A guided retainer for movably coupling a holder to a plate of a stamping die for use in a press including a pin having an enlarged portion. A bushing received on and slidable relative to the pin into an abutting relationship with the enlarged portion. When the guided retainer is assembled with the holder and the plate, the guided retainer is capable of transferring motion of the holder to the plate during movement of the press to an opened position for insertion of a workpiece into the stamping die. The pin includes a groove and a retainer plate that is received in the groove. A stamping die configured to be used in a press to modify a workpiece. The stamping die including a holder that is adapted to be coupled to the press. A plate that is spaced apart from the holder and a guided retainer.

A guided retainer for movably coupling a holder to a plate of a stamping die for use in a press including a pin having an enlarged portion. A bushing received on and slidable relative to the pin into an abutting relationship with the enlarged portion. When the guided retainer is assembled with the holder and the plate, the guided retainer is capable of transferring motion of the holder to the plate during movement of the press to an opened position for insertion of a workpiece into the stamping die. The pin includes a groove and a retainer plate that is received in the groove. A stamping die configured to be used in a press to modify a workpiece. The stamping die including a holder that is adapted to be coupled to the press. A plate that is spaced apart from the holder and a guided retainer.

A guided retainer for movably coupling a holder to a plate of a stamping die for use in a press including a pin having an enlarged portion. A bushing received on and slidable relative to the pin into an abutting relationship with the enlarged portion. When the guided retainer is assembled with the holder and the plate, the guided retainer is capable of transferring motion of the holder to the plate during movement of the press to an opened position for insertion of a workpiece into the stamping die. The pin includes a groove and a retainer plate that is received in the groove. A stamping die configured to be used in a press to modify a workpiece. The stamping die including a holder that is adapted to be coupled to the press. A plate that is spaced apart from the holder and a guided retainer.

A guided retainer for movably coupling a holder to a plate of a stamping die for use in a press including a pin having an enlarged portion. A bushing received on and slidable relative to the pin into an abutting relationship with the enlarged portion. When the guided retainer is assembled with the holder and the plate, the guided retainer is capable of transferring motion of the holder to the plate during movement of the press to an opened position for insertion of a workpiece into the stamping die. The pin includes a groove and a retainer plate that is received in the groove. A stamping die configured to be used in a press to modify a workpiece. The stamping die including a holder that is adapted to be coupled to the press. A plate that is spaced apart from the holder and a guided retainer.

A guided keeper assembly for metal forming dies includes a base having a mounting face and a fastener aperture to mount the base to an associated die shoe, as well as a central guide aperture. A guide pin having a central portion is closely received in the central guide aperture for precisely guiding reciprocal motion between the die pad and the die shoe. The guide pin has an enlarged head at one end which abuts the base to positively limit travel between the die shoe and the die pad, and a shoulder at an opposite end with an alignment mechanism that precisely locates the guide pin on the die pad. A fastener extends through the fastener aperture in the base to securely connect the same with the die shoe. Another fastener securely connects the second end of the guide pin with the die pad.

A guided keeper assembly for metal forming dies includes a base having a mounting face and a fastener aperture to mount the base to an associated die shoe, as well as a central guide aperture. A guide pin having a central portion is closely received in the central guide aperture for precisely guiding reciprocal motion between the die pad and the die shoe. The guide pin has an enlarged head at one end which abuts the base to positively limit travel between the die shoe and the die pad, and a shoulder at an opposite end with an alignment mechanism that precisely locates the guide pin on the die pad. A fastener extends through the fastener aperture in the base to securely connect the same with the die shoe. Another fastener securely connects the second end of the guide pin with the die pad.

A method for monitoring and assessing correct position P.sub.i of a work slide of a wedge drive tool in a press, without a position sensor. The slide of the wedge drive tool is actuated from an end position (X.sub.E) back to the starting position (X.sub.A) of the slide by a spring. The spring is arranged in the wedge drive tool. The press is opened from a lower press position to an upper press position while a slide bed of the wedge drive tool is relieved. The position of the slide is indirectly detected in that at least the restoring force of the spring is detected and evaluated.

A method for monitoring and assessing correct position P.sub.i of a work slide of a wedge drive tool in a press, without a position sensor. The slide of the wedge drive tool is actuated from an end position (X.sub.E) back to the starting position (X.sub.A) of the slide by a spring. The spring is arranged in the wedge drive tool. The press is opened from a lower press position to an upper press position while a slide bed of the wedge drive tool is relieved. The position of the slide is indirectly detected in that at least the restoring force of the spring is detected and evaluated.

A modular guided keeper base, guided keeper assembly, and related method includes a modular guided keeper base that mounts to a die member. The guided keeper base has an integrated stop for guide pin retention. The guided keeper base can also accommodate a variety of bushings within the base. The guided keeper base is attached to a die member using a mounting flange(s). Mounting fasteners pass through the fastener holes in the mounting flanges and are anchored in the die member to securely retain the guided keeper assembly in place. A retainer ring is mounted in an associated groove in the base over the heads of the mounting fasteners to prevent unintentional unfastening of the fasteners from the die member.

Bending machine and method for bending a workpiece out of a flat material The invention relates to a bending machine (10) for bending a workpiece (12) out of a flat material, such as a sheet for example. A section (14) to be bent may be reshaped relative to a clamped section (16) of the workpiece (12) about at least one bending axis (18), wherein the bending machine (10) comprises: a machine frame (20); a first side clamping wall (22); a second side clamping wall (24) which can be moved relative to the first side clamping wall (22); and at least one bending unit (26, 28) comprising at least one bending tool (30). The first side clamping wall (22) and the second side clamping wall (24) are designed to clamp the workpiece (12) on a clamping plane (32). Furthermore, the bending unit (26, 28) is arranged on at least one of the first and second side clamping walls (22, 24) and is designed to bend the workpiece (12) section (14) to be bent relative to the clamped workpiece (12) section (16) about the at least one bending axis (18). According to the invention, the bending unit (26) has at least one linear guide (34-46), by means of which the bending tool (30) is linearly guided in order to be moved on an advancement plane (48).