Other

Amada Engineering Service Co., Inc.

Robotics Automation Consulting Engineering Industries, Inc.

Scott D Maynard

Mark H Becker

Yutaka Takahashi

Phillip L Poynor

A tool changing apparatus for changing the punches and dies on a turret punch press is disclosed, wherein a carriage device provided with a upper rotatable disk on which a plurality of punches in removably supported, and a lower rotatable disk on which a die holders supporting a plurality of dies is removably supported, is positioned at the side of the turret punch press. A punch mounting/dismounting device is further provided for dismounting a punch from and mounting a punch on the upper rotatable disk and for dismounting a punch from and mounting a punch on an upper turret disk on the turret punch press. The punch mounting/dismounting device is adapted to transport the punch between the upper rotatable disk and the upper turret disk. A die mounting/dismounting device is yet further provided for moving the die holder back and forth between a lower turret disk on the turret punch press, and the lower rotatable disk. The die mounting/dismounting device dismounts a die from and mounts a die on the die holder which has been moved onto the rotatable disk. As a result of the above configuration, the tool changing apparatus is capable to automatically change punches and dies on the turret punch press.

Tool changing apparatus for a turret punch press

A tool changing apparatus for changing the punches and dies on a turret punch press is disclosed, wherein a carriage device provided with a upper rotatable disk on which a plurality of punches is removably supported, and a lower rotatable disk on which a die holders supporting a plurality of dies is removably supported, is positioned at the side of the turret punch press. A punch mounting/dismounting device is further provided for dismounting a punch from and mounting a punch on the upper rotatable disk and for dismounting a punch from and mounting a punch on an upper turret disk on the turret punch press. The punch mounting/dismounting device is adapted to transport the punch between the upper rotatable disk and the upper turret disk. A die mounting/dismounting device is yet further provided for moving the die holder back and forth between a lower turret disk on the turret punch press, and the lower rotatable disk. The die mounting/dismounting device dismounts a die from and mounts a die on the die holder which has been moved onto the rotatable disk. As a result of the above configuration, the tool changing apparatus is capable to automatically change punches and dies on the turret punch press.

An in-die tapping tool having particular application to a progressive die method for threading holes in a sheet metal workpiece. The tapping includes a transmission system comprising a threaded shaft assembly and a planetary roller nut. The roller nut is adapted to move axially along the shaft assembly in response to an impact force applied to the tapping tool during the downstroke of the press. The movement of the roller nut causes the shaft assembly to rotate, which rotation is imparted to a threaded lead screw to cause the lead screw to simultaneously rotate and ride axially along a threaded wall of a hollow cylindrical body. The rotational and axial movements of the lead screw through the cylindrical body are transferred to the tap to correspondingly induce a rotation and advancement of the tap towards the workpiece having the holes to be threaded. However, the axial location of the rotatable shaft assembly relative to the workpiece remains unchanged.

In-die tapping tool

An insertion tool to be interfaced with a turret-type punch press, or the like, to insert fasteners, such as captive or clinch nuts, into holes in a sheet metal workpiece. The tool includes a canister assembly having a plurality of guide rods on which the captive nuts are stacked. The nuts are loaded from the guide rods into respective holes in a rotatable planetary gear of the canister assembly so that successive ones of said nuts can be axially aligned with an exit opening of the canister assembly to be forcibly ejected therethrough by a punch assembly. The punch assembly and planetary gear are moved relative to the exit opening by a reciprocating cam enclosure which is connected to the punch assembly and to which an impact force is applied from the press. The reciprocating movement of the cam enclosure is transferred to the planetary gear to rotate said gear by way of a motion translating assembly including a rotatable cam that is coupled to and rotated by said cam enclosure.

Captive nut insertion tool

A tapping attachment for threading a relatively large number of holes through a sheet metal part at a relatively low cost per hole. The tapping attachment includes a thrust bearing assembly which is aligned with a turret-type punch press or the like and movable in response to an axially directed force generated by the punch press. The axially directed force applied from the press to the thrust bearing assembly is transferred to a spline shaft. The spline shaft is rotated wihin and moved linearly relative to a screw threaded roller nut, whereby the axially directed force is converted into a rotating force for advancing and turning a tap at high speeds of rotation. A nitrogen reservoir is provided so that a supply of gas is available for returning the thrust bearing assembly and the spline shaft to their initial positions in order that a new hole can be tapped in response to another axially directed force. Also provided is an oil reservoir so that a supply of oil is available for lubricating and cooling the tap via an oil spout.

Tapping attachment for a punch press

A connector for interfacing a disk drive, into which a floppy disk is to be loaded, with a controller card of a personal computer. The connector replaces the printed circuit board which has previously been used to interface the disk drive and computer. More particularly, the connector includes socket and plug portions which emulate the box connector and edge card, respectively, of the conventional circuit board interface. Accordingly, and by virtue of the presently described connector, the disk drive may be more directly and reliably interfaced with the computer while eliminating the conventional printed circuit board and the relatively high cost and space consumption that are characteristically associated therewith.

Growing community of inventors

Newport Beach, CA, United States of America

Scott D Maynard