This invention relates to a wedge drive 1 for converting a vertical press force into a horizontal linear working movement, the wedge drive 1 comprising a slider element 2, a driver element 4 and a slider element receptacle 3, wherein the slider element 2 is placed vertically between the driver element 4 and the slider element receptacle 3, wherein the slider element 2 and the slider element receptacle 3 are designed as two guiding elements 2, 3 on which a sliding plate formation 5, 6, 7 is placed, wherein the sliding plate formation is surrounded by a guiding device that is designed for the linear guiding of the slider element 2 along the slider element receptacle 3 in a sliding direction X. The guiding device comprises a central element that is provided on a first of the two guiding elements 2, 3 on its side pointing to a second of the two guiding elements 2, 3, wherein the sliding plate formation 5, 6, 7 comprises at least two side sliding plates 5, 6 that are fixed to a second of the two guiding elements 2, 3 and that are spaced from each other in a cross direction Y that is perpendicular to the sliding direction X, wherein the central element 7 is placed in the cross direction between the side sliding plates 5, 6, wherein the second guiding element 2, 3 has two steps spaced from each other in the cross direction Y, wherein each of the two side sliding plates 5, 6 closely fits to respectively one of the two steps with a form fit acting in the cross direction Y.

A progressive former having a bolster and a ram reciprocal towards and away from the bolster, a plurality of workstations evenly spaced across the bolster and ram including aligned tooling piece holders on the bolster and ram, cylindrical die cases in the tooling holders on the bolster and cylindrical tool cases in the tooling holders on the ram, the tooling cases at the workstations being coaxial, a sideways forming mechanism at one of said workstations, the mechanism including a cam and a cam follower radially outward of imaginary outward projections of the associated tooling cases, the cam follower being arranged to be activated by forward motion of the ram towards the bolster, the mechanism including a tool for forming the blank by applying a sideways force on the blank.

A slide element for a wedge drive, with a slide element receptacle and a drive element between which the slide element is to be placed. In order to achieve a high wear resistance and a simple design, it is proposed for the slide element to have a head rail, which is detachably fastened to the slide element and, as part of the dovetail-shaped side of the slide element, forms the second sliding surfaces on the dovetail-shaped section, by means of which forces are transmitted during the return stroke during which the slide element receptacle is moved away from the drive element.

A progressive former having a bolster and a ram reciprocal towards and away from the bolster, a plurality of workstations evenly spaced across the bolster and ram including aligned tooling piece holders on the bolster and ram, cylindrical die cases in the tooling holders on the bolster and cylindrical tool cases in the tooling holders on the ram, the tooling cases at the workstations being coaxial, a sideways forming mechanism at one of said workstations, the mechanism including a cam and a cam follower radially outward of imaginary outward projections of the associated tooling cases, the cam follower being arranged to be activated by forward motion of the ram towards the bolster, the mechanism including a tool for forming the blank by applying a sideways force on the blank.

A tool slide, in particular a wedge drive, including at least one slide bed and one slide part. The slide part is arranged on the slide bed in sliding fashion and in order to absorb transverse forces, a groove and a stud protrudcvfording into the groove are provided, which restrict a transverse motion of the slide part in the slide bed. Between the stud and the groove, at least one sliding element is provided. A driver that can be removed from the slide part is provided and between the slide part and the driver in the contacting state, there is a prism guide composed of inclined elements of the slide body and corresponding inclined surfaces of the driver. Between the slide bed and the slide body, a flat guide is embodied so that the sliding elements of the slide bed and corresponding sliding elements of the slide body are perpendicular to an x axis, thus enabling a movement transverse to the x axis.

A tool slide, in particular a wedge drive, including at least one slide bed and one slide body. The slide body is arranged on the slide bed in sliding fashion with a prism guide, and a groove and a stud protruding into the groove are provided. Between the stud and the groove, at least one sliding element is provided. A driver that can be removed from the slide body is provided and between the slide body and the driver in the contacting state, there is likewise a prism guide composed of inclined elements of the slide body and corresponding inclined surfaces of the driver. Between the slide bed and the slide body, a prism guide or flat guide is embodied so that the sliding elements of the slide bed and corresponding sliding elements of the slide body are inclined relative to an x axis in a prism guide or are perpendicular in a flat guide. The sliding element has a wedge-like, inclined surface oriented toward the groove with which it rests on a corresponding surface of the groove wall and the corresponding groove wall has a corresponding wedge-like inclined surface so that an axial movement of the sliding element in a longitudinal direction reduces or enlarges a gap between the stud and the sliding element.

A tool slide, having at least one slide bed and one slide body. The slide body is axially movable in a restricted guiding fashion on the slide bed. A groove is provided in the slide body or in the slide bed and as a corresponding means, a guide body of the slide body or slide bed is supported in an axially movable, guiding fashion in the groove. The guide body is embodied as rail-like or slat-like and is positioned with part of its width inserted in a secured fashion into a groove in the slide body or slide bed.

A slider arrangement (1) has a wedge drive tool with a slider upper portion (10) and a slider lower portion (20) which, due to a relative movement with respect to the slider upper portion (10), can be displaced along guides (30) from an initial position into a working position and vice versa. At least one return device (40) is provided in order to bring about the initial position of the slider upper portion (10) and slider lower portion (20), wherein the return device (40) has a screw plug (50) at the end in order to attach the return device (40) in a recess (11) of the slider arrangement (1). The screw plug (50) can have one or at least two rotation prevention part(s) (51) designed to prevent a rotation of the screw plug (50) beyond a maximum acceptable rotation angle .