Spot clinch means and method

Abstract

Spot clinch .Iadd.apparatus and .Iaddend.method for forming a spot clinch joint by lancing and swaging two or more materials together using one complete stroke of a .Iadd.ram driven by a .Iaddend.power source in a single station, .[.the power source having a power stroke and a retract stroke, said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.method utilizing an anvil, die and punch .Iadd.arranged in a tool body.Iaddend., .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.method comprising .[.moving either the punch or anvil.]. .Iadd.connecting the ram to the power source so that the ram is driven in a power stroke and a retract stroke, joining one of the punch and anvil to the ram and the other to the tool body, whereby one is made moveable .Iaddend.while .[.maintaining.]. the other .Iadd.is maintained .Iaddend.stationary .Iadd.in respect to the tool body .Iaddend.during the complete stroke of the .[.power source.]. .Iadd.ram.Iaddend., .[.moving.]. .Iadd.and providing camming actions responsive to the stroking movement of the ram for controlling positioning of the die relative to the anvil and punch during the complete stroke of the ram, said .Iaddend.one of the punch and anvil .Iadd.being moved .Iaddend.toward the other during a first part of the power stroke, .[.lancing.]. the materials .Iadd.being lanced .Iaddend.by piercing them with the punch and die during a second part of the power stroke, .[.holding.]. .Iadd.one of the camming actions controlling positioning of .Iaddend.the die in a first position .[.spaced from.]. .Iadd.stationary in respect to .Iaddend.the anvil during both the first and second parts of the power stroke, .[.moving.]. .Iadd.another camming action controlling movement of .Iaddend.the die .Iadd.from its first position .Iaddend.to a second position .Iadd.stationary .Iaddend.in respect to the anvil during a third part of the power stroke, .[.swaging.]. the lanced .[.portion.]. .Iadd.portions .Iaddend.of the materials .Iadd.being swagged with the punch and anvil .Iaddend.during a fourth and final part of the power stroke, .[.maintaining.]. .Iadd.another camming action controlling positioning of .Iaddend.the die .[.and the anvil.]. in .[.the.]. .Iadd.its .Iaddend.second position .Iadd.stationary in respect to the anvil .Iaddend.during the fourth and final part of the power stroke and during a first part of the retract stroke, and .[.moving.]. .Iadd.another camming action controlling movement of .Iaddend.the die relative to the anvil from .[.the.]. .Iadd.its .Iaddend.second .[.position.]. to .[.the.]. .Iadd.its .Iaddend.first position during a second and final part of the retract stroke.[...]..Iadd., providing a moveable die retainer for holding the die, the camming action controlling movement of the die and die retainer from said first to said second position being initiated by the continued movement of the ram in the third part of its power stroke, and the camming action controlling movement of the die and die retainer from the second to the first position being initiated by the continued movement of the ram in the second and final part of its retract stroke. .Iaddend.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. Spot clinch tool for forming a spot clinch joint by lancing and swaging two or more materials together using one complete stroke of a .Iadd.ram driven by a .Iaddend.power source in a single station, .[.said power source having a power stroke and a retract stroke,.]. said tool .Iadd.having a tool body and .Iaddend.utilizing an anvil, die, and punch .Iadd.ram moving .Iaddend.means .[.for moving.]. .Iadd.connecting said ram to said power source so that said ram is driven in a power stroke and a retract stroke, means joining .Iaddend.one of said punch and anvil .Iadd.to said ram and the other to said tool body, whereby one is made moveable .Iaddend.while .[.maintaining.]. the other .Iadd.is maintained .Iaddend.stationary .Iadd.in respect to said tool body .Iaddend.during said complete stroke of said .[.power source.]. .Iadd.ram.Iaddend., .[.means for moving.]. .Iadd.and cam means coupled to said ram moving means responsive to the stroking movement of said ram for controlling positioning of said die relative to said anvil and punch during said complete stroke of said ram, said .Iaddend.one of said punch and anvil .Iadd.being moved .Iaddend.toward the other during a first part of said power stroke, .[.means for piercing.]. said materials .Iadd.being pierced .Iaddend.with said punch and die to lance them during a second part of said power stroke, .[.means for holding the.]. .Iadd.said cam means controlling positioning of said .Iaddend.die in a first position .[.spaced from the.]. .Iadd.stationary in respect to said .Iaddend.anvil during both said first and second parts of said power stroke, .[.means for moving the.]. .Iadd.said cam means controlling movement of said .Iaddend.die .Iadd.from said first position .Iaddend.to a second position .Iadd.stationary .Iaddend.in respect to said anvil during a third part of said power stroke, .[.means for swaging.]. the lanced portions of said materials .Iadd.being swaged .Iaddend.with said punch and anvil during a fourth and final part of said power stroke, .[.means for maintaining the.]. .Iadd.said cam means controlling positioning of said .Iaddend.die .[.and the anvil.]. in said second position .Iadd.stationary in respect to said anvil .Iaddend.during said fourth and final part of said power stroke and during a first part of said retract stroke, and .[.means for moving.]. .Iadd.said cam means controlling movement of .Iaddend.said die relative to said anvil from said second position to said first position during a second and final part of said retract stroke.Iadd., means for holding said die including a moveable die retainer for holding the die, said cam means being actuated to control movement of said die and die retainer from said first to said second position by the continued movement of said ram in said third part of said power stroke, and said cam means being actuated to control movement of said die and die retainer from said second to said first position by the continued movement of said ram in said second and final part of said retract stroke.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       2. Spot clinch tool as claimed in claim 1 in which said .Iadd.punch is made moveable by being joined to the ram and the .Iaddend.anvil .[.is maintained stationary during said complete stroke of said power source.]. .Iadd.is made stationary by being joined to the tool body .Iaddend.and .[.further comprising.]. .Iadd.in which said ram moving means includes .Iaddend.a toggle mechanism, .[.said toggle mechanism moveable during said complete stroke of said power source for moving said punch in a substantially harmonic motion in respect to said anvil during said complete stroke of said power source,.]. said toggle mechanism achieving .[.first and second.]. force multiplications at said punch of the force of said power source .[.during said lancing and swaging steps, respectively, cam means, cam actuator means for actuating said cam means, said cam actuator means operative during movement of said toggle mechanism, said cam means and said cam actuator means together holding said die stationary in said first position during both said first and second parts of said power stroke and moving said die to said second position during said third part of said power stroke and maintaining said die stationary in said second position during said fourth and final part of said power stroke and during said first part of said retract stroke, and moving said die from said second position to said first position and maintaining said die stationary in said first position during said second and final part of said retract stroke.]..Iadd., and said cam means coupled between said die retainer and said toggle mechanism whereby said die retainer is maintained stationary in respect to the tool body in each of said first and second positions relative to the anvil.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       3. Spot clinch tool as claimed in claim 2 .Iadd.in which said cam means includes a cam, a cam follower, and a cam actuator, said cam follower joined to said die retainer, said cam means and cam actuator joined to said toggle mechanism.Iaddend., said cam means .[.having a depression formed therein so that during said first part of said retract stroke said cam means remains stationary during movement of said cam actuator means.]. .Iadd.operative .Iaddend.to maintain said die .Iadd.in said second position .Iaddend.stationary .Iadd.in respect to said anvil .Iaddend.to permit movement of the punch away from the anvil during said first part of said retract stroke and prior to final movement of said die .Iadd.retainer .Iaddend.to .[.its.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.initial starting position. 
     
     
       4. Spot clinch tool as claimed in .[.claim 2 further comprising, cam follower means operative upon said cam means, a die retainer means for holding said die, said cam follower means fast in respect to said die retainer means, and.]. .Iadd.claim 1 further comprising .Iaddend.yieldable means operatie upon said die retainer .[.means.]. for .[.maintaining said cam follower means biased against said cam means.]. .Iadd.moving same from said first to said second position in response to a camming action of said cam means.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       5. Spot clinch method for forming a spot clinch joint by lancing and swaging two or more materials together using one complete stroke of a .Iadd.ram driven by a .Iaddend.power source in a single station, .[.said power source having a power stroke and a retract stroke,.]. said method utilizing an anvil, die, and punch .Iadd.arranged in a tool body.Iaddend., said method comprising .[.moving.]. .Iadd.connecting said ram to said power source so that said ram is driven in a power stroke and a retract stroke, joining .Iaddend.one of said punch and anvil .Iadd.to said ram and the other to said tool body, whereby one is made moveable .Iaddend.while .[.maintaining.]. the other .Iadd.is maintained .Iaddend.stationary .Iadd.in respect to said tool body .Iaddend.during said complete stroke of said .[.power source.]. .Iadd.ram, and providing camming actions responsive to the stroking movement of said ram for controlling positioning of said die relative to said anvil and punch during said complete stroke of said ram.Iaddend., moving said one of said punch and anvil toward the other during a first part of said power stroke, lancing said materials by piercing them with said punch and die during a second part of said power stroke, .[.holding the.]. .Iadd.one of said camming actions controlling positioning of said .Iaddend.die in a first position .[.spaced from the.]. .Iadd.stationary in respect to said .Iaddend.anvil during both said first and second parts of said power stroke, .[.moving the.]. .Iadd.another camming action controlling movement of said .Iaddend.die .Iadd.from said first position .Iaddend.to a second position .Iadd.stationary .Iaddend.in respect to said anvil during a third part of said power stroke, swaging the lanced portion of said materials with said punch and anvil during a fourth and final part of said power stroke, .[.maintaining the.].  .Iadd.another camming action controlling positioning of said .Iaddend.die .[.and the anvil.]. in said second position .Iadd.stationary in respect to said anvil .Iaddend.during said fourth and final part of said power stroke and during a first part of said retract stroke, and .[.moving.]. .Iadd.another camming action controlling movement of .Iaddend.said die relative to said anvil from said second .[.position.]. to said first position during a second and final part of said retract stroke.Iadd., providing a moveable die retainer for holding said die, said camming action controlling movement of said die and die retainer from said first to said second position being initiated by the continued movement of said ram in said third part of said power stroke, and said camming action controlling movement of said die and die retainer from said second to said first position being initiated by the continued movement of said ram in said second and final part of said retract stroke.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       6. Spot clinch method as claimed in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.5 .Iaddend.in which said .Iadd.punch is made moveable by being joined to said ram and said .Iaddend.anvil is .[.maintained.]. .Iadd.made .Iaddend.stationary .[.and said punch is moved in a substantially harmonic motion in respect to said anvil during said complete stroke of said power source.]. .Iadd.by being joined to said tool body.Iaddend., and in which .[.said die is held stationary in said first position during both said first and second parts of said power stroke and moved to said second position during said third part of said power stroke and maintained stationary in said second position during said fourth and final part of said power stroke and during said first part of said retract stroke, and moved from said second to said first position and maintained stationary in said first position during said second and final part of said retract stroke.]. .Iadd.a toggle action is used in the connection between the ram and the power source to achieve force multiplications at said punch of the force of said power source, said camming actions being coupled to said toggle action, whereby said die retainer is maintained stationary in respect to said tool body in each of said first and second positions relative to said anvil.Iaddend.. .Iadd. 7. Spot clinch tool for forming a spot clinch joint by lancing and swaging two or more materials together using one complete stroke of a ram driven by a power source in a single station, said tool having a tool body and utilizing an anvil, die and punch, ram moving means connecting said ram to said power source so that said ram is driven in a power stroke and a retract stroke, means joining said punch to said ram and said anvil to said tool body, whereby said punch is made moveable while said anvil is maintained stationary in respect to said tool body during the complete stroke of said ram, and cam means coupled to said ram moving means responsive to the stroking movement of said ram for controlling positioning of said die relative to said anvil and punch during said complete stroke of said ram, said punch being moved toward said anvil during a first part of said power stroke, said materials being pierced with said punch and die to lance them during a second part of said power stroke, said cam means controlling positioning of said die in a first position stationary in respect to said anvil during both said first and second parts of said power stroke, said cam means controlling movement of said die from said first position to a second position stationary in respect to said anvil during a third part of said power stroke, the lanced portions of said materials being swaged with said punch and anvil during a fourth and final part of said power stroke, said cam means controlling positioning of said die in said second position stationary in respect to said anvil during said fourth and final part of said power stroke and during a first part of said retract stroke, and said cam means controlling movement of said die relative to said anvil from said second position to said first position during a second and final part of said retract stroke, means for holding said die including a moveable die retainer therefor, said cam means being actuated to control movement of said die and die retainer from said first to said second position by the continued movement of said ram in said third part of said power stroke, and said cam means being actuated to control movement of said die and die retainer from said second to said first position by the continued movement of said ram in said second and final part of said retract. .Iaddend..Iadd. 8. Spot clinch method for forming a spot clinch joint by lancing and swaging two or more materials together using one complete stroke of a ram driven by a power source in a single station, said ram having a power stroke and a retract stroke, said method utilizing an anvil, die and punch arranged in a tool body, said method comprising connecting said ram to said power source so that said ram is driven in a power stroke and a retract stroke, joining said punch to said ram and said anvil to said tool body, whereby said punch is made moveable while said anvil is maintained stationary in respect to said tool body during said complete stroke of said ram, and providing camming actions responsive to the stroking movement of said ram for controlling positioning of said die relative to said anvil and punch during said complete stroke of said ram, moving said punch toward said anvil during a first part of said power stroke, lancing said materials by piercing them with said punch and die during a second part of said power stroke, one of said camming actions controlling positioning of said die in a first position stationary in respect to said anvil during both said first and second parts of said power stroke, another camming action controlling movement of the die from said first position to a second position stationary in respect to said anvil during a third part of said power stroke, swaging the lanced portion of said materials with said punch and anvil during a fourth and final part of said power stroke, another camming action controlling positioning of said die in said second position stationary in respect to said anvil during said fourth and final part of said power stroke and during a first part of said retract stroke, and another camming action controlling movement of said die relative to said anvil from said second to said first position during a second and final part of said retract stroke, providing a moveable die retainer for holding said die, said camming action controlling movement of said die and die retainer from said first to said second position being initiated by the continued movement of said ram in said third part of said power stroke, and said camming action controlling movement of said die and die retainer from said second to said first position being initiated by the continued movement of said ram in said second and final part of said retract stroke. .Iaddend.