Patent ID: 8522595

Claim:
In a metal forming die having a stationary die shoe, a reciprocating die pad mounted a spaced apart distance from said stationary die shoe for reciprocation between converged and diverged positions, and a biasing member disposed operably between said stationary die shoe and said reciprocating die pad and biasing the same to said diverged position, the improvement of a guided keeper assembly, comprising: a base having: a mounting face abutting an adjacent face of said stationary die shoe; at least one fastener aperture extending axially through a marginal portion of said base for detachably mounting said base to said stationary die shoe; a central aperture extending axially through a central portion of said base; and a bushing mounted in said central aperture of said base; a guide pin having: a cylindrically-shaped central portion closely received in said bushing in said base for precisely guiding reciprocal motion between said reciprocating die pad and said stationary die shoe; a first end having an enlarged head shaped to abut said base to positively limit travel between said stationary die shoe and said reciprocating die pad; and a second end, positioned opposite said first end, and having a shoulder with a rigid center post protruding outwardly therefrom to precisely locate said second end of said guide pin on said reciprocating die pad; a first fastener extending through said fastener aperture in said base and securely, yet detachably, connecting said base with said stationary die shoe at a location on said metal forming die that is spaced laterally apart from said biasing member; and a second fastener securely, yet detachably, connecting said second end of said guide pin with said reciprocating die pad at a location on said metal forming die that is spaced laterally apart form said biasing member and is aligned with said base.