Metal deforming – By application of fluent medium – or energy field – With actuated tool engaging work
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-17
2001-07-17
Jones, David (Department: 3725)
Metal deforming
By application of fluent medium, or energy field
With actuated tool engaging work
C072S060000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260394
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a forming method for performing a forming process such as drawing works such as metal plates into a predetermined shape utilizing an elastic punch made of an elastic material, and relates to forming tools and an elastic punch utilized in the method and tools.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in the case where a forming process such as drawing plate-shaped works using a punching press, for example, a die (female tool) having a concave section matching with a shape of the forming process and a punch (male tool) matching with the concave section are mounted to the punching press, and a workpiece is positioned between the die and punch. Thereafter, the punch is lowered, and the workpiece is formed into a desired shape by the die and punch. Here, occasionally a punch is used as a female tool and a die is used as a male tool.
In the case where a punch and a die are mounted to a punching press or the like and a plate-shaped workpiece is formed in the conventional manner, special tools which match with a shape of a forming process is required. Therefore, there arises a problem that if works are formed into various shapes by forming process, a lot of tools which matches with the various shapes of the forming process are required.
Further, even if works are formed into an uniform shape by the forming process, when thickness of the workpieces are varied, a clearance between the punch and die should be adjusted according to the various thicknesses. Therefore, there arises a problem that the adjustment according to the various thicknesses is troublesome.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been achieved with such points in mind.
It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide a forming method and forming tools where manufacturing costs can be reduced.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a forming method and forming tools where the process of forming a workpiece can be performed in a simple structure.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an elastic punch to be used in forming tools where the elastic punch can easily cope with the change in the thickness of the workpiece.
To achieve the object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a forming method of forming a plate-shaped workpiece using a female tool having a concave section of a desired shape and a male tool which matches with the female tool, including the steps of: providing an elastic punch in a cylindrical holder provided in the male tool; pressurizing and compressing the elastic punch relatively by a pressuring member; pressing the holder against the workpiece by means of one portion of the elastic punch; and projecting one portion of the elastic punch from the holder so as to deform a portion of the workpiece to be processed according to the shape of the concave section of the female tool so that the workpiece is formed in a state such that the workpiece is nipped pressingly between the female tool and the holder.
A second aspect of the invention provides a forming tools, comprising: a female tool having a concave section of a desired shape; a cylindrical holder which can press a workpiece against the female tool; an elastic punch provided in the holder; and a pressurizing member which can pressurize the elastic punch relatively, wherein a pressing force receiving section to receive a pressing force from the elastic punch is provided in one portion of the holder.
A third aspect of the present invention provides the structure of the second aspect that the elastic punch is made of an elastic body such as urethane or rubber.
A fourth aspect of the invention provides the structure of the second or third aspect that the end of the elastic punch has a taper surface which is suitably chamfered.
A fifth aspect of the present invention provides the structure of the second aspect that a taper surface is formed in the pressing force receiving section of the holder.
A sixth aspect of the invention provides the structure of the second or fifth aspect that a section having the pressing force receiving section is exchangeably provided to the main body of the holder.
A seventh aspect of the invention provides the structure of the fifth or sixth aspect that a tilt angle &agr; of the taper surface of the pressing force receiving section is 0° for high pressure, 0° to 45° for intermediate pressure, and 45° to 89° for low pressure.
An eighth aspect of the invention provides a forming tools, comprising: a female tool having a concave section of a desired shape; a casing into which a cylindrical holder which can relatively press a workpiece against the female is mounted movably; an elastic punch mounted in the holder; and a pressurizing member provided to a bottom portion of the casing so as to be able to pressurize the elastic punch in the holder relatively, wherein a pressing force receiving section which receives a pressing force from the elastic punch is provided in one portion of the holder.
A ninth aspect of the invention provides the structure of the eighth aspect that the holder, the elastic punch and the pressurizing member are provided in the casing exchangeably as one unit.
A tenth aspect of the invention provides the structure of the eight aspect that an elastic member is provided between the holder and the bottom portion of the casing.
An eleventh aspect of the invention provides a forming tool, comprising: a female tool having a concave section of a desired shape; a cylindrical holder which can press a workpiece against the female tool; an elastic punch provided in the holder; and a pressurizing member which can relatively pressurizing the elastic punch, wherein a pressing force receiving section, which receives a pressing force from the elastic punch, is provided to one portion of the holder; and an elastic member is provided between the holder and the pressurizing member.
A twelfth aspect of the invention provides a forming tools, comprising: a female tool having a concave section of a desired shape; a cylindrical holder which can press a workpiece against the female tool; an elastic punch provided in the holder; and a pressurizing member which can relatively pressurize the elastic punch, wherein an elastic member is provided between the holder and the pressurizing member.
A thirteenth aspect of the invention provides a forming tools, comprising: a female tool having a concave section of a desired shape; a cylindrical holder which can relatively press a workpiece against the female tool; an elastic punch provided in the holder; and a pressurizing member which can relatively pressurizing the elastic punch, wherein a pressing force receiving section, which receives a pressing force from the elastic punch, is provided to one portion of the holder; and an overload safety apparatus is provided in a female holder supporting the female tool.
A fourteenth aspect of the invention provides an elastic punch to be mounted into a holder in a tool used in a forming process, comprising: a large diameter section; a small diameter section projected from the large diameter section; and a pressing force transmission section, which transmits a pressing force to a pressing force receiving section provided in the holder, is provided in the large diameter section.
A fifteenth aspect of the invention provides the structure of the fourteenth aspect that an end surface of the small diameter section is an elastic punch whose surface is non-flat.
A sixteenth aspect of the invention provides the structure of the fourteenth or fifteenth aspect that a suitable number of grooves are formed in an outer peripheral surface of the large diameter section so as to be provided within a range from an end surface of the large diameter section to the pressing force transmission section.
A seventeenth aspect of the invention provides the structure of the fourteenth, fifteenth or sixteenth aspect that the large diameter section contains lubricant.
An eighteenth aspect of the invention provide
Haraga Yoshio
Iwamoto Masami
Amada Company Limited
Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP
Jones David
LandOfFree
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