A forming die includes a first die component with a male bead and a second die component with a female bead. The male bead and the female bead form a bead with a reverse bead geometry with the male bead having a groove and the female bead having a protrusion complimentary with the groove such that the protrusion is aligned with the groove when the male bead extends into the female bead. The male bead includes a push surface, a pair of sidewalls extending from the push surface to a main surface of the first die component, and the groove extends inwardly into the rib. And the female bead includes a stop surface and a pair of sidewalls extending from the stop surface to a main surface of the second die component, and the protrusion extends outwardly from the stop surface into the female bead.

A forming die includes a first die component with a male bead and a second die component with a female bead. The male bead and the female bead form a bead with a reverse bead geometry with the male bead having a groove and the female bead having a protrusion complimentary with the groove such that the protrusion is aligned with the groove when the male bead extends into the female bead. The male bead includes a push surface, a pair of sidewalls extending from the push surface to a main surface of the first die component, and the groove extends inwardly into the rib. And the female bead includes a stop surface and a pair of sidewalls extending from the stop surface to a main surface of the second die component, and the protrusion extends outwardly from the stop surface into the female bead.

Disclosed herein is a press-working apparatus, monitoring device, and method of operating a press-working apparatus with a press-working monitoring device and one or more displacement sensors configured to provide a first output signal indicative of deformation of the first sensing part. The method can be configured for determining if an error criterion based on the first output signal from the first displacement sensor has been met, and providing a control signal indicative of an error to the press-working apparatus if the error criterion is met.

A method of forming a forming mold screen including providing a die plate defining a plate contour and a die center point. A screen is disposed on the die plate. A retainer plate secured to the die plate defines an opening having a retainer center point substantially aligned with the die center point. The screen is disposed between the die plate and the retainer plate and substantially defines a plane. A nested punch unit inserted into the opening includes an inner punch and an outer punch disposed around the inner punch. The inner punch and the outer punch are aligned along an axis substantially aligned with the retainer center point. The screen pressed with the nested punch unit includes pressing the screen with the inner punch followed by pressing the screen with the outer punch.

A press forming method for an automotive outer panel according to the present invention is a method for press forming a metal sheet 51 into an automotive outer panel 61 having a character line 63 and panel surface portions 65a and 65b by using a punch 3, a die 5, and a blank holder 7. The press forming method includes: a step of providing an elastic body 9 protruding toward the punch 3 side on a die-side forming surface portion 5b forming the panel surface portion 65a, and bringing the elastic body 9 into contact with the metal sheet 51 prior to the die 5; and a step of press forming while crushing the elastic body 9 and pressing the metal sheet 51, and the elastic body 9 is caused to protrude from the die-side forming surface portion 5b so that a frictional force of the crushed elastic body 9 and the metal sheet 51 is equal to or greater than an absolute value of a difference between tensions acting on both sides of a portion 53 corresponding to the character line 63.

A press forming method for an automotive outer panel according to the present invention is a method for press forming a metal sheet 51 into an automotive outer panel 61 having a character line 63 and panel surface portions 65a and 65b by using a punch 3, a die 5, and a blank holder 7. The press forming method includes: a step of providing an elastic body 9 protruding toward the punch 3 side on a die-side forming surface portion 5b forming the panel surface portion 65a, and bringing the elastic body 9 into contact with the metal sheet 51 prior to the die 5; and a step of press forming while crushing the elastic body 9 and pressing the metal sheet 51, and the elastic body 9 is caused to protrude from the die-side forming surface portion 5b so that a frictional force of the crushed elastic body 9 and the metal sheet 51 is equal to or greater than an absolute value of a difference between tensions acting on both sides of a portion 53 corresponding to the character line 63.

A method of manufacturing a press-formed article includes first press forming and second press forming. In the first press forming, an intermediate formed article is formed from a metal sheet by subjecting the metal sheet to processing including performing draw-forming on the metal sheet to form a peripheral wall portion, bending the metal sheet to form a convex flange portion, and bending the metal sheet to form at least a side standing flange main body portion of a side standing flange portion and a floor flange main body portion of a floor flange portion. The second press forming includes bending the intermediate formed article to form the convex flange portion to an inclined flange portion.

A method of manufacturing a press-formed article includes first press forming and second press forming. In the first press forming, an intermediate formed article is formed from a metal sheet by subjecting the metal sheet to processing including performing draw-forming on the metal sheet to form a peripheral wall portion, bending the metal sheet to form a convex flange portion, and bending the metal sheet to form at least a side standing flange main body portion of a side standing flange portion and a floor flange main body portion of a floor flange portion. The second press forming includes bending the intermediate formed article to form the convex flange portion to an inclined flange portion.

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.