Stripper plate retention system

A punch guide assembly for removably carrying a stripper plate, the assembly comprising a punch guide and a stripper plate guide movable axially with respect to the punch guide, the stripper plate guide having a locked position wherein the stripper plate is secured to the punch guide assembly and an unlocked position wherein the stripper plate can be readily removed from the punch guide assembly, wherein the stripper plate guide when in its locked position is restrained against axial movement relative to the punch guide by a lock mechanism comprising a catch extending between the punch guide and the stripper plate guide, wherein the catch either extends from the stripper plate guide and can be selectively engaged with the punch guide or extends from the punch guide and can be selectively engaged with the stripper plate guide, and wherein the stripper plate guide is resiliently biased axially toward its unlocked position by at least one spring bearing against the stripper plate guide, the assembly further including a punch spring surrounding a punch driver, the punch spring being held in position between a collar secured to the punch guide and a block secured to the punch driver.

A punch guide assembly for removably carrying a stripper plate, the assembly comprising a punch guide and a stripper plate guide movable axially with respect to the punch guide, the stripper plate guide having a locked position wherein the stripper plate is secured to the punch guide assembly and an unlocked position wherein the stripper plate can be readily removed from the punch guide assembly, wherein the stripper plate guide when in its locked position is restrained against axial movement relative to the punch guide by a lock mechanism comprising a spring-loaded button that is extendable from the stripper plate guide into, and hence engageable with, an opening in a wall of the punch guide, and wherein the stripper plate guide is resiliently biased axially toward its unlocked position by at least one spring bearing against the stripper plate guide, wherein to release the stripper plate from the assembly an operator has only to press the spring-loaded button so as to move the button radially inward and out of engagement with the opening in the wall of the punch guide.

A punch guide assembly for removably carrying a stripper plate, the assembly comprising a punch guide and a stripper plate guide movable axially with respect to the punch guide, the stripper plate guide having a locked position wherein the stripper plate is secured to the punch guide assembly and is restrained against axial movement relative to the punch guide, the stripper plate guide having an unlocked position wherein the stripper plate can be readily removed from the punch guide assembly, the stripper plate guide being resiliently biased axially toward its unlocked position by a plurality of springs extending between the stripper plate guide and the punch guide, wherein the springs are disposed within a substantially-concealed enclosure whether the stripper plate guide is in its locked position or its unlocked position, the enclosure being defined collectively by an exteriorly-facing surface of a flange of the stripper plate guide, a forward-facing surface of a first shoulder of the punch guide, a rear extent of an interior surface of a leading wall section of the punch guide, and a rear surface of the stripper plate guide.

A punch guide assembly for removably carrying a stripper plate, the assembly comprising a punch guide and a stripper plate guide movable axially with respect to the punch guide, the stripper plate guide having a locked position wherein the stripper plate is secured to the punch guide assembly and an unlocked position wherein the stripper plate can be readily removed from the punch guide assembly, wherein the stripper plate guide is resiliently biased axially toward its unlocked position yet is restrained against axial movement relative to the punch guide when in its locked position, wherein a plurality of circumferentially-spaced clips lockingly engage the stripper plate when the stripper plate guide is in its locked position, and wherein each clip has a base that is mounted between the stripper plate guide and the punch guide.

A punch guide assembly for removably carrying a stripper plate, the assembly comprising a punch guide and a stripper plate guide movable axially with respect to the punch guide, the stripper plate guide having a locked position wherein the stripper plate is secured to the punch guide assembly and an unlocked position wherein the stripper plate can be readily removed from the punch guide assembly, wherein the stripper plate guide is resiliently biased axially toward its unlocked position yet is restrained against axial movement relative to the punch guide when in its locked position, wherein the stripper plate guide comprises a generally ring-shaped wall and is resiliently biased axially toward the unlocked position by at least one spring mounted in a bore formed in the stripper plate guide.

A punch guide assembly for removably carrying a stripper plate, the assembly comprising a punch guide and a stripper plate guide movable axially with respect to the punch guide, the stripper plate guide having a locked position wherein the stripper plate is secured to the punch guide assembly and an unlocked position wherein the stripper plate can be readily removed from the punch guide assembly, wherein the stripper plate guide when in its locked position is restrained against axial movement relative to the punch guide by a lock mechanism comprising a spring-loaded button that is extendable from the stripper plate guide into, and hence engageable with, an opening in the punch guide, and wherein the stripper plate guide is resiliently biased axially toward its unlocked position by springs bearing against the stripper plate guide such that when the button is depressed the springs move the stripper plate guide axially into the unlocked position.