Patent ID: 7845204

Claim:
A cup-shaped member forming apparatus for use in a single acting press or a double-acting press having an outer punch assembly, an inner punch assembly and a base, comprising: a) a draw pad and a cutting edge carried on said outer punch assembly; a draw horn carried on said inner punch assembly; a blank and draw die carried on said base, said blank and draw die generally opposing said draw pad and said draw horn, said cutting edge configured to engage a sheet material disposed between said draw pad and said blank and draw die for cutting a disk from said sheet material, said draw pad configured to engage said disk and said blank and draw die for exerting a clamping force on said disk and said blank and draw die during operation of said press; and b) a pressure piston system carried by said outer punch assembly, said pressure piston system being operatively connected to a pneumatic air supply and including at least a first piston and a second piston, said first and second pistons being vertically stacked with respect to one another, said first piston being operatively mounted on a first cylinder and said second piston being operatively mounted on a second cylinder, said pressure piston system further including a damping member, said first piston operatively engaged with said draw pad such that when said outer punch assembly is advanced toward said base said clamping force of said draw pad on said disk and said blank and draw die is continuously increased.