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.

A deep drawing die is provided having a top die with a hold-down clamp, a bottom die with a die plate, and at least one device arranged in a flange region, by which the distance between the hold-down clamp and the die plate can be modified in portions or partially. A method for deep drawing a workpiece with a deep drawing die includes inserting a workpiece between top and bottom dies, deep drawing by closing the dies, and controlling at least one actuator to generate a holding force during deep drawing. By selectively increasing forces in the flange feed at selected locations between hold-down clamp and die plate, it is possible to control the flow of material into the die plate and relieve load on regions having high deforming work, so that tears or cracks at these points in the finished component can be prevented.

A deep drawing die is provided having a top die with a hold-down clamp, a bottom die with a die plate, and at least one device arranged in a flange region, by which the distance between the hold-down clamp and the die plate can be modified in portions or partially. A method for deep drawing a workpiece with a deep drawing die includes inserting a workpiece between top and bottom dies, deep drawing by closing the dies, and controlling at least one actuator to generate a holding force during deep drawing. By selectively increasing forces in the flange feed at selected locations between hold-down clamp and die plate, it is possible to control the flow of material into the die plate and relieve load on regions having high deforming work, so that tears or cracks at these points in the finished component can be prevented.

A press forming method includes a first step of pinching one part of a metal sheet by means of a die and a pad, and a second step of moving a punch in a direction in which the punch approaches the die relatively to perform press forming on the metal sheet. The die has a first support surface which has an edge including a curved portion. The pad has a second support surface facing the first support surface of the die. The first support surface includes a first flat portion, and a first deformation portion which protrudes or is recessed with respect to the first flat portion. The second support surface includes a second flat portion which faces the first flat portion, and a second deformation portion which is recessed or protrudes with respect to the second flat portion so as to correspond to the first deformation portion. The first deformation portion is provided on a normal line of the curved portion as viewed from a pressing direction. When a space between the first deformation portion and the second deformation portion is assumed to be a deformation space, in the second step, press forming is performed so that portions of the metal sheet which are on both sides of the deformation space flow into the deformation space, and the metal sheet deforms along the first deformation portion and the second deformation portion in the deformation space.

A press forming method includes a first step of pinching one part of a metal sheet by means of a die and a pad, and a second step of moving a punch in a direction in which the punch approaches the die relatively to perform press forming on the metal sheet. The die has a first support surface which has an edge including a curved portion. The pad has a second support surface facing the first support surface of the die. The first support surface includes a first flat portion, and a first deformation portion which protrudes or is recessed with respect to the first flat portion. The second support surface includes a second flat portion which faces the first flat portion, and a second deformation portion which is recessed or protrudes with respect to the second flat portion so as to correspond to the first deformation portion. The first deformation portion is provided on a normal line of the curved portion as viewed from a pressing direction. When a space between the first deformation portion and the second deformation portion is assumed to be a deformation space, in the second step, press forming is performed so that portions of the metal sheet which are on both sides of the deformation space flow into the deformation space, and the metal sheet deforms along the first deformation portion and the second deformation portion in the deformation space.

A bottom expansion station is provided. The station provides a blank support, a punch having a central recess configured to punch a blank through the blank support forming a cup, and a pressure exertion medium including a material through which pressure is exerted on a portion the end wall of the cup to increase the area of the end wall. The material is configured to be deformed by the end wall when pressure is exerted through it on the portion of the end wall.

A bottom expansion station is provided. The station provides a blank support, a punch having a central recess configured to punch a blank through the blank support forming a cup, and a pressure exertion medium including a material through which pressure is exerted on a portion the end wall of the cup to increase the area of the end wall. The material is configured to be deformed by the end wall when pressure is exerted through it on the portion of the end wall.

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.

Shock absorbers (33) are attached to a press apparatus (10). The press apparatus (10) has a lower die unit (11) and an upper die unit (21) that is movable in vertical directions; the lower die unit and the upper die unit are capable of cooperating with each other to perform press-forming on a blank (W). The upper die unit (21) has an upper forming die (22) that serves as a forming die to perform press-forming on the blank (W) and upper blank holders (25) that partially serve as blank holders. The shock absorbers (33) are respectively disposed between the upper forming die (22) and the upper blank holders (25), and when the upper die unit (21) is moved upward away from the lower die unit (11) to open the upper and lower forming dies after press-forming is performed on the blank (W), impact applied to the upper blank holders (25) by the upper forming die (22) are respectively absorbed by the shock absorbers (33).

A number of variations may include a product comprising a press mechanism comprising a press comprising an upper die and a lower die, and a locking mechanism wherein the upper die comprises an upper binder and the lower die comprises a lower binder and a floor, and wherein the locking mechanism is constructed and arranged to mechanically lock the upper binder and lower binder together during at least part of the press movement.