A method of manufacturing a press-molded article includes: projecting an inner pad, provided at an apex portion of a punch, from the punch toward a side of a die, and disposing a metal sheet blank on the inner pad; and projecting a die pad, provided at the die, from the die toward a side of the punch to dispose the die pad at a position separated from the inner pad by a predetermined distance that is greater than a plate thickness of the metal sheet blank; forming a side walls by moving the die toward the punch side relative to the die pad, the inner pad, and the punch, and integrating the die pad with the die; and forming a top plate by moving the die and the die pad, which have been integrated, and the inner pad, toward the punch side relative to the punch.

A draw press die assembly includes an upper die, a lower die positioned beneath the upper die, a blankholder for supporting an associated workpiece, and a blankholder drive mechanism connected with at least one of the upper die and the blankholder. The blankholder drive mechanism is configured to provide a pulsating movement of the blankholder with respect to the upper die.

A draw press die assembly includes an upper die, a lower die positioned beneath the upper die, a blankholder for supporting an associated workpiece, and a blankholder drive mechanism connected with at least one of the upper die and the blankholder. The blankholder drive mechanism is configured to provide a pulsating movement of the blankholder with respect to the upper die.

A curved part 10 having a hat-shaped cross section is produced by press-forming without causing cracks and wrinkles. When producing a curved part 10, which is made up of a top plate 11, vertical walls 12a and 12b extended in parallel with each other along ridgelines 14a and 14b of the top plate, and outwardly directed flanges 13a and 13b which connect to leading edges of the vertical walls, and has a generally hat-shaped cross section, by press forming, the metal material sheet 601 is interposed and constrained by the die 502 and the blank holder 505 and is press-formed while the metal material sheet 601 being interposed and constrained by the pad 503 and the punch 504.

A curved part 10 having a hat-shaped cross section is produced by press-forming without causing cracks and wrinkles. When producing a curved part 10, which is made up of a top plate 11, vertical walls 12a and 12b extended in parallel with each other along ridgelines 14a and 14b of the top plate, and outwardly directed flanges 13a and 13b which connect to leading edges of the vertical walls, and has a generally hat-shaped cross section, by press forming, the metal material sheet 601 is interposed and constrained by the die 502 and the blank holder 505 and is press-formed while the metal material sheet 601 being interposed and constrained by the pad 503 and the punch 504.

A forming tool for forming a metal sheet, having an upper tool part and a movable sheet holder that is supported against the lower tool part, and having a locking device, which is provided between the sheet holder and a hold-down and has at least one spacer element that is supported so that it is able to move from a rest position into a working position as a function of a relative movement, which occurs during the closing of the forming tool. The forming tool also has a wedge drive with a slider and a driver, the slider that is equipped with the spacer element is supported so that it is able to move in contact with the driver as a function of the relative movement that occurs between the sheet holder and the upper tool part during the closing of the forming tool, in order to move the spacer element into its working position.

A forming tool for forming a metal sheet, having an upper tool part and a movable sheet holder that is supported against the lower tool part, and having a locking device, which is provided between the sheet holder and a hold-down and has at least one spacer element that is supported so that it is able to move from a rest position into a working position as a function of a relative movement, which occurs during the closing of the forming tool. The forming tool also has a wedge drive with a slider and a driver, the slider that is equipped with the spacer element is supported so that it is able to move in contact with the driver as a function of the relative movement that occurs between the sheet holder and the upper tool part during the closing of the forming tool, in order to move the spacer element into its working position.

The drawing press according to the invention includes a support structure for supporting a metal sheet holder which is part of a tool and supported on the press frame via the support structure. The metal sheet holder is assigned a plunger with a die tool, whereas the plunger is moved by means of a plunger drive which includes a blocking position. The blocking position is obtained, for example, by a drive which, in the blocking position does not transmit any movement of the drive output to the driving servomotor. This can be achieved, for example, by an eccentric drive in the stretched position thereof. For performing the actual drawing stroke, the stamping tool is vertically movably supported. A carriage is raised or lowered by the press table by means of a table drive. As table drive, preferably a servomotor with a non-linear drive, such as an eccentric drive is used.

The drawing press according to the invention includes a support structure for supporting a metal sheet holder which is part of a tool and supported on the press frame via the support structure. The metal sheet holder is assigned a plunger with a die tool, whereas the plunger is moved by means of a plunger drive which includes a blocking position. The blocking position is obtained, for example, by a drive which, in the blocking position does not transmit any movement of the drive output to the driving servomotor. This can be achieved, for example, by an eccentric drive in the stretched position thereof. For performing the actual drawing stroke, the stamping tool is vertically movably supported. A carriage is raised or lowered by the press table by means of a table drive. As table drive, preferably a servomotor with a non-linear drive, such as an eccentric drive is used.

The present invention provides a deep-drawing method and a forming die therefor which can prevent the occurrence of cup side wall wrinkles and the collapse of the bottom during the process of deep-drawing a blank and which can increase the drawing ratio. A wrinkle pressing surface of a pressure pad (1) or an upper surface of a draw die (2) includes a flat inner edge surface (11), a tapered surface (12) which becomes deeper as the surface advances from the flat inner edge surface toward an outer circumference, a deepest flat surface (13), and a flat outer edge surface (14), which are provided in that order from an inner edge through which a draw punch passes toward an outer edge.