The disclosed and claimed compressed gas system provides for the use of a rotary valve assembly in association with a cupper. A compressed gas system that utilizes a rotary valve assembly uses less gas than a constant flow compressed gas system and is quieter than a compressed gas system that uses valves. The rotary valve is a disk-like body having an opening therethrough. The rotary valve body is disposed within a housing assembly wherein gas may only flow through the housing when the rotary valve body is properly aligned with a space on one side of the rotary valve body.

The disclosed and claimed compressed gas system provides for the use of a rotary valve assembly in association with a cupper. A compressed gas system that utilizes a rotary valve assembly uses less gas than a constant flow compressed gas system and is quieter than a compressed gas system that uses valves. The rotary valve is a disk-like body having an opening therethrough. The rotary valve body is disposed within a housing assembly wherein gas may only flow through the housing when the rotary valve body is properly aligned with a space on one side of the rotary valve body.

Lifter cups are provided for engaging and lifting objects and include a mounting portion and a flexible engaging portion. The flexible engaging portion is configured to form a sealing disk for engaging the object. The sealing disk has channels diffusing fluid from the contact surface with the object. The channel walls have raised portions separated by concentric slits. For handling objects of magnetic material, a permanent magnet may be recessed into the flexible engaging portion. When the sealing disk engages with the surface of the object, the magnet exerts a magnetic force on the object sufficient to support holding the object for additional lateral support when lifting away from the center of gravity of the object. A transfer assembly and a method of configuring a lifter device for use in a stamping process for manufacturing a vehicle are also provided.

Lifter cups are provided for engaging and lifting objects and include a mounting portion and a flexible engaging portion. The flexible engaging portion is configured to form a sealing disk for engaging the object. The sealing disk has channels diffusing fluid from the contact surface with the object. The channel walls have raised portions separated by concentric slits. For handling objects of magnetic material, a permanent magnet may be recessed into the flexible engaging portion. When the sealing disk engages with the surface of the object, the magnet exerts a magnetic force on the object sufficient to support holding the object for additional lateral support when lifting away from the center of gravity of the object. A transfer assembly and a method of configuring a lifter device for use in a stamping process for manufacturing a vehicle are also provided.

A pilot assembly has an integral stripper and is coupled to a die member from the non-working side of the die member. The pilot tip precisely locates the stock strip in the metal forming die. The reciprocating ejector pins surrounding the pilot strip the stock from the pilot. The pilot assembly fits into an opening in the die member and can be secured by a single fastener that is received in the bottom of the pilot body of the pilot assembly.

A pilot assembly has an integral stripper and is coupled to a die member from the non-working side of the die member. The pilot tip precisely locates the stock strip in the metal forming die. The reciprocating ejector pins surrounding the pilot strip the stock from the pilot. The pilot assembly fits into an opening in the die member and can be secured by a single fastener that is received in the bottom of the pilot body of the pilot assembly.

In a cutting die having a cutting chip, applied to a punch press, and cutting a work in collaboration with a cutting punch, a resistance member for guiding swarf generated during cutting of the work through the cutting chip and dividing it by giving resistance to it is provided around a scrap discharge hole so that the divided swarf does not remain in the scrap discharge hole but is discharged to an outside so as to prevent clogging by scrap.

A method of forming a part includes: inserting a blank into a die, the die comprising a mold mounted above a sealing counterpart; clamping the blank between the mold and the sealing counterpart; applying first pressure on the blank from the sealing counterpart so the blank is pressed upward to form a shaped part corresponding to the mold; applying a vacuum to the shaped part to hold it against the mold also after separating the mold and the sealing counterpart, the vacuum applied through at least one opening in the mold located in a corner of the mold that the blank does not reach when the first pressure is applied; and discontinuing the vacuum to allow the shaped part to be released from the mold.

The disclosed and claimed compressed gas system provides for the use of a rotary valve assembly in association with a cupper. A compressed gas system that utilizes a rotary valve assembly uses less gas than a constant flow compressed gas system and is quieter than a compressed gas system that uses valves. The rotary valve is a disk-like body having an opening therethrough. The rotary valve body is disposed within a housing assembly wherein gas may only flow through the housing when the rotary valve body is properly aligned with a space on one side of the rotary valve body.

The disclosed and claimed compressed gas system provides for the use of a rotary valve assembly in association with a cupper. A compressed gas system that utilizes a rotary valve assembly uses less gas than a constant flow compressed gas system and is quieter than a compressed gas system that uses valves. The rotary valve is a disk-like body having an opening therethrough. The rotary valve body is disposed within a housing assembly wherein gas may only flow through the housing when the rotary valve body is properly aligned with a space on one side of the rotary valve body.