Method for forming three-dimensional mark on cylindrical tool and die for forming the same

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cylindrical tool, and more particularly to a method for forming three-dimensional mark on a cylindrical tool and a die for forming the same.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

Many tools are marked with trademark, specification identifier or the like for helping the customer to recognize and select the desired tool easily from other tools during the purchasing process, so that the purchasing process is simplified. In addition, the producers can improve their reputation through the trademark marked on the tool. Cylindrical tool is one of the commonly used tools, however, trademark or specification identifying mark on the existing cylindrical tool have some problems that need to be solved as follows:

First, if the identifying mark is adhered to the peripheral surface of the cylindrical tool through adhesive agent, since the peripheral surface of the cylindrical tool is normally grainy so that the adhesive agent is unable to completely enter into the concaves between the grains, thus, the adhering force exerted on identifying mark with respect to the surface of the cylindrical tool is weak so that the identifying mark is likely to fall off after a certain period of usage.

Second, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to solve the above-mentioned problem, a concave mark 11 is formed on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical tool 10 by pressing method. However, a projecting edge 12 will be formed round the three-dimensional mark 11, it is not a good design since this projecting edge 12 protrudes out of the surface of the cylindrical tool 10. On the other hand, the three-dimensional mark 11 cannot be clearly and easily shown since they are located lower than the surface of the cylindrical tool 10.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a method and a die for forming three-dimensional mark on a cylindrical tool, which is capable of forming a projecting three-dimensional identification unit on the surface of a cylindrical tool so as to enable the customer to read the identification mark more easily and clearly.

A method for forming three-dimensional mark on a cylindrical tool in accordance with the present invention comprises the following steps:

• • first, material preparation: choosing a cylindrical tool as a raw material;
  • second, forming an identification area: forming the identification area on a surface of the raw material;
  • third, roll-and-press forming: forming a projecting three-dimensional identification unit by pressing and rolling the identification area of the raw material with a die.

A die for forming three-dimensional mark on a cylindrical tool in accordance with the present invention is provided on a terminal surface with an abutting portion and two guiding portions that are formed at both sides of the abutting portion, the abutting portion is formed with an identification groove, the guiding portions are inclined relative to the terminal surface of the die.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is stereographic view of showing a concave mark on a conventional socket;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is flow chart of showing a method in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows the material preparation step in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows the step of forming an identification area on the cylindrical tool in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows the step of roll-and-press forming in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a stereographic view of showing a final product produced by the method in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows the step of forming an identification area on the cylindrical tool in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows the step of roll-and-press forming in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a stereographic view of showing a final product produced by the method in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a partial stereographic view of a die in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the die in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 3, which shows a method for forming three-dimensional mark on a cylindrical tool in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention and generally including the steps as follows: First, material preparation 20, Second, forming an identification area 30, Third, roll-and-press forming 40.

First, material preparation 20: as shown in FIG. 4, choosing a cylindrical tool as a raw material 21, in this embodiment, takes a socket as an example.

Second, forming an identification area 30: as shown in FIG. 5, forming two annular grooves 31 at a predetermined position on the surface of the raw material 21 by using cutting device. The two annular grooves 31 are parallel to each other and define an identification area 32 therebetween, and the surface of the identification area 32 is flushed with that of raw material 21.

Third, roll-and-press forming 40: as shown in FIG. 6, pressing and rolling the identification area 32 of the raw material 21 with a die 50 (with reference to FIG. 11). The die 50 has an arc-shaped terminal surface which further includes an abutting portion 51 and two guiding portion s 52 formed at both sides of the abutting portion 51. The abutting portion 51 is formed with an identification groove 511 that is formed on the bottom surface thereof with a predetermined pattern. During the course of roll-and-press forming, the arc-shaped surface of the die 50 serves to roll and press on the identification area 32 of the raw material 21 such that the identification area 32 is pressed by the abutting portion 51 and the guiding portion 52, respectively. The identification area 32 pressed by the abutting portion 51 is partially located in the identification groove 511 so that the predetermined pattern on the bottom surface of the identification groove 511 is three-dimensionally formed on the identification area 32 by roll-and-press forming. The identification area 32 pressed by the guiding portion 52 is partially pressed into the annular grooves 31. Through this way, a projecting three-dimensional identification unit is annually formed on the identification area 32 (as shown in FIG. 7), and the three-dimensional identification unit is flush with the surface of the surface of the cylindrical tool.

The method in accordance with the present invention is generally used to form a projecting identification unit on the surface of a cylindrical tool.

Referring to FIG. 3, which shows a method for forming three-dimensional mark on a cylindrical tool in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention and also including the following three steps: First, material preparation 20, Second, forming an identification area 30, Third, roll-and-press forming 40. The characteristics of the method of the second embodiment relative to that of the first embodiment are described as follows:

Second, forming an identification area 30: as shown in FIG. 8, creating two annular grooves 31 on the surface of the raw material 21 by extrusion forming, thus defining an identification area 32 between the two annular grooves 31, the identification area 32 partially protrudes out of the surface of the raw material 31.

Third, roll-and-press forming 40: as shown in FIG. 9, rolling and pressing the identification area 32 of the raw material 21 with a die 50 whose structure is the same as the first embodiment, so further description on this will be omitted. During the course of the roll-and-press forming, the arc-shaped terminal surface of the die 50 also serves to roll and press the identification area 32 of the raw material 21 so as to form a projecting three-dimensional identification unit, and the three-dimensional identification unit is annularly arranged. The distinction of the second embodiment relative to the first embodiment is that this three-dimensional identification unit projects out of the surface of the cylindrical tool, as shown in FIG. 10.

Referring finally to FIGS. 11 and 12, the die 50 has an arc-shaped terminal surface which further includes an abutting portion 51 and two guiding portions 52 formed at both sides of the abutting portion 51. The abutting portion 51 is formed with an identification groove 511 which is formed on the bottom surface with a predetermined pattern. The guiding portions 52 are inclined relative to the bottom surface of the terminal surface (the abutting portion 51) of the die 50 and the angle between them is 5 degree.

While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.