Patent Publication Number: US-8539808-B2

Title: Bandolier with laterally offset and spaced work piece

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/728,618, filed Mar. 22, 2010, entitled BANDOLIER WITH LATERALLY OFFSET AND SPACED WORK PIECE, which application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/134,671, filed Jun. 6, 2008, entitled DUAL SIDED AND DUAL PROCESS BANDOLIER; which claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/206,256, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 7,383,760, issued Jun. 10, 2008, entitled BANDOLIERED FLECHETTES AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING BANDOLIERED FLECHETTES, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/602,480, filed Aug. 18, 2004, entitled BANDOLIERED FLECHETTES AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING BANDOLIERED FLECHETTES and U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/011,532, filed Jan. 18, 2008 entitled, DUAL SIDED AND DUAL PROCESS BANDOLIER. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing objects and conveying the same objects through a series of secondary operations and, more specifically, to such a process utilizing an offset bandolier. 
     2. Background Information 
     Many mass produced metal articles are created using a cold forming process. This process uses force, rather than heat, to form and/or shape parts into the desired configuration. Examples of cold forming processes include, but are not limited to, cold heading, cold roll forming, and other methods. Each of these methods is well known within the industry. Other methods of mass producing metal articles include various forms of machining. 
     Such production methods described above do not allow for the production rates that can be realized by producing products in a progressive die. A progressive die can allow the use of a bandolier, which is, generally, an elongated conveyor belt to which the raw material, or a partially completed work piece, may be removably coupled. Typically, the work piece is coupled to a retention member on the bandolier. The retention member positions the work piece above, and possibly laterally offset to, the centerline of the bandolier. Such dies may require a corrective device structured to laterally reposition the work piece. Work stations are disposed adjacent to, or above, the bandolier. As the bandolier advances, the various work stations each act upon one or more of the work pieces. 
     The positioning of the work stations depends upon the operation being performed on the work piece and/or the shape of the work piece. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,383,760, noted above, a generally cylindrical segment of wire (the work piece) is formed into a flechette, or dart. Thus, one work station acts upon one end of the wire segment to form fins. A later work station acts upon the opposite end to form a point. Thus, these two work stations are disposed upon opposite sides of the bandolier. Other work stations may be bifurcated, that is, the work station may have components located on both sides of the bandolier. These components are structured to move over top of the bandolier to act upon the work piece. 
     As the bandolier progresses, typically in discrete “steps,” the work piece progresses through the various work stations. It is noted that the work piece is not acted upon at each step. That is, a work piece may enter the first work station at the first progression. The bandolier may then advance several progressions before the work piece reaches the second work station. Such non-active steps, or “feed progressions,” may be due to the fact that allowance is being made for future changes in the number, type, and/or location of the work stations, or, due to the fact that forming tools and equipment require a certain amount of space. It is further noted that a typical cold forming and machining process described above produces one part after another, but does not allow for subsequent secondary operations, such as heat treating, coating, assembly operations, etc. 
     The cold forming process described above may have inherent disadvantages. For example, in order for the various work stations to align properly with the work piece, the work piece must be in a known orientation relative to the bandolier. Typically, the work piece is oriented either laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the bandolier, or the axis of the work piece extends normal, i.e. straight up, relative to the surface of the bandolier. However, when only one side of the work piece is acted upon, e.g. forming the fins on one end of a flechette, the work piece may become laterally offset relative the bandolier. Thus, the work piece must either be held in position at each work station, or, the work piece must be reoriented in between work stations. 
     As noted above, the work piece may be offset relative to the centerline of the bandolier. Such an offset has been, typically, fairly minor. For example, with the flechette described above, the “fin” side of the work piece typically extended further over the lateral edge of the bandolier than the “nose” side of the work piece. However, while the work piece could be offset, or shifted, to one side of the bandolier, at least a portion of the work piece was located over the bandolier. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosed concept provides for an improved bandolier structured to support a work piece disposed to one side of the bandolier. That is, the work piece is offset and spaced from the bandolier. In this configuration, the various work stations acting upon the work piece may act upon, virtually, all sides of the work piece. This is different than the prior art wherein a work station could not act upon that portion of the work piece directly in contact with the bandolier. The disclosed method utilizes a work piece supported by a disposable stem. The stem is coupled to the bandolier and extends laterally thereacross. On one lateral end of the stem is the work piece, or “blank.” The work piece is spaced from the bandolier thereby allowing work stations to act upon all portions of the work piece other than at the coupling to the stem. Once the work piece has been completed, including any secondary operations such as, but not limited to, a chemical dip or heat treatment, the work piece is decoupled from the stem. 
     It is further noted that the end of the stem opposite the work piece, hereinafter the “null end” of the stem may be used to orient the work piece. That is, during forming operations, the work piece and stem may become skewed relative to the axis of the bandolier. If this happens, the work piece may not be in the proper orientation to enter the next work station. An orienting structure, such as but not limited to a groove through which the null end travels, may be used to reorient the work piece and stem. 
     In the described embodiment, the work piece is an ammunition nose, hereinafter a “bullet,” however the blank may be formed into any product and a bullet is merely used as an example. It is noted that in common parlance, the word “bullet” may be used to describe an entire cartridge, shell, or round, which actually includes a jacket and an explosive. However, as used herein, the “bullet” is only that portion of the round that is shot toward the target. The method of manufacture involves introducing a wire which acts as a work piece having a stem as well as a work piece blank disposed at one tip, and a strip, which is configured into a bandolier to carry the work piece, into one or more progressive work stations. The work piece is preferably made out of carbon steel or material of other similar properties. As the work piece enters each work station, the work stations will progressively form the work piece into the final product. Further, as set forth below, any number of secondary operations may be performed upon the bullet following forming. The bandolier can be made out of any material that has desirable forming properties. The bandolier will also be cold formed progressively in the die, and will be formed such that it clasps and retains the work piece and the stem. The bandolier will progressively carry the product through a series of forming operations within the die, and will also carry/convey the product through any desired secondary operations within the die, such as, but not limited to, grinding, shaving, polishing, cutting, etc. One of the final stations will have the ability to “loose piece” the work piece, that is, separate the work piece from the stem and the bandolier, or, will allow for the work piece to exit the final work station while still on the bandolier. In the case where the work piece and bandolier exit the die while coupled, the bandolier holding the work piece and stem can be conveyed to a series of additional secondary operations outside of the progressive die. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top schematic view of a progressive die structured to act upon a dual sided work piece. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a section of a bandolier supporting dual sided work pieces. 
         FIG. 3  a top schematic view of a progressive die structured to act upon a dual sided work piece and having other devices for secondary operations. 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed side schematic view of a progressive die having a rotary holding fixture. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart of the steps associated with the method. 
         FIG. 6  is a top schematic view of a progressive die structured to act upon an offset work piece. 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a section of a bandolier supporting offset work pieces and a groove acting as an orienting device. 
         FIG. 8  is an alternate isometric view of a section of a bandolier supporting offset work pieces and a belt acting as an orienting device. 
         FIG. 9  is a detailed view of a workpiece having orientation devices. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As used herein, a “work station” is a location along the path a bandolier travels wherein work is performed on a work piece. Multiple work stations may be disposed in a single machine, identified as a “progressive die,” having a single operating mechanism, and/or, work stations may be disposed in two or more separate machines each having an independent operating mechanism, i.e., primarily the ram of a press, although other operating mechanisms such as motors used for rotary cutters as discussed below, may also be used. 
     As used herein, “progressive,” when used in relation to the bandolier and dies, means a system wherein an elongated carrier advances at a regular, but intermittent, pace. Each cycle of movement followed by a stop is a “progression.” During the movement portion of each progression, the carrier advances a set distance in the bandolier longitudinal direction. Thus, when the work pieces are coupled to the bandolier with a generally uniform spacing, each progression of the bandolier moves each work piece generally the same distance. 
     As used herein, an “effective step” identifies a step wherein a work piece coupled to the carrier is acted upon by a work station. 
     As used herein, an “idle station” is a location within the progressive die wherein a work piece may stop during a progression of the bandolier, but wherein no work is performed upon the work piece. For example, the progressive die may have twenty-five stations with ten work stations, wherein the work piece is acted upon, and fifteen idle stations, wherein the work piece is not acted upon. In such an exemplary progressive die, a bandolier would have to take twenty-five steps to advance a work piece through the progressive die. 
     As used herein, a “wire” that is fed into a progressive die includes an elongated, formable material having a cross-section that is typically circular, but which may have any shape, as well as, a series of individual segments that may be fed into the progressive die. 
     As used herein, “coupled” means a link between two or more elements, whether direct or indirect, so long as a link occurs. 
     As used herein, “directly coupled” means that two elements are directly in contact with each other. 
     As used herein, “fixedly coupled” or “fixed” means that two components are coupled so as to move as one while maintaining a constant orientation relative to each other. 
     As used herein, the word “unitary” means a component is created as a single piece or unit. That is, a component that includes pieces that are created separately and then coupled together as a unit is not a “unitary” component or body. 
     As used herein, “configuration,” as used in the phrase “different configurations” of the part created, includes parts having different shapes as well as different coatings, treatments, etc. 
     As used herein, “coin” means to alter the shape of a deformable body, typically a substantially metal body, using pressure, typically applied by one or more die components. 
       FIG. 1  shows a press  9  (shown schematically) that includes a progressive die  10  and an operating mechanism (not shown). The progressive die  10  (shown schematically) has a plurality of work stations  12  (all work stations  12  shown schematically). While specific work stations  12  are identified below and are related to the manufacture of bullets  90  (described below), it is understood that any type of work station  12  may be used with the disclosed method. Preferably, the operating mechanism  11  actuates the progressive die  10  during each progression of the bandolier  50 , described below, causing the die components to move at each work station  12 . That is, the operating mechanism  11  acts upon a common die set wherein all die components move at substantially the same time. However, it is noted that some work stations  12 , although typically actuated by the operating mechanism  11 , may be structured to move at a different time. By having a single operating mechanism  11 , the chance of the work stations  12  becoming out of sync with each other is reduced. Generally, the work stations  12  are disposed on either side of a generally linear sheet of strip material  14 , which becomes the bandolier  50 , and are structured to perform an operation on a strip material  14  and/or on a work piece  1 . Preferably, the work stations  12  used to form the bullets  90  and disposed on opposite sides of the bandolier  50  are structured to perform substantially the same operations at the same time to the work piece blanks  68  (described below). 
     It is further noted, a work station  12  may be structured to not operate, or not effectively operate, during each progression of the bandolier  50 . That is, for example, a work station  12  may be structured to act upon two work pieces  1  disposed adjacent to each other on the bandolier  50 . So as to not operate on the forward most work piece  1  twice, the work station  12  performs a null step when the first of the two work pieces  1  enters the work station  12 . It is noted that the operating mechanism  11  may cause the work station  12  to move, but no effective operation is performed on the work piece  1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the bandolier  50  is similar to a conveyor belt in that the bandolier  50  is an elongated carrier that moves in the direction of its longitudinal axis and carries the work piece  1  between the work stations  12 . Unlike a conveyor belt, the bandolier  50  does not form a loop and is, typically, not immediately reused/recycled after passing through the progressive die  10 . In the preferred embodiment described herein, the bandolier  50  passes through a single progressive die  10 . Typically, a single progressive die  10  maintains the bandolier  50 , generally, in a single plane while the bandolier travels along a substantially linear path  51  through the progressive die  10 . The bandolier  50 , however, may be structured to be disposed at multiple different vertical levels while traveling in the generally linear path  51 . For example, a bandolier  50  that travels through different presses and/or devices for secondary operations, as described below, may generally travel along a path  51  at a first upper level in the progressive die  10  while a portion of the bandolier path  51  extends to a lower level, e.g., to allow the bandolier  50  and the supported work pieces  1  to be dipped in a chemical bath during a secondary operation. 
     The following discussion shall address the various work stations  12  and identify the associated progression which the work station performs. All steps of the method are shown in  FIG. 5 . The bandolier  50  is formed  199  from a progressive die stock strip  13 . The stock strip  13  begins as a generally flat sheet of strip material  14 , such as, but not limited to, carbon steel. The strip material  14  enters the progressive die  10  and a first work station  12 , which preferably includes a punch  20  (shown schematically). The first operation includes punching  200  an alignment hole  16  in the strip material  14  using a pierce punch that is mounted in the top portion of the die set (not shown). As the strip material  14  progresses, a pilot (not shown) having a cylindrical alignment rod, is passed through the alignment hole  16  to ensure proper strip alignment and progression. It is noted that at any station along the progressive die  10 , a pilot step may be performed to ensure proper strip alignment and progression. Further, at any station along the progressive die  10 , a camber adjustment operation may be performed. The camber adjustment operation entails mechanically adjusting the bandolier  50  to ensure that there is no incorrect twist inherent in the bandolier  50 . Preferably, pilot steps and/or camber adjustment steps will occur just before the bandolier  50  enters an effective work station  12 . 
     The strip material  14  progresses through a subsequent work station  12 , which is preferably a trim work station  21 , that creates the configuration that will eventually become the retention members  42  for retaining the work piece  1 . For example, when the work piece  1  is initially an elongated stem  70  with end blanks  68 , described below, both lateral edges of the strip material  14  are cut  202  so as to form a pattern with, preferably, U-shaped serrations  30 , as shown. In between the U-shaped serrations  30  are slender fingers  32  of the strip material  14 . The U-shaped serrations  30  and/or the fingers  32  on one side of the strip material  14  are aligned with the U-shaped serrations  30  and/or the fingers  32  on the other side of the strip material  14 . Further, as described below, two adjacent and associated fingers  32  are bent upwardly to form a yoke  40 . The U-shaped serration  30  between pairs of associated fingers  32  may extend a greater length toward the centerline of the strip material  14 . The curvature of the U-shaped serrations  30  is sized to conform to the curvature of the stem  70 , described below. 
     At a subsequent work station  12 , a bending station  22 , the fingers  32  are bent  204  upwardly thereby forming a two-pronged yoke  40 . The portion of the strip material  14  that remains generally flat is a base  44  connecting the yokes  40 . The combination of opposing yokes  40  in the strip material  14  acts as the retention members  42  for the described work piece  1 . It is noted that for work pieces  1  of a different shape, the retention members  42  may have a different shape. Once the retention members  42  have been formed, the strip material  14  has been converted into the bandolier  50 . Because the yokes  40  are aligned on opposite sides of the strip material  14 , the axis of the retention members  42  extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bandolier  50 . That is, an axis extending between the yokes  40  is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bandolier  50 . Further, in a preferred embodiment, each retention member  42  is disposed. 
     As the bandolier  50  progresses, a subsequent work station  12 , an insertion station  23 , inserts  206  a length of wire  52 , preferably carbon steel, or another material of similar properties, into the retention member  42 . In this example; the segmented wire  52  is the work piece  1  and is, preferably, a unitary body. In the preferred embodiment, the wire is supplied on a reel (not shown). As such, the insertion station  23  is structured to perform the steps of feeding  208  a length of wire  52  onto the bandolier  50 , and cutting  210  the wire at an appropriate length. 
     The work piece  1  extends between, and is supported by, the two associated yokes  40 . Thus, the longitudinal axis of the work piece  1  extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bandolier  50 . The work piece  1  has an elongated body  60  with a first end  62 , a medial portion  64 , and a second end  66 . The first and second ends  62 ,  66  are structured to act as blanks  68  upon which forming operations may be performed. The medial portion  64  acts as a stem  70  supporting the blanks  68 . In this configuration, the blanks  68  are conveniently disposed at the lateral sides of the bandolier  50 , wherein the blanks  68  may be acted upon by the work stations  12 . It is noted that the stem  70  may have a reduced length, wherein the two blanks  68  are disposed generally over the bandolier  50 , or, an extended length, wherein the stem  70  extends over the lateral sides of the bandolier  50  and supports the two blanks  68  in a laterally offset position relative to the bandolier  50 . A reduced length stem  70  may require the work stations  12  to be adapted to move between a position over the bandolier  50 , i.e., a work position, when the work piece  1  is in position, and a position to the side of the bandolier  50 , i.e., a withdrawn position, to allow the work piece  1  to pass. However, a reduced length stem  70  also reduces the amount of scrap material created by the work piece  1 . Conversely, an extended stem  70  may allow the work stations  12  to remain generally in one position on the side of the bandolier  50 ; however, an extended stem  70  increases the amount of scrap material created by the work piece  1 . 
     As noted above, the work station  12  on opposite sides of the bandolier  50  preferably perform substantially similar actions to the work piece  1  and/or blanks  68 . The opposing work stations  12  may be mirror images of each other. Because similar actions are being performed at substantially the same time to the blanks  68  on opposite sides of the work piece  1 , the work piece  1  is less likely to shift within the retention member  42 . That is, unlike a progressive die  10  having asymmetrical work stations  12 , the work piece  1  is less likely to become laterally offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the bandolier  50 . Thus, the progressive die  10  may be structured to operate without a corrective device structured to laterally reposition the work piece  1 . Hereinafter, only a single work station  12  is described; however, it is understood that a substantially similar work station  12  is disposed on the opposite side of the bandolier  50 . It is further understood that opposing work stations are actuated  212  substantially simultaneously. 
     With the work piece  1  in position on the bandolier  50 , the progressive die  10  moves each work piece  1  through the desired work stations  12  in a progressive manner. Generally, the blanks  68  are formed  218  into bullets  90  which have a nose  91 , a body  92 , and a back side  96 . The bullet body  92  is generally cylindrical, or frustum, shaped. The blanks  68  are formed  218  into bullets  90  by being “coined,” i.e. deformed under pressure, by being “trimmed,” i.e. having excess material created by the coining removed, and by being “cut” wherein the work piece  1  and/or blank  68  material is removed. 
     Thus, the apparatus and method include at least one work station  12  structured to reshape  219  the blank  68 , and more specifically, two opposed work stations  12  structured to reshape  219  both blanks  68  disposed on opposite ends  62 ,  66 , of the work piece  1 . Preferably, the work stations  12  include at least one coining station  80  structured to coin  220  the blank  68 , and, at least one trim station  81  structured to trim  222  any excess material or “flashing” from the blank  68 , and, preferably, at least one cutting station  83  structured to remove  224  material from the blank  68 . Any one of the coining station  80 , the trim station  81 , or the cutting station  83 , may be the at least one work station  12  structured to reshape the blank  68 . For example, the step of coining  220  the blank  68  may, by itself, shape the blank  68  into a bullet  90 . Typically, however, at least some material of the blank  68  must be removed  224  from the blank  68  to finish the bullet  90 . Further, coining operations may create flash lines where the coining dies (not shown) meet. Therefore, a step of trimming  222  the flashing from the blank  68  is also typically required. The progressive die  10  may include other work stations  12 , and the method may provide for additional corresponding steps, such as, but not limited to, additional coining, trimming, and cutting. Further, if the finished part is not symmetrical about a centerline, a work station  12  may be configured to rotate the work piece  1  about its axis or reorient the work piece  1 , so that different areas of the work piece  1  may have different operations performed thereon. 
     As noted above, in an alternate embodiment, the work stations  12  disposed on opposite sides of the bandolier  50  may be different and may be employed to create different parts. Again, using bullets  90  as an example, two opposing work stations may include one work station  12  structured to create .22 caliber bullets  90  while the opposing work station  12  is structured to create .45 caliber bullets  90 . Thus, the work piece  1  may be altered so that the blank  68  at the first end  62  first end has one configuration and the blank  68  at the second end  66  has a different configuration. 
     At this point, the work piece blanks  68  have been, substantially, converted into bullets  90 , but are still coupled to the stem  70 . This may be the desired result of the progressive die  10  as the combination of work pieces  1  disposed on a bandolier  50  may be coiled for transport between the progressive die  10  and other processing devices  100 , or the bandolier  50  with work pieces  1  may be fed directly into the other processing devices  100 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The other processing devices  100  will typically be structured to perform processes selected from the group comprising, but not limited to: cleaning, coating, and heat treating. It is noted that the other processing devices  100  may include other devices structured to further reshape the bullets  90 . For example, the bullet back side  96  may be reshaped so as to not be flat. 
     However, in the preferred embodiment ( FIG. 1 ), the bullets  90  are separated from the stem  70  prior to exiting the progressive die  10 . Thus, the progressive die  10  preferably includes a “loose piece” station  89  structured to separate  240  each bullet  90  from the stem  70 . Preferably, the loose piece station  89  creates a substantially flat back side  96  for each bullet  90 . At this point, the bandolier  50  and the stem  70  have served their purpose and may exit the progressive die  10  to be recycled. The loose bullets  90  may be made ready for further processing or for sale. 
     If the loose piece station  89  does not create a flat back side  96 , the bullet back side  96  may require additional processing to form the substantially flat back side  96 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the progressive die  10  may include a holding fixture  106 , as shown, a rotary holding fixture  107  but any holding fixture  106  may suffice. The holding fixture  106  is structured to support the bullets  90  after separation from the stem  70  and to transport the bullets  90  to one or more subsequent work stations  12 . As shown, a subsequent work station  12  may be a rotating cutting station  110  structured to cut  242  the bullet back side  96  so that the bullet back side  96  is substantially flat. Alternatively, the subsequent work station may perform operations such as, but not limited to, cutting a champher on the bullet back side  96 , machining a passage (not shown) through, or substantially through the bullet  90 , applying another material in such a passage, applying a coating to the bullets  90 , as well as additional finishing operations. After the back side  96  is cut, the loose bullets  90  may be made ready for further processing or for sale. 
     It is further noted that, the blanks  68  may be formed into cooperative components. That is, two components, which may or may not be substantially similar, may be structured to be joined after the forming is complete. Thus, while typically not applicable to bullets  90 , the blanks  68 , or the components formed therefrom may be coupled at a subsequent work station  12  after the separation  240  from the stem  70 . 
     While use of a dual sided work piece  1  has the advantage of producing twice as many parts as a single sided work piece  1 A, the certain concepts disclosed above may also be incorporated advantageously with a one-out process. More specifically, the use of a stem  70  to support a blank  68  at a location offset and spaced from the bandolier  50  is advantageous. Such a configuration allows the various work stations  12  to act upon, virtually, all surfaces of the blank with the exception of the point where the stem  70  is coupled to the blank  68 . Such a configuration may be used, for example, in a situation where a press  9  included different types of work stations  12  on opposite sides of the bandolier  50  and structured to produce different types of products, but, where more of one type of product is needed. Rather than produce extra units of the unneeded product, a work piece  1 A with a single blank, that is offset and spaced from the bandolier  50 , is used. As a further example, a manufacturer may only have work stations  12  sufficient to operate on one side of the bandolier path  51 . Hereinafter, the side of the bandolier  50  on which the work stations  12  are located shall be identified as the work side  53  of the bandolier  50 . Thus, there is also a use for a single sided work piece  1 A wherein the work piece  1 A is structured to support the blank  68  at a location offset and spaced from the bandolier  50 . 
     Generally, the single sided work piece  1 A, and an associated press  9  and progressive die  10 , are configured and operate in a manner substantially similar to the dual sided work piece  1 , and an associated press  9  and progressive die  10 , with the obvious exception of having only one blank  68 . That is, the single sided work piece  1 A extends between, and is supported by, the two associated yokes  40  on the bandolier  50 . Thus, the longitudinal axis of the single sided work piece  1 A extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bandolier  50 . The single sided work piece  1 A has an elongated body  60 A with a first end  62 A, a medial portion  64 A, and a second end  66 A. The first end  62 A is structured to act as a blank  68  upon which forming operations may be performed. The medial portion  64 A acts as a stem  70  supporting the blank  68 . In this configuration, the blank  68  is conveniently disposed, and spaced from, the bandolier work side  53 . This allows for the work stations  12  to act upon virtually all surfaces of the blank  68 . Preferably, when the work piece  1 A is coupled to the bandolier  50 , the first end blank  68  is spaced between about 0.015625 inch ( 1/64 inch) and 12.0 inches from the bandolier work side  53 , and more preferably about 0.125 inch (⅛ inch) from the bandolier work side  53 . 
     It is further noted that the work piece  1 A may include an orienting structure  120 . As noted above, when only one side of a work piece  1 A is acted upon by the work stations  12 , the work piece  1 A may become skewed relative to the bandolier  50 . When a work piece  1 A is skewed, the blank  68  is likely to be unaligned with the work stations  12 . Thus, it is desirable to minimize, or preferably prevent, skewing of the work piece  1 A. Skewing may be substantially reduced by utilizing the second end  66 A to assist in orienting the work piece  1 A. The orienting structure  120  is structured to cooperate with an orienting device  122  disposed on the side of the bandolier path  51  opposite said work stations  12 . Preferably, the orienting device  122  is incorporated into the progressive die  10 . 
     For example, in one simple form, the work piece second end  66 A, that is, the orienting structure  120 , is unmodified but structured to travel through a longitudinal groove  124 , that is, the orienting device  122  is the groove  124 . The groove  124 , which may not be continuous, extends in a direction parallel to, and adjacent to, the bandolier path  51 . The groove  124  is slightly wider than the work piece second end  66 A and may have a wide, preferably tapered entrance. The groove  124  is, preferably, sufficiently deep so that the work piece second end  66 A cannot contact the bottom of the groove  124 . Thus, the work piece second end  66 A may travel through the groove  124  without interference. As the work piece  1 A travels through the progressive die  10 , the blank  68  disposed at the work piece first end  62 A may be acted upon by the work stations  12 . At the same time, the work piece second end  66 A, that is, the orienting structure  120 , is disposed in, and travels through, the groove  124 . If a work station  12  biases the work piece  1 A in a vertical direction and starts to skew the work piece  1 A vertically, the orienting structure  120  will engage the groove  124  and, substantially prevent the work piece  1 A from skewing vertically. 
     The orienting device  122  may be more complex as well. For example, the orienting device  122  may also include a belt  126  structured to travel through the groove  124 . Such a belt  126  has a plurality of openings  128  sized to be slightly larger than the work piece second end  66 A. The belt  126  may be operatively coupled to the press  9  operating mechanism  11  and structured to advance in synchronicity with the bandolier  50 . In this configuration, the work piece second ends  66 A are each structured to be disposed within a belt opening  128 . Thus, if a work station  12  biases the work piece  1 A in a vertical and/or horizontal direction and starts to skew the work piece  1 A, the orienting structure  120  will engage the belt  126  and, substantially prevent the work piece  1 A from skewing. 
     In another embodiment, the orienting structure  120  may be structured to be manipulated by one or more work stations  12 . Thus, the orienting structure  120  may be shaped to have a more complex interaction with an orienting device  122 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the orienting structure  120  may be, but is not limited to, a flat  130  coined into the stem  70 , a bore hole cut partially through the stem  70  (not shown), an opening (not shown) extending through the stem  70 , or a flat, vertical fin  132  coined into the stem  70 . It is noted that  FIG. 9  shows the fins  132  disposed within the area defined by the bandolier  50  and the flats  130  disposed outside the bandolier  50 ; these locations are exemplary only and the orienting structure  120  may be disposed at any location on the stem  70 . Further, as shown, there are two flats  130  disposed on opposite lateral sides of the stem  70  and two fins  132  disposed on opposite radial sides of the stem  70 . There may be, however, any number of orienting structures  120  on the stem  70 . It is noted that one common configuration would have four orienting structures  120  disposed ninety degrees apart. Further, and as shown in  FIG. 9 , the orienting structure  120  may be used on the dual sided workpiece  1  as well. 
     Such an orienting structure  120  may cooperate with a shaped portion (not shown) of the groove  124  or other orienting device  122 . That is, the groove  124  may have a first portion (not shown) with a width sufficient to accommodate the fin in the vertical orientation. A groove  124  second portion (not shown) may have a more narrow height, e.g. a portion wherein the lower surface portion of the groove  124  is raised. In such a configuration, when the fin  132  moves into the groove  124  second portion, the lower portion of the fin  132  would contact the raised lower surface portion of the groove  124 . As the work piece  1  continues to move along the bandolier path  51 , the fin  132  would cause the work piece  1  to rotate until the fin  132  no longer, or very lightly, engaged the raised lower surface portion of the groove  124 . Thus, the orienting structure  120  may be used to rotate the work piece  1  about its longitudinal axis. There may be other orienting devices  122  (not shown) that manipulate the orienting structure  120 ; for example, a work station  12  may include an actuator (not shown) that extends to contact the orienting structure  120  causing the work piece  1  to rotate about its longitudinal axis. 
     Further, an orienting device  122  may be structured to laterally adjust the stem  70  within the yoke  40 . For example, an actuator (not shown) could engage, e.g. grip or otherwise contact, the orienting structure  120  and moved laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the bandolier  50 . When the actuator engages the stem  70 , the stem  70  is moved laterally within the yoke  40 . 
     As noted above, the processing of the single sided work piece  1 A is substantially similar to the processing of a dual sided work piece  1 , with the notable exception of having work stations  12  structured to act on the blank  68  disposed on only one side of the bandolier  50 . Accordingly, the processing steps disclosed above are equally applicable to the single sided work piece  1 A. 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.