Dual flexgrip arrangement

Abstract

An arrangement for adjustably enabling the holding of a tool in a tool holder plate for punch press machine. The tool holding arrangement comprises a tool holder plate having a size adjustable tool gripper opening therein. An adjustment bolt bore is arranged adjacent the size adjustable tool gripper opening, wherein the adjustment bolt bore has an upper end of conical shape and a lower end opening of pyramidal shape with trapezoidally shaped walls. An expandable adjustment gap is arranged between the size adjustable tool gripper opening and the adjustment bolt bore. A pair of flexure slots are arranged in the tool holder plate, wherein the flexure slots have a first end extending from a location diametrically opposed from one another and adjacent the tool gripper opening to a second location opening in the adjustment bolt bore, and wherein portions of the tool gripper opening, the adjustment gap, the adjustment bolt bore and the flexure slots define a pair of flexible gripper claws therebetween. Changes in the adjustment gap by adjustment of the bolt in the bolt bore enhances the evenly opened size of the tool gripper opening to permit the tool to be properly installed therein.

Claims

1. A tool holder plate arrangement for adjustably securing one or more tools with respect to a second tool holder plate, comprising: a tool gripper arrangement for holding each tool, the tool gripper arrangement including tool gripper opening in the tool holder plate, an adjustment bolt bore adjacent the tool gripper opening with an adjustment gap therebetween, a non-linear flexure slot arrangement having a proximal end extending between diametrically opposed sides of the adjustment bolt bore, wherein each nonlinear flexure slot arrangement has a distal end extending to diametrically opposed sides of the diameter of the tool gripper opening and spaced apart therefrom, each flexure slot, the bolt bore and the tool gripper opening each having wall portions defining a gripper claw; an adjustment bolt arranged within the adjustment bolt bore having a lower end engaged with a truncated nut, wherein adjustment of the adjustment bolt changes the size of the adjustment gap between the flexible gripper claws.

2. The tool holder plate arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein the adjustment bolt bore has a lower end with a square opening thereat.

3. The tool holder plate arrangement as recited in claim 2, wherein the adjustment bolt bore has an upper end with tapered walls of conical shape.

4. The tool holder plate arrangement as recited in claim 2, wherein the adjustment bolt as an upper and with a wrench receiving bore therein to permit the adjustment bolt to be turned within the adjustment bolt bore.

5. The tool holder plate arrangement as recited in claim 3, wherein the conical shape is tapered at an angle of about 10 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the adjustment bolt.

6. The tool holder plate arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein the tool is selected from the group consisting of a die or a punch.

7. A method of gripping a tool within a tool holder plate for use in a punch press machine, comprising the steps of: arranging a tool gripper opening in a tool holder plate; forming an adjustment bolt bore in the tool holder plate adjacent the tool gripper opening; machining a nonlinear flexure slot between a side of the adjustment bolt bore and a location adjacent the tool gripper opening to form a first biasable flexible gripper claw; inserting an adjustment bolt within the adjustment bolt bore, the adjustment bolt having its lower end received within a truncated nut at a truncated side arrangement at the lower end of the adjustment bolt bore within the tool holder plate; and inserting a tool within the tool gripper opening.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, including the step of: turning the adjustment bolt in the adjustment bolt bore so as to engage the sides of the adjustment bolt and the sides of the truncated nut with the truncated sides of the adjustment bolt bore.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, including a second biasable flexible gripper claw in opposed juxtaposition to the first biasable flexible gripper claw.

10. An arrangement for adjustably enabling the aligned holding of a tool in a tool holder plate for punch press machine, comprising: a tool holder plate having a size adjustable tool gripper opening therein; an adjustment bolt bore arranged adjacent the size adjustable tool gripper opening, wherein the adjustment bolt bore has an upper end of conical shape and a lower end opening of pyramidal shape with trapezoidally shaped walls; an expandable adjustment gap arranged between the size adjustable tool gripper opening and the adjustment bolt bore; a pair of flexure slots in the tool holder plate, the flexure slots having a first end extending from a location diametrically opposed from one another and adjacent the tool gripper opening to a second location opening in the adjustment bolt bore, wherein portions of the tool gripper opening, the adjustment gap, the adjustment bolt bore and the flexure slots define a pair of flexible gripper claws therebetween.

11. The arrangement as recited in claim 10 for adjustably holding a tool in a tool holder plate, including an elongated adjustment bolt having an upper or first end of conical shape and second or lower end having a threaded end.

12. The arrangement as recited in claim 11 for adjustably holding a tool in a tool holder plate, including a pyramidally shaped nut having a threaded bore therethrough, and with trapezoidally shaped walls having a truncated upper end for threaded receipt of the second or lower end of the elongated adjustment bolt.

13. The arrangement as recited in claim 12, wherein tightening adjustment of the elongated adjustment bolt effects a biasing apart of the adjustment gap to enable a tool to be inserted into an evenly-expanded tool gripper opening.

14. The arrangement as recited in claim 13, wherein the flexure of slots are non-linear.

15. The arrangement as recited in claim 14, wherein the upper end of the adjustment bolt bore is sloped at an angle of about 10 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the adjustment bolt bore.

16. The arrangement as recited in claim 15, wherein the lower end opening of the adjustment bolt bore is defined by trapezoidally shaped walls arranged to slidably engage the trapezoidally shaped walls of the nut.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent, when viewed in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a punch press apparatus showing in an edge view with several holder plates which utilize the present fastener invention;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a die holder plate which was shown in an edge view in FIG. 1 indicating where the present fastener invention is utilized;

[0022] FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a flexible tool gripping arrangement opening on a die or punch holder plate shown in an edge view in FIG. 1 indicating where the present fastener invention is utilized;

[0023] FIG. 4 is an exploded sectional view of the flexible tool gripping arrangement as shown in FIG. 3, also including its required bolt and engagement nut;

[0024] FIG. 5A is a top end view of an adjustable bolt utilized in the flexible tool gripping arrangement shown in FIG. 4;

[0025] FIG. 5B is a side elevational view of the bolt shown in FIG. 4;

[0026] FIG. 6A is a top end view of a shaped nut utilized with the bolt shown in FIG. 4; and

[0027] FIG. 6B is a side view of the shaped nut shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Referring now to the drawings in detail and particularly to FIG. 1 there is shown the present invention in use, which invention comprises an elongated assembly securement member 10 for quickly and easily joining into proper alignment two plate members 12 and 14, for example, such as those required in a punch press machine 16. Such a machine 16 of necessity needs a quick tool change arrangement facilitated by changing these tool carrying plate members (upper) 12 and (lower) 14, which are utilized as discussed hereinbelow.

[0029] A reciprocally movable (as represented by arrow A) upper support member 18 is arranged on a system comprising here, a punch press frame 20. This system also includes a lower support member 22 arranged on the punch press frame 20. A pair of tool gripping plates may be arranged on the upper support member 18 and a pair of tool gripping members or plates 28 and 30 are also arranged on the lower support member 22. For our purposes here, only the tool gripping member arrangement (plates 12 and 14) for the lower support member 22 will be discussed, as further represented in FIGS. 2 and 3. The tool gripping members 12 and 14 in this instance are an (upper) die holder plate 12 and a (lower) punch holder plate 14, both being critically required to be in proper alignment with one another, as represented in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,925,435, and 9,561,534, both incorporated herein by reference.

[0030] The (upper and lower) plates 10 and 14 in this particular assembly are of rectilinear configuration, as may be seen by plate 10 in FIG. 2, may have one or more central punch-tool-accommodating openings 34, for the punch press operation to take place. The first plate is an upper or die holder plate 12 to be secured in close tool-hole alignment with a lower or second, immediately adjacent punch holder plate 14, as may be seen in FIG. 1. The first or upper plate 10 has a plurality of bores 40, for accurately aligning the paired plates 10 and 14 as identified in my earlier cited applications and patents. Such a punch press machine 16, of necessity needs a quick tool change arrangement. For our purposes here, only the tool gripping member plate 10 for the lower support member will be discussed. Since the tool gripping plates 10 and 14 are similar, only tool gripping plate 10 will be identified/discussed. Typically the tool gripping member plates 10 and 14 in this instance are a die holder plate and a punch holder plate respectively, both being critically required to be in proper alignment with one another for the parts-punching operation to properly proceed. The die holder plate 10 and the punch holder plate 14 are preferably identical to one another wherein one central tool gripper opening 34 in one plate holds a die 38 and one central opening in the other plate (not shown) holds a punch.

[0031] The plates in this particular assembly are of rectilinear configuration having a plurality of central openings 34 for the punch press operation to take place as is shown in FIG. 2. The first plate is an upper or die holder plate to be secured, together in close alignment with a lower or second immediately adjacent punch holder plate. The first or upper plate (10) preferably has a plurality of tapered (connectivity) openings 40 and the second or lower plate (14) has a corresponding plurality of (connectivity) bores 40, a lower portion of which are threaded. Otherwise, these matable plates are identical to one another excepting for their connectivity openings/bores 40.

[0032] The respective (connectivity) openings 40 in the upper or die holder plate 10 and the lower or punch holder plate 14 comprising the joined assembly have correspondingly tapered and threaded holes respectively so as to permit a snug screwed-in wedging arrangement between the elongated securement member and their respective plates which are secured thereby, as specified in my earlier co-pending patent application referenced hereinabove.

[0033] The holder plates 10 and 14 may have one or more tool gripper opening arrangements 42 distributed across their surface, for holding either a die or a punch 38 respectively, as shown in FIG. 2. The attached holder plates 10 and 14 also require their tool gripper opening arrangements 42 to be in longitudinal alignment with one another when those holder plates 10 and 14 are attached to one another.

[0034] As may be seen in FIG. 3, each tool gripper opening arrangement 42 comprises the tool gripper opening 34, an adjustable bolt bore 46, a non-linear flexure slot 48 extending from (each) diametrically opposed side(s) respectively of the adjustable bolt bore 46 to a diametrically opposed location outwardly adjacent the tool gripper opening 34, and an adjustment-gap-slot 50 extending between the perimeter of the tool gripper opening 34 and the perimeter of the adjustable bolt bore 46 at their closest location to one another.

[0035] Flexible gripper claws 52, as shown in FIG. 3, are thus respectively arranged between each flexure slot 48, and it's respective side of the adjustment bolt bore 46, it's respective side of the adjustment gap 50 and the respective side of the perimeter of the tool gripper opening 34 so as to provide an adjustable tool gripper opening 34 for holding a tool 38, which gripper opening 34 has an adjustment bolt 70 for enabling the altering of the adjustment gap 50, which adjustment is facilitated by movement of the conically shaped upper end of the adjustable bolt 70 arranged within the conically shaped upper end of the adjustable bolt bore 46 and an engaged nut 80 at the lower end of the bolt bore 46. The bolt 70 having an conically shaped upper end 72, tapered at an angle B of about 10 degrees to correspond to the conically shaped upper end of the adjustable bolt bore 46.

[0036] The adjustable bolt bore 46 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5A and 5B, has an upper half end 62 which is conically shaped and tapered at an angle B of about 10 with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the bolt bore 46. The adjustable bolt bore 46 has a lower half end 64 which has a lower opening 65 of preferably square shape with flat tapered walls 66 to define a generally pyramidically shaped nut-receiving-space 68. Each of the walls 66 of the pyramidically shaped nut-receiving-space 68 are of truncated trapezoidal shape and are arranged at an angle of about 10 with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the adjustable bolt bore 46.

[0037] The upper end 62 of the adjustable bolt bore 46 is of conical shape with a sloped side arranged at an angle of about 10 with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the adjustment bolt bore 46 and to the elongated threaded or distal lower end 74. The head 75 of the upper end of the adjustable bolt 70 has a wrench receiving bore 76 shown in FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B, therewithin, so as to enable receipt of and rotational adjustment of the adjustment bolt 76 by an Allen wrench or the like.

[0038] The lower half end 64 of the adjustable bolt bore 46, best shown in FIG. 4, is arranged to receive a truncated pyramidically-shaped nut 80 having four flat, trapezoidally shaped walls 82 each of which are tapered to about 10 with respect to its longitudinal axis L as represented in FIG. 4 and FIGS. 6A and 6B. The truncated pyramidically-shaped nut 80 has a threaded internal bore 84 arranged to receive the elongated threaded distal or lower end of the adjustable bolt 70.

[0039] Rotational adjustment of the adjustment bolt 70 within the adjustment bolt bore 62 during its engagement with the truncated nut 80 at the lowermost end of the adjustment bolt bore 46 effects non-torqued flexural displacement of the flexible gripper claws 52 so as to evenly spread the flexible gripper claws 52 apart as indicated by the arrows W FIG. 3, and widening the adjustment gap 50 between the two claws 52, thus expanding the diameter of the tool gripper opening 34 to permit properly aligned insertion/removal of a tool 38 therewithin. The location of the flexure joint 90 of each flexible gripper claw 52 is at the diametrically located bridge between the distalmost end of the flexure slot 48 and its adjacent wall portion of the tool gripper opening 34 as may be seen in FIG. 3. The distal end of each flexure slot 48 for each flexible gripper claw 52 is arranged at a locus of the diameter X of the tool gripper opening between those two flexure slots 48 and 48. That diameter X extends across the center T of the tool gripper opening 34, as may be seen in FIG. 3.

[0040] Thus, a flexible claw arrangement is shown changing size gripper opening made tool holder plate utilization in a punch press machine. The conically shaped upper end of the adjustable bolt 70 in combination with the truncated pyramidally shaped adjustment nut 80 mated thereon provides simultaneous bias against the correspondingly sloped surfaces of both ends of the bolt bore 46 to evenly bias the flexible gripper claws 52 open, and thus change the split of its adjustment gap 50 therebetween and hence the tool receiving opening 34.