MXPA06006145A - Punch for a braced die. - Google Patents

Abstract

A punch for attachment to a brace of a braced die has a hollow cutting nose with a leading end for cutting a material to be punched and a trailing end opposite the leading end. A shaft extends from the trailing end of the nose and is sized to pass through an aperture in a brace. An upper retainer is joined to the shaft and has an upper retaining surface adapted to abut an upper surface of a brace. A lower retainer is joined to the shaft and has a lower retaining surface adapted to abut a lower surface of a brace. An internal waste evacuation chute extends from the interior of the hollow cutting nose and through the shaft for evacuating plugs of punched material from the nose.

Description

PUNCH FOR A GIVEN WITH CLAMP FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a punch for a die with a clamp and to a method for producing the parts for a die with a clamp, which has a punch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION U.S. Patent No. 6,233,309 discloses a cutting blade that can be detachably connected to a base board. The cutting blade extends in a direction perpendicular to the base board, and circumscribes the blade cavity in the base board. At least one elongated clamp (or transverse member) is fixed to the cutting blade and extends through the blade cavity. The clamp is mounted on the base board by means of a detachable fastener. The cutter blade can then be removed from the base board and secured again.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to improve the prior art. Other objects of the invention include providing a punch for a die with a clamp, a method for securing a punch to a clamp for a die, or a method for forming the parts of a clamp die having a punch. The prick can be a punch with flow through it. One or more of these objects are fulfilled by the combination of aspects, steps or both, which are found in the claims. The following compendium is not intended to define the invention, but to introduce the reader to its various aspects. In one aspect of the invention, a punch for a die with a clamp is provided. The punch has a cutting nose, with a front end for cutting a material to be punched, and a rear end, opposite the front end. An arrow extends from the rear end of the nose, and is sized to pass through an opening in a clamp. An upper retainer is attached to the arrow and has a top retainer surface, adapted to cope with a top surface of a clamp. A lower retainer is attached to the arrow and has a lower retainer surface, adapted to abut a lower surface of a clamp. An internal hopper, for waste disposal, extends from the inside of the hollow cutting nose and through the arrow, to evacuate plugs of punched material from the nose. The upper retainer may be part of the cutting nose and may include a stop adjacent the rear end of the cutting nose. The stop can be a flange integrally joined to the arrow. The lower retainer may include a nut engaged with a threaded portion of the arrow. According to another aspect of the invention, a die assembly is provided to cut a desired pattern of a sheet material. The assembly includes a flexible steel cutting blade disposed around a cavity defining the perimeter of a desired pattern; at least one clamp extends between portions of the cutting blade on opposite sides of the cavity, and a punch, as described above, which may be a punch secured to the transverse clamp, and arranged to puncture a hole in the blade. material, in a desired location in relation to the perimeter. The die assembly may additionally comprise a base or support board for supporting the die and at least one clamp may be secured to the base board. The base board may have a free opening extending to the full thickness of the base board, and the free opening may be in alignment with the hopper for waste disposal of the punch, to evacuate the waste material from the nose of the punch hollow, through the base board. At least a portion of at least one of the arrow and the lower retainer can be received in the free opening. According to another aspect of the invention, a die assembly has a base board and a cutting blade that defines the perimeter of a cavity. A punch is secured to the base board within the perimeter. The punch has a nose cutter, which has a cutting edge and a rear end opposite the cutting edge. An arrow extends from the rear end of the cutting nose to a clear opening, which passes through the base board, the punch has an evacuation hopper passing through it from the cutting edge to a distal end of the cutting edge. arrow. The evacuation hopper has a first section in the cutting nose, with a first diameter, smaller than the diameter of the cutting edge, which can temporarily retain plugs of a cut material. The evacuation hopper also has a second position, which starts from the opposite side of the first portion and extends through the arrow, which has a second diameter. The second diameter is larger than the diameter of the cutting edge and can allow the plugs of cut material to fall on and through the arrow. According to another aspect of the invention, a method for forming a die with a punch is provided. The method includes arranging at least one flexible blade in a desired pattern around a die cavity, causing at least one transverse clamp to be fixed between portions of the blade and through the cavity, and providing at least one opening of the blade. punch in a desired location on the transverse clamp. The method further includes securing at least one blade to the ends of the transverse clamp and securing a punch in the at least one punch opening. A clamp cutting machine can be used to produce the at least one punch opening in the clamp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS There will now be described by way of example, one or more embodiments of the invention, with reference to the following figures, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a cutter die with clamp. Figure 2 is an isometric view of a punch attached to the clamp die of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a front view of the punch of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a partial sectional view of the punch of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a top view of the punch of Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE MODALITIES A cutter die assembly according to the present invention is generally shown at 10, in the figure 1. The die assembly 10 has a blade 12 constructed of a strip of material having a cutting edge 14 on one of its sides. The blade 12 is bent at various angles to provide a closed shape or cavity, defined by the tip of the cutting edge 14. The blade 12 is typically made of steel. The blade 10 also has clamps 16 which serve various purposes. The clamps 16 can do one or more of the following functions: support the blade 12, help maintain the shape of the die 10, distribute the forces from the die 10 to a base board 30, provide a means for mounting the dice in a base board 30, or provide a means for mounting other articles, such as trimmers, dies, punches or slotting blades, on die 10. Clamps 16 are typically located within the area bounded by blade 12, to prevent interfere with any adjacent die mounted on the same base board 30. The clamps 16 are typically made of steel and are welded at their ends to other clamps 16 or to the blade 12. The clamps may be cut from a strip material, and their ends may be cut to cooperate with the inner surface of the blade 12, or with any other surface to which they are to be fixed; so that they are within the tolerances required by the welding method or any other fixing method used. In the case of a die 10 intended to be mounted flush with the surface of the base board 30, the clamps 16 may be mounted flush with the non-cutting edge of the blade 12, and may include holes 18 for inserting a fastener 19 , such as a screw, to fix the die 10 to the base board 30. Other details of a die for use in accordance with the present invention are described in US Pat. No. 6,233,809, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by medium of this reference. The clamps 16 can additionally be provided with punch openings 20 for attaching punches 100 to the die assembly 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the punch openings 20 are holes, only one of which is visible, which are positioned with respect to the cutting edges 14 of the blade 12, so that an assembled punch 100 produces a punched cut in a desired location. In the drawing of Figure 1, die 10 shown is only partially assembled and only partially secured to base board 30, to allow some holes 18 and an opening 20 to be visible. In a complete assembly a second punch 100 would be fixed in the visible opening 20, and additional fasteners 19 would be provided in the open holes 18. In other dice 10, the number of holes 18 and openings 20 can vary. A punch 100 for Fixation to the clamps 16 is shown in greater detail in Figures 2 and 3. The punch 100 has a hollow cutting nose 102, with a leading end 104 at one end of the cutting nose body 102, and a rear end 106 opposite the nose. front end 104. The forward end 104 of cutting nose 102 has a cutting edge 108 for cutting a material to be punched. The punch 100 has an arrow 110 extending from the rear end 106 of the nose 102. The arrow has an outer diameter that is small enough to pass through one of the punch openings 20 in the clamp 16., where the puncture 100 is to be fixed to the clamp 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the arrow 110 and the nose 102 of the punch 100 are integrally joined together. The punch 100 is additionally provided with an upper retainer 112, for mounting the punch 100 to the bracket 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper retainer 112 comprises an integral base portion 114 of the nose 102, adjacent the rear end 106 of the nose 102. Upper retainer 112, therefore, is also integrally attached to arrow 110 in the illustrated embodiment. The base portion 114 of the nose 102 can be flared outward, so that the diameter of the base portion 114 closest to the rear end 106 is greater than the diameter closest to the front end 104. The top retainer 112 provides a upper retainer surface 116, adapted to abut an upper surface 16a of clamp 16. In the illustrated embodiment, top retainer surface 116 is the underside of base portion 114 of nose 102, opposite front end 104. punch 100 also has a lower retainer 120 attached to the arrow 110 to secure the punch 100 in the desired position in the bracket 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower retainer 120 is a nut 121 which is threaded onto an externally threaded portion 122 of the arrow 110. The lower retainer 120 has a lower retainer surface 124 adapted to abut a lower surface (or bottom surface) 16b of the opening The punch 100 can be additionally provided with an internal hopper 126 for the removal of material, which extends from the hollow cutting nose 102 and through the arrow 110, to remove the plugs of cut or punched material from inside the cutting nose 102. More particularly, in the illustrated embodiment, the evacuation hopper 126 comprises an axial bore extending longitudinally through the punch 100, from the hollow nose 102 to an outlet 127 at the lower end of the arrow 110. The axial hole varies in diameter along its entire length, having a first section adjacent to the nose 102, with a first diameter, to temporarily retain the plugs of a first cut material, followed by a second section with a larger diameter, to let the first material fall through it when a second material is cut. To assemble the punch 100 in the die 10, the arrow 110 of the punch 100 can be inserted through one of the punch openings 20 in the clamp 16, so that the upper retainer surface 116 of the top retainer 112 abuts the surface 16a of the clamp 16. The nut 121 can then be screwed into the threaded portion 122 of the arrow 110, and tightened so that the lower retainer surface 124 of the lower retainer 120 bears against the downstream side 16b of the clamp 16. that way an axial clamping force can be applied through the thickness of the clamp 16, to securely hold the punch 100 in place. Silver surfaces 128 for spanner nuts may be provided on the outer surface of the nose 102 of the punch 100, to facilitate tightening of the nut 121. The clamps 16 may then be secured to the base board 30, so that the blade 12 of the die 10 is mounted on the base board 30. When the clamps 16 are fixed to the base board 30, the outlets 127 of the evacuation hoppers 126 of the punches may be aligned with free openings 32, provided on the board of base 30. The free openings 32 can extend through the thickness of the base board 30 to provide passage for the plugs of cut material, and to accommodate a lower portion of the arrow 110 and the lower retainer 120, which can be extended. under the lower surface 16b of the clamps 16. In use, the cutting edge 108 cuts through a layer of material that is being cut by the die assembly 10., and a plug of material is left inside the hollow nose 102. This plug of material can exit the hollow nose 102 under the force of gravity and / or the force of subsequent cutting operations flowing through the evacuation hopper 126. , and passing through the opening 32 provided through the base board 30.

Referring again to Figure 4, the arrow 110 of the punch 100 may additionally be provided with a collar 130, positioned between the upper retainer 112 and the threaded portion 122. In the illustrated embodiment, the collar 130 comprises a stepped portion of the surface outer of the arrow 110 of the punch 100. The collar 130 has an outer diameter that is greater than that of the threaded portion 122, but smaller than that of the upper retainer 112. Additionally, the outer diameter of the collar 130 is sized to provide an adjustment tight within the internal diameter of the punch hole 20 provided in the bracket 16. The collar 130 may have an axial length that is slightly less than the thickness of the bracket 16. When the punch 100 is assembled to the bracket 16, the collar 130 it can facilitate the precise positioning of the punch 100 within the hole 20. The present invention also comprises a method for forming an assembly e of die 10. A method according to the present invention involves arranging a flexible blade 12 in a desired pattern, to define a die cavity; cutting at least one transverse clamp 16, with desired extreme configurations at the ends of the clamp, to fix it between portions of a blade, on opposite sides of the cavity; providing punch openings 20 at desired locations in the transverse clamp 16; securing the ends of the clamp 16 to the blade 12; and after the punch openings 20 have been produced, secure a punch 100 as described above, in the punch openings 20. With respect to the cutting of the clamps 16, the clamps 16 can be cut from a strip material , typically steel. Strip material suitable for clamps can come in a variety of widths, ranging from about 15.87 mm (5/8") to about 5.08 cm (2") or more; a variety of thicknesses, ranging from about 3.16 mm (1/8") to 6.32 mm (1.4") and lengths that can be random, ranging from 2.43 m to 4.87 m. The clamps 16 can be cut in a clamp cutting machine, such as, for example, the clamp cutting machine described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 509,868, filed October 10, 2003. , which is incorporated herein in its entirety by means of this reference to it. The clamp cutting machine can have a cutting head and a moving part fastening attachment, which together provide at least two axes of movement. The movement of the head and the attachment can be carried out by means of servomotors which, in turn, can be controlled by computer controllers. Software can be used to interpret digital models or drawings of the clamps and send the corresponding signals to the servomotors to move the cutting head with respect to the clamp 16 with attachment, as required to machine the clamp 16.

The clamp cutting machine can be used to cut the desired final configurations at the ends of the clamp 16. The final configurations have surfaces that facilitate the joining of the clamps to the blade 12. According to the present invention, the same can be used Clamp cutting machine for producing the punch openings 20 in the clamp 16, by movements of the head and the attachment. Additionally, machining can be performed to produce final configurations and punch openings 20 in the same installation. In other words, the material (or raw material) for the clamp only needs to be secured to the attachment once for the complete machining of the clamp 16. This method allows the punch 100 to be accurately positioned with respect to the cutting blade 12, in the die assembly 10. In addition to cutting the final configurations and any openings 20 for fixing the punches 100, the clamp cutting machine can also be used to cut the holes 18 in the clamp 16, used to receive a fastener 19, such as a screw, to secure the cutter die assembly 10 to the base board 30. Although it has been described The invention with reference to certain specific embodiments, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, aspects of which are described in the claims that follow. In particular, but without limitation, the arrow and punch opening 20 may be keyed to prevent rotation of the punch 100 within the opening 20, which may facilitate assembly and may facilitate proper orientation when non-circular punches are used. Additionally, the lower retainer 120 can be fixed to the arrow, and the upper retainer 112 can be detachably attached to the arrow 110, so that the punch 100 is inserted into the opening 20 with the nose end first to assemble it, and the upper retainer 112, which may be a nut 121, is accessible from above the base board 30. In another embodiment, the punch openings 20 may be internally threaded to engage the threaded portion of the punch 100, which may eliminate the need a separate nut 121, or allow the separate nut 121 to function as an insurance nut. When a nut 121 is provided, the nut 121 can be welded to the bracket 16. In another embodiment, one of the upper and lower retainers 112, 120 can have the shape of a pin extending through a transverse hole in the arrow 110. The pin can be engaged with the arrow 110 in snap fit, to attach the pin to the arrow 110. The outer ends of the pin can extend beyond the outer surface of the arrow to provide upper and lower retainer surfaces 112. , 120. In one embodiment, the pin comprises a snap fit of roll pin within the transverse hole of arrow 110.

The pin may alternatively be in the form of a set screw screwed into the internally threaded transverse hole in the arrow 1 10. As another alternative, the pin may be in the form of a cotter pin having legs that are bent towards back, around the outer surface of the arrow 1 1 0, to join the pin to the arrow 1 10.

Claims (13)

1. - A punch for attaching it to a clamp of a die with a clamp, characterized in that the punch comprises: (a) a hollow cutting nose having a leading end with a cutting edge for cutting a material to be punched, and an end rear, opposite the leading edge; (b) an arrow extending from the rear end of the nose, and sized to pass through an opening in a clamp; (c). a top retainer, attached to the arrow and having a top retainer surface, adapted to abut an upper surface of a clamp; (d). a lower retainer, attached to the arrow, and having a lower retainer surface, adapted to abut a lower surface of a clamp; and (e). an internal hopper for waste disposal, which extends from the inside of the hollow cutting nose and through the arrow, to evacuate the plugs of punched material, from the nose.

2. The punch according to claim 1, further characterized in that the upper retainer comprises a stop adjacent the rear end of the cutting nose.

3. The punch according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that the upper retainer comprises a flange integrally joined to the arrow.

4. The punch according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the evacuation hopper extends axially through the arrow.

5. The punch according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the evacuation hopper extends axially through the arrow.

6. The punch according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the evacuation hopper has a first section in the nose cutter hollow with a first diameter, to temporarily retain the plugs of a cut material, and a second section, in at least the arrow, with a larger diameter to let the plugs fall through the arrow.

7. A die assembly for cutting a desired pattern of a sheet material, characterized the assembly because it comprises: (a), a cutting blade, configured to define the perimeter of a shape; (b) at least one clamp extending between portions of the cutting blade, on opposite sides of the cavity; the clamp having an opening for the punch; and (c). a punch according to any of claims 1 to 6, secured to the clamp and placed within the perimeter of the cutting blade.

8. - The die assembly according to claim 7, further characterized in that it additionally comprises a base board, and wherein the at least one clamp is secured to the base board.

9. A die assembly according to claim 7 or 8, further characterized in that the base board comprises a free opening that extends through the thickness of the base board, and in alignment with the waste disposal hopper of the punch, to evacuate the waste material from the hollow nose of the punch through the base board.

10. A die assembly according to any of claims 7 to 9, further characterized in that at least a portion of at least one of the arrow and the lower retainer is received in the free opening.

11. A die assembly according to any of claims 7 to 10, further characterized in that the evacuation hopper has a first section in the hollow cutting nose, with a first diameter smaller than the diameter of the cutting edge, and a second section extending from an area on the opposite side of the first section, and extending through the arrow.

12. A method for forming a die, characterized in said method because it comprises: (a), arranging at least one flexible blade in a desired pattern around a die cavity; (b) machining at least one transverse clamp, to produce a desired length and a desired final configuration at the ends of the clamp, to secure it between portions of the blade, through the cavity; (c). providing at least one punch opening in a desired location, in the transverse clamp; (d). securing at least one blade to the ends of the clamp; and (e). securing a punch according to any of claims 1 to 6, in the at least one punch opening.

13. The method according to claim 12, further characterized in that a computer controlled clamp cutting machine is used to produce the final configurations of the clamp, and to produce the at least one punch opening in the clamp.