Michigan Patent of the Month – March 2023
Standard Lifters Inc. has made it their mission to improve tooling performance by increasing tooling quality, adding value in design and build, and maximizing stamping uptime. In line with this mission, the company has recently patented their design for a modular guided keeper base.
Metal forming dies are typically designed on an individual base with each component being handcrafted and custom mounted. The guided keeper base creates a more efficient system by accommodating many mounting and bushing options with integrated solid stops for guide pin retention. This effectively reduces the time, labor, and materials required to make metal forming dies.
The modular guided keeper base has two cylindrical components where one has a diameter slightly smaller than the other. This creates an external shoulder on the base where the first and second portions intersect. The base has a tapered retainer ring groove on the exterior surface of the second portion and an aperture extending axially into a central portion of the base with an internal shoulder in the aperture.
These single-component Guided Keepers are a far superior alternative to old-fashioned pins, bushings, and spools. They take up less space in die assemblies, require less design and installation labor, and feature more robust construction for greater operating precision and extended performance life.
The invention by Standard Lifters is not only advantageous in simplifying metal forming die constructions but also reduces the costs in designing, manufacturing, and repairing the same. It can accommodate many mounting and bushing options with integrated solid stops for guide pin retention, making it highly versatile. It is a perfect example of how technology is transforming traditional manufacturing industries.
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