US3545045A

US3545045A - Powder compacting subpress

Info

Publication number: US3545045A
Application number: US767540A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul Vinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-09-04
Filing date: 1968-09-04
Publication date: 1970-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 1987-12-08

Description

Dec. ls, 1970 Filed sept. 4, 1968 P. VINSON POWDER COMPACTING SUBPRESS 4 Shgets-Sheot l INVENTOR. /ww Myra# Dec. 8, 197V() P. vlNsoN i I l 3,545,045

POWDER COMPACTING SUBPRESS Filed Sept. 4, 1968 4 Shee'fshSheet 2 INVENTOR. P41/4 V//vfa/v Bffw/ Dec. 8, 1970 P. vlNsoN y POWDER COMPACTING -SUBPRESS 4 Sheets-SheerI 13 Filed Sept. 4, 1968 5 INVENTOR F401 l//'fm/ Dec. 8', 1970 P. vlNsON l POWDER COMPACTING sgBPREss Filed sept. 4, 196s 4 Sheets-Sheetdl I NVENTOR. Vla/10N PIM( 3,545,045 POWDER COMPACTING SUBPRESS Paul Vinson, 10821 Meads Ave., Orange, Calif. 92667 Filed Sept. 4, 1968, Ser. No. 767,540

Int. Cl. B03b 1]/00 U.S. Cl. 18--16.5 14 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The invention is a powder compacting press of the type wherein powder is fed into a die having a cylindrical bore, and is then compressed by punches that move downwardly and upwardly into the bore of the die. For making toroidal ferrite cores, a core rod is provided centrally positioned in the die and the powder is compacted in an annulus around the core rod. The press of this invention is constructed as a subpress, that is, an attachment which can be mounted on a conventional commercial press which may be mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical. The subpress is constructed to provide an integral member having a portion line bored to receive aligned rams. The subpress is mounted so that its rams are driven by the rams of the main press. A die plate is positioned between the aligned bores of the subpress. The tooling is carried directly by the rams of the subpress. The subpress has no upper or lower platen or guide pins for the rams. The subpress is of the type employing upper and lower punches cooperating with the die. Holding means are provided for the punches providing for horizontal float while setting up, that is, while aligning them with the die and improved means are provided for locking the punches in position after alignment when setting up. The lower punches continue to float horizontally after setup, maintaining their alignment by remaining in and seeking the center of the die while the upper punches are locked both horizontallyand vertically after setup.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention resides in improvements in the field of automatic powder compacting presses or machines, Presses of this type are for the purpose of manufacturing cores or beads of ferrite or glass or any other powdered metal or comparable substance. The press may be used for the purpose of manufacturing memory cores which are normally toroidal, or pills or other comparable products.

Presses of the type described may be built to embody extremely accurate and precise characteristics and capability where it is necessary to produce a product subject to extremely close tolerances as to thickness, density, etc. Such a press is disclosed in the prior application Ser. No. 450,427 filed Apr. 23, 1965, now abandoned. Aside from the press of the prior application, there are available commercially, powder compacting presses which are capable of producing products by compacting of powder. These machines or presses characteristically are of a type embodying a relatively massive upper platen, a similar lower platen and an intermediate platen carrying the die. These relatively massive platens are conventionally guided by rather large and cumbersome guide pins. The tooling for machines of this type as will be understood ordinarily comprises tools, that is, punches which are relatively miniature in size. The setting up of the tooling in the machine or press of course involves positioning and holding the tooling with precision. Thus, the setting up of this miniature tooling in a massive machine as described becomes a very critical problem inasmuch as the tooling is in an area or position that is difficult both to reach and to see.

Patented Dec. 8, 1970 ice It is a primary object of this invention to provide and make available an attachment which is the form of a subpress which can be inserted into or attached to and used with a main press of the type described above which may be mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical. The main press furnishes the power and timing for operating the attachment, that is the subpress. The subpress is a self-contained unit without upper and lower platens and without guide pins or stems, and it includes a powder dispenser and provision for complete tooling to product whatever item may be desired. The nature of the subpress is such as to achieve and realize a number of specific objectives. Principal among these is that the subpress is constructed from an integral metal member and yoke shape which can be line-bored and line-honed to provide for an upper and lower ram on a common center line with dead true alignment. As stated, upper and lower platens and guide pins are eliminated. The tools are carried by the rams themselves and accordingly center line thrust is applied directly to the tools with more acurate movement but with less pressure for pressing by reason of the elimination of much of the friction. The subpress of the invention realizes these objectives.

Another object of the invention is to make it possible to utilize a completely inaccurate main press which may be in poor condition and out of alignment but yet with the subpress entirely satisfactory results can be obtained.

A further object of the invention as to make it possible to provide a basis for standardization of tooling used in producing products such as memory cores. Standard tools may be used in commercially known presses and in the subpress of this invention. Ordinarily the tools are made of carbide and in conventional presses as described having upper and lower platens, tools (Le.) punches of considerable length are required. In the subpress of this invention much shorter punches can be utilized with the beneficial results that punches that have been used in the conventional presses and reduced in length can be satisfactorily used in the subpress of this invention down to .030 inch of carbide. In other words, tools can be used in other presses and when too short for further use, can be reconditioned and used in the subpress of this invention and used until there is virtually no carbide remaining. By this means punch cost can be reduced by as much as 50%. The realization of this economic end is an object of the invention.

Another object is to facilitate the setting up of tooling in the press by making it easier to reach and see the tooling.

A further object is to provide improved holding means for the tools, to aid in setting up and to insure dead true alignment and centering of the tools. Various modified forms of means are provided to serve this object, particularly to lock the tools in position once aligned, without disturbing the alignment.

Further objects and additional advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a front elevation of the subpress mounted in a commercial press;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 2a is a detail view of a modification of the arrangement for locking the upper punches;

FIG. 2b is a view of another modification of the means for locking the upper punches;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3a is a detail view of a modied form of locking the core rods;

FIG. 3b is a detail view of another modified form of means for locking the core rods;

FIG. 4 is a detail view of the powder hopper;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded detail view illustrating the positioning of the upper punches;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the holders'for the lower punches and core rods;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are detail views illustrating the action of the upper and lower punches and core rods with respect to the die buttons; and

FIG. 10 is a detail view of the core rod bracket.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBPRESS Referring now more in detail to FIG. 1 of the drawings, numeral 10 designates generally a press which may be of a known commercial type which may be mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical. The press shown by way of example, is a mechanical type and may be a press of the type manufactured by the Stokes Company. Numeral 12 designates generally the subpress of this invention. The subpress comprises an integral body made of a suitable material which may preferably be meenanite. The subpress has a back plate 14 which is rigidly secured to the front of the press 10 by

screws

16 and 18.

As stated, the main press 10, by way of example, is a mechanical type. It has an upper ram and a lower ram 22. The upper ram 20 operates through a guide block 24 secured to the front of the machine 10. Numeral 26 designates an eccentric on a shaft 28 which is driven by the mechanism of the press. The eccentric 26 operates within an eccentric opening or bore 30 in a member 32 having an extending lug 34 which is attached to the upper ram 20. As may be observed, rotation of the shaft 28 operates to move the ram 20 upward in its guide 24. j

The lower ram 22 operates in a similar guide 40 secured to the front of the machine 10. On the ram 22 is a nut 42. Numeral 44 designates a lever pivotally mount-` ed on a shaft 46 and having a bifurcated end part 48' which straddles the lower ram 22 and bears against the nut 42. On the lower ram 22 is a coil spring 52, the upper end of which bears against the lever 44 and the lower end of which engages the spring retainer 54 on the stem of the ram 22. Numerals l55 and 56 designate adjusting nuts on a threaded part of the ram 22 for adjusting the lower ram extent or position.

The subpress 12 has an upper ram 60 and a lower ram 62. The mounting of these rams in the subpress will be described presently in connection with FIG. 2. At the end of the upper ram 60 is a head 64 which is attached to the ram 20 of the press 10 by way of the tongue and groove joint 66. The lower ram 62 of the subpress has a head 68 which is attached to the lower ram 22 of the machine 10 by way of the tongue and groove joint 70.

The subpress embodies a powder hopper 71 for feeding powder to the dies in which the articles are formed which as explained above, may be pills, memory cores or toroidal form or other products. Numeral 74 designates a lever mounted on a shaft 76 and which can swing laterally. It is connected by a link 78 to the hopper assembly, the link 78 having an adjustable turn buckle in it. Link 78 connects to an arm 79 on the hopper 71. The main press is preferably, but not necessarily of the double acting type. The rams and arm 74 operate in a predetermined seqence as will be described and this mechanism may be like that of Pat. No. 2,068,619.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the construction of the subpress 12 in greater detail. The body of the subpress 12 has forwardly extending

parts

86 and 88 leaving a space between them as may be seen in FIG. 2. These parts are line bored and line honed to provide perfect alignment for the upper and lower rams which operates in these bores. The upper portion 86 has a bore 90 in which is a bushing 92 of suitable material within which the ram 60 operates. The lower portion 88 has a bore 96 having a 4 similar bushing 98 in it and in which the lower ram 62 of the subpress operates.

THE UPPER RAM AND UPPER PUNCHES OF THE SUBPRESS It will be observed from FIG. 2 that on the end of the ram 20 is a part 102 of smaller diameter having a disc or flange 104 on its end, these parts being received in

slots

106 and 108 in the head 64. The upper ram 60 is tubular having a bore 110 and its upper end is received in a bore 112 in the head 64. It is attached to the head 64 by way of

screws

114 and 116 the heads of which are countersunk in the surface of the head 64.

Attached to the head `64 is an anti-rotation pin 120 which moves in a bushing 122 received in a bore 124 in the body of the subpress 12.

The upper punches are carried by the upper ram 60. The manner in which the upper punches are held is illustrated more in detail in FIG. 6. Within the bore 110 of the ram 60 are two rods, 130 and 132, the upper ends of which are received in bores 134 and 136 in an insert member 138 in the upper end of the bore 110. On the ends of the rods or stems and 132 are threaded portions 142 and 144 engaging in ther head 64 and by means of which the stems 130 and 132 can be vertically adjusted. Numeral 133 designates a nozzle through which pressure can be automatically applied to the interior of bore 110 for a purpose which will be described presently.

At the lower end of the ram 60 it has bores 150 and 152 offset from the center, and these bores receive the

shanks

154 and 156 of punch locking members 158 and which are arcuate but having at inner sides which abut against each other to prevent rotation of either one its about its axis. The locking member 158 is shown in detail in FIG. y6. Provided in it both its shank and its head part is a passageway 164 having a purpose which will be described presently. The upper punches are designated by the numeral 166 and 168 the upper punches 166 being shown in FIG. 6. Upper punch 166 is shown in detail in FIG. 8. It has three diameters including a head part 170,v

an intermediate diameter 172, and a smaller diameter 174. The punch has a central bore 176 which receives the core rod las will be described in detail presently.

Running transversely across the bottom of the ram 60 is a rectilinear groove or slot 180. The heads of the

upper punches

166 and 168 are received in this slot opposite the

bores

150 and 152, being held by a retainer plate 182. The retainer plate 182 has

radial slots

184 and 185 which receive the intermediate diameters of the

upper punches

166 and 168, with the upper ends of these punches abutting the lower ends of the Shanks of the locking

members

154 and 156. As may be observed, the upper punches are able to oat radially as will be described more in detail hereinafter for purposes of extremely precise centering alignment. Retainer plate 182 has openings '188 and 190 in it and it is attached to the lower end of the ram 60 by

screws

192 and 194. FIG. 2 illustrates the manner in which the upper punches are held in position. As Will be described more in detail hereinafter, after the

upper punches

154 and 156 have been aligned in the dies they are locked or clamped in position by adjusting the screw threaded stems 142 and 144 to adjust the

stems

130 and 132 downwardly to press the locking or clamping

members

158 and 160 downwardly against the ends of the

punches

166 and 168. As explained, the heads of these clamping members prevent them from rotating relatively, so by the means described, the punches are locked or clamped in aligned position with great precision. The technique of setting up the tooling, including the upper punches will be described hereinafter.

Modified forms of means for clamping the upper punches are shown in FIGS. 2a, and 2b, which will be described presently.

THE DIE PLATEN ASSEMBLY Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, numeral 200 designates the die platen. This platen is preferably made of hardened and ground tool steel. It holds the die plate and die buttons as Lwill be described. Numeral 202 designates a at-sided recess in the body of the sub-press 12. Fitting in this recess is a part 204 of the platen 200 which has an extending part 206 which extends outwardly in a position between the upper and lower rams of the subpress. The platen 200 is secured to the body 12 by means of dowel pins one of which is shown at 208 fitting in a bore 210 in the body 12 and a bore 212 in the platen. Further attachment is by `way of screw 214 which threads into the part 204 and which has a head 216. The screw 214 extends through a bore 218 in the body 12, this bore having a counter-bore 220 and head 216 is countersunk in this counter-bore.

The part 206 of the platen 200 has a bore 226 larger than the lower ram in which is received the upper end of the lower ram 62. Above the bushing 228 is the die plate 230 having

bores

232 and 234 in which are the dies or die

buttons

236 and 238. The die 236 has a bore 242 and the die 238 has a bore 244, these bores being of a size to receive the smaller diameters of the upper and lower punches as will be described presently. See FIGS 8 and 9. The portion 206 of the platen 200 has a bore 250 having in it a bushing 252. Extending through this bushing is the stem 254 which mounts the powder feed hopper 71 as Will be described presently. On the n end of this stem is a nut 256. Numeral 257 designates a container for the finished products which is underneath the ramp at the end of the die plate 230.

THE LOWER PUNCH ASSEMBLY The lower punch assembly and the manner in which the lower punches are held is illustrated in detail in FIG. 7. The upper end part of the ram 62 is cut off axially so as to be substantially semi-cylindrical, presenting

ilat surfaces

262 and 264 and having within it a straightsided slot as designated at 266. At the upper end of the ram 62 there is formed a channel designated at 268, this part having vertical side walls as shown. In the bottom of channel 268 are formed two

slots

270 and 272 which receive the core rods as will be described presently. Numeral 274 designates a slide member shaped to t into the channel 268 and having at its forward end two

slots

280 and 282 which come into registry with the

slots

270 and 272 when the member 274 is in position in the channel 268. The member 274 also has a semi-spherical depression 286 in its upper surface for a purpose which presently will be described. Slide member 274 is moved into channel 268 from the right looking at FIG. 7.

Numeral 292 designates a horseshoe-shaped member which is semi-circular in contour as shown, having a rectilinear cut-out 294 in its at side. This member has a hole in it as designated at 300 which is at the bottom of a semi-spherical depression 302 formed in the surface of it. The member 292 has

holes

304 and 306 in it whereby it can be attached to the top end of the ram 62 by

screws

310 and 312 which thread into

holes

314 and 316 in the top end of the ram 62.

INumeral 330 designates a semi-circular member having slots 332 and 334 in it which come into registry with the slots in the member 274 and in the bottom of the channel 268 when the parts are in assembled relationship. It has two holes in it as designated at 336 and 338. The

parts

274, 292 and 330 are in overlying relationship lwhen assembled as may be seen in FIG. 2, the parts being held in this relationship by the

screws

310 and 312. Between the member 330 and the member 292 is a coil spring 342 and a ball 344 which engages in the semi-spherical recess 302 and hole 300. That is, it protrudes through the hole 300 sullciently to lit into the depression 286 in the member 274 to form a detent.

The two lower punches are designated at 350 and 352. These punches are like the upper punches except that they are in a reverse position. Referring to FIG. 8, it will be noted that the punch 350 has three diameters including a bottom head 356, an intermediate diameter 358 and an upper diameter 360. It has a bore 362 of a size to receive the core rod as will be described presently. The lower punch 352 is similar.

It will be observed that the

lower punches

350 and 352 are held in a position in which the ends of larger diameter rest on the slide member 274 with these ends in a position in the cut-out 294 of the member 292. The intermediate diameters of these lower punches are in the slots 332 and 334 in the member 330.

' It will be observed that the slide member 274 is held by the detent provided by the ball 344 so that it can be moved outwardly in the channel 268 from underneath the lower punches permitting them to be dropped down o-r lowered Iwith respect to the dies as will be described presently. In setting up the tooling, slide 274 is removed. It may have a thickness of perhaps .050 so that this much vertical movement of the punches is allowed when it is removed. The lower punches are centered, in setting up, by manually maneuvering them with a tweezer or tooth pick, into the bores of the dies, to assure centering and then supporting their heads, when slide 274 is reinserted, between it, and plate 330. With slide 274 in position, there is a slight vertical iloat in the punches, approximately .0001 inch.

CORE ROD HOLDER ASSEMBLY This assembly is best shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 10. Numeral 380 designates a plate in a position beneath the platen 200. Numeral 382 designates a stern extending through a bore 384 in the part 88 of the body 12. This stem is threaded and it threads through a threaded bore 390 in the plate 380 for moving it. The plate 380 is guided by two upwardly extending stems 400 and 402 which extend into guide bores 404 and 406 in the part 206. On the end of the stern 382 is a knurled adjusting knob 412. The stem 382 has an annular groove 413 in it with bevelled sides as designated at 414. Numeral 416 designates a locking screw which is threaded into a bore 418 in the side of the part 88. Lock screw 416 clamps a nylon slug against stem 382 locking it in place after adjustment.

At the lower right-hand corner of the plate 380 it has a square-sided cut-out as shown at 430. Positioned in this cut-out are a pair of eccentric discs forming cams as designated at 432 and 434. These cams are journaled on a shaft 436 and are rotatable by manually

operable handles

440 and 442, see FIG. 2. It will be understood that the end of the plate 380 extends into a position in the slot or cavity 266 in the upper end of the lower ram 62. Above the cut-out 430 there is formed a ledge 446. This ledge has bores in it receiving plungers forming cam followers. One of these plungers being designated at 448 forming a cam follower for the cam 432. Numeral 452 designates a bracket attached to the top of the end part of plate 380 by screws as shown and having an extending part 454 which is slotted, and the

slots

455 and 457 receive the stems of the core rods. See FIG. 10. The core rods are designated at 460 and 462. See FIGS. 2, 8 and 9. These rods are in the form of stems of a size to t with precision in the bores of the upper and lower punches, and having enlarged cylindrical end parts as designated at 464 and 468. These end parts of the core rods t in between the ledge 446 of the plate 380 and the extending part 454 of the bracket 452, the ends of these core rods resting on the plungers 448 and 449 which as explained, form cam followers engaging the

cams

432 and 434. The vertical position of the plate 380 can of course be adjusted by adjusting the knob 412 and the stem 382. It will be observed that the

core rods

460 and 462 have horizontal float in the bracket 452 until clamped. The plate 380 may be adjusted to a level at which the upper ends of the core rods are ilush with the upper ends of the die buttons 236 and 238 (or slightly below) providing an annulus around the core rods to be illed with powder for forming a toroidal product. When this adjustment has been made and the core rods are centered they are locked by rotating the

cams

432 and 434 so as to push upwardly on the cam followers 448 and 449 and thereby lock the core rods by locking the

cylindrical members

464 and 468 at their lower ends. With respect to setting up the tooling, the technique as to the lower punches and core rods will be described presently. FIGS. 3a and 3b show modified arrangements for locking the core rods which will be described presently.

THE POWDER HOPPER ASSEMBLY The powder hopper or container is designated at 71. It is a cylindrical container having a bushing 482 at the bottom which is mounted on the stem 254 for angular movement. It has an angular spout 484 at the bottom in which ts a tube 486 of plastic material or the like. This tube ts into a delivery shoe member 488. This is a housing having triangular sides and a flat bottom 500` having an opening 502 through which the powder can be delivered to be received in the cavities of the

die buttons

236 and 238 when the member 488 is moved over them. Numeral 510 designates a bifurcated leaf spring, the bifurcated ends of which engage in notches in the bottom plate 500 of the member 488 for urging it against the top surface of the die plate 230. One of these end parts of the leaf spring is designated at 512. At the lower part of the hopper 71 it has an extending arm 79 which is connected to the end of the link 78 previously described which in turn is connected to the end of arm 74. In operation, as will be described presently, at one point in the cycle the hopper 71 and its delivery mechanism is moved angularly to move the member 488 over the die cavities to fill them with powder and then the hopper mechanism is rotated back out of the way.

SUMMARY OF THE TECHNIQUE OF SETTING UI THE TOOLING IN THE SUBPRESS The manner of setting up or installing the upper punches in the subpress has been described in the foregoing. The rods or stems 130 and 132 are backed oit to allow freedom of vertical movement of the locking

members

154 and 156 and the

upper punches

166 and 168 themselves. The punches are put in place manually, their heads sliding in the slot 180 at the bottom of the upper ram 60 and their intermediate diameters tting in the

slots

184 and 185 in the plate 182 They then can be maneuvered by means of a tweezers or probe until their smaller diameters drop into the die cavities as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. This assures precision centering or positioning of the upper punches and they are then clamped in the manner described by turning down the stems 130 and 132. It will be observed that setting up the tooling is greatly facilitated in that the miniature tools are in a position where they can be seen visually and maneuvered or manipulated. This is true because the subpress embodies no upper or lower platen with cumbersome guide pins and the like.

With respect to the preferred technique for setting up the lower punches and core rods in the subpress, the following is the preferred procedure. The core rods are inserted into the lower punches. Then with the subpress in an inverted position the lower punches and core rods are positioned as described in the foregoing with the core rod stems in

slots

270 and 272 of the lower ram and with the intermediate diameters of the lower punches in slots 332 and 334 of the plate 330. At this time the slide member 274 is withdrawn to allow a limited amount of vertical freedom of movement of the lower punches. They are then maneuvered or manipulated by means of a tweezers or a probe until their smaller diameters drop into the bores of the

die buttons

236 and 238, assuring precision centering. They are then supported in the manner described by reinserting the slide 274 into the position where it is held by its detent as described. l

At the time the lower punches and core rods are set up or installed, as described, the core rods are positioned as described in connection with FIG. 3, that is with the core rods in the slots in the bracket 454 and the heads of the core rods on the plungers 448 and 449. They are clamped by means of the

cams

432 and 434 as described.

The position of the upper ram 60 and of the lower ram y62 can, of course, be adjusted by adjustments provided on the main press 10. These adjustments include the nuts 55 and 56 associated with the lower ram of the main press 10, so that the position of the lower punches can be adjusted as desired,

OPERATION It will be appreciated that the subpress as described embodies complete tooling for making compacted products, such as pills or memory cores of the like. Complete accuracy is built into the subpress so that it can be used with a commercial main press which is inaccurate or out of adjustment without disturbing the precision operation of the subpress, The invention accomplishes the purpose of being able to make a set up of the tooling with precision despite the miniature size of the tooling.

The main press 10 is a conventional known machine which provides the desired sequence of operation. The mechanism for providing the sequence may be like that of the prior application referred to or may be similar to that of Pat. No. 2,068,619. A preferred sequence is one wherein the cycle of operations may be as follows. The lever arm 74 is moved to move the hopper 71 and its discharge shoe 48 angularly to deliver powder over and into the bores in the

die buttons

236 and 238. After lilling the die cavities, the hopper mechanism moves out of the way. The upper ram then descends a predetedmined amount to compress the powder in the die cavities. The lower punches may be kept stationary, or the machine may embody a movement whereby the lower ram moves upwardly so that the lower punches also exert a compacting eifect on the powder to be compressed. Prefverably, the core rods are set so that their ends are ush with or a little `below the top ends of the

die buttons

236 and 238. In this manner a toroidal product is formed. The next movement in the sequence is that the upper ram moves up lifting the upper punches. Then the lower ram moves upwardly so as to move the lower punches for ejecting the formed products from the die cavities. As the formed products are thus ejected, the arm 74 again moves in a cycle so that the discharge shoe 488 moves over the

die buttons

236 and 238, pushing the formed products oif the die plate 230 allowing them to slide down the rampon its end into the container. At this time the die cavities are again filled with powder and the cycle is repeated. When the upper ram lifts, pressure is automatically applied through nozzle 133, which acts through the channels 164 to blow out on powder collected in the bores of the upper punches.

FIG. 2a shows a modified form of means for clamping the upper punches. This arrangement is particularly adapted to accommodate the apparatus to rotary press tooling. Parts in FIGS. 2a and 2b, 3a and 3b that correspond to previous embodiments are identified by reference characters comprising a corresponding number with distinguishing letter. In FIG. 2a an upper ram is shown at 60a having a bore 500. In this bore is a clamping rod similar to that of the previous embodiment. Number 158a designates a similar clamping or locking member having a shank 501 in a bore 503 of smaller diameter and a head 502which is engaged by the beveled end of the rod or stern 130a. In the ram 60a is small bore 505 in which is received a pin 507 extending from the head 502 of the locking member 158:1 to prevent it from 9 rotation. The locking member bears against the end or head of the upper punch 166a so that it can be locked by axial force exerted by the rod 138a Without the alignment of the upper punch being disturbed, its head being received in the retainer groove 180a.

FIG. 2b shows another modified arrangement. The ram is shown at 60b. It has an end part 512 of smaller diameter which is threaded and threaded onto this end part is an end cap 514 having a bore 516 in which is the upper punch 166b. The clamping or locking member is designated at 154b having a cylindrical part 517 received in a bore 518 in ram 60b and having an upper part 520 of larger diameter fitting in a bore 522 in the ram and having a slanting or beveled upper surface 524. The member 154b constitutes a cam for Wedging the locking member 154b. Numeral 526 designates a cylindrical wedging member having a diameter less than that of the bore 522 and having slanting slower surface 530 cornplementary to the surface 524. Numeral 526 is laterally adjustable by screw 532 which threads into a lateral bore 534 and a diametrically opposed screw 536 received in the threaded bore 538. By lateral adjustment of the screws, the locking member 526 can be adjusted laterally so that by engagement of its slanting face with the slanting face 524, the upper punch can be locked into position without disturbing its alignment. Numeral 540 designates the threaded end of a positioning stem. This part and the locking member 526 and the member 154b have an aligned bore, as designated at 542, for providing an air hole to clean out the upper punch.

FIGS. 3a and 3b show modified forms of means for locking the core rods. The core rods in these figures are designated at 460g and 460b. The cam 432 and handle 440 in FIG. 3a are like corresponding parts in FIG. 3. The core 46011 is held by a clamp ring 550 having a set screw 552 in it that engages the core rod. On the upper side of the plate 380 there is attached the member 556 having a slot 552 through which the core rod extends, and the clamp ring 550 is just beneath this slotted member. Between the clamp ring and the cam 432 is an antifriction shoe 560 which may be flexible and which extends outwardly from the side wall of the cut-out 430, as shown. The cam 432 bears against this anti-friction shoe so as to not bear directly against the clamp ring 550 so that the position of the clamp ring and core rod are not disturbed by frictional engagement therewith.

FIG. 3b shows another modified form of clamping the core rod. The clamp ring 550 is like that of FIG. 3a resting against an extending ledge 566 on the plate 38011. Numeral 568 designates a clamping member having a slot 570 at the end through which the core rod extends. The clamping member 568 is clamped to the plate 380b by means of a threaded clamping stem 570 having a head 572 and on the end of which is a manual adjusting knob 574. Clamping member S68 has a ridge or shoulder 576 at its end which engages the upper surface of the plate 380b as shown. As will be apparent in this form of the invention, that the holding means for the core rod, that is the clamp-ring 50 is simply clamped by the clamping member 568.

From the foregoing those skilled in the art will readily understand the nature of the invention, its construction and its operation and the manner in which it achieves and realizes all of the objects and advantages as set forth in the foregoing, as well as the many additional advantages that are apparent from the detailed description.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of a preferred form of the invention and is to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense, the invention to be accorded the full scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a compacting machine for making articles compacted from powder, in combination, a subpress adapted to be mounted in position for operation on a main press,

said subpress comprising anintegral member having a yoke shape providing two portions having in them accurately aligned bores, a die platen mounted in a position between the said portions, a slidable ram mounted in each of said bores, the rams being positioned whereby to be actuated by the main press, and powder compacting tooling carried directly by the said rams, and cooperable with said die platen.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the said rams are provided with means for attaching them respectively to the upper and lower rams of a main press.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 including at least one powder compacting die carried by said die platen.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 including a powder compacting tool carried by at least one of said rams and cooperable with the die, holding means for the said tool providing for horizontal iioat of the tool while it is being centered, and means for applying an axial clamping force to the tool for locking it after it has been centered.

5. An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said clamping means comprises a threaded stem and axially movable means engageable with an end of the tool for clamping it.

6. Apparatus as in claim 4 including means comprising a rotatable cam disc operable upon rotation to apply an axial clamping force to the tool.

7. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said tool has a portion of larger diameter and of limited axial extent, said holding means comprising members having surfaces engageable with said portion of larger diameter for holding the tool, one of said members being movable away from said tool whereby to allow limited freedom of axial movement of the tool for centering it in the die while setting up, the said member being movable into a position in engagement with the said tool for locking it in position.

8. In a powder compacting machine, in combination, a compacting tool, holding means for the tool comprising a member congurated to allow horizontal float of the tool while setting up, and means for locking the tool by applying an axial clamping force to it after it has been centered.

9. A combination as in claim 8 including an axially threaded stem movable axially to claimp said tool.

10. A combination as in claim 9 including means to prevent rotation of the locking means.

11. A combination as in claim 8 comprising means including a rotary cam operable upon angular movement to apply axial clamping force to the tool.

12. A combination as in claim 11 including means positioned between the cam and tool to prevent displacement of the tool by friction.

13. A combination as in claim 8 wherein said tool has a portion of larger diameter and limited axial extent, said holding means comprising members having Surfaces engageable with said portion of larger diameter for holding the tool, one of said members being movable away from said tool whereby to allow limited freedom of axial movement of the tool for centering it in a die while setting up, the said member being movable into a position in engagement with the said tool for locking it in position.

14. A combination as in claim 8 wherein said locking means comprises members having interengaging surfaces so arranged that upon lateral adjustment of one member an axial locking force is produced.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,806,300 5/1931 Lernming 18-165 2,127,994 8/1938 Davis et a1 18-165 2,168,075 8/1939 StOkes 18-16.5X 3,172,182 3/1965 Assmann 18-16.5UX

I. HOWARD FLINT, JR., Primary Examiner