U.S. patent application number 10/010119 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-25 for press die.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki.. Invention is credited to Matsunaga, Tokuhiro.
Application Number | 20020095968 10/010119 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18881365 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020095968 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Matsunaga, Tokuhiro |
July 25, 2002 |
Press die
Abstract
A press die comprises an upper die and a lower die each
including a die main body; at least one first guide post projected
on one of the die main bodies of the upper die and the lower die;
and a first product pressing member mounted on the one of the die
main bodies so as to be slidable along a middle portion of the
first guide post, at least one guide through hole through which a
middle portion of the first guide post penetrates being formed in
the first product pressing member. The die main bodies of both the
upper die and the lower die and the first product pressing member
undergo an alignment for each other through the first guide post by
inserting a tip portion of the first guide post into a first guide
hole formed on the other one of the die main bodies of the upper
die and the lower die.
Inventors: |
Matsunaga, Tokuhiro; (Aichi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael P. Dunnam
WOODCOCK WASHBURN KURTZ
MACKIEWICZ & NORRIS LLP
One Liberty Place - 46th Floor
Philadelphia
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota
Jidoshokki.
|
Family ID: |
18881365 |
Appl. No.: |
10/010119 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
72/350 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B21D 37/12 20130101;
B21D 22/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
72/350 |
International
Class: |
B21D 022/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 23, 2001 |
JP |
2001-014712 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A press die comprising: an upper die and a lower die each
including a die main body; at least one first guide post projected
on one of the die main bodies of the upper die and the lower die;
and a first product pressing member mounted on the one of the die
main bodies so as to be slidable along a middle portion of the
first guide post, at least one guide through hole through which a
middle portion of the first guide post penetrates being formed in
the first product pressing member; the die main bodies of both the
upper die and the lower die and the first product pressing member
undergoing an alignment for each other through the first guide post
by inserting a tip portion of the first guide post into a first
guide hole formed on the other one of the die main bodies of the
upper die and the lower die.
2. A press die according to claim 1 wherein the first guide post is
formed such that a diameter of the tip portion which is to be
inserted into the first guide hole is smaller than a diameter of
the middle portion which penetrates through the guide through hole
of the first product pressing member.
3. A press die according to claim 1 further comprising a bearing
member fitted into the guide through hole of the first product
pressing member on its molding surface side for slidably receiving
the middle portion of the first guide post.
4. A press die according to claim 1 further comprising a bearing
member fitted into the first guide hole of the other die main body
for slidably receiving the tip portion of the first guide post.
5. A press die according to claim 1 further comprising: at least
one second guide post attached to at least one of the die main
bodies of the upper die and the lower die from its molding surface
side; and at least one second product pressing member mounted to
the die main body to which the second guide post is attached so as
to be slidable along the second guide post, at least one second
guide hole into which the second guide post is to be inserted being
formed in the second product pressing member from its molding
surface side.
6. A press die according to claim 5 further comprising a bearing
member fitted into the second guide hole of the second product
pressing member on its molding surface side for slidably receiving
the second guide post.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a press die, and more
specifically, to a press die in which an alignment of die main
bodies of both an upper die and a lower die is performed through
guide posts.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] FIG. 6 shows a configuration of a conventional press die for
an automobile. This press die is one for cutting and bending and is
provided with an upper die 1 and a lower die 2. The upper die 1
includes an upper die main body 3, and a pad 4 and upper die
cutting and bending edges 5 which are fitted to the upper die main
body 3. The pad 4 is slidably supported with respect to the upper
die main body 3 in a state where it is depressed downward by
springs 6, and is prevented from falling down from the upper die
main body 3 while maintaining a necessary stroke by a stopper pin
7. On the other hand, the lower die 2 includes a lower die main
body 8 and lower die cutting and bending edges 9 fixed to the lower
die main body 8.
[0005] By setting a pressed product 10 on a molding surface 11 of
the lower die main body 8 and starting the press die undergo
clamping, the pressed product 10 is first pressed and fixed between
a molding surface 12 of the pad 4 and the molding surface 11 of the
lower die main body 8. When the distance between the upper die 1
and the lower die 2 is further narrowed, the springs 6 are
compressed against their urging forces so that the peripheral
portion of the pressed product 10 is cut and bent with the upper
die cutting and bending edges 5 and the lower die cutting and
bending edges 9.
[0006] In order to mold the pressed product 10 with the
thus-configured press die, the accurate alignment of the molding
surface 12 of the pad 4 and the molding surface 11 of the lower die
main body 8 is necessary. The alignment of the upper die main body
3 and the lower die main body 8 is performed by inserting guide
posts 13 projected on the lower die main body 8 into guide holes 14
formed in the upper die main body 3. Further, as shown in FIG. 7,
the relative positional relationship between the pad 4 and the
upper die main body 3 is adjusted by interposing slide plates 15
between the side surface of the pad 4 and the upper die main body
3.
[0007] Further, FIG. 8 shows a configuration of another
conventional press die for the automobile. This press die is one
for drawing, and is provided with an upper die 16 and a lower die
17. A molding surface 19 is formed on an upper die main body 18 in
the upper die 16. On the other hand, the lower die 17 includes a
lower die main body 20 and a wrinkle pressing ring 22 slidably
supported by cushion pins 21 on the lower die main body 20. Molding
surfaces 23 and 24 are formed on the lower die main body 20 and the
wrinkle pressing ring 22, respectively.
[0008] The wrinkle pressing ring 22 is pushed up by the cushion
pins 21, and a material 25 to be molded is placed thereon. The
upper die main body 18 is lowered to sandwich the material 25
between the upper die main body 18 and the wrinkle pressing ring
22. By lowering the upper die main body 18 and the wrinkle pressing
ring 22 together under this state, the material 25 is pressed
against the molding surface 23 of the lower die main body 20 and
molded into a required shape.
[0009] Also in this press die, the accurate alignment of the
molding surface 19 of the upper die main body 18, the molding
surface 23 of the lower die main body 20 and the molding surface 24
of the wrinkle pressing ring 22 is necessary. The alignment of the
upper die main body 18 and the lower die main body 20 is performed
by inserting guide posts 26 projected on the lower die main body 20
into guide holes 27 formed in the upper die main body 18. Further,
as shown in FIG. 9, the relative positional relationship between
the wrinkle pressing ring 22 and the lower die main body 20 is
adjusted by interposing slide plates 28 between the side surface of
the wrinkle pressing ring 22 and the lower die main body 20.
[0010] The side surface of the pad 4 with which the slide plates 15
are in contact and the side surface of the wrinkle pressing ring 22
with which the slide plates 28 are in contact are formed using a
tool such as an end mill through a completely different process
from the formation of the molding surfaces of the pad 4 and the
wrinkle pressing ring 22. Thus, it is difficult to perform
alignment of the side surface and the molding surface with high
precision. Therefore, the adjustments of the relative position
between the pad 4 and the upper die main body 3 and of the relative
position between the wrinkle pressing ring 22 and the lower die
main body 20 are performed by temporary assembling the respective
parts and manually replacing the slide plates 15 and 28.
[0011] However, since each of the molding surfaces is large in the
press die for the automobile, the size and weight of the pad 4 and
the wrinkle pressing ring 22 also become large, resulting in a
problem in that a considerably large amount of effort and time is
required in the adjustment of the relative position due to the
replacement of the slide plates 15 or 28.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention is made to solve the problem above,
and an object of the present invention is to provide a press die
which does not require manual adjustment of a relative position of
each part.
[0013] A press die in accordance with the present invention
comprises an upper die and a lower die each including a die main
body; at least one first guide post projected on one of the die
main bodies of the upper die and the lower die; and a first product
pressing member mounted on the one of the die main bodies so as to
be slidable along a middle portion of the first guide post, at
least one guide through hole through which a middle portion of the
first guide post penetrates being formed in the first product
pressing member; the die main bodies of both the upper die and the
lower die and the first product pressing member undergoing an
alignment for each other through the first guide post by inserting
a tip portion of the first guide post into a first guide hole
formed on the other one of the die main bodies of the upper die and
the lower die.
[0014] The press die adopts a method of sliding the first product
pressing member using the first guide post for performing an
alignment of the die main bodies of both the upper die and the
lower die, thereby making an error in alignment of the die main
bodies of both and the first product pressing member extremely
small. Therefore, no adjustment of the relative position of the
respective parts is required.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a press die in
accordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a lower die of the press die
of Embodiment 1;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a guide post used
in the press die of Embodiment 1;
[0018] FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views showing press dies
in accordance with Embodiments 2 and 3, respectively;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional
press die;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a bottom view showing an upper die of the press
die shown in FIG. 6;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing another
conventional press die; and
[0022] FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a lower die of the press die
shown in FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0024] Embodiment 1
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a press die for drawing in
accordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The press
die comprises an upper die 31 and a lower die 32. A molding surface
34 is formed on an upper die main body 33 in the upper die 31. On
the other hand, the lower die 32 includes a lower die main body 35
and a slidable wrinkle pressing ring 36 as a product pressing
member. Guide posts 38 are projected upward on a peripheral portion
of the lower die main body 35 from its molding surface 37 side, and
guide holes 40 into which middle portions 39 of the guide posts 38
are to be inserted are formed in the wrinkle pressing ring 36. The
guide holes 40 are formed from a molding surface 41 side of the
wrinkle pressing ring 36, and guide bushes 42 as bearing members
are fitted into the guide holes 40 on the molding surface 41 side.
The guide posts 38 are inserted into the guide bushes 42 so that
the wrinkle pressing ring 36 is slidably supported onto the lower
die main body 35 with cushion pins 43. The sliding movement of the
wrinkle pressing ring 36 with respect to the guide posts 38 can be
smoothly conducted due to the existence of the guide bushes 42.
[0026] Further, in the upper die main body 33, guide holes 45 into
which tip portions 44 of the guide posts 38 are to be inserted are
formed from the molding surface 34 side, and guide bushes 46 are
fitted into the guide holes 45. By inserting the tip portions 44 of
the guide posts 38 into the guide holes 45, an alignment of the
upper die main body 33 and the lower die main body 35 is
performed.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the wrinkle pressing ring 36 is formed
into a circular shape so as to enclose the molding surface 37 of
the lower die main body 35.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, in each guide post 38, a diameter D1 of
the tip portion 44 which is to be inserted into the guide hole 45
of the upper die main body 33 is smaller than a diameter D2 of the
middle portion 39 which is to be inserted into the guide hole 40 of
the wrinkle pressing ring 36. Therefore, the wrinkle pressing ring
36 can be detached and attached easily with respect to the guide
posts 38.
[0029] Next, the operation at the time of performing drawing with
this press die will be described. First, the wrinkle pressing ring
36 is pushed up along the guide posts 38 by the cushion pins 43. A
material 47 to be molded is placed on the molding surface 41 of the
elevated wrinkle pressing ring 36, and the upper die main body 33
is then lowered to sandwich the material 47 between the upper die
main body 33 and the wrinkle pressing ring 36. Under this state, by
lowering the upper die main body 33 and the wrinkle pressing ring
36 together, the material 47 is pressed against the molding surface
37 of the lower die main body 35 to be molded into a required
shape.
[0030] Since the guide posts 38 of the lower die main body 35 are
fitted from the molding surface 37 side of the lower die main body
35, the guide posts 38 and the molding surface 37 are machined with
high precision based on the common reference point for each other.
Also, since the guide holes 40 of the wrinkle pressing ring 36 are
formed from the molding surface 41 side, the guide holes 40 and the
molding surface 41 are machined with high precision based on the
common reference point for each other. Further, since the wrinkle
pressing ring 36 and the lower die main body 35 undergo alignment
through the guide posts 38, an alignment of the relative positional
relationship between the molding surface 41 of the wrinkle pressing
ring 36 and the molding surface 37 of the lower die main body 35 is
performed with high precision. As a result, there is no need to
adjust the relative position using slide plates as in the
conventional die.
[0031] Further, since the guide holes 45 of the upper die main body
33 are formed from the molding surface 34 side of the upper die
main body 33 and the tip portions 44 of the guide posts 38 are
inserted into the guide holes 45, the upper die main body 33, the
lower die main body 35 and the wrinkle pressing ring 36 undergo a
mutual alignment through the common guide posts 38. As a result, an
error in the alignment becomes extremely small.
[0032] That is, no temporary assembling of the die is required, and
the die may be manufactured with fewer manufacturing steps in a
short period of time. Also, the quality of pressed products
manufactured with this press die are enhanced.
[0033] Embodiment 2
[0034] A configuration of a press die for drawing in accordance
with Embodiment 2 is shown in FIG. 4. In this press die, middle
portions 54 of guide posts 53 for aligning an upper die main body
51 with a lower die main body 52 penetrate through guide holes 56
of a lower die wrinkle pressing ring 55. In addition, in this press
die, an upper die wrinkle pressing ring 59 is mounted on the upper
die main body 51 so as to be slidable along guide posts 58 with
springs 57 or cylinders. Tip portions 60 of the guide posts 53 are
inserted into guide holes 62 which are formed in the upper die main
body 51 from its molding surface 61 side.
[0035] The guide posts 58 are fitted on the upper die main body 51
from its molding surface 61 side, and guide holes 63 into which the
guide posts 58 are to be inserted are formed on the upper die
wrinkle pressing ring 59 from its molding surface 64 side.
[0036] In this structure, the molding surfaces of the lower die
main body 52 and the upper die main body 51 and the molding
surfaces of the lower die wrinkle pressing ring 55 and the upper
die wrinkle pressing ring 59 undergo positional adjustment with
high precision for each other without adjusting the relative
position using slide plates or the like.
[0037] Embodiment 3
[0038] A configuration of a press die for drawing in accordance
with Embodiment 3 is shown in FIG. 5. This press die is configured,
in the press die of Embodiment 2 shown in FIG. 4, such that an
upper die punch 73 is further mounted to an upper die main body 71
so as to be slidable along guide posts 72. The guide posts 72 are
fitted on the upper die punch 73 from its molding surface side, and
guide holes 74 into which the guide posts 72 are to be inserted are
formed in the upper die main body 71 from its molding surface
side.
[0039] The tip portions 60 of the guide posts 53 projected on the
lower die main body 52 are inserted into guide holes 75 formed in
the upper die main body 71 from its molding surface side.
[0040] In this structure, the molding surfaces of the lower die
main body 52 and the upper die main body 71, the molding surfaces
of the lower die wrinkle pressing ring 55 and the upper die wrinkle
pressing ring 59 and the molding surface of the upper die punch 73
undergo positional adjustment with high precision for each other
without adjusting the relative position using slide plates or the
like.
[0041] In each of the above-mentioned Embodiments 1 to 3, the press
die for drawing is described. However, the present invention is not
limited thereto, but may also be applied to the press die for
cutting and bending as that shown in FIG. 6.
[0042] Further, in each of Embodiments 1 to 3, the positional
relation between the upper die and the lower die may be made
inverse. That is, the press die may be constructed such that: the
guide posts are projected downward on the upper die main body; the
product pressing member such as the wrinkle pressing ring or the
pad is slidably mounted along the middle portions of the guide
posts; and the tip portions of the guide posts are inserted into
the guide holes of the lower die main body.
* * * * *