Interchangeable die for a die casting machine and mehtod

Abstract

An interchangeable die system in accordance with the present invention may include two main parts: a shank and a die assembly. The shank is a structural frame that is secured to and remains attached to the die casting machine during a change of the die assembly. The die assembly consists of a die, an adaptor plate and an ejector plate assembly. The die assembly is secured to the shank using the adaptor plate and a locking cam. A spool assembly slides within the shank to actuate the ejector plate assembly.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a shank including a front face, a rear face, a top portion, and a bottom portion defining a cavity and adapted to be coupled to a die casting machine,    a spool disposed within the cavity,    a die assembly comprising: 
 a die,  
 an adaptor plate disposed within the cavity, secured to the die and coupled to the shank,  
 an ejector plate disposed within the cavity for engaging the spool and for engaging a pair of ejector pins extending into the die for removing a die cast after formation, and  
 a locking cam coupled to the shank for retaining the die assembly to the shank.  
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shank includes at least one channel to secure the adaptor plate.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adaptor plate includes at least one flange to slidably engage at least one channel of the shank to secure the die and the shank.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shank includes a first and second channel that engages an adaptor plate formed to include a first and second flange respectively.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ejector plate includes at least one flange that engages at least one complimentary channel formed within the spool.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus-of  claim 1 , wherein the ejector plate includes a T-shaped flange that engages at least one complimentary channel formed within the spool.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spool is slidably disposed within the cavity.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spool includes pin stabilizers to position the spool within the cavity.  
     
     
         9 . A die casting machine comprising: 
 a machine base coupled to a toggle assembly,    a shank including a front face, a rear face, a top portion, and a bottom portion defining a cavity and coupled to the toggle assembly,    a spool disposed within the cavity,    a die assembly comprising: 
 a die,  
 an adaptor plate disposed within the cavity, secured to the die and coupled to the shank,  
 an ejector plate disposed within the cavity for engaging the spool and for engaging a pair of ejector pins extending into the die for removing a die cast after formation, and  
 a locking cam coupled to the shank for retaining the die assembly to the shank.  
   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a shank including a front face, a rear face, a top portion, a bottom portion, and a side portion defining a cavity with an opening, adapted to be coupled to a die casting machine on the side portion with a toggle assembly, and including at least one channel to secure the adaptor plate,    a spool slidably disposed within the cavity including a channel and including pin stabilizers to position the spool within the cavity,    a die assembly comprising: 
 a die disposed adjacent the cavity opening, an adaptor plate disposed within the cavity, including at least one flange to slidably engage at least one complimentary channel of the shank and to secure the die,  
 an ejector plate disposed within the cavity including a plurality of ejector pins for extending into the die for removing a die cast after formation, and including a T-shaped flange for engaging the complimentary shaped channel within the spool, and  
 a locking cam coupled to the shank adjacent the die for retaining the die assembly to the shank.  
   
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing a die cast comprising the steps of: 
 operatively joining a plurality of die assemblies wherein each die assembly includes a die and an adaptor plate secured to the die and coupled to a shank coupled to a die casting machine,    creating a die cast,    ejecting the die cast from the die assembly with an ejecting assembly including an ejector plate coupled to a spool and a plurality of ejector pins for extending into the die after formation of the die cast,    operatively separating the plurality of die assemblies, and    removing the die assembly by disengaging a locking cam coupled to the shank for retaining the die in the shank during formation of the die cast.