A stamping apparatus that includes an upper die, a blank-holding binder, and fixed lower die. The fixed lower die features a drawing punch and the upper die features a corresponding cavity. The fixed lower die includes a stake bead and a corresponding depression is present on the upper die. The blank-holding binder includes a draw bead and a corresponding depression is present on the upper die. In the stamping process, the draw bead engages a blank in a first stage, causing the blank to begin to stretch into the shape of the drawing punch with a greater tightened partially finished panel shape. In a second stage, the draw bead disengages the blank as the blank is drawn towards the drawing punch. In a final stage, the stake bead engages the blank to tighten the blank around the drawing punch into a final shape.

A method for operating a forming press which includes a plurality of press components and a plurality of tool components. The forming press has at least one force sensor and at least one force actuator, each arranged in a press and/or tool component. A forming simulation is carried out, which takes into consideration an elastic behavior of the press and/or tool components. Target values of forces acting on at least one press and/or tool component are determined by the forming simulation. A forming process is carried out by the forming press. During the forming process, actual values of forces acting on the press and/or tool components are measured by the force sensor and the force actuator is actuated via a control loop such that the actual values correspond to the target values from the forming simulation.

A method for operating a forming press which includes a plurality of press components and a plurality of tool components. The forming press has at least one force sensor and at least one force actuator, each arranged in a press and/or tool component. A forming simulation is carried out, which takes into consideration an elastic behavior of the press and/or tool components. Target values of forces acting on at least one press and/or tool component are determined by the forming simulation. A forming process is carried out by the forming press. During the forming process, actual values of forces acting on the press and/or tool components are measured by the force sensor and the force actuator is actuated via a control loop such that the actual values correspond to the target values from the forming simulation.

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 for press forming an automotive outer panel includes: providing an elastic body to a punch such that the elastic body abuts against a metal sheet away from a portion corresponding to a character line in the metal sheet; abutting a contact surface portion of the protruding elastic body against the metal sheet; and forming the character line with the ridgeline and the valley line by relatively moving the die toward the punch while abutting the contact surface portion against the metal sheet to deform the elastic body such that the elastic body becomes flush with the punch-side forming surface portion at a bottom dead center of forming. A protrusion amount of the elastic body from the punch-side forming surface portion is set such that the elastic body contacts the metal sheet before the ridgeline contacts the metal sheet to cause the metal sheet to become plastically deformed.

A manufacturing method of a press forming product, includes: constraining a first face of an intermediate formed product, the intermediate formed product including the first face, a raised face, and a first ridgeline located between the first face and the raised face, and performing flange forming of press forming the raised face into a second face, a flange, and a second ridgeline located between the second face and the flange, wherein: the first ridgeline extends while being convexly curved in a direction from the raised face toward the first face, and the second ridgeline extends while being convexly curved in a direction from the flange toward the second face, viewed from a press direction of the press forming; a convex direction of the first ridgeline in a cross section along the press direction intersecting with the first ridgeline and a convex direction of the second ridgeline in a cross section along the press direction intersecting with the second ridgeline are on the same side; a curvature radius, on a straight line orthogonal to the second ridgeline, in an extending direction of the first ridgeline at an intersection with the straight line in the intermediate formed product is larger than a curvature radius in an extending direction of the second ridgeline on the straight line after the flange forming step; and an angle formed by the second face at a position corresponding to the first ridgeline after the flange forming step is larger than an angle formed by the raised face and the first face which are adjacent to the first ridgeline in the intermediate formed product.

An upper die of a forming apparatus includes a first curved portion and a second curved portion between a second concave section and an upper holding surface. The first curved portion is curved in a direction away from the upper die. The second curved portion is curved toward the upper die. A blank holding surface of a blank holder holds a blank between the blank holding surface and the upper holding surface of the upper die. The blank holding surface faces the second curved portion. The blank holding surface includes a blank curved surface recessed along the second curved portion.

A manufacturing apparatus for a hat-shaped cross-section component includes a die having first molding surfaces, a pad having a second molding surface, a punch having a third molding surface, a holder having fourth molding surfaces, and a first restraint portion. An upright wall is molded between a top and each of flanges by moving the pad and the punch relative to the die and the holder, or moving the die and the holder relative to the pad and the punch. The first restraint portion is configured to, during a period from when a top forming part is sandwiched by the second molding surface and the third molding surface to when the upright walls are molded, suppress displacement of the top forming part in a longitudinal direction of the top forming part relative to the second molding surface and the third molding surface.

A manufacturing apparatus for a hat-shaped cross-section component includes a die having first molding surfaces, a pad having a second molding surface, a punch having a third molding surface, a holder having fourth molding surfaces, and a first restraint portion. An upright wall is molded between a top and each of flanges by moving the pad and the punch relative to the die and the holder, or moving the die and the holder relative to the pad and the punch. The first restraint portion is configured to, during a period from when a top forming part is sandwiched by the second molding surface and the third molding surface to when the upright walls are molded, suppress displacement of the top forming part in a longitudinal direction of the top forming part relative to the second molding surface and the third molding surface.