Indexable multi-tool for punch press

Claim 2

In a punch press having at least one indexable tool station and a selectively actuable ram, a multi-tool holder disposed in said indexable station and comprising the following: a punch press assembly including a punch carrier bearing a plurality of punching tools, and a striker body having a striker member, said punch carrier being selectively rotatable with and movable with respect to said striker body; and a lock selectively actuable to retain said striker body against rotational movement while permitting movement of said punch carrier; whereby said striker member may be positioned over a predetermined one of said punching tools by movement of said punch carrier with respect to said striker body, and said ram may be actuated to drive to said predetermined punch tool to punch holes of identical shape, but with different angular orientations, by rotation of said punch carrier with said striker body.

Claim 3

A multi-tool holder according to claim 1, further comprising at least one recess on said striker body and capable of selective engagement with said lock.

Claim 4

A multi-tool holder according to claim 2, wherein said striker body comprises a striker plate upon which said recess is located.

Claim 5

A multi-tool holder according to claim 1, further comprising a detent assembly capable of retaining said striker body and said punch carrier in any one of a plurality of predetermined relative positions.

Claim 6

A multi-tool holder according to claim 4, wherein said detent assembly comprises the following: a plurality of generally vertical grooves in an outer surface of said striker body, each of said grooves corresponding to a respective one of said predetermined relative positions; and at least one ball detent secured in said punch carrier, said at least one ball detent being resiliently biased toward contact with said striker body and receivable in said grooves.

Claim 7

A multi-tool holder according to claim 5, wherein said at least one ball detent comprises a pair of ball detents located on opposite sides of said punch assembly.

Claim 8

A turret punch press comprising the following: a press frame supporting rotatable upper and lower turrets, each of said turrets including a plurality of sets of circumferentially spaced tool holding stations, each of said sets including an upper station in said upper turret and a corresponding lower station in said lower turret; at least one of said sets of tool holding stations being an indexing set that is provided with means for rotating tool holders received therein; a multi-tool holder comprising a punch carrier with a plurality of spaced apart punch-carrying openings therein with punches in said openings, said multi-tool holder being received in the upper station of said at least one indexing set; a die carrier bearing a plurality of dies corresponding to said punches, said die carrier being received in the lower station of said at least one indexing set below said multi-tool holder, whereby a punch in each of said punch-carrying openings of said punch carrier will mate with a die carried by said die carrier; said multi-tool holder including a striker body having a striker member, said punch carrier being selectively rotatable with said striker body and movable with respect to said striker body; and a lock selectively actuable to retain said striker body against movement when said punch carrier of said multi-tool holder is moved by said indexing set.

Claim 9

A turret punch press comprising the following: a press frame supporting rotatable upper and lower turrets, each of said turrets including a plurality of sets of circumferentially spaced tool holding stations, each of said sets including an upper station in said upper turret and a corresponding lower station in said lower turret; at least one of said sets of tool holding stations being an indexing set that is provided with means for rotating tool holders received therein; a multi-tool holder comprising a punch carrier with a plurality of spaced apart punch-carrying openings therein with punches in said openings, said multi-tool holder being received in the upper station of said at least one indexing set; a die carrier bearing a plurality of dies corresponding to said punches, said die carrier being received in the lower station of said at least one indexing set below said multi-tool holder, whereby a punch in each of said punch-carrying openings of said punch carrier will mate with a die carried by said die carrier; said multi-tool holder including a striker body having a striker member, said punch carrier being selectively rotatable with said striker body and movable with respect to said striker body; and a lock selectively actuable to retain said striker body against movement when said punch carrier of said multi-tool holder is moved by said indexing set.

Claim 10

A multi-tool holder according to claim 7, further wherein said punch carrier of said multi-tool holder further comprises a stripper guide generally coaxially surrounding said punch carrier and said striker body.

Claim 11

A multi-tool holder according to claim 8, further comprising a detent assembly for selectively retaining said striker body and said punch carrier in any one of a plurality of predetermined relative positions.

Claim 12

A multi-tool holder according to claim 9, further wherein said detent assembly comprises the following: a plurality of generally vertical grooves in an outer surface of said striker body, each of said grooves corresponding to a respective one of said predetermined relative positions; and at least one ball detent secured in said punch carrier, said at least one ball detent being resiliently biased toward contact with said striker body and receivable in said respective grooves.

Claim 13

A multi-tool holder according to claim 10, wherein said at least one ball detent of said detent assembly is secured in at least one bore extending through a wall of said stripper guide.

Claim 14

A multi-tool holder according to claim 11, wherein said at least one ball detent comprises a pair of ball detents located on opposite sides of said punch assembly.

Claim 15

A multi-tool holder according to claim 7, further comprising at least one recess on said striker body capable of selective engagement with said lock.

Claim 16

A multi-tool holder according to claim 13, wherein said striker body comprises a striker plate upon which is located said recess.

Claim 19

A method according to claim 15, wherein said step of placing comprises selectively affecting relative rotation of said punch carrier with respect to said striker body about a common longitudinal axis.

Claim 20

A method according to claim 16, wherein said relative rotation is affected by selectively securing said striker body against rotation while imparting rotational movement to said punch carrier.

Claim 21

A method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of selectively retaining said striker body and said punch carrier in said predetermined relative positions.

Claim 22

A method according to claim 15, further comprising the following steps: sensing a degree of rotational displacement of said predetermined punch; calculating an amount of planar displacement of said predetermined punch caused by said rotational displacement; and placing said sheet material in a position to accommodate said planar displacement.

Claim 27

In a punch press of the type including a plurality of tool stations selectively positionable beneath a selectively actuable ram, a multi-tool holder disposed in one of said tool stations and comprising the following: a punch carrier bearing a plurality of punching tools; a striker body capable of selectively acting on any one of said punching tools at a time; and means for positioning said striker body and said punch carrier such that said ram can be actuated to cause a predetermined one of said punching tools to punch holes of identical shape, but with different angular orientations, by rotation of said punch carrier with said striker body.

Claim 28

In a punch press of the type including a plurality of tool stations selectively positionable beneath a selectively actuable ram, a multi-tool holder disposed in one of said tool stations and comprising the following: a punch carrier bearing a plurality of punching tools; a striker body capable of selectively acting on any one of said punching tools at a time; and means for positioning said striker body and said punch carrier such that said ram can be actuated to cause a predetermined one of said punching tools to punch holes of identical shape, but with different angular orientations, by rotation of said punch carrier with said striker body.

Claim 31

A multi-tool holder comprising the following: a punch carrier bearing a plurality of punching tools; a striker capable of selectively acting on any one of said punching tools, one at a time; and means for positioning said striker and said punch carrier such that a ram can be actuated to cause a predetermined one of said punching tools to punch holes of identical shape, but with different angular orientations, by rotation of said punch carrier with said striker body.

Claim 32

A multi-tool holder comprising the following: a punch carrier bearing a plurality of punching tools; a striker capable of selectively acting on any one of said punching tools, one at a time; and means for positioning said striker and said punch carrier such that a ram can be actuated to cause a predetermined one of said punching tools to punch holes of identical shape, but with different angular orientations, by rotation of said punch carrier with said striker body.