Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
COMPACT STOCK GUIDE ASSEMBLY
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Applicant hereby claims the priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application serial
number 62/813,848 filed March 5, 2019, and to U.S. Patent Application serial
number
16/807,665, filed March 3, 2020.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to metal forming dies and the like,
and in particular
to a compact stock guide assembly and associated method incorporating a unique
stock
guide assembly.
[0003] Metal forming dies, such as stamping dies and the like, are well
known in the art.
Progressive metal forming dies are unique, very sophisticated mechanisms which
have
multiple stations or progressions that are aligned longitudinally, and are
designed to
perform a specified operation at each station in a predetermined sequence to
create a
finished metal part. Progressive stamping dies are capable of forming complex
metal parts
at very high speeds, so as to minimize manufacturing costs.
[0004] Heretofore, the dies used in metal forming presses have typically
been individually
designed, one-of-a-kind assemblies for a particular part, with each of the
various
components being handcrafted and custom mounted or fitted in an associated die
set,
which is in turn positioned in a stamping press. Not only are the punches and
the other
forming tools in the die set individually designed and constructed, but the
other parts of
the die set, such as stock lifters, guides, end caps, keepers, cam returns,
etc., are also
custom designed, and installed in the die set. Current die making processes
require
carefully machined, precision holes and recesses in the die set for mounting
the individual
components, such that the same are quite labor intensive, and require
substantial lead
time to make, test, and set up in a stamping press. Consequently, such metal
forming dies
are very expensive to design, manufacture, and repair or modify.
[0005] In metal forming machines, a die is typically mounted in a stamping
press, and the
material to be stamped (typically an elongated strip of metal) is fed into the
die. The
material can be fed by automated feed equipment meant to keep the material
flowing
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straight through the die. Stock guides can guide the material (typically along
the
longitudinal axis of the material) to keep the material moving in a straight
line through the
die.
[0006] While such prior stock guides and methods have been proven to be
generally
successful, further improvements and enhancements to the same, as well as
metal forming
dies generally, would be advantageous and are described herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a stock guide assembly for a
metal forming
die in which stock is formed into at least one part. The stock guide assembly
includes a
stock guide body with an outer end portion, an inner end portion, and a medial
portion.
The stock guide body has a centrally located aperture extending through the
stock guide
body. The outer end portion of the stock guide body has a width that is
greater than the
width of the medial portion of the stock guide body forming a first shoulder
therebetween.
The width of the inner end portion is less than the width of the medial
portion forming a
second shoulder therebetween. The die member has an aperture with at least a
first
portion and a second portion. A fastener is received through the centrally
located aperture
and the stock guide body and is coupled to the second portion of the aperture
in the die
member to couple the stock guide body to the die member. When the stock guide
body is
coupled to the die member, the inner end portion of the stock guide body is at
least
partially received in the first portion of the aperture in the die member.
[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is a metal forming die
member with a stock
guide assembly for guiding a stock piece. The stock guide assembly includes a
generally
cylindrical stock guide body with an outer end portion, an inner end portion,
and a medial
portion. The stock guide body has a centrally located aperture extending
through the stock
guide body. The outer end of the stock guide body has a width that is greater
than the
width of the medial portion, forming a first shoulder therebetween. The inner
end portion
of the stock guide body has a width which is less than the width of the medial
portion
forming a second shoulder therebetween. The die member has an aperture with a
first
portion sized to receive at least a part of the inner end portion of the stock
guide body and
a second portion. The stock guide assembly also includes a fastener that is
received
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through the centrally located aperture in the stock guide body. The fastener
is coupled to
the second portion of the aperture in the die member.
[0009] In yet another aspect of the present invention is a method of
advancing stock strip
through a metal forming die. The method includes forming a stock guide body
with an
outer end portion, an inner end portion, a medial portion, and a centrally
located aperture
extending through the stock guide body. The outer end portion has a width that
is greater
than the width of the medial portion, thereby forming a first shoulder
therebetween. The
inner end portion has a width that is less than the width of the medial
portion thereby
forming a second shoulder therebetween. The method includes forming an
aperture in the
die member with a first portion sized to receive the inner end portion of the
stock guide
body and a lower, more narrow threaded portion. The method includes placing
the stock
guide body over the aperture in the die member such that at least a portion of
the inner
end portion of the stock guide body is received in the first portion of the
aperture in the
die member. The method includes inserting a fastener through the centrally
located
aperture in the stock guide body and then coupling a threaded portion of the
fastener to
the more narrow threaded portion of the aperture in the die member. The method
includes advancing a piece of stock strip by contacting the stock strip
against the medial
portion of the stock guide body.
[0010] In one aspect, there is provided a stock guide assembly for a metal
forming die,
having at least one die member, in which stock is formed into at least one
part. The
stock guide assembly comprises a generally cylindrical stock guide body with
an outer
end portion, an inner end portion, a medial portion, and a centrally located
aperture,
having a single uniform diameter extending through the stock guide body. The
outer end
portion has a first width and the medial portion has an outer surface with a
second width
which is less than the first width of the outer end portion forming a first
external
shoulder around an entire periphery of the stock guide body. The inner end
portion has
a third width which is less than the second width of the medial portion,
forming a second
shoulder therebetween. The die member is provided having an aperture
comprising a
first portion with a first aperture width and a second portion with a second
aperture
width which is less than the first aperture width to form an aperture shoulder
therebetween. There is also provided a fastener that is received through the
centrally
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located aperture in the stock guide body and coupled to the second portion of
the
aperture in the die member to couple the stock guide to the die member. The
inner end
portion of the stock guide body is at least partially received in the first
portion of the
aperture in the die member with the second shoulder of the stock guide body
directly
contacting the aperture shoulder.
[0011] In some embodiments, the stock guide body is a unitary piece.
[0012] In some embodiments, the stock guide body comprises a first piece of
material
that forms the inner end portion and the outer end portion of the stock guide
body and a
second piece of material that forms the medial portion of the stock guide
body.
[0013] In some embodiments, the outer surface of the medial portion of the
stock guide
body rotates with respect to the remainder of the stock guide body.
[0014] In some embodiments, the medial portion includes internal bearings.
[0015] In some embodiments, the stock guide body is formed from hardened
steel.
[0016] In some embodiments, a portion of the fastener and a portion of the
second
portion of the aperture in the die member are threaded.
[0017] In some embodiments, the outer surface of the medial portion of the
stock guide
body is cylindrical.
[0018] In some embodiments, the outer surface of the medial portion of the
stock guide
body has multiple facets.
[0019] In another aspect, there is provided a metal forming die member,
having at least
one die member, with a stock guide assembly for guiding a stock piece. The
metal
forming die member comprises a generally cylindrical stock guide body with an
outer end
portion, an inner end portion, a medial portion, and a centrally located
single uniform
diameter aperture extending through the stock guide body. The outer end
portion has a
first width. The medial portion has a second width which is uniformly less
than the first
width of the outer end portion, forming a first external shoulder around an
entire
periphery of the stock guide body. The inner end portion has a third width
which is less
than the second width of the medial portion, forming a second shoulder
therebetween.
The die member is provided with an aperture having a first portion with a
first aperture
width, sized to receive at least a part of the inner end portion of the stock
guide body
and a second portion with a second aperture width that is smaller than the
first aperture
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width forming an aperture shoulder therebetween. A fastener is also provided
that is
received through the centrally located aperture in the stock guide body and
coupled to
the second portion of the die member, such that the second shoulder of the
stock guide
body directly contacts the aperture shoulder.
[0020] In some embodiments, the die member has a pocket which surrounds a
portion of
the medial portion of the stock guide body.
[0021] In some embodiments, the stock guide body is formed from a single
piece of
material.
[0022] In some embodiments, the medial portion of the stock guide body is a
bearing
assembly.
[0023] In some embodiments, the medial portion of the stock guide body rotates
with respect to
the die member.
[0024] In some embodiments, the fastener includes a threaded shank portion
that is
coupled to a threaded portion of the second aperture in the die member.
[0025] In some embodiments, the medial portion of the stock guide body has
a multi-
faceted exterior surface.
[0026] In some embodiments, the multi-faceted exterior surface includes a
plurality of
flat sections.
[0027] In yet another aspect, there is provided a method of advancing a
stock strip,
comprising:
forming a stock guide body with an outer end portion, an inner end portion, a
medial portion, and a centrally located single uniform diameter aperture
extending
through the stock guide body, wherein:
the outer end portion has a first width;
the medial portion has a second width which is less than the first width of
the
outer end portion forming an external first shoulder around an entire
periphery of the
stock guide body;
the inner end portion has a third width which is less than the second width of
the
medial portion, forming a second shoulder therebetween;
forming an aperture in a die member with a first portion sized to receive the
inner
end portion of the stock guide body and a lower, narrower threaded portion,
with an
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aperture shoulder formed between the first portion and the narrower threaded
portion;
placing the stock guide body over the aperture in the die member such that at
least a portion of the inner end portion of the stock guide body is received
in the first
portion of the aperture in the die member with the second shoulder of the
stock guide
body contacting the aperture shoulder;
inserting a fastener through the centrally located aperture in the stock guide
body;
coupling a threaded portion of the fastener to the narrow threaded portion of
the
aperture in the die member; and
advancing the stock strip by contacting the stock strip against the medial
portion
of the stock guide body.
[0028] In some embodiments of the method, the aperture forming step
includes forming
a pocket that contacts the second shoulder of the stock guide body.
[0029] In some embodiments of the method, the method further includes:
coupling multiple stock guide assemblies to the die member to create a pathway
for advancing the stock strip.
[0030] These and other advantages of the invention will be further
understood and
appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written
specification,
claims, and appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] Figure 1 is perspective view of a number of stock guide assemblies
with a piece of
stock strip position therebetween;
[0032] Figure 2 is an exploded cross-sectional perspective view of an
embodiment of the
stock guide utilizing bearings;
[0033] Figure 3 is an exploded cross-sectional perspective view of another
embodiment of
the stock guide;
[0034] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the stock guide shown in
Figure 2 coupled to a
die member;
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[0035] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the stock guide shown in
Figure 3 coupled to a
die member;
[0036] Figure 6 is a bottom perspective view of the stock guide shown in
Figure 2;
[0037] Figure 7 is a bottom perspective view of the stock guide shown in
Figure 3;
[0038] Figure 8 is a side perspective view of the stock guide shown in
Figure 2;
[0039] Figure 9 is a side perspective vie of the stock guide shown in
Figure 3;
[0040] Figure 10 is a view of three stock guides as shown in Figure 3,
installed in a die
member in sequence;
[0041] Figure 11 is a side perspective view of three stock guides, as shown
in Figure 2,
installed in a die member in sequence;
[0042] Figure 12 is a side perspective view of two different sizes of the
stock guide shown
in Figure 2;
[0043] Figure 13 is a side-perspective view of two different sizes of the
stock guide shown
in Figure 3; and
[0044] Figure 14 is a front perspective, cross-sectional view of another
embodiment of a
stock guide installed on a die member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0045] For purposes of description herein, the terms "upper," "lower,"
"right," "left,"
"rear," "front," "vertical," "horizontal," and derivatives thereof shall
relate to the invention
as oriented in the attached drawings. The "width" of generally cylindrical
components is
referred to as "width" or "diameter." Similarly, the "width" of components
that are a multi-
faceted cylindrical shape is referred to as "width" or "diameter." However, it
is to be
understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and
step
sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be
understood
that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings,
and described
in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the
inventive
concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other
physical
characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be
considered as
limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
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[0046] Referring initially to Figures 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, and 12, there is
shown a stock guide
assembly 104 for guiding a stock piece 2 in a metal forming die. The stock
guide assembly
104 includes a stock guide body 105. Stock guide body 105 has an outer end
portion 106,
a medial portion 108, and an inner end portion 110. The width or diameter of
the outer
end portion 106 is greater than the width or diameter of the medial portion
108, thereby
forming a first shoulder 114 therebetween. The width or diameter of the inner
end portion
110 is less than the width or diameter of the medial portion 108, thereby
forming a second
shoulder 116. A centrally located aperture 112 extends from the top surface
113 of the
stock guide body 105 all the way through the stock guide body 105.
[0047] The medial portion 108 consists of an inner race 118 and an outer
race 120
between which bearings 122 are positioned. This permits the outer race 120 to
rotate with
respect to the inner race 118. The inner race 118 is fixed with respect to the
remainder of
the stock guide body 105 thereby permitting the outer surface 123 of outer
race 120 to
rotate with respect to the remainder of the stock guide body 105.
[0048] Stock guide assembly 104 also includes a fastener 30. The fastener
30 has a head
32 and a threaded shaft 34. The head 32 of fastener 30 can be actuated by
drill, driver, or
other mechanism. In the illustrated embodiment, the head 32 has a hexagonal
shape for
connecting to a similar-shaped driving mechanism.
[0049] A die member 40 includes an aperture 42. The aperture 42 includes a
first portion
44 that is sized to receive at least a part of the inner end portion 110 of
the stock guide
body 105. The aperture 42 includes a lower, more-narrow threaded portion 46. A
pocket
48 can be formed in the die member 40 around the aperture 42. The pocket 48
can be
shaped to place a part of the medial portion 108 of the stock guide body 105
below the
upper surface 49 of the die member 40. In addition, the pocket 48 can be
shaped to
prevent or permit the rotation of the medial portion 108 of the stock guide
body 105 when
the stock guide body 105 is installed on the die member 40.
[0050] In order to install the stock guide body 105 on the die member 40,
the fastener 30
is inserted through the centrally located aperture 112 in the stock guide body
105. At least
a portion of the inner end portion 110 of the stock guide body 105 is received
within the
first portion 44 of the aperture 42 in die member 40. When the fastener 30 is
advanced,
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the threaded shank portion 34 of the fastener 30 will couple with the second
portion 46 of
the aperture 42.
[0051] As illustrated in Figure 1, the stock piece 2 can be moved along the
die member 40
by being guided by stock guide assemblies 104 that are located and spaced
apart on
opposite sides of the stock piece 2. The stock piece 2 will contact the outer
surface 123 of
the outer race 120, as illustrated in Figure 4. This permits the stock guide
assemblies 104
to direct the stock piece 2 in the desired manner.
[0052] As illustrated in Figure 6, the outer end portion 106 of the stock
guide body 105 can
have a tapered or chamfered surface 117. In the illustrated embodiments, the
exterior
surface 123 of the outer race 120 is generally cylindrical, however, an outer
race 120 with
a multi-faceted exterior surface can be used.
[0053] Figures 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 13 illustrate another embodiment of the
stock guide
assembly 4. In this embodiment, the stock guide body 5 consists of a unitary
piece. The
stock guide 5 has an outer end 6, a medial portion 8, and an inner end portion
10. The
stock guide body 5 includes a centrally located aperture 12.
[0054] The stock guide body 5 is coupled to the die member 40 by the
insertion of at least
a portion of the inner end portion 10 into the first portion 44 of the
aperture 42 in die
member 40. A fastener 30 is inserted through the centrally located aperture 12
to engage
the threaded second portion 46 of aperture 42 in die member 40 to couple the
stock guide
body 5 to the die member 40. In the illustrated embodiments, the medial
portion 8
includes a multi-faceted surface, as illustrated in Figure 7. The medial
portion 8 has a width
that is less than the diameter of the outer end portion 6 thereby forming
first shoulder 14
therebetween. The diameter of the inner end portion 10 is less than the width
of the
medial portion 8 thereby forming the second shoulder 16.
[0055] As illustrated in Figures 7, 9, 10, and 13, the medial portion 8 has
multiple facets
which results in a generally cylindrical shape with multiple facets. Given
that the stock
guide body 5 is a unitary piece, the medial portion 8 will not rotate with
respect to the
remainder of the stock guide body 5. Thus, when the stock guide body 5 is
fully installed
into die member 40, the outer surface 23 of the medial portion 8 that contacts
the stock
piece 2 is stationary with respect to the die member 40.
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[0056] The pocket 48 formed on die member 40 can be shaped to prevent the
rotation of
the stock guide body 5 by having one or more wall(s) that engage one or more
of the facets
on the exterior surface 23 of the medial portion 8 of the stock guide body 5.
[0057] Another embodiment of the stock guide assembly 204 is shown in
Figure 14. In that
embodiment, the stock guide body 205 has an outer end portion 206 and an inner
end
portion 210. The inner end portion 210 is received within the aperture 42 in
die member
40. The threaded shank portion of fastener 40 couples with the second portion
46 of the
aperture 42. The outer end portion 206 includes a chamfered portion 227 and a
lip 219,
which goes over the upper chamfered portion 217 of the bearing assembly 233.
The lower
chamfered portion 229 of the bearing assembly is located below the upper
surface 49 of
the die member 40 based upon the depth of the pocket 48 in die member 40. This
allows
the gap G between the top surface 49 of the die member 40 and surface 211 of
the outer
end portion 206 of the stock guide body 205 to be reduced. In this
arrangement, the stock
piece 2 will not contact a chamfered surface (217, 229) of the bearing
assembly 233. In
addition, once the fastener 30 is secured to the top surface 209 of the stock
guide body
205, there will be a clearance 213 above the bearing assembly 233 and a
clearance 235
below the bearing assembly 233.
[0058] The stock guide assemblies (4, 104, 204) can be sized to accommodate
different
sized stock pieces 2 and different sized die members 4. In the illustrated
examples, the
sizes are approximately 38mm and 58mm. Thus, diameter dl of the larger
assembly in
Figure 12 is approximately 58mm, while d2 is approximately 42mm. The diameter
d5 of
the smaller assembly in Figure 12 is approximately 38mm and the diameter d6 is
approximately 28mm. Similarly, the larger assembly in Figure 13 has a diameter
d3 of
approximately 58mm and a diameter d4 of approximately 42mm. The smaller
assembly in
Figure 13 has a diameter d7 of approximately 38mm and a diameter d8 of
approximately
28mm. The exterior surface of the medial portion 8 in the larger assembly of
Figure 13 has
forty-two flats or facets. The exterior surface of the medial portion 8 in the
smaller
assembly of Figure 13 has twenty-eight flats or facets.
[0059] In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by
those skilled in the art
that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the
concepts
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disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the
following
claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
[0060] It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that
construction of the
present disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific
material. Other
exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a
wide
variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.
[0061] For purposes of this disclosure, the term "coupled" or "operably
coupled" (in all of
its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two
components
(electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining
may be
stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with
the two
components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members
being
integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two
components.
Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in
nature
unless otherwise stated.
[0062] For purposes of this disclosure, the term "connected" or "operably
connected" (in
all of its forms, connect, connecting, connected, etc.) generally means that
one component
functions with respect to another component, even if there are other
components located
between the first and second component, and the term "operable" defines a
functional
relationship between components.
[0063] It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement
of the elements
of the present disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is
illustrative only.
Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described
in detail
in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will
readily appreciate
that, unless otherwise described, many modifications are possible (e.g.,
variations in sizes,
dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values
of
parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations,
etc.) without
materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject
matter
recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed
of multiple
parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the
operation of the
interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the
structures
and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the
nature
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or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied.
It
should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be
constructed
from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or
durability, in any
of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such
modifications
are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other
substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the
design, operating
positions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments
without
departing from the spirit of the present innovations as defined by the
appended claims.
[0064] It will be understood that any described processes or steps within
described
processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form
structures
within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and
processes
disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as
limiting.
[0065] It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be
made on the
aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of
the
present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are
intended to
be covered by the appended claims unless these claims by their language
expressly state
otherwise.
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