Punch and die storage boxes

Claim 1

In combination, for use in a tabletting machine in which a series of operations are performed in the compacting of a powder to form tablets: (A) a stored set of matching dies and punches, there being two punches for each die, the stored set of matching dies and punches being interchangeable with other sets of matching sets of dies and punches for the manufacture of different sizes, shapes and weights of tablets, (i) each die being squat and having a circular bore, (ii) each punch being elongated and including a cylindrical barrel many times longer than a die, each barrel terminating in a neck which carries an enlarged mushroom head, the other end of the barrel having a second neck which is longer than the neck on which the mushroom head is secured, the second neck terminating in a smaller head designed to match with a bore in the die to be received therein in a sliding fit; and (B) a storage cabinet in which the set of matching dies and punches are received, said storage cabinet comprising plural, horizontal storage trays with their fronts in vertical registration, means to slideably support said trays in stacked horizontal positions, each storage tray containing plural elongated, horizontal nests for supporting the barrels of said punches, each nest having a front edge located within the cabinet, the mushroom heads of said punches overhanging said trays and being disposed within said cabinet, said nests having upstanding sides for restricting movements of the punches against lateral shifting of the punches, said cabinet having a front wall, said front wall and the front edges of the nests cooperating with the mushroom heads to restrict axial movement of the punches while preventing contact of the smaller heads of the punches with the wall of the cabinet opposite the front wall of the cabinet, said tray supporting means permitting movement of the trays relative to one another in a manner such as to provide access to individual punches in the trays for withdrawal therefrom for insertion into the tabletting machine or for placement of individual punches withdrawn from the machine into the trays, and a further horizontal tray in the cabinet in which the dies are disposed.