US 6,981,303 B2
Blank feeding method
Yasuhiro Nakao, Sayama (Japan); Hiroto Shoji, Sayama (Japan); Kunitoshi Sugaya, Sayama (Japan); Takashi Kato, Sayama (Japan); Takaharu Echigo, Sayama (Japan); and Satoshi Matsuura, Sayama (Japan)
Assigned to Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (Japan)
Appl. No. 10/484,304
PCT Filed Jul. 23, 2002, PCT No. PCT/JP02/07420
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Jan. 20, 2004,
PCT Pub. No. WO03/009958, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 06, 2003.
Claims priority of application No. 2001-221279 (JP), filed on Jul. 23, 2001; and application No. 2001-221330 (JP), filed on Jul. 23, 2001.
Prior Publication US 2004/0194274 A1, Oct. 07, 2004
Int. Cl. B23P 17/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 29—415 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of feeding a blank by cutting a billet, comprising the steps of:
superimposing a plurality of annular members on one another to assemble a tubular jig, said plurality of annular members having a coefficient of linear expansion that is smaller than a coefficient of linear expansion of said billet, said plurality of annular members having an inside diameter that is slightly greater than an outside diameter of said billet;
inserting said billet into said assembled jig;
heating said billet and said assembled jig to a temperature at which said billet is half-molten;
cutting said billet into at least one blank by moving adjacent ones of said annular members in opposite directions; and
placing said at least one blank on a press molding device with the blank fitted in the annular member.