Abstract:
A slide driver assembly for use in a multi-station or a single-station progressive tooling die includes die sections that are operative to move between an open position and a closed position to perform a first operation on a work piece located between the die sections. A slide driver performs a second operation, such as a trimming operation, on the work piece as the die sections move between the open position and the closed position.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60,791,985, which was filed Apr. 14, 2006. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to tooling dies and, more particularly, to progressive dies. Progressive die tooling is widely known and used in forming parts. Typically, progressive die tooling includes an upper die and a lower die that together define a single station or a series of stations for performing various operations to form a part. For example, one station might punch a hole through a desired location of the part, stamp a portion of the part into a desired shape, or insert a fastener into the part. 
   It is often desirable to trim the part to remove, for example, a rough edge produced at one of the stations. Typically, the progressive die tooling includes one or more trimming tools that are pneumatically operated to trim the part. The trimming occurs when the die is open or closed to avoid interfering with the movement of the die and the operations of the stations. For example, one or more trimming tools might be actuated to trim various portions of the part. 
   Disadvantageously, using trimming tools often requires that the die pauses for a time in the open or closed position while the trimming tools trim the part. The pause increases the cycle time, which adds to the expense of producing the part. Additionally, if the portions to be trimmed are close together, some of the trimming tools may have to wait for earlier trimming tools to finish in order to avoid interfering with each other, which adds even more pause time. Furthermore, the trimming tools also typically occupy a significant amount of space in or along the die, which adds to the cost of the die. Thus, there is a need for a more compact die tooling that is capable of trimming a part without delaying the opening and closing of the die. This invention addresses those needs while avoiding the shortcomings and drawbacks of the prior art. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A slide driver assembly for use in a multi-station or a single-station progressive tooling die includes die sections that are operative to move between an open position and a closed position and back to the open position to perform a first operation on a work piece located between the die sections. A slide driver associated with the die sections performs a second operation, such as a trimming operation, on the work piece as the die sections move between the open position and the closed position and back to the open position. 
   In one example, the slide driver includes spaced apart guide members. One of the guide members includes a cam track and the other guide member includes a corresponding cam track for guiding movement of a cam member. The cam member is coupled with a tool, such as a blade, for performing the second operation. As the die sections move from the open position to the closed position and back to the open position, the cam member moves along the cam tracks. The cam tracks are shaped such that the cam member moves away from the work piece as the die sections open and first moves toward the work piece and then moves away from the work piece as the die sections close. Thus, over a single cycle, the die sections perform the first operation, such as a stamping operation, and the slide driver performs the second operation, such as trimming, without need to pause for the trimming. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example multiple-station progressive tooling die in an open position. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the multiple-station progressive tooling die of  FIG. 1  in a closed position. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example single-station progressive tooling die. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of an example slide driver for use in a progressive tooling die. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a different side view of the slide driver. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the slide driver. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate selected portions of an example progressive tooling die  10  in, respectively, an open and a closed position. In this example, the progressive tooling die  10  includes an upper die  12  and a lower die  14  that define a series of stations  16  for forming a part. In the illustrated example, the part is formed from a continuous feed of material  18 , however, alternatively the parts may also be formed from individual material blanks fed into the progressive tooling die  10 . As the material  18  or blank moves from one station  16  to another, each station  16  performs an operation, such as stamping, hole punching, or other known operation, to form the part. 
   In this example, the progressive tooling die  10  includes a slide driver  28  shown schematically with one of the stations  16 . Although only one slide driver  28  is shown, multiple slide drivers  28  may be used with multiple stations  16  as desired. In the disclosed example, the closing an opening of the dies  12  and  14  actuates the slide driver  28  to perform an additional operation on the material  18  or blank at the particular station  16 . As will be described below, the slide driver  28  thereby provides the benefit of performing at least two operations at a single station  16  without the tooling for each of the operations interfering with each other. 
   While  FIGS. 1 and 2  show the tooling die  10  with multiple stations  16  for a continuous forming operation, the slide driver  28  may also be used in a single-station tooling die  10  as shown schematically in  FIG. 3  for example. Similar to the multiple station tooling die ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), the slide driver  28  in the single-station tooling die  10  also provides the benefit of performing at least two operations at a single station  16  without the tooling for each of the operations interfering with each other. 
     FIGS. 4-6  illustrate selected portions of one example slide driver  28  for performing a trimming operation. In this example, the slide driver  28  includes a slide guide retainer  30  secured to the upper die  12  with fasteners  32 . Slide guides  34  extend from the lower die  14 . Each of the slide guides  34  includes a cam track  36 . A cam follower  38  having a guide portion  40  (e.g., a roller) on each end extends between the cam tracks  36 . The guide portions  40  are adapted to move, slide, or roll along the cam tracks  36 . In the disclosed example, the cam follower  38  includes a guide ram  42  for moving the cam follower  38 . The guide ram  42  is received partially within a guide groove  43  within the slide guide retainer  30 . Alternatively, the guide groove  43  can be included within the upper die  12 , thereby eliminating the need for the retainer  30 . 
   In this example, a slide nose  44  is secured to the cam follower  38  with a fastener  46 . A dowel pin  47  facilitates positioning of the slide nose  44  (i.e., a holder). The slide nose  44  is adapted to receive and secure a blade  48  in this example. Alternatively, the slide nose  44  is adapted to receive and secure another type of tool, such as a hole punch, stamping die, or other known tool. 
   In the disclosed example, the cam tracks  36  are designed to guide the cam follower  38  such that during one cycle of the dies  12  and  14  moving from open to close to open again, the blade  48  reciprocates in a trimming motion. In this example, the cam follower  38  is just to the left of position B when the dies  12  and  14  are open and is near position A when the dies  12  and  14  are fully closed. When the dies  12  and  14  begin to close from the open position, the cam follower  38  is guided into a V-shaped portion  54  of the cam tracks  36  at position B. Initially, the V-shaped portion  54  begins to extend the blade  48  in the direction D 2 . In position C at the peak of the V-shaped portion  54 , the blade has extended far enough to trim the material  18  in this example. As the dies  12  and  14  continue to close, the cam follower  38  continues to move along the other side of the V-shaped portion  54  such that it retracts along the D 1  direction on the way to position A at fully closed. 
   When the dies  12  and  14  begin to open from the closed position, the cam follower  38 , and thus the blade  48 , travels along the cam track  36  and encounters a first angled portion  50  of the cam tracks  36 . The first angled portion  50  retracts the cam follower  38  and the blade  48  in a direction D 1  as the cam follower moves along the cam tracks  36 , which in this example is away from the material  18  (shown schematically). As the cam follower  38  continues to move along the track  36 , it encounters a second angled portion  52 . The second angled portion  52  guides the cam follower  38  such that it begins to move in a direction D 2 . Once the dies  12  and  14  are completely open, the cam follower  38  is just to the left of position B in  FIG. 4 . In this manner, the blade  48  moves away from the material  18  during opening of the dies  12  and  14  to provide a desired clearance around the material  18  for another operation. 
   Using the actuation of the dies  12  and  14  in cooperation with the cam tracks  36  to trim the material  18  provides several benefits. For one thing, the shape of the cam tracks  36  allows the blade  48  to extend and retract in a desirable manner to access the portion of the part that is to be trimmed, such as an undercut or side portion for example. Retraction of the blade  48  along the direction D 1  during opening of the dies  12  and  14  moves the blade  48  out of the way to provide a desired clearance around the material  18 . Retraction of the blade  48  along the direction D 1  after the peak of the V-shaped portion  54  move the blade  48  out of the way such that another forming operation at the station  16  can be performed without interference from the blade  48  during the opening of the dies  12  and  14 . Thus, two forming operations can be performed at a single station  16  within a multiple station tooling die  10  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) or a single-station tooling die  10  ( FIG. 3 ), while avoiding restriking that is known in some prior arrangements to lead to die wear or other problems. 
   Although the cam tracks  36  are shown with a certain design and shape in the disclosed examples, it is to be understood that alternate cam track  36  designs may be used to meet the particular needs, shapes, or sizes of the progressive tooling die  10  and the part. The slide driver  28  also provides the benefit of performing the operation during the opening and closing of the dies  12  and  14 , thereby reducing or eliminating delay associated with conventional pneumatic trimming operations. 
   Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.