US2815076A - Stock alignment device - Google Patents

Description

' Dec. 3, 1957 J- BUKREY ET 2,815,076 l STOCK ALIGNMENT DEVICE Filed May 12, '1954 :Ei-E a M29 55 35, ATTORNEYS srocK nimm/instr DEVICE Application May 12, 1954, Serial No. 429,264

4 Claims. (Cl. 164-59) The present invention relates to a stock pusher and more specifically to a guide for progressive die stock assuring accurate positioning of stock as it is fed through progressive dies.

t Where strip material is fed between dies or die and stripper plate it is necessary to assure enough clearance laterally to permit passage of the stock while utilizing one edge of the stoel; as an index line pushed snugly against a shoulder on one side of the die. On the side of the die opposite the shoulder some means must be employed to position the stock and to push the stock against the indexing shoulder. Spring-loaded means have been employed which urge the stock moving through the die into engagement with the indexing shoulder.

Arrangements heretofore are subject to dual criticism. The friction against such pusher means, as the stock moved through the die, shortened the life of the pusher means and the spring loading tender to coc the stock by reason of the fact that as the stock moved, the spring force was unequally distributed along the length of pusher means due to friction.

To a great extent the provision of a standard stock pusher has failed since the tool and die trade has utilized malte-shift arrangements lacking any semblance of uniformity and ranging greatly from one job to another.

fit is accordingly among the objects of this invention to provide a stock pusher adapted for easy installation and which can be replaceably standar-dized in the trade.

It is another object to provide a wheeled stock pusher wherein the maximum amount of stock-bearing area can be obtained with minimum clearance requirements.

It is another obj'ect to provide a canted frusto-conical spring-loaded roller for transmitting aligned pressure to the moving stock in progressive dies, and wherein the pressure can be released from outside of said dies as the operator wishes.

Other objects including economy of construction, simplicity of construction, simplicity of installation, and efticient distribution of bearing forces in the pusher structure will become increasingly apparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a stock pusher.

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the stock pusher shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the stock pusher shown in Figure 2 but showing the installation of the compression spring and depressor.

Figure 4 is a fragmental section of the roller mounting portion of the stock pusher taken on the line IV-lV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a schematic cross-section through a set of dies having a stripper plate in position and illustrating the installation of a stock pusher urging strip stock against the shoulder on the side of the die opposite the stock pusher.

1&65 11316111" ice Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the stock pusher.

Figure 7 is a cut-away side elevation view of the modified stock pusher as shown in Figure 6 inserted in a die.

Figure 8 is a perspective view taken externally from a die and showing the positioning of a plurality of stock pushers extending from between the die and stripper plate.

General description In general, a frame 11 is provided. The frame 11 is arranged to house spring means 19 and spring depressor 2@ where compression operation is desired. The depressor 211 is provided with a loop 21 for encircling a pin 18. The pin 13 is mounted between the stripper plate 30 and die 35. The frame 11 of the stock pusher is permitted to be urged forward by reason of the pin relief slot 13. On the end of the frame 11, mounting shoulders or tabs 14 provide journalling for a shaft 16. Upon the shaft 16 is rotatably and snugly mounted a roller 15. The roller 15 is canted as is the shaft 16 and the tabs 14. In accordance with the frusto-conical form of the roller 15 the canting of the shaft 16 and the tabs 14 is such as to provide a stock-engaging roller surface which is at right angles to the stock 34 moving through the dies 31 and 35 and consequently the roller face is perpendicular to the plane of the frame 11. Such canting of the roller 15 and journalling has obvious advantages in preserving the life of the journalling since the normally direct thrust is carried to the journalling means at a predetermined angle to be distributed by the frame 11 and into the die or stripper.

A modiiied form of the stock pusher is shown in Figures 6 and 7 wherein the form of frame 11 is modified as indicated by reference numeral 23 and a tension Spring 26 is substituted for the compression spring means 19 and 20. As in the iirst form of the stock pusher the frame 23 is urged forward so as to press the roller 27 into engagement with stock 34. Slot 25 equating as slot 13 permits this movement. In contrast to the compression arrangement, however, the modified form contemplates tension-spring actuation. The tension spring 26 encircles the pin 18 and is retained by the end of the spring 26, opposite the pin 1S, being inserted through the retainer or frame orice 24. It will be understood that a tension spring can be substituted in the frame 11 shown in Figure 3 so as to make a functioning stock pusher having entirely adequate performance as a stock pusher in die applications.

In the indicated modification, as shown best in Figure .7, the frame 23 is provided with a single roller mounting tab 27a. The shaft 28 is ush mounted in the tab 27a and carries the cylindrical roller 27. As in the case of the spring means 26 it will be understood that the modified roller 27 may be substituted for vthe frustoconical canted roller 15.

In light Work installations the modication shown in Figures 6 and 7 may be used to considerable advantage inasmuch as a minimum bearing or journalling area is obtained and the overall strength of the structure is less than shown in the heavier double frame 11. The modied form is thus more cheaply constructed while generally carrying forward the 4objectives of producing a roller-type stock pusher.

Specific description Referring more specifically to the drawing it will be seen that the frame 11 is formed from a channel-like piece of stock so that a web portion bridges between the leg portions 11a. The channel-like frame is then doubled upon itself so that the channel legs 11a parallel and substantially meet each other forming a generally U-shaped elongated box-like rectangular frame 11. The cut-out portions 12 in the web of the frame 11 are aligned during the folding of the frame 11. The purpose ofthe cut-outs 1'2 is to provide a relie'f for the hereinafter to be described spring 19 and to facilitate assembly. At the forward (open) end of the cut-outs 12, short cleats 12a formed from a portion of the web are bent downward between the legs 11a to provide a spring seat, the purpose of which will become increasingly apparent as the description proceeds.

Between the cut-outs 12 inthe web of the frame 11 and the forward or open end of the frame 11, a slot 13 is provided which is aligned on either web of the frame 11. As illustrated in Figure 3 the slot 13 merges to form the stress relief opening 17 which permits the parallel canting of the mounting shoulders llwithout misaligning the web or leg portion of the frame 11. The shoulders 14 provide journalling for the shaft 16. Rotatably on the shaft 16 is the roller 15. The roller is frusto-conical in form and case hardened or otherwise rendered wear resistant. To the extent that the frusto-conical face of the roller 15 is a departure from a right angle, .so the shoulders 1li are canted to assure that a surface perpendicular to the frame 11 will be provided. The canting angle and the conical angle are thus interrelated and their selection is normally made to permit the maximum amount of roller engagement against the die stock 34 and so that the dimensional thickness of the frame 11 is not exceeded by the canted shoulders or tabs 14 as shown in Figure 4.

A. pin 18 is provided which is movable in the slot 13. The pin is normally provided with a peripheral groove 13a midway of its length. The pin 1S is insertable between the die 35 and the stripper plate 3l) in pin seats or holes 18a therein provided. A compression spring 19, which seats at one end against the cleats 12o, is placed inside the cage formed by the frame 11. A spring depressor or retainer 2f) runs through the coil of the spring 19 and is looped at one end to form a yoke which seats in the groove 18a of the pin 18. At the other end of the depressor 20 are flares 22 which retain the compression sping 19. Assembly is accomplished through the cutouts 12 and the flares 22 prevent disengagement of the spring when the stock pusher is in operation.

As the description progresses certain obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. in this connection Figures 6 and 7 are intended to illustrate a modified stock pusher having a channel-like frame 23 which is provided with legs 23a but which is of open construe-- tion on one side. Although a compression spring such as 19 may be employed a tension spring 25 is utilized which is connectable to the pin 13 in the pin groove 13a and is held by a spring retainer 2d at the end opposite the roller 27 on the frame 23. The precise form of the spring retainer selected was the orifice 21 through which the spring 26 is hooked. Other retainers can be adopted, but the orifice 24'! has proved most economical during fabrication. It will, of course, be understood that the tension spring 26 can be substituted for the compression spring 19 without a material departure from the spirit of the invention. A pin slot is provided through the web portion of the frame 23, and no cut-outs, as 12 or 17, are required inasmuch as the web of the frame 23 becomes the mounting shoulder or tab 27a for the cylindrical roller 27 on the shaft 28. The shaft 28 is of step-down form to eliminate binding and is fixed to the shoulder or tab 27a by upset.- ting vone end of the shaft 23 in the chamber provided in the tab 27a. The other end of the shaft 28 is provided with an integral head which is countersunk into the cylindrical roller 27 as best shown in Figure 7. Thus, a stock pusher has been provided wherein the roller 27 is not canted but which does restrict itself to the thickness limitations imposed by the size of the frame 23. The roller 27, like the roller 15, is case hardened or otherwiserendered abrasion-and wear resistant and the roller Cil 27 extends somewhat beyond the frame 23 as does the roller 15 on the frame 11.

While the description has not indicated the materials comprising the frames of the stock pushers, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that metal and preferably steel gives the greatest durability to the structure and the greatest structural and fabrication economy inasmuch as the entire stock pusher can be stamped from sheet metal and appropriately formed in a simple sequence of operations.

Operation It is the object of a stock pusher to position stock as it moves through a die, for example, through a progressive die, by shoving the stock against an indexing shoulder 33 in the die 31 as shown in Figure 5. The presently described stock pushers are inserted in recesses between the dies 35 and 31 or more specifically between the stripper plate 30 and the die 35. While the die shown as 31 in Figure 5 is a female die it will be readily apparent that cases might occur where the stock pusher would be adjacent the male die 32.

The pin 18, statically positioned in the die assembly, provides a post against which compression or tension spring means can urge the frame 11 or 23 and its roller 15 or 27 into engagement with the stock 34 consequently assuring that the stock 34 will be butted against the die shoulder 35. Thus, if tensioning means are employed the spring 26 is elongated upon installation assuring that the frame 23 will be urged toward the stock 3ft. If compression means are employed the depressor 20 compresses the spring against the spring cleats 12a urging the stock pusher frame 11 toward the stock.

In Figmre 8 a press plate 32 is shown schematically poised over a die set with the stock pusher frame 11 extending somewhat from being sandwiched between the die 31 and stripper` plate 30 in recesses 37.

In Figure 5 a schematic cross-section through a die is indicated showing a frame 11 of the stock pusher inserted in the recess 37 with the pin 18 retained in the seats 18b.

The frame 11 or 23 is inserted into the recess 37 provided in the Idie and the pin 18 inserted between stripper plate 30 and die 31, the pin 18 impinging the spring 19 or depressor 20 and the loop 21. Thus, by compression of the spring 19 the frame is urged forward in its travel, limited by the length of slot 13. If the frame 23 or a tension spring 26 is utilized the spring 26 is directly attached to the pin 18 and to a part of the frame 23. This accomplishes simple positioning of the strip stock 34 as it is fed through the die. Roller relief passages 36 may be provided as shown in Figure 5 so that dirt, grit, grime, and metal fragments will not plug or hamper the roller 1S. While the cylindrical roller 2'7 requires only the extension of the recess 37 to the pushing edge of the stock 34, it is recommended that a relief Ipassage 36 be provided in the die to avoid fouling of the roller 27 by accumulation of scraps. As the die operator desires to release the steady pressure of the stock pusher he may grasp the extending end of the pusher and draw against the spring loading mechanism thereby releasing the positioning pressure of roller against stock 34. In some die installations a single pusher may be adequate. A plurality of pushers may be required in some die set ups.

We have thus described in detail our new and highly useful `stock pushers. It will be readily appreciated that the wheeled or roller fitted spring loaded pushers are a significant advance over the art. It will be appreciated that the simplicity of the structure renders it simple and economical to produce. It will be further appreciated that material strength advantages are to be gained by reason of the canted frusto-eonical roller. ln addition a roller is provided which increases the interfacial contact between stock and pusher and renders the contact substantially frictionless. While the description has referred to a specific application in association with progressive dies, it is intended that wherever stock is moved the pushers here described will find utility.

lt will be understood that certain modifications are contemplated which are within the capabilities of persons skilled in the art. Such contemplated modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A stock alignment device for indexing stock moving between a set of die elements wherein the alignment device is sandwiched between die elements having recesses therein for receiving the alignment device, including: a substantially open box-like frame adapted to reciprocate longitudinally within the recesses of said die elements and having slots transversely provided therethrough; a tab end extending from one end of said frame and comprising a mounting ange; a wheel mounted on said ange and having its rim extending beyond the peripheral extension of said flange; a pin inserted through the slots of said frame and extending beyond said frame and secured to said die elements; and resilient means attached to said pin and said frame urging said frame and said wheel into aligning contact with stock passing through said die elements. l

2` In the structure as described in claim 1 wherein said resilient means comprises a tension spring secured to said frame proximate to the end of said frame opposite said roller and secured to said pin so as to urge said roller into resilient and rolling aligning contact with stock passing between said die elements.

3. In the structure as described in claim 1 wherein said resilient member comprises a compression spring urging said frame outwardly in the recess so as to urge said alignment device into resilient and rolling aligning contact with stock passing between said die elements.

4. A stock alignment device for indexing stock moving between a set of die elements wherein the alignment device is sandwiched between the margin of said die elements, said die elements having recesses therein for receiving the alignment device so as to permit its resilient extension into the path of moving stock, including: a unitary frame made of channel-shaped material folded to form a flattened substantially rectangular and elongated box-like form having slots provided therein for pin mounting and adaptable to slide reciprocably within the recess provided between said die members, tabs extending from one end of said frame formed from the web portion of said frame and inclined at a predetermined angle to define a space; a frusto-conical roller inclinedly and operably mounted in the space defined by said tabs so that the face of said roller is perpendicular to the plane of said frame; a shaft through said roller rotatably fixing said roller to said tabs; a pin insertable through the slot in said frame and xed by insertion in the die elements outside of said frame; and spring means urging said frame and roller into resilient rolling contact with stock moving between said die elements, the movement of said frame limited by the extent of the slot in said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,165,614 Cook July 1l, 1939 2,168,486 Marchev Aug. 8, 1939 2,374,376 Olney Apr. 24, 1945 2,465,621 Wheeler Mar. 29, 1949 2,505,925 Von Haase May 2, 1950 2,588,946 Walden Mar. 11, 1952

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