US 11,724,300 B2
Die shoe assemblies configured for shimless adjustment
Anthony David Schwartz, Forest Lake, MN (US)
Assigned to WILSON TOOL INTERNATIONAL INC., White Bear Lake, MN (US)
Filed by Wilson Tool International Inc., White Bear Lake, MN (US)
Filed on Feb. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/179,807.
Prior Publication US 2022/0266327 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
Int. Cl. B21D 37/12 (2006.01); B21D 28/34 (2006.01); B21D 37/04 (2006.01)
CPC B21D 37/12 (2013.01) 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A die shoe assembly, the assembly comprising:
a guide plate, a base, and one or more die platforms;
the guide plate defining a quantity of apertures therein and the base defining a quantity of recesses therein, the quantity of apertures and the quantity of recesses each corresponding to quantity of the one or more die platforms, the guide plate adjoined atop the base with the apertures and the recesses being aligned and sized to correspondingly receive the one or more die platforms, the one or more die platforms adjustably coupled within the corresponding recesses and selectively adjustable vertically relative to the base and the guide plate;
wherein the one or more die platforms are sized to support dies correspondingly received within the apertures, at least one of the die platforms being selectively adjustable via use of a mechanism, the mechanism configured to adjust the at least one die platform via a single action, whereby the single action results in a corresponding adjustment in vertical position of the at least one die platform relative to the base and the guide plate as well as a corresponding adjustment in vertical position of a die when supported by the at least one die platform; and
wherein the at least one die platform is defined with a plurality of indentations about an outer periphery thereof; and
further comprising a plurality of plungers received in a corresponding plurality of through-holes extending into the aperture or the recess corresponding to the at least one die platform, such that the plungers can protrude into a corresponding plurality of the indentations to maintain position of the at least one die platform.
 
16. A die shoe assembly, the assembly comprising:
a guide plate, a base, and one or more die platforms;
the guide plate defining a quantity of apertures therein and the base defining a quantity of recesses therein, the quantity of apertures and the quantity of recesses each corresponding to quantity of the one or more die platforms, the guide plate adjoined atop the base with the apertures and the recesses being aligned and sized to correspondingly receive the one or more die platforms, the one or more die platforms adjustably coupled within the corresponding recesses and selectively adjustable vertically relative to the base and the guide plate;
wherein the one or more die platforms are sized to support dies correspondingly received within the apertures, at least one of the die platforms being selectively adjustable via use of a mechanism, wherein a defined extent of adjustment of the mechanism represents a quantifiable iteration of adjustment in vertical position of the at least one die platform relative to the base and the guide plate as well as a corresponding adjustment in vertical position of a die when supported by the at least one die platform
wherein the at least one die platform is defined with a plurality of indentations about an outer periphery thereof; and
further comprising a plurality of plungers received in a corresponding plurality of through-holes extending into the aperture or the recess corresponding to the at least one die platform, such that the plungers can protrude into a corresponding plurality of the indentations to maintain position of the at least one die platform.
 
20. A method of adjusting vertical position of a die, the method comprising steps of:
providing a die shoe assembly comprising a guide plate, a base, and one or more die platforms, the guide plate defining a quantity of apertures therein and the base defining a quantity of recesses therein, the quantity of apertures and the quantity of recesses each corresponding to quantity of the one or more die platforms, the guide plate adjoined atop the base with the apertures and the recesses being aligned and sized to correspondingly receive the one or more die platforms, the one or more die platforms adjustably coupled within corresponding of the recesses and sized to support dies correspondingly received within the apertures;
selectively adjusting a mechanism engaged to at least one of the die platforms to correspondingly adjust the at least one die platform to a warranted vertical position relative to the base and the guide plate;
wherein the at least one die platform is defined with a plurality of indentations about an outer periphery thereof; and
further comprising a plurality of plungers received in a corresponding plurality of through-holes extending into the aperture or the recess corresponding to the at least one die platform, such that the plungers can protrude into a corresponding plurality of the indentations to maintain position of the at least one die platform.