US3288010A

US3288010A - Horn press

Info

Publication number: US3288010A
Application number: US454801A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leon E Rutz
Original assignee: Houdaille Industries Inc
Current assignee: Houdaille Industries Inc
Priority date: 1965-05-11
Filing date: 1965-05-11
Publication date: 1966-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-29

Description

L. E. RUTZ Nov. 29, 1966 HORN PRESS Filed May 11, 1965 INVENTOR. lzon/ @072 A TTOR NE YS United States Patent 3,288,010 HORN PRESS Leon E. Rutz, Goodhue County, Minm, assignor to Hondaille Industries, Inc., Buffalo, N.Y., a corporation of Michigan Filed May 11, 1965, Ser. No. 454,801 7 Claims. (Cl. 83-191) This invention relates generally to presses, and more specifically to a press having an elongated horn incorporated therein for supporting a lower tool.

Although the principles of the present invention may be included in various presses, a particularly useful application is made in a press of the type that produces relative reciprocation between a punch tool and a die tool to effect punching or perforating of a workpiece. In particular, when the ultimate part is to have a non-flat configuration, it has been commonplace heretofore to provide all of the perforations in the workpiece before the workpiece is shaped into a box, tube, or the like. When the workpiece is formed after the stamping operations have been completed, care must be taken to insure that the bends are accurately located with respect to the holes, As a practical matter, in the finished part, it is usually more important to have the perforations located accurately with respect to one side of the finished workpiece, and when, as in this invention, the workpiece is punched after the workpiece is formed, the build-up of tolerances is avoided.

The present invention contemplates the utilization of an elongated born to support the lower tool in a projecting manner, beneath and in cooperation with the upper tool, the horn having a relatively small but elongated configuration so that it can be received within various forms of workpiece, such as ducts, boxes, curved housings, and the like.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a press of the type described wherein a horn projects from the base for supporting a lower tool.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a press having a lower tool support wherein there is as much workpiece clearance in the area beneath the ram as is possible.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a press which is particularly adapted to punch tubular and box-type workpieces.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a construction which will readily enable the substitution of other lower tool supports.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a structure by which the setting of a workpiece-locating gage may be preserved even though the lower tool support is removed and reinstalled.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide adapter structure which will enable the position of the lower tool to be readily adjusted and locked in a position of proper alignment.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying drawing sheet in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a punch press equipped with a horn provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, with parts broken away, and with parts in cross section, of the horn.

As shown on the drawings:

The principles of this invention are particularly useful 3,288,010 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 ice when embodied in a punch press such as illustrated in FIG. 1, generally indicated by the numeral 10. The press 10 includes a rigid frame generally indicated at 11, means for reciprocably supporting a first tool generally indicated at 12, an elongated horn-like member or horn 13, and an adaptermeans 14 by which the horn 13 is secured to the frame 11.

The rigid frame 11 includes a base portion 15, a riser portion 16 extending upwardly from the base portion 15, and an arm portion 17 extending horizontally from the upper part 18 of the riser portion 16, and beyond the base portion 15. At the outer end 19 of the arm portion 17, the reciprocable means 12 is disposed and supported.

The means 12 includes a reciprocable ram 20 which has a cam follower 21 captured within a cam opening 22, the cam surfaces defining the opening 22 being pivotally mounted on a shaft 23 and being manually rotated by means of a handle 24 in a rocking manner to effect selective reciprocation of the ram 20. An upper tool or punch 25 is secured to the lower end of the ram 20.

A pair of

rigid strippers

26, 26 are adjustably secured to the frame 11, each by a pair of screws or bolts 27 extending through slots in the strippers 26. The strippers 26 are vertically adjusted to a fixed position so that the upper surface of the workpiece engages the lower surface of the strippers in response to upward or retracting movement of the punch or upper tool 25, thereby stripping or forcing the workpiece from the punch tip that has entered the workpiece.

The elongated horn-like member or horn 13 extends as a cantilever and has an efiective length substantially the same as that of the arm portion 17 of the frame, so that the outer end 28 of the horn-like member is disposed beneath the ram 20 and the upper tool or punch 25. More specifically, the horn-like member is provided with means 29 at the outer end 28 for fixedly supporting a second tool, here disclosed as being a die 30. More specifically, the means 29 comprises an upwardly opening recess into which a die button 30 is received. A slug chute 31 having a size large enough to accommodate the largest anticipated slug, extends from the bottom of the recess 29 through the horn 13. The horn 13 is cylindrical and is solid, and the upper face of the die 30 is flush with the uppermost part of the horn 13 so that a workpiece may be jointly supported by both of these parts. If desired, the lower tool or die 30 may be locked in place by means of a suitable element, here comprising a set screw 32.

To support the opposite end 33 of the horn-like member 13, the frame 11 is provided with a vertical plate 34 which has a front vertical face 35 which extends parallel to the direction in which the ram 20 reciprocates. The plate 34 has a pair of vertical side edges 36, one disposed at each side of the vertical face 35.

The adapter means 14 is an assembly or weldment which detachably fixedly secures the opposite end 33 of the horn-like member 13 to the plate 34. The adapter means 14 includes a clamp portion 37, a spacer portion 38, and a flange portion 39. The portions 3739 are welded together or otherwise formed as a single unit which in effect is an integral part. The flange portion 39 has a set of three apertures through which a group of three mounting bolts 40 project with a loose fit, the bolts 40 being threaded into the vertical plate 34. The clamp portion 37 is generally C-shaped, with the lower arm of the C-shape welded to the spacer portion 38. The upper arm 41 of the clamp portion 37 can be selectively deformed or clamped onto the end 33 of the horn-like member 13 by means of a bolt 42 passing freely through the upper arm 41, and threaded into the lower arm. The clamp portion 37, the spacer portion 38, and the flange portion 39 are preferably hollow so that the horn-like member may extend therethrough and engage the vertical face 35. Such engagement establishes the location of the lower tool or die 30 with respect to the vertical face 35. If desired, the horn-like member 13 may include an adjustable stop 43 which is coactive between the horn-like member 13 and the vertical plate 34 to adjustably determine the position or alignment of the lower tool 30 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the horn-like member 13. In the present embodiment, the adjustable stop 43 is carried by the horn-like member 13, and it engages the vertical face 35. Upon release of the clamping bolt 42, the horn-like member 13 may be withdrawn to be replaced with a similar member, or to have its supported tool replaced. Thereafter, upon insertion into the adapter 14, the previously established position of alignment is immediately reestablished. With the punch or upper tool 25 received in the lower tool or die 30, the angular position about the longitudinal axis of the horn-like member is also established or reestablished. If desired, such alignment may be augmented by suitable keying (not shown).

The vertical plate 34 and the flange portion 39 of the adapter means 14 are provided with slot and key means which vertically support the adapter 14 until the bolts 40 are tightened. To this end, in this embodiment, the flange 39 is provided with a slot 44 which extends in a horizontal direction. The vertical plate 34 is provided with a pin or key 45 which is fixedly carried by the vertical plate 34, V

and which projects from the vertical face 35 into the slot 44 so that the upwardly directed surface of the key 45 engages and supports the downwardly directed surface of the slot 44. Such structure enables the adapter means 14 to be moved horizontally by an amount determined by the diametral clearance between the shank of the bolts 40 and the apertures through the flange portion 39.

As seen in FIG. 1, the flange portion 39 and the vertical plate 34 are provided with adjustment means by which the adapter means 14 may be moved horizontally to a selected position, namely to that predetermined position for the die 30 which is in alignment with the punch 25. To this end, a pair of ears 46 are secured to the flange portion 39, each ear 46 having a thumb screw 47 threaded into it and engageable with the adjacent vertical side edge 36 of the plate 34. By manual manipulation of the adjustment screws 47, the adapter means may be finely moved horizontally to the ultimate desired position, which is temporarily maintained by the adjustment screws 47 and the pin and

slot structure

44, 45, after which the bolts 40 are tightened securely'to maintain such position.

A bracket 48 is secured to theflangetpgrtion 39 as by a bolt 49, and the bracket 48 has a clamping portion 50 which receives a rod 51 on which there is supported a workpiece locating member 52. The rod 51 may be moved back and forth along its length and may be rotated about its axis to position the workpiece locating member 52 at any desirable position above or alongside the horn-like member 13. The locating member 52 is engaged by the workpiece to position it properly prior to the punching operation. Not only may the horn 13 be removed for die change as discussed above Without upsetting the setting of the workpiece locating member 52, but the entire adapter means 14 may similarly be removed without upsetting such setting, such removal being for the purpose of attaching other die-supporting means. However, whenever desired, the clamp 50 may be loosened to facilitate resetting of the workpiece locating member 52.

Because of the many adjustments provided in the structure, manufacturing tolerances may be relatively liberal. The adapter means 14 is thus constructed to enable movement of the die 30 angularly about the longitudinal axis of the horn-like member 13, and enables adjustment of the die position along the longitudinal axis of the horn-like member 13. The adapter means 14 further enables the defining of a predetermined position along the longitudinal axis which can repeatedly be obtained as required from time to time for die changes. Moreover, adapter means 14 may be moved horizontally in a direction parallel to the vertical face 35 for adjustment of its position in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the horn-like member 13.

The base portion 15 of the frame 11 may be mounted on any convenient rigid surface, here illustrated fragmentarily as a table-top 53. With the base portion disposed at one edge of the table-top 53, the horn-like member 13 projects well over the edge of the table to enable the punching of holes in workpieces that may project as far downwardly as there is clearance to the floor.

Although various minor modifications might be sug-.

gested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon, all such embodiments as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A press, comprising in combination:

(a) a rigid frame having a vertical face directed in one direction;

(b) means on said frame for supporting a first tool for vertical reciprocation in parallel relation to said vertical face and spaced in said one direction from said face;

(c) an elongated horn-like member having means at one end for fixedly supporting a second tool; and

(d) means extending in the direction of said horn-like member and detachably fixedly secured to said vertical face, and detachably fixedly secured to the opposite end of said horn-like member, and operative to support said horn-like member as a cantilever and to hold the second tool in a predetermined position in which it may coact with the reciprocable tool.

2. A press, comprising in combination:

(a) a rigid frame having a vertical face directed in one direction;

(b) means on said frame for supporting a first tool for vertical reciprocation in parallel relation to said vertical face. and spaced in said one direction from said face;

(c) an elongated horn-like memberhaving means at one end for fixedly supporting a second tool; and

(d) means extending in the direction of said horn-like member and detachably fixedly secured to said vertical face, and detachably fixedly secured to the outside of the opposite end portion of said horn-like member, and operative to support said horn-like member as a cantilever and to hold the second tool in a predetermined position in which it may coact with the reciprocable tool, said means being hollow along the axis of said horn-like member; and

(e) means on said horn-like member engaging said vertical face to space said second tool a predetermined distance from said vertical face.

3. A press, comprising in combination:

(a) a rigid frame having a vertical face;

(b) means on said frame for supporting a first tool for vertical reciprocationin parallel spaced relation to said vertical face;

(c) an elongated horn-like member having means at one end for fixedly supporting a second tool;

(d) means detachably fixedly secured to said vertical face, and detachably fixedly secured to the outside of the opposite end portion of said horn-like member, and operative to hold the second tool in a predetermined position in which it may coact with the reciprocable tool, said means being hollow along the axis of said horn-like member; and

(e) an adjustable stop coactive between said hornlike member and said vertical face to fix the position of the second tool in the direction in which the axis of said horn-like member extends.

4. A press, comprising in combination:

(a) a rigid frame having a vertical plate, said plate having a vertical face disposed between a pair of vertical side edges extending transversely thereto;

(b) means on said frame for supporting a first tool for vertical reciprocation in parallel space relation to said vertical face;

(d) means detachably fixedly secured to said vertical face, and detachably fixedly secured to the opposite end of said horn-like member, and operative to hold the second tool in a predetermined position in which it may coact with the reciprocable tool; and

(e) adjustment means coactive between said lastnamed means and at least one of said vertical side edges for adjusting said predetermined position in a substantially horizontal direction parallel to said vertical face.

5. A press, comprising in combination:

(a) a rigid frame having a vertical face;

(b) means on said frame for supporting a first tool for vertical reciprocation in parallel spaced relation to said vertical face;

(d) means detachably fixedly securing the opposite end of said horn-like member to said vertical face in a horizontally selectable position in which the tools are in coactive alignment; and

(e) a horizontally extending slot, and a key received in said slot, and coacting between said last-named means and said frame to preclude vertical movement therebetween While enabling the horizontal alignment of the tools.

6. A press, comprising in combination:

(c) an elongated horn-like member having means at one end for fixedly supporting a second tool, at least the opposite end of said horn-like member being cylindrical;

(d) adapter means detachably fixedly secured to said vertical face in a horizontally selectable position, and releasably clamped to said cylindrical opposite end of said horn-like member, said adapter means being hollow along the axis of said horn-like member, and when unclamped, enabling adjustment of the angular position of said horn-like member about its longitudinal axis and along its longitudinal axis,

and when clamped, being operative to hold the second tool in a predetermined position in which it may coact with the reciprocable tool;

(e) an adjustable stop coactive between said horn-like member and said vertical face to fix the position of the second tool in the direction in which the axis of said horn-like member extends;

(f) a horizontally extending slot, and a key received in said slot, and coacting between said last-named means and said plate to preclude vertical movement therebetween while enabling said last-named means to be moved to said horizontally selectable position; and

(g) adjustment means coactive between said lastnamed means and at least one of said vertical side edges for adjusting said horizontally selectable position and hence said predetermined position in a substantially horizontal direction parallel to said vertical face.

7. A press, comprising in combination:

(a) a rigid frame having a vertical face directed in one direction;

(d) means extending in the direction of said horn-like member and detachably fixedly secured to said vertical face, and detachably fixedly secured to the opposite end of said horn-like member, and operative to support said horn-like member as a cantilever and to hold the second tool in a predetermined position in which it may coact with the reciprocable tool; and

(e) a workpiece locating member fixedly secured to said last-named means in a selected position, and removable with said last-named means from the vertical face of said frame while said selected position is retained.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 372,785 11/1887 Bayrer 83l88 690,906 1/1902 Einfeldt 83195 1,895,589 1/1933 Spatta 83-188 2,829,983 4/1958 De Gain 83188 WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A PRESS, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A RIGID FRAME HAVING A VERTICAL FACE DIRECTED IN ONE DIRECTION; (B) MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR SUPPORTING A FIRST TOOL FOR VERTICAL RECIPROCATION IN PARALLEL RELATION TO SAID VERTICAL FACE AND SPACED IN SAID ONE DIRECTION FROM SAID FACE; (C) AN ELONGATED HORN-LIKE MEMBER HAVING MEANS AT ONE END FOR FIXEDLY SUPPORTING A SECOND TOOL; AND (D) MEANS EXTENDING IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID HORN-LIKE MEMBER AND DETACHABLY FIXEDLY SECURED TO SAID VERTICAL FACE, AND DETACHABLY FIXEDLY SECURED TO THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID HORN-LIKE MEMBER, AND OPERATIVE TO SUPPORT SAID HORN-LIKE MEMBER AS A CANTILEVER AND TO HOLD THE SECOND TOOL IN A PREDETERMINED POSITION IN WHICH IT MAY COACT WITH THE RECIPROCABLE TOOL.