(19)
(11) EP 1 405 682 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
05.01.2005 Bulletin 2005/01

(43) Date of publication A2:
07.04.2004 Bulletin 2004/15

(21) Application number: 03021425.8

(22) Date of filing: 23.09.2003
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B21D 13/02, B21D 28/10, B21D 31/04
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK

(30) Priority: 04.10.2002 US 264909
11.09.2003 US 660022

(71) Applicant: Trumpf, Inc
Farmington, Connecticut 06032 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Peterhansel, Carl
    Unionville, CT 06085 (US)
  • Chomicz, Jonathan W
    Clinton , CT 06413 (US)

(74) Representative: Kohler Schmid Möbus 
Patentanwälte Ruppmannstrasse 27
70565 Stuttgart
70565 Stuttgart (DE)

   


(54) Expandable forming tool


(57) An expandable forming tool has a body (10) with a mounting stem on its upper surface and a transversely extending channel in its lower surface in which is slidably seated a wedge-shaped actuator (12) for vertical sliding movement. The larger lower end normally depends from the body. A pair of slides (14) are slidably seated in the channel on opposite sides of the actuator, and they have angular surfaces slidably bearing on the sloping surfaces of the actuator (12). Springs bias the slides against the side surfaces of the actuator, and a spring biases the actuator outwardly of the body. The actuator is driven vertically inwardly of the channel by movement of its larger end against a workpiece, and this inward movement pushes the slide members outwardly in the channel to project beyond the periphery of the body. The tool can produce contours in the workpiece, or cut the workpiece, or both.






Search report