Adjustable high speed punch

Claim 2

A punch assembly comprising a punch member having first and second ends, a punching end on said first end of said punch member, an adjustable head on said second end of said punch member, a shoulder on said punch member intermediate said first and second ends and facing said second end, a punch retainer member including a shoulder engaging portion adjacent said shoulder for effectively engaging said shoulder, stripper means between said punch retainer member and said adjustable head, retainer shim means separate from said punch retainer member insertable between said shoulder engaging portion and said shoulder to compensate for sharpening of said punching end, and a counterbore in said punch retainer member for receving said retainer shim means.

Claim 3

A punch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retainer shim means comprises an annular split spring member.

Claim 4

A punch assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said counterbore is of a diameter which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of said retainer shim means.

Claim 5

A punch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retainer shim means comprises a plurality of annular split spring members.

Claim 6

A punch assembly for providing a total overall length between the top of a head and the extreme end portion of the punching portion of the punch member irrespective of the actual length of the punch member while maintaining a fixed distance between a predetermined reference point and the top of said head comprising a punch member having first and second ends and a central portion therebetween, a punching portion including an extreme end portion at said first end, an adjustable head mounted on said second end, a shoulder on said central portion facing away from said first end, punch retainer means for effective engagement with said shoulder, stripper means effectively located between said adjustable head and said punch retainer means, a reference point bearing a fixed relationship to said retainer means, a punch guide at said first end of said punch member and extending toward said central portion, and retainer shim means separate from said retainer means and insertable between said punch retainer means and said shoulder after said extreme end portion has been sharpened to thereby cause the distance between said extreme end portion and said reference point to remain substantially the same as before said extreme end portion was sharpened, said adjustable head being adjustable relative to said second end to maintain the distance between said adjustable head and said reference point the same as before said extreme end portion was sharpened, said central portion including a portion of reduced diameter between said shoulder and said second end, and said retainer shim means comprising a substantially annular split spring member which is mountable on said punch member by driving it over said first end portion until it settles onto said portion of reduced diameter proximate said shoulder.

Claim 7

A punch assembly for providing a total overall length between the top of a head and the extreme end portion of the punching portion of the punch member irrespective of the actual length of the punch member while maintaining a fixed distance between a predetermined reference point and the top of said head comprising a punch member having first and second ends and a central portion therebetween, a punching portion including an extreme end portion at said first end, an adjustable head mounted on said second end, a shoulder on said central portion facing away from said first end, punch retainer means for effective engagement with said shoulder, stripper means effectively located between said adjustable head and said punch retainer means, a reference point bearing a fixed relationship to said retainer means, a punch guide at said first end of said punch member and extending toward said central portion, and retainer shim means separate from said retainer means and insertable between said punch retainer means and said shoulder after said extreme end portion has been sharpened to thereby cause the distance between said extreme end portion and said reference point to remain substantially the same as before said extreme end portion was sharpened, said adjustable head being adjustable relative to said second end to maintain the distance between said adjustable head and said reference point the same as before said extreme end portion was sharpened, said central portion including a portion of reduced diameter between said shoulder and said second end, and said retainer shim means comprising a substantially annular split spring member which is mountable on said punch member by driving it over said first end portion until it settles onto said portion of reduced diameter proximate said shoulder.

Claim 8

A punch assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said retainer shim means comprises a plurality of annular split spring members.

Claim 9

A punch assembly as set forth in claim 5 including a counterbore in said punch retainer means for receiving said retainer shim means.

Claim 12

A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said retainer shim means comprises an expandible substantially annular split spring member which will expand when it is moved over said first end portion and will snap onto said reduced portion.

Claim 13

A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said step of mounting retainer shim means comprises the mounting of a plurality of retainer shim means on said punching member.

Claim 14

A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said retainer shim means comprises an expandible substantially annular split spring member which will expand when it is moved over said first end portion and will snap onto said reduced portion.

Claim 15

A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said steps of mounting retainer shim means and adjusting said adjustable head are performed each time said extreme end is sharpened.

Claim 16

A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said retainer shim means comprises an expandible substantially annular split spring member which will expand when it is moved over said first end portion and will snap onto said reduced portion.