Cutting – With product handling means – Means to move – guide – or permit free fall or flight of product
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-20
2003-02-04
Shoap, Allan N. (Department: 3724)
Cutting
With product handling means
Means to move, guide, or permit free fall or flight of product
C083S129000, C083S134000, C083S140000, C083S142000, C083S143000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06513411
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a die block assembly, and particularly to a die block assembly which prevents spring fragments from entering a clearance of the assembly.
2. The Related Art
In industrial stamping processes, a ram of a die block assembly often sticks to a stamped workpiece. To overcome this problem, auxiliary unloading structures have been developed for die block assemblies.
A conventional die block assembly is shown in FIG.
2
. An upper die
100
of the die block assembly includes a fixing plate
102
, an intermediate plate
104
and a clamping plate
106
. The plates
102
,
104
,
106
are stacked and secured together using a plurality of upper bolts (not labeled). A plurality of receiving holes
108
(only one shown) is defined through the intermediate plate
104
and the clamping plate
106
. Each hole
108
receives a spring
112
. A plurality of rams
110
(only one shown) depends from a bottom surface of the clamping plate
106
, for stamping a workpiece
150
. An unloading plate
120
is connected to the clamping plate
106
. A plurality of lower bolts
140
(only one shown) extends through corresponding bores (not labeled) of the clamping plate
106
to engage with the unloading plate
120
, thereby connecting the clamping plate
106
to the unloading plate
120
. The clamping plate
106
can move up and down around perimeters of the bolts
140
. A plurality of through holes
122
(only one shown) is defined in the unloading plate
120
, for receiving the corresponding rams
110
of the clamping plate
106
.
In the stamping process, the upper die
100
moves downwardly so that the clamping plate
106
touches the unloading plate
120
. The springs
112
are compressed, and the ram
110
completes stamping of the workpiece
150
. When the upper die
100
moves back upwardly, the springs
112
return to their original position and abut against the unloading plate
120
, thereby preventing the unloading plate
120
from moving upwardly. The rams
110
move upwardly relative to the unloading plate
120
, and exit the workpiece
150
. Thus the workpiece
150
is prevented from sticking to the rams
110
.
The springs
112
used in the die block assembly tend to age and deform permanently over time. Eventually the springs fracture, producing very hard fragments
114
(only one shown). When the die block assembly vibrates, the fragments
114
are prone to enter a clearance between the clamping plate
106
and the unloading plate
120
. Thus in subsequent stamping, the die block assembly is easily deformed or even fractured.
Therefore an improved die block assembly is needed to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a die block assembly which prevents damage being caused by spring fragments produced from springs thereof.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, a die block assembly of the present invention comprises an upper die, an unloading plate, a plurality of springs, and a plurality of spacer blocks. A plurality of receiving holes is defined in the upper die, for receiving the springs. A plurality of rams depends from the upper die, for stamping a workpiece. The unloading plate is movably connected under the upper die, and defines a plurality of through holes for accommodating the corresponding rams therein. Each spacer block is a stepped cylinder which comprises a base and a protrusion extending upwardly from the base. Each spring abuts against the base of the corresponding spacer block. A height of each base is slightly greater than a maximum clearance between the upper die and the unloading plate. The spacer block prevents spring fragments produced in the stamping process from entering the clearance.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the. following detailed embodiment of the present invention with attached drawings, in which:
REFERENCES:
patent: 3797342 (1974-03-01), Sekel
patent: 3848496 (1974-11-01), Stevens et al.
patent: 5176057 (1993-01-01), Chun et al.
patent: 5253559 (1993-10-01), Philippe et al.
patent: 5722280 (1998-03-01), Bodnar
patent: 5836226 (1998-11-01), Tsuji et al.
Chung Wei-Te
Hamilton Isaac
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Shoap Allan N.
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