US3760623A

US3760623A - Workstock blanking apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3760623A
Application number: US00176086A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Hempelmann
Original assignee: TRUTE R TOOL AND DIE CORP
Current assignee: TRUTE R TOOL AND DIE CORP
Priority date: 1971-08-30
Filing date: 1971-08-30
Publication date: 1973-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-25

Abstract

A method and apparatus for blanking workpieces from strip or coil workstock and adapted to be operatively associated with a workpiece forming machine, the apparatus comprising first and second means for partially blanking workpieces from the workstock, and means for progressively feeding the strip workstock to the first and second blanking means and for thereafter transferring the blanked workpieces to the forming machine, whereby the workpieces may be partially blanked from the strip stock by the first means and may thereafter be further partially blanked by the second means, and may be finally transferred to the forming machine where a drawing or other forming operation may be performed thereon.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Hempelmann 1 Sept. 25, 1973 WORKSTOCK BLANKING APPARATUS Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham [75] Inventor: Heinz J. Hempelmann, Warren, Exam mer Robert Rogers Mich Att0rney-J. Kmg Harness et al.

[73] Assignee: Richard & Trute Tool & Die

Corporation, Warren, Mich. [57] ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for blanking workpieces from [22] Flled' 1971 strip or coil workstock and adapted to be opcratively [21] Appl. No.: 176,086 associated with a workpiece forming machine, the apparatus comprising first and second means for partially blanking workpieces from the workstock, and means [52] US. Cl. 72/336 for progressively feeding the Strip workstock to the first [51] Int. Cl B2ld 28/00 d d bl d f ft t f [58] Field of Search 72/336, 339, DIG. 11; mg 83/9 41 43 113/113 R 116 E rmg the blanked workpleces to the formlng machme, whereby the workpieces may be partially blanked from [56] References Cited the str1p stock by the first means and may thereafter be further partially blanked by the second means, and may I UNITED STATES PATENTS be finally transferred to the forming machine where a 3,596,493 8/1971 Lachaussee 72/339 drawing or other forming operation may be performed 2,600,834 6/1952 B12111 thereon 2,962,943 12/1960 Mumper 83/405 37 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED8EP25|975 3.760.623

saw 1 0f 3 INVENTCR.

WORKSTOCK BLANKING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION lected longitudinal path into the blanking and drawing dies, but also to shift the workstock back and forth laterally of the path to accommodate for the nested arrangement of the workpiece blanks.

The aforesaid techniques have been well known in a variety of different industries, but have found particularly wide spread acceptance with regard to :the .pro-

duction of automotive wheel covers. One objectionable characteristic, however, has resulted from the above described procedures, especially in connection with the manufacture of vehicle wheel covers. In particular, this objection has stemmed from the inherent limitations of existing blanking and drawing dies of the type which not only blank or cut a workpiece of predetermined shape from the stip or coil workstock :fed thereto, but also function to draw the workpiece blank into some preselected configuration. The aforesaid objectionable problem has originated from the modern trend of producing vehicle wheel covers which are extremely .omamental in appearance, which in turn has resulted in the production of wheel covers of more complex crosssectional shape and configuration.Unfortunately, commonly available combination blanking and drawing dies have the inherent limitation that only relatively simple drawingoperations can be performed concurrently with the blanking of workpieces from the strip workstock fedthereto, and therefore, in order to fabricate a wheel cover of relatively sophisticated shape, a large number of subsequent drawing operations has been necessary after the workpieces have been initially subjected to the operation of the blankinganddrawing dies. Accordingly, such combination blanking and drawing dies fall shortof satisfying the mass production requirements of the automobile wheel cover industry.

The present invention is intended to overcome the shortcomings heretofore encountered in connection with the blanking and drawing of relatively complex workpieces, such as ornamental vehicle wheel covers, through the provision of a novel workpiece blanking apparatus adapted to be operatively associated with .a shifting coil feeding apparatus and which is adapted to permit the use of draw dies adaptedto perform relatively complex drawing operations, as opposed to the.

relatively simple drawing ability of the combination blanking and drawing dies known in the prior-art. More k particularly, the present invention comprises, in combination with the aforementioned drawing die, ,a pair of cooperable workstock blanking dies which are adapted to receive strip workstock from the associated coil feeding mechanism and perform partial blanking operations in timed sequential relation with respect to operation of the draw die, where-by workpiece blanks are formed preparatory to being transferred to the associ- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to workpiece fabricating machinery and, more particularly, to a new and improved apparatus for blanking workpieces from coil or strip workstock.

It is accordingly a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved workpiece blank.- ing apparatus.

It is a more particularobject of the present invention :to provide a new and improved workpiece blanking apparatus adapted to be utilized with nested workpiece blanks which are fabricated from strip or coil workstock.

.It is still another object of the present invention to provide a workpiece blanking apparatus of the above character which is rapid in operation .and permits the use ,of complex draw dies therewith.

It is yet another object of the present invention .to provide a new and improved workpiece blanking apparatus which is adapted to find application in connection with existing shifting coil equipment and the like.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a workpiece blanking apparatus of the above character that will find universality of application.

.It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved workpiece blanking apparatus which .is of a strong, durable design and which will therefore have a long and effective operational life.

QOther objects and advantages of the .present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of the workpiece :blanking apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top elevational view of a sec- ,tion of strip workstock and illustrates the nested relationship of the workpieces which are to be blanked therefrom by means of the methodand apparatusof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top elevational view of one of the blanking machines of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is .an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. .3; I FIG. 5 is .an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line .6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional viewtaken substantially along the line 7-7 of FIG. 3,

and

FIGS. 8-10 are schematic representations of the punching, notching and lancing operations performed "by the blanking machines of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS For purposes of description, the below listed definitions will apply to the following specification and appended claims:

workpiece A completed or partially completed article which has been subjected to a forming or drawing operation. I

Workstock Material from which workpieces are to be formed and frequently, although not necessarily, being in the form of a strip of material, as might be provided by the unrolling of a coil or roll of material.

Blanks Sections or pieces of workstock which have been removed, separated or partially removed from the strip or coil thereof and which are adapted to be conveyed or otherwise transferred into a drawing or forming die in which the blanks are converted or otherwise transformed into workpieces, as defined above.

It will be noted that while the present invention will find wide and diversified use in a great many workpiece forming applications, this invention has been found particularly applicable in connection with the fabrication of vehicle wheel covers which utilize generally annular or circular shaped workpiece blanks that areseparated from coil workstock and subsequently fed or conveyed into a forming machine which performs a drawing operation on the workstock blanks, resulting in partial or complete fabrication of the wheel covers from the blanks. Toward this end, the present invention has been illustrated herein in connection with the separation or partial separation of generally circular shaped workpiece blanks from coil or strip workstock, which blanks particularly lend themselves to the aforedescribed nesting principles in order to optimize use of the coil or strip workstock.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, a workpiece blanking apparatus 10, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is shown generally as being located at a workpiece blanking station 12 which is operatively associated and cooperable with a workpiece forming station 14. As will be described, the station 12 is adapted to receive strip workstock representatively designated by the numeral 16 and perform a blanking operation thereon, whereby to form a plurality of workstock blanks 18 which are subsequently transferred or conveyed to the forming station 14 in which the blanks 18 are transformed into appropriate workpieces. Generally speaking, the workstock 16 is adapted to be fed or conveyed in the direction of the arrow 20 in FIG. 2 toward the blanking station 12, and the workpiece blanks 18 which are formed therefrom are arranged in a nested or staggered relationship, whereby residual or waste material, i.e., that material of the workstock 16 which is not utilized in the workpiece blanks 18, per se, is minimized to the extreme, as is well known in the art. Typically, the workstock 16 is supplied from a roll or coil thereof which is fed to the apparatus by means of a laterally shifting or oscillating coil feeding apparatus (not shown) that functions to oscillate or shift the strip of work stock 16 laterally back and forth relative to the longitudinal path of movement, i.e., direction of feed, thereof, whereby the respective rows of blanks 18 in the workstock 16 are alternately moved into registry with the forming or drawing dies provided in the station 14, as will hereinafter be described in detail.

Referring now in detail to the workpiece blanking station 12 of the apparatus 10, in general, located at the station 12 is a pair of generally

identical blanking machines

22 and 24 which are arranged in lateral alinged relationship on the opposite sides of the path or direction of movement of the workstock 16 toward and into the forming station 14. Each of the

machines

22, 24 is adapted to perform a partial blanking operation on the workstock 16 in a manner such that the workpiece blanks 18 are substantially cut away or separated from the strip workstock 16, yet are secured thereto by a minimal amount of material so that the respective blanks 18 will remain in the same general orientation with respect to one another as they are conveyed to the forming station 14. More particularly, each of the

machines

22, 24, is adapted to perform, in a single stamping operation or cycle, a piercing, notching and lancing or slitting operation on the workstock 16, with the three operations performed by each of the

machines

22, 24 resulting in a virtually complete cutting away or release of the blanks 18 from the workstock 16. With reference to FIG. 2, in a single stamping operation, the machine 22 is adapted to cut or notch a generally triangular shaped section 26 away from the workstock 16, as well as punch or piece the workstock 16 to remove a second generally triangular shaped section 28 therefrom. Also, during this same operational cycle, the machine 22 forms a pair of elongated slits or

lances

30 and 32 in the workstock 16, the former of which extends substantially laterally between the notched and pierced sections 26 and 28, while the latter slit or lance 32 extends angularly into the pierced section 28. In a similar manner, the machine 24, during each of its operational cycles, is adapted to perform substantially identical notching, piercing and lancing operations on the side of the workstock 16 laterally opposite that which is subjected to the action of the machine 22. That is, during each cycle of the machine 24, a generally triangular shaped section 26', a generally triangular shaped pierced section 28' and a pair of elongated slits or lances 30' and 32 are formed in theworkstock 16. As will hereinafter be described in detail, the

machines

22, 24 are adapted to perform alternate stamping operations of the workstock 16 with the result, for example, that initially the notched section 26, pierced section 28 and

lances

30, 32 are formed in the workstock l6; thereinafter, the workstock 16 is moved forwardly and laterally toward the machine 24 which performs the next stamping operation during which the notched section 26', pierced section 28' and lances 30, and 32', are formed. This process is continuously repeated with the

blanking machines

22 and 24 alternately performing their respective notching, piercing and lancing operations, and .the workstock 16 being progressively shifted laterally back and forth between the

machines

22, 24, and at the same time being fed or conveyed forwardly toward the forming station 14 where the series of workpiece blanks 18 are formed into workpieces. In this regard, it will be noted that the opposite ends of the lances 30, and 30' terminate a preselected distance, i.e., in the order of less than a quarter of an inch, away from the adjacent portions of the notched sections 26, 26' and pierced sections 28, 28', so that with the exception of these small connecting portions or webs, herein identified at 34 in FIG. 2, the aforesaid stamping operations by the

machines

22, 24 result in generally circular shaped workstock blanks 18 being completely cut or separated from the workstock 16.

By virtue of the fact that the

blanking machines

22, 24 are substantially identical in construction and. operation to one another, the following detailed description of the machine 22 will apply to the associated machine 24, it being apparent that the corresponding or analogous component parts of the machine 24 will be arranged laterally opposite those of the machine 22.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the blanking machine 22 generally comprises a horizontally disposed support member or element 36 which is adapted to be supported upon a suitable fixed bolster 38 whereby to operatively support the machine 22 in the orientation shown in FIG. 1 with respect to the workpiece forming station 14. Disposed directly above the element 36 is a generally horizontally disposed upper platen 40 which is mounted for vertical reciprocal movement toward and away from the support element 36. As best seen in FIG. 7, the platen 40 is supported for such vertical re ciprocal movement by means of one or more guide assemblies, generally designated 42, consisting of a guideway 44 mounted on the upper side of the element 36 and carrying an annular wear resistant bushing or the like 46 in the upper end thereof. The bushing 46 is adapted to slidingly engage a cooperable bushing 48 carried on a guideway 50 mounted on the lower side of the platen 40. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the

guideways

44, 50 cooperate to permit upward and downward reciprocal movement of the platen 40 during each operational cycle of the machine 22, which reciprocal movement may be effected by any conventional powered device, ram or the like (not shown). It will be noted that the machine 22 may be provided with suitable resilient spring assemblies, such as those shown at 51 inFIG. 5, for biasing the platen 40 upwardly to its deactuated position subsequent to each stamping cycle, as is well known in the art.

The support element 36 is adapted to have operatively secured on the upper side thereof a generally triangularly shaped die 52 which defines a pair of arcuately inwardly converging and intersecting notching or cutting edges 53 and 54 which are cooperable with a pair of complementary shaped cutting or notching edges 56 and 58 of a downwardly projecting punch 60 that is fixedly secured to the underside of the platen 40 in vertical aligned relationship with respect to the die 52, with the result that upon downward movement of the platen 40 the cutting edges 53, 5 6 and 54, 58 will cut or shear the workstock 16 to form a pair of arcuate intersecting edges-62 and 64 (see FIG. 2), which in turn results in the removal or notching of the section 26 from the workstock 16.

Together with the die 52, the support element 36 is adapted to operatively support a second generally triangularly shaped die 66 which is spaced laterally away from the die 52 and arranged in longitudinal alignment therewith, the die 66 being operatively secured to the element 36 by means of suitable screws, bolts or the like 68. As best seen in FIG. 3, the die 66 defines three generally

straight cutting edges

70, 72 and 74 which define a central opening 75 therebetween, with the intersection of the

edges

70, 72 being substantially laterally aligned with the intersection of the cutting edges 53, 54 of the die 52. The die 66 is cooperable with a complementary shaped punch 76 which is fixedly secured to the underside of the platen 40 directly above the die 66. The punch 76 is also of a generally triangular configuration substantially identical in size and shape with respect to the opening defined by the cutting edges 70-74, with the punch 76 defining three

cutting edges

78, 80 and 82 cooperable with the cutting edges 70, 72 and 74, respectively. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, at such time as the platen 40 is biased downwardly relative to the support element 36 when the workstock 16 is disposed therebetween, the punch 76 and die 66 will cooperate with one another to punch or shear the workstock 16 along three intersecting

sides

84, 86 and 88, whereby the section 28 will be removed therefrom simultaneously with removal of the section 26, as above described.

In addition to the cooperable punches and dies 60, 52 v and 76, 66, the platen 40 and support element 36 carry two pair of lancing or slitting tools for forming the lances or slits 30 and 32 in the workstock 16 during each operational cycle of the machine 22. More particularly, the slit 30 is formed by cooperable lanching tools 90 and 92 which are respectively secured to the lower side of the platen 40 and the upper side of the element 36 and are provided with cooperable, generally vertically aligned cutting or shearing edges 94 and 96, respectively, that extend laterally between the dies 52, 66 a nd punches 60, 76, whereupon downward movement of the platen 40 will effect the cutting or formation of the lance or slit 30 in the workstock 16.

Similarly, the lance or slit 32 is adapted to be formed by cooperable lancing tools 98 and 100 (see FIG. 3) which, like tools 90 and 92, are carried on the underside of the platen 40 and upper side of the support ele' ment 36 and define cutting or shearing

edges

102 and 104 which cooperate upon downward movement of the platen 40 to effect the cutting or slitting of the workstock 16 to form the lance 32.

Briefly .in operation of the machine 22, it will be seen that each time the ram or other actuating means for the machine 22 is energized, the platen 40 will be moved vertically downwardly, whereby the punches 60 and 76 will cooperate with the dies 52 and 66, respectively, to remove the notched section 26 and pierced section 28 from the workstock l6. Simultaneously, the lancing

tools

90, 92 and 98, 100 will cooperate to form the lances or slits 30 and 32. It will be appreciated, of course, that when the machine 22 is in a deactuated condition between each stamping cycle thereof, the platen 22 is elevated sufficiently above the support element 36 to permit the workstock 16 to be fed or conveyed therebetween.

As previously mentioned, the blanking machine 24 is virtually identical in construction and operation to the machine 22 and is provided with identical notching, piercing and lancing tools, i.e., punches and dies,'s o that during each operational cycle thereof the sections 26' and 28' are removed from the workstock l6 and the slits or lances 30' and 32' are formed therein. It will be noted that the machine 24 is operable independently of the machine 22 and during operation of the forming apparatus 10 of the present invention, is adapted to alternatewith the machine 22 in performing a partial blanking operation on the workstock 16, as will hereinafter be described in detail.

With reference now to the wo'rkpieceforming station 14,.as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, by wayof example, the station 14 comprises a workpiece drawing machine,

generally designated by the numeral 110, which comprises a relatively fixed lower bolster or other support structure 112 carrying a draw die 114 that is cooperable with an associated upper draw die or punch 116 mounted on a vertically reciprocal platen 1 18. The dies or punches 114, 116 are illustrated herein as being of a type adapted to perform a wheel cover drawing operation upon the workstock blanks 18 which are conveyed thereto subsequent to said blanks 18 being subjected to the blanking operations of the

machines

22, 24. It will be appreciated, of course, that the forming machine 110 may be adapted to form by drawing or other suitable techniques, any of a variety of other types of workpieces, and that the workpiece designated by the numeral 120 in FIG. 4 consisting of a partially completed wheel cover is shown merely as an exemplary workpiece. The machine 110 is arranged at a position forwardly or downstream from the blanking

machine

22, 24, as seen in FIG. 1, with the machine 110 being provided with any suitable powered means or the like for effecting reciprocal movement of the platen 118 (or, where desired, the bolster 112) during each drawing operation. It may be noted that the dies or punches 114, 116 are designed such that they not only perform a drawing operation on the workpiece blanks l8 fed thereto, but they also effect separation or shearing of the intermediate or connecting webs 34 which comprise the sole means of securing the workpiece blanks 18 to the workstock 16 as they are transferred from the station 12 to the station 14. Thus, during each operational cycle of the machine 110, individual workpiece blanks 18 which have been fed thereto from the station 12 are drawn into some preselected shape and are simultaneously separated from the remaining blanks 18.

Referring now to the overall operation of the workpiece blanking 'apparatus of the present invention, the machine 110 is intended to operate sequentially to draw successive workpiece blanks 18 into completed or partially completed workpieces, i.e., vehicle'wheel covers. During each operational cycle of the machine 110, the blanking

machines

22 and 24 are intended to operate alternatively of one another and concurrently with the machine 110. In other words, during one operational cycle the machines 110 and 22 will operate simultaneously, and during the next operational cycle, the machines 110 and 24 will operate simultaneously, and the following cycle will have the machines 1 10 and 22 again operating and and so on. Conventional control means (not shown) well known in the art may be utilized for synchronizing the

operationof machines

22, 24 and 110, with such control means being operable with the associated coil feeding apparatus which functions to feed the workstock 16 and effect lateral oscillation or shifting thereof.

Referring now to an exemplary operational cycle of the apparatus 10, assuming the initial condition that the workstock 16 is being conveyed to the apparatus 10 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2, with the forward end thereof being indicated at 122 in FIG. 8, and further assuming that the workstock 16 is shifted laterally into position in the machine 22 and the sequence of the apparatus 10 is such that the machine 22 is next actuatable with the machine 110, the aforesaid control means, which may be automatic or workstock position responsive, is energized to effect simultaneous actuation of machines 110 and 22. With reference to FIG. 8,

when actuation of the machines and 22 occurs, the machine 22 will effect removal of the notched section A, pierced section B, and will effect the formation of lances C and D, corresponding to the sections 26, 28 and

lances

30 and 32, respectively, hereinabove described. Simultaneously, the machine 110 will be actuated to effect the drawing of a workpiece indicated at 124 in FIG. 8, which workpiece will then be conveyed to some destination for subsequent manufacturing operations. In the event the forward end 122 of the workstock 16 consists of the leading end of a new strip or coil of workstock, only a partial workpiece will be drawn by the machine 110, which workpiece will be discarded, as will be apparent. Upon completion of this operational cycle, the platens 40 and 118 will be raised and the workstock 16 will be fed forwardly and shifted laterally toward the machine 24 until the workpiece blank 126 in FIGS. 8 and 9 is moved into registry with the dies and punches 114 and 116, which workpiece 126 was partially blanked or cut away from the workstock 16 by the aforementioned operation of the blanking machine 22. Thereafter, the next operational cycle of the machine 110 will occur, during which time the blanking machine 24 will simultaneously operate. Accordingly, the operation of the machine 110 will effect drawing of the workpiece blank 126, and the operation of the blanking machine 24 will effect removal of the notched section E, pierced section F and form lances or slits G and H in FIG. 9, the sections E, F and lances G and H partially releasing the next workpiece blank 128 to be drawn by the machine 1 10. Upon completion of this operational cycle, the platen 118 of the machine 110 is raised, as is the platen of the blanking machine 24, after which time the workstock 16 is fed forwardly and shifted laterally back toward the machine 22 to a position wherein the workpiece blank 128 is in registry with the dies and punches

l

14, 1 16 of the machine 1 10. During the next operational cycle of the machine 1 10, the dies and punches 114, 116 will effect a drawing of the workpiece blank 128 and simultaneously, the blanking machine 22 will effect removal of notched section I, pierced section J and will form lances K and L, thereby partially freeing the next subsequent workpiece blank to be drawn, which is herein identified by the numeral 130.

It will be seen from the above that the workstock 16 is first subjected to the operation of one of the

blanking machines

22, 24 where the workpiece blanks 18 are partially cut away from the workstock 16, after'which time the partially formed or separated workpiece blanks are subjected to the operation of the other of the

blanking machines

22, 24 wherein the blanks are further separated or released from the workstock 16, and that after each workstock blank has been subjected to the partial blanking operation of each of the

machines

22, 24, it is retained or secured to the workstock 16 by only the webs or uncut portions 34 at the terminal ends of the lances or slits. The portions 34, of course, are severed concurrently with the drawing of the workpiece blanks, as above described. It may be noted that where desired, the various dies and punches may be designed so that positioning or handling tabs or other formations are produced on the workpiece blanks in order to facilitate handling or positioning thereof within the associated forming machine 110. By way of example, the punches and dies may be designed so as to form tab-like protuberances 132 on the workpieces 18 to facilitate proper positioning thereof as the workpieces are conveyed into and oriented within the machine 110.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a new and improved workpiece blanking apparatus which is designed to take full advantage of the workpiece blank nesting principles that have been found to minimize material waste to the extreme. Additionally, it will be seen by virtue of the fact that workpiece blanks are formed prior to being conveyed into the associated forming machine or draw die, more complex drawing operations may be performed since the drawing machine is not responsible for performing a simultaneous blanking operation. Thus, more complex drawn shapes may be achieved in order to reduce the overall number of drawing operations required to fabricate a relatively ornamental or otherwise complex workpiece. Additionally, it will be noted that the present invention will find wide and varied application in that the various dies, punches and lancing tools which are utilized therein may be easily' changed in size or position without adversely affecting the overall operation of the apparatus 10, so that, in the automobile industry, for example, workpiece blanks of different sizes may be readily produced to accommodate periodic model changes.

Although the means for providing adjustment or reorientation of the various tools, dies and punches has not been shown in detail, such means could typically be in the form of slideways or keyed mounting means for adjustably securing the tools to the associated bolsters and platens, as will be apparent to the skilled artisen.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments illustrated herein are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the present invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim: a

1. In combination in an apparatus for fabricating workpieces from workstock,

a workpiece forming apparatus for forming workpieces from workpiece blanks, first and second 'means for partially blanking workpieces from a strip of-workstock conveyed thereto, said first means partially blanking a first portion of each workpiece and said second means partially blanking a different portion of each workpiece, and

means for progressively feeding strip workstock to said first and second means and for thereafter feeding the blanked'workpieces formed thereby to the forming apparatus; whereby the' workpiece may be partially blanked from said strip stock by said first means and may thereafter be further blanked by said second means and may thereafter be transferred to said forming apparatus for forming.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second means include means for blanking nestingly oriented workpiece blanks.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said means for blanking workpieces comprises means for notching the workstock.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said means for blanking workpieces comprises means for piercing the workstock.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said means for blanking workpieces comprises means for lancing the workstock.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said means for blanking workpieces com prises means for notching, piercing and lancing the workstock in order to partially separate a workpiece blank therefrom.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second means include means for blanking generally circular shaped workpiece blanks.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and second means comprises means for removing generally triangular shaped notched and pierced sections from the workstock.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second means are operable during alternate cycles of said workpiece forming apparatus to partially blank workpieces from said workstock.

10. An apparaus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second workpiece blanking means are arranged along the opposite sides of the path of travel of workstock being fed to the apparatus, and wherein said feed means comprises means for laterally shifting the workstock back and forth between said blanking means.

l 1. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said blanking means comprises substantially independent blanking machines which are operable alternatively during successive cycles of said workpiece forming apparatus.

12. Apparatus for forming workpieces from workstock comprising:

feed means for feeding the workstock along a preselected path; 7

first means located along one side of said-path for partially forming workpieces from said workstock;

second means located along the opposite side of said path for partially forming workpieces from said workstock;

means for shiftingthe workstock laterally of said path between said first and second means; and

, means including a workpiece forming apparatus located substantially along said path for receiving said workstock from one of said first and second means.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first and second means are operable to blank generally circular shaped workpiece blanks from the workstock.

l4.- The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first and second means are adapted to partially blank nested workpiece blanks from the workstock.

15. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first and second means include workstock cutting means for substantially releasing generally circular shaped workpiece blanks from the workstock, and wherein said cutting means are arranged so as to leave a preselected portion of said workpiece blanks remaining integral with the workstock, whereby the workpiece blanks remain in a preselected orientation with respect to one another as they are transferred to said workpiece forming apparatus.

16. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first and second means are operable during alternate cycles of said workpiece forming apparatus to partially blank workpieces from said workstock.

17. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first and second means comprises means for removing generally triangular shaped notched and pierced sections from the workstock.

18. In combination with an apparatus for feeding strip workstock along a preselected path for shifting the workstock laterally of said path as the workstock is fed therealong,

first means located along one side of said path for partially blanking workpieces from said strip workstock,

second means located along the opposite side of said path for partially blanking workpieces from said strip workstock, and

a workpiece forming apparatus located substantially along said path for receiving the strip workstock after the same has had workpieces partially blanked by said first and second means and adapted to perform a forming operation on said workpieces, said first means being operable concurrently with said forming apparatus for partially separating a generally circular shaped workpiece blank from the workstock during a first operational cycle of the forming apparatus, said second means being operable to further separate said workpiece blank from the workstock during a second operational cycle of said forming apparatus, and said first means being operable to still further separate said workpiece blank from the workstock during a third operational cycle of said forming apparatus.

19. The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein at least one of said means for blanking workpieces comprises means for notching, piercing and lancing the workstock in order to partially separate a workpiece blank therefrom.

20. In the method of blanking workpieces from strip workstock prior to transferring the workstock to a workpiece forming apparatus and performing a forming operation of the workpiece blank, the steps which include,

conveying the workstock to a first blanking apparatus and performing a first blanking operation partially forming a portion of said workpiece,

conveying the workstock to a second blanking apparatus and performing a second blanking operation at least partialy forming a different portion of said workpiece. 21. The method as set forth in claim 20 which includes the steps of alternately operating said first and second blanking apparatus.

22. In the method of blanking workpieces from strip workstock prior to transferring the workstock to a workpiece forming apparatus and performing a forming operation of the workpiece blank, the steps which include,

conveying theworkstock to a first blanking apparatus and performing a first blanking operation thereon,

conveying the workstock to a second blanking apparatus and performing a second blanking operation, and

alternately operating said blanking apparatus during successive operational cycles of said forming apparatus.

23. In the method of blanking workpieces from strip workstock prior to transferring the workstock to a workpiece forming apparatus and performing a forming operation of the workpiece blank, the steps which include,

conveying the workstock to a first blanking apparatus and performing a first blanking operation thereon,

alternately shifting the workstock laterally between the first and second blanking apparatus while simultaneously transferring a workpiece blank to the forming apparatus. 24. The method as set forth in claim 20 which includes the step of partially blanking the workstock with the first'apparatus by removing a preselected portion of the workstock, and subsequently further partially blanking a workpiece blank by removing additional material from said workstock with said second apparatus.

25. The method as set forth in claim 24 which includes the step of removing material from said workstock with said first and second apparatus by performing at least one operation from the group including notching, piercing and lancing the workstock.

26. The method as set forth in claim 25 which includes the step of notching, piercing and lancing the workstock with each of said first and second blanking apparatus.

27. In the method of blanking workpieces from strip workstock prior to transferring the workstock to a workpiece forming apparatus and performing a forming operation of the workpiece blank, the steps which include,

partially releasing a workpiece blank from the workstock with the first apparatus, thereafter conveying the workstock to a second blanking apparatus and performing a second blanking operation, and including shifting the workstock to said second apparatus and further partially releasing said workpiece blank therefrom, and thereafter shifting the workstock back toward said first apparatus and still further releasing the workpiece blank from the workstock.

28. The method as set forth in claim 27 which includes the step of performing a forming operation with said forming apparatus during each releasing operation performed by said first and second blanking apparatus.

29. The method as set forth in claim 27 which includes the step of conveying the workstock longitudinally forwardly toward the forming apparatus concurrently with laterally shifting the workstock between said first and second blanking apparatus.

30. The method as set forth in claim 27 which includes the step of leaving a preselected portion of each of the workpiece blanks produced by said first and second blanking apparatus integrally connected to said workstock to maintain relative orientation of the workpiece blanks as they are conveyed to the workpiece forming apparatus.

31. The method as set forth in claim 30 which includes the step of simultaneously severing the workpiece blanks from the workstock during the workpiece forming operation.

32. In combination in an apparatus for fabricating workpieces from workstock,

a workpiece forming apparatus for forming workpieces from workpiece blanks, I

first and second means arranged along the opposite side of the path of travel of workstock being fed to said apparatus for partially blanking workpieces from a strip of workstock conveyed thereto,

means for progressively feeding strip workstock to first and second means including means for laterally shifting the workstock back and forth between said blanking means, and for thereafter feeding the blanked workpieces formed thereby to the forming apparatus, whereby the workpieces may be partially blanked from said strip stock by said first means and may thereafter be further blanked by said second means and may thereafter be transferred to said forming apparatus for forming.

33. The apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein said first means at least partially blanks a first portion of each workpiece and said second means at least partially blanks a different portion of said workpiece.

34. An apparatus as set forth in claim 32, wherein said blanking means comprises substantially independent blanking machines which are operable alternatively during successive cycles of said workpiece forming apparatus.

35. in combination in an apparatus for fabricating workpieces from workstock,

a workpiece forming apparatus having a first cycle of operation for forming workpieces from workpiece blanks, and having a first cycle of operation,

first and second means for partially blanking workpieces from a strip of workstock conveyed thereto, said blanking means comprising substantially independent blanking machines which are operable altematively during successive cycles of said workpiece forming apparatus,

means for progressively feeding strip workstock to said first and second means and for thereafter feeding the blanked workpieces formed thereby to the forming apparatus, whereby the workpieces may be partially blanked from said strip stock by said first means and may thereafter be further blanked by said second means and may thereafter be transferred to said forming apparatus for forming.

36. The apparatus as recited in claim 35, wherein said first means at least partially blanks a first portion of each workpiece and said second means at least partially blanks a different portion of said workpiece.

37. An apparatus as set forth in claim 35, wherein said first and second workpiece blanking means are arranged along the the opposite sides of the path of travel of workstock being fed to the apparatus, and wherein said feed means comprises means for laterally shifting the workstock back and forth between said blanking means.

Claims

1. In combination in an apparatus for fabricating workpieces from workstock, a workpiece forming apparatus for forming workpieces from workpiece blanks, first and second means for partially blanking workpieces from a strip of workstock conveyed thereto, said first means partially blanking a first portion of each workpiece and said second means partially blanking a different portion of each workpiece, and means for progressively feeding strip workstock to said first and second means and for thereafter feeding the blanked workpieces formed thereby to the forming apparatus, whereby the workpiece may be partially blanked from said strip stock by said first means and may thereafter be further blanked by said second means and may thereafter be transferred to said forming apparatus for forming.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said means for blanking workpieces comprises means for notching, piercing and lancing the workstock in order to partially separate a workpiece blank therefrom.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said blanking means comprises substantially independent blanking machines which are operable alternatively during successive cycles of said workpiece forming apparatus.

12. Apparatus for forming workpieces from workstock comprising: feed means for feeding the workstock along a preselected path; first means located along one side of said path for partially forming workpieces from said workstock; second means located along the opposite side of said path for partially forming workpieces from said workstock; means for shifting the workstock laterally of said path between said first and second means; and means including a workpiece forming apparatus located substantially along said path for receiving said workstock from one of said first and second means.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first and second means are adapted to partially blank nested workpiece blanks from the workstock.

18. In combination with an apparatus for feeding strip workstock along a preselected path for shifting the workstock laterally of said path as the workstock is fed therealong, first means located along one side of said path for partially blanking workpieces from said strip workstock, second means located along the opposite side of said path for partially blanking workpieces from said strip workstock, and a workpiece forming apparatus located substantially along said path for receiving the strip workstock after the same has had workpieces partially blanked by said first and second means and adapted to perform a forming operation on said workpieces, said first means being operable concurrently with said forming apparatus for partially separating a generally circular shaped workpiece blank from the workstock during a first operational cycle of the forming apparatus, said second means being operable to further separate said workpiece blank from the workstock during a second operational cycle of said forming apparatus, and said first means being operable to still further separate said workpiece blank from the workstock during a third operational cycle of said forming apparatus.

20. In the method of blanking workpieces from strip workstock prior to transferring the workstock to a workpiece forming apparatus and performing a forming operation of the workpiece blank, the steps which include, conveying the workstock to a first blanking apparatus and performing a first blanking operation partially forming a portion of said workpiece, conveying the workstock to a second blanking apparatus and performing a second blanking operation at least partialy forming a different portion of said workpiece.

21. The method as set forth in claim 20 which includes the steps of alternately operating said first and second blanking apparatus.

22. In the method of blanking workpieces from strip workstock prior to transferring the workstock to a workpiece forming apparatus and performing a forming operation of the workpiece blank, the steps which include, conveying the workstock to a first blanking apparatus and performing a first blanking operation thereon, conveying the workstock to a second blanking apparatus and performing a second blanking operation, and alternately operating said blanking apparatus during successive operational cycles of said forming apparatus.

23. In the method of blanking workpieces from strip workstock prior to transferring the workstock to a workpiece forming apparatus and performing a forming operation of the workpiece blank, the steps which include, conveying the workstock to a first blanking apparatus and performing a first blanking operation thereon, conveying the workstock to a second blanking apparatus and performing a second blanking operation, and alternately shifting the workstock laterally between the first and second blanking apparatus while simultaneously transferring a workpiece blank to the forming apparatus.

24. The method as set forth in claim 20 which includes the step of partially blanking the workstock with the first apparatus by removing a preselected portion of the workstock, and subsequently further partially blanking a workpiece blank by removing additional material from said workstock with said second apparatus.

27. In the method of blanking workpieces from strip workstock prior to transferring the workstock to a workpiece forming apparatus and performing a forming operation of the workpiece blank, the steps which include, conveying the workstock to a first blanking apparatus and performing a first blanking operation thereon, partially releasing a workpiece blank from the workstock with the first apparatus, thereafter conveying the workstock to a second blanking apparatus and performing a second blanking operation, and including shifting the workstock to said second apparatus and further partially releasing said workpiece blank therefrom, and thereafter shifting the workstock back toward said first apparatus and still further releasing the workpiece blank from the workstock.

32. In combination in an apparatus for fabricating workpieces from workstock, a workpiece forming apparatus for forming workpieces from workpiece blanks, first and second means arranged along the opposite side of the path of travel of workstock being fed to said apparatus for partially blanking workpieces from a strip of workstock conveyed thereto, means for progressively feeding strip workstock to first and second means including means for laterally shifting the workstock back and forth between said blanking means, and for thereafter feeding the blanked workpieces formed thereby to the forming apparatus, whereby the workpieces may be partially blanked from said strip stock by said first means and may thereafter be further blanked by said second means and may thereafter be transferred to said forming apparatus for forming.

35. In combination in an apparatus for fabricating workpieces from workstock, a workpiece forming apparatus having a first cycle of operation for forming workpieces from workpiece blanks, and having a first cycle of operation, first and second means for partially blanking workpieces from a strip of workstock conveyed thereto, said blanking means comprising substantially independent blanking machines which are operable alternatively during successive cycles of said workpiece forming apparatus, means for progressively feeding strip workstock to said first and second means and for thereafter feeding the blanked workpieces formed thereby to the forming apparatus, whereby the workpieces may be partially blanked from said strip stock by said first means and may thereafter be further blanked by said second means and may thereafter be transferred to said forming apparatus for forming.