GB2182595A - Press - Google Patents

Abstract

A punch press comprises a 'C'-shaped frame mounting punch and die assemblies 14, 16 to its upper and lower limbs 11, 12, and an auxiliary frame 20 coupled to the upper and lower limbs of the 'C'-frame and assisting the 'C' frame 10 to resist deflection upon actuation of the or any punch of the press. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Punch press This invention relates to a punch press and in particularto an improved structural frame of a punch press.

A known type of punch press comprises a generally 'C' - shaped frame receiving the workpiece be tween its upper and lower limbs, the workpiece being held and displaced buy a movable carriage mounted between the upper and lower limbs ofthe 'C' - frame, and these upper and lower limbs supporting punches and corresponding dies, respectively, between which the workpiece is displaced. When a punch is actuated each time, the force generatedtendstoopentheframe:theframemust therefore be designed to be sufficiently strong, having regard to the magnitude of the forces generated upon actuation of the punches, that the deflection of the frame is kept to an acceptable minimum.

I have now devised a punch press with an improved structural frame, enabling larger punching forces to be withstood without increasing the size of the 'C'-frame.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a punch press which comprises a 'C'-shaped frame mounting at least one punch and corresponding die to its upper and lower limbs, and an auxilliaryframe coupled to the upper and lower limbs of the'C'-frame and assisting the'C'-frame to resist deflection upon actuation of the or any punch ofthe press.

The auxilliaryframe mayfor example comprise a rectangularframe disposed at right anglestothe 'C'frame, with upper and lowersides ofthe rectangular frame fixed at their mid-points to the outer ends of the upper and lower limbs of the 'C'-frame. Preferably the opposite, upright sides ofthe rectangular frame are maintained intension.Theauxilliaryframe may however be of any alternative shape (e.g. an 'A'shape, ortrapezium shape etc) providing the same effect as the rectangularframe, and allowing space for the workpiece to be displaced as required relative to the punch and its corresponding die.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa front view of a punch press in accordance with the invention; and Figure2 is a side view, partly in section ofthe punch press.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a punch press comprising a'C'-shapedframe lOandanauxil- liaryframe 20 disposed at rightanglestothe'C'frame. The auxilIary frame 20 is rectangular in the example shown, and has its upper and lower sides 21 fixed at their mid-points to the outer ends ofthe upper and lower limbs 11,12 ofthe 'C'-frame. The opposite, upright limbs 23,24 of the auxilliaryframe are maintained under tension and preferably comprises screw-threaded adjusters which are tightened after the structure of framers 10,20 is assembled together.

The upper limb 11 orthe 'C'-frame mounts a punch assembly 14 at its front or outer end, and the lower limb 12 mounts and assembly 16 of corresponding dies, opposite punch assembly 14. The punch assembly preferably comprises a plurality of different punches: also the punch assembly comprises at least one hydraulic ram for actuating the punches; there may be one ram for each punch, or a single ram displaceable to the different punches, or two or more rams (e.g. small and large, or small, medium and large) displaceable to different sets ofthe punches.

The punch further comprises a transverse beam 18 extending through the 'C'-frame, together with means for displacing this beam along the front-torear axis of the press. This beam 18 mounts a carriage 19 and means for displacing this carriage along the beam: the carriage mounts grippers for holding a workpiece W, so that by displacement of the beam 18 and carriage 19, the workpiece can be moved to any required position relative to the punch which is to operate on the workpiece. The auxilliaryframe permits free movement of the workpiece along the front-to rearaxis ofthe 'C'-frame, and the opening in the auxilliaryframe is wide enough to permitthe required movement ofthe workpiece in the direction transverse to the 'C'-frame.

In the absence of the auxillary frame, the fluid pressure applied in actuating the ram(s) would have to be limited in order to limitthe force generated by the ram(s) and hence the magnitude of deflection caused to the 'C'-fra me. The auxilliaryframe however assists the 'C'-frame in resisting these forces, and permits higher forces to be generated (and therefore the rams to be actuated under higherfluid pressure) whilst maintaining the deflection of the 'C'-frame belowthe same acceptable minimum limits.

1. A punch press which comprises a 'C'-shaped frame mounting at least one punch and corresponding dieto its upper and lower limbs, and an auxilliary frame coupled to the upper and lower limbs of the 'C'4rame and assisting the 'C'-fra m e to resist deflec- tion upon actuation of the or any punch of the press.

2. A punch press substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Punch press This invention relates to a punch press and in particularto an improved structural frame of a punch press. A known type of punch press comprises a generally 'C' - shaped frame receiving the workpiece be tween its upper and lower limbs, the workpiece being held and displaced buy a movable carriage mounted between the upper and lower limbs ofthe 'C' - frame, and these upper and lower limbs supporting punches and corresponding dies, respectively, between which the workpiece is displaced. When a punch is actuated each time, the force generatedtendstoopentheframe:theframemust therefore be designed to be sufficiently strong, having regard to the magnitude of the forces generated upon actuation of the punches, that the deflection of the frame is kept to an acceptable minimum. I have now devised a punch press with an improved structural frame, enabling larger punching forces to be withstood without increasing the size of the 'C'-frame. In accordance with this invention, there is provided a punch press which comprises a 'C'-shaped frame mounting at least one punch and corresponding die to its upper and lower limbs, and an auxilliaryframe coupled to the upper and lower limbs of the'C'-frame and assisting the'C'-frame to resist deflection upon actuation of the or any punch ofthe press. The auxilliaryframe mayfor example comprise a rectangularframe disposed at right anglestothe 'C'frame, with upper and lowersides ofthe rectangular frame fixed at their mid-points to the outer ends of the upper and lower limbs of the 'C'-frame. Preferably the opposite, upright sides ofthe rectangular frame are maintained intension.Theauxilliaryframe may however be of any alternative shape (e.g. an 'A'shape, ortrapezium shape etc) providing the same effect as the rectangularframe, and allowing space for the workpiece to be displaced as required relative to the punch and its corresponding die. An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa front view of a punch press in accordance with the invention; and Figure2 is a side view, partly in section ofthe punch press. Referring to the drawings, there is shown a punch press comprising a'C'-shapedframe lOandanauxil- liaryframe 20 disposed at rightanglestothe'C'frame. The auxilIary frame 20 is rectangular in the example shown, and has its upper and lower sides 21 fixed at their mid-points to the outer ends ofthe upper and lower limbs 11,12 ofthe 'C'-frame. The opposite, upright limbs 23,24 of the auxilliaryframe are maintained under tension and preferably comprises screw-threaded adjusters which are tightened after the structure of framers 10,20 is assembled together. The upper limb 11 orthe 'C'-frame mounts a punch assembly 14 at its front or outer end, and the lower limb 12 mounts and assembly 16 of corresponding dies, opposite punch assembly 14. The punch assembly preferably comprises a plurality of different punches: also the punch assembly comprises at least one hydraulic ram for actuating the punches; there may be one ram for each punch, or a single ram displaceable to the different punches, or two or more rams (e.g. small and large, or small, medium and large) displaceable to different sets ofthe punches. The punch further comprises a transverse beam 18 extending through the 'C'-frame, together with means for displacing this beam along the front-torear axis of the press. This beam 18 mounts a carriage 19 and means for displacing this carriage along the beam: the carriage mounts grippers for holding a workpiece W, so that by displacement of the beam 18 and carriage 19, the workpiece can be moved to any required position relative to the punch which is to operate on the workpiece. The auxilliaryframe permits free movement of the workpiece along the front-to rearaxis ofthe 'C'-frame, and the opening in the auxilliaryframe is wide enough to permitthe required movement ofthe workpiece in the direction transverse to the 'C'-frame. In the absence of the auxillary frame, the fluid pressure applied in actuating the ram(s) would have to be limited in order to limitthe force generated by the ram(s) and hence the magnitude of deflection caused to the 'C'-fra me. The auxilliaryframe however assists the 'C'-frame in resisting these forces, and permits higher forces to be generated (and therefore the rams to be actuated under higherfluid pressure) whilst maintaining the deflection of the 'C'-frame belowthe same acceptable minimum limits. CLAIMS

1. A punch press which comprises a 'C'-shaped frame mounting at least one punch and corresponding dieto its upper and lower limbs, and an auxilliary frame coupled to the upper and lower limbs of the 'C'4rame and assisting the 'C'-fra m e to resist deflec- tion upon actuation of the or any punch of the press.

2. A punch press substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.