Multiple punch and die assembly

A multiple punch and die assembly adapted to be placed in a punch press having a punch ram for imparting movement to a selected punch assembly for carrying out a punching or forming operation comprising:

• a punch assembly for holding a plurality of selectively operable punches mounted for independent movement in the punch assembly so as to selectively engage a workpiece, said punch assembly having a punch carrier for reciprocal motion within a punch guide;
• a striker body engaging the punch carrier, said striker body being selectively positionable by relative rotation of the striker body and punch carrier to select a punch for engagement by the striker, by positioning the striker body in one of a plurality of operating positions, at which a punch is positioned for being struck selectively by the ram via the striker body such that one punch is driven to an operating position when at least one other punch is in inactive;
• and
• a punch lock plate mounted in the punch carrier and having a circumferential edge for engaging a notch in a driver portion of each punch, said edge including a recess that releases a single punch from engagement when the recess is angularly aligned with such single punch, said punch lock plate being operably engaged to rotate with the striker body.

A multiple punch and die assembly adapted to be placed in a punch press having a punch ram for imparting movement to a selected punch assembly for carrying out a punching or forming operation comprising:

• a punch assembly for holding a plurality of selectively operable punches mounted for independent movement in the punch assembly so as to selectively engage a workpiece, said punch assembly having a punch carrier for reciprocal motion within a punch guide;
• a striker body engaging the punch carrier, said striker body being selectively positionable by relative rotation of the striker body and punch carrier to select a punch for engagement by the striker, by positioning the striker body in one of a plurality of operating position, at which a punch is positioned for being struck selectively by the ram via the striker body such that one punch is driven to an operating position when at least one other punch is in inactive;
• and
• a stripper retainer mounted on the punch guide lower end for holding and precision positioning of two or more removable strippers, said punch guide having a cam structure for urging each of the removable strippers into a corresponding precision pocket in the stripper retainer that interlocks with the stripper to prevent stripper movement along the axis of punch motion and for releasing removable strippers from the pockets.

A multiple punch and die assembly adapted to be placed in a punch press having a punch ram for imparting movement to a selected punch assembly for carrying out a punching or forming operation comprising:

• a punch assembly for holding a plurality of selectively operable punches mounted for independent movement in the punch assembly so as to selectively engage a workpiece, said punch assembly having a punch carrier for reciprocal motion within a punch guide;
• a striker body engaging the punch carrier, said striker body being selectively positionable by relative rotation of the striker body and punch carrier to select a punch for engagement by the striker, by positioning the striker body in one of a plurality of operating position, at which a punch is positioned for being struck selectively by the ram via the striker body such that one punch is driven to an operating position when at least one other punch is in inactive;
• and
• a stripper retainer mounted on the punch guide lower end for holding and precision positioning of two or more removable strippers, said retainer being mounted for rotation about a center axis of the punch assembly between a release state in which the strippers may be removed from interlock with the stripper retainer and a locking state in which a corresponding precision ground pocket captures each of the two or more removable strippers by interlock with such precision pocket in the stripper retainer;
• wherein the retainer is locked into an angular position corresponding to the locking state by a push button with a release state in which the button is recessed from interference with the retainer and a locking state in which the button extends toward the lower surface of the retainer.

A multiple punch and die assembly adapted to be placed in a punch press having a punch ram for imparting movement to a selected punch assembly for carrying out a punching or forming operation comprising:

• a punch assembly for holding a plurality of selectively operable punches mounted for independent movement in the punch assembly so as to selectively engage a workpiece, said punch assembly having a punch carrier for reciprocal motion within a punch guide;
• a striker body engaging the punch carrier, said striker body being selectively positionable by relative rotation of the striker body and punch carrier to select a punch for engagement by the striker, by positioning the striker body in one of a plurality of operating position, at which a punch is positioned for being struck selectively by the ram via the striker body such that one punch is driven to an operating position when at least one other punch is in inactive;
• and
• wherein the punch guide includes one or more venting channels on a lower face of the punch guide, each of the one or more channels connecting an interior portion of the punch carrier, in which the punch reciprocal motion occurs, to an exterior circumference of the punch guide.