STANDARD AERIAL AND DIE MOUNT CAMS AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME

[0001] This application is based on, and claims priority to provisional application having serial number 60/952,406, having a filing date of July 27, 2007, entitled Standard Aerial and Die Mount Cams.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention generally relates to aerial and die mounted cams for use in die presses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention concerns press mounted cams, which are mechanisms installed in forming presses to produce a feature on the formed part, such as a punched or tapped hole. These press mounted cams are used where the feature must be formed by tool motion along a direction at a working angle transverse to the direction of press motion.

[0004] The cams are comprised of a "slide", carrying the tool, a "body" or

"adapter" affixed to one of the die parts or press platens on which the slide is slidably mounted, and a separate "driver" mounted on the other of the die parts or press platen. The driver engages the slide as the press closes and drives it by mating with cam surfaces on an inclined surface.

[0005] FIGS. 1 and 2 show cross sectional views of prior art aerial and base mounted cams, respectively, positioned within platens of a die or forming press. In the aerial cam shown in FIG. 1, a slide 12 is suspended on a body of adapter 10 mounted to the upper platen 2 or die part 6. A driver 14 is mounted to the lower platen 4 or die part 8

and has a fixed inclined cam surface 16 extending parallel to the working angle, typically defined by wear plates affixed to faces on driver 14 and slide 12. [0006] As the upper platen 2 descends, a resulting cam action causes the slide 12 to be advanced along the working angle against the resistance of one or more springs 15 with tooling T projecting from the slide 12 in that direction. The horizontal component of the motion requires that the working slide 12 also move laterally on adapter 10. Engaged horizontal bearing surfaces 18, 20 are provided on the top of slide 12 and the bottom of adapter 10 for this reason. In other configurations, an angled surface may be on the adapter, and a horizontal surface on the driver.

[0007] In a "die" or "base" mounted cam, as shown in FIG. 2, slide 12 and adapter 10 are both mounted to lower platen 4 or die part 8 and do not move, but rather drive 14 mounted to upper platen 2 or die part 6 descends to engage slide 12. [0008] FIGS. 3 and 4 depict two perspective views of a conventional aerial cam.

Slide 12 is suspended on body or adapter 10 mounted to the upper platen. Driver 14 is mounted to the lower platen and has fixed inclined cam wear surfaces 16 A, 16B. [0009] As the upper platen descends, a resulting cam action causes the slide to be advanced along the working angle against the resistance of one or more springs 36 (see FIG. 1) with tooling T projecting from the slide 12 in that direction. The horizontal component of the motion requires that the working slide 12 also move laterally on the adapter 10. Engaged bearing surfaces 18, 20 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) are provided on the top of the slide and the bottom of the adapter for this reason.

[00010] The wide variety of applications of the cams results in a large number of different component configurations to accommodate moving tools in required directions. The angle relative to the horizontal along which the slide is forced to move is that of the inclination of the driver. The slide and/or the body assembly must therefore be configured to accommodate the inclination of the driver. In view of this, the typical cam requires adapter assemblies and/or slides that have as many configurations as associated drivers have inclinations. The design and construction of unique slides and drivers for particular applications is costly and time consuming.

[00011] Cam product families are generally comprised of a multitude of work angles and tool face widths. For example, the aerial cam's work angle typically ranges

from 0 to 60 degrees in 5 degree increment. The cam typically has a tool face width ranging from 50 mm to 2000 mm.

[00012] Each cam has a unique combination of width and work angle. A work angle other than the standard 5 degree increment or exceeding 60 degrees usually requires a special cam or special wedge shape mounting adapter, which then increase the overall height.

[00013] When die presses require replacement cam units, either for failure of the existing unit or because of a new application, and hence a new work angle, the user typically requires quick delivery of parts as delays can be extremely costly. This can be difficult for a supplier of aerial and die mount cams. Finished goods and raw materials inventory to accommodate quick delivery are costly and require significant space. In these instances manufacturing is typically done on a very small lot size, and is thus very costly. To create the wide array of parts a multitude of manufacturing fixtures and computer numeric code (CNC) programs are needed. Furthermore, developing and designing a new line of cams consumes a huge amount of engineering time. [00014] There is a need to improve manufacturing efficiency, reduce raw material inventory and significantly reduce or eliminate finished goods inventory, and thus achieve cost savings and elevated service level to customers. It is also desirable to keep the installed height of the cam to a minimum as increased height relates to higher cost in the overall die.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[00015] Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein include a die press cam assembly in which a single cam, driver and body configuration can be used to achieve numerous work angles. Unlike prior art assemblies, the cam, driver and/or body are not substituted to produce different work angles. Instead, parts that are generally simpler to manufacture are substituted or added that create the desired work angle or change thereof. [00016] A body mounting component having a designated incline with respect to the horizontal is disposed on a first die platen. A body is provided configured to be functionally connected to a plurality of different body mounting components, each with a different incline. The body will typically have a return mechanism and/or other

components incorporated therein. The body is mounted to a selected body mounting component based on the work angle desired. A driver mounting component having a designated incline with respect to the horizontal is disposed on a second die platen. The driver is configured to be functionally connected to a plurality of different driver mounting components, each with a different incline. The driver will typically have wear plates to facilitated movement of a slide (cam) along it. The driver is mounted to a selected driver mounting component to achieve the desired work angle of the slide. The slide has a tool mounting component to or in which a tool such as a punch is attached or inserted. The slide is configured to be functional when mounted to the body on a body face opposite to the face to which the body is mounted to the body mounting component.

The slide is functionally engageable with the driver so that when the platens are drawn together, the driver will cause the slide to slide in the direction necessary to perform the desired work function at the desired angle.

[00017] The die press cam assembly of claim 1 wherein the body mounting component is integral with the first die platen.

[00018] The body and driver mounting components can be either integral with the die platens or separate pieces attached thereto.

[00019] The die cam assembly can be produced such that the overall closed height is the same for a variety of slide widths.

[00020] The die cam assembly can be used in many die presses, including aerial and base mounted presses.

A method of fabricating a die press cam assembly is also included in the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00021] The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings.

[00022] FIG. 1 depicts a cross sectional view of a prior art aerial cam positioned within platens of a forming press.

[00023] FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of a prior art base mounted cam positioned within platens of a forming press.

[00024] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a prior art aerial cam.

[00025] FIG. 4 depicts another perspective view of a prior art aerial cam.

[00026] FIG. 5 depicts a die press cam assembly having an angled body mounting component integral with a die platen according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

[00027] FIG. 6 depicts a die press cam assembly having an angled body mounting component integral with a die platen and an angled driver mounting component integral with a die platen according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

[00028] FIG. 7 depicts a die press cam assembly having an angled driver mounting component integral with a die platen according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

[00029] FIG. 8 depicts a die press assembly in which the body and driver mounting components are separate from the platens, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

[00030] FIGS. 9a -c depict a portion of the die press cam assembly, a slide face, and a face of the assembly portion according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

[00031] FIGS. 10a -c depict a portion of the die press cam assembly, a slide face, and a face of the assembly portion according to another illustrative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[00032] FIGS. 5 - 7 depict die press cam assemblies having different work angles, but the same slide S, body B and driver D.

[00033] FIG. 5 depicts a die press cam assembly 100 having an angled body mounting component 102 integral with a first die platen 104, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. In this particular embodiment of the invention, mounting component 102 has a mounting plate 106 to which body B is fastened. Driver D is fastened to a second die plate 112. Driver D has a horizontal face having one or more wear plates W. Slide S is connected to body B and functionally engaged with driver D, so that when the first platen 104 descends, slide S is forced across the driver face

containing the wear plates in the direction of arrow 118. A tool would generally be positioned on tool face 120 of slide S to perform the required action on a work piece (not shown).

[00034] FIG. 6 depicts a die press cam assembly having an angled body mounting component 202 integral with a first die platen 204 and an angled driver mounting component 222 integral with a second die platen 212 according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment of the invention, driver D has an angled face having one or more wear plates W. The non-zero incline of the driver face is created by driver mounting component 222. The adjustment to the driver position in turn causes the slide work angle to change. As a result, when first platen 204 descends, slide S is forced across the driver face containing the wear plates in the direction of arrow 218, which is no longer horizontal, as it was when driver was not at an angle to the horizontal. The angle of body B is also modified by use of angled body mounting component 202. By providing angled mounting components 202 and 222 to change the work angle, slide S does not have to be modified.

[00035] FIG. 7 depicts a die press cam assembly according to another illustrative embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment Body B is attached to a first platen 304 and has a horizontal face on which slide S is disposed. The die press cam assembly has an angled driver mounting component 322 integral with a second die platen 312. Slide S is driven by driver D in the direction represented by arrow 318. This direction is at an increased angle from the horizontal as compared to the direction of movement of slide S in FIGS. 5 and 6. Again it is shown that the same slide, body and driver can be used for a different work angle.

[00036] FIG. 8 depicts a die press cam assembly according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, an angled body mounting component 402 is a separate piece from a first die platen 404 and an angled driver mounting component 422 is a separate component from second die platen 412. The separate mounting components can be attached to both the upper and lower platens. In further embodiments of the invention, only one of the two types of mounting components is used. In yet a further embodiment of the invention, the driver mounting component is integral with the second die platen and the body mounting component is a separate piece

from the first die platen. In yet another illustrative embodiment of the invention, the driver mounting component is a separate piece from the second die platen and the body mounting component is integral with the first die platen.

[00037] FIGS. 9a -c depict a portion of a die press cam assembly, a slide face, and a face of the assembly portion, respectively, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 10a -c also depict a portion of a die press cam assembly, a slide face, and a face of the assembly portion, respectively, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. As can be seen from FIGS. 9a and 10a, the work angles are the same. FIGS. 9b and 10b, however, show slide tool faces of different dimensions. Although the slides have different dimensions, the profiles (in shut or closed positions) have the same height A.

[00038] The embodiments depicted in FIGS. 5-10 and described herein can be configured for use with both aerial and base-mounted cams. Accordingly, it is understood that the invention is not limited to a particular type of die press, even if the illustrative embodiment was described as such.

[00039] Embodiments of the invention provide a cam assembly system that can simplify manufacturing by eliminating or reducing the need to provide different slides and drivers for different work angles. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, for a given cam width, only one cam angle is necessary for a range of work angles. Therefore, one standard aerial cam of a given width can, in many instances, replace at least 13 cams.

[00040] Typically, the mounting planes for the top and base of the cam are horizontal and parallel, requiring variations in cam angles to create different work angles. In illustrative embodiments of the invention the mounting pads on the upper die plate and lower die plate are inclined to varying degrees to create different work angles. The mounting pads are more easily manufactured than the slide or the driver because they are simpler structures. The slide often has a return mechanism such as a spring to facilitate withdrawal of a tool attached thereto from a work piece. The driver typically has wear plates so facilitate the slide progressing along it. These additional features render the slide and driver more complicated to produce than the mounting pads.

[00041] The mounting pads can be integral with the upper and lower die platens, such that the entire platen is replaced. Angled mounting blocks as illustrated in Fig. 8 can also be used instead of integral mounting pads so that the die platens do not have to be replaced.

[00042] It is noted that reference to a mounting component having an incline, includes zero incline. If for example, the driver mounting components has a mounting plane parallel to the die platen, it is considered to have a zero incline. [00043] The inclination of a body mounting component is preferably parallel to the inclination of the body surface plane in contact with the slide. Therefore, for any work angle, not restricted to 5 degrees increment, the standard cam is simply tilted and mounted to correspondingly tilted pads integral with or separate from the die plates. Illustrative Examples of cam widths and shut heights are as follows:

Cam width, mm Shut height, mm

50, 75, 100 225

125, 150, 175, 200 275

250, 300, 350, 400 350

500-1000 385

Shut heights shown are for illustration of concept only. It is typically desirable to design for minimum shut heights.

[00044] Additional series of common shut heights can be provided for taller tool face cams by changing the slides and keeping the driver and body common to the basic line. It is also desirable, and achievable by embodiments of the invention, to have the profile of the body, slide and driver to be of a continuum in length, which is the width of the cam, thereby permitting the raw material to be provided in appropriate economical lengths and be subsequently cut to the desired cam width. Therefore, the raw material may be either commercial flat bar, extruded, rolled, cast, or forged for example. [00045] The invention includes a method of producing the die press cam assemblies described herein, and further includes the die presses with the various embodiments of the die press cam assemblies contained therein.

[00046] The concepts described herein, including methods and apparatus, can be applied to both aerial and base mounted cams.

[00047] While the invention has been described by illustrative embodiments, additional advantages and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to specific details shown and described herein. Modifications, for example, to the work angles produced and the dimensions of the slide, body, driver, and various mounting components may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the specific illustrative embodiments, but be interpreted within the full spirit and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.