Abstract: A press having a frame, a tool support 41 mounted on the frame, a ram 8 movable toward and away from the tool support, and a blank holder 20 surrounding the ram for movement towards and away from the tool support by a crosshead 21 has a crosshead plate 45 guided during motion towards and away from the tool support by pillars 42, 43 operably engaged with the tool support. The blank holder is adjustable to align with the tool support 20 and ram 8.

Abstract: In a press feed of the kind comprising an upright chute 1, a rotatable feed cam 2 adjacent the chute and guide rails 3,4 around the feed cam to guide a workpiece or cup 5 to a cup holding stop member 7 between a punch 10 and die 9, a clamp member 6 engages the cup as it leaves the feed cam to push the cup into the stop member and hold it until the punch 10 and blank holder 8 have entered the cup.

Abstract: Three balance mechanisms for a press machine are described. The first balance mechanism for a press machine comprises a balance weight 91 mounted on a crankshaft 86 of the press machine, a balance weight 92 mounted on a balance mechanism shaft 93, a motor for rotating the shaft 93 and a control system for the motor. The control system ensures that the balance mechanism shaft 93 rotates in the opposite direction to, but at the same speed as, crankshaft 86. The balance weights 91 and 92 balance the primary shaking forces which arise in the press machine along the axis of movement of its ram 83. In the second balance mechanism, balance weights are mounted on two separate shafts rotated by a motor and connected by a gear mechanism. In the third balance mechanism, one balance weight is mounted on the crankshaft, another balance weight is mounted on a shaft rotated by a motor, and a further pair of balance weights are mounted on a pair of shafts rotated by a motor at twice crankshaft speed.

Abstract: Three balance mechanisms for a press machine are described. The first balance mechanism for a press machine comprises a balance weight 91 mounted on a crankshaft 86 of the press machine, a balance weight 92 mounted on a balance mechanism shaft 93, a motor for rotating the shaft 93 and a control system for the motor. The control system ensures that the balance mechanism shaft 93 rotates in the opposite direction to, but at the same speed as, crankshaft 86. The balance weights 91 and 92 balance the primary shaking forces which arise in the press machine along the axis of movement of its ram 83. In the second balance mechanism, balance weights are mounted on two separate shafts rotated by a motor and connected by a gear mechanism. In the third balance mechanism, one balance weight is mounted on the crankshaft, another balance weight is mounted on a shaft rotated by a motor, and a further pair of balance weights are mounted on a pair of shafts rotated by a motor at twice crankshaft speed.

Abstract: A forming die of a kind having a top surface (38) a bottom surface, a peripheral side surface (39) connecting the bottom surface to the top surface (38) and including a receptor area (36) for receiving vibratory force, and an annular work surface (32) defining an aperture extending from said top surface through to said bottom surface has a plurality of localized mass concentrations 43,44,45, arranged symmetrically about an axial plane normal to the plane of the receptor area. The shape of the die is designed to modify resonant frequencies corresponding to unwanted modes of vibration to increase the separation between the frequencies of the unwanted modes and a chosen RO mode of vibration. The die may be adapted for use in the operations of reducing the diameter of a tubular article; deep drawing or like processes.

Abstract: A forming die of a kind having a top surface (38) a bottom surface, a peripheral side surface (39) connecting the bottom surface to the top surface (38) and including a receptor area (36) for receiving vibratory force, and an annular work surface (32) defining an aperture extending from said top surface through to said bottom surface has a plurality of localised mass concentrations 43,44,45, arranged symmetrically about an axial plane normal to the plane of the receptor area. The shape of the die is designed to modify resonant frequencies corresponding to unwanted modes of vibration to increase the separation between the frequencies of the unwanted modes and a chosen R0 mode of vibration. The die may be adapted for use in the operations of reducing the diameter of a tubular article; deep drawing or like processes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the cross-section of a terminal portion of a tubular body said apparatus comprising an external die which defines a convergent work surface therein of like shape to the exterior of the reduced cross-section to be produced; a plug having a work surface thereon of like shape to the interior of the reduced cross-section to be produced; means to hold the plug in axial alignment with the die during relative motion as between the plug and die to center the plug within the die to define a pass gap of shape and gap width substantially equal to that shape and thickness of the reduced cross-section; means to enter the terminal portion of the tubular body into the pass gap between the plug and die; and means to cause the die to vibrate in a radial mode at an ultrasonic frequency while the terminal portion is progressively reduced to the shape of the pass gap.