Ball-lock insert assemblies

A retainer assembly for a punch press, the retainer assembly comprising a holder plate having a first workpiece-facing surface and second rear surface, said first and second surfaces being generally opposed, the holder plate having therein formed first and second elongated openings each opening through the workpiece-facing surface of the holder plate, said first and second openings being adjacent and generally parallel to each other, said first opening being configured to receive the shank of a tool, the retainer assembly including a ball-lock insert assembly comprising an insert body having a height that is substantially equal to the thickness of the holder plate, the insert body having an axis and an elongated interior recess extending at an angle relative to said axis, the elongated interior recess housing a resiliently-biased engagement member, the insert body being removably mounted within said second opening in an operative position wherein one end region of the elongated interior recess opens through a sidewall of the insert body into said first opening in the holder plate.

A ball-lock insert assembly adapted to be removably mounted axially in a mount opening formed in a holder plate of a desired thickness, the ball-lock insert assembly comprising an insert body having an axis and an elongated interior recess extending at an angle relative to said axis, the elongated interior recess housing a resiliently-biased engagement member, the insert body having at least one catch surface configured for securing the insert body within the mount opening in the holder plate.