Abstract: A method for compacting powder material into an article comprising pouring the powder material in a die cavity formed above a lower punch disposed in the die cavity, retracting the lower punch to a small distance, introducing an upper punch into the die cavity, advancing the lower punch towards the upper punch and advancing the upper punch towards the lower punch at a rate greater than the advance of the lower punch, and extracting the compacted article from the die cavity by holding it between the upper and lower punch.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compacting powder material into a prismatic or pyramidal article in a molding cavity formed by the end face of a lower punch reciprocable in a die bore, a portion of the die bore and the end faces of a pair of telescopic concentric punches being disposed above the die bore. The lower punch end face forms an end surface of the prismatic or pyramidal article, the die bore wall forms the peripheral surface of the article, and the upper telescopic punches form the other end surface of the article, one of the telescopic punches being disposed peripherally to the other punch and forming a sharp edge between the peripheral surface of the article and its other end surface.

Abstract: A method for compressing powder material into at least partially spherical articles in an apparatus comprising a die and upper and lower reciprocally movable punches. The die has a center bore through which the lower punch is reciprocable. The wall at the upper part of the die bore is enlarged to form a spherical zone portion of a hemispherical cavity. The end face of the lower punch has a concave shape to form a segment of the hemispherical cavity when the face of the lower punch is flush with the die cavity wall. The lower face of the upper punch defines a hemispherical cavity which mates with the hemispherical cavity of the die. In operation, the bore and die cavity are charged with powder material and the upper punch is brought into engagement with the die. A compaction stroke by the lower punch then forces the powder material into the spherical cavity. The upper punch is then withdrawn and the compacted spherical article is removed from the die.

Abstract: An improvement for a press, more particularly a press for compacting powder material, provided with a mechanical toggle mechanism actuated ram disposed above the die supporting bed or table of the press. The mechanical toggle mechanism is in turn actuated by the press drive. The pivot support for the ram upper toggle arm is independently reciprocated by a fluid cylinder activated in timed relationship with the mechanical toggle action such as to provide reciprocation of the ram independently of or in addition to the reciprocation caused by the toggle mechanism. Adjustable abutment means are provided for adjustably setting the extreme positions of the fluid cylinder reciprocating member.

Abstract: A punch and die set for operation by the ram of a powder compacting press, comprising at least three concentrically disposed telescopic punches independently reciprocable within a single die cavity. Each punch is separately supported by a punch holder plate, one of which is directly reciprocable from the press ram, another of which is reciprocable by way of appropriate abutments dependent from the first punch holder and the third of which is independently reciprocable relative to the first one by way of fluid pressure.