FORM 2
The Patents Act 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
FLOATING CUTTING EDGE MECHANISM FOR
PRESS TOOL
APPLICANT:
LARSEN & TOUBRO LIMITED
L&T House, Ballard Estate, P.O. Box No. 278,
Mumbai, 400 001, Maharashtra
INDIA.
PREAMBLE OF THE DESCRIPTION:
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED

A) TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention generally relates to press tools and particularly to lancing and bending press tools. The present invention more particularly relates to a floating mechanism for cutting edge in lancing and bending press tools for easy removal of a component from the die block after a lancing operation.
B) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The press working is one of the major processing techniques for converting a sheet metal into sheet metal parts of different shapes. The sheet metal strip or coil may be made up of ferrous or non-ferrous materials. The sheet metal parts are required for different applications such as electrical, electronic products, automobiles, watches etc. The sheet metal is punched between two parts called punch and die. The die profile is a female profile which is intentionally kept bigger than the punch profile by a uniform gap called as cutting clearance or cutting gap.
[0003] The press tool mainly includes two halves that are fixed bottom half and a top moving half. The fixed bottom half is secured to a stationary bolster plate of the mechanical press. The fixed bottom half includes arrangement to guide the strip/coil, die cavities, guide pillars for the alignment of both halves and so on. The top moving half is clamped to the moving ram of the mechanical press. The top moving half comprises a number of circular and non-circular cutting elements,

generally called punches. The punches are held in a plate called as a punch holder. The punches move up and down along with the moving ram of the mechanical press and the punches are guided in cavities made in a plate called as a stripper.
[0004] During downward movement, the punches penetrate the sheet metal and enter the die cavity thereby pushing the sheet metal scrap displaced by the cutting punch, into the lower half of the tool. One downward and return upward movement of the top moving half of the press tool is called as a stroke of the press tool.
[0005] In a lancing and bending press tool, a component is placed on the die block. The component profile demands lancing and bending operation to be performed sequentially. In this tool, a first lancing operation is performed on the component and then a bending operation is performed on the lanced limb of the component. After the bending operation, the lanced limb of the component remains in the die. The profile and the dimensions of the lanced limb are supposed to be perfect at the final result of the bending process. When the component is tried to be ejected from the die profile conventionally after the bending process is completed, there is a possibility of the lanced limb getting damaged since the lanced limb is trapped inside the die profile. This may reduce the quality of the component. Hence it is necessary to develop a mechanism for easy removal of the lanced component from the die profile of the press tool.

[0006] The above mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein and which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.
C) OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The primary object of the present invention is to develop a floating cutting edge mechanism in a lancing and bending press tool for easy removal of a component from the die profile.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a floating cutting edge mechanism in a lancing and bending press tool to eject the lanced limb of a component without damaging its profile and dimension.
[0009] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
D) SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The various embodiments of the present invention provide a floating cutting edge mechanism in a lancing and bending press tool for easy removal of a component from the die profile.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for floating cutting edge mechanism in a press tool including a moving die insert is provided. The system has a spring mechanism connected to the moving die insert in a press tool. A cam mechanism is connected to a top plate in the press tool. The cam mechanism is operated to move the moving die insert to a cutting position before the operation of a cutting takes place and the spring mechanism is operated to pull the moving die insert away from the cutting position to enable the removal of the component after a lancing and bending process.
[0012] The spring mechanism comprises an Allen screw, a washer, a sleeve and a spring. The spring is compressed when the cam is operated to move the moving die insert to the cutting position. The compressed spring starts exerting a pulling force to bring the moving die insert back to an original position, when the cam is disengaged from the moving die insert and the cutting punch is moved away. The system further comprises a stopper provided to restrict the outward movement of the die insert.
[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a lancing and bending press tool includes a moving half, a fixed half and a component. The moving half includes a cam mechanism, a cutting punch, a holder plate, a top plate, a shank plate and a stripper. The fixed half includes a moving die insert, a spring mechanism, a die block for placing the component, a plurality of base plates, a backing plate, a heel block, a die stopper and a spacer.

[0014] The moving die insert coupled to the spring mechanism forms a floating cutting edge mechanism in the die unit. The heel block is fixed on the base plate of the die unit. There is a gap provided in between the heel block and the moving die insert to engage the cam mechanism of the moving half, when the it comes down. As the cam engages, it heels against the heel block and pushes the floating cutting edge mechanism to its cutting position. The heel block also prevents the cam from deflection due to a side thrust exerted during the cutting (lancing) operation
[0015J When the lancing and bending tool is in an open condition, the moving die insert is pulled back from its cutting position to its normal position by the spring mechanism so that the size of die opening is increased across the cutting direction. At this position, the size of the die opening is more than the required normal die opening. The die stopper is fixed on the base plate to restrict the excess outward movement of the moving die insert due to the pulling force of the spring mechanism.
[0016] Then the component is loaded and located in the nesting provided on the die block. As the moving half moves down, the cam mechanism of the moving half engages into the gap between heel block and the moving die insert. This cam mechanism pushes the moving die insert horizontally to its cutting position. This is done well before the cutting punch of the moving half starts to cut the component. At the full engagement position of the cam, the die opening is equal to the required normal die opening. Due to the movement of the moving die insert

in horizontal position, the spring is compressed. Hence the spring mechanism exerts a pulling force on the moving die insert in opposite direction during the engagement of the cam mechanism with the moving die insert.
[0017] When the moving half moves further down, the cutting punch starts to cut the component. This marks the commencement of the lancing operation. Due to typical shape of the cutting punch and restriction provided by the spacer from the bottom of the die block, the lanced limb of the component starts bending in a desired shape such as Z-type bending, when the cutting punch descends. At the end of the stroke, the component is cut and bent to get the final shape as required.
[0018] During the upward stroke of the press unit, the cam mechanism disengages from the moving die insert. Due to the pulling force exerted by the spring, the spring mechanism pulls the moving die insert back to its normal position to increase the die opening size. Hence the lanced and bent portion of the component trapped inside the die opening is relieved. So that the component is easily removed/ejected from the lancing and bending press tool. The excess outward movement of the moving die insert is restricted by the die stopper.
E) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
[0019] The other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a lancing and bending press tool provided with a system for a floating cutting edge mechanism in a closed position, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a lancing and bending press tool having a floating cutting edge mechanism in a closed position, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a lancing and bending press tool having a floating cutting edge mechanism with loaded component at an open position, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a lancing and bending press tool having a floating cutting edge mechanism during the engagement of the cam mechanism with the moving die insert, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates a side assembly view of a lancing and bending press tool having a floating cutting edge mechanism during the full engagement of the cam mechanism with the moving die insert, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of a lancing and bending press tool having a floating cutting edge mechanism during the upward stroke of the cam mechanism from the moving die insert, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of a component having a lanced limb which is formed using a floating cutting edge mechanism in a lancing and bending press tool, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of a component having a lanced limb which is formed using a floating cutting edge mechanism in a lancing and bending press tool, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] Although the specific features of the present invention are shown in some drawings and not in others. This is done for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the present invention.
F) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] In the following detailed description, a reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which the specific embodiments that may be practiced is shown by way of illustration. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and it is to be understood that the logical, mechanical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the

embodiments. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0030] The various embodiments of the present invention provide a floating cutting edge mechanism in a lancing and bending press tool for easy removal of a component from the die.
[0031] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for a floating cutting edge mechanism in a press tool including a moving die insert is provided. The system has a spring mechanism connected to a moving die insert in a press tool. A cam mechanism is connected to a top plate in the press tool. The cam mechanism is operated to move the moving die insert to a cutting position before the operation of a cutting punch in the press tool and the spring mechanism is operated to pull the moving die insert away from the cutting position to enable the removal of the component after a lancing process.
[0032] The spring mechanism comprises an Allen screw, a washer, a sleeve and a spring. The spring is compressed when the cam is operated to move the moving die insert to the cutting position. The compressed spring starts exerting a pulling force to bring the moving die insert back to an original position, when the cam is disengaged from the moving die insert and the cutting punch is moved away. The system farther comprises a stopper provided to restrict the outward movement of the die insert.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a lancing and bending press tool includes a moving half, a fixed half and a component. The moving half includes a cam mechanism, a cutting punch, a holder plate, a top plate, a shank plate and a stripper. The top plate and the shank plate of the press unit provide support to the press unit. The stripper may be a fixed stripper or a floating stripper. The stripper is used to strip off the component from the cutting punch during upward stroke of the cutting punch.
[0034] The fixed half includes a moving die insert, a spring mechanism, a die block for placing the component, a plurality of base plates, a backing plate, a heel block, a die stopper and a spacer. The moving die insert coupled to the spring mechanism forms a floating cutting edge mechanism in the fixed half. The spring mechanism includes a spring, screws such as Allen screws, a washer and a sleeve to provide a pulling force on the moving die insert. The heel block is fixed on the base plate of the die unit. There is a gap provided in between the heel block and the moving die insert to engage the cam mechanism of the moving half, when the it comes down. . As the cam engages, it heels against the heel block and pushes the floating cutting edge mechanism to its cutting position. The heel block also prevents the cam from deflection due to side thrust exerted during cutting (lancing) operation..
[0035] When the lancing and bending tool is in an open condition, the moving die insert is pulled back from its cutting position to its normal position by the spring mechanism so that the size of die opening increases across the cutting

direction. At this position, the size of the die opening is more than the required normal die opening. The die stopper is fixed on the base plate to restrict the excess outward movement of the moving die insert due to the pulling force of the spring mechanism.
{0036J Then the component is loaded and located in the nesting provided on the die block. As the moving half moves down, the cam mechanism of the press unit heels against the heel block. This cam mechanism pushes the moving die insert horizontally to its cutting position. Due to the movement of the moving die insert in horizontal position, the spring in the spring mechanism is compressed. Hence the spring mechanism exerts a pulling force on the moving die insert in opposite direction during the engagement of the cam mechanism with the moving die insert. This is done well before the cutting punch of the moving half starts to cut the component kept in the die block. At this position, the die opening is equal to the required normal die opening.
[0037] When the moving half moves further down, the cutting punch starts to cut the component. This marks the commencement of a lancing operation. Due to typical shape of the cutting punch and restriction provided by the spacer from the bottom of the die block, the lanced limb of the component starts bending in a desired shape such as Z-type bending, when the cutting punch descends. At the end of the stroke, the component is cut and bent to get the final shape as required.

disengages from the moving die insert. Due to the pulling force exerted by the Spring, the spring mechanism pulls the moving die insert back to its normal position to increase the die opening size. Hence the lanced and bent portion of the component trapped inside the die opening is relieved. Thus the component is easily removed/ ejected from the lancing and pending press tool. The excess putward movement of the moving die insert is restricted by the die stopper.
[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates a side assembly view of a lancing and bending press tool having a floating cutting edge mechanism in a closed position, according to one embodiment of the present invention. With respect to FIG. 1, a lancing and bending press tool 100 includes a moving half 102, a fixed half 104 and a component 106. The moving half 102 includes a cam mechanism 108, a cutting punch 110, a top plate 112, a shank plate 114 and & stripper. The top plate 112 and the shank plate 114 of the moving half 102 provide support to the moving half 102.
[0040] The fixed half 104 includes a moving die insert 116, a spring mechanism 118, a die block 120 for placing the component 106, a backing plate 122, base plates 1241 and 1242, a spacer 126, a die stopper 128 and a heel block 130. The spring mechanism 118 includes a spring 132, screws 134 such as Allen screws, a washer 136 and a sleeve 138 to provide a pulling force on the moving die insert 116. The moving die insert 116 coupled to the spring mechanism 118 forms a floating cutting edge mechanism in the fixed half 104. The heel block 130 is fixed

on the base plate 1241 of the die unit 104. There is a gap provided between the heel block 130 and the moving die insert 116 to engage the cam mechanism 108 of the moving half 102, when the moving half 102 comes down. In that gap, the die stopper 128 is fixed on the base plate 1241 to restrict the excess outward movement of the moving die insert 116 due to the pulling force of the spring mechanism 118.
[0041] FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a lancing and bending press tool having a floating cutting edge mechanism in a closed position, according to one embodiment of the present invention. With respect to FIG. 2, the lancing and bending press tool 100 includes the moving half 102, the fixed half 104 and the component 106. The moving half 102 includes the cam mechanism, the cutting punch 110, the top plate 112, the shank plate 114 and a stripper 140. The top plate 112 and the shank plate 114 of the moving half 102 provide support to the moving halfl02. The stripper 140 may be a fixed stripper or a floating stripper. The stripper 140 is used to strip off the component 106 from the cutting punch 110 during upward stroke of the cutting punch 110.
[0042] The fixed half 104 includes the moving die insert, the spring mechanism, the die block 120 for placing the component 106, the backing plate 122, the base plates 1241 and 1242, the spacer 126, the die stopper and the heel block. The whole tool is assembled on the base plates 1241 and 1242.

[0043] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a lancing and bending press tool having a floating cutting edge mechanism with loaded component at an open position, according to one embodiment of the present invention. With respect to FIG. 3, when the lacing and bending tool 100 is in an open condition, the cam mechanism 108 and the cutting punch 110 of the moving half! 02 are not contacted to the fixed half 104. The moving die insert 116 of the fixed half 104 is pulled back from its cutting position to its normal position by the spring mechanism 118. So that the size of die opening 202 increases across the cutting direction. At this position, the size of the die opening 202 is more than the required normal die opening.
[0044] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a lancing and bending press tool having a floating cutting edge mechanism during the engagement of the cam mechanism with the moving die insert, according to one embodiment of the present invention. With respect to FIG. 4, the component 106 is loaded and located in the nesting provided on the die block 120 of the fixed half 104 in the lancing bending tool 100. As the moving half 102 moves down the cam mechanism 108 of the moving half 102 engages into the gap between heel block 130 and the moving die insert 116 such that the cam mechanism 108 pushes the moving die insert 116 horizontally to its cutting position. Due to the movement of the moving die insert 116 in horizontal position, the size of the die opening 202 is reduced and the spring 132 in the spring mechanism 118 is compressed. As a result, the spring mechanism 118 exerts a pulling force on the moving die insert 116 in opposite direction during the engagement of the cam mechanism 108 with the moving die

insert 116. This is done well before the cutting punch 110 of the moving half 102 starts to cut the component 106. At this position, the size of the die opening 202 is equal to the required normal die opening.
[0045] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of a lancing and bending press tool having a floating cutting edge mechanism during the full engagement of the cam mechanism with the moving die insert, according to one embodiment of the present invention. With respect to FIG. 5, when the moving die insert 116 is brought into its cutting position, the moving half 102 moves further down so that the cutting punch 110 of the moving halfl02 starts to cut the component 106 placed in the die block 120 of the die unit 104. This marks the commencement of a lancing operation. Due to typical shape of the cutting punch HO and restriction provided by the spacer 126 from the bottom of the die block 120, the lanced limb of the component 106 starts bending in a desired shape such as Z-type bending, when the cutting punch 110 descends. At the end of the stroke, the component 106 is cut and bent to get the final shape as required.
[0046] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of a lancing and bending press tool having a floating cutting edge mechanism during the upward stroke of the cam mechanism from the moving die insert, according to one embodiment of the present invention. With respect to FIG. 6, during the upward stroke of the moving half 102, the cam mechanism 108 disengages from the moving die insert 116. Due to the pulling force exerted by the spring 132, the spring mechanism 118 pulls back the moving

die insert 116 from its cutting position to its normal position thereby increasing the size of the die opening 202. The excess outward movement of the moving die insert 116 is restricted by the die stopper 128. Hence the lanced and bent portion of the component 106 trapped inside the die opening 202 is relieved so that the component 106 is easily removed/ejected from the lancing and bending press tool 100.
[0047] FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of a component having a lanced limb which is formed using a floating cutting edge mechanism in a lancing and bending press tool, according to one embodiment of the present invention. With respect to FIG.
7, the component 106 formed by the lancing and bending press tool having a
floating cutting edge mechanism includes a lanced limb 302 at the lengthwise of
the component 106. Further the component 106 includes a hole 304 punched at
one end of the component 106.
[0048] FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of a component having a lanced limb which is formed using a floating cutting edge mechanism in a lancing and bending press tool, according to one embodiment of the present invention. With respect to FIG.
8, the component 106 formed by the lancing and bending press tool having a
floating cutting edge mechanism includes the lanced limb 302 at the lengthwise of
the component 106. The lanced limb 302 is bent downward to provide a shape
similar to Z-shape. The one end of the lanced limb 302 is fully cut from the
component 106 and other end is still a part of the component 106.

G) ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0049] The various embodiments of the present invention provide a floating cutting edge mechanism in a lancing and bending press tool for easy removal of a component from the die profile. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the floating cutting edge mechanism of a lancing and bending press tool is used to easily eject a component having the lanced limb without damaging its profile and dimension, using a cam mechanism, a moving die insert coupled to a spring mechanism.
[0050] Although the invention is described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the invention with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims.
[0051] It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the present invention described herein and all the statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall there between.
A

CLAIMS
What is claimed is:
1. A system for floating cutting edge mechanism in a press tool including a
moving die insert, the system comprising:
A spring mechanism connected to a moving die insert in a press tool
A cam mechanism connected to a die plate in the press tool;
Wherein the cam mechanism is operated to move the moving die insert to
a cutting position before the operation of a cutting punch in the press tool
and the spring mechanism is operated to pull the moving die insert away
from the cutting position to enable the removal of the component after a
lancing process.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the spring mechanism
comprises:
An Allen screw; A washer; A sleeve; and A spring.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the spring is compressed when the cam is operated to move the moving die insert to the cutting position.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the compressed spring starts exerting a pulling force to

5. The system according to claim 1 further comprises a die stopper provided at the press tool to restrict the outward movement of the die insert.