 25 by which the rod may be rotateoland moved axially. A threaded sleeve'28 is supported on rod 23 and is adapted to be threaded in1the bore 22 in jaw l9. Preferably, the rod '23 is adapted to slide longitudinally in:the sleeve and means is provided for locking and releasing the rod to and from the sleeve by turning the :rod relative to the sleeve. This enables .the rodto be quickly moved longitudinally in the sleeve to engage the foot24 with a die set plate and .then looked with the sleeve after which the rod and sleeve may be rotated as a unit in the threaded bore '22 to tightly press the .foot to the die set plate-and thereby clamp the die setplate .to the jaw 8. The details of the construction of :the rod and sleeve are not shown but they ,may be similar to those disclosed in U. S. .patent 2,396;823. Alternatively, any other suitable threaded rod could be substituted for rod 24 and the sleeve 28. The central portion .of the kclamp l5 hasa depending lug 29 formed thereon, which lug has a threaded opening therethrough for receiving the threaded portion of a shaft 30 by which the clamp may be moved along the slot when the shaft is rotated. ;It should be noted that the width of the slot 9 and the width of the parts of the clamp l5 which engage the die set plates are less-than the minimium space between the guide rod bushings of the various die set plates to be used in the apparatus.

The shaft 30 is journalled in a trunnion 3i formed in flanges l and at one end of the plate 6 and it is prevented from longitudinal movement to the left by a collar 32 formed thereon, which collar abuts one end of the trunnion. The shaft extends beyond the left-hand end of the plate and a crank 33 is secured thereto by a set screw 34. The crank abuts trunnion 3| to prevent longitudinal movement of the screw shaft to the right. It will be noted that the shaft 30 is above the bottom surfaces of flanges I so that when the plate is supported on a bench, forlexample, the shaft will clear the bench top. 'Byturning the crank 33 in one direction or the other, the clamp I5 may be moved in one direction or the other alongsthe slot 9 as desired.

Astop bar 35 is suitably attached to the top of table member 6, and it extends normal to the axis of slot"9-and adjacent the left-hand end portion thereof. In the present form of the invention the bar 35 is provided with three dowel pins 36 which engage in corresponding holes in the plated-which pins and holesareadapted to hold the bar at exactly to the axis -of theslot 9. Two screws 3T extend through openings through the bar-and are threaded into the plate for .securing thebar to the plate. The-bar 35,forms an abutment against which'the plate P2 of the die set engages when theplate Pl .is'moved bythe clamp I5 so that plate P2 will remain stationary during translational movement of plate .Pl

In using the apparatus, the plates P1, P2 10f thedie set are placed on edge on the platezfi'with the edges adjacent to the guide rods and guide bushings engaging the plane surface of theplate 6. One of the plates of the die ,set, the punch plate PI, for example,-is locked in clamp J5, and if the plates of the set are to be separated, {the die'plate'P2 is disposed on the side ofthe bar 35 opposite thatof ,the clamp. .Shaft 30 then retated in a direction to cause the clamp 15 tomove away from the die plate P2 which slides .the punch plate Pl along the surface of the platej6-in a straight line and separates it from the die plate. Thedie set may likewise be closed by reversing the movement of the clamp L5 and placing t he die plateon the opposite side of bar :35.

Preferably, means is provided for clamping a die plate to the outerlside of bar 35 to hold the die plate against movement while the other die plate is moved to ,open and close :the 'diesetjby themovable clamprlti. In the form of the invention shown, the clamp means comprises a bracket 39 which has a base portion All adapted to -.be attached .to the plate 6, and an upright portion 4|. The upright portion M has a threaded bore 42 therethrough, the axis vof which ibore ,is inclined at approximately 15 relative to the plane of the base portion and receives a clamp rod 23' therethrough. In the form of the invention shown, clamp rod 23 is like clamp rod 23 and like parts have the same reference characters bearing primes, andsleeve 28 is threaded in bore 42. The .base portion 40 .of bracketi39 .is adapted to be positioned on the plate 6 preferably by pins 45 fixed in openings in the base and which project into corresponding aperturesor holes 46 through the plate 6. By this arrangement the bracket may be quickly positioned on the plate. Preferably, a series of holes 46 are provided so that .the bracket 39 maybe selectively located different distances from the bar 35 for providing most effective use of the clamp rod 23' against a particular die set plate restingagainst-the bar. By this construction, the punch plate P2 can be Isecurelyclamped to the forward side of bar I 35, ,andthe clamp 15 can then move thepunch plate Pl in either direction to open and close the die set without the necessity of moving the punch plate P2 to opposite sides of the bar.

The vertical positioning of the major planes of the die set plates affords an unobstructed view of the die maker who may look downwardly between the die plates while in a normal standing position. It will be noted that both die set plates rest on the plane surface of plate 5 throughout the straight line closing and separating movements and, consequently, there will be a complete absence of lateral or twisting pressures on the guide rods or guide bushings of the die set. Also, it is unnecessary to lift or to otherwise manually handle the die set members during either the separation or closing movements thereof.

It is apparent that the present invention provides an apparatus which facilitates the handling of die sets, particularly during the construction of the die elements, and which eliminates stresses on the guide rods and bushing of the die sets during the separation or closing thereof. By using the apparatus during the interfitting and testing of the die elements, considerable manual handling of the die set members heretofore necessary can be eliminated, thereby increasing the efficiency of the production of dies and reducing the likelihood of damage thereto.

While a preferred construction of the die set Separating apparatus has been shown and demember by which the die plate can be acted on to separate or close the die set plates. Other changes will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and it is my intention to cover hereby all adaptations, modifications and uses of the invention which come within the practice of those skilled in the art and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

An apparatus of the character described comprising a member forming a substantially horizontal plane surface for supporting a pair of die set plates edgewise, said member having an elongated opening in said surface, a clamping device having a pair of clamping elements disposed in the plane normal to said surface and extendible through said opening to engage one of said plates and secure it in an edgewise position on said surface, said member having guides extending parallel with the opening therein and located on opposite sides of said opening, a threaded rotatable shaft extending parallel with said guides and threadingly cooperating with the clamping device for moving the latter along said shaft and said guides, an abutment on said member projecting from said surface for engaging with the other die set plate positioned on edge and of a length substantially equal to the length of the supported edge of said other die plate and extending transversely of the path of movement of the clamp, and clamping means located at one side of said abutment and movable to and from said abutment to clamp said other die set plate against said abutment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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