Abstract: A method for controlling the material flow during the deep-drawing of sheet metal involves compressing the edges of the sheet metal (1) between at least one upper stopper (13) and at least one lower stopper (6, 7) during the deep-drawing process, with a controllable elastic force (8, 9). A corresponding deep-drawing tool is also provided. A Z-shaped blocking step (11) is stamped into the edge (1a) of the sheet metal when the upper and lower stoppers (13, 6, 7) are closed, the basic shape is then produced by deep-drawing, maintaining the blocking step (11) and completely blocking the sheet metal between the stoppers. The sheet metal (1) is outwardly stretched, and the blocking step (11) is then reduced in terms of height, facilitating the outward displacement of the sheet metal towards the outside. The deep-drawing tool has a lower stopper including an inner stopper (6) and an outer stopper (7).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning opposed telescopically engageable cut ring and blank and draw die when mounted in a can body forming press to form non-round disc-shaped blanks which are subsequently formed into container bodies. A pair of opposed precision formed notches are formed in the peripheries of the spaced press components and a precision formed key is inserted into the notches. The key is then slidably removed from the notches. The notches are precisely located with respect to each other and to major and minor axes of the press components so that said major and minor axes align with each other when the key is seated in the notches.

Abstract: A self-contained die cushion assembly for use in a stretch-forming process involving heated tooling. A lower plate is mounted below an upper plate that undergoes different thermal expansion than the lower plate. Guidance devices are mounted between the upper and lower plates and include a guide post, a bearing sleeve circumscribing the guide post, and a cylinder circumscribing the bearing sleeve. The guide post is mounted in fixed relation to the upper plate, and the cylinder is mounted in laterally translatable relation to the lower plate to accommodate lateral relative displacement between the upper and lower plates due to different thermal expansion thereof, thereby preventing binding of the guidance devices.

Abstract: After molding is started, a large reaction force is obtained by compressing the air within a lower chamber by a piston while maintained in a sealing state. At an intermediate time of the molding, a small reaction force is obtained by communicating the upper and lower chambers with each other by a switching portion of a spool. At a final time of the molding, a large reaction force is again obtained by interrupting a flow path between the upper and lower chambers. The die cushion ability can be mechanically switched in association with the stroke of the piston, the die cushion device can be set such that no time lag is easily caused at a switching time, and the die cushion ability can be instantly switched.

Abstract: A fluid spring assembly. The spring assembly preferably includes a body that slidably supports a piston that is attached to a piston rod. The piston serves to define a fluid chamber within the body that is charged with a pressurized fluid medium. The piston is retained within the body by a rigid retainer member. A biasing member is provided between the retaining member and the piston for resisting the force generated by the fluid medium within the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulic drawing system for a press is provided for controlling a blank holder. The blank holder can be moved by at least one hydraulic cylinder-piston unit which has at least one pressure chamber. By way of a connection line, the pressure chamber is connected directly with a control block provided for controlling the movements of the at least one cylinder-piston unit. At least one storage element for storing pressure for the at least one cylinder-piston unit is connected by way of a connection line with the control block and, by way of another connection line at least one valve device is connected with the control block. The connection lines extend in each case at least approximately completely within the respective components.

Abstract: A raised panel door section (22, 54, 64) for an overhead garage door (20, 50, 60) includes a sheet metal layer (32, 56, 66) formed from sheet metal stock (74) that is embossed to produce a raised panel design by an automated method that selects one of a first die set (84) and a second die set (90) in response to a predetermined embossment style, installs the selected one of the first and second die sets (84, 90) into an embossing press (36) and embosses the sheet metal stock (74) with the predetermined embossment style. The predetermined embossment style includes one of a vertical raised panel design (30), a horizontal raised panel design (52), and a horizontal long raised panel design (62).

Abstract: The invention concerns a tool for regulating the surface pressure on a blank constituting a metal plate which forms the starting item for shaping a finished item in a press. The blank is placed between a draw ring (23) and a blank holder ring (24). Besides, the tool comprises a shimming plate (1, 5, 10) provided with chambers (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14) which are delimited by the shimming plate itself and by a flexible membrane (27). The shimming plate is placed between a tool bottom part (17), alternatively a tool top part (16), and the blank holder ring, alternatively the draw ring. A pressure medium like hydraulic oil may be led to the chambers. Thereby it is possible locally and individually to increase the surface pressure on the blank depending on the number of chambers, the design of chambers and the location of the chambers in the shimming plate. Furthermore, it is possible to regulate the pressure during the shaping process itself.

Abstract: An apparatus for stamping sheet metal is disclosed. The apparatus has a lower bolster having a number of air pins disposed at predetermined locations. A first die set having first and second die shoes and a stamping ring and cap are disposed on the lower bolster. The first and second die shoes are matable to form a stamped component. The second die shoe is coupled to the lower bolster so that at least one air pin is operable to apply force to the ring. The system further has third and fourth die shoes which are used to form a second stamped component. The third and fourth die shoes further have a second stamping ring and second cap. The system is such that the third and fourth die shoes can be inserted into the press after the first and second die shoes have been removed. It is not necessary to remove the air pins disposed in the lower bolster to change the die shoes.

Abstract: In order to provide a deep-drawing method, with which a drawn part is arranged in a deep-drawing die between a first deep-drawing die part and a second deep-drawing die part and is formed by way of relative movement of the deep-drawing die parts in relation to one another, which—particularly for carrying out several consecutive drawing processes—is more time and energy saving than the known deep-drawing methods, it is suggested that a pressure variable with time during the drawing process be generated selectively at a limited pressure section of one of the deep-drawing die parts, this pressure pressing a section of the drawn part abutting on the pressure section against the respectively other deep-drawing die part.

Abstract: A process for hydroforming sheet metal, in which a blank (1) is secured with the help of a blank holder (2′, 2″, 2′″) on a matrix (4′) provided with a cavity (3′) for stamping the blank (1) with the help of a die (5′, 5″, 5′″) entering the matrix, characterized in that during the stamping phase, the play between the die (5′, 5″, 5′″) and the blank holder (2′, 2″, 2′″) is confined within a range of values preventing, between the die and matrix, the formation of a fold, as a function of one and/or the other of the following parameters: pressure of fluid in the cavity (3′) of the matrix (4′), and position of the die (5′, 5″, 5′″) relative to the matrix.

Abstract: An equalizing fluid-operated apparatus for use with a pressing machine, the apparatus including a flat common manifold which has bottomed holes having respective bottoms, and a communication passage that communicates the bottomed holes with each other, and rod guides which are integrally and fixedly provided around respective openings of the bottomed holes of the manifold, such that each of the rod guides guides a movement of a piston rod of a corresponding one of fluid-operated cylinders, and prevents the piston rod from coming off the one fluid-operated cylinder, the bottomed holes and the communication passage of the manifold being filled with a working fluid, so that the bottomed holes function as respective pressure chambers of the fluid-operated cylinders.

Abstract: An equalizing fluid-operated apparatus for use with a pressing machine, the apparatus including a flat common manifold which has bottomed holes having respective bottoms, and a communication passage that communicates the bottomed holes with each other, and rod guides which are integrally and fixedly provided around respective openings of the bottomed holes of the manifold, such that each of the rod guides guides a movement of a piston rod of a corresponding one of fluid-operated cylinders, and prevents the piston rod from coming off the one fluid-operated cylinder, the bottomed holes and the communication passage of the manifold being filled with a working fluid, so that the bottomed holes function as respective pressure chambers of the fluid-operated cylinders.

Abstract: A high precision, all-purpose, double action hydraulic press, which can control the speed, position, and parallelism of each slide, can conduct mold exchanges easily, and prevent the breakthrough phenomenon is provided with an outer slide 4, an inner slide 6, drive cylinders 8 and 9 which drive each of the slides, position detection devices 14 and 15 which detect the position of each of the slides, push pins 13, a damper cylinder 10 which prevents breakthrough phenomenon, and a die plate 5 which is equipped with push pins 13. By controlling the flow in the hydraulic pressure circuit which is connected to each of the drive cylinders, the speed, position, and parallelism of each of the slides are controlled.

Abstract: A gas cushion apparatus is provided with a support member that can hold a blank, gas pressure cylinders that push the support member upwards, a hydraulic cylinder whose upper rod is connected to the support member, a pneumo-hydraulic converter for secondary lifting with a piston that partitions the interior thereof into an oil chamber communicating with the oil chamber on the side of the aforementioned rod of the hydraulic cylinder and a gas chamber, a check valve that allows oil to flow from the oil chamber on the side opposite to the above-mentioned rod to the oil chamber on the side of the aforementioned rod, and a drain port communicating with the oil chamber on the side of the above-mentioned rod of the hydraulic cylinder; when the die passes the bottom dead center point, the drain port is closed, and when the die is traveling from the bottom dead center point to the top dead center point, the pressure in the gas chamber of the pneumo-hydraulic converter for secondary lifting is decreased, thus the pisto

Abstract: A deep-drawing press includes a one-piece drawing cushion, an arrangement of cushion cylinders and a control unit. The overall performance of the press is increased by the possibility of using both large and small tools. The position of the drawing cushion is controlled during the forming process.

Abstract: A hydraulic drawing system for a press is provided for controlling a blank holder. The blank holder can be moved by at least one hydraulic cylinder-piston unit which has at least one pressure chamber. By way of a connection line, the pressure chamber is connected directly with a control block provided for controlling the movements of the at least one cylinder-piston unit. At least one storage element for storing pressure for the at least one cylinder-piston unit is connected by way of a connection line with the control block and, by way of another connection line at least one valve device is connected with the control block. The connection lines extend in each case at least approximately completely within the respective components.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hydraulic force modulator used in a power press to provide a predetermined force with a defined force applied by a ram of the press at defined incremental positions of the ram relative to a stationary part of the press. A moveable plate moves relative to a base plate. A resilient pneumatic bellows has one end sealingly mounted on the moveable plate. The resilient pneumatic bellows has an opposite end sealingly mounted on the base plate. A vessel is connected on one of the plates. A metering cylinder is mounted on the same plate as the vessel and is positioned within the vessel. A piston assembly is mounted in the metering cylinder. A piston rod has one end connected to the piston assembly and the opposite end connected to the other of the plates.

Abstract: After molding is started, a large reaction force is obtained by compressing the air within a lower chamber by a piston while maintained in a sealing state. At an intermediate time of the molding, a small reaction force is obtained by communicating the upper and lower chambers with each other by a switching portion of a spool. At a final time of the molding, a large reaction force is again obtained by interrupting a flow path between the upper and lower chambers. The die cushion ability can be mechanically switched in association with the stroke of the piston, the die cushion device can be set such that no time lag is easily caused at a switching time, and the die cushion ability can be instantly switched.

Abstract: A container end is provided with a suitable stock thickness for necessary strength and pressure resistance over its selected areas of its central portion while employing a substantially thinner peripheral wall. A method of forming thins the peripheral wall by drawing and ironing in a single workstation using compound die that also shears the blank from sheet stock. Optionally, multi-layers or laminates form the central portion of a lid, with a reduced number of layers forming the peripheral wall. Alternatively, the peripheral wall is thinned by ironing, spinning, or roll forming after the blank is formed into a shell. A forming apparatus clamps a planar peripheral wall of a blank with a clamping element that includes a thining tool. The apparatus oppositely offsets the center of the blank from the peripheral wall to draw the peripheral wall over the thinning tool on the clamping element.

Abstract: A deep-drawing tool where the holding-down device is incorporated into the punch, and the holding-down device consists of individual punches uniformly on the circumference, where the punches are designed as elastomers.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hydraulic force modulator used in a power press to provide a predetermined force with a defined force applied by a ram of the press at defined incremental positions of the ram relative to a stationary part of the press. A moveable plate moves relative to a base plate. A resilient pneumatic bellows has one end sealingly mounted on the moveable plate. The resilient pneumatic bellows has an opposite end sealingly mounted on the base plate. A vessel is connected on one of the plates. A metering cylinder is mounted on the same plate as the vessel and is positioned within the vessel. A piston assembly is mounted in the metering cylinder. A piston rod has one end connected to the piston assembly and the opposite end connected to the other of the plates.

Abstract: A drawing and coining die for metal containers, comprising: a matrix, which is connected to a base associated with a moving slider of a press and comprises a sliding plate provided with elastic means in contrast with the base; a male element, which is connected to a base associated with a footing of the press and is shaped so as to make contact with an edge of the container; a blank holder, which is slidable in contact with the male element, is provided with movement means and comprises means for resting and centering a disk that constitutes the material to be processed.

Abstract: A stamping press comprising a blank-holder force-regulating system using fluid-operated compensating cylinders (5, 7). The variation in the force in the blank-holder pressure-regulating areas is thus compensated so as to maintain a predetermined constant pressure in the conventional blank-holder area. This pressure in the conventional blank-holder area can, by virtue of the invention, according to certain alternative embodiments, also be made to vary.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet metal work center and a method for fabricating sheet metal therefrom. In the sheet metal work center, a locking arrangement is placed between the upper tool and a releaser, and the transfer device is arranged to consist of two parts. The sheet metal work center is adaptable to work in either a passive or active mode. In the passive mode, the releaser is positioned at a certain distance from the surface of the sheet, and the movements of the upper tool and the releaser are made with the locking arrangement locked and either part of the transfer device used. In the active mode, the releaser is positioned to be in contact with the sheet, and the movements of the upper tool and releaser are made with the locking arrangement locked and either part of the transfer device used.

Abstract: A die for drawing molded sheet metal parts has a bottom part of the die and a top part of the die. These parts are movably guided toward each other. One of these parts has a draw ring. The other part of the die has a sheet metal holder received on a plurality of hydraulically operating cylinders. There is a draw punch, which is enclosed by the sheet metal holder and is supported on at least one hydraulically operating cylinder. The punch is communicatively connected with at least one of the operating cylinders serving for the support of the sheet metal holder. The punch is acted upon by a hydraulic fluid displaced from this operating cylinder during the drawing process. Thus, the draw punch will move in the direction opposite to the movement of the sheet metal holder.

Abstract: A hydraulic deep drawing apparatus for a press for drawing shaped sheet metal parts from a workpiece. The apparatus comprises hydraulic pressure cylinders, a sheet holding plate supported by the hydraulic pressure cylinders and onto which the workpiece is laid, a tool baseplate arranged under the sheet holding plate, a ram which moves vertically toward the workpiece until just before contact with the workpiece, and which is fixed to a frame of the press at a gap .DELTA.s from the workpiece, and a multipoint unit having plural short stroke cylinders arranged according to a drawing ring contour, the short stroke cylinders being hydraulically actuated to bridge the gap .DELTA.s and press the workpiece against a drawing ring. A holding force for deep drawing the workpiece comprises an outer effect ring and an inner effect ring. The outer effect ring is loaded by sheet holding cylinders, and the inner effect ring is loaded by pressure pins and shaping pins.

Abstract: A drawing device for drawing presses has a sheet holding ring which travels along the entire drawing path during the drawing operation. For admitting a corresponding sheet holding force to the sheet holding ring, a pneumatic force generating device is provided whose pressure cylinders generating the force are permanently or statically acted upon by compressed air with a defined pressure volume. For adjusting the sheet holding force, the corresponding pistons of the force generating device can be acted upon on their opposite side with counterpressure of a defined pressure level. Thus, the course of the sheet holding force can be adjusted by way of the drawing depth. For local adjustment of the distribution of the sheet holding force along the sheet holding ring, hydraulic cylinders are arranged between the sheet holding ring and the pressure box, and are combined into groups.

Abstract: A spring guide retainer is provided for preventing buckling of a spring during spring compression as an upper die moves toward a lower die in a stamping operation. The spring guide retainer comprises a spring guide housing to hold the spring location, a spring guide holder fixed to the upper die to promote spring alignment, and a spring guide pin to maintain alignment of the spring. A screw associated with the spring guide pin is receivable through a pocket of the spring guide housing to secure the spring guide pin and the spring guide housing to the pad.

Abstract: The dynamic loading on a double action high speed mechanical cupping press is substantially reduced with sets of tooling at multiple stages which forms a batch of cups from a strip of sheet metal with each stroke of the press. The tooling stages are positioned at predetermined stepped elevations and are arranged so that they sequentially blank the sheet metal to form a series of nested and out-of-round or contoured blanks. The tooling stages also sequentially hold the blanks and sequentially draw the blanks into cups. The tooling stages are symmetrically positioned with respect to the press center line, and each tooling set may also include a bottom panel punch surrounded by a pressure sleeve for sequentially forming a preform boss within the bottom wall of each cup.

Abstract: A hydraulic press for deep drawing has mutually reciprocating clamping rings (6, 13) for idly clamping a sheet metal blank (5) with a predetermined force. The clamping rings (6, 13) are operated each by their cylinder (9, 14). The press has a tool (4) for forming the sheet blank (5), and a power unit (10, 11, 16) for generating a relative movement between, on the one hand, the clamping rings (6, 13) and, on the other hand, the tool (4). During the forming phase, the working volumes of the cylinders (9, 14) are interconnected to a common volume to which there is further connected a pressure maintenance device wit a pressure sensor (22), a regulator valve (23) and a pump (28). The piston areas of the cylinders (9, 14) are suitably equal.

Abstract: An automatic crimping tool having a crimping mechanism and a carrier strip feed mechanism where the crimping mechanism includes a vertically slidable ram with crimping dies and a spring loaded terminal clamping bar mechanism that has a slidable spring loaded clamping bar that presses a terminal against an anvil during the downward stroke of the ram by way of a pivotable hook mechanism attached to the clamping mechanism that engages with a pin of the bar to lift the bar off the terminal during the upward ram stroke after crimping, thereby considerably increasing the crimping cycle speed, the crimping mechanism further includes a depressor attached to the ram that depresses the carrier strip feeding mechanism in sync with the movement thereof, such that the carrier strip is pushed below the height of the anvil just prior to crimping so that bending of the carrier strip and tilting of the terminal is avoided, ensuring a high crimp quality, the feeder mechanism having a double acting motor that effectuates advanc

Abstract: A drawing mechanism for a press has a drawing slide and a plate holder with a plate held therein. A holding force, which acts against the drawing direction, can be applied to the plate by way of a piston rod which can be displaced in parallel to the drawing direction. A control accelerates the plate holder in the drawing direction before the drawing slide is placed on the plate holder because the plate holder is rapidly acceleratable independently of the drawing slide. A pre-acceleration cylinder is fixed to the press and has a pre-acceleration piston which is operatively connected with the piston rod. The pre-acceleration cylinder has first and second effective surfaces of different sizes which act in opposite directions, and a first and a second pressure chamber.

Abstract: A balancing apparatus for a pressing machine, including a force generating device for generating a force during a pressing operation on a blank, and a plurality of balancing hydraulic cylinders which have respective oil chambers communicating with each other and which include respective pistons that are moved to neutral positions thereof during the pressing operation, for evenly distributing said force, and where a discharge control device is connected to a connecting passage connecting the oil chambers of the balancing hydraulic cylinders to each other, so that the discharge control device inhibits a discharge flow of a working fluid from the hydraulic cylinders and thereby holding the pistons of all of the hydraulic cylinders at upper stroke ends thereof, prior to the pressing operation, and permits the discharge flow of the working fluid to thereby permit the pistons to be moved to the neutral positions during the pressing operation.

Abstract: A pressure set for use in a stamping press has a pressure cylinder placed between an upper and lower plate of the pressure set. In addition, an adjustable pressure regulating means is coupled to the cylinder for changing the pressure applied between the upper and lower plates. A controller coupled to the adjustable pressure regulator adjusts the pressure in the pressure cylinder to provide a predetermined pressure between the upper and lower plates.

Abstract: A press including force applying means for producing a blank-holding force, a cushion pad which receives the blank-holding force when the cushion pad is lowered, cushion pins disposed on the cushion pad, and a pressure member supported by the upper ends of the cushion pins, so that the blank-holding force is transferred to the pressure member through the cushion pins to hold a blank placed on the pressure member, when the pressure member is moved down during a pressing operation on the blank. A plurality of mutually independent balancing members, such as gas cylinders each filled with a gaseous fluid, or plastically deformable members, are disposed in respective transfer paths of the blank-holding force between the pressure member and the respective cushion pins.

Abstract: A diagnostic method of diagnosing a press for the presence of any abnormality that deteriorates a quality of a product manufactured by the press, wherein physical value (Fs, Fsi, Ff, Ffi, Fp, Fpi, Xsi, Xei, Xy, Xz, Vx, Gx, Gy, Gz, Temp A, Temp B, Va0, Vf0, Vd0, V, Aa, Ag, Az, Afi, Ps, Pmai, Psa, Paa, Pyai, Peai, Pzai) such as a load generated at a selected portion of the press during operation of the press is detected, and the press is diagnosed for any abnormality, on the basis of the detected physical value, and according to a predetermined reference.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of optimizing the operating condition of a press which includes the quality of a product to be obtained by a pressing operation on a blank, wherein at least one physical value of the press operating environment (e.g., ambient temperature and humidity and atmospheric pressure) and/or the physical condition (e.g., configuration and dimensions, mechanical and chemical properties and surface condition) of the blank is detected or manually entered into a memory, and an optimum value of the press operating condition is determined on the basis of the detected or manually entered physical value or values, so that the press operating condition is adjusted to the determined optimum value, irrespective of a variation in the press operating environment and/or a variation in the physical condition of the blank.

Abstract: A press wherein a blank-holding force generated by cushioning cylinders is transmitted to a pressure member through cushion pins for holding a blank during a pressing operation by a die and a punch, and is controllable by a pressure adjusting device according to an optimum pattern of control by controlling a difference between fluid pressures in two pressure chambers of each cushioning cylinder whose volumes decrease and increase, respectively, as the cushion pins are lowered.

Abstract: A pneumatic spring for damping movement of a machine part having a guide shaft for performing a stroke. The spring includes a housing containing gas. The housing is formed as a stationary body with a central opening adapted to accommodate the guide shaft. Several cylindrical bores are formed within the stationary body. A piston is peripherally guided within each cylindrical bore. Each piston has a center point located on a circle which is concentrically oriented with the central opening. The pistons contact the machine part with an upper support end so that all the pistons jointly perform a stroke with the machine part. Alternatively, the cylindrical bores are. selectively equipped with sealing disks instead of pistons, to adjust the resistance force characteristic of the spring.

Abstract: The dynamic loading on a double action high speed mechanical cupping press is substantially reduced with multiple stage tooling which forms a batch of cups from a strip of sheet metal with each stroke of the press. Each tooling stage includes a plurality of annular draw pads each opposing a corresponding annular blank and draw die. An annular cut edge surrounds each of the draw pads, and a corresponding die center punch is located within each of the draw pads. The tooling stages are positioned at predetermined stepped elevations so that they sequentially blank the sheet metal to form a series of circular disk-like blanks between the cut edges and the corresponding blank and draw dies, sequentially hold the blanks between the draw pads and corresponding blank and draw dies, and sequentially draw the blanks into cups with the die center punches extending into the corresponding blank and draw dies.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming cup-shaped metal container bodies or end shells from a metal blank in a double-acting press having inner and outer rams which operate in a timed relationship. A plurality of blank and draw dies are mounted on a fixed base in opposed relationship to a plurality of draw horns mounted on the inner ram and movable toward the base. A corresponding member of cutting dies and draw pads are mounted on the outer ram and are movable toward the base, whereby the cutting dies cut blank disks from the sheet and the draw pads clamp the disks against the blank and draw dies, followed by the drawing of the container bodies or end shells by the draw horns.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming cup-shaped metal container bodies or end shells from a metal blank in a double-acting press having inner and outer rams which operate in a timed relationship. Preferably, a plurality of blank and draw dies are mounted on a fixed base in opposed relationship to a plurality of draw horns mounted on the inner ram and movable toward the base. A corresponding member of cutting dies and draw pads are mounted on the outer ram and are movable toward the base, whereby the cutting dies cut blank disks from the sheet and the draw pads clamp the disks against the blank and draw dies, followed by the drawing of the container bodies or end shells by the draw horns. A plurality of stacked pressure-actuated pistons is carried by each of the outer rams and moves the draw pad into clamping engagement with the periphery of the blank disk.

Abstract: Pressing method and system wherein a drawing operation on blank is performed by die and punch while the blank is held between the die and a pressure ring by a blank holding force which is generated based on a movement resistance of the cushion platen and which is transmitted to the pressure ring through first cylinders and cushion pins, and wherein during a downward movement of the die toward the pressure ring, the cushion platen is moved down against the movement resistance before holding of the blank between the die and the pressure ring, by cooperation of second cylinders disposed on the cushion platen and communicating with the first cylinders, and shock absorbers disposed between the second cylinders and the die or a member moving with the die, so that the speed at which the die collides with the pressure ring is reduced by the downward movement of the pressure ring with the cushion platen.

Abstract: A process for producing Phillips-head screwing tools or the like, especially in the form of bits, by cold forming from a workpiece section (W) cut to length from a profiled rod. In order to produce bits of high precision, that the workpiece section (W) which is developed at one end with a hexagon profile and adjoining it with a section with supportable front end (16) is introduced, with axial spring-loaded support, into a press tool (P), whereupon the cheek plates (51) of this press tool (P) produce the Phillips-head shape or the like by a displacement towards the center which is controlled by a conical envelope surface (55) which tapers towards the front end (16).

Abstract: A gas spring apparatus includes first and second cylinders each closed at both ends by end walls, first and second pistons each capable of axial displacement being disposed inside a fluid-filled inner space of the cylinders, the first piston dividing the first cylinder into two sub-spaces, the second piston dividing the second cylinder into two cylindrical chamber, first and second piston rods each of, which is connected to the corresponding piston, being mounted in a sliding and sealing fashion in one end wall, and a plurality of valves selectively communicating among two sub-spaces and two cylindrical chambers to decrease pressure inside one of the sub-spaces so as to cause the first piston to be locked for a predetermined period of time, and to cause the first and second pistons to move upwards and back to an initial position of each of the first and second pistons after a predetermined delay. The valves are openable and closable which are controlled by a control device.

Abstract: The dynamic loading on a double action high speed mechanical cupping press is substantially reduced with multiple stage tooling which forms a batch of cups from a strip of sheet metal with each stroke of the press. Each tooling stage includes a plurality of annular draw pads each opposing a corresponding annular blank and draw die. An annular cut edge surrounds each of the draw pads, and a corresponding die center punch is located within each of the draw pads. The tooling stages are positioned at predetermined stepped elevations so that they sequentially blank the sheet metal to form a series of circular disk-like blanks between the cut edges and the corresponding blank and draw dies, sequentially hold the blanks between the draw pads and corresponding blank and draw dies, and sequentially draw the blanks into cups with the die center punches extending into the corresponding blank and draw dies. The tooling stages are symmetrically positioned with respect to the press center line.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal sheet workpiece into a three-dimensional object by subjecting the workpiece to a stretch forming process along at least two strain paths having slopes of opposite sign. The strain paths define a point on a forming limit curve that is shifted substantially from a forming limit curve generated by linear strain paths. The shift in forming limit curves allows a substantially higher strain state to be reached in the workpiece in comparison to a strain state achievable using linear strain paths to attain the same strain state in flowing metal into a die cavity. The three-dimensional object is formed by flowing workpiece metal into a die cavity in a manner that controls the position and magnitude of forces restraining the periphery of the workpiece such that metal flow into the cavity takes place along the strain paths having the slopes of opposite sign.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for diagnosing a cushioning device of a press, wherein an optimum range of a blank-holding force acting on a pressure member through a cushion platen, balancing hydraulic cylinders and cushion pins is determined on the basis of a rate of change of the detected hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic cylinders with a change of the blank-holding force, or on the basis of the detected blank-holding force and hydraulic pressure and according to a predetermined formula formulated on the basis of specifications of the cushioning device. Where the rate of change of the detected hydraulic pressure is used for diagnosing the cushioning device, the optimum range of the blank-holding force is determined if the rate of change of the hydraulic pressure with the blank-holding force is substantially constant, or is substantially equal to a reference value determined on the basis of the specifications of the cushioning device.

Abstract: A cushioning apparatus for applying a blank-holding force to a pressure member to hold a blank on a press, through hydraulic cylinders on a cushion platen biased by a force generating device toward the pressure member, and cushion pins linked with the cylinders and supporting the pressure member, the blank-holding force being based on a biasing force generated by the force generating device, and controllable by a controller through a flow regulator provided in a discharge line for discharging the fluid from the cylinders, such that the controller controls the flow regulator to discharge the fluid from the cylinders during a pressing action on the blank by upper and lower dies, for thereby controlling the cylinder pressure according to a predetermined pattern of change in the pressure in relation to a downward movement of the upper die. The hydraulic cylinders may be classified into two or more groups connected to mutually independent discharge lines.