Press Die Holder Inversion Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing metal bending press die holders are inconvenient and prone to damage due to the need to flip heavy, expensive dies during loading and storage, which increases the risk of scratches and drops.
Innovation Solution
A press die holder design that maintains the receiving structure of upper and lower dies in a configuration matching their intended orientation, allowing for easy loading and storage without flipping, using sliding or rolling fingers to engage the dies and a supporting frame for adjustment and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If dies are stored lying sideways on a table or in a drawer, then storage space is utilized, but the risk of damage to the dies increases and operator convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional storage orientation by positioning upper dies upright with receiving structures facing upward and lower dies upright with receiving structures facing downward. This inversion allows dies to be stored in their operational orientation, eliminating the need to flip them during loading and unloading, thereby preventing damage while maintaining storage efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder structure is designed to automatically maintain dies in the correct orientation through its geometric constraints. The holder's configuration with receiving structure-facing-up for upper dies and receiving structure-facing-down for lower dies ensures that dies self-align and self-maintain their proper orientation during storage and handling, eliminating the need for operator intervention to prevent damage.
2Reliability
If upper dies are stored upside down in cabinet slots, then dies are kept safe and out of the way, but the operator must flip the die over when loading and unloading, increasing the risk of damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by storing upper dies upright rather than upside down, and lower dies upright rather than on their flat surfaces. This reversed storage orientation matches the operational orientation, allowing operators to load and unload dies directly without flipping, thereby eliminating the damage risk associated with flipping while maintaining storage safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder pre-positions dies in their correct operational orientation before they are needed for operation. By maintaining the receiving structures in the proper orientation during storage, the system performs the orientation alignment action in advance, eliminating the need for operators to perform the risky flipping action during loading and unloading operations.
3Ease of operation
If dies are stored in their operational orientation, then loading and unloading is simplified, but the holder structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is segmented into distinct compartments: an upper die holder portion with receiving structure-facing-up orientation and a lower die holder portion with receiving structure-facing-down orientation. This segmentation allows each portion to independently maintain the correct orientation for its respective die type, simplifying the loading and unloading process while keeping the overall structure organized and manageable despite the increased complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder structure is designed as a multi-functional unit that simultaneously stores and orients both upper dies and lower dies in their correct operational positions. By integrating both upper and lower die storage capabilities with proper orientation maintenance into a single holder assembly, the system handles multiple functions (storage, orientation, protection) without requiring separate complex systems for each function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables safe, convenient storage and loading of dies, minimizing handling and damage risks, while maintaining the dies' orientation for efficient operation and reducing the likelihood of scratches and drops.
Implementation Method 1
The portions of the fingers that engage the dies may be made from a material that slides along the die with little friction.
Implementation Method 2
The rolling fingers may be in the form of ball bearings that directly engage the grooves.
Implementation Method 3
The rolling fingers may be in the form of wheels rotatably supported on headed pins by bearings.
Data Source
AI summary
A press die holder holds an upper die with its receiving structure above the die body. This configuration allows the die to be removed from the holder in the configuration in which it will be loaded into the press. The operator does not have to flip the die over before loading the die into the press. The holder may be configured to hold a lower die with its receiving structure disposed below the die body. This also prevents the lower die from being flipped over when it is removed from the holder and loaded into the press. One configuration of the invention provides a holder having a pair of fingers that engage the pair of continuous grooves defined by the receiving structure of the die so that the die hangs from the fingers.