Extrusion preparation apparatus

An apparatus for punching an elongated multiflanged workpiece comprising:

• a. a support plate;
• b. die set means carried on said support plate for punching an elongated multiflanged workpiece when that workpiece is positioned therein, said die set means including a fixture die means having a workpiece supporting and movement path formed therethrough and cutting die means reciprocally movable in a path transverse to the workpiece supporting and movement path formed through the fixture die means;
• c. the fixture die means of said die set means having a pair of support dies spaced apart with respect to each other to form a gap therebetween into which a portion of the cutting die means of said die set means is reciprocally movable, said pair of support dies each having an upper surface upon which portions of the multiflanged workpiece are slidingly movable in a path transverse to the gap between said pair of support dies, each of the upper surfaces of said pair of support dies having a horizontally extending vertical channel formed therein in which a portion of the multiflanged workpiece is slidingly movable in a path transverse to the gap between said pair of support dies;
• d. the fixture die means of said die set means also having a backup die spaced from said pair of support dies to provide a horizontally extending vertical passage therebetween in which a portion of the multiflanged workpiece is slidingly movable in a path transverse to the gap between said pair of support dies, said backup die having a vertical channel formed therein which aligns with the gap between said pair of support dies and into which a portion of the cutting die means of said die set means is reciprocally movable;
• e. input channel means on which the elongated multiflanged workpiece is slidably movable, said input channel means adjacent one side of said support plate and in workpiece directing alignment with the workpiece supporting and movement path formed through the fixture die means of said die set means;
• f. output channel means on which the elongated multiflanged workpiece is slidably movable, said output channel means adjacent the opposite side of said support plate and in workpiece receiving alignment with the workpiece supporting and movement path formed through the fixture die means of said die set means;
• and
• g. punch press means coupled to said die set means for reciprocally moving the cutting die means thereof.