ADJUSTABLE COUPLING FOR A STAMPING AND FORMING TOOL AS WELL AS STAMPING AND/OR FORMING MACHINE WITH ADJUSTABLE COUPLING

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit to European Patent Application No. EP 24214199.2, filed on November 20, 2025, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The invention relates to an adjustable coupling for a stamping and forming tool for connecting a stamp with a drive ram so that a force transfer from the drive ram to the stamp can be carried out so that the stamp causes a stamping and/or forming process on a workpiece, and a stamping and/or forming machine with an adjustable coupling between at least one stamp and at least one drive ram.

BACKGROUND

In a stamping and/or forming process, the stamp must act on a workpiece over a path length to be precisely set (which is also referred to as the insertion depth) or the dead center, i.e. the point at which the movement of the stamp no longer goes on, must be suitable so that the workpiece is given the desired shape. For this purpose, shim plates (also referred to as adjusting plates) are regularly placed between the ram and the coupling in order to fine-tune the insertion depth. However, this is labor-intensive and difficult as many components have to be moved, operated and/or influenced and the site is difficult to access.

From DE 102019215750 A1 it is therefore known that a multi-part coupling with a coupling ram element and a coupling stamp element is used, wherein these two parts can be detached from each other and are in a partially detached state still connected but movable against each other. For this purpose, for each individual insertion depth to be adjusted, an individual stop element is inserted into an opening in the coupling ram element which is different in its longitudinal extension along the longitudinal axis of the coupling. This stop element strikes at the top the coupling ram element and at the bottom the coupling stamp element (in each case relative to the longitudinal axis of the coupling) and is arranged securely on the coupling ram element by means of a clamping screw. Each time the insertion depth is to be changed, the clamping screw must be opened, the stop element must be taken from a set of existing stop elements which has exactly the height that corresponds to the desired insertion depth, and this stop element must then be inserted for the previous stop element. The clamping screw must then be tightened again. The provision of a set of stop elements of different heights is time-consuming and prone to errors as one or more of the stop elements can be lost during the replacement process. In addition, an insertion depth may be desired for which there is no stop element that has exactly the required height.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides an adjustable coupling for a stamping and forming tool for connecting a stamp with a drive ram so that a force transfer from the drive ram to the stamp can take place such that the stamp causes a stamping and/or forming process on a workpiece, includes a ram element and a stamp element, which are connected with each other in such a way that they are moveable to each other in a longitudinal direction. An adjusting screw is arranged between the ram element and the stamp element, which cooperates with an adjusting wedge, where a position of which into a direction of a shaft of the adjusting screw in the longitudinal direction is based on an angular position of the adjusting screw. The adjusting wedge rests, on longitudinally opposite sides, with a first adjusting surface against a first stop surface of the ram element, and with a second adjusting surface against a second stop surface of the stamp element. At least one of the combinations of the first adjusting surface and the first stop surface or of the second adjusting surface and the second stop surface is formed obliquely relative to the direction of the shaft of the adjusting screw. The adjusting wedge is self-locking and/or the adjusting screw is connected to a clamping device which fixes the angular position of the adjusting screw.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Subject matter of the present disclosure will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. All features described and/or illustrated herein can be used alone or combined in different combinations. The features and advantages of various embodiments will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate the following:

FIG. 1 shows a coupling according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in a perspective view;

FIG. 2 shows the coupling according to an embodiment of the present disclosure from FIG. 1 in a disassembled state in a reduced scale compared to FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3a-b show an adjusting wedge according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in two views in an enlarged scale compared to FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4a-b show a clamping element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in two views in a slightly enlarged scale compared to FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows the coupling according to an embodiment of the present disclosure from FIG. 1 in a lateral view in a slightly reduced scale compared to FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 shows the coupling according to an embodiment of the present disclosure from FIG. 1 in a sectional view along line A-A from FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an adjustable coupling with which disadvantages described above are overcome.

The adjustable coupling for a stamping and forming tool according to the present disclosure comprises a ram element and a stamp element which are connected to each other in such a way that they are movable to each other in the longitudinal direction between the stamp and drive ram. This allows for the insertion depth to be adjusted without replacing the entire coupling. Between the ram element and the stamp element, an adjusting screw is arranged which interacts with an adjusting wedge, with the extension in the longitudinal direction of which depending on the angular position of the adjusting screw. This allows continuous adjustment of the insertion depth of the coupling. Since the adjusting wedge is in contact with a first stop surface of the ram element and with a second stop surface of the stamp element on adjusting surfaces opposite each other in the longitudinal direction and at least one of the two adjusting surfaces is formed obliquely relative to the direction of the shaft of the adjusting screw, a particularly simple realization is possible. The adjusting wedge is self-locking and/or the adjusting screw is connected to a clamping device that fixes the angular position of the adjusting screw. If the adjusting wedge is self-locking, no additional device has to be provided to prevent an unwanted change in the insertion depth. If a clamping device is present, a simple yet reliable device prevents the insertion depth from being changed unintentionally.

An advantageous further development of the present disclosure provides that the first stop surface has the same inclination relative to the longitudinal axis as the first adjusting surface of the adjusting wedge and/or the second stop surface has the same inclination relative to the longitudinal axis as the second adjusting surface of the adjusting wedge. As a result, the adjusting wedge with at least one of its (inclined) adjusting surfaces can slide continuously along the assigned stop surface and the required insertion depth of the coupling can thus be adjusted continuously.

Another advantageous further development of the present disclosure provides that a clamping device for fixing the adjusting screw has a locking screw which cooperates with the ram element and a clamping element which cooperates with the locking screw, the adjusting screw and the ram element. Thus, fixing of the adjusting screw will also be ensured using an easy-to-manufacture device.

Another advantageous further development of the present disclosure provides that the clamping element is U-shaped, the free ends of the legs of the U are in the region of the locking screw and the adjusting screw is located between the locking screw and the transition region between the two legs of the U. As a result, the clamping element can be formed in one piece which leads to easier handling during adjustment.

Another advantageous further development of the present disclosure provides that a rib is formed on one of the legs of the clamping element and a channel complementary to the rib is formed on the ram element. This provides for a simple and safe way to position and hold the clamping element in its intended place.

Another advantageous further development of the present disclosure provides that one of the two legs has an adjusting hole which, in the assembled state of the individual parts of the coupling, is in alignment with the screw head of the adjusting screw. As a result, the clamping element does not have to be removed from the ram element by turning the adjusting screw while the insertion depth of the coupling is being adjusted.

Another advantageous further development of the present disclosure provides that a slide-in opening for receiving the screw head of the adjusting screw is present on one of the legs of the clamping element. This allows for the clamping element to be pushed over its screw head when the adjusting screw is preassembled, while it is positioned and fixed on the ram element.

Another advantageous further development of the present disclosure provides that a first guide rail is formed on the first adjusting surface of the adjusting wedge and a first guide beam complementary to the first guide rail is formed on the ram element and/or a second guide rail is formed on the second adjusting surface of the adjusting wedge and a second guide beam complementary to the second guide rail is formed on the stamp element. Thus, the ram element and/or the stamp element are easily engaged during and after rotation of the adjusting screw to change the insertion depth of the coupling with the adjusting wedge.

An embodiment of the present disclosure includes a stamping and/or forming machine with an adjustable coupling between at least one stamp and at least one drive ram.

FIG. 1 shows a coupling according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which comprises a ram element 1, a stamp element 2, an adjusting device 3 and a clamping device 4. In FIG. 2, the coupling from FIG. 1 is shown in a state disassembled into its individual components rotated by 45° relative to the representation in FIG. 1. The reference numerals provided therein are explained predominantly with reference to the further figures in which the individual parts are shown (optionally with reference to FIG. 2).

The ram element 1 and the stamp element 2 can move relative to each other. In order to guide the relative movement, two plus two guide projections 21 are formed on the stamp element 2 and two plus two guide grooves 11 are formed on the on the ram element 1 such that the movement can take place in one direction only which runs from a ram coupling means 10 on the ram element 2 to a ram coupling means 20 on the ram element 2 – in the representation in the vertical direction. This ensures that the relative movement serves the intended purpose precisely to change the distance between the stamp and drive ram (both not shown) coupled to the coupling to adjust the insertion depth.

In order to be able to adjust the insertion point precisely and continuously, an adjusting device 3 is present between the ram element 1 and the stamp element 2, as shown in FIG. 6. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the adjusting device 3 consists of an adjusting wedge 31 and an adjusting screw 30 which penetrates it (see also FIGS. 3a and 3b).

The adjusting wedge 31 has a first guide rail 35 with undercut at its upper end (relative to the installation direction according to FIG. 1) and a second guide rail 38 with undercut at its lower end (relative to the installation direction according to FIG. 1). Centrally, the adjusting wedge 31 is penetrated in the horizontal direction by an internal thread 34 into which the adjusting screw 30 engages with its thread formed on its shaft 36. The first guide rail 35 cooperates with a first guide beam 15 (see FIG. 6) configured complementarily thereto on the ram element 1 and the second guide rail 38 cooperates with a second guide beam 23 (see FIG. 2 and 6) configured complementarily thereto on the stamp element 2 by sliding the respective guide beam 15, 23 in the assigned guide rail 35, 38. In FIG. 2, based on the selected perspective, only the second guide beam 23 at the right end of the stamp element 2 is shown. A corresponding guide is also formed on the ram element 1 in the region in which the upper end of the adjusting wedge 31, which is referred to as first adjusting surface 32 in FIGS. 2, 3a, 3b and 6, is arranged on the ram element 1. In FIG. 6, the contact surface of the ram element 1 opposite the first adjusting surface 32 of the adjusting wedge 15 has an obliquely extending surface, shown as a first stop surface 12, on which the first guide beam 31 configured complementarily to the first guide rail 35 of the adjusting wedge 31 is present. On the other hand, the contact surface between the lower end of the adjusting wedge 31 (in FIG. 6) and the stamp element 2 runs in the horizontal direction. On the side of the stamp element 2, it is referred to as the second stop surface 22 (see FIG. 6), and on the side of the adjusting wedge 31, it is referred to as the second adjusting surface 37 (see FIG. 3, 3a, 3b and 6). Thus, the insertion depth – which depends on the total length of the coupling from the ram coupling means 10 to the stamp coupling means 20 – depends on how far the adjusting wedge 31 is inserted to the left into the ram element 1 in the horizontal direction in FIG. 6.

The insertion depth of the adjusting wedge 31 in the ram element 1 is adjusted by turning the adjusting screw 30. To this end, the screw head 33 of the adjusting screw 30 is always held in the same place by means of the clamping device 4 (this is explained below with reference to the explanations of FIGS. 4a and 4b) – there, it can in particular not move in the horizontal direction. When the adjusting screw 30 is rotated clockwise, the adjusting wedge 31 is moved to the left, thus pushing the ram element 1 and the stamp element 2 away from each other in the vertical direction so that the total length of the coupling increases, thus increasing the insertion depth when machining the workpiece. When the adjusting screw 30 is rotated in the opposite direction, the adjusting wedge 31 is moved to the right and thus the distance between the ram element 1 and the stamp element 2 will be reduced in the vertical direction, thereby reducing the insertion depth of the coupling. The change in the insertion depth as a function of the total angle of rotation of the adjusting screw 30 depends on the thread of the adjusting screw 30 used (and thus also of the internal thread 34 of the adjusting wedge 31) and the pitch of the first adjusting surface 32 of the adjusting wedge 31 relative to the central axis of its internal thread 34.

The head of the adjusting screw 30 is fixed by means of the clamping device 4 o that the adjusting screw 30 cannot be twisted unintentionally. The clamping device 30 has a one-piece configuration and has a U-shape in its cross-section shown in FIG. 6, with two vertically extending legs 43 and, in the lower region, a transition region 42 connecting these two legs 43. Between the two legs 43, a clearance 44 is formed above the transition region 42, the size of which depending on how strongly the clamping element is compressed in the horizontal direction by means of a locking screw 41 in the region of the two upper free ends of the legs 43. The locking screw 41 passes through the two legs 43 through a hole 48 and engages with a locking thread 13 in the ram element 1.

The clamping element 40 has a slide-in opening 46 on its side, by means of which it can be pushed laterally via the screw head 33 of the adjusting screw 33 onto the ram element 1, until the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 is reached and the screw head 33 of the adjusting screw 30 stops at the end of the slide-in opening 46 in the horizontal direction. The exact alignment of the clamping element 40 with respect to the ram element 1 is also achieved by the fact that a horizontally extending rib 45 is formed on its leg 43 which abuts the ram element 1, which is arranged in a corresponding, horizontally extending channel 14 formed on the ram element 1. When the clamping element 40 is in its proper place, it is compressed by means of the locking screw 41 until the screw head 33 of the adjusting screw 30 is clamped securely and can no longer move. This is done by guiding the locking screw 41 through a hole 48 formed at the upper end of the two legs 43 and is screwed into a corresponding locking thread 13 in the ram element 1. This ensures that no unwanted twisting of the adjusting screw 30 can occur.

If the insertion depth of the coupling is to be changed, the locking screw 41 is loosened slightly until the screw head 33 of the adjusting screw 30 is no longer clamped – but still stationary – and can be rotated in the internal thread 34 of the adjusting wedge 31. This is possible through an adjusting hole 47 in the leg 43 facing away from the ram element 1, wherein the adjusting hole 47 is formed in the alignment with the screw head 33 of the adjusting screw 30 and through which one can engage with a hex wrench in the hexagon socket on the screw head 33 and turn the adjusting screw 30. If the desired insertion depth of the coupling is reached, the locking screw 41 is tightened again until the screw head 33 of the adjusting screw 30 is securely clamped again in the clamping device 4 and can no longer be rotated.

While subject matter of the present disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. Any statement made herein characterizing the invention is also to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive as the invention is defined by the claims. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made, by those of ordinary skill in the art, within the scope of the following claims, which may include any combination of features from different embodiments described above.

The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article “a” or “the” in introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of “or” should be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of “A or B” is not exclusive of “A and B,” unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is intended. Further, the recitation of “at least one of A, B and C” should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C, regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of “A, B and/or C” or “at least one of A, B or C” should be interpreted as including any singular entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B and C.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1 Ram element

2 Stamp element

3 Adjusting device

4 Clamping device

10 Ram coupling means

11 Guide groove

12 First stop surface

13 Locking thread

14 Channel

15 First guide beam

20 Stamp coupling means

21 Guide projection

22 Second stop surface

23 Second guide beam

30 Adjusting screw

31 Adjusting wedge

32 First adjusting surface

33 Screw head

34 Internal thread

35 First guide rail

36 Shaft

37 Second adjusting surface

38 Second guide rail

40 Clamping element

41 Locking screw

42 Transition region

43 Legs

44 Free space

45 Rib

46 Slide-in opening

47 Adjusting hole

48 Hole