Abstract: A method for cutting and separating from a piece of sheet metal a product, comprising a first step for contouring the product while leaving a small joint such as a connecting web or micro-joint which connects the product to the sheet metal, a second step for forming a protrusion on or adjacent to the small joint by lancing, embossing, or semi-shearing, and a third step for pressing the protrusion in order to shear the small joint.

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: A malleable sheet of material is introduced into a progressive die system having a plurality of stations containing one or more dies for forming a predetermined configuration in the malleable sheet of material as the sheet progresses through the system. At least one strengthening means is formed along the sheet of material at an early station in the progressive die system for strengthening the sheet of material such that the sheet can be controlled at subsequent stations. Die related operations are then performed on the sheet of malleable material by the progressive die system until a completed part is created.

Abstract: This method relates to the production of connectors each embodied by a row of substantially U-shaped clips formed in their curved part with a row of regularly spaced-apart apertures which separate the hinge elements from one another. The following metal deep drawing and pressing operations are performed consecutively in the central part of a metal strip, forming an aperture of reduced cross-section in the center of the place intended for each aperture required to be present between two hinge elements; widening each such aperture and pressing in the edges to form a collar which projects from a surface of the strip; bending the sides of each collar around on to the corresponding surface of the metal strip; and bending the strip round into a U-shape by the surface towards which the collar edges have been bent round being inwardly directed.

Abstract: A trim, form and cut machine for trimming plastic flash from an IC chip and cutting the connections between chip leads. The machine utilizes interchangeable modules and interchangeable punches and is designed with a self-cleaning feature. Air jets and passageways are provided to remove the material trimmed from the IC chips and leads.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for making and transferring shells for cans within a ram press. The shells are formed in a two-step operation in which shell preforms are formed at a first station within the press and then transferred to second station where they are formed into completed shells. The first station includes first and second rows of tooling sets with the tooling sets of the first row being located in alternating transverse positions relative to the tooling sets of the second row. Similarly, the second station includes third and fourth rows of tooling sets in which the tooling set of the third row are located in alternating transverse positions relative to the tooling sets of the fourth row, and the tooling sets of the third and fourth rows are located for receiving the shell preforms from the tooling sets of the second and first rows, respectively.

Abstract: A progressive die apparatus and method for cold forming weld adapters. A progressive die apparatus, preferably having at least four working stations and several idle stations, is used to form, weld adapters from rectangular bar stock having a thickness of at least about 3/8 inch. Plain-carbon steel bar stock material or other weldable metal material is successively fed through the progressive die apparatus, which is preferably installed in a knuckle-joint power press.

Abstract: An insulation displacement terminal having a pair of slotted plates retained in a nest formed by embossments on sidewalls extending past the edges of slotted plates. The sidewalls and the slotted plates are formed orthogonally upward from a common base. Outer ellipsoidal embossments are formed on opposite sides of a cylindrical embossment. The embossments are formed by a shallow drawing process without removal of material from the planar sidewalls. Adjacent edges of the embossments are sheared to form a nest receiving the side edges of the slotted plates.This application is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 07/280,753 filed Dec. 6, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,382, issued Aug. 14, 1990.

Abstract: A vertically mounted working table has a centrally located forming station for making small parts from a feed stock. The forming station is located in a slide holder supported by a backer plate mounted on the working table. The slide holder has multiple radially directed slots for receiving slides containing a tool at one end. The slides are acuated by pneumatic cylinders through four way valves electrically controlled by cam actuated snap switches. The pneumatic cylinders can be repositioned in slots in the working table to change the stroke of the slide.

Abstract: Method and machine for producing friction bearing shells from ribbon-shaped composite laminate material, wherein the composite laminate material is fed and processed in successive stages at a multiplicity of successive stations until the shells are finished, except for the slide surface processing. The continuous processing includes chip-generating operations arranged to considerably improve the precision and quality of the friction bearing shells that are produced. The ribbon is blanked to produce individual plates which are disposed transverse to the transport direction, making it possible to work on each individual plate without reaction upon other plates. Scrap and chips are removed, preferably at spacing areas. The shells leaving the continuous production line are finished, except for any processing of the slide surfaces.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a rotor frame of an electromagnetic clutch is disclosed. A rotor frame is manufactured using press machines in a sequential process of: (1) forming a blank which has the shape of a regular polygon; (2) forming a bulge in one side of the blank; (3) making a hole in the center of the bulge; and (4) bending the walls of the bulge and the blank edges into projections that can be machined to provide appropriately shaped end surfaces for use as a rotor frame.

Abstract: Apparatus for the continuous shearing off and cold swaging of metal workpieces, particularly wire material, comprises a device (1') for feeding the material (5), a pivotable shearing device (2), a slide (1) for swaging the sheared-off part, and a die-studded chuck (31). These components are arranged so that they are distributed in the machine frame (11) along the sides of a U. These components can all be driven by a motor (4) via a conventional drive. Feeding of the material (5) in the direction of the chuck (31) takes place with intermittent motion and in synchronism with the movements of the described components of the machine. The production output of finished parts is greatly increased by the chosen arrangement, the intermittent feeding of the material, and the pivotability of the cutter. The slide has a holder (37) for a plurality of tools in sockets (43, 44, 45 or 43', 45').

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for feeding a material to a hot forging machine in a forging line in which a coiled material is uncoiled, straightened, fed intermittently by pinch rollers through a heating device, cut by a cutting device and then fed into a hot forging machine. The method has the steps of preparing a driving device which drives the pinch rollers mechanically independently from the hot forging machine; picking up the timing of forging conducted by the hot forging machine as an electric signal, and controlling the driving device in accordance with the electric signal.

Abstract: A split ring spring for snap fasteners has a burr extending from each end of the ring spring in a direction parallel to the imaginary central axis of the ring spring. When a stud member is snapped with a socket member in which the split ring spring is incorporated, the burrs do not damage or scar a body of the stud member. The ring spring having such unobjectionable burrs is produced by feeding a length of a strip of resilient material transversely across a mandrel, then severing the length off the strip in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel while holding the length on the mandrel, and thereafter bending the severed length of strip around the mandrel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spur gear automatic production process wherein spur gears are cold-press formed. The invention provides a top and bottom table with stock fed therebetween in sequential operation with the vertical stroke of the press machine, stamping a disk-shaped gear workpiece by means of top and bottom die sets in the first section which are positioned for integrated movement, thereafter moving said gear workpiece to the second section by means of an unobstructed feed, stamping thereon the tooth profile by means of the vertical stroke of top and bottom die sets positioned in said second section, and ironing said gear workpiece in the reverse direction to the stamping process.

Abstract: A module type forming machine having a central driving wheel gear rotatable about a horizontal axis and disposed behind a working table extending in a vertical plane, and a plurality of slide units including slides which are arranged radially around the central driving wheel gear and which carry forming tools at their radially inner ends, the slides being linearly slidable in the radial directions by the operation of the respective pinions meshing with the central driving wheel gear. The forming machine further has a base detachably attached to a lateral side of the frame of the forming machine, the base carrying an upper shaft and a lower shaft and a plurality of working units adapted to be driven by the upper or the lower shaft so as to perform linear vertical working motions and arranged in a side-by-side fashion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for feeding a material to a hot forging machine in a forging line in which a coiled material is uncoiled, straightened, fed intermittently by pinch rollers through a heating device, cut by a cutting device and then fed into a hot forging machine. The method has the steps of preparing a driving device which drives the pinch rollers mechanically independently from the hot forging machine; picking up the timing of forging conducted by the hot forging machine as an electric signal, and controlling the driving device in accordance with the electric signal.

Abstract: A metal fastener for a report folder and the method of manufacturing same comprising the steps of forming the fastener head, forming a single prong portion extending from the periphery of the head, and lancing the prong portion to form two separate prongs.

Abstract: A spring plate for transmitting or storing forces is made of plates of material by punching and has radial webs connected in meander form by peripheral bridges. The radial webs between successive bridges are separated by narrow slots whose width, measured when the spring plate is in the flat state, is at least 10% less than the thickness of the spring-plate material, so that a maximum number of radial webs can be accommodated round the periphery of the spring plate.

Abstract: Circlip making apparatus comprises three forming tools 2, 3, 4 equiangularly spaced about a mandrel axis 1a. A row of integral circlip blanks 6 are fed to the mandrel 1 through guide means 5 and blanks are cut from the row by blade 7 one by one before being bent into circlips around the mandrel 1 by advancement of the tools 2, 3, 4 radially of axis 1a. The row of blanks 6 is made from long flat wire stock and the stock is passed through work stations in which each blank is cut to tapered form and its cross-section planished between the ends so that it is adapted to a shape to be bent into a circlip without irregular distortion or buckling.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming end panels of uniform thickness for use with two-piece containers. The method includes the steps of engaging the stock under fluid pressure and blanking it; wiping the periphery of the stock against the blanking die to form a lip extending in a direction substantially normal to the planar surface of the blank. While still maintaining pressure on the blank, further steps involve drawing the blank to form an edge area that extends above the top planar surface of the blank and has a cross-sectional configuration resembling an inverted letter J, and finally completing forming of the end panel by reverse drawing the central body portion of the blank in an upward direction to set a chuckwall between the central body portion and the edge area. The apparatus includes tooling for a double action shell press which is capable of engaging and holding down the work piece under fluid pressure while performing the blanking and drawing operations.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming or reforming the shell of a two-piece container includes forming a cup shaped member in an upside down condition, reverse drawing the shell to form an over length chuckwall loosely holding the shell while pulling the excess material from the chuckwall into the bottom panel of the shell. The apparatus comprises tooling incorporated into a double acting press and including a punch core carried by the inner ram and an opposed die core carried by the bottom platen, a first pressure member carried by the outer ram and a die core ring fluidly supported on the bottom platen opposed to the pressure member and a punch shell carried on the inner ram. A second fluid pressure sleeve means is carried on the bottom platen in opposed relationship to the punch shell and a knockout piston is also carried by the lower platen opposed to the punch core and encircling the die core.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming end panels or shells for two-piece cans includes incorporation of the tooling necessary to form the panel within a double acting press. The tooling includes a fluid actuated hold down sleeve, carried by the outer slide of the press, which is capable of being moved into holding engagement with the metal from which the panel is formed. The inner slide of the press carries a punch which is movable into forming engagement with the metal and the outer slide carries tooling which is capable of blanking the metal against a cut edge carried by the fixed lower platen of the press. The chuck wall of the end panel is then preliminarily formed by the action of the punch drawing the blank around the fixed radius of a die core member fixedly carried by the bottom press platen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming end panels or shells for two-piece cans includes incorporation of the tooling necessary to form the panel within a double acting press. The tooling includes a fluid actuated hold down sleeve, carried by the outer slide of the press, which is capable of being moved into holding engagement with the metal from which the panel is formed. The inner slide of the press carries a punch which is movable into forming engagement with the metal and the outer slide carries tooling which is capable of blanking the metal against a cut edge carried by the fixed lower platen of the press. The chuck wall of the end panel is then preliminarily formed by the action of the punch drawing the blank around the fixed radius of a die core member fixedly carried by the bottom press platen.

Abstract: A method of making a shear blade for shearing gobs of hot glass without noticeable shear marks. The method comprises heating a blade of tool steel to a minimum of about 400.degree. F. (for 0.08-inch thick tool steel), stamping the desired outline shape of the heated blank by one set of dies and following by forming the blade in its final shape at such temperature by a second set of dies. The method involves heating thicker shapes at higher temperatures.

Abstract: The spring guide rail has several centering fingers and a bottom rail and is made out of a one-piece sheet metal strip into which substantially rectangular recesses are punched so that a ladder-type structure is formed with a pair of longitudinal bars being interconnected by cross bars. By repeated bending operations around given longitudinal axes the two parts of the bottom rail are formed by the longitudinal bars and the centering fingers are formed by the cross bars. Between the sections of the cross bars folded to face each other there is a space and in the bottom rail area projections are arranged which ensure the spacing between the opposite parts of the bottom rail. Thus, a simple and stable spring guide rail with a safe guidance is provided for the vane lifting springs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for use in combination with a machine for corrugating a continuous strip of flat sheet material which prepares the sheet material for separation into sections after it has been corrugated. A platform is located upstream of the corrugating machine. The platform is intermittently advanced in the direction of travel and at the speed of the sheet material so that the platform is stationary relative to the sheet material. A scoring device is located on the platform. The scoring device moves across the width of the sheet material as the platform moves with the sheet material to form a spanwise weak point in the material. After the material passes through the corrugating machine, it can readily be separated into sections at the weak points formed in the material by the scoring device. Depth of scoring can be varied also so that substantial/total separation can also occur within the corrugator though it would not separate the flat strip before it entered the corrugator.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for making a transition plate for a mine roof truss from a strip of metal includes a die set having a first and second station. In the first station the strip of metal is bent downwardly at its sides, a notch is sheared in both sides of the strip and two holes are pierced through the strip. In the second station the transition plate is completed by bending the leading portion of the strip into an "M" shaped saddle portion, the strip is sheared transversely and bent downwardly at its trailing end.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing pressed parts from round stock such as steel wire wound on a reel, which comprises unwinding the wire from the reel, passing the wire through a straightening device, and then feeding the wire intermittently through a heater where it is heated to a temperature of between 600.degree. C. and 850.degree. C. and subsequently cut to the appropriate length and fed to a press where it is pressed to the appropriate shape.

Abstract: A nestable can and method of manufacture is described wherein a blank cut from sheet metal stock is drawn into a tapered die with a tapered drawhorn to form a first stage cup having a bottom, a tapered cylindrical sidewall and a peripheral flange. Care is taken to avoid coining of the sidewall in the first stage of manufacture. The partially formed can is then reformed by expanding the sidewall while maintaining its taper, thereby removing wrinkles and forming a second stage cup having smooth interior and exterior sidewall surfaces.The nestable quality of the cup is dependent upon a novel profile created while reforming the first stage cup. In that operation the upper end of the cup is reshaped to form an upper rim that is offset from a tapered sidewall and having convex contact surfaces that support one cup within another. The location of the contact surfaces is such that adjacent sidewalls of two nested cups are spaced apart by at least 0.0015 inch, the peripheral rims being vertically spaced by at least 0.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal strip having a raised side uniformly plated with a layer of a different metal or metal alloy, preferably a precious metal, wherein the plating metal layer is applied to the flat strip and thereafter the strip is folded lengthwise to raise the plated side of the strip in order to obtain the desired profile. The method allows to apply the plating layer on a flat surface which can be easily done by known processes, the strip being bent together with the layer to form said raised uniformly plated side.

Abstract: Present day tool-holders or tool-holder systems for general work-shop or hobby-room use are generally manufactured from a large number of different blanks, e.g. one blank for each tool-holder configuration. This invention relates to tool-holders manufactured from a respective one of three starting blanks or strips cut therefrom and having arranged therein at least two mutually adjacent rows of openings. The openings of one row may be of greater area than the openings of the other row, or an opening of a given row may be of greater area than another opening in said row. A blank is cut and/or folded in a particular manner to form a holder for supporting a variety of tools, such as hammers, screw-drivers, and holemaking or piercing tools, or for supporting a single kind of tool.

Abstract: A forging machine is disclosed which is provided with means to determine when an undersized or short blank is produced by the shear and to provide for the automatic rejection of such blank. Such short blanks can occur if the stock feed into the shear is insufficient. The illustrated embodiment includes a shear for progressively cutting blanks from the forward end of a piece of stock in which the shear is provided with a load cell in the stock gauge to determine when improper feeding has occurred. Such load cell includes a strain gauge and the signal produced by the strain gauge actuates an overstroke ejection which pushes the blank from the first working station through the transfer fingers so that it does not transfer to a subsequent work station. The overstroke is provided by a piston and cylinder actuator mounted on the ejector lever which operates in response to a signal that the blank in the work station is of improper size.

Abstract: A spring having an enlarged diameter base mountable in the heel of a seal casing to enable flared arms extending forwardly from the base to freely exert by cantilever action an outwardly directed spring bias against the casing while the spring is retained by its base in the casing. A method of making a continuous spring from a single strip of metal to form opposing flared arms extending from an enlarged concave base.

Abstract: A slotted beam contact element for an electrical connector is constructed by forming an opening in a metallic strip and applying forces to at least one portion of the strip adjacent the opening to reshape said portion. Then a bifurcated beam is formed in the strip with at least portions of the furcations of the beam encompassing the opening after which the furcations are moved toward each other to cause the portions encompassing the opening to define a slot of predetermined width characteristics suitable for receiving an insulated conductor and for establishing electrical contact between the conductor and the furcations. For some uses of these kinds of contact elements, selected portions of the furcations may be coated or plated and/or heat treated prior to moving the furcations to their final closed position.

Abstract: A method of forming metal gaskets from a predetermined length of metal tubing.

Abstract: In each arm of a profiled part a notch is made. The notch has two convergent edges forming an angle substantially equal to the angle to be made with the profiled parts. The notch is designed of such a size that the bending can be easily made by applying a compression stress combined with a folding stress in order to reduce at a minimum the extension of lengthening during the folding without reaching the breaking limit of the material constituting the profiled part.

Abstract: Apparatus for shearing blanks from elongated workpieces and for pressing such blanks into screw blanks, bolts or the like in a continuous operation comprises a plurality of preferably cylindrical rotary elements, rotatable about parallel axes in such a manner that cooperating pairs of rotatable elements are rotated in opposite direction and so that blank receiving members on the rotary elements of each cooperating pair becomes successively aligned with each other. The plurality of rotary elements includes a central rotary element receiving sheared-off blanks and retaining the same during the pressing thereof until the final discharge, and a plurality of additional rotary elements arranged about the circumference of the central rotary element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method particularly adapted for use in continuously setting blind rivets having elongated mandrels in suitably apertured material.

Abstract: The method of fabricating the sheet metal duct units of the present invention comprises cutting a plurality of spaced lines of notches in an elongated strip of sheet metal, each of the lines being transverse to the longitudinal axis of the strip. The strip is sheared at predetermined points along the length thereof so that the cutting and the shearing operation combine to form sheet metal segments each having at least one cleat tab on at least one end thereof. Next the sheet metal segments are bent along at least one axis extending longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sheet metal so as to form an upstanding leg, the cleat tab being on one end of the upstanding leg. The cleat tab is then bent back against the remainder of the upstanding leg so as to form a cleat.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing a terminal carrier strip comprising terminals attached sidewise to form the carrier strip, includes terminal carrier strip feed means for feeding the carrier strip in a carrier strip feed direction, and turning means cooperating with the terminal carrier strip feed means to turn a leading terminal through an angle relative to the carrier strip feed direction, to aid in attaching flag terminals to lengths of wire.