Arrangement enabling variably oriented punching with each tool in a multiple tool holder
AssigneeMurata Machinery, Ltd.
InventorsVictor Chun, James R. Hunter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A punch tool selection and orienting arrangement is disclosed in which a multiple tool holder and a rotary ram are separately driven to select and orient a single punch tool beneath the rotary ram for a punching operation. The rotary ram is also described as performing the tool selection process in disclosed embodiments in which a nonrotating tool carrier is used.
Claims9
A punching tool selection and orienting arrangement for a punch press having a vertically movable actuator member, a punch press frame, and a tool support structure comprising:
- a tool holder mounted in said tool support structure for rotation about an axis thereof, said tool holder having an array of elongated punching tools disposed about said axis of rotation, said punching tools each having a stem portion protruding above said tool holder and supported to allow downward punching motion with said stem portion engaged to be driven downwardly;
- orienting drive means for controllably rotating said tool holder about said axis to orient said tools in any angular orientation thereof;
- an elongated rotary ram adapted to be aligned beneath one end of said actuator member to enable said rotary ram to be advanced thereby;
- support means supporting said rotary ram on said punch press frame for rotation about a longitudinal axis of said rotary ram while allowing sliding movement in the direction of said longitudinal axis;
- the other end of said rotary ram having a radially projecting feature adapted to be aligned with each individual punch tool stem respectively in correspondence to a rotated position of said rotary ram;
- and
- selection drive means independent of said orienting drive means controllably rotating said rotary ram to respective indexed positions, each of said indexed positions corresponding to an alignment of said radial feature with each one of said punch tool stem, whereby each of said tools can be oriented in a selected angular orientation by operation of said orienting drive means and any punch tool can be selectively aligned with said radial feature of said rotary ram by operation of said selection drive means.
A punching tool selection arrangement for a punch press having a vertically movable actuator member, a punch press frame, and a tool support turret comprising:
- a tool holder mounted in said turret for rotation about an axis thereof, having an array of elongated punching tools about said axis of rotation, said punching tools each having a stem portion protruding above said tool holder and supported to allow downward punching motion with said stem portion engaged to be driven downwardly;
- an elongated rotary ram adapted to be aligned beneath one end of said actuator member to enable said rotary ram to be advanced thereby;
- support means supporting said rotary ram on said punch press frame for rotation about a longitudinal axis of said rotary ram while allowing sliding movement in the direction of said longitudinal axis;
- the other end of said rotary ram having a radially projecting feature aligning with each individual punch tool stem respectively in correspondence to a rotative position of said rotary ram;
- and
- selection drive means controllably rotating said rotary ram to indexed positions corresponding to an alignment of said radial feature with each punch tool stem, any punch tool can be selectively aligned with said radial feature of said rotary ram by operation of said selection drive means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.