Forming press and method for shaping angle-section workpieces

摘要

A forming press for L-shaped and T-shaped workpieces includes first and second press members relatively movable toward and away from each other along a first direction, a first forming die carried by the first press member for engaging and deforming the workpiece to a desired shape when the press members are moved toward each other with the workpiece held therebetween, and a clamping assembly mounted on the second press member for clamping the leg of the workpiece to stabilize the workpiece during shaping thereof. The clamping assembly comprises at least one cam member fixed with respect to the second press member. The cam member defines a pair of spaced-apart cam surfaces oppositely inclined so as to form a channel that widens in the first direction toward the first press member. The clamping assembly further includes a pair of clamping members disposed within the channel so as to be movable along the first direction. The clamping members define a workpiece-receiving space therebetween for receiving the leg of the workpiece and are in sliding engagement with the cam surfaces such that movement of the clamping members along the first direction away from the first press member causes the clamping members to slide along the cam surfaces and be moved toward each other so as to clamp the leg therebetween. The clamping members are arranged to be urged by the first press member to slide along the cam surfaces toward each other when the press members are moved together. The press also includes an actuator for moving at least one of the press members along the first direction toward the other press member so as to engage and deform the workpiece. Actuation force along only the first direction accomplishes both deformation and clamping of the workpiece by virtue of the clamping arrangement.