Multipurpose punch

Claim 1

Punching means including a plunger arranged for reciprocatory to-and-fro motion and having a punch at one end thereof and actuating means at the other end thereof: a. said plunger including a shank with a generally annularly disposed die engaging face secured to one end thereof, a sleeve retaining and guiding said shank in closely spaced sliding relationship therewithin, said shank and said die engaging face being adapted to travel axially reciprocably within said sleeve for a predetermined stroke from a retracted position to an extended position and into contact with the mating surface of said die; b. a continuous bore formed within said shank and said die engaging face and extending generally axially within said shank from a bore opening formed in the annular zone within said die engaging face to a crossbore formed within said shank; c. a bore formed within said sleeve having inlet orifice means for receiving a supply of compressed gaseous fluid from a certain source and outlet orifice means along the inner wall of said sleeve and communicating with said inlet orifice along a bore formed in said sleeve and extending through the wall of said shank; d. the disposition of the outlet orifice of said sleeve bore being such that said sleeve bore and said crossbore are generally axially coincidental and in communication only when said shank is immediately adjacent the outward end of the extended disposition of its stroke, and are axially displaced when said shank is retracted from the extended disposition; and e. said actuating means for reciprocating the shank within said sleeve being responsive to compressed gaseous fluid from said certain source.