Die lifter device for a press brake

Abstract

A die lifter device 10 for a press brake includes a die lifting roller 12 for engaging a bottom wall 14 of a die 16 disposed in a modified die holder member 18 of a press brake, a roller support member 20 for disposing the roller 12 at a predetermined position relative to the modified die holder member 18, a cam bolt 22 for adjusting the elevation of the roller 12 relative to the modified die holder member 18, vertical and horizontal recesses 24 and 28 disposed in the modified die holder member 18 for removably receiving cooperating components of the die lifter device 10 such that the roller 12 is ultimately positioned above a top wall 26 of the modified die holder member 18 to allow the die 16 to be rolled off the modified die holder member 18 after the die 16 has configured a workpiece. The roller 12 is then positioned below the top wall 26 of the modified die holder member 18 to allow another die 16 to be disposed upon the top wall 26 without damaging the die lifter device 10.

1 . A die lifter device for a press brake comprising: 
 a roller for engaging a lower surface of a die disposed upon a modified die holder member of a press brake;    a roller support member for disposing said roller at a predetermined position relative to the modified die holder member;    a cam bolt for adjusting the elevation of said roller relative to the press brake; and    means for removably receiving said roller, roller support member and cam bolt in predetermined portions of the die holder member of the press brake whereby a portion of said roller is ultimately positioned above a die engagement wall of the die holder member to elevate the die from the die holder member to allow the die to be rolled off the die holder member after the die has configured a workpiece.    
   
   
       2 . The die lifter device of  claim 1  wherein a resilient member is cooperatively disposed relative to said roller support member and said cam bolt such that when operating said die lifter device, a lifting force imparted from said cam bolt to said roller support member is dampened.  
   
   
       3 . The die lifter device of  claim 2  wherein said resilient member includes a plurality of arcuate washers disposed upon a retainer member such that a bottom surface of said retainer member engages a cooperating portion of said cam bolt, and a top surface of a top arcuate washer engages a cooperating portion of said roller support member.  
   
   
       4 . The die lifter device of  claim 1  wherein said roller includes a shaft axially disposed through said roller, said shaft being forcibly retained in a top portion of said roller support member via opposing apertures.  
   
   
       5 . The die lifter device of  claim 4  wherein said shaft disposes an outer raceway of said roller above a top surface of said roller support member while allowing an inner raceway of said roller to rotate upon a central portion of said shaft whereby a die is ultimately elevated above a die holder and moved in a horizontal direction that is transverse to the axis of said shaft.  
   
   
       6 . The die lifter device of  claim 1  wherein said roller support member includes an upper recess that is configured to allow said roller to rotate therein without obstruction.  
   
   
       7 . The die lifter device of  claim 1  wherein said roller support member includes a lower recess that is configured to cooperatively receive a predetermined portion of said cam bolt.  
   
   
       8 . The die lifter device of  claim 3  wherein said roller support member includes a lower recess that is configured to cooperatively receive said plurality of arcuate washers and said retainer member.  
   
   
       9 . The die lifter device of  claim 1  wherein said cam bolt includes a cam portion disposed between opposing first and second support portions, a drive portion integrally joined to said first support portion and a retaining portion integrally joined to said second support portion.  
   
   
       10 . The die lifter device of  claim 9  wherein said drive portion includes means for removably receiving a tool that rotates said cam bolt.  
   
   
       11 . The die lifter device of  claim 9  wherein said retaining portion is threaded to engage a cooperating portion of the modified die holder member.  
   
   
       12 . The die lifter device of  claim 1  wherein said cam bolt is cylindrically configured.  
   
   
       13 . The die lifter device of  claim 9  wherein said cam portion includes a recess having a planar portion for cooperatively receiving as lower recess of said roller support member.  
   
   
       14 . The die lifter device of  claim 9  wherein said cam portion includes a recess having a planar portion for cooperatively receiving a bottom planar surface of a retaining member.  
   
   
       15 . The die lifter device of  claim 3  wherein said retainer member includes a washer configured lower portion and a cylinder configured upper portion, said lower and upper portions having respective diameters dimensioned to provide a washer engagement wall that cooperates with the axial dimension of the upper portion and a lateral dimension of a lower portion of said roller support member to substantially maintain the axial positions of said plurality of arcuate washers.  
   
   
       16 . The die lifter device of  claim 1  wherein said roller includes a knurled die engagement surface.  
   
   
       17 . The die lifter device of  claim 1  wherein said removable receiving means includes a vertical recess in a top wall of the die holder member, said vertical recess removably receiving said roller and roller support member; and a horizontal recess in a side wall of the modified die holder member, said horizontal recess removably receiving said cam bolt, said vertical and horizontal recesses being cooperatively disposed to facilitate the engagement of said roller support member with a cam portion of said cam bolt.  
   
   
       18 . The die lifter device of  claim 1  wherein said removably receiving means includes a vertical recess in a top wall of the die holder member, said vertical recess removably receiving said roller, said roller support member and a plurality of arcuate washers, and a horizontal recess in a side wall of the modified die holder member, said horizontal recess removably receiving said cam bolt, said vertical and horizontal recesses being cooperatively disposed to facilitate the engagement of a bottom surface of a retainer member with a cam portion of said cam bolt.  
   
   
       19 . The die lifter device of  claim 17  wherein said vertical recess is disposed in a central longitudinal recess in the modified die holder member.  
   
   
       20 . A device for elevating a die above a modified die holder member of a press brake to allow the die to be rolled off the die holder member comprising: 
 at least one roller disposed at a predetermined portion of the modified die holder member;    means for securing the horizontal position of said roller;    means for elevating said securing means such that a portion of said roller is ultimately disposed above a top wall of the modified die holder member; and    means for rotating said elevating means whereby the vertical position of said roller is varied such that a first position of said roller is above the top wall of the modified die holder member, and a second position of said roller is below the top wall of the modified die holder member.    
   
   
       21 . A method for elevating a modified die above a modified die holder member of a press brake to allow the die to be rolled off the modified die holder member, said method comprising the steps of: 
 inserting at least one roller at a predetermined portion of the modified die holder member;    securing the horizontal position of said roller relative to the modified die holder member;    providing means for vertically altering the position of said roller relative to the modified die holder member; and    providing means for receiving and transferring rotary motion such that the vertical positioning means are altered to dispose said roller below a top wall of the modified die holder member or to dispose said roller above the top wall of the modified die holder member such that the die is ultimately elevated above the modified die holder member thereby allowing the die to be rolled off the modified die holder member.