GB2030497A - Tool holder - Google Patents

Abstract

A tool holder 7a-d which in plan tapers towards plane ends has guide pins 8 underneath to facilitate insertion and removal of the holder into and from a predetermined working position. A supporting table, for instance a rotor 1 of a turret punch press, is provided with guide grooves 4 to locate the pins during insertion and removal and hole 6 to receive the pins for retaining the holder in working position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tool holder & machine adapted therefor This invention relates to a tool holder especially adapted for use in associated with turret type punching machines but is not limited thereto. The holder is eminently suitable for holding a die in the lower rotor of a turret type punch and die machine but is not limited thereto.

In known turret type punch and die machines, it is difficult to insert die elements into and remove them from the lower rotor of the machine since the upper and lower rotors of the turret must necessarily be closely spaced vertically thus affording little space therebetween and also limiting visibility. When the turret provides for multi-angular orientation of the tools the difficulties of proper positioning are increased.

The present invention overcomes the difficulties of the prior art in that a tool holder is provided which is slidably removable from a fixed position in the rotor to facilitate the correct placement of a tool therein.

The holder may be readily slid back into the fixed position in the rotor with the tool correctly mounted therein.

The vertical spacing of the rotors may be minimized since this spacing substantially does not add to the difficulty of tool changing.

The invention will now be described with reference to the figures of the drawing in which, Figure 1 shows a plan view of upper and lower rotors of a turret type punch and die machine, the upper rotor being partially cut away, Figure 2 shows a vertical view of the two rotors of Figure 1, Figure 3 and 4 show side and end views respectively of a tool holder according to the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 shows the turret 1, 2 of a turret type punchpress in plan view with the upper rotor 2 partially away to show the lower rotor 1 with three die holders, 7a, 7b, 7c mounted therein. A fourth die holder 7d is shown removed from the rotor in a position to be reinserted.

The die holders 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d are shown of varying sizes in accordance with the size of die to be supported thereby. However, all holders could well be of the same overall dimensions but designed to hold different sizes of dies.

A die holder 7 is shown in side view in Figure 3 wherein the aperture 9, accommodating a particular size of die, is shown in dashed line. The holder 7 is provided with two pins 8 which protrude from the lower side thereof, which pins are provided for cooperation with grooves 4 provided in rotor 1 preferrably extending radially inward from the outer periphery of the rotor and across openings 3 in the rotor. The grooves are provided with drilles holes 6 which accommodate the pins 8 of the holders when the holder is properly positioned on the rotor.

It will now be obvious that a holder, whether mounted with a die or not, can be readily placed in the rotor 1 between rotors 1 and 2 by simply sliding the holder inward on the rotor with the pins 8 resting in and following a groove 4. When the holder reaches its preset working position pins 8 align with holes 6 and the holder drops into its preset working position from which it can only be removed by raising the holder so that pins 8 clear holes 6 whereafter the holder is slid out of the rotor in a radial direction. The holder may be raised by applying lifting pressure from underneath rotor 1 or by gripping the reduced width outer end section of the holder. Other means for raising the holder for removal may also be employed. For instance, a slot may be cut in the outer end of the holder to accommodate a lifting handle or other device.

It will be obvious from the above description that the vertical spacing between rotors 1, 2 may be such as to only accommodate entrance of a tool holder when its guide and positioning pins 8 are accommodated in a groove 4. This spacing would ensure that a holder could only be inserted in the proper manner.

For uniformity of holder inventory rotor 2 may also be supplied with grooves 4 and holes 6. Furthermore, although the holder construction shown pertains to its use in a turret type machine it could also be used in other types to ensure proper tool orientation, etc.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described it will be obvious that modification thereof may occur to those skilled in the art, which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1. A punch and die apparatus comprising a tool holder in the form of a boat in plan view and having an opening therein to accommodate a working tool and guide pins on the underside, which pins are adapted to be accommodated in a guide groove provided on an associated machine whereby the groove guides the holder when being slideably inserted into or withdrawn from its predetermined working position, at which position locking means are provided to prevent inadvertent sliding of the holder with respect to the working position.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking means is comprised by holes located in the lower surface of the groove and accommodating the guide pins.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the associated machine is of the twin rotor type having guide grooves and accommodating locking holes, at least, in the lower rotor thereof.

4. A tool holder in the form of a boat provided underneath with guide pins at either end thereof and a contoured opening in the lateral surface of the boat adapted to support a tool, the guide pins being adapted to facilitate insertion and removal of a tool, supported by the holder, into and out of a predetermined working position in an associated machine.

5. A punch and die apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Tool holder & machine adapted therefor This invention relates to a tool holder especially adapted for use in associated with turret type punching machines but is not limited thereto. The holder is eminently suitable for holding a die in the lower rotor of a turret type punch and die machine but is not limited thereto. In known turret type punch and die machines, it is difficult to insert die elements into and remove them from the lower rotor of the machine since the upper and lower rotors of the turret must necessarily be closely spaced vertically thus affording little space therebetween and also limiting visibility. When the turret provides for multi-angular orientation of the tools the difficulties of proper positioning are increased. The present invention overcomes the difficulties of the prior art in that a tool holder is provided which is slidably removable from a fixed position in the rotor to facilitate the correct placement of a tool therein. The holder may be readily slid back into the fixed position in the rotor with the tool correctly mounted therein. The vertical spacing of the rotors may be minimized since this spacing substantially does not add to the difficulty of tool changing. The invention will now be described with reference to the figures of the drawing in which, Figure 1 shows a plan view of upper and lower rotors of a turret type punch and die machine, the upper rotor being partially cut away, Figure 2 shows a vertical view of the two rotors of Figure 1, Figure 3 and 4 show side and end views respectively of a tool holder according to the invention. Referring to Figure 1 shows the turret 1, 2 of a turret type punchpress in plan view with the upper rotor 2 partially away to show the lower rotor 1 with three die holders, 7a, 7b, 7c mounted therein. A fourth die holder 7d is shown removed from the rotor in a position to be reinserted. The die holders 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d are shown of varying sizes in accordance with the size of die to be supported thereby. However, all holders could well be of the same overall dimensions but designed to hold different sizes of dies. A die holder 7 is shown in side view in Figure 3 wherein the aperture 9, accommodating a particular size of die, is shown in dashed line. The holder 7 is provided with two pins 8 which protrude from the lower side thereof, which pins are provided for cooperation with grooves 4 provided in rotor 1 preferrably extending radially inward from the outer periphery of the rotor and across openings 3 in the rotor. The grooves are provided with drilles holes 6 which accommodate the pins 8 of the holders when the holder is properly positioned on the rotor. It will now be obvious that a holder, whether mounted with a die or not, can be readily placed in the rotor 1 between rotors 1 and 2 by simply sliding the holder inward on the rotor with the pins 8 resting in and following a groove 4. When the holder reaches its preset working position pins 8 align with holes 6 and the holder drops into its preset working position from which it can only be removed by raising the holder so that pins 8 clear holes 6 whereafter the holder is slid out of the rotor in a radial direction. The holder may be raised by applying lifting pressure from underneath rotor 1 or by gripping the reduced width outer end section of the holder. Other means for raising the holder for removal may also be employed. For instance, a slot may be cut in the outer end of the holder to accommodate a lifting handle or other device. It will be obvious from the above description that the vertical spacing between rotors 1, 2 may be such as to only accommodate entrance of a tool holder when its guide and positioning pins 8 are accommodated in a groove 4. This spacing would ensure that a holder could only be inserted in the proper manner. For uniformity of holder inventory rotor 2 may also be supplied with grooves 4 and holes 6. Furthermore, although the holder construction shown pertains to its use in a turret type machine it could also be used in other types to ensure proper tool orientation, etc. Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described it will be obvious that modification thereof may occur to those skilled in the art, which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A punch and die apparatus comprising a tool holder in the form of a boat in plan view and having an opening therein to accommodate a working tool and guide pins on the underside, which pins are adapted to be accommodated in a guide groove provided on an associated machine whereby the groove guides the holder when being slideably inserted into or withdrawn from its predetermined working position, at which position locking means are provided to prevent inadvertent sliding of the holder with respect to the working position.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking means is comprised by holes located in the lower surface of the groove and accommodating the guide pins.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the associated machine is of the twin rotor type having guide grooves and accommodating locking holes, at least, in the lower rotor thereof.

4. A tool holder in the form of a boat provided underneath with guide pins at either end thereof and a contoured opening in the lateral surface of the boat adapted to support a tool, the guide pins being adapted to facilitate insertion and removal of a tool, supported by the holder, into and out of a predetermined working position in an associated machine.

5. A punch and die apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.