Compensating die holder

Abstract

A single point compensating die holder for use with the bed of a press brake to provide vertical adjustment and compensating camber to the die holder. The vertical adjustment is provided by a single wedge member supported on the ends and transversely moved in the center by an adjustment means to effect positive or negative vertical crowning on the die holder having a coengaging inclined surface. Transverse movement of the wedge means is effected by the adjustment means engaging a connecting means connected to the wedge means and located in a recess below the wedge means.

That which is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A compensating die holder for use with a press brake, comprising: 
 a base block having an elongated rigid body of a substantially U-shaped cross-section formed with an elongated channel opening inwardly of one face thereof, said channel being disposed between parallel arm portions of said body, and including means for attachment of said base block to a bed of the press;    an elongated die holder mounted in said channel for limited vertical movement guided by opposing walls of said arm portions;    wedge means mounted between the bottom of said channel and said die holder so as to allow limited transverse movement of said wedge means in said channel, said transverse movement of said wedge means effecting vertical movement of said die holder;    means for securing opposing end portions of said wedge means to respective end portions of said base block to restrict transverse movement of said end portions of said wedge means with respect to said base block;    a recess provided in the bottom of said channel;    a connection means provided in said recess and connected to said wedge means; and    an adjustment means extending transversely through said body and said recess, and connected to said connection means, whereby said wedge means is adjustably moved transversely in said channel in response to movement of said adjustment means to effect vertical movement of said die holder.    
     
     
         2 . The compensating die holder of  claim 1  wherein a keyway is provided in an underside surface of said wedge means and. an insert key is provided on said connection means which engages said keyway for connecting said wedge to said connection means.  
     
     
         3 . The compensating die holder of  claim 1  wherein said connection means is closely fit between an underside of said wedge means and a bottom surface of said recess.  
     
     
         4 . The compensating die holder of  claim 2  wherein said connection means is further connected to said wedge means by at least one connecting bolt.  
     
     
         5 . The compensating die holder of  claim 2  wherein said keyway extends to both longitudinal ends of said wedge means.  
     
     
         6 . The compensating die holder of  claim 1  wherein said adjustment means is a bolt means having threading engagement with said connection means whereby said wedge means is adjustably moved transversely in said channel in response to rotation of said bolt means.  
     
     
         7 . The compensating die holder of  claim 6  wherein said bolt means and said connection means are removable and replacable components of said die holder.  
     
     
         8 . The compensating die holder of  claim 1  wherein said adjustment means is a hydraulic actuator.  
     
     
         9 . The compensating die holder of  claim 1  further comprising an indicator means, independent from said adjustment means, which is responsive to movement of said wedge means and operable to visually indicate the transverse position of said wedge means in said channel.  
     
     
         10 . The compensating die holder of  claim 9  wherein said indicator means comprises an elongated pin means separate from said adjustment means and connected and movable with said wedge means; said pin means extending through at least one of said arm portions so as to visibly protrude from the exterior of said base block.  
     
     
         11 . The compensating die holder of  claim 10  wherein said elongated pin means is attached to said connection means.  
     
     
         12 . The compensating die holder of  claim 6  further comprising: 
 an elongated pin means separate from said adjustment means and connected and movable with said wedge means;  
 said pin means extending through at least one of said arm portions so as to visably protrude from the exterior of said base block;  
 said pin means including a linear scale means for measuring the linear displacement of said wedge means;  
 said bolt means including a rotational scale means for measuring the linear displacement of said wedge means in relation to the rotation of said bolt means.  
 
     
     
         13 . The compensating die holder of  claim 12  wherein said elongated pin means is attached to said connection means.  
     
     
         14 . The compensating die holder of  claim 12  wherein 
 said rotational scale means includes ten rotational increments, each of said ten rotational increments measuring one-thousandth of an inch of vertical displacement of the die holder; and  
 said linear scale means includes linear increments which measure one-hundredth of an inch of vertical displacement of the die holder.  
 
     
     
         15 . The compensating die holder of  claim 1  wherein said adjustment means displaces said wedge means forward and rearward transversely in said channel to provide both positive and negative crowning of said die holder.  
     
     
         16 . The compensating die holder of  claim 1  further comprising retainment means for retaining said die holder on said bolster block when a force is applied on said die holder away from said base block.  
     
     
         17 . The compensating die holder of  claim 16  wherein said retainment means comprises retaining bolts extending through said die holder and engaging with said base block, and allowing said limited vertical movement of said die holder.  
     
     
         18 . The compensating die holder of  claim 1  wherein a lubricant is provided in said recess.  
     
     
         19 . The compensating die holder of  claim 6  wherein a lubricant is provided in said recess.  
     
     
         20 . The compensating die holder of  claim 19  wherein a groove is provided in said connecting means to expose said bolt means to the lubricant.  
     
     
         21 . The compensating die holder of  claim 20  wherein said lubricant is a lubricating oil and a wicking material is provided within said groove to allow said lubricating oil to be transported through said wicking material onto said bolt means.  
     
     
         22 . The compensating die holder of  claim 21  wherein said wicking material further functions to filter said lubricating oil.  
     
     
         23 . The compensating die holder of  claim 1  further comprising a power drive unit for actuating said adjustment means.  
     
     
         24 . The compensating die holder of  claim 23  wherein said power drive unit is controlled by a control computer capable of receiving and displaying input regarding the transverse position of the wedge means in said channel.  
     
     
         25 . The compensating die holder of  claim 23  wherein said adjustment means is a bolt means having threading engagement with said connection means whereby said wedge means is adjustably moved transversely in said channel in response to rotation of said bolt means; and further comprising: 
 an elongated pin means separate from said adjustment means and connected and movable with said wedge means;  
 said pin means extending through at least one of said arm portions so as to visably protrude from the exterior of said base block;  
 said pin means including a linear scale means for measuring the linear displacement of said wedge means;  
 said bolt means including a rotational scale means for measuring the linear displacement of said wedge means in relation to the rotation of said bolt means.  
 
     
     
         26 . The compensating die holder of  claim 24  wherein said control computer automatically adjusts the transverse position of the wedge means in said channel in response to programming input by an operator.