Stamping Press Bolster Adaptor For Suiting Different Die Binder Pin Patterns

Abstract

A press bolster adaptor for accommodating different die binders with the same press bolster and fixed pin pattern is provided. The bolster adaptor comprises a base plate, a top plate, and a float plate surrounded by side walls of the base plate. A plurality of lower cushion pins are disposed on the press bolster and move the float plate toward the die binder. A plurality of upper cushion pins are disposed on the float plate and extend through pin holes of the top plate for engaging the die binder in the appropriate locations when the float plate is driven by the lower cushion pins. The upper cushion pins can be rearranged in the pin holes to accommodate new die binders having different designs. Alternatively, the top plate can be replaced with a top plate having a different pin pattern to accommodate a different die binder.

1 . A bolster adaptor for a stamping apparatus, comprising:
 a base plate including a plurality of side walls;   a top plate extending perpendicular to and disposed on said side walls of said base plate;   said top plate including a plurality of pin holes;   a float plate extending parallel to said top plate and surrounded by said side walls of said base plate;   a plurality of lower cushion pins disposed below said float plate for engaging said float plate; and   a plurality of upper cushion pins disposed on said float plate and extending through said pin holes of said top plate for engaging a die binder.   
     
     
         2 . The bolster adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein said upper cushion pins can be disposed in a plurality of different patterns in said pin holes of said top plate. 
     
     
         3 . The bolster adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein said top plate is removable from said side walls of said base plate. 
     
     
         4 . The bolster adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein said float plate includes a plurality of cutouts, and further including a plurality of support bars attached to a lower surface of said top plate and extending through said cutouts of said float plate. 
     
     
         5 . The bolster adaptor of  claim 1  further including a plurality of wear plates disposed along and parallel to an inner surface of said side walls for engaging said float plate. 
     
     
         6 . The bolster adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein during a stamping process, said lower cushion pins are driven to move said float plate toward said top plate such that said float plate moves said upper cushion pins through said pin holes of said top plate and into engagement with a die binder; and said upper cushion pins are arranged in a pattern to engage the die binder in appropriate locations. 
     
     
         7 . A stamping apparatus, comprising:
 an upper die and a lower die each presenting a forming surface for forming parts therebetween;   said lower die including a die binder for holding the parts;   a press bolster located beneath said lower die;   said press bolster including a base surface facing said lower die;   a plurality of lower cushion pins disposed on said base surface of said press bolster;   a press bolster adaptor disposed between said press bolster and said die binder of said lower die;   said press bolster adaptor comprising a base plate, a top plate, a float plate, and a plurality of upper cushion pins disposed on said float plate;   said base plate including side walls surrounding said lower cushion pins;   said top plate disposed on said side walls of said base plate;   said top plate including a plurality of pin holes for receiving said upper cushion pins therethrough;   said float plate extending parallel to said top plate and surrounded by said side walls of said base plate; and   said upper cushion pins disposed on said float plate and extending through said pin holes of said top plate for engaging said die binder.   
     
     
         8 . The stamping apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said upper cushion pins can be disposed in a plurality of different patterns in said pin holes of said top plate. 
     
     
         9 . The stamping apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said top plate is removable from said side walls of said base plate, the thickness and weight of said top plate is less than the thickness and weight of said press bolster, and the length and width of said top plate is not greater than the length and width of said press bolster. 
     
     
         10 . The stamping apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said float plate includes a plurality of cutouts, and further comprising a plurality of support bars attached to a lower surface of said top plate and extending through said cutouts of said float plate. 
     
     
         11 . The stamping apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising a plurality of wear plates disposed along and parallel to an inner surface of said side walls for engaging said float plate. 
     
     
         12 . The stamping apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein during a stamping process, said lower cushion pins are driven to move said float plate toward said top plate such that said float plate moves said upper cushion pins through said pin holes of said top plate and into engagement with said die binder; and said upper cushion pins are arranged in a pattern to engage said die binder in appropriate locations. 
     
     
         13 . The stamping apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each of said forming surfaces present a design for forming a metal blank;
 said press bolster includes a plurality of pin openings;   said lower cushion pins are disposed in said pin openings and extend upwardly from said base surface to a top end;   said side walls of said base plate extend perpendicular to said base surface of said press bolster;   said top plate extends parallel to said base surface of said press bolster and includes outer edges disposed on said side walls of said base plate;   said top plate is removable from said side walls of said base plate, the thickness and weight of said top plate is less than the thickness and weight of said press bolster, and the length and width of said top plate is not greater than the length and width of said press bolster;   said upper cushion pins can be disposed in a plurality of different patterns in said pin holes of said top plate;   said float plate includes a plurality of cutouts; and   said bolster adaptor further includes a ram coupled to said upper die for pressing said upper die toward said lower die;   a plurality of support bars attached to a lower surface of said top plate and extending through said cutouts of said float plate for engaging said base surface of said press bolster;   a plurality of wear plates disposed along and parallel to an inner surface of said side walls for engaging said float plate; and   wherein during a stamping process, said lower cushion pins are driven to move said float plate toward said top plate such that said float plate moves said upper cushion pins through said pin holes of said top plate and into engagement with said die binder; and said upper cushion pins are arranged in a pattern to engage said die binder in appropriate locations.   
     
     
         14 . A method of manufacturing parts using a stamping apparatus, comprising the steps of:
 disposing a bolster adaptor between a press bolster and a first die binder of a lower die, the press bolster adaptor comprising: a base plate including a plurality of side walls, a top plate extending perpendicular to and disposed on the side walls of the base plate, the top plate including a plurality of pin holes, a float plate extending parallel to the top plate and surrounded by the side walls of the base plate, a plurality of lower cushion pins disposed below the float plate, and a plurality of upper cushion pins disposed on the float plate in a first pattern and extending through the pin holes of the top plate;   forming a plurality of first parts between an upper die and the lower die;   the step of forming the first parts including driving the lower cushion pins into engagement with the float plate to move the upper cushion pins through the pin holes of the top plate and into engagement with the first die binder;   replacing the first die binder with a second die binder, wherein the shape of the second die binder is different from the shape of the first die binder;   rearranging the upper cushion pins on the float plate in a second pattern, wherein the second pattern is different from the first pattern; and   forming a plurality of second parts between the upper die and the lower die;   the step of forming the second parts including driving the lower cushion pins into engagement with the float plate to move the upper cushion pins through the pin holes of the top plate and into engagement with the second die binder.   
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing parts using a stamping apparatus, comprising the steps of:
 disposing a bolster adaptor between a press bolster and a first die binder of a lower die, the press bolster adaptor comprising: a base plate including a plurality of side walls, a first top plate extending perpendicular to and disposed on the side walls of the base plate, the first top plate including a plurality of pin holes, a float plate extending parallel to the first top plate and surrounded by the side walls of the base plate, a plurality of lower cushion pins disposed below the float plate, and a plurality of upper cushion pins disposed on the float plate and extending through the pin holes of the first top plate, wherein the upper cushion pins are arranged in a first pattern and the pin holes of the first top plate are arranged in a first pattern;   forming a plurality of first parts between an upper die and the lower die;   the step of forming the first parts including driving the lower cushion pins into engagement with the float plate to move the upper cushion pins through the pin holes of the first top plate and into engagement with the first die binder;   replacing the first die binder with a second die binder, wherein the shape of the second die binder is different from the shape of the first die binder;   replacing the first top plate with a second top plate including pin holes arranged in a second pattern, wherein the second pattern of the pin holes is different from the first pattern of the pin holes;   rearranging the upper cushion pins on the float plate and through the pin holes of second top plate in a second pattern, wherein the second pattern of the upper cushion pins is different from the first pattern of the upper cushion pins; and   forming a plurality of second parts between the upper die and the lower die;   the step of forming the second parts including driving the lower cushion pins into engagement with the float plate to move the upper cushion pins through the pin holes of the second top plate and into engagement with the second die binder.