US3213741A

US3213741A - Notching unit

Info

Publication number: US3213741A
Application number: US189640A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank E Harding
Original assignee: Houdaille Industries Inc
Current assignee: Houdaille Industries Inc
Priority date: 1962-04-23
Filing date: 1962-04-23
Publication date: 1965-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 1982-10-26
Also published as: CH433914A; GB957291A; DE1286496B

Description

Oct. 26, 1965 y F. E. HARDING NOTCHING UNIT Filed April 23. 1962 United States Patent 3,213,741 NOTCHING UNIT Frank E. Harding, Wyoming, NSY., assigner to Houdaille Industries, inc., Buffalo, N.Y., a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 189,640 11 Claims. (Cl. 83-58S) This invention relates generally t-o notching units, and more specifically to a universal-type of notching unit in that it is adapted to perform edge notching, V-no-tching, and corner notching.

Although the principles of the present invention may be included in various notching or punching units, a particularly useful application is made in a notching or punching unit of .the type that is constructed to be disposed on the bed or bolster of a press, to be operated by the ram of such press. Thus the device is a self-contained unit adapted to support both a punch and a die for such purpose.

Heretofore, it has been commonplace to provide structures distinctly adapted to perform a particular type of notching. This has necessitated the stocking of different types of devices depending on whether corner notches, edge notches, or V-notches were to be produced. Further, such known devices have not been particularly well suited or adapted to have a cutting edge thereof work right up against one leg of an angle iron when the other leg thereof is to be punched. Still further, certain known forms of this general type of unit have had the disadvantage that 4the lifting springs thereof have been so located that they applied a cocking force `to the movable element resiliently biased by such springs.

The present invention contemplates the utilization of a single basic structure for all three types of notching described. While the term notching is used extensively herein and refers to the removal of material from an edge of a workpiece, it will become apparent later herein that the punch and die supporting means are inherently capable of supporting conventional shaped or circular punch and die elements.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new improved simplified device such as is commonly termed a notching unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a notching unit which may universally be used for edge notching, corner notching, and V-notching.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type described having a reciprocable punch holder guided on at least two sides thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide means for supporting a punch holder wherein such means do not engage -any relatively moving part during reciprocation of the punch holder.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device -of the type described having a punch holder resiliently biased at right angles to its direction of movement.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type described wherein there is employed a lifting spring structure disposed in non-cooking relation to the punch holder, and so supported that the spring does not contribute to the shut height of the device.

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 sheet of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles vof the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

d3,213,741 Patented Oct. 26, 1965 ICC In the drawings: f

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a notching unit assembly provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front View of the device shown in FIG- URE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary showing of an angle iron workpiece provided with various notches produced by the device of FIGURE 1.

As shown on the drawings:

The principles of this invention are particularly useful when embodied in a notching uni-t assembly such as illustrated in FIGURE 1, generally indicated by the numeral 10. The notching unit includes a base 11, having a standard 12, against which is disposed a punch holder 13, the punch holder 13 being held by a spring plate 14 and connecting screw 15. The punch holder 13 is guided by a pair of cheek or

guide plates

16, 17, and is resiliently urged in an upward direction by a pair of springs 18 and 19.

The base 11 is adapted as at 20 .to be bolted to the bed of the press (not shown), and is provided with a round pilot pin 21 and a generally diamond shaped pilot pin 22 which are adapted to engage locating structure on the press bed, such as a template. The base 11 has an upwardly directed die supporting surface 23 which is adapted to rigidly support a die 24 having a die opening 25 terminating in a cutting edge at the upper surface thereof. The die opening 25 communicates through the die 24 with a slug ejection chute 26. Preferably the die 24 is beveled as shown to facilitate reception of a workpiece thereabove.

The standard 12 is secured to the base 11, and in this embodiment comprises an integral portion thereof extending upwardly from the rearward part of the base 11. The front surface 27 of the standard 12 is smoothly finished and comprises an external forwardly or outwardly directed slide surface against which the rear surface of the punch holder 13 engages. The standard 12 also has an external rearwardly or -outwardly directed surface or

surfaces

28, 28 which engage the forwardly directed edges of the spring 14. The standard 12 has oppositely directed lateral surfaces against which the cheek or

guide plates

16 and 17 are pinned and bolted. It is to be understood that the upper surface of the standard 12 must be downwardly recessed from the upper surface of the punch holder 13 when the punch holder 13 is at shut height.

The punch holder 13 comprises a solid block which has a rear surface in engagement with the surface 27 of the standard 12, and an oppositely directed front surface 29 which can directly engage any upwardly extending flange =on a workpiece. The punch holder 13 has oppositely directed

lateral surfaces

30, 31 which are slidably guided by and against

inner surfaces

32, 33 on the cheek or

guide plates

16 and 17, respectively. The top of the punch holder 13 is crowned as shown for being directly engaged by the ram of the press, the top of the punch holder 13 at all times extending above the remainder of the device 10. Just as the die 24 is secured by bolts (not shown) to the base 11, so also is a punch or punch tip 34 secured as by bolts (not shown) to the bottom of the punch holder 13. It is to be understood that the punch 34 has a peripheral profile at its lower or cutting edge corresponding to the die opening 25. While the configuration of the die opening 25 and the cutting edge of the punch tip 34 has been here illustrated as being identical to that of the punch holder 13, it is to be understood that any configuration falling Within these limits may be used.

The spring plate 14 is constructed so that in its free state there is a slight gap between the spring plate 14 and the surface 28 near the center of the plate 14. The connecting screw 15 passes through the plate 14 through an.elongated slot 35 in the standard 12, and into threaded engagement with the punch holder 13. Preferably, a set screw 36 and plug 37 lock the position of the connecting screw 15. The screw 15 is therefore tightened so that while the plate 14 becomes substantially flat, it slidably engages the standard 12 primarily near opposite edges. It is to be noted that the screw 15 does not engage the means that define the slot 35 during vertical reciprocation of the punch holder 13. Thus the internal threads will not be damaged during reciprocation so that the screw 15 may at any time be reset to a preferred tension to allow for wear, replacement of parts, etc.

Each fof the cheek or

guide plates

16 and 17 is secured by a plurality of screws 3S and pins 39 to the standard 12, such as to lateral sides thereof. Preferably the

inner surfaces

32 and 33 of the

plates

16 and 17 terminate rearwardly of the front surface 29 of the punch holder 13. The

plates

16 and 17 are also each provided with an

outer surface

40, 41 which extends at an acute angle to the

inner surface

32, 33 adjacent thereto respectively. The

outer surfaces

40, 41 comprise vertical guide surfaces for engaging the flange of a ilanged workpiece, and in this embodiment, they are disposed at an angle of 45 with respect to the

inner surfaces

32, 33, and at an angle of 90 with respect to each other. The 45 angles are so disposed that the vertex lof each lies substantially iu the plane of the side 29 of the punch holder 13. Like the upper outer periphery of the die 24, the lower outer periphery of the

guides plates

16 and 17 is beveled to facilitate reception of the workpiece. Since the punch holder 13 is actually carried on the end of the screw 15, the guide platesk 16 and 17 act directly on the punch holder 13 to prevent any rocking or rotation thereof. Similarly, they act on the spring plate 14 which, being driven by the connector screw 15, reciprocates vertically together with the punch holder 13. It is thus evident that the

inner guide surfaces

32, 33 lie directly above the die 24.

The spring 18 is disposed in a recess 42 while the spring 19 is disposed in a recess 43. Thus the recess 42 lies at one side of the punch holder 13, while the recess 43 lies at the other side thereof. Further, the

recesses

42 and 43 are disposed above the punch-end of the punch holder 13, and as best seen in FIGURE 2, are disposed centrally along the lengths of the opposite sides of the punch holder 13.. As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, part of the recess 42 lies in the guide plate 16 and partly in the punch head 13, while the recess 43 is defined jointly by portions of the punch head 13 and the guide plate 17. Therefore, the

recesses

42 and 43 are intersected by opposite sides of the punch holder 13, and in this embodiment, the same comprises a vertical plane aligned with the cutting edges of the punch 34 and the die 24. Thus each of the

recesses

42 and 43 comprise two semi-cylindrical cavities directed toward each other. At the axial ends or upper and lower ends of the

recesses

42 and 43, there is disposed a flange 44-47. The flange 44 is secured as by a screw to the bottom of the recess in the guide plate 16, while the flange 47 is similarly secured to the guide plate 17. The flanges 45 and 46 are each secured as by a screw to the punch holder 13. The springs 18 and 19 are compression springs which respectively act between the flanges 44-45 and 46-47 urging them apart to a position where there is slight spring compression.

When a downward force is applied to the punch holder 13, the springs 18 and 19 are partially compressed thereby through the action of the flanges 45, 46, the lower end of the springs being supported by the flanges 44 and 47. This movement progresses downwardly until the punch 34 has progressed into the die 24 to a position indicated by the dashed lines in FIGURE 3. When the force is released from the punch holder 13, the springs 18 and 19 expand to return the moving parts to the portion illustrated in solid lines. This position constitutes the upward or limiting position, the same being established by an abutting type of engagement between the projecting portions lof the tlanges 44-47 with one or more of the punch holder 13 in the case of the llanges 44 and 47, and the

guides plates

16 and 17 in the cases of the flanges 45 and 46.

`FIGURE 4 is ya fragmentary illustration `of a piece of angle iron which has been notched in three manners by the device described, the 4notches therein illustrating the versatility of the disclosed notching unit. The workpiece is here described as an illustration, :and is not intended to be limiting. Assuming tha-t the punch and die of the device 10 have cutting edges aligned with the surfaces 29 31, then a workpiece inserted and punched would have ra rectangular notch at its side. If the edge of the workpiece ywere 4squared with the device, the edges of the notch would be parallel .and perpendicular -to the edge of the workpiece. The illustrated workpiece W is `a special example wherei-n a flange X can -be inserted between the punch and die until a second flange Y engages the punch holder 31 and is squared by it. With this orientation, operation of the notching unit 10l creates Va notch E in the workpiece W. If the workpiece he shifted so that the flange Y rests squarely .against -one of the guide surfaces 40 and y41, operation of the device 10 will create a 90 Vanotch V. `It is .to be noted that the .apex of the V-notch extends like the notch E .all the way to the flange Y. Furrther, using the flange Y yas a guide and with t'he end of the workpiece slightly spaced from the end ,or edge of the punch and die, a corner notch yC may likewise be created. In this .example since the length and width of the die opening is approximately lthat of a square, square notches may -be cut in sheet stock. Further, itis to be understood that V-notches of less dept-h may be made with the same device, ,and that the center line of such notch may he disposed -at any angle between 0 and 90 from the llange Y.

During operation, the spring location and supporting structure disclosed acts to return the punch holder 13 after each power stroke without cocking the punch holder, fand it is evident that the spring support structure does not contribute to the shut height of the device.

Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be .understood that lI wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted herein all such embodiments as reasonably and properly come `within the scope of my contribution to the art.

yI claim as my invention:

l1. A device zfor use between the bed and ram of .a

press, comprising in combination:

(a) a base adapted to the secured to the press bed and adapted to detachably support a die;

('b) a standard exten-ding upwardly fhom said base and having outwardly oppositely directed front and rear slide surfaces;

`(c) a punch holder slidably disposed against said front slide surface, `and adapted at one end to support a .punch t-ip and yto guide it in registration with the die, and to be engaged by the press ram at the -other end;

(d) a plate slidably disposed 'against said Vrear slide surface;

(e) means extending through said standard and connecting said punch holder and said plate together `and holding said punch holder against said front slide surface;

(f) a pair vof cheek plates each having an inner surface directed toward the inner surface of the other cheek plate `and tixedly secured lin engagement with said standard, said inner surfaces at one side of said standard jointly guiding said punch holder, and said inner surfaces at the other side Iof said standard jointly guiding said slidable plate; and

(g) spring means :biasing said punch holder in a direction away from the die.

2. A device for use ybetween the bed land ram of a press, comprising in combination:

(a) a base .adapted to be secured to the press bed and adapt-ed to detachably support a die;

(b) a standard extending upwardly from said 'base and having outwardly oppositely directed front .and rear slide surfaces, and having means delning a slot -in said stationary standard extending between said surfaces;

(c) :a punch holder slidably disposed against said front slide surface, an-d adapted .to support a punch tip and to guide it in registration with the die, and to be engaged by the press ram at its upper end;

(d) a plate slidably disposed against said rear slide surface;

(e) tensioned means extending through said slot in said stationary standard and connecting said punch holder and said plat-e together, for joint reciprocation with respect to said standard, and said tensioned means holding said punch holder and said plate -respectively against said front and rear slide surfaces, said tensioned connecting means being space-d from said slot-defining means during all movement;

(f) .additional means carried `by said stan-dard in direct guiding engagement with said pun-ch holder; and (g) spring means biasing said punch holder in a direction away from the die.

3. A device for use between the bed and ram of a press, comprising in combination:

(a) a hase radapted Ito be secured t-o the press bed and adapted to detachably support a die;

-(b) a standard extending upwardly from said -base and having outwardly oppositely directed front and rear slide surfaces;

(c) a punch holder slidably disposed against said front, slide surface, and adapted at 'one end to supporta punch tip and to guide it in registration with the die, and yto be engaged by the press ram .at the other end;

(d) a spring plate having a configuration which .is i-n effect slightly 'bowed in its free form and is slidably disposed against said rear slide surface;

(e) means extending through said standard, and connecting said punch holder and said plate together with a tension in said connecting means, and thereby urging said punch holder and said spring plate respectively against said slide surfaces;

(f) additional means Icarried by said standard in direct ,guiding engagement with said punch holder; and

g) spring means biasing said punch holder i-n a direction away from the die.

4. A device for use between the bed and ram of a press, comprising in combination:

, (a) a base adapted to be secured to the press bed and adapted to detachably support a die;

(b) a standard extending upwardly from said base and having outwardly oppositely directed front and rear slide surfaces;

(c) a punch holder slidably disposed against said front slide surface, and adapted to support a punch tip and to guide it in registration with the die, and to be engaged by the press ram at its upper end;

(d) a plate slidably disposed against said rear slide surface;

(e) tensioned means extending through said stationary standard and connecting said punch holder and said plate together for joint reciprocation with respect to said standard, and said tensioned means holding said punch holder against said front slide surface v and holding said plate against said rear slide surface;

(f) additional means carried by said standard Vin direct guiding engagement with said punch holder; and

(g) spring means biasing said punch holder in a direction away from the die.

5. A device for use between the bed and ram of a press, comprising in combination:

(a) a base adapted to be secured to the press bed and adapted to detachably support a die;

(d) a plate slidably disposed against said rear slide surface;

(e) tensioned means extending through said stationary standard and connecting said punch holder and said plate together for joint reciprocation with respect to said standard, and said tensioned means holding said punch holder against said front slide surface and holding said plate against said rear slide surface;

(f) additional means carried by said standard in direct guiding engagement with said punch holder; and

(g) spring means acting between said additional means and said punch holder, and entirely disposed vertically above the lower end of said punch holder.

6. A device for use between the bed and ram cf a press, comprising in combination:

(d) a plate slidably disposed against said rear slide surface;

(f) a pair of additional means carried by said standard,

each being in direct guiding engagement with respective opposite sides of said punch holder; and

(g) a pair of springs each acting between one of said additional means and said punch holder, and disposed in recesses between said one of said additional means and said punch holder centrally along the lengths of opposite sides of the punch holder.

7. A device for use between the bed and ram of a press, comprising in combination:

Y (b) a standard extending upwardly from said base and having outwardly oppositely directed front and rear slide surfaces;

(c) a punch holder slidably disposed against said front slide surface, and adapted at one end to support a punch tip and to guide it in registration with the die, and to be engaged by the press ram at the other end;

(d) a plate slidably disposed against said rear slide surface;

(e) means extending through said standard and connecting said punch holder and said plate together and holding them respectively against said slide surfaces;

(f) a pair of guide plates secured to said standard, each being in direct guiding engagement with respective ,opposite sides of said punch holder;

(g) means deiining a pair of spring recesses respectively disposed on opposite sides of said punch holder and intersected by said opposite sides of said holder, and extending into both said punch holder and into the adjacent guide plate; and

(h) a pair of compression springs respectively disposed in said recesses, and acting at their upper ends against said punch holder and at their bottom ends against the adjacent guide plate.

8. A device for use between the bed and ram of a press, comprising in combination:

(d) a plate slidably disposed against said rear slide surface;

(f) a pair of guide plates secured to said standard, each being in direct guiding engagement with respective opposite sides of said punch holder;

(g) means defining a pair of spring recesses respectively disposed on opposite sides of said punch holder and intersected by said opposite sides of said holder, and extending into both said punch holder and into the adjacent guide plate;

(h) two pairs of flanges respectively disposed at the upper and lower ends of said spring recesses, one pair of said iianges being secured to said punch holder and extending into the adjacent guide plate, and the other of said anges being respectively secured to said guide plates and extending into said punch holder; and

(i) a pair of compression springs respectively disposed in said recesses, and acting between said flanges therein.

9. A device for use between the bed and ram of a press, comprising in combination:

(b) a standard extending upwardly from said base and having outwardly oppositely directed front and rear slide surfaces, and having means defining a slot extending between said surfaces;

(d) a spring plate having a configuration which is in effect slightly bowed in its free form and is slidably disposed against said rear slide surface;

(e) means extending through said slot and connecting said punch holder and said plate together with a tension in said connecting means, and thereby urging said punch holder and said spring plate respectively against said slide surfaces, said connecting means being spaced from said slot-defining means during all movement;

(f) a pair of guide plates secured to said standard, and each having an inner surface directed toward the inner surface of the other guide plate, said inner surfaces lying directly above the die and each being in direct guiding engagement with respective oppo- `site sides of said punch holder, and each guide plate having an outer surface extending at an acute angle to said inner surface and disposed to engage and to guide a workpiece;

(g) means defining a pair of spring recesses respectively disposed on opposite sides of said punch holder above the punch-end thereof and centrally along the lengths of said opposite sides, said recesses being intersected by said opposite sides and by a vertical plane alivned with the cutting edges of the punch and die, said recesses extending into both said punch holder and into the adjacent guide plate;

(h) two pairs of iianges respectively disposed at the upper and lower ends of said spring recesses, one pair of said anges being secured to said punch holder and extending into the adjacent guide plate, and the other of said anges being respectively secured to said guide plates and extending into said punch holder; and

(i) a pair of compression springs respectively disposed in said recesses, and acting continually between said flanges therein.

10. A device for use between the bed and ram of a press, comprising in combination:

(d) a spring plate slidably disposed against said rear slide surface;

(e) means tensioned by said spring plate and extending through said stationary standard and connecting said punch holder and said plate together for joint reciprocation with respect to said standard, and said tensioned means holding said punch holder against said front slide surface and holding said plate against said rear slide surface;

(g) spring means biasing said punch holder in a direction away from the die.

11. A device for use between the bed and ram of a press comprising in combination:

(c) a punch holder of rectangular cross-section having a first side slidably disposed against said front slide surface, and adapted to support a punch tip and to guide it in registration with the die, and to be engaged by the press ram at its upper end;

(d) a plate slidably disposed against said rear slide surface;

(f) at least one cheek plate carried by said standard and having an inner surface in direct engagement with a second side of said punch holder and guiding said punch holder, and said cheek plate having an outer surface extending at an acute angle to its said inner surface, the vertex of which angle is substantially in the plane of a third side of said punch holder adjacent to said second side thereof, said outer surface being thereby disposed to engage and guide a anged workpiece by its flange; and

9 1 0 (g) spring means biasing said punch holder in a direc- 2,664,159 12/53 Geiler 83-635 tion away from the die. 2,765,848 10/56 Bakula 83-693 3,063,323 11/62 Graf 83-635 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Przmary Examzner.

2,482,121 9/49 Norquist s3-917 CARL W- TOMLIN Examiner-

Claims

1. A DEVICE FOR USE BETWEEN THE BED AND RAM OF A PRESS, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A BASE ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO THE PRESS BED AND ADAPTED TO DETACHABLY SUPPORT A DIE; (B) A STANDARD EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE AND HAVING OUTWARDLY OPPOSITELY DIRECTED FRONT AND REAR SLIDE SURFACES; (C) A PUNCH HOLDER SLIDABLY DISPOSED AGAINST SAID FRONT SLIDE SURFACE, AND ADAPTED AT ONE END TO SUPPORT A PUNCH TIP AND TO GUIDE IT IN REGISTRATION WITH THE DIE, AND TO BE ENGAGED BY THE PRESS RAM AT THE OTHER END; (D) A PLATE SLIDABLY DISPOSED AGAINST SAID REAR SLIDE SURFACE; (E) MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID STANDARD AND CONNECTING SAID PUNCH HOLDER AND SAID PLATE TOGETHER AND HOLDING SAID PUNCH HOLDER AGAINST SAID FRONT SLIDE SURFACE; (F) A PAIR OF CHEEK PLATES EACH HAVING AN INNER SURFACE DIRECTED TOWARD THE INNER SURFACE OF THE OTHER CHEEK PLATE AND FIXEDLY SECURED IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STANDARD, SAID INNER SURFACES AT ONE SIDE OF SAID STANDARD JOINTLY GUIDING SAID PUNCH HOLDER, AND SAID INNER SURFACES AT THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID STANDARD JOINTLY GUIDING SAID SLIDABLE PLATE; AND (G) SPRING MEANS BIASING SAID PUNCH HOLDER IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE DIE.