A positioning device for hot stamping includes a pilot pin and a driving mechanism for driving the pilot pin. Before a plate material is placed into a press die, when the driving mechanism positions the pilot pin at a predetermined projecting position, a tip portion of the pilot pin projects from a pin guide hole and a body portion of the pilot pin formed further toward a base end side than the tip portion projects from the pin guide hole. Before a process in which the press die removes heat from the plate material after having been press-formed by the press die, when the driving mechanism positions the pilot pin at a predetermined immersed position, the body portion of the pilot pin is immersed in the pin guide hole while only the tip portion of the pilot pin projects from the pin guide hole.

Apparatus for handling bars including a support plane configured to support a plurality of bars having an oblong development, and handling devices configured to remove a bar from a removal zone of the support plane and to deliver it to a delivery zone. Movement devices are associated with the support plane which are configured to distribute the bars on the support plane and to move them toward the removal zone.

A centering system comprising a conveyor for receiving a plurality of blanks outputted from a furnace and displacing the blanks along a first horizontal axis and shifting units for each individual blank including two or more adjustable lifting bars, the shifting units configured to move along a second horizontal axis, and the adjustable lifting bars being configured to lift the blanks along a vertical axis, wherein each of the shifting units is independently movable along the second axis, and a plurality of centering pins for centering the blanks, such that the blanks can be centered by moving the individual blanks along the second axis against the centering pins. Also disclosed are conveyor systems and methods for centering and conveying blanks.

This invention provides an idler for use in conveyor systems and associated shaft and support structure that reduces the potential for infiltration of contaminants into the bearing assemblies at the opposing ends of the shaft. By use of stampings, co-molded polymer with sealed metal end caps, press-fit end shafts and stamped-metal support structures a more contamination-resistant and efficiently constructed idler assembly is provided. A hollow shaft center section can be used. The polymer defines at least three sealing structures. The shaft defines a multi-piece unit, with the end shafts press-fit onto the center shaft section and held in place by the bearing subassemblies—affixed to the idler sleeve. The support framework includes three stamped and/or cut, and folded sheet metal pieces—a center section with a pair of opposing central risers that engage end shafts, and two opposing, separately attached, end risers, that engage outermost idler end shafts.

This invention provides an idler for use in conveyor systems and associated shaft and support structure that reduces the potential for infiltration of contaminants into the bearing assemblies at the opposing ends of the shaft. By use of stampings, co-molded polymer with sealed metal end caps, press-fit end shafts and stamped-metal support structures a more contamination-resistant and efficiently constructed idler assembly is provided. A hollow shaft center section can be used. The polymer defines at least three sealing structures. The shaft defines a multi-piece unit, with the end shafts press-fit onto the center shaft section and held in place by the bearing subassemblies—affixed to the idler sleeve. The support framework includes three stamped and/or cut, and folded sheet metal pieces—a center section with a pair of opposing central risers that engage end shafts, and two opposing, separately attached, end risers, that engage outermost idler end shafts.

The present invention is a die positioning system for use in positioning mobile or fixed dies. The system includes a pair of key bars, a pair of key disc inserts, a set of key discs, and a set of disc backers. The key bars and key discs serve to offset manufacturing dies or die holders. Using key bars and/or key discs from different pairs of key bars and/or sets of key discs also allows for precise angulation of the dies or die holders. The key discs are held in place between the die and die holder, or between the die holder and key base, by the key disc inserts and angled (if feasible) by the disc backers. The key bars, located between the key disc inserts and the die or die holder allow additional offset of the die or die holder. The solid, stacked configuration of the key bars and key discs prevents the die or die holder from gradually or suddenly losing its positioning.

A hot metal gas forming and quenching system and process therefor are provided. The system includes a hydraulic press, a die assembly, a rapid heating module and a rapid cooling module. The die assembly includes a progressive die which can realize the hot gas bulging and rapid cooling of the workpiece. Through the above system and the process, making pipes with uncoated plates has a lower cost than with coated and plated steel plates, with fewer structural defects and process risks. By using a progressive die, a resistance heating process, and hot gas bulging and quenching processes are performed in parallel, and the material is loaded progressively, thereby having a fast pace and a greatly improved efficiency. A heating state of parts is fully protected, oxidation is avoided, and no coating is required. After the workpiece is formed, it can be directly welded to a car body without shot blasting.

It is configured such that, for performing variable engravement for each formed object on a coil material to be fed to a press machine for molding a part of a can, a formed object with an engravement can be molded at a high productivity. A laser engraving device is a device for performing laser engraving on a coil material to be fed to a press machine for molding a part of a can, and includes a feeding mechanism for deeding a coil material at a predetermined speed, a laser head for irradiating the coil material fed at the predetermined speed with a laser beam, and performing engravement for each formed object, and a data communication unit for switching engraving data of the laser head. The data communication unit collectively switches a plurality of engraving data to be subjected to engravement on a plurality of formed objects, and the laser head continuously performs engravement of the plurality of engraving data on predetermined positions of the coil material.

A precision compensation mechanism of a full-automatic bidirectional flanging machine comprises an upper die X-direction fine adjustment assembly, an upper die Y-direction fine adjustment assembly, a lower die X-direction fine adjustment assembly and a lower die Y-direction fine adjustment assembly, wherein the fine adjustment assemblies each comprise N adjusting threaded sleeves, N adjusting screws and a threaded sleeve rotation driving device; wherein the N adjusting threaded sleeves are threaded into an upper opening or a lower opening of a C-shaped flanging beam along the length direction of an upper die or a lower die; the outer wall surfaces of the N adjusting threaded sleeves are threaded into the upper opening or the lower opening of the C-shaped flanging beam to form N screw thread pairs I with the thread pitch of P1.

A cup feed assembly for a can bodymaker with a vertically oriented, reciprocating, elongated ram assembly is provided. The cup feed assembly includes a chute assembly, a rotatable feeder disk assembly, and a cup locator. The chute assembly includes a transfer chute. The transfer chute includes an outer second side member, a first end and a second end. The transfer chute first end is in communication with the feeder chute outlet end. The outer second side member at the transfer chute second end includes a first biasing device. The cup locator defines a holding space, the holding space in communication with the transfer chute second end. The feeder disk assembly is structured to move a cup disposed at feeder chute outlet end through the transfer chute into the cup locator. The first biasing device is structured to maintain a cup in the holding space.