Punch and die holding apparatus and method
AssigneeSwanstrom Tools USA Inc.
InventorTimothy W. Sheriff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A punch and die holding apparatus comprising a die block having a bottom die plate defining a die recess and forming a die clamp, a top die plate defining a guide tube cavity, the bottom die plate and top die plate defining a punch receiving gap, a die plate clamping bolt, and a plurality of gap opening stops. The punch and die holding apparatus has a punch holder having a guide tube, a collet chuck at least partially inserted within the guide tube, a collet inserted within the collet chuck, and a punch having a first end comprising a stem, a second end comprising a punch protrusion, and a central portion, the punch stem configured to be inserted into the second end of the collet; and a die received within the die recess.
Claims24
A punch and die holding apparatus comprising:
- a die block including a main body having
- a bottom die plate defining a die recess and forming a die clamp,
- a top die plate defining a guide tube cavity, the bottom die plate and top die plate defining a punch receiving gap,
- a die plate clamping bolt engaged with the bottom die plate and top die plate, and
- a plurality of gap opening stops engaged with the bottom die plate and top die plate;
- a punch holder, at least partially disposed within the guide tube cavity, having
- a guide tube forming a first cylinder having a first end, a second end, and a wall extending between the first end and second end,
- a collet chuck at least partially inserted within the guide tube, the collet chuck defining a second cylinder having a first end, a second end, and a wall extending between the first end and second end, and an inner diameter and an outer diameter,
- a collet inserted within the collet chuck, the collet forming a first end and a second end and an inner diameter and outer diameter, and
- a punch having a first end comprising a stem, a second end comprising a punch protrusion, and a central portion, the punch stem configured to be inserted into the second end of the collet;
- and
- a die received within the die recess.
A punch and die holding device, comprising:
- a die base including a bottom plate secured to a top plate, the bottom plate and top plate parallel in a first plane with a gap between the bottom plate and top plate, the bottom plate and top plate each having a thickness in a direction normal to the first plane;
- a die received within the bottom plate thickness;
- a guide tube hole extending through the top plate normal to the first plane, the guide tube hole in alignment with the die;
- a guide tube at least partially received within the guide tube hole in alignment with the die;
- a collet chuck having a first end and a second end, the collet chuck first end inserted within the guide tube;
- a resilient spring surrounding the collet chuck and located between the guide tube and the collet chuck second end;
- a shaft collar surrounding the collet chuck and located between the resilient spring and the second end;
- a shaft collar bolt extending through the shaft collar and in frictional engagement with the collet chuck;
- and
- a removable punch having a punch stem and a punch head, the removable punch configured to attach to the first end of the collet chuck with the punch head in alignment with the die.
A method of assembling a punch and die holding apparatus comprising:
- securing a punch die to a first base plate;
- securing a second base plate to the first base plate with a gap between the second base plate and the first base plate containing the punch die;
- inserting a guide tube through the second base plate and aligning the guide tube with the punch die;
- inserting a collet having a first end and a second end into a collet chuck;
- securing a punch having a stem and a cutting head to a first end of the collet by inserting the punch stem into the first end of the collet;
- tightening the first end of the collet around the punch stem by tightening a collet closing bolt at the second end of the collet;
- inserting the collet chuck containing the collet and punch into the guide tube and leaving a portion of the collet chuck outside the guide tube;
- placing a resilient spring around the portion of the collet chuck that is outside the guide tube and advancing the resilient spring along the outside of the collet chuck until the resilient spring is above to the guide tube;
- placing a shaft collar around the collet chuck and above to the resilient spring;
- and
- securing the shaft collar around the collet chuck by tightening a shaft collar clamp bolt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.