Abstract: A stamping and forming machine is disclosed having two operating modules with their drive shafts rotationally coupled together. Each module of the machine includes a punch assembly and a mating die assembly that reciprocate horizontally toward and away from each other for performing stamping and forming operations. The rotary motion of the drive shafts effects the reciprocation of the tooling by means of eccentric couplings attached to the drive shafts that drive eccentric links that in turn pivot actuating levers coupled to the tooling. Each module includes an independent feed mechanism that intermittently advances a strip of stock through the module in timed relation to the reciprocating motion of the tooling.

Abstract: An articulated ram assembly in a tooling module for a stamping and forming machine is disclosed. The ram assembly has a first member that is caused to reciprocate within a passageway in a box structure by a lever eccentrically coupled to a drive shaft. The ram assembly includes a second member that is in sliding engagement with the first member and coupled thereto by means of four links. The links are pivotally attached to one of the members and are pivotally coupled through slide blocks to the other member. The links are also pivotally coupled by slide blocks to the box structure so that as the first member undergoes reciprocating motion within the box structure the second member undergoes reciprocating motion at a different rate than the first member. Therefore, the length of stroke of the second member is different than the length of stroke of the first member.

Abstract: A stamping and forming machine positively prevents slug pulling by stripping the slug off of the end of the punch as the punch is being withdrawn from the die opening after a blanking operation. This is accomplished by providing a die insert support in supporting contact with the die insert having an opening that is identical to the opening in the die insert, but that is rotationally or laterally displaced therefrom by a small amount. As the punch pushes a slug through the opening in the die insert, the slug encounters the displaced opening in the die insert support and is shifted slightly as it is forced into that opening by the punch. As the punch is withdrawn from the die insert opening, the shifted slug cannot return through the opening and is stripped off of the end of the punch.

Abstract: A stamping and forming machine is disclosed having two operating modules, each of which has a punch assembly and a mating die assembly that reciprocate horizontally toward and away from each other for performing stamping and forming operations. The punch and die assemblies reciprocate within a passageway formed by a tool box comprising a base plate, two side plates screwed to the base plate, and a cover plate that is removably attached to the side plates. The cover plate is attached by means of dovetails that are formed in the outside edges of the side plates and the cover plate. The dovetails are spaced so that when the dovetail halves on one side of the cover and a respective side plate are in mating engagement, the other dovetail half on the cover is spaced from the dovetail half on the other side plate. A removable gib is arranged to closely fit in this space so that there is no appreciable lateral play between the cover and the side plates.

Abstract: A stamping and forming machine is disclosed having two operating modules, each of which has a unique scrap removal system. The machine includes a punch assembly and a mating die assembly that reciprocate horizontally toward and away from each other for performing stamping and forming operations. The die assembly includes a die plate having openings for mating with punches in the punch assembly, a die backup plate having scrap receiving openings, and a ram for effecting the reciprocating motion. An adapter is disposed between the die backup plate and the ram and is carried thereby. Horizontally disposed openings are formed in the adapter in corresponding alignment with the scrap receiving openings. Vertically disposed openings are formed in the bottom surface of the adapter and extend upwardly to intersect the horizontal openings. A conveyer is arranged vertically under these vertically disposed openings and leads to a position outside of the machine.

Abstract: A method of distributing rotational power from a common drive shaft assembly to two or more stamping and forming modules is disclosed. The method includes shortening the length of stroke of the ram assemblies of selected modules thereby permitting them to achieve higher working forces at their stamping and forming tooling than other modules whose ram assemblies have a longer length of stroke.

Abstract: Stamping and forming machine having reciprocable rams which move towards and away from each other between open and closed positions having adjustable eccentrics for adjusting the strokes of the rams. The rams are reciprocated by oscillating levers which are coupled to a power shaft by eccentric assemblies. Each eccentric assembly has a fixed eccentric on the power shaft and an adjustable eccentric which is rotatable, for adjustment purposes, with respect to the fixed eccentric thereby to change the stroke of the associated ram assembly.

Abstract: Compressive force transmitting coupling (64) between an actuator (16), which oscillates along an arcuate path and a ram block (12) which reciprocates along a straight line path comprises first and second compression blocks (66, 68) and a bearing (70) between the compression blocks (66, 68). The compression blocks are in alignment and in compressive engagement with the ram block (12) and actuator (16). The compression blocks have opposed concave cylindrical bearing surfaces (72, 73) and the bearing (70) has oppositely facing convex bearing surfaces (74, 75) which are complementary to the concave surfaces (72, 73) of the blocks (66, 68).

Abstract: A tooling module for use in a stamping and forming machine comprises a tooling portion and an actuator portion. The actuator portion is fixed to a reciprocable ram and the tooling portion is slidably carried by the actuator portion. The tooling portion is normally spaced from to the actuator portion and is movable to an adjacent position. The tooling portion has forming tooling thereon for performing a bending or other operation on strip material. The actuator portion has an actuator such as a cam for moving the forming tooling when the module is moved by the ram against the strip on which forming operations are being carried out.

Abstract: Flat stamped electrical contact device (2) has a contact edge (8,8') which extends from the first major surface (4) to the second major surface (6) of the device. The contact edge surface (8,8') is smooth for substantially its full width and does not have a fractured portion or a burr extending from the second major surface (6). The smooth straight surface is produced by steps of coining the opening produced during the initial punching operation at a location adjacent to the second major surface after the opening has been punched and then shaving the edge to produce the finished contact surface.

Abstract: Force transmitting coupling (44) for transmitting force from an actuator (16) which oscillates along an arcuate path to a ram block (12) which reciprocates along a rectilinear path comprises a flexible member (50) coupling which is connected to the actuator (16) by a lost motion connection (90, 94) and which is against the ram block (12). The flexible member (50) is supported intermediate its ends in a manner such that it can flex by a predetermined amount but not more than the predetermined amount. When the ram block (12) is pushed from a retracted position to a forward position, the flexible member is placed in compression and flexes by only the predetermined amount. The force transmitted to the ram block is applied to the axis of the ram block.

Abstract: Stamping die for use with a punch to produce holes in strip material with the resulting production of a slug has a camming rib in the die opening. The rib prevents slug pulling when the punch returns from its extended position to its retracted position. The camming rib causes the slug to become wedged in the die opening and is effective to move the slug laterally in its own plane across the leading edge of the punch thereby overcoming any surface tension or other forces which might cause the slug to adhere to the face of the punch. The camming rib can be straight and extend parallel to the axis of the die opening if the die opening is not tapered. If the die opening has a slight taper, the camming rib is inclined thereby to cause movement of the slug across the face of the punch as the punch moves into the die opening.

Abstract: Two-out terminal strip (44, 44') is produced by stamping and forming the strip such that the terminals (40) on one of the side edges (36) extend laterally in a first direction of the plane of the stock strip (124) and the terminals (40') on the other side edge (36') extend laterally in a second direction which is the opposite of the first direction. The two-out strip is slit along the centerline (30) of the central carrier portion and the resulting single strips (44, 44') of terminals are wound on reels (46, 46'). One of the strips (44') is wound by rotating the reel (46') in a clockwise direction and the other strip (44) is wound on a reel (46) by rotating the reel in a counterclockwise direction. The two strips will then be in the same orientation on their respective reels and re-reeling of one of the strips is not necessary.

Abstract: Forming die assembly 18, 20 for carrying out a U-ing operation on a flat blank 58a has a forming tool 80 in one 18 of two ram assemblies 18, 20 which cooperates with a second forming tool 82 to perform the U-ing operation. During movement of the ram assemblies 18, 20 towards each other, the forming tool 80 is retracted and remains stationary during a final portion of the stroke of the ram assembly 18 in which it is carried. The forming tool is maintained in an extended position by a toggle mechanism during an initial portion of the stroke and the toggle is broken during a final portion of the stroke thereby to permit the forming tool to retract relative to the tooling assembly. On the return stroke, the forming tool is restored or shifted to its extended position by a biasing spring.

Abstract: Stamping and forming apparatus (54) has a bending station in which blanks (28,28'), which extend from the two side edges of strip material (4), are reversely bent (180) degrees in opposite directions so that the end portions (36a,36a') of the reversely bent blanks extend back towards the carrier strip (4). The apparatus has first and second tooling assemblies (86,86') which are on ram assemblies (72,72'). The ram assemblies move relatively towards and away from each other with the strip positioned (4) between the tooling assemblies. Each tooling assembly (86,86') has a mandrel (44,44') around which the blank (28,28') is bent and each tooling assembly has two bending sets of tooling therein, a primary bending set (46,46') and a secondary bending set (50/50') for bending the blank initially through a 90 degree angle and then completing the bending operation to form a 180 degree bend.

Abstract: Punch and die combinations are disclosed for trimming the edges of strip material. The die openings and the punches have trapezoidal cross-sections so that they form trapezoidal notches in the edge of the strip and produce trapezoidal or, in one instance, parallelogram-shaped, slugs. By virtue of the fact that the die openings and punches have a trapezoidal cross-section, the slugs produced when the edge of the strip is trimmed are pushed into the die openings and passageways extending from the die openings and stacked in an orderly manner so that close packing of the slugs with resulting jamming does not take place.

Abstract: A punch assembly of a stamping and forming machine has a separate sub-assembly which is removably secured to the ram of the punch assembly. The sub-assembly comprises a punch holder, a stripper plate, and at least one punch. The stripper plate is coupled to the punch holder by a lost motion connection and the punch holder in turn is secured to the punch ram by fasteners. The fasteners are accessible through access openings which extend into the facial surface of the stripper plate. The practice of the invention permits the use of only one ram with a plurality of sub-assemblies and thereby reduces tooling costs.

Abstract: Die assembly comprises a die plate having one or more die inserts therein. The die plate has a recess within which the insert is positioned. The die opening in the insert extends normally of the oppositely directed major surfaces of the insert so that the insert can be reversed. The original obverse surface of the insert thus becomes the reverse surface and the original reverse surface becomes the obverse surface. The necessity of sharpening the die insert in the conventional manner is thus eliminated. Also disclosed is an improved system for mounting die inserts in a die assembly.

Abstract: System for controlling slugs (10, 10') in a stamping and forming machine has a slug stripper (32) for stripping slugs from the end (13) of the punch (11) and slug supporting bars (78, 80) which support slugs at their edges as they move through a passageway (82). The slug stripper (32) is mounted in the facial surface (18) of the die plate (14) and has an end portion (56) which extends partially over the die opening (44). When the punch (11) descends and punches a notch (8) in the strip material (2), the slug (10, 10') which is produced moves the stripper (32) to a retracted position. When the slug (10, 10') is moved past the end of the slug stripper (32), the slug stripper returns to its normal position so that on the return stroke of the punch the slug will be removed by the end portion (58) of the stripper. The slugs are maintained in a stack in the slug passageway (82) by opposed supporting bars (78, 80) which are resiliently biased against opposite edges of the slugs.

Abstract: Strip feed mechanism comprises an intermittently rotated sprocket wheel which engages the strip material. A guide plate extends tangentially past the sprocket wheel and serves to hold the strip material against the wheel and in engagement with the sprocket teeth. At the end of a feeding interval, the guide plate is moved away from the sprocket wheel by a bell crank mechanism. The bell crank mechanism comprises a bell crank having a movable axis which, in combination with other features of the mechanism, permits the guide plate to be moved away abruptly from the sprocket so that the feeding interval is brought to an abrupt halt without "chattering" or other slight uncontrolled movement of the strip.