Paper punch with variable spacing

A punching device for punching paper and the like comprising a plurality of individual punch assemblies including punching rods, a frame for removably and interchangeably receiving a selected number of said punch assemblies with selected spacing between said punch assemblies and for guiding and supporting said punch assemblies for a punching operation, a base of resilient plastic material supporting said frame, and an operating handle for actuating said punch assemblies when in said frame, said frame comprising a punch-holding section of U-cross section comprising an upper portion, a lower portion and a portion connecting said upper and lower portions at one side, the opposite side being open, and a die section underlying said lower portion with a space between said lower portion and said die section to receive the material to be punched, said upper and lower portions having aligned bearing holes to receive and guide said punching rods, and said die section having punching holes aligned with said bearing holes and adapted to receive the lower ends of said punching rods when actuated by said operating handle, said plastic base comprising three integral sections joined with one another by flexible hinge lines, namely a first section closing the otherwise open side of said frame, a second section underlying and supporting a rear portion of said die section and a third section underlying a forward porton of said die section and comprising a receptacle to receive punchings, said third section being swingable about the flexible hinge line joining it with said second section to open said receptacle for emptying punchings therefrom.

A punching device for punching paper and the like, comprising a plurality of like individual punch assemblies each comprising a punching rod and a spring secured thereto, a frame for removably and interchangeably receiving a selected number of said punch assemblies with selected spacing between said punch assemblies and for guiding and supporting said punch assemblies for a punching operation, a base for supporting said frame, an operating handle for actuating said punch assemblies when in said frame, said frame comprising a punch-holding section comprising an upper support portion, a lower support portion and a portion connecting said upper and lower support portions, said upper and lower support portions having aligned holes for slidably receiving said punching rods, each of said springs being conically wound with a smaller top convolution and a larger bottom convolution and each of said punching rods having a domed head with an annular groove in which the top convolution of the respective spring snaps to secure said spring in assembled relation with said punching rod and the bottom convolution being adapted to rest on said upper support portion of said frame, and means engageable with said punching rods between said upper and lower support portions of said frame to retain said punch assemblies on said frame to prevent their accidental dislodgement while permitting manual removal of said punch assemblies from said frame.