Patent ID: 7316150

Claim:
An apparatus for accelerating a press having an upper ram to which an upper die is attached, and a stationary press bed that supports a lower die including a binder ring and a stretch forming pad comprising: a driving cam attached to the ram and having a first driving cam surface on a lower end that is oriented at a first angle, wherein the ram has a forming stroke in which the ram moves the driving cam downwardly; a transverse cam attached to the lower die, the transverse cam having a first reaction cam surface that is oriented at a complimentary angle to the first angle and is engaged by the first driving cam surface on a first end, wherein the transverse cam shifts horizontally as a result of the first driving surface engaging the first reaction cam surface, the transverse cam having a second driving cam surface on a second end that is oriented at a second angle; and a driven cam attached to the binder ring, the driven cam having a second reaction cam surface that is oriented at a complimentary angle to the second angle and is engaged by the second driving cam surface, wherein the driven cam starts to drive the binder ring before the upper die engages the binder.