Punch press with means for rotating the workpiece and method of using same and tooling therefor

In a punch press, the combination comprising:

• A. a frame providing a base and a head spaced thereabove;
• B. tool mounting means mounted on said head for movement along a vertical axis towards and away from said base and for rotation about said axis;
• C. first drive means for rotating said tool mounting means;
• D. second drive means for effecting controlled reciprocal movement of said tool mounting means along said vertical axis;
• E. workpiece clamping and moving means for moving a workpiece between said base and said head along X and Y axes;
• F. workpiece gripping tooling in said tool mounting means adapted to engage a workpiece on said base when brought into contact therewith;
• and
• G. control means for controlling the operation of said first and second drive means and said workpiece clamping and moving means, said control means being operable (i) to operate said second drive means to move said tool mounting means along said vertical axis a controlled distance to clamp an associated workpiece against said base, (ii) to release the associated workpiece from said workpiece clamping and moving means, (iii) to operate said first drive means and rotate said tool mounting means and thereby the associated workpiece a predetermined amount, (iv) to reengage the associated workpiece in said workpiece clamping and moving means, and (v) to operate said second drive means to move said tool mounting means away from said base and release the clamping force on the associated workpiece.