# US 5,346,454 A · Turret punch press > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,346,454 A - Document ID: US5346454A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/006,941 - Filed: 1993-01-21 - Granted: 1994-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 1993-01-21 - Assignees: Amada Manufacturing America, Inc. - Inventors: Tetsuji Hayashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346454A ## CPC - B21D 28/12: Punching using rotatable carriers - Y10T 83/8732: Turret of tools - Y10T 483/1731: including matrix - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A turret punch press (1) includes an upper turret (5) for holding punches (P) and a lower turret (7) for holding dies (D). The diameter of the lower turret (7) is larger than that of the upper turret (5) so that a punch exchange position (61) and a die exchange position (61), which are opposite to a punching position (21), are separated away from each other. This arrangement enables the die to be exchanged from above the same, expands the freedom of designing of dies, improves workability, and realizes an automatic die exchange in an automatic index station. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A turret punch press comprising: an upper rotary turret for holding punches and a lower rotary turret for holding dies, the diameter of the lower turret being larger than that of the upper turret so that a punch exchange position and a die exchange position are separated away from each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The turret punch press of claim 1, wherein the punch exchange position and the die exchange position are located across the centers of the turrets from a punching position where punching operation is performed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The turret punch press according to claim 2, further comprising a punch and die changer adapted to be positioned above the punch and die exchange positions of the upper and lower turrets. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The turret punch press according to claim 3, wherein the punch and die changer includes: a tool changer disposed adjacent to the punch and die exchange positions of the upper and lower turrets, the tool changer having punch and die changer arms; pushers disposed just below the punch and die exchange positions of the upper and lower turrets, for pushing the punch and die upwardly; and a tool magazine disposed adjacent to the tool changer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The turret punch press according to claim 4, wherein the tool magazine includes an upper punch disk and a lower die disk, the diameter of the die disk being larger than that of the punch disk. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The turret punch press according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the punch and die changer arms is extendable and retractable. ### Claim 7 A turret punch press comprising: an upper rotary turret for holding punches and a lower rotary turret for holding dies, the upper and lower turrets being horizontally movable to separate a punch exchange position away from a die exchange position, wherein at least one of the upper and lower turrets is rotatably mounted on a pivotal frame which is pivotally mounted on a shaft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The turret punch press of claim 7, wherein the upper and lower turrets substantially have the same diameter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The turret punch press according to claim 7, further comprising a punch and die changer adapted to be positioned above the punch and die exchange positions of the upper and lower turrets. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The turret punch press according to claim 9, wherein the punch and die changer includes: a tool changer disposed adjacent to the punch and die exchange positions of the upper and lower turrets, the tool changer having punch and die changer arms; pushers disposed just below the punch and die exchange positions of the upper and lower turrets, for pushing the punch and die upwardly; and a tool magazine disposed adjacent to the tool changer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The turret punch press according to claim 10, wherein the tool magazine includes an upper punch disk and a lower die disk, the diameter of the die disk being larger than that of the punch disk. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The turret punch press according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the punch and die changer arm is extendable and retractable. ### Claim 13 A turret punch press comprising: an upper rotatory turret for holding punches and a lower rotatory turret for holding dies, the upper and lower turrets being horizontally movable to separate a punch exchange position away from a die exchange position, wherein at least one of the upper and lower turrets is rotatably mounted on a slide base which is supported on a frame so as to be slidable along a linear axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The turret press of claim 13, wherein the upper and lower turrets substantially have the same diameter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The turret punch press according to claim 13, further comprising a punch and die changer adapted to be positioned above the punch and die exchange positions of the upper and lower turrets. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The turret punch press according to claim 15, wherein the punch and die changer includes: a tool changer disposed adjacent to the punch and die exchange positions of the upper and lower turrets, the tool changer having punch and die changer arms; pushers disposed just below the punch and die exchange positions of the upper and lower turrets, for pushing the punch and die upwardly; and a tool magazine disposed adjacent to the tool changer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The turret punch press according to claim 16, wherein the tool magazine includes an upper punch disk and a lower die disk, the diameter of the die disk being larger than that of the punch disk. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The turret punch press according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the punch and die changer arms is extendable and retractable.