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 die cushion device which is compact and simple construction to be constructed at low cost, comprises a pad arranged in a head of the press and supporting a lower die from below, and a cushion mechanism supporting the pad and providing a cushion force by controlling a servo motor. It is also possible to preliminarily assembly the pad and the cushion mechanism to use as a unit.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a die-cushion apparatus of a press machine capable of performing a preliminary acceleration imparted to a die-cushion pad following the lowering of a slide with an exact timing and high precision and being improved so as to eliminate a pressure deviation between an actual pressure in a hydraulic cylinder and a preliminarily set aimed value at a portion near a lower dead point of the slide stroke.

Abstract: A hydraulic cushioning apparatus for a press having an upper and a lower die assembly (3, 9) for forming a sheet-like workpiece (6), including hydraulic cylinders (54) incorporated in one of the upper and lower die assemblies, and pressure pins (52) linked with the respective hydraulic cylinders. The pressure pins are reciprocable to apply a cushioning force (F) to the workpiece, in a pressing action of said die assemblies on the workpiece, so as to force the workpiece against the other die assembly. The apparatus is equipped with a hydraulic power supply device (72, 100, 117, 272) for delivering a pressurized fluid to the hydraulic cylinders (54). The power supply device is capable of changing an initial hydraulic pressure (P.sub.0) of the fluid to be applied to the hydraulic cylinders before the pressing action of said die assemblies.

Abstract: A hydraulic cushioning apparatus for a press, having work-supporting pressure pins, hydraulic cylinders linked with the pressure pins, and a fluid passage connecting a hydraulic power supply to the hydraulic cylinders, to apply a preset hydraulic pressure to the cylinders. The apparatus includes a shut-off valve disposed in the fluid passage for connection and disconnection of the hydraulic power supply to and from the hydraulic cylinders, and a controller for controlling the shut-off valve such that the shut-off valve is closed before a movable die of the press comes into pressing contact with the workpiece, and is held in the closed position for at least a period which expires when the fluid in the hydraulic cylinders rises to the preset pressure level.

Abstract: A can body maker apparatus including a stationary support frame; a housing having forming and ironing dies located therein mounted on the support frame; an elongated ram; a reciprocating ram drive; and a redraw assembly which includes a redraw sleeve for supporting a can body preform thereon; a redraw carriage for supporting and axially displacing the redraw sleeve relative the ram; a redraw electromagnetic coil fixedly positioned relative the stationary support frame; and a permanent magnet fixedly mounted with respect to the redraw carriage in displaceable relationship with the coil along the coil axis for coacting with the electromagnetic field produced by the coil for controllably reciprocatingly displacing the redraw carriage.

Abstract: A hydroelastic deep-drawing apparatus in presses for drawing sheet-metal shapes has a ram, a punch, a plurality of short-stroke cylinders, a plurality of drawing pins, a sheet-holder plate supported by the apparatus in relation to the plurality of short-stroke cylinders, a drawing die, a platen having a grid division thereon with a plurality of intersecting points, a plurality of hydraulic short-stroke pistons having multipoint control, each of the short-stroke pistons cooperating with a corresponding one of said plurality of short-stroke cylinders; a common die-cushion plate wherein the drawing pins are 1) arranged according to the geometry of said drawing-die at respective intersecting points of said grid division, and 2) supported on the common die-cushion plate via the short-stroke piston; and a position regulated and synchronous running differential cylinder/piston system which supports the die-cushion plate at its four outer corners.

Abstract: A drawing apparatus pressure pins acting upon the metal sheet holder in the bottom part of the tool are selected, has additional pressure cylinders fastened in the pressure cheek between the actual drawing apparatus acting upon a pressure cheek and the pressure pins. These additional pressure cylinders are individually controllable via valves from a pressure pipe. As a result, a precise influence is made on the drawing conditions of various sheet metal parts and their ejector movement from the bottom part of the tool.

Abstract: In the method proposed a peripheral wall with at least one axial section of high shaping and fitting accuracy is made by forming an initial blank. This accuracy is achieved, in that before the peripheral wall is formed, sheet material which has been put into a plastic state is swaged in places round the periphery, then the swaged locations are sized, and/or in that during or after the formation of the peripheral wall, the wall is shaped by stamping in a plurality of places along its periphery, whereby the said zone providing shaping and fitting accuracy is formed from fitting areas at at least one side of the peripheral wall in the region of the swaged and/or stamped locations. An apparatus for carrying out such a method is generally in the form of a drawing machine, wherein the holder and/or the bottom die contain radial apertures, which open into the inner edge of the holder and/or into the shaping cavity of the die, and which are arranged at intervals round the periphery.

Abstract: A hydroelastic deep-drawing device for use in presses for drawing a shaped sheet-metal workpiece and a control system for the device are disclosed. The device includes a ram which is movable through a first displacement point "a" and a sheet-holding plate is supported by the spacer pins and is movable downwardly with the ram through a second displacement point"b", a starting point "s" for pre-operating displacement, and a synchronous point "c". The control system includes a control device for generating a starting signal for a working cycle when the ram reaches the first displacement position "a", for accelerating the sheet-holding plate after the sheet-holding plate reaches the second displacement position "b", and for constantly comparing the velocity of the sheet-holding plate to that of the ram and for regulating the velocity of the sheet-holding plate so that, when the third displacement point "c" is reached, the velocity of the sheet-holding plate equals the velocity of the ram.

Abstract: A drawing apparatus in drawing stages of a press, having a pressure cheek divided into segments, to the corner areas of which pressure cylinders are applied. The pressure cylinders are fixed to the press. Their piston rods, by way of pressure rods, act upon a liftable and lowerable console. At least one locking cylinder which is fixed to the frame is provided which, by way of a lift bridge, is applied to the console and, corresponding to the pressure which acts upon it, prevents an upward movement of the console and thus of the pressure cheek. The point in time of the stop stage in the upward-moving stage can be determined by the valve control of the pressure in the locking cylinders.

Abstract: An improved press assembly has upper and lower draw rings which grip a workpiece. During closing of the press assembly, an improved control assembly accelerates the lower draw ring to a first speed and then to a second speed before the upper and lower draw rings move together. Similarly, during opening of the press assembly, the control assembly decelerates the lower draw ring to a first speed and then decelerates the lower draw ring to a second speed prior to stopping of the lower draw ring. The control assembly includes a two stage piston and cylinder assembly. The piston and cylinder assembly includes an inner piston and a hollow outer piston which encloses the inner piston. The inner piston is engagable with a flange on the outer piston to move the outer piston with the inner piston.

Abstract: A press assembly is operable between open and closed conditions to deform a workpiece. During operation of the press assembly, the workpiece is held by upper and lower draw rings which apply pressure to opposite sides of the workpiece. A cushion assembly is operable to provide a yieldable force opposing movement of the draw rings. An auxiliary apparatus is operable to perform an operation on the workpiece while the workpiece is in the press assembly. A control valve is operable to a closed condition to block fluid flow from the cushion assembly to maintain the cushion assembly in a retracted condition during at least an initial portion of the operation of the press assembly from the closed condition to the open condition. During operation of the press assembly from the open condition toward the closed condition, the piston in a control cylinder is movable under the influence of force transmitted from the upper draw ring to pump fluid to both the cushion assembly and the auxiliary apparatus.

Abstract: An improved seal arrangement is used in a cushion assembly of a press. The seal arrangement includes a high pressure piston seal assembly which is connected with a piston and is disposed in sealing engagement with a cylinder of the cushion assembly. The high pressure piston seal assembly blocks fluid flow between upper and lower variable volume chambers of the cushion assembly. A high pressure cylinder seal assembly is disposed in sealing engagement with a piston rod and the cylinder to block fluid flow from the upper variable volume chamber along the piston rod. An outer low pressure seal assembly is also provided between the piston rod and cylinder to block contaminants from entering the cylinder from the surrounding environment. A low pressure leak down chamber is provided between the high pressure cylinder seal assembly and the low pressure seal assembly.

Abstract: A press assembly is operable from the open condition to a closed condition to deform a workpiece. The press assembly is the operable from the closed condition to an open condition to facilitate removal of the deformed workpiece from the press assembly. During operation of the press assembly, the workpiece is held by upper and lower draw rings or members which apply pressure to opposite sides of the workpiece. A cushion assembly is operable to provide a yieldable force opposing movement of the draw rings. As the press is operated from the open condition to the closed condition, the lower draw ring is accelerated while the upper draw ring is spaced from the lower draw ring. This reduces shock loading on the press when the upper draw ring and workpiece subsequently impact against the lower draw ring to grip the workpiece.

Abstract: The drawing tool comprises a hydraulic element for deriving from the movement of the blank holder a simultaneous, oppositely directed movement of the drawing punch. The hydraulic element comprises a centrally disposed working piston, an annular piston, which surrounds that working piston, and a cylinder, which surrounds the annular piston. The working piston and the annular piston are adapted to be supplied with pressure fluid from first and second cylinder chambers which are hydraulically separated from each other and which are adapted to communicate with each other under the control of at least two alternative flow paths, which differ in hydraulic design so that they cause pressure changes on different pressure levels to be effected in the second cylinder chamber. A pressure detector detects the pressure of the fluid in the cylinder chambers and enables an alternative flow path in response to a rise of the pressure above a predetermined limit.

Abstract: A drawing installation for a press which has to produce the holding force for the counter-holding during the drawing. The drawing ram displaces the sheet metal part and the sheet metal holder against the holding force to be produced by the drawing installation and must additionally overcome the inertia forces which occur as a result of the acceleration of the parts of the drawing installation at the beginning of the deformation of the sheet metal part. In order to avoid the forces which occur thereby impact-like, the piston rod transmitting the holding force is pre-accelerated in the drawing direction prior to the contact of the drawing ram on the sheet metal holder. The piston rod has an operating surface adapted to be acted upon in the drawing direction. The pressure space coordinated to the operating surface is adapted to be connected with a pressure quantity space of a pre-acceleration cylinder and with a reservoir by way of a follow-up control.

Abstract: A method of controlling the clamping movement of a single action drawing press having a fluid actuated pressure member wherein movement of the pressure member is interrupted by stops after a predetermined range of movement toward the base of the press. The apparatus for carrying out the method includes one or more stops, carried by the base, and dimensioned to engage the pressure member and overcome the pressure normally urging it toward the base after the predetermined range of movement.

Abstract: A drawing apparatus in a press for holding the sheet metal part during the drawing and for the ejection thereof. Additionally, blocking devices are provided which prevent the ejection of the sheet metal draw part at the same time with the upward movement of the press ram. Each blocking device is thereby to be rendered selectively operable or inoperable. A continuous flow of the hydraulic liquid is to be precluded during the inoperative condition of the blocking device. The blocking device consists of a pressure cylinder, of a pressure piston which is displaceably movable on the piston rod displaceable by the draw cushion, and of a compression spring for the displacement of the pressure piston in the ejection direction. The pressure space formed above the pressure piston is selectively pressureless for the inoperative condition, respectively, adapted to be acted upon with controlled pressure for the operative condition of the blocking device.

Abstract: A drawing installation for a press which must produce the holding force during the drawing operation. The drawing ram displaces the sheet metal part and the sheet metal holder against the holding force and additionally must overcome at the beginning of the sheet metal deformation the inertia forces of the accelerated parts of the drawing installation. In order to avoid the forces which occur thereby in an impact-like manner, the piston rods transmitting the holding force and the ejector piston rods are pre-accelerated prior to the drawing ram. The piston rods each include an operating surface adapted to be acted upon in the drawing direction. The pressure spaces coordinated thereto are connected with a pressure quantity space each of a pre-acceleration cylinder and by way of a refill control with a pressure source. The control of the pre-acceleration cylinder and of the refill from the pressure source takes place in dependence on the movement of the drawing ram.

Abstract: Tooling system for a forming machine has a continuous guide passageway in which first and second tooling assemblies are contained for movement towards and away from each other. The passageway has passageway surfaces which serve as bearing and guiding surfaces for the tooling assemblies. Each of the tooling assemblies has a ram member and a tool holder mounted on the ram member. Additionally, a face plate is provided on one of the tooling assemblies at the leading end thereof and is movable relative to the leading end between a retracted position and an extended position. When in its extended position, it is spaced from the ram so that tools, such as punches have their ends in openings in the face plate. When the tooling assemblies move against strip material positioned therebetween, the punches or similar tools move from the face plate and perform operations on the strip. The face plate then serves as a stripper plate during reverse movement of the ram.

Abstract: A blankholder having a central opening for applying pressure against the flange of a blank being drawn through a die in a draw press. The blankholder is divided into individual segments defined by its inner and outer peripheries, at least one continuous divisional line intermediate the inner and outer peripheries, and radii extending outwardly from the central axis. Each individual segment is provided with a different power source so that each segment can provide a force to the blank flange independent of the force being applied by any other segment.

Abstract: A reinforced plastic retainer ring for use in a sheet metal stretch forming process. The ring is reinforced with a plurality of metal brackets embedded in the rim portion generally radially aligned toward the center of the ring.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for resiliently clamping a redraw cup (82) against a redraw die (34) in a crank and slide press (144) of the type having a redraw carriage assembly (12) that includes a redraw sleeve (62), and for slidably mounting the redraw carriage assembly (12) to the crank and slide press (144). The apparatus for resiliently clamping the redraw cup (82) against the redraw die (34) includes a fluid actuator (58) that is disposed circumferentially around the longitudinal axis (20) of the redraw die (34) and circumferentially around the redraw punch (46). The apparatus for slidably mounting the redraw carriage assembly to the crank and slide press includes guide rails (86a, 86b, 90a, and 90b) and pluralities of rollers (126a-126d).

Abstract: A method of forming a container in one or more double acting presses includes the steps of blanking, drawing an inverted cup and reverse drawing the inverted cup while retaining a flange thereon at a first station and then transferring the cup to a second station where the cup is drawn to an inverted configuration and then reverse drawn to form a finished container again retaining the flange throughout. The drawing operations at each station are performed in a single stroke of the press. The apparatus at the first station includes a blank and draw punch and a fixed, hollow die core ring with the punch telescoping over the ring to form the inverted cup and a draw horn telescoping within the ring to reverse draw the cup. The apparatus at the second station includes a hollow redraw sleeve and a pressure sleeve telescoping over the redraw sleeve to invert the cup and a profile punch telescoping within the redraw sleeve to reverse draw the cup.

Abstract: A press comprises a bed affixed to a frame, a slide vertically movably provided above the bed, a lower cushion mounted to the underside of the bed and having chambers, an upper cushion mounted to the slide and having chambers, a pneumatic hydraulic control circuit for a pressure source of each of the cushions, and a control for controlling individually the pressure within the chambers, wherein a complicated workpiece can be formed in one stroke of the slide.

Abstract: In a die cushion apparatus, a die cushion mechanism for achieving a die cushioning capability as relying upon a preset pneumatic pressure is provided with a hydraulic pressure chamber into which a piston connected to a die cushion pad is fitted, the hydraulic pressure chamber is provided with a hydraulic pressure feed circuit and an exhaust circuit, a relief valve whose relief pressure is controllable is disposed in the exhaust circuit, and relief pressure control means is coupled to the relief valve.

Abstract: Precisely curved, lightweight and low-cost reflectors for electromagnetic radiation are fabricated by use of a tool and a process in which a blank is planar stretched by uniformly applied isotropic and radially extending forces followed by deformation of the stretched blank to a precisely curved surface.

Abstract: A hydraulic cup holder for use in a draw and iron can making press is disclosed. This cup holder produces increased pressure between the cup being reformed and its holding members, reducing the tendency for wrinkles to occur in reforming the cup into a can body.

Abstract: A sheet metal working press including an upper press member and a lower press member which are movable relative to each other to work a sheet of metal therebetween. One of the press members has a groove formed in the vicinity of an effective working area defined by the movement of the press members toward each other. At least one holding block is loosely fitted in the groove. It has at least one holding surface and a plurality of holes formed in a surface remote from the holding surfaces. An elastic member of polyurethane is tightly fitted in each of those holes.

Abstract: In a drawing device for presses with a mechanically driven drawing ram (24) and with a sheet metal holder (5) exerting its holding force, acting on the metal sheet (27) and counteracting the drawing direction, by way of a pressure plate (7) by means of a die cushion piston (10), supporting the pressure plate and being under the effect of a pressure medium, in a fixed die cushion cylinder (12), the objective consists in avoiding, or at least reducing, the noise-generating impact shock upon impingement of the drawing ram (24) on the sheet metal holder (5) with the metal sheet (27) lying thereon.

Abstract: A press machine structure wherein a work stock is set on a lower die having a die, and an upper die engageable with the lower die is lowered so as to press the work stock against the lower die for deforming the same, while a pad presses and fixes the portion of the work stock at the peripheral edge of the die as the upper die effects working and at the same time, the punch statically contacts with the work stock, and then, a push rod provided to the upper die presses the punch to project out and face to the die for punching the work stock, thereby allowing bending and punching to be continuously effected.

Abstract: Process and device for the automatic regulation of the push rods of a press by means of a self-locking rod jack. The device comprises a table, a matrix, a blank holder, a main slide, a punch and a blank holder slide. Each of the push rods comprises a jack rod mounted on the blank holder slide. The jack is equipped with an automatically lockable and unlockable device for regulating the length by sensing. At their lower end, in each case the rods have means for the high-speed locking to the blank holder.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a dampener particularly adapted to be connected to a load beam of a forming press wherein at an initial forming stage there is to be a higher than normal resistance to movement of the load beam. The dampener includes suitable lever arrangements which are coupled to fluid motors which resist the movement of the lever arrangements. The lever arrangements are actuated by a cam member carried by a movable press component which is coupled to the supporting pad of the press tooling.

Abstract: A thin sheet having a low rigidity is drawn while being depressed over the radiused corner of a die by elastic force to obtain a formed article whose sidewall part and flange part have no wrinkles. The force is applied through an elastic rubber provided around the punch and having an outside diameter larger than the inside diameter of the die cavity. The hardness of rubber is preferably approximately 70 to 85 in accordance with ASTM D 2240 Durometer A. A laminate not more than about 200 .mu.m in thickness and consisting of a thermoplastic resin film, aluminum foil and a heat-sealable resin film is drawn into a formed article or a container which is light in weight and suitable for containing foods, for instance.

Abstract: A thin sheet having a low rigidity is drawn while being depressed over the radiused corner of a die by elastic force or hydrostatic force to obtain a formed article whose sidewall part and flange part have no wrinkles. The force is applied through an annular rigid body on which elastic is exerted. The hardness of the rubber is preferably approximately 70 to 85 in accordance with ASTM D 2240 Durometer A. A laminate not more than about 200 .mu.m in thickness and consisting of a thermoplastic resin film, aluminum foil and a heat-sealable resin film is drawn into a formed article or a container which is light in weight and suitable for containing foods, for instance.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a hold down mechanism which is particularly adapted to apply a preselected hold down pressure on an element. It employs a bar which is pivotally mounted on a support member with the bar having a hold down surface thereon so positioned that when the bar is pivoted in a selected direction the hold down surface will engage the element in clamping relation and further pivoting of the bar in the same direction will result in the shifting of the pivot point for the bar from the pivot member to the hold down surface. The pivot member is spring loaded for lifting movement at this time with an associated spring pack providing for a controlled loading by the hold down surface against the element. A movable cam member having a wedge shaped lower end moves between a cam follower carried by the arm and a fixed cam follower to effect the controlled pivoting of the bar.

Abstract: The present invention relates to single actuator blanking and draw pad force control for a drawing press, which includes a unique swivel for the hold down pad comprising a confined elastomeric member which has high axial stiffness, but relatively low rotational or pivoting stiffness about an axis normal to the actuator axis. Further, the pad can be combined with air pressure for holding a sheet of material during the blanking and drawing operations.

Abstract: Method of processing metal sheets which includes the steps of applying tensile stress to an intermediate region of a sheet of metal by engaging the sheet on opposite sides of the region, deforming the intermediate region of the sheet and removing the tensile stress applied to the sheet. The intermediate region of the sheet may be deformed by embossing and the tensile stress can be applied to the intermediate region of the sheet by forming a bead on opposite sides of the region. The means for processing metal sheets comprises first means including die members for forming beads on opposite sides of a metal sheet, and second means for deforming the intermediate region of the sheet while the stress is applied thereto by the first means.

Abstract: An improved press cushion includes a piston which is disposed within a cylinder chamber. The head end of the cylinder chamber is arranged for communication with a compressed fluid, such as nitrogen gas. The rod end of the cylinder chamber is arranged for communication with a source of air which is free of contaminants found in the immediate environment of the cylinder assembly. Although clean air could be obtained from the atmosphere at a location spaced from the press, the rod end of the cylinder is advantageously connected to a low pressure supply of clean air.

Abstract: A blanking and forming press for sheet metal caps having a fixed cross member, a sleeve constituting the blanking knife housed in the fixed cross member, first and second cross members supported mobile relative to the fixed cross member on its opposed sides, a rod connected at its one end to the first cross member and at its other end to a forming and blanking punch, a cylindrical die supported by the second cross member mobile coaxially to the rod and defining a blanking knife cooperating with the knife defined by the sleeve to form, as the mobile cross members approach each other, a cap member by permanent deformation of a discoidal element cut by the sleeve penetrating into the die.

Abstract: A press system includes an improved valve assembly which is utilized to control a flow of hydraulic fluid from a die cylinder chamber. This valve assembly includes a pair of rigid foraminous members and a resiliently deflectable valve member. The valve member is movable between a closed position extending across and sealing openings in the foraminous members and an open position in which the valve member is spaced apart from the openings to enable hydraulic fluid from the die cylinder chamber to flow through the openings in the foraminous members. The valve member is urged toward the closed position by a compressible fluid, such as nitrogen gas. When the hydraulic fluid pressure in the die cylinder chamber exceeds a predetermined pressure, the valve member is moved from the closed position to the open position against the influence of the biasing pressure applied against the valve member by the compressible fluid.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to processes for forming hollow articles by drawing; apparatus to carry out such processes; tool sets for incorporation in such apparatus; and hollow metal articles such as cans made by said methods.

Abstract: Press apparatus including a blank holding ram and a drawing ram which are reciprocally driven such that the holding ram can hold a blank of material while the drawing ram moves relatively to the holding ram to perform a drawing operation on the blank. Stops are provided for limiting the movement of the holding ram with pressure fluid cushions being arranged in the drive train for the holding ram so as to accommodate a dwell phase with the holding rams against the stops during the drawing operation.

Abstract: A die system wherein upper and lower die shoes have a basic generally standardized form and are adapted for an interchangeable mount of various sub-assemblies embodying different die tools. The system features means facilitating a precise and quick location of a sub-assembly on its related die shoe as well as a quick release thereof. The invention further provides a unique pressure cell for backing the material being worked in a manner to insure optimal performance of the die and a quality work product.

Abstract: A means of and method of forming sheet metal by use of fluid pressure wherein an initially flat sheet metal work piece is placed on a backing plate with its margins clamped between the plate and a peripheral clamping ring. The clamping ring is clamped against the margin of the work piece by a plurality of fluid operated clamping units. the side of the work piece opposite from the backing plate and within the clamping ring is free to expand or distend without restraint except that provided by the metal comprising the work piece itself. Pressure fluid is introduced between the metal work piece and its backing plate to cause the work piece to distend away from the backing plate. A set of freely movable feeler strips engage the edge of the work piece at spaced points. The feeler strips control sensing units which, in turn, control the pressure exerted by the clamping units so as to permit predetermined slippage of the margin of the work piece with respect to the clamping rings.