Patent Application
20210237298
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-017781, filed Feb. 5, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a die set apparatus used for press equipment for performing processing such as cutting or bending of a workplace.
In order to process an article to be processed (a workpiece), press equipment has been used from the past. JP 2002-336918 A (Patent Literature 1) and JP 2011-161471 A (Patent Literature 2) describe examples of press equipment including an upper die and a lower die. The lower die is held by a lower die holder, and the upper die held by an upper die holder. As the upper die is moved toward the lower die, the workpiece is processed by the upper die and the lower die.
For example, in a manufacturing process of a suspension for use in a hard disk drive (HDD), precision press working is performed in a clean chamber in which cleanliness is kept at a high level. Press equipment which is to be used for the processing includes, for example, a lower die held by a lower die holder and an upper die held by an upper die holder. Further, by moving the upper die toward the lower die, cutting or bending of a workpiece (the suspension) is performed.
There is a wide variety of workplaces. Depending on the workpiece, it is necessary to avoid adhesion of fine particles, such as metal powder, to the workpiece. For example, adhesion of fine particles to a disk drive suspension causes a trouble in an operation of a hard disk drive. Also, the fine particles adhering to the workpiece may become a factor of producing minute indentations on the workpiece during the press working, for example. Accordingly, in the disk drive suspension, it is strongly desired that the adhesion of fine particles be prevented.
A high level of cleanliness is required for the disk drive suspension. For this reason, as the processing for the disk drive suspension, oilless processing is performed inside a clean chamber in which cleanliness is controlled. In the oilless processing, pressing and cutting are performed by a die set apparatus which does not use oil. For this reason, in the oilless processing, fine particles that are produced scatter easily, and there has been a concern that the fine particles may adhere to the workpiece.
In order to urge an upper die holder in a direction of separating the upper die holder from a lower ore holder, a lift mechanism is used. The lift mechanism includes a guide pin extending in an up-down direction, and a coil spring which urges the upper die holder upward. The coil spring has a length adapted to a movement stroke of the upper die holder in the up-down direction. In the case of a die set in which the upper die holder moves at a large stroke, a coil spring whose length in an axial direction (i.e., the direction along a central axis) is sufficiently large relative to a diameter (coil diameter) of the coil spring is used.
If a coil spring whose length is sufficiently large relative to the coil diameter is compressed, depending on the degree of compression, a phenomenon in which the coil spring is deformed in a crescent shape, in other words, the so-called bowing, may occur. The bowing may be referred to as buckling. When the bowing occurs in the coil spring, an inner surface of the coil spring is brought into contact with the guide pin. If the inner surface of the coil spring contacts the guide pin every time the upper die holder moves up and down, metallic fine particles are produced at a portion of contact between the coil spring and the guide pin. It is not desirable that the fine particles produced in such a way adhere to the workpiece.
An object of the present invention is to provide a die set apparatus which can avoid occurrence of fine particles of metal and the like, and prevent the fine particles from adhering to a workpiece.
A die set apparatus of one embodiment includes a first die holder which holds a first die, a second die holder which holds a second die, a guide post, and a lift mechanism. The guide post guides the first die holder and the second die holder to move in a direction of coming close to or separating from each other. The lift mechanism urges the second die holder in a direction of separating the second die holder from the first die holder.
The lift mechanism includes a guide pin, a linear motion guide member, a first washer, a second washer, a first coil spring, a second coil spring, a first positioning portion, a second positioning portion, a third positioning portion, and a fourth positioning portion. The guide pin extends in a direction parallel to the guide post between the first die holder and the second die holder. The linear motion guide member is provided on the guide pin, and is freely movable in a direction along an axis of the guide pin. The linear motion guide member includes a first end portion and a second end portion. The first, washer is provided at the first end portion of the linear motion guide member. The second washer is provided at the second end portion of the linear motion guide member.
The first coil spring includes a first end turn portion and a second end turn portion. Further, the first coil spring is arranged in such a state that it is compressed between the first die holder and the first washer. The second coil spring includes a third end turn portion and a fourth end turn portion. Further, the second coil spring is arranged in such a state that it is compressed between the second die holder and the second washer.
The first positioning portion controls the first end turn portion from moving in a radial direction of the guide pin in a state where a first gap is formed between an inner surface of the first coil spring and the guide pin. The second positioning portion controls the second end turn portion from moving in the radial direction of the guide pin in a state where the first gap is formed between the inner surface of the first coil spring and the guide pin. The third positioning portion controls the third end turn portion from moving in the radial direction of the guide pin in a state where a second gap is formed between an inner surface of the second coil spring and the guide pin. The fourth positioning portion controls the fourth end turn portion from moving in the radial direction of the guide pin in a state where the second gap is formed between the inner surface of the second coil spring and the guide pin.
According to the embodiment, it is possible to avoid occurrence of fine particles of metal and the like in a die set apparatus for use in processing of a workpiece, and prevent the fine particles from adhering to a workpiece for which cleanliness is required to be high such as a disk drive suspension.
An example of the first coil spring is formed of a first wire which is shaped to be helical. A diameter of the first coil spring having a cylindrical shape is substantially constant in a length direction of the coil spring (i.e., the direction along an axis of the first coil spring). Moreover, a cross section of the first wire (i.e., the cross section In a direction along the axis of the first coil, spring) is of a flat rectangular shape in which a thickness is smaller than a width. An example of the second coil spring is formed of a second wire which is shaped to be helical. A diameter of the second coil spring having a cylindrical shape is substantially constant in a length direction of the coil spring (i.e., the direction along an axis of the second coil spring). Moreover, a cross section of the second wire (i.e., the cross section in a direction along the axis of the second coil spring) is of a flat rectangular shape in which a thickness is smaller than a width. The linear motion guide member may be a ball guide in which a plurality of balls are provided to be freely reliable in a cylindrical retainer.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A die set apparatus 10 according to one embodiment will be described with reference to
The die set apparatus 10 includes a first die holder 11, a second die holder 12, a plurality of (four, for example) guide posts 13, and a pair of lift mechanisms (a first lift mechanism 14 and a second lift mechanism 15). The first die holder 11 is fixed on a bed 20 of press equipment. The second die holder 12 is arranged above the first die holder 11.
A first die 21 is held by the first die holder 11. A second die 22 is held by the second die holder 12. The workpiece W1 is processed by the first die 21 and the second die 22. On an upper part of the second die holder 12, a coupling portion 31, which connects with a pressure portion 30 of the press equipment, is provided. The second die holder 12 moves in a direction (up-down direction, for example) of coming close to or separating from the first die holder 11.
As shown in
The first lift mechanism 14 and the second lift mechanism 15 have the function of urging the second die holder 12 in a direction of separating the second die holder 12 from the first die holder 11. In the die set apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the first die holder 11 is arranged on the lower side, and the second die holder 12 is arranged on the upper side. Thus, the first lift mechanism 14 and the second lift mechanism 15 urge the second die holder 12 upward.
The structures of the first lift mechanism 14 and the second lift mechanism 15 are common to each other. For this reason, in the following, the first lift mechanism 14 will be described as a typical example of the lift mechanism. Note that for the first lift mechanism 14 and the second lift mechanism 15 shown in
The guide pin 50 extends in a vertical direction which is parallel to the guide post 13 (shown in
As shown in
The guide pin 50 is provided with the linear motion guide member 51. The linear motion guide member 51 includes a first end portion 51a and a second end portion 51b. The linear motion guide member 51 is freely movable in a direction along the axis X1 of the guide pin 50. An example of the linear motion guide member 51 is an oilless-type ball guide. The ball guide includes a cylindrical retainer 80. A plurality of balls 81 are provided to be freely rollable in the retainer 80. The ball 81 rotatably contacts an outer peripheral surface 50e of the guide pin 50. As another example of the linear motion guide member 51, instead of the ball guide, an oilless-type linear bush (plain guide) may be used. The linear bush may be provided such that it moves slidably in a direction along the axis X1 of the guide pin 50.
At the first end portion 51a of the linear motion guide member 51, the first washer 61 is provided. A gap S1 (shown in
At the second end portion 51b of the linear motion guide member 51, the second washer 62 is provided. A gap 52 (shown in
The spring receiving member 77 and the first washer 61 are provided on the first die holder 11. The first coil spring 71 having a cylindrical shape is provided between the spring receiving member 77 and the first washer 61. An axis C1 (shown in
A diameter of the first coil spring 71 having the cylindrical shape is substantially constant in the length direction of the first coil spring 71. That is, the diameter of the first coil spring 71 is substantially constant in a direction along the axis C1 (shown in
The second coil spring 72 having a cylindrical shape is provided between the second die holder 12 and the second washer 62. An axis C2 (shown in
A diameter of the second coil spring 72 having the cylindrical shape is substantially constant in the length direction of the second coil spring 72. That is, the diameter of the second coil spring 72 is substantially constant in a direction along the axis C2 (shown in
The specifications (the number of turns, pitch, spring constant, etc.) of the first coil spring 71 and the second coil spring 72 are common to each other. Since the first coil spring 71 and the second coil spring 72 are commonalized, the type of the coil spring to be used for the lift mechanisms 14 and 15 can be reduced. Note that the specifications (the number of turns, pitch, spring constant, etc.) of the first coil spring 71 and the second coil spring 72 may be different from each other according to the purpose.
As shown in
A recess 110 is formed on a lower surface of the first washer 61. The second end turn portion 92 is inserted into the recess 110. A position of an outer peripheral surface 92a of the second end turn portion 92 is restricted by an inner peripheral surface 110a of the recess 110. The inner peripheral surface 110a of the recess 110 serves as a second positioning portion 112. The second positioning portion 112 controls the second end turn portion 92 from moving in the radial direction of the guide pin 50. That is, in a state where the first gap G1 is formed between the inner peripheral surface 71b of the first coil spring 71 and the guide pin 50, the second positioning portion 112 controls the second end turn portion 92 from moving in the radial direction of the guide pin 50.
As shown in
A recess 135 is formed on an upper surface of the second washer 62. The fourth end turn portion 94 is inserted into the recess 135. A position of an outer peripheral surface 94a of the fourth end turn portion 94 is restricted by an inner peripheral surface 135a of the recess 135. The inner peripheral surface 135a of the recess 135 serves as a fourth positioning portion 140. The fourth positioning portion 140 controls the fourth end turn portion 94 from moving in the radial direction of the guide pin 50. That is, in a state where the second gap 02 is formed between the inner peripheral surface 72b of the second coil spring 72 and the guide pin 50, the fourth positioning portion 140 controls the fourth end turn portion 94 from moving in the radial direction of the guide pin 50.
An action of the die set apparatus 10 of the present embodiment will be described below.
An example of the workpiece W1 is a suspension chain blank (shown in
As shown in
When the second die holder 12 is moved from the elevated position to the lowered position, the coil springs 71 and 72 are compressed. The amount of compression of the coil springs 71 and 72 depends on a movement stroke of the second die holder 12 in the up-down direction. When the amount of movement of the second die holder 12 is large, the amount of compression of the coil springs 71 and 72 is also large. If bowing occurs when the coil springs 71 and 72 are compressed and the lengths thereof are reduced, the inner surfaces of the coil springs 71 and 72 may contact the guide pin 50.
Therefore, in the die set apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, movement of the first end turn portion 91 in the radial direction of the guide pin 50 is restrained by the first positioning portion 101. Further, movement of the second end turn portion 92 in the radial direction of the guide pin 50 is restrained by the second positioning portion 112. Consequently, the first gap G1 is secured. For this reason, even if the first coil spring 71 extends and retracts repeatedly, it is possible to prevent the inner peripheral surface 71b of the first coil spring 71 and the guide pin 50 from being in contact with each other.
Also, movement of the third end turn portion 93 in the radial direction of the guide pin 50 is restrained by the third positioning portion 130. Further, movement of the fourth end turn portion 94 in the radial direction of the guide pin 50 is restrained by the fourth positioning portion 140. Consequently, the second gap G2 is secured. For this reason, even if the second coil spring 72 extends and retracts repeatedly, it is possible to prevent the inner peripheral surface 72b of the second coil spring 72 and the guide pin 50 from being in contact with each other.
In a conventional die set apparatus, a long coil spring adapted to a distance between the first die holder and the second die holder has been used. Therefore, when the coil spring is compressed, there has been a case where bowing (buckling) occurs, and the inner surface of the coil spring is brought into contact with the guide pin. In particular, with respect to a coil spring formed of a wire having a circular cross section, the greater the length of the coil spring is, the more the bowing is likely to occur.
In contrast, in the die set apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the spring of the lift mechanism is separated into two springs, which are the first coil spring 71 and the second coil spring 72. Further, the cross section of each of the wires 71a and 71b of the coil springs 71 and 72 is of a flat rectangular shape. Moreover, the linear motion guide member 51 is provided between the first coil spring 71 and the second coil spring 72. That is, the first coil spring 71 and the second coil spring 72 are arranged in series via the linear motion guide member 51. Consequently, even if the first coil spring 71 and the second coil spring 72 are compressed, it is possible to prevent the bowing from occurring. It is thereby possible to prevent the respective inner surfaces of the coil springs 71 and 72 from being in contact with the guide pin.
After the workpiece W1 has been processed, the pressure portion 30 is elevated, whereby the second die holder 12 is elevated. Accordingly, the second die 22 is separated from the first die 21. The second die holder 12 is elevated as shown in
In the die set apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, when the workpiece is to be processed, the second die holder 12 is moved in the up-down direction relative to the first die holder 11. Even if the second die holder 12 is moved in the up-down direction relative to the first die holder 11, it is possible to prevent the first coil spring 71 and the second coil spring 72 from being in contact with the guide pin 50. Consequently, occurrence of fine particles caused by the coil springs 71 and 72 being in contact with the guide pin 50 is suppressed. Thus, it is possible to avoid adhesion of the fine particles to the workpiece, and the workpiece can be kept in a clean state.
The first coil spring 71 is formed of the first wire 71a whose cross section is flat. The cross section of the first wire 71a is of a rectangular shape in which the thickness T1 is smaller than the width D1. That is, the first wire 71a is flat in a direction in which the coil spring 71 extends and retracts. The second coil spring 72 is also formed of the second wire 72a whose cross section is flat. The cross section of the second wire 72a is of a rectangular shape in which the thickness T2 is smaller than the width D2. That is, the second wire 72a is flat in a direction in which the coil spring 72 extends and retracts. As compared to a general coil spring formed of a wire having a circular cross section, in the coil springs 71 and 72 which are formed of the wires 71a and 72a as described above, a close-contact length at maximum compression can be reduced.
Since the close-contact length of each of the first coil spring 71 and the second coil spring 72 is small, a stroke of deflection which takes place when the coil spring extends and retracts can be made large. In the present embodiment, the linear motion guide member 51 of a predetermined length is arranged between the first coil spring 71 and the second coil spring 72. Despite the above arrangement, since the close-contact length is small in both of these coil springs 71 and 72, a stroke of deflection, which is sufficiently larger than a movement stroke which takes place when the die holder 12 is moved in the up-down direction, can be secured.
Needless to say, in implementing the present invention, each member which constitutes the die set apparatus may be modified variously. For example, the first die holder, the second die holder, and the lift mechanism may be modified variously in the implementation. A lateral arrangement type die set apparatus in which a second die holder is moved in a horizontal direction relative to a first die holder may be employed. Also, the guide pin and the linear motion guide member, the first washer, the second washer, the first coil spring, the second coil spring, and the first to fourth positioning portions may be embodied in a variety of other forms as necessary.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-017781 | Feb 2020 | JP | national |
