Deformable mold for press working machine

Abstract: A press working machine comprises bases (1) having concave portions (2). Slider members (3a, 3b) are arranged in the concave portions (2). Arms (6a, 6b) are attached to one ends of the slider members (3a, 3b) respectively. Cylinders (5a, 5b) are attached to the arms (6a, 6b), for bending and stretching the same. Press members (4a, 4b) are arranged on the slider members (3a, 3b). Upper surfaces of the press members (4a, 4b) are formed by curved surfaces. Molds (7a, 7b) having deformable structures are arranged on the press members (4a, 4b). A workpiece (8) is inserted between the molds (7a, 7b), to be press-worked. Thus, it is possible to press-mold workpieces into a plurality of shapes with a single mold assembly, thereby reducing the cost for manufacturing the mold assembly, omitting an operation of exchanging the mold assembly, and reducing the manufacturing cost.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a press working machine, and more particularly, it relates to a press working machine which can press-work workpieces into various shapes with a single mold by employing a deformable mold and varying the shape of its working surface. Description of the Background Art Various types of press working machines are known in general. In a typical press working machine, a mold which is mounted in response to the shape of a product is pressed against a workpiece, for deforming the workpiece into a desired shape. In general, the mold which is employed in the aforementioned press working machine is not deformed itself. Namely, a technical idea of deforming the mold itself for press-working a workpiece has not been common sense in general. Every time the shape of the product is changed, therefore, a new mold is formed in response thereto. Since it is necessary to newly form a mold every time the shape of the product is changed as described above, the cost for manufacturing of such molds is increased if various types of products having different shapes are manufactured. Further, the manufacturing steps are complicated since it is necessary to exchange the mold every time the shape of the product is changed. Consequently, the manufacturing cost is increased. GB-A-2118466 shows a deflection compensating means for press brakes wherein a flexible wedge is used under the die of a press brake, the wedge being elongated and tapering across its width and having graded flexibility along its length with the portions near the ends of the wedge being more flexible. When a concentrated force is applied at the center of the wedge to position it under the die, the wedge will deflect beneath the die in a manner to match the deflection of the press. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the aforementioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a press working machine which can reduce the manufacturing cost by employing a deformable mold. The press working machine according to the present invention comprises a press member, a base, a driving mechanism wherein the driving mechanism includes a slider member and sliding means. Further, the press working machine according to the present invention is adapted to use a mold having a working surface for press-working a workpiece and a bottom surface which is positioned on the rear side of the working surface. The shape of the working surface is varied ith change of that of the bottom surface. The press member is pressed against the bottom surface of the mold, therby changing the shape of the bottom surface as well as that of the working surface. The base, having a concave portion storing the press member, supports the mold. The driving mechanism drives the press member to be stored in or to project from the concave portion. The slider member of the driving mechanism slides along a bottom surface of the concave portion and the sliding means slide said slider member. The bottom surface of the press member is uneven and the upper surface of said slider member is also uneven to be fitted with said uneven bottom surface of the press member, said slider member sliding in said concave portion so that said press member projects from or is stored in said concave portion. The aforementioned mold is preferably selectively provided with a slit, so that this mold is deformable. Further, the working surface is preferably formed by a curved surface. An upper surface of the press member preferably comes into contact with the overall bottom surface of the mold, while this upper surface of the press member is also formed by a curved surface. As hereinabove described, the press working machine according to the present invention comprises the base having a concave portion and supporting the mold, the press member which is stored in the concave portion, and the driving mechanism for driving the press member, wherein the driving mechanism includes the slide member and the sliding means. The press member is driven by the driving mechanism to project from or to be stored in the concave portion, and pressed against the bottom surface of the mold when the same projects from the concave portion. The mold can also be used in such a state that the press member is not pressed against its bottom surface. In this case, press working can be carried out along the original shape of the working surface of the mold. In order to carry out press working along a shape which is different from the original shape of the working surface of the mold, on the other hand, the press member is driven by the driving mechanism to project from the concave portion, and pressed against the bottom surface of the mold. Thus, the shape of the bottom surface as well as that of the working surface of the mold are changed. Press working is carried out along the deformed working surface. Consequently, it is possible to press-mold workpieces into a plurality of shapes with a single mold. The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a partially fragmented side elevational view showing a press working machine according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a partially fragmented side elevational view of the press working machine showing a mold which is deformed from the state shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing an exemplary mold which is employable in the press working machine according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing a region IV appearing in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a plan view showing an exemplary used state of the mold shown in Fig. 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention is now described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. Figs. 1 and 2 are partially fragmented side elevational views showing a press working machine according to the present invention. Referring to Fig. 1, the press working machine according to the present invention comprises bases 1, having concave portions 2, supporting deformable molds 7a and 7b. Slider members 3a and 3b are set in the concave portions 2. One ends of arms 6a and 6b are attached to one ends of the slider members 3a and 3b respectively. On the other hand, the other ends of the arms 6a and 6b are attached to the bases 1 respectively. Cylinders 5a and 5b are connected to central portions of the arms 6a and 6b, for bending and stretching the arms 6a and 6b respectively. Press members 4a and 4b are mounted on the slider members 3a and 3b respectively. In this case, upper surfaces of the slider members 3a and 3b are irregularized (uneven), while bottom surfaces of the press members 4a and 4b are also irregularized (uneven) to be fitted with the irregularized upper surfaces of the slider members 3a and 3b respectively. The molds 7a and 7b are arranged on the press members 4a and 4b. The molds 7a and 7b are provided with engaging portions 17a and 17b, and supported by the bases 1 through the engaging portions 17a and 17b respectively. A workpiece 8 is arranged between the molds 7a and 7b and held by these molds 7a and 7b with wear plates or the like interposed, to be worked into a desired shape. Working surfaces 9b of the molds 7a and 7b are formed by curved surfaces having prescribed curvatures in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. Upper surfaces 10a and 10b of the press members 4a and 4b are also formed by curved surfaces of prescribed curvatures. The molds 7a and 7b are selectively provided with slits, for example, to be deformable themselves. When the upper surfaces 10a and 10b of the press members 4a and 4b are pressed against bottom surfaces 9a of the molds 7a and 7b, therefore, the working surfaces 9b of the molds 7a and 7b can be deformed. The molds 7a and 7b can press-mold the workpiece 8 also in a state leaving the working surfaces 9b in the original shapes, whereby it is possible to press-mold workpieces into a plurality of shapes by a single mold assembly including the molds 7a and 7b. Consequently, the manufacturing cost for the mold assembly can be reduced, while an operation for exchanging the mold assembly can be omitted. Thus, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, description is now made on characteristic operations of the press working machine according to the present invention, i.e., operations for deforming the working surfaces 9b of the molds 7a and 7b. First, an operation for deforming the working surface 9b of the mold 7a shown in Fig. 1 is described. In the state shown in Fig. 1, the cylinder 5a is driven to extend the arm 6a. Consequently, the slider member 3 slides in the concave portion 2, to rightwardly move in Fig. 1. Thus, projections provided on the upper surface of the slider member 3a are brought into contact with those provided on the bottom surface of the press member 4a. Consequently, the press member 3a projects from the concave portion of the base 1, so that the upper surface 10a of the press member 4a is pressed against the bottom surface 9a of the mold 7a. Thus, the shape of the working surface 9b of the mold 7a is changed. On the other hand, an operation for deforming the working surface 9b of the mold 7b shown in Fig. 1 is now described. Referring again to Fig. 1, the cylinder 5b is driven to bend the arm 6b. Thus, the slider member 3b leftwardly moves in Fig. 1, to bring concavities provided on the upper surface of the slider member 3b with projections provided on the bottom surface of the press member 4b. Consequently, the press member 4b is stored in the concave portion 2 of the base 1, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, the shape of the working surface 9b of the mold 7b is changed. With reference to Figs. 3 to 5, an exemplary mold 7 which is employable in the press working machine according to the present invention is now described. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the mold 7 which can be employed in the press working machine according to the present invention. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing a region IV appearing in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the mold 7 in a deformed state. Referring to Fig. 3, the mold 7 is selectively provided with slits 11. Due to provision of such slits 11, the mold 7 can be deformed. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, screw holes 12 are provided on both ends of the mold 7. Referring to Fig. 3, the mold 7 is preferably alternately provided with slits 11 having both ends located in the interior of the mold 7 and those reaching side surfaces of the mold 7. Further, holes 13 are preferably provided at end portions of these slits 11. These holes 13 are adapted to relax stress concentration at the end portions of the slits 11. Due to provision of such holes 13, it is possible to ensure rigidity of the mold 7 upon deformation. Referring to Fig. 5, fixing members 16 are mounted on both end portions of the mold 7 by fastening members 15 such as bolts. A wear plate 14 is arranged to cover a working surface 9b of the mold 7. The working surface 9b of the mold 7 is pressed against a workpiece with the wear plate 14 interposed, to press-work the workpiece. On the other hand, a press member 4 is pressed against a bottom surface 9a of the mold 7. An upper surface of the press member 4 is formed by a curved surface, so that it is possible to deform the working surface 9b of the mold 7 by pressing the press member 4 against the bottom surface 9a. The mold 7 shown in Figs. 3 to 5 is merely an exemplary mold which is employable in the inventive press working machine, and is not restricted to this. Alternatively, the mold 7 can be formed by stacking thin plates, for example. The method of deforming the mold 7 is not restricted to the above either. For example, it is also possible to deform the shape of the working surface 9b by selectively pressing the bottom surface 9a of the mold 7 with some means. As hereinabove described, the press working machine according to the present invention has a function capable of deforming the mold. Therefore, it is possible to carry out a plurality of types of press-working operations with a single mold, by employing a deformable mold. Thus, it is possible to reduce the cost for manufacturing the mold, while omitting an operation for exchanging the mold. Consequently, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims: A press working machine for employing a mold (7a) having a working surface (9b) for press-working a workpiece and a bottom surface (9a) being positioned on a rear side of said working surface (9b), the shape of said working surface (9b) being varied with that of said bottom surface (9a), said press working machine comprising: a press member (4a) being pressed against said bottom surface (9a) of said mold (7a) thereby changing the shape of said bottom surface (9a) as well as that of said working surface (9b); a base (1) having a concave portion (2) storing said press member (4a) and supporting said mold; and a driving mechanism for driving said press member (4a) to be stored in or to be projected from said concave portion (2), wherein said driving mechanism includes, a slider member (3a) sliding along a bottom surface (9a) of said concave portion (2), and sliding means for sliding said slider member (3a), and the bottom surface (9a) of said press member (4a) is uneven and the upper surface of said slider member (3a) is also uneven to be fitted with said uneven bottom surface of said press member (4a), said slider member sliding in said concave portion (2) so that said press member (4a) projects from or is stored in said concave portion (2). The press working machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said mold (7a) is in a solid block form and selectively provided with a slit (11) so that said mold (7a) is deformable, said working surface (9b) is formed of a curved surface, and an upper surface (10a) of said press member (4a) is in contact with overall said bottom surface (9a) of said mold (7a), said upper surface (10a) of said press member (4a) being also formed by a curved surface.

Inventors: ENAMI TOSHIAKI, ENAMI, TOSHIAKI
Applicants: ENAMI SEIKI KK, ENAMI SEIKI MFG. CO., LTD.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B30B15
IPC codes: B21D5, B30B15, B21D37