Punch for punching markings into rolled material

Claim 1

A punch for punching a succession of different markings into rolled material such as bars, ingots, billots or slabs, comprising (a) a tool holder; (b) a substantially vertical rotatable drive shaft mounted on said tool holder; (c) a punch plate mounted on said drive shaft for rotation therewith and having a plurality of punch types thereon; (d) first support means mounting said tool holder for movement along a substantially horizontal path; (e) controlled means for reciprocating said tool holder along said substantially horizontal path between punching and rest positions; (f) rotary stepping drive means on said first support means; (g) a substantially horizontal rotatable drive shaft extending from said stepping drive means to said tool holder; (h) a pair of meshing bevel gears, one mounted on said substantially vertical drive shaft and the other mounted on said substantially horizontal drive shaft for rotation therewith and adapted to freely move axially along said horizontal drive shaft with movement of said tool holder along said horizontal path; (i) second support means mounted on said first support means for movement along a path transverse to said substantially horizontal path of said tool holder; (j) means for moving said first support means along said transverse path; and (k) control means for operating said means for moving said first support means an incremental distance along said transverse path each time said tool holder returns from said punching position to said rest position; (l) whereby said punch plate may be rotated by said rotary stepping drive means and advanced laterally by said means for moving said first support means after each punching operation to punch a succession of different markings into said rolled material.