Punch press with multitool punch assembly

Claim 2

In a punch press, the combination comprising: A. a housing; B. a ram reciprocatably mounted in said housing; and C. a multitool punch assembly operatively coupled to said ram, said assembly comprising: (i) a coupling member, (ii) a punch pin support member, (iii) at least two punch pins disposed within bores in said support member and having a working end adapted to strike an associated workpiece and an opposite end, said pins being movable in said bores along axes parallel to the axis of reciprocation of said ram from an operative working position to an elevated inoperative position, (iv) a cam member mounted for rotation about said support member, said rotatable cam member having a cam surface thereon adapted to overlie said opposite end of any one of said punch pins in said support member upon rotation thereabout, said cam member moving a selected one of said punch pins from its retracted position to its working position, and (v) means for returning previously selected punch pins to its inoperative position; D. drive means in said housing engageable with said rotatable cam member for effecting rotation thereof to effect selection and movement of various punch pins in said multitool assembly; E. means for moving said drive means into engagement with said rotatable cam member of said multitool punch assembly to effect rotation thereof and for retracting said drive means to an inoperative portion free from engagement with said cam member; and F. control means for operating said moving means to move said drive means into engagement with said rotatable cam member and then to effect operation of said drive means to rotate said cam member to selectively move a punch pin into working position and then to operate said moving means to retract said drive means to its inoperative position.

Claim 3

The punch press of claim 1 wherein said rotatable cam member has a gear portion engageable with said drive means.

Claim 4

The punch press of claim 2 wherein said drive means includes a drive pinion which engages and disengages said gear portion upon operation of said moving means.

Claim 5

The punch press of claim 1 wherein said returning means comprises springs normally biasing said punch pins to an inoperative position and said cam member moves one of said punch pins to an operative position upon movement to an overlying position against the biasing action of such springs.

Claim 6

The punch press of claim 1 wherein said rotatable cam member has gear teeth on the periphery thereof, wherein said drive means includes a pinion engageable with said teeth of said rotatable cam member, and wherein said moving means is mounted in said housing for movement perpendicularly to the axis of reciprocation of said ram.

Claim 7

The punch press of claim 5 including a support member mounted on said housing, and wherein said drive means is slidably mounted on said support member.

Claim 8

The punch press of claim 3 wherein said drive means includes a train of gears including said pinion, a motor, and means coupling said motor to said gear train.

Claim 9

The punch press of claim 7 wherein said coupling means includes an elongated shaft having a universal coupling to said gear train and to a shaft driven by said motor.

Claim 10

The punch press of claim 1 wherein said drive means includes a stepper motor controlled by said control means to effect precise rotation of said rotatable cam member.

Claim 11

The punch press of claim 1 wherein said multitool punch assembly is disengageable from said ram for removal therefrom and said press includes means coupling said multitool punch assembly to said ram, said control means being operable to ensure operation of said moving means to maintain said drive means in its inoperative position during the removal from, and coupling to, said ram of said multitool punch assembly.

Claim 12

The punch press of claim 1 wherein said control means is operable to ensure operation of said moving means to maintain said drive means in its inoperative position during reciprocation of said ram.

Claim 13

The punch press of claim 1 including a support member mounted on said housing, wherein said drive means is slidably mounted on said support member, wherein said rotatable cam member has a gear surface on its periphery, wherein said drive means includes a pinion engageable with said gear surface upon operation of said moving means, wherein said moving means moves said drive means in said housing in a direction perpendicular to the axis of reciprocation of said ram.

Claim 14

The punch press of claim 12 wherein said drive means comprises a train of gears including said pinion, a motor, and means coupling said motor to said gear train, said coupling means including an elongated shaft having a universal coupling to said gear train and to a shaft driven by said motor.

Claim 15

The punch press of claim 13 wherein said motor is a stepper motor controlled by said control means to effect precise rotation of said rotatable cam member.

Claim 16

In a punch press, the combination comprising: A. a housing; B. a ram reciprocatably mounted in said housing; and C. a multitool punch assembly operatively coupled to said ram, said assembly comprising: (i) a coupling member, (ii) a punch pin support member, (iii) at least two punch pins disposed within bores in said support member and having a working end adapted to strike an associated workpiece and an opposite end, said pins being movable in said bores along axes parallel to the axis of reciprocation of said ram from an operative working position to an elevated inoperative position, (iv) a cam member mounted for rotation about said support member, said rotatable cam member having a cam surface thereon adapted to overlie said opposite end of any one of said punch pins in said support member upon rotation thereabout, said cam member moving a selected one of said punch pins from its retracted position to its working position, and (v) means for returning previously selected punch pins to its inoperative position; D. drive means in said housing engageable with said rotatable cam member for effecting rotation thereof to effect selection and movement of various punch pins in said multitool assembly, said cam member having a gear portion and said drive means including a drive gear engageable with said gear portion to effect rotation thereof; E. a support member in said housing slidably supporting said drive means for movement in a direction perpendicular to the axis of reciprocation of said ram; F. means for moving said drive means into engagement with said rotatable cam member of said multitool punch assembly to effect rotation thereof and for retracting said drive means to an inoperative portion free from engagement with said cam member; and G. control means for operating said moving means to move said drive means into engagement with said rotatable cam member and then to effect operation of said drive means to rotate said cam member to selectively move a punch pin into working position and then to operate said moving means to retract said drive means to its inoperative position, said control means is operable to ensure operation of said retracting means to maintain said drive means in its inoperative position during reciprocation of said ram.

Claim 17

In a punch press, the combination comprising: A. a housing; B. a ram reciprocatably mounted in said housing; and C. a multitool punch assembly operatively coupled to said ram, said assembly comprising: (i) a coupling member, (ii) a punch pin support member, (iii) at least two punch pins disposed within bores in said support member and having a working end adapted to strike an associated workpiece and an opposite end, said pins being movable in said bores along axes parallel to the axis of reciprocation of said ram from an operative working position to an elevated inoperative position, (iv) a cam member mounted for rotation about said support member, said rotatable cam member having a cam surface thereon adapted to overlie said opposite end of any one of said punch pins in said support member upon rotation thereabout, said cam member moving a selected one of said punch pins from its retracted position to its working position, and (v) means for returning previously selected punch pins to its inoperative position; D. drive means in said housing engageable with said rotatable cam member for effecting rotation thereof to effect selection and movement of various punch pins in said multitool assembly, said cam member having a gear portion and said drive means including a drive gear engageable with said gear portion to effect rotation thereof; E. a support member in said housing slidably supporting said drive means for movement in a direction perpendicular to the axis of reciprocation of said ram; F. means for moving said drive means into engagement with said rotatable cam member of said multitool punch assembly to effect rotation thereof and for retracting said drive means to an inoperative portion free from engagement with said cam member; and G. control means for operating said moving means to move said drive means into engagement with said rotatable cam member and then to effect operation of said drive means to rotate said cam member to selectively move a punch pin into working position and then to operate said moving means to retract said drive means to its inoperative position, said control means is operable to ensure operation of said retracting means to maintain said drive means in its inoperative position during reciprocation of said ram.

Claim 18

The punch press of claim 15 wherein said drive means includes a train of gears including said drive gear, a motor, and means coupling said motor to said gear train, said coupling means including an elongated shaft having a universal coupling to said gear train and to a shaft driven by said motor.

Claim 19

The punch press of claim 16 wherein said motor is a stepper motor controlled by said control means to effect precise rotation of said rotatable cam member.

Claim 20

The punch press of claim 16 wherein said coupling means includes an elongated shaft having a universal coupling to said gear train and to a shaft driven by said motor.

Claim 21

The punch press of claim 15 wherein said returning means comprises springs normally biasing said punch pins to the inoperative position and said cam member moves one of said punch pins to an operative position upon movement to an overlying position against the biasing action of said springs.

Claim 22

The punch press of claim 15 wherein said gear portion comprises gear teeth on the periphery of said cam member and said drive gear is a pinion gear engageable therewith.