Abstract: A stamping device includes a base body; an elongated punch having a longitudinal axis; a supporting arrangement for holding the punch in the base body and for guiding the punch for axial displacements between an advanced position and a retracted position; a driving unit releasably held in the base body and including a driving device for axially displacing the punch; a coupling device having a first state in which the coupling device operatively connects the driving device with the punch and a second state in which the driving device is disconnected from the punch; and a receiving arrangement for holding the punch in a desired axial position when the coupling device is in its second state.

Abstract: An automatic reconfigurable die having an array of knives, each of which is separately pivoted and extended along and about a respective longitudinal axis, to allow a desired contour to be scored and cut from a sheet material, according to a real time computer plan which is controlling the array of knives. The automatic reconfigurable die includes actuators associated with each knife to control, via information associated with a remote computer system, the extension and retraction, and orientation of the knives. The computer selects the appropriate setpoints for each knife in order to match the required shape/pattern of the cut by simple curve fitting methods. In this manner, a selected plurality of the knives in the array are chosen, oriented and extended in real time to score/cut the selected part.

Abstract: A punch station for punching ceramic green sheets comprises a magnet plate and two flux guide plates to form the flux field within which a coil of wire resides and acts to cause the punching movement of a punch. The magnet plate allows the placement of adjacent punch stations more closely together than is possible when cylindrical magnets are used since the magnetic material lying between the punch being activated and the punches surrounding the activated punch has an additive effect and produces a more dense flux field than achievable with the cylindrical magnets. The flux guide plates concentrate the flux from the magnet plate into a small gap further increasing flux density in the working gap. The magnet plate overcomes the losses inherent with magnets separated by air gaps.

Abstract: The invention is an improvement to punches for placing one or more openings on the edge of a sheet of material. A collection of individual punch pins are carried within bores in a punch block. Movement of the pins is constrained by a corresponding collection of pneumatic actuators. The constrained pins are driven against a die block to affect the punching operation. To insure that the punch pins do not interfere with the operation of the pneumatic actuators between machine cycles, a fixed retraction guide cooperates with a relieved section on each punch pin to position each pin at one extremity of the bore within which the actuator travels.

Abstract: A module for selectively deploying a reciprocable tool, such as a hole punch, which is reciprocated by a press. The module includes a housing which is attached to the ram of the press. The housing retains a reciprocable tool within a bore for movement between an extended position and a retracted position. The reciprocable tool is connected to the housing by means of a telescopic linkage comprising a cone clutch having resilient fingers that selectively grip a pin. The housing includes a conical surface which engages beveled portions of the resilient fingers holding them in a closed position. A spring biases the cone clutch to its closed or gripping position unless air pressure is supplied to an air chamber which counteracts the biasing force of the spring to open the resilient fingers. When the resilient fingers are open, a shifting means comprising a spring, or alternatively a solenoid, is effective to shift the pin between an extended position and a retracted position within the cone clutch.

Abstract: A pneumatically actuated hole punch which employs a ball and die punching arrangement in which the ball is free floating and the punching impact is between the ball and the plunger rather than between the ball and the die. The plunger incorporates a concave surface to correctly position the ball relative to the die upon cutting of the desired opening.

Abstract: A punching device for punching coded key cards and the like comprising a plurality of punches, each of which is selectively movable in respective guide. Balls of ferromagnetic material are positionable in a first punching position and a second passive position. Solenoids with movable cores are arranged to selectively move the balls between the first and second positions.