FR2596700A1 - Press tool with modules - Google Patents

Abstract

Press tool, characterised in that it comprises modules 5 equipped, respectively, with individual working parts performing a series of simultaneous, selected press operations, the modules being mounted in a press either individually with sole-plate dolly blocks (arbors) 18, 19 which are standardised in terms of take-up tools, or collectively following a predetermined order with a standardised common frame 2, 6 and frame dolly blocks (arbors) 16, 17 which are standardised in terms of a tool to be followed or a progressive tool.

Description

MODULAR PRESS TOOL
The present invention relates to a module press tool intended to carry out mechanical operations under press such as cutting, stamping, punching, bending.

 Hitherto, for a production of a relatively small number or in small quantity of metal parts, one or more tools of recovery is usually used while in a mass production of these parts, a tool to follow or progressive is rather chosen. A recovery tool is a press tool which operates only once on a sheet blank to give it a more or less complex shape and a tracking tool or progressive tool is generally a tool comprising several aligned work stations, the one arranged after the other on which a strip of sheet metal or metal is scrolled at a determined pitch in order to carry out on this strip of metal, by each work station, a pre-established operation such as cutting, punching, stamping, bending ... and at the exit of the last station, a finished part, detached from this strip of tale and having a more or less complex shape.

 The price of a tracking or progressive tool is in the range of 1.4 to 1.6 times higher than that of a range of recovery tools. In addition, a major modification of a workpiece often requires a change of the tool and any modification of a tool to follow is very expensive compared to that of a recovery tool.

Only a production of a relatively large number of parts justifies, by its profitability, the use of a tool to follow or progressive.

 In industry, there often arises the case where the demand for a part to be manufactured cannot be determined with certainty, and the manufacture of this part begins cautiously in small quantities or in small series with known tools for recovery. When a success is registered, this part is mass produced with a known tool to follow or progressive. However, the passage from a small quantity manufacture of this part with known tools for recovery to mass production with a known tool to follow or progressive, leads to an expensive abandonment of these known tools for recovery and at the same time a relatively large investment for this known or progressive tool.

 The aim of the present invention is to avoid these drawbacks, which makes it possible to produce an economical press tool called in the following module press tool or module tool facilitating a passage from a small quantity manufacture of a predetermined part, to a mass production thereof, without causing an expensive and usual abandonment of the recovery tools or their equivalents, and a passage in the opposite direction of this manufacture without expensive and habitual abandonment of the tool to be followed or progressive.

According to the invention, a press tool is characterized in that it comprises a common standardized frame, standardized cleats, and modules intended to be mounted in a press either individually as recovery tools or collectively in a predetermined order, in a tool to follow or progressive.

To better understand the invention, an exemplary embodiment is described below, illustrated by the attached drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 represents a partial, schematic perspective view of a module press tool produced according to the invention of which only one module is illustrated,
FIG. 2 represents, on another scale, a schematic side view, along arrow F2, of the tool of FIG. 1, showing this tool mounted in a progressive tool or to be followed,
- Figure 3 shows a schematic side view, along arrow F3, of the tool of Figure 1, showing this tool mounted in a recovery tool.

FIG. 4 represents, on another scale, a top view of a lower sole of the frame of the tool of FIG. 1,
FIG. 5 represents a cross-sectional view, along the plane V - V of the lower flange of the frame of FIG. 4,
- Figure 6 shows on another scale, a schematic view in vertical section of a portion of a bottom flange of a module of the tool of Figure 1, showing a removable device sliding a guide system d '' a strip of material in this tool, when it is mounted in the progressive tool version,
FIG. 7 represents on another scale, a top view of an example of a sheet metal part that can be produced with a module tool from FIG. 1,
- Figure 8 shows a top view of the successive forms of the part of Figure 7 taken from a blank, and showing four series of selected simultaneous press operations, respectively performed by four different modules of the tool FIG. 1, mounted as recovery tools,
- Figure 9 shows a top view of the shape of a strip of metal sheet taken in its passage in a tool of Figure 1 where the four modules performing the four series of operations of Figure 8 are mounted in a tool to follow or progressive,
- Figure 10 shows on another scale, a schematic view from above, of a matrix and a bottom flange of the first of the four modules of the tool of Figure 1, mounted in a recovery tool and performing a first of the four series of operations illustrated in FIG. 8 relating to a manufacture of the mechanical part of FIG. 7, and
FIG. 11 represents a schematic partial view in cross section along the line XI - XI, of the recovery tool of FIG. 10.

 A module tool 1 produced according to the invention is intended to be mounted in a mechanical press between a slide and a table thereof and to carry out press operations such as stamping, punching, punching, bending, etc. matter or material in the form of blanks, plates or strips.

 The module tool 1 comprises (figs 1 to 11) a common frame 2.6 standardized recoverable and cleats 16 to 19 for mounting on press, standardized recoverable. Tool 1 is provided with a set of several modules comprising, specific to each, working parts, holding parts, a blank holder and guidance and positioning systems for producing a predetermined series of simultaneous press operations chosen, and making it possible to obtain, at the outlet of the last of these modules, a given finished part. These modules are suitable for mounting in press either individually with cleats standardized as recovery tools or collectively with the common frame and cleats standardized as a follow-up or progressive tool.

 The common standardized frame of the tool 1 comprises on the one hand an upper sole 2 (figs 1,2 6) provided with notches 3 with standardized centers for its mounting on a slide 23 of a press 24 and tarand holes 4 with standardized axes intended for fixing the modules 5 of the tool 1, and on the other hand a lower sole 6 (Figs 1,2,4,5) provided, in the central area with openings 7 flared towards the high, spaced and separated by bridges 8 with sloping edges 9 facilitating a good evacuation of waste or knockouts, in the two longitudinal edges 10,11 of tapped holes 12 with standardized axles intended for fixing the modules 5 of the tool, and reamed holes 13 receiving adjusted rods 38 (fig 10) of a positioning system for these modules 5. In the lower flange 6 of the frame, the two longitudinal edges 10, 11 provided with tapped holes 12 and holes bored 13 are preferably raised vis-à-vis the central openwork area 7 to form a depression or a cr them longitudinal flat 14 (figs 1,5) intended to receive by interlocking a lower central projecting part 15 of the modules 5. This depression 14 of the lower flange 6 and this projecting part 15 of the modules 5 allow a good pre-positioning in place of these modules 5. The standardized battens are respectively constituted by rigid parallelepipid bars. The standardized cleats comprise on the one hand standardized frame cleats formed of notched cleats 16 for fixing by screws on a table 25 of the press 24 and of wedging cleats without notch 17 (figs 1 and 2) and on the other hand, standardized sole cleats formed of notched cleats 18 for fixing by screws on a table 25 of the press 24 and of wedging cleats without notches 19 include inclined or sloping longitudinal edges 20 facilitating the evacuation of waste or knockouts. The standardized frame battens 16, 17 are used for mounting each of these modules 5 as a follow-up or progressive tool. (fig 2,4,5) while the standardized battens of sole 18,19 are used for mounting each of these modules 5 as a recovery tool (Figs 3,10,11).

 Each of the modules 5 comprises (figs 2,3,10,11) working parts consisting of punches 26 and dies 27, - retaining parts formed by a punch holder 28, an upper sole of the module 29, d 'a shock plate 30 separating the punches 26 from this upper sole 29, and from a lower sole 31, a blank holder 32 provided with holes 33 for sliding the punches 26 and intended to firmly hold a blank or a sheet metal strip on the matrix 27 during the execution of a press operation on this blank or this sheet metal strip, a system of guidance by sliding columns 34 and sliding rods 60 (fig 10), movements of the holding parts of module 5, a system for guiding and detaching the blank and strip material in the tool, with removable devices 35, 36 adaptable to the different dimensions of blanks and strips of material and with sliding detaching lugs 37, - a system for positioning the parts of the module includes nt adjusted positioning rods 38 penetrating into the corresponding bored holes 13 in the bottom flange 6 of the common frame or in those of the sole cleats 18, - and fixing screws 39,40,41,61 (figs 10,11) .

 The working parts 26,27, the holding parts 28,29, 30,31, the blank holder 32, the guide system by column 34 and sliding rods 60, and the fixing screws 39,40,41,61 are preferably elements and systems of known types and are not described in detail. However, the matrix 27 can be divided and produced economically in two or more parts 27a, 27b and then assembled on the lower flange 31 of the module 5 with a transverse joint 42 in its central zone, and fixed on this lower flange 31 or in a flat recess 43 (figs 10,11) of this lower flange 31, by screws 41. In addition the lower flange 31 of the module 5 comprises (figs 1,11) in its lower face a central projecting part 15 intended to be mounted in interlocking either in the depression or the flat longitudinal recess 14 of the lower flange 6 of the common frame of the tool 1 when the tool 1 is mounted in a progressive tool (Figs 1,2,4,5) recalled in a previous paragraph either in a free space between two cleats of sole 18 when the tool 1 is mounted as recovery tools (Figs 3,10,11).

 The system for guiding and detaching the material in the tool 1 comprises (FIG. 10) on the one hand in each of the two longitudinal edges of the bottom flange 31 of a module 5, two removable sliding devices 35 for guiding the strip material (50), symmetrical with respect to the transverse axis of the module 5 (fig. 10) constituted respectively (fig 6) by a rod 44 sliding by one of its ends in a hole 45 in the sole 31, under the thrust of a spring 46, and provided in its second end projecting outwards, over part of its length, with a longitudinal flat 47 parallel to its axis, cooperating with a stop - flat guide 48 fixed on the sole 31, and a transverse slot 49 diametrically opposite this flat 47, intended to receive and guide in its progression, an edge of a strip of material 50 introduced into the module 5 of the tool 1, and on the other hand in the edge of the matrix 27 (fig 10) removable sliding devices 36 gu idage of the material in blank 58 and in strip 50 (figs 6,8,9,10,11) constituted respectively by a rod 51 sliding under the push of a spring 54 in corresponding aligned holes 52,53 in the matrix 27 and the bottom flange 31 of the module 5, and provided in its inner end with a head 55 serving as a sliding limitation stop and in its end projecting outwards, with an axial pin 56 serving either as a stop for positioning on the blanks 58 of different dimensions in the module 5 or as a complementary guide to the strip of material 50 in its progression in the module 5 of the tool 1, and in the matrix 27 of the detachment lugs 37 respectively constituted by a rod with sliding head in corresponding aligned holes 62, 63 in the bottom flange 31 and the die 27, under the thrust of a spring 64. According to this structure, the modules 5 are autonomous and capable of fulfilling either the entire role of a tool resumed e when they are mounted on sole cleats 18,19 in a press 24 or collectively in their assembly on the common frame 2,6 and on frame cleats 16,17 the complete role of a tool to follow or progressive . As a result, in a manufacturing of a given mechanical part where the demand for this part is uncertain or low at the start, the present invention allows an advantageous realization by stages of the manufacturing tool. In a first stage only the modules 5 and the standardized cleats of sole 18.19 of tool 1 are produced and mounted as recovery tools for producing this part in small quantities. If the demand for this mechanical part increases sharply, and mass production of it must be envisaged, a second stage of manufacturing the tool with modules I is triggered and consists in producing only the common standardized frame 2.6 and standardized frame battens 16,17 for mounting # as a follow-up or progressive tool of the modules 5 recovered from the tool manufactured in the previous step, which makes it possible to achieve a great saving of time and money compared the waste caused by the usual solution arising from the structure of known press tools, which requires an expensive abandonment of recovery tools and a long and costly manufacture of a new tool to be followed progressively. Thanks to the module tool produced according to the invention, only the standardized cleats of sole 18, 19 which can be used in an assembly of another module tool in another manufacture, are kept away. In an inverted situation where manufacturing a given part immediately requires mass production from the start, a module tool 1 is then produced in a first step with modules 5, a common standardized frame 2.6 and frame cleats 16,17, and then mounted as a follow-up or progressive tool.

 When the demand for this mechanical part falls to a very low level and the manufacturing which is carried out by a progressive tool becomes unprofitable or expensive, and should be continued on rework tools. To this end, in a second stage of production of the module tool, only the standardized cleats of sole 18, 19 are manufactured so that modules 5 recovered from the progressive tool of the previous stage can be mounted as This transformation into recovery tools, recovered modules 5 only discards the standardized common frame 2,6 and the frame cleats 16,17 which can be reused in another assembly of another progressive tool to modules, which is clearly advantageous compared to the usual solution arising from the structure of known press tools, which requires an expensive abandonment of the entire progressive tool and a long and costly manufacture of new recovery tools .

 In an example of manufacturing a finished part illustrated in FIG. 7, the tool 1 produced according to the invention comprises four modules 5, a standardized common frame 2,6, standardized frame battens 16,17 and battens of standardized sole 18.19.

The four modules 5 include their own working parts which respectively carry out four series of simultaneous press operations illustrated in FIG. 8, namely a series A of simultaneous cutting operations, a series B of simultaneous stamping operations, a C series of simultaneous punching operations and a D series of simultaneous bending and separation operations. When the tool 1 works as recovery tools, the four modules 5 are respectively mounted on a press with cleats of the sole 18,19. The first of the modules 5 performing cutting operations A is supplied at the input by blanks of material 58 and gives partially shaped pieces at its output.
A illustrated in FIG. 8. These parts A supply the second of the modules 5 which performs stamping operations B and which gives partially shaped parts B at its outlet. Parts B supply the third of the modules 5 which performs processing operations punching C and which gives at its exit partially shaped parts C. The parts C feed the fourth of the modules 5 which performs bending and separation operations D and which gives at the exit of the finished parts D in other words parts of the figure 7. The blanks 58 and the parts A, B, C are respectively positioned in the modules 5 by stops constituted by pins 56 of the removable sliding devices 36 of the material guidance system. In a module 5 (fig 10), the devices 36 of the material guidance system which do not participate in the positioning of the part introduced into the tool, are previously dismantled and put in reserve. The sliding devices 36 pushed by their springs 54 contribute by their shoulder to the base of their stud 56, to the lifting or detachment of the part subjected to the operation of the press in the module 5.

When the press tool 1 works as a follow-up or progressive tool, these four modules 5 are mounted in a press with their common frame 2,6 and frame cleats 16,17 according to the order
ABCD of the series of operations A, B, C, D, from the input to output of the tool.

These modules 5 are preferably spaced from each other by a free space equivalent to a module 5 so as to obtain on a strip of material 59 introduced at the inlet of the tool, a strip shape illustrated in FIG. 9 where each section of strip of material leaving a module 5 is released in this free space and does not immediately enter a next module 5. For this reason, on the strip of material 59 illustrated, the imprints left by the operations of ABCD are doubled each time, and the finished part which is separated from this strip 59 is not represented in FIG. 9. In the modules 5, the strip of material 59 is guided in its longitudinal edges by transverse slots 49 (FIG. 6) of the devices 35 and additionally by pins 56 of the device 36 of the system for guiding the material.

 In a tool with modules 1 intended for manufacturing a given part, any modification, even significant, of this part amounts to a simple advantageous modification of these modules 5, and most often, to a modification of only some of these modules 5 or only of their working parts 26, 27, and their holding parts 28,32, the other component elements 2> 6,16,17, l8,19,29,30,31 of these modules 5 being recoverable. A modification of these modules 5 is much less costly than a modification of a known tool to be followed or progressive or a complete change of this known tool.

 The tool with modules 1 makes it possible to obtain great flexibility in the production with optimal profitability of a predetermined mechanical part, adapted to a changing or unstable demand.

Claims (10)

 1. Press tool characterized in that it comprises modules (5) respectively provided with individual working parts (26,27) performing a series of simultaneous selected press operations (A, B, C, D), mounted in a press either individually with cleats of standardized soles (18,19) as recovery tools or collectively according to a predetermined order (ABCD) with a standardized common frame (2-6) and standardized frame cleats (16,17), into a tool to follow or progressive.  2. Tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the modules (5) comprise, specific to each, working parts (26,27), holding parts (28,29,30,31), a blank holder ( 32), a system for guiding these retaining parts by columns and sliding rods (34,60), a system for guiding (35,36) and detaching (37) the blank and strip material in the tool , and a positioning and fixing system (38,39,40,41,61) of these working and holding parts (26,27,28,29,30,31).  3. Tool according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the modules (5) comprises punches (26) and dies (27) as working parts, a punch holder (28) an upper module sole (29), a impact plate (30), a lower module sole (31) as retaining parts, and as a system for guiding and detaching the material on the one hand for a strip material, removable sliding devices (35) with slit guide (49) mounted in each of the longitudinal edges of the bottom flange (31) of the module, symmetrical with respect to the transverse axis of this module, on the other hand for a blank material, removable sliding devices (36) with an axial stop and guide pin (56) mounted in the edge of the matrix (27), and for a strip or blank material of the detachment pins (37) mounted in the matrix (27).  4. Tool according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the standardized common frame comprises an upper sole (2) provided with notches (3) with standardized axes for its mounting on a slide (23) d '' a press (24) and tapped holes (4) with standardized axes intended for fixing the modules (5), and a bottom flange (6) provided in the central area with spaced openings (7), and in the two raised longitudinal edges (10,11), tapped holes (12) with standardized centers for fixing the modules (5), and bored holes (13) receiving adjusted rods (38) of a system of positioning of these modules (5).  5. Tool according to claim 4, characterized in that the lower sole (6) of the common frame comprises openings (7) flared upward, separated by bridges (8) with sloping edges (9).  6. Tool according to claim 3, characterized in that the matrix (27) of a module (5) is made in two parts (27a, 27b) assembled with a transverse joint (42) in the central area of this matrix ( 27) and fixed in a flat recess (43) of the bottom flange (31) of this module (5).  7. Tool according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that in the system for guiding and detaching the material, the removable sliding devices (35) for guiding the strip material (50) are constituted respectively by a rod (44) sliding under the thrust of a spring (46) by one of its ends, in a hole (45) in the lower sole (31), and provided in its second end projecting outwards, on part of its length, of a longitudinal flat (47), parallel to its axis, cooperating with a guide stop (48) fixed on this lower flange (31), and of a transverse slot (49) diametrically opposite to this dish (47) intended to receive and guide an edge of the strip of material (50).  8. Tool according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that in the system for guiding and detaching the material, the removable sliding devices (36) for guiding the material in blank (58) and in strip ( 50) are respectively constituted by a rod (51) sliding under the thrust of a spring (54) in corresponding aligned holes (52,53) in the matrix (27) and the bottom flange (31), and provided in its inner end, of a head (55) serving as a sliding limitation stop and in its end projecting towards the outside, of an axial pin (56) serving either as a positioning stop for the blanks (58) of different dimensions or as a complementary guide to a strip of material (50).  9. Tool according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that in the system for guiding and detaching the material, the detaching lugs (37) are respectively constituted by a rod with sliding head under the thrust of a spring (64) in corresponding aligned holes (62,63) in the bottom flange (31) and the matrix (27).  10. Tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the standardized sole cleats (18,19) are respectively constituted by rigid parallelepiped bars, some of which (18) are provided in their edges with notches intended to receive screws. fixing and the others (19) include sloping longitudinal edges (20).