With Means To Permit Tool Positioning Patents (Class 72/446)
  • Publication number: 20030167820
    Abstract: A forming machine according to the invention comprises at least one forming station having a punch and a die as tools and a device for setting the axial position of one of the two tools. The setting device has, as adjusting wedge, a rotary wedge disk (1) which is rotatable about a rotation axis and bears with a bearing surface (11) against a parent body (2). The rotary wedge disk (1) is provided with an inclined plane (12) on the other disk side. The setting device also comprises a pressure piece (3) which is composed of a pressure part (32) and a rotary part (30) having an end face (31). The end face (31) bears against the inclined plane (12) in such a way that it is displaced relative to the rotary wedge disk (1) eccentrically to the rotation axis when the rotary wedge disk (1) is rotated, the axial distance between pressure piece (3) and parent body (2) changing in the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Francois Muller, Ulrich Steinhauser
  • Patent number: 6588249
    Abstract: The vehicle metal pulling apparatus may be mounted on a forklift for use of the hydraulic system to pull metal parts. A cross bar may be attached to the main vertical beam element of the forklift. A push bar may be attached to the cross bar to project forwardly from the forklift for placement against a vehicle to brace the vehicle while pulling on parts. A cable that may be attached at one end to a vehicle part is threaded through a pulley on the cross bar and attached to the forklift vertical lift apparatus. The forklift may then be operated to pull the cable and thereby the part to which attached. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Inventor: Paul Milazzo
  • Patent number: 6586957
    Abstract: An alignment pin for use in aligning two structures that are to be joined or mated. The alignment pin includes a shank portion and at least one register portion configured for insertion into a mating hole and aligning the mating hole thereon. The register portion includes an outer surface comprising a plurality of contact regions separated by intervening relief regions of a lesser lateral extent than the contact regions. Any suitable number of contact regions may be incorporated on the outer surface of the register portion, and the contact regions need not be equidistantly spaced about the outer surface. The contact regions may be disposed on the ends of a plurality of fins extending from the register portion and separated on either side by the relief regions. Junk slots for removing debris from between the alignment pin and the wall of the mating hole are provided by the relief regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryon J. Hunter
  • Patent number: 6543269
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming components from continuous stock includes a stock feeder, a tool bed, a source of pressured fluid and a control panel. The tool bed has a plurality of horizontally extending tooling rails mounted on a vertical front surface for selectively and releasably attaching one or more of a plurality of tool pallets. Each tool pallet has one or more tools for performing forming operations on stock received from the stock feeder. Tool actuators mounted on the pallet are connected to the fluid source through valves operated by the control panel. The tool pallets are easily replaced for maintenance or changeover to a new component. The control panel generates a plurality of screens for programming, testing and automatically running programs consisting of forming steps to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: HBE Engineering, INC
    Inventors: Herman A. F. Beuter, James A. Peter, Timothy M. Brockelbank
  • Patent number: 6487885
    Abstract: A crimping press provides increased accuracy and precision. Both a rotative measuring system, such as an encoder arranged at a motor shaft, and a linear measuring system such as, for example, a measuring head and a glass scale, are provided. The linear measuring system may be coupled between a tool holder and the fixed press stand. The measurement values generated by the rotative measuring system and the measuring values of the linear measuring system are fed to a regulating circuit for regulation of crimping height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Komax Holding AG
    Inventors: Claudio Meisser, Hilmar Ehlert
  • Publication number: 20020162380
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming components from continuous stock includes a stock feeder, a tool bed, a source of pressured fluid and a control panel. The tool bed has a plurality of horizontally extending tooling rails mounted on a vertical front surface for selectively and releasably attaching one or more of a plurality of tool pallets. Each tool pallet has one or more tools for performing forming operations on stock received from the stock feeder. Tool actuators mounted on the pallet are connected to the fluid source through valves operated by the control panel. The tool pallets are easily replaced for maintenance or changeover to a new component. The control panel generates a plurality of screens for programming, testing and automatically running programs consisting of forming steps to be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Herman A.F. Beuter, James A. Peter, Timothy M. Brockelbank
  • Patent number: 6460387
    Abstract: A punch press includes: a press main body; an upper turret member having a workpiece detecting plate; a lower turret member; a striker; striker ascending/descending means; a carriage with a clamper for holding a workpiece in order to position the workpiece between the upper turret member and the lower turret member; and carriage moving means to move the carriage in the horizontal direction. In the above construction, one end of a first conductive wire is electrically connected to the workpiece detecting plate; and one end of a second conductive wire is electrically connected to the press main body. The other end of the first conductive wire and the other end of the second conductive wire are electrically connected to a touch detecting unit to detect a touch between the workpiece detecting plate of the upper turret member and a workpiece clamped by the clamper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Amada MFG America, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Seto
  • Patent number: 6446481
    Abstract: The vehicle interchangeable repair system comprises a repair platform having a carriage mounted thereon and structured to move along the periphery of the repair platform. An accessory platform is removably coupled to the carriage and an interchangeable tool is removably mounted on the accessory platform. The vehicle interchangeable repair system allows an operator to modify the vehicle repair system to accommodate the type of vehicle and type of vehicle repair that has to be affected on such vehicle. The vehicle repair system can receive interchangeable tools as selected by an operator of the system. The carriage is structured to move along the periphery of the repair platform a full 360 degrees to a position as selected by the operator. Additional carriages can be mounted on the repair platform and support the same type of interchangeable tool or different interchangeable tools as selected and determined by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Hein-Werner Corporation
    Inventors: James G. Ballard, Jeffrey Russell, James C. Graham
  • Patent number: 6418611
    Abstract: An apparatus for serially making formed parts from a web of deformable material with a stud mounted therein having a plurality of progressive die forming stations for forming multiple parts from the web by advancing the web through each forming station. In one embodiment, the apparatus has feeding, driving and transfer mechanisms for controlling the feeding and insertion of studs at spaced locations into the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: GR Spring & Stamping, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Weber, Wade R. Pennington, Dennis M. Willyard, Jeffrey A. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 6408673
    Abstract: An adjusting plate (20) for a transfer press (1) has several individually adjustable tool mounting sites (bearing devices). An individually adjustable adjusting device (25) is assigned to each mounting site (15a, 16a, 17a, 18a). Sensor devices (36) provide an acknowledgment concerning the set adjusting position. The adjusting devices (25) are also connected with individual blocking devices (51). The adjustment and blocking take place by way of corresponding hydraulic drives (35, 52) or can take place manually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Schuler Pressen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ekkehard Körner, Richard Knödler
  • Patent number: 6378194
    Abstract: In a method for joining workpieces, in particular press fittings (24) to a pipe (23), the pressing device (1) is placed with its at least two pressing jaws (21, 22) in the open position against the joining point of the workpieces 23, 24), and the pressing jaws (21, 22) are then moved with respect to one another by means of a jaw drive (7, 50), while the workpieces (23, 24) deform plastically, into a terminal pressed position in which, at the latest, the application of power to the press jaws (21, 22) ends. According to the invention, the power of the jaw drive (7, 50) is controlled in such a way that, at least toward the completion of pressing, the pressing jaws (21, 22) have less kinetic energy than without a power controller. The invention further concerns a pressing unit (1) for carrying out said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Novopress GmbH
    Inventor: Xuang Long Nghiem
  • Patent number: 6367305
    Abstract: A system (20) for anchoring a vehicle frame (22) to a platform (24) utilizes a variety of securement components (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) to secure the vehicle frame (22) from movement at desired locations while the vehicle frame (22) is being aligned with pulling forces applied by pulling towers (26). The securement components (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) are held on cross beams (28, 30) which mount to anchoring stands (32), and the anchoring stands (32) are attached to the platform (24). The securement components include a rail vise (34), a C-channel clamp (36), a leaf spring shackle (38), L-clamps (40, 41), a slide plate (42), a hole adapter (44), a tie-down ratchet assembly (46), and a turnbuckle assist (48). The rail vise has two guide channels (78, 80) which slidably receive guide pins (114) therein. The guide pins (114) extend from a front movable clamp leg (74).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Chief Automotive Systems
    Inventors: Jeff Dobbins, Roger Harmon, Melvin Soyk
  • Patent number: 6324880
    Abstract: Workpieces (W) made up of vehicular body sides are transported along a production line (25) in an upright attitude, with the roof rail upward and the side sill downward. A plurality of hemming dies (27) for hemming the wheel arch part of the body sides (workpieces (W)) are disposed to the side of the production line (25), a hemming die (27) being held and caused to approach the workpiece (W) by a die transporting robot (29) so as to hem the workpiece, the die transporting robot (29) selecting a hemming die (27) of the plurality of hemming dies (27) that is appropriate for hemming a workpiece that arrives by transporting on the production line (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Setsuo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6298708
    Abstract: A tool holder having a plurality of tools fixed thereon is used in a production machine such as a production press to position one tool after the other opposite a workpiece holder. All of the tools perform the same operation and can be brought into position by a pneumatic cylinder which can angularly displace a pinion engaging a rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Gebr. Hilgeland GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Kurt Gaul, Wolfgang Ausländer
  • Patent number: 6279445
    Abstract: A self-aligning multi-tool for use in a punch press having a ram. The multi-tool includes a housing carrying a striker and a magazine bearing a plurality of circumferentially spaced tools and rotatable with respect to the housing so as to bring a single desired tool into alignment with the striker. The housing has a striking surface adapted to be engaged by the ram of a punch press and configured to rotationally lock to the ram when correctly rotationally aligned therewith to prevent the housing from rotating as the magazine is rotated. The housing is provided with at least one alignment pin having a tapered cam surface and positioned such that the ram will contact and cam against the tapered cam surface of the pin as the ram approaches the striking surface if the machine ram and the striking surface are rotationally mis-aligned so as to urge the housing to rotate into correct alignment with the ram to enable rotational locking therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Wilson Tool International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald G. Rosene, Richard L. Timp, Glen M. Shuldes
  • Patent number: 6272892
    Abstract: To provide a controller of an automation device in a forging press capable of preventing the occurrence of a phenomenon in which raw materials are progressively transported in a partially lacked state and enhancing forging accuracy productivity, an inlet side transportation device includes a raw material detector for detecting whether a raw material to be supplied to a transfer feeder has been supplied or not and a controller for controlling the feed operation of the transfer feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ozaki, Masashi Tado, Ryoichi Yamada, Hironobu Noguchi
  • Patent number: 6200245
    Abstract: The die changing apparatus for a plate reduction press machine, comprises an upper die support holder 28a and a lower die support holder 28b that are arranged vertically on opposite sides of a transfer line, and support holder guide rails 31 installed on the upper die support holder and extending substantially horizontally in the lateral direction of the transfer line, and an upper die 29a and a lower die 29b are mounted on the upper and lower die support holders, respectively using the rollers onto the dies, fixing devices 30 that fix the upper and lower dies on the upper and lower die support holders, respectively, die fastening members 38 which are placed on each side of the upper and lower dies, opposite each other in such a manner that they can be fastened to both dies, and a die changing mechanism that can move one of the die fastening members in a direction perpendicular to the transfer line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignees: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., NKK Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Dodo, Kenichi Ide, Shigeki Narushima, Nobuhiro Tazoe, Yasuhiro Fujii, Sadakazu Masuda, Shuichi Yamashina, Shozo Ikemune
  • Patent number: 6200246
    Abstract: The machine includes two turrets carrying a plurality of punch-die pairs, a magazine for these pairs, and a device for changing over the pairs. This device is formed from at least one changeover arm having two gripper elements, each comprising a pair of jaws operable by a common actuator. The two jaws are provided with a through-pin and are each engagable in a pair of channels, perpendicular to each other, carried by a flange of the punch or the die. When the gripper element moves parallel to the axis of the punch or the die, a first channel of the pair is disposed axially and has a quadrangular section, while the other channel is tangential and has a triangular section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Rainer S.R.L.
    Inventor: Eugenio Perazzolo
  • Patent number: 6167740
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to bending a workpiece to form a desired configuration and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for forming bends “out of sequence,” i.e., in a time sequence different from the spatial sequence of the bends on the workpiece. The apparatus of the present invention include a bending system for bending a workpiece and a positioning system for positioning the workpiece relative to a bending region so that bends can be formed in various locations across the bending region. By virtue of the disclosed structures, a series of bends can be formed on a workpiece at various locations within the bending region. Bends can be formed out sequence and without advancing the workpiece relative to the bending region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Laser Products, Inc.
    Inventors: B. J. Lipari, Roman L. Tankelevich, Vladimir I. Abliazov, Valery A. Li, Vyacheslav S. Korolev, Victor N. Tisenko
  • Patent number: 6134938
    Abstract: Forming tools includes an upper holder; a lower holder; a punch having a punch body which can be attached to/detached from the upper holder and the lower holder; an ejector being disposed movably in a vertical direction around a convex portion provided on a face of the punch body; a resilient unit for urging the ejector, the resilient unit being provided on a back face of the punch body; a die having a die body which can be attached to/detached from the upper holder and the lower holder, the die body being provided with a concave portion for performing forming work on a workpiece in cooperation with the convex portion; another ejector for pushing out a forming-worked portion of the workpiece from the concave portion, the another ejector being provided movably in a vertical direction within the die body; and another resilient unit for urging the another ejector, the another resilient unit being provided on the die body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Amada Metrecs Company, Limited
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Ohtsuka
  • Patent number: 6109090
    Abstract: The machine comprises a work surface on which sheet metal rests, a fixed structure which supports the work surface, a work station provided with a hammer movable along a vertical axis to punch the sheet metal, punch units defined by a first holder and a punch tool, and die units defined by a second holder and a die tool. The machine includes a first rotatable table which carries the punch units and which transfers a punch unit to the work station, and a second rotatable table which carries the die units and which transfers a die unit to the work station. It includes a first structure for centering the punch unit with respect to the axis by securing the first holder to the fixed structure and means for centering the die unit with respect to the axis by securing the second holder to the fixed structure, excluding the tables from this securing which are therefore not affected by the mechanical stresses generated during punching, which are transmitted by the centering structure directly to the fixed structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Rainer S.R.L.
    Inventor: Eugenio Perazzolo
  • Patent number: 6101860
    Abstract: A shaping device of a wire bending machine formed by a plurality of shaping means, each shaping means comprises a seat, a motor, a rotary wheel, a linkage and a knife seat. The seat is fixed to the wire bending machine, and is installed with a track. The motor is fixed to the seat. The rotary wheel is connected to the motor and is driven to rotate by the motor. One end of the linkage is pivotally connected to an eccentric position of the rotary wheel. The knife seat is slidably matched to the track of the seat, while another end of the linkage is pivotally to the knife seat. By aforementioned components, a shaping device of a wire bending machine with a large stroke and a small radius is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventor: David Wu
  • Patent number: 6055903
    Abstract: A connecting rod unit is eccentrically supported on the drive shaft. The connecting rod unit is pivotally mounted via link members to double arm levers. Each double arm lever is pivotally mounted to a single arm lever. Furthermore, each single arm lever is coupled at its end remote from the double arm levers to a device for the adjusting of the height position of the ram. Each single arm lever supports a pressing column. These pressing columns are pivotally mounted to the ram. Accordingly, the structural members which transmit the driving force from the connecting rod unit to the pressing columns can be designed extremely stiff and with a minimal springiness. Also, all structural members located between the connecting rod unit and the ram, inclusive the ram, are designed in such a manner that no additional balancing forces for the vertical mass force balancing are needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Bruderer AG
    Inventor: Oskar Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 6041685
    Abstract: Adjustable apparatus (20, 20a) is provided, preferably in the form of an impact micrometer, which includes first and second interfitted bodies (22, 24, 22a, 24a) cooperatively defining therebetween an enclosed, constant volume internal fluid chamber (58, 58a). An adjuster (26,26a) is also provided which is connected to one of the first and second bodies (22, 24, 22a, 24a) and has an element (68, 68a) movable within the chamber (58, 58a). Preferably, the adjuster (26, 26a) is threadably coupled with the first body (22, 22a) through fine micrometer threading (36, 62, 36a, 62a). In use, the apparatus (20,20a be adjusted through rotation of the adjuster (26,26a) causing corresponding movement of the element (68, 68a) within the chamber (58, 58a); this in turn results in displacement of the fluid (59, 59a) to change the shape but not the volume of the chamber (58, 58a) and consequent movement of the first body (22, 22a) because of the incompressible nature of the fluid (59, 59a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Preco Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond E. Dick
  • Patent number: 6023958
    Abstract: The invention comprises a bridge press, a method of assembling a bridge press, and a method of forming a work piece using a bridge press. In one aspect of the invention, a bridge press includes a first plurality of horizontal beams, a plurality of vertical support structures disposed outwardly from the first plurality of horizontal beams, and a second plurality of horizontal beams disposed outwardly from and supported by the plurality of vertical support structures. The invention further comprises a press bed disposed outwardly from the first plurality of horizontal beams and supported, at least in part, by the first plurality of horizontal beams, a crown disposed outwardly from the second plurality of horizontal beams and supported, at least in part, by the second plurality of horizontal beams, and a slide disposed between the press bed and the crown, the slide coupled to the crown and operable to move vertically relative to the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Verson
    Inventors: Thuy M. To, Allen J. VanderZee
  • Patent number: 6024681
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a tool-changing mechanism that can be used especially in combination with a metal-forming press. Especially in the case of big and heavy forming tools, pairs of tools are difficult to exchange. The present invention intends to provide the possibility of exchanging also tools of this type rapidly and easily, the tool exchange being, in addition, carried out automatically, if desired. For this purpose, the tool-changing mechanism (1) includes a circulating means provided with a plurality of reception means (4a, 4b) for holding forming tools (5a, 5b). The tool-changing mechanism is adapted to be set up beside a metal-forming press. At a tool changing position, the tools can be pushed into the metal-forming press. Furthermore, the present invention refers to an arrangement comprising a metal-forming press and a tool-changing mechanism in the case of which said tool-changing mechanism is arranged directly at the side of the metal-forming press (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Amada GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Latten, Hideji Saito
  • Patent number: 6018979
    Abstract: Mating sets of forming punches and dies having different combined working heights are mounted at multiple work stations in a single press brake by means of a variable height forming punch holder. The punch holder has a pair of mating step wedges that are adjustable to increase a working height of a mounted forming punch so that each mating set of forming punches and dies has an equal combined working height. This avoids custom tooling while allowing a sequence of forming operations to occur at multiple work stations without driving tools into contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Acro Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen B. Davis
  • Patent number: 6013017
    Abstract: A punch press machine that enables relatively more tools to be provided without substantially increasing the area taken up by the machine. This invention applies to a punch press machine provided with a work moving means 11 for moving a work sheet W within a single axial direction X over a work table 10 and a tool moving means 12 for moving punch 5 and die 6 within an axial direction perpendicular Y to the axial direction in which the work sheet W is moved. A plurality of punches 5 and dies 6 are arranged in cartridges 7, 8. A plurality of tool magazines 3a are arranged in a tool magazine group 3 in a line parallel to the work table 10, and a tool exchange device 4 for exchanging tools is arranged between the tool magazines 3a and the tool moving means 12. This tool exchange device 4 is moveable in the same axial direction X as the work sheet, and is arranged between the tool magazine group 3 and the work table 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideto Aizawa
  • Patent number: 6000271
    Abstract: A metal forming apparatus utilizes the combination of a wedge shaped die half and a complementary shaped cavity in a frame to shape metal blanks. The cavity includes a metal forming mechanism located adjacent a surface adapted to receive a blank to be shaped. The die half is moveable between an inoperative position outside the cavity and an operative position within the cavity. With the die half in the cavity, the metal forming mechanism can apply the necessary force to shape the metal blank in accordance with the die shape. Forming can be attained through the use of pressurized fluid applied against the blank, mechanical or hydraulic ram forces or the like. After shaping is finished, the die half is withdrawn from the cavity, the die half carrying with it the shaped metal part for part recovery and initiation of another forming cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Ap Parts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Conny Olsson, Bertil Ovg.ang.rd, Lars Eriksson
  • Patent number: 5943901
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a longitudinal portable aligner for damaged vehicle bodywork and vehicle chassis, in conjunction with which the aligner consists of a lower part (1) executed as a frame and an upper part (2), a so-called slide, mounted in it in such a way as to be capable of displacement. The aligner is equipped with folding wheels 919) capable of adjustment between a working position, in which the frame of the aligner is in contact with the floor, and a transport position, in which the frame of the aligner adopts a free position relative to the floor. The invention is characterized in that the wheels (19) are rotatably arranged on a wheel carrier (17) which is arranged as to engage around the lower part (1) and be pivotally mounted on the outsides of the lower part, so that the wheels (19) can be caused to oscillate about the fulcra of the wheel carrier (17) via the force exerted on the web of the wheel carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Josam Lastbilteknik AB
    Inventor: Sten Fagerdahl
  • Patent number: 5937685
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for forming the linear springs. In the apparatus three or more forming tools are arranged radially about the center of the quill for guiding the linear material are rotated within a predetermined angle about the centerline of the quill and are simultaneously advanced in the extension direction of the centerline of the quill perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the centerline of the quill of the quill and collided against the linear material fed from the tip end portion of the quill to thereby always perform the formation of the linear spring, the apparatus being suitable for embodying this method is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: MEC Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeji Matsuoka, Hiroshi Okubo
  • Patent number: 5937510
    Abstract: A terminal applicator (10) is disclosed having a shut height adjustment mechanism (60) for controlling the shut height (160) of the terminal barrel crimping bar (26). The mechanism includes upper and lower adjusting members (66, 64) having opposed ramp surfaces (110, 80), the lower adjusting member being attached to the tooling ram (36) and the upper adjusting member being rotationally coupled to the ram. By incrementally rotating the upper adjusting member (66), the relative spacing between a press ram (148) and the tooling ram assembly (18) can be adjusted, thereby changing the shut height (160) of the barrel crimping bar (26). The upper adjusting member includes an inner cylindrical surface (120) having serrations (122) formed therein that are engaged by resilient projections (98) that extend from an outer cylindrical surface (90) of the lower adjusting member (64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: William Kay Seiersen, Charles Edwin Fitz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5934134
    Abstract: A bending press comprises an upper frame (6); a blank holding device (103) mounted on the upper frame, for holding a sheet panel on a member opposed to the blank holding device, the blank holding device including a central member (1), two extremity members (4,4'), and a plurality of additional members (3,3') disposed between the extremity members (4, 4') and the central member (1); a storehouse mounted on an upper section of the upper frame, for storing a plurality of central members, the storehouse including: an elongated carriage (141) supported on an upper section of the upper frame (6) so as to be movable in the lateral direction of the bending press, the elongated carriage extending in the lateral direction and being provided with a plurality of first vertical guides (151) arranged along a longitudinal axis of the elongated carriage, each of the first vertical guides being adapted to engage one of the central members so as to guide the same in the vertical direction, and a support surface (153) provided
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Amada Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Antonio Codatto
  • Patent number: 5913934
    Abstract: The crimping machine includes a crimper opposed to an anvil for crimping a stripped wire end to a terminal; a vertical rotation shaft axially secured on a base frame; a lower rotating base disc axially engaged with a lower end of the rotation shaft; an upper rotating base disc and a shank each axially slidably engaged with an upper end of the rotation shaft by way of a spline; and a flange formed at an upper end of the shank and engaged with a hook-shaped portion formed at a lower end of the pressing ram. The lower and upper discs have respectively a plurality of fitting channels radially extending from the rotation shaft. Each channel of the upper disc is detachably mounted with the crimper, and each channel of the lower disc is detachably mounted with the anvil. An adjusting dial for adjusting crimp height of the crimper is respectively provided in an outer surface of the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignees: Yazaki Corporation, Japan Chain Terminal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Inoue, Akira Sugiyama, Hirokazu Akita, Ichio Igarashi, Masashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5909913
    Abstract: A terminal applicator (10) is disclosed having a shut height adjustment mechanisms (68, 120) for controlling the shut height (102, 220) of both the terminal barrel crimping bar (26) and the insulation crimping bar (28). The mechanism includes upper and lower ramp members (126, 128) having opposed ramp surfaces (140), the lower ramp member being attached to the tooling ram (40) and the upper ramp member being rotationally coupled to the ram. By incrementally rotating the upper ramp member (128), the relative spacing between a press ram (222) and the tooling ram (40) can be adjusted, thereby changing the shut height (220) of the barrel crimping bar (26). A cam (72) is rotationally coupled to the tooling ram (40) at right angles to the axis (24) of the upper and lower ramp members (126, 128). The cam has a series of flat surfaces (98), each of which is a different distance from its center of rotation (79).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Edwin Fitz, Jr., Marlin Robert Schollenberger, Kenneth Foster Folk
  • Patent number: 5894755
    Abstract: A forging machine (1) comprises at least two forging punches (5) acting against each other and longitudinally guided in a machine frame (2), which each have separate stroke drives (9) and stroke position adjusting means (10). To make the forging machine (1) suitable for a large forging range with a simple design, each forging punch (5) together with longitudinal guideway (8) and stroke position adjusting means (10) and the associated stroke drive (9) are combined to a forging unit (3) and disposed in a separate housing (7), which is pivotally or movably mounted in the machine frame (2) and for adjustment is supported on an actuator (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: GFM Holding Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alfred Seeber, Rupert Wieser
  • Patent number: 5894754
    Abstract: The system for producing bent sheet-metal articles comprises a bending machine (80) having a punch (84) and a die (86) which cooperate with each other and define a bending space, and a manipulator (64) having a movable head (76) which can grip a piece of sheet metal and place it in the bending space. Each piece to be bent has its own gripper and the head (76) of the manipulator (64) has rapid-attachment means for gripping and releasing the gripper associated with each piece. A table for defining the position of a piece to be bent, a manipulator for gripping and moving a piece of sheet metal by means of a floating head, a bending machine comprising an auxiliary structure for measuring the relative displacement of the punch and the die, and a device for automatically replacing tools of the bending machine are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignees: Amada Company, Limited, CREA S.r.l.
    Inventor: Franco Sartorio
  • Patent number: 5894658
    Abstract: An applicator (10) for crimping electrical terminals onto conductors is provided with a ram (16) having outer facing surfaces (28, 42, 44, 46) that are unobstructed by the slide (32, 34) coupling the ram to the applicator frame (12). A ram retention device is provided that includes a retention screw (50) extending through the ram (16) and into the slide coupling for engagement with a shoulder (64) to limit movement of the ram (16) and to hold it captive to the frame (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Marlin Robert Schollenberger
  • Patent number: 5884520
    Abstract: A die set (24) for use with a stamping and forming machine (10) includes two opposed tooling plates (50, 52) arranged to undergo reciprocating motion with respect to a base plate (40) toward and away from a strip of material (30) that is fed along a feed path (38) between the two ram plates (50, 52). Each ram plate has a tooling attachment plate (58, 60) having tool mounting surfaces (62, 64) facing inwardly toward the feed path (38) for the attachment of punch and die tooling assemblies (26, 28) for performing the stamping and forming operations on the strip of material. Each of the ram plates (50, 52) includes a shut height adjusting mechanism (100) associated with each tooling attachment plate (58, 60) for adjusting the shut height of individual tooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Johannes Cornelis Wilhelmus Bakermans
  • Patent number: 5860208
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus includes two stages each, a carrier which carries two printed boards to respective stages and parts feeders located on both sides of the carrier. The mounting apparatus further includes two heads driven by two-dimensional linear motor system, each of which is arranged to mount electronic components onto the respective board. Since two boards are treated at the same time, large throughput is obtained. Further, since one board is treated by one head, the tangle of the cables does not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Nomura
  • Patent number: 5857378
    Abstract: For controlling the stroke frequency of a forging machine (1), which comprises a mechanical stroke drive (3) for the stroke movement of the forging punch (2) and a hydraulic drive connection (4) between stroke drive (3) and forging punch (2), the rotational speed of the stroke drive (3) is adjusted to a high stroke frequency of the forging punch (2), and for reducing the stroke frequency the hydraulic pressure of the drive connection (4) is decreased for periodically succeeding drive strokes in accordance with the drive-related increase with constant rotational speed of the drive (3), while at the same time the forging punch (2) is preferably blocked in the vicinity of the upper dead center. For this purpose, the drive connection (4) is connected to an accumulator (20) via a control valve (23) to be actuated in dependence on the stroke movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: GFM Holding Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alfred Seeber, Rupert Wieser
  • Patent number: 5857377
    Abstract: The system for producing bent sheet-metal articles comprises a bending machine (80) having a punch (84) and a die (86) which cooperate with each other and define a bending space, and a manipulator (64) having a movable head (76) which can grip a piece of sheet metal and place it in the bending space. Each piece to be bent has its own gripper and the head (76) of the manipulator (64) has rapid-attachment means for gripping and releasing the gripper associated with each piece. A table for defining the position of a piece to be bent, a manipulator for gripping and moving a piece of sheet metal by means of a floating head, a bending machine comprising an auxiliary structure for measuring the relative displacement of the punch and the die, and a device for automatically replacing tools of the bending machine are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignees: Amada Company, Limited, CREA S.r.l.
    Inventor: Franco Sartorio
  • Patent number: 5848568
    Abstract: A link mechanism for driving a slide in a machine press has a pivot pin with an adjustable position for varying the die height and the stroke length of the slide. A first link of the link mechanism is connected to a sliding member which is restricted to vertical movement in a groove. Another end of the first link is pivotally connected to a second link and a third link. Another end of the second link is pivotally connected to the pivot pin. Another end of the third link is connected to a plunger which is connected to the slide. The plunger is movably held in the machine press and restricted to vertical movement. The up and down motion of the sliding member is translated through the first link, second link, and third link into the up and down movement of the plunger and the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Aida Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shozo Imanishi
  • Patent number: 5836195
    Abstract: A type of automatic cutter rotating mechanism for wire forming machine, on the circumference of the rotating spindle of said wire forming machine is fitted with a rotating unit; said rotating unit can be driven by a first servo motor via a transmission mechanism; there is another second servo motor that will drive the rotating spindle to rotate via the transmission mechanism; on the machine body and the rotating unit are several sets of forming units; each of the forming units having a third servo motor; said third servo motor can drive a cam to rotate via the transmission mechanism; said cam has a cam groove; on the machine body is fitted with a first rail; on the first rail is a transmission unit; on the transmission unit is a first roller; the first roller is located in the cam groove of the cam; the forming unit has a second rail; said second rail is fitted on the transmission unit; on the second rail is a cutter unit; on the cutter unit is fixed a forming cutter; the cutter unit has a second roller; said
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Inventor: David Wu
  • Patent number: 5832771
    Abstract: A hydraulic punch press for use with a set of interchangeable tool assemblies for boring, cutting, bending, or otherwise working on semi-finished steel frame members or the like. Included are a punch press section having a hydraulic cylinder for driving a tool assembly, a toolholder section having a turntable on which tool seats are arranged radially for carrying a set of tool assemblies, and a guideway section for transfer of a tool assembly between punch press section and toolholder section. The turntable is rotatable to bring any of the tool seats to a tool transfer position where a tool assembly may be transferred to or back from the punch press section by way of the guideway. Each tool assembly is normally locked to one tool seat by two lockpins. One lockpin is automatically released when the associated tool seat comes to the tool transfer position, and the other when a positioning arm is manipulated to retain the tool seat in that position. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Ogura
    Inventor: Eisuke Oide
  • Patent number: 5829302
    Abstract: Tool cassettes in a progressive forging machine are configured to facilitate their machine controlled changeover by the ability to be installed and removed through vertical movement in and out of the machine and by the incorporation of self-alignment features. The die cassettes, which have precision machined cylindrical surfaces, establish the work station centers of the machine on the die breast and receiving zones on the slide for the punch holder cassettes are established with gage blocks that are sized by reference to the respective die work station centers. The cassette system can provide a level of alignment between punch and die elements not previously practical in large machines and a flexibility in tool size that is not subject to the traditional restraint of work station center-to-center distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: The National Machinery Company
    Inventor: William H. Hite
  • Patent number: 5813273
    Abstract: A press brake for bending a work sheet wherein an upper tool holder is mounted at a lower end of a ram to mount an upper tool and a bending angle of a work sheet is determined by three points of spaced shoulders of a lower tool and a lower tool bottom. The press brake includes a group of pins as pressure transmission members, arranged at symmetrical positions from a machine center line in the upper tool. A space is provided between the tops of some of the pins and a press block. A series of spacers is mounted on a chain mechanism for putting the spacers into and out from the space between the press block and the pins. The effective length of the upper tool is automatically changed corresponding to the bending length of the work sheets so as to achieve an efficient bending of various length work sheets and preventing unequal bending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Maru Kikai Kogya Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshio Hongo
  • Patent number: 5813322
    Abstract: A die height correcting apparatus for a press having sides formed by C-shaped frames and a slide to be driven up and down being provided on an upper portion of a press body, includes an auxiliary frame provided on the side surface of at least one of the C-shaped frame. The lower end side of the auxiliary frame is pivotably mounted on the C-shaped frame and has a free end at the upper end side, a slide position detector provided on the upper end side of the auxiliary frame, and a temperature detector provided at least on the upper end side of the auxiliary frame among the upper end side of the auxiliary frame and the slide position detector. The slide is NC controlled on the basis of a slide position detected by the slide position detector, the temperature detector detects a temperature of the upper end side of the auxiliary frame among the upper end side of the auxiliary frame and the slide position detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignees: Komatsu Ltd., Komatsu Industries Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kuroda
  • Patent number: 5799532
    Abstract: A press for drawing associated raw material is disclosed that includes a die apparatus that has a top portion and a bottom portion, the associated raw material being drawn between the top portion and the bottom portion. The press also includes a stamping apparatus located above the die apparatus for stamping the associated raw material into the die apparatus. The stamping apparatus is movable up and down and exerts a downward force on the associated raw material and the die apparatus. The press also includes a coarse adjusting apparatus for making coarse adjustments to the press and a fine adjusting apparatus for making fine adjustments to position of the top portion of the die apparatus relative to the bottom portion of the die apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Inventor: Ronald O. Lewis
  • Patent number: 5791186
    Abstract: According to the present invention, in a press die unit for performing a plurality of pressing steps on a strip-like plate material, there are provided a pair of stationary dies and a pair of movable dies. In each pair of dies, a plurality of punches and dies are equipped, and at least a part of punches or dies are lowered or lifted in a manner to be used or not used. By combining the positional adjustment of the movable dies and the increase or decrease in the number of the punches and dies for performing the press working process, a plurality of pressing steps for a pressed product are completed with a single pressing die unit even when the length of the pressed product is changed to a various kind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Terumi Nishida, Hideki Fukuyama