DESC:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of manufacturing technology.
DEFINITIONS
As used in the present disclosure, the following terms are generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used indicate otherwise.
The expression ‘flanging operation’ used hereinafter in the specification refers to a sheet metal forming process in which the edges of the sheet metal are bent by an angle of 90o.
The expression ‘press machine’ used hereinafter in the specification refers to a machine that changes or deforms the shape of a workpiece by the application of pressure.
The expression ‘cam bucket slider’ used hereinafter in the specification refers to a slider component that is actuated or slided to cause the hingeable movement of a cam.
The expression ‘panel lifter’ used hereinafter in the specification refers to a plate that abuts a workpiece on which the flanging operation has been performed for the purpose of lifting the workpiece to facilitate separation of the workpiece from the die of the press machine.
BACKGROUND
Flange lifter units are typically employed in press machines to separate a workpiece from a die after completion of a flanging operation. In conventional flange lifters, the lifting force is provided by a gas spring and/or a coil spring present in the flange lifters. The gas spring and the coil spring require periodic maintenance as well as replacement in case of spring leakages. Moreover, the gas spring consumes additional space and hinders the panel loading and the unloading process, which in turn, results in operator fatigue. Additionally, the conventional flange lifters can damage the panels to be lifted if the gas spring or the coil spring of the flange lifters fails.
Therefore, there is felt a need to limit the aforementioned drawbacks and provide a flange lifter which eliminates the use of gas spring and coil spring.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a flange lifter that does not require gas and/or coil springs.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a flange lifter that does not obstruct the path of the panel loading and unloading to reduce operator fatigue.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a flange lifter arrangement for separating a workpiece from a die after flanging operation is performed on the workpiece on a press machine. The arrangement comprises a cam bucket slider configured on a shoe of the press machine. The cam bucket slider has a protrusion configured thereon. A cam is configured on the press machine adjacent the cam bucket slider, wherein the protrusion is configured to abut the cam and displace the cam about a hinge. A panel lifter is configured on the press machine and coupled with the cam. The panel lifter is configured to abut the workpiece on being displaced, wherein in a displaced configuration, the cam is configured to abut the panel lifter, thereby lifting the panel lifter which in turn separates the workpiece from the die.
In an embodiment, the cam has a slot configured thereon. The panel lifter has a fastener extending therefrom, wherein the head of the fastener is received within the slot, thereby facilitating displacement of the panel lifter and separation of the workpiece from the die. In an embodiment, the cam has a triangular profile.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
The flange lifter of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1a illustrates a schematic representation of a conventional flange lifter arrangement;
Figure 1b illustrates a sectional view of the conventional flange lifter arrangement of Figure 1a;
Figure 2 illustrates a schematic representation of a flange lifter arrangement of the present disclosure in accordance with one embodiment;
Figure 3a illustrates a sectional view of the flange lifter arrangement of Figure 2 in an inoperative configuration; and
Figure 3b illustrates a sectional view of the flange lifter arrangement of Figure 2 in an operative configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A conventional flange lifter provides the lifting force by a gas spring and a coil spring present in the flange lifter. Referring to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1a illustrates a schematic representation of a conventional flange lifter arrangement 100, and Figure 1b illustrates a sectional view of the conventional flange lifter arrangement 100 of Figure 1a. The conventional flange lifter arrangement 100 includes a flange lifter 106 operatively coupled to a gas spring 102 and a coil spring 104. A pad 110 is included which moves in a vertical direction and provides grip to the object on which flanging operation needs to be performed. An upper die 114 and a lower insert 112 cooperate together to make dies. After completion of the flanging operation the upper die 114 is lifted up by the gas spring 102 and the coil spring 104 by applying a lifting force. A first position 108a illustrates the panel shut condition and a second position 108b shows the panel ejection (lifted) condition. When the conventional flange lifter 106 lifts the panel in cam flange dies, it is necessary that the pad 110 releases the panel holding before flange lifting starts. Also a bucket cam (not shown in figure) must release the panel holding before the flange lifting starts. Additionally, the lifting force provided by the coil spring 104 needs to be strong enough to lift the panel. When all the aforementioned conditions are considered, it is observed that the required flange lifter stroke is based on pad stroke, bucket stroke, flange height and safety height. Therefore,
Flange lifter stroke required = upper pad stroke + bucket stroke + flange height + 10mm safety
i.e., Flange lifter stroke required = approx. (90mm + 90mm + 20mm + 10mm) = approx. 210mm
The conventional flange lifter 106 requires a gas spring 102 and a coil spring 104 to provide the required lifter stroke. Even though it is easy to remove, clean and re-insert the gas spring 102 and the coil spring 104 during maintenance, their use requires periodic maintenance and replacement in case of spring leakages. Moreover, the gas spring 102 consumes additional space and hinders the panel loading and unloading process which in turn results in operator fatigue. Additionally, the conventional flange lifter 106 can damage panels if any of the gas spring 102 or coil spring 104 of the flange lifter 106 fails.
Therefore, in order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, the present disclosure envisages a flange lifter arrangement for separating a workpiece from a die after flanging operation is performed on the workpiece on a press machine, and which does not involve the use of coil springs and gas springs. In accordance with the present disclosure, the arrangement comprises a cam bucket slider configured on a shoe of the press machine. The cam bucket slider has a protrusion configured thereon. A cam is configured on the press machine adjacent the cam bucket slider, wherein the protrusion is configured to abut the cam and displace the cam about a hinge. A panel lifter is configured on the press machine and coupled with the cam. The panel lifter is configured to abut the workpiece on being displaced, wherein in a displaced configuration, the cam is configured to abut the panel lifter, thereby lifting the panel lifter which in turn separates the workpiece from the die.
In an embodiment, the cam has a slot configured thereon. The panel lifter has a fastener extending therefrom, wherein the head of the fastener is received within the slot, thereby facilitating displacement of the panel lifter and separation of the workpiece from the die. In an embodiment, the cam has a triangular profile.
The flange lifter arrangement of the present disclosure is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 2 illustrates a schematic representation of a flange lifter arrangement 200 of the present disclosure in accordance with one embodiment, Figure 3a illustrates a sectional view of the flange lifter arrangement 200 of Figure 2 in an inoperative configuration, and Figure 3b illustrates a sectional view of the flange lifter arrangement 200 of Figure 2 in an operative configuration. In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the flange filter arrangement 200 requires a lifter stroke of approximately 30mm, which is significantly less that the stroke of 210mm of the conventional flange lifter arrangement.
The flange lifter arrangement 200 includes a panel lifter 202, a cam 204, and a cam bucket slider 206. The cam 204 and the panel lifter 202 are coupled via a slot and pin arrangement, wherein the slot is configured on the cam 204 and the pin extends from the panel lifter 202. In an embodiment, the flange lifter arrangement 200 uses a CI casting specifically from FG300 for the cam bucket slider 206, and MS for the cam 204 and the panel lifter 202. The movement of the cam bucket slider 206 results in movement of the panel lifter 202 through the cam 204 mechanism. The cam bucket slider 206 comes back & releases the panel such that the slide-able displacement of the cam bucket slider 206 pushes the cam 204 via a protrusion 206A, about a hinge 210, which causes the angular displacement of the cam 204. The cam 204 in turn converts the horizontal motion of the cam bucket slider 206 into a vertical motion of the panel lifter 202 via the slot and pin arrangement. The panel lifter 202 then moves up and lifts the panel. As the cam bucket slider 206 provides the lifting force, coil spring and gas spring are not required by the flange lifter arrangement 200. This avoids obstacles in the path of panel loading and unloading and eases the process of the panel loading & unloading, thereby reducing the operator fatigue.
In an embodiment, the cam 204 has a slot 204A configured thereon. The panel lifter 202 has a fastener 212 extending therefrom, wherein the head of the fastener 212 is received within the slot 204A, thereby facilitating displacement of the panel lifter 202 and separation of the workpiece from the die.
Further, as the horizontal motion of the cam bucket slider 206 is converted into a flange lifter vertical motion, the force provided by the cam bucket slider 206 overcomes the problem of the flange lifter associated with insufficient tonnage.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of:
• a flange lifter that does not require gas and/or coil springs; and
• a flange lifter that does not obstruct the path of the panel loading and unloading to reduce operator fatigue.
The foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. An arrangement (200) for separating a workpiece from a die after a flanging operation is performed on said workpiece on a press machine, said arrangement (200) comprising:
a cam bucket slider (206) configured on a shoe of said press machine, said cam bucket slider (206) having a protrusion (206A) configured thereon;
a cam (204) configured on said press machine adjacent said cam bucket slider (206), wherein said protrusion (206A) is configured to abut said cam (204) and displace said cam (204) about a hinge (210); and
a panel lifter (202) configured on said press machine and coupled with said cam (204), said panel lifter (202) configured to abut said workpiece on being displaced, wherein in a displaced configuration, said cam (204) is configured to abut said panel lifter (202), thereby lifting said panel lifter (202) which in turn separates said workpiece from said die.
2. The arrangement (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cam (204) has a slot (204A) configured thereon.
3. The arrangement (200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said panel lifter (202) has a fastener (212) extending therefrom, wherein the head of said fastener (212) is received within said slot (204A), thereby facilitating displacement of said panel lifter (202) and separation of said workpiece from said die.
4. The arrangement (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cam (204) has a triangular profile.

5. The arrangement (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shoe is a lower shoe of said press machine.