Patent ID: 8151619

Claim:
In a metal forming die of the type having a die shoe, a die pad mounted a spaced apart distance from said die shoe for mutual reciprocation between converged and diverged positions, and a biasing member disposed between said die shoe and said die pad for biasing the same to said diverged position, the improvement of a guided keeper assembly, comprising: a base having: a mounting face shaped to abut an adjacent face of said die shoe; a connector portion for detachably mounting said base to said die shoe; and a central aperture extending axially through said base; a guide pin having: a cylindrically-shaped central portion closely received in said central aperture in said base for precisely guiding reciprocal motion between said die pad and said die shoe; a first end having an enlarged head shaped to abut said base to positively limit travel between said die shoe and said die pad; a second end, positioned opposite said first end, and having an alignment member configured to precisely locate said second end of said guide pin on said die pad; and an outwardly opening groove extending circumferentially about said second end of said guide pin; a retainer ring removably mounted in said groove and protruding radially outwardly of said second end of said guide pin to securely, yet detachably, retain said base on said guide pin between said enlarged head and said retainer ring in an assembled condition to facilitate transport and mounting of said guided keeper assembly; a first fastener operably engaging said connector portion of said base and securely, yet detachably, connecting said base with said die shoe; and a second fastener securely, yet detachably, connecting said second end of said guide pin with said die pad.