Punch press die holder with hand-operated retaining clamp

Abstract

A punch press die holder assembly includes a die holder body with a fixed rim which partially surrounds an upwardly opening die receptacle within the die holder. The receptacle is dimensioned to receive a punch press die, especially of any various circular dies now in commercial use. Cooperating with the fixed rim portion of the die holder is a moveable clamp member that is a portion of the rim that has a centrally directed surface which contacts the die when the die is in place within the receptacle. A manually operable fastener is operatively connected to the moveable clamp member to hold the clamp member in a closed position for restricting the movement of the die and the fastener is movable by hand to an open position for releasing the clamp member and the die from the die holder so that the die can then be removed and replaced from one side by sliding it horizontally out of the die holder.

1 . A punch press die holder assembly comprising,
 an annular die holder body with a rim that extends around a portion of a die receptacle, the die receptacle being dimensioned to receive a punch press die therein,   said die holder assembly having a die support for limiting the downward movement of the die therein,   a moveable retaining clamp member as a part of the die holder that has a centrally directed surface which is positioned to contact the die and   a manually moveable fastener assembly operatively connected to the clamp member to place the clamp member in a closed position that restricts the movement of the die and   the fastener assembly is adapted to be repositioned by hand to an open position for releasing the die from the die holder.   
   
   
       2 . The punch press die holder of  claim 1  wherein the clamp member comprises a moveable segment of the rim of the die holder that contacts one side of the die. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the clamp member has a pair of ends with connections to adjacent fixed portions of the rim at each such end thereof and the manually moveable fastener is operatively associated with a first one of said connections. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein a second one of said connections is a hook and socket connection between the clamp member and a portion of said rim adjacent thereto. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fastener assembly comprising a manually moveable cam member that is operatively associated between one end of the clamp and the die holder for forcing the clamp into engagement with the die when the cam is moved manually to a locking position. 
   
   
       6 . A punch press die holder assembly comprising,
 a die holder body with a rim partially surrounding a die receptacle therein, the receptacle being dimensioned to receive a punch press die therein,   said die holder assembly having a die-supporting element for limiting the downward movement of the die therein,   a clamp member as a part of the die holder that has a surface which is constructed to contact the die but is movable to provide an opening for access to the die from one side thereof,   a fastener assembly operatively connected to the clamp member to move the clamp member to a closed position for preventing removal of the die,   the fastener assembly comprises a manually moveable cam member that is engaged between the clamp and the die holder for forcing the clamp to a position for holding the die in place when the cam is moved manually to a locked position and   the cam has a handle that is moveable by hand to an open position for releasing the clamp member and the die from the die holder.   
   
   
       7 . The punch press die holder of  claim 6  wherein the clamp member comprises a moveable segment of the rim of the die holder. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the rim has a pair of ends and the fastener assembly is connected to one of said ends. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein a hook and socket connection is provided between the clamp member and a second one of said ends for enabling the clamp member to be removed bodily from the die holder. 
   
   
       10 . A punch press die holder assembly comprising,
 a die holder body with a rim and a die receptacle therein, the receptacle being dimensioned to receive a punch press die therein,   a moveable clamp member as a part of the receptacle that has a centrally directed surface which is constructed and arranged to contact the die when the die is in the die receptacle,   a manually moveable fastener operatively connected to the clamp member to hold the clamp member in a closed position that prevents removal of the die and the fastener is moveable by hand to an open position for releasing the die from the die holder,   the clamp member has a pair of ends and the fastener is connected to one of said ends, and   a second one of said ends is pivotally associated with the die holder.   
   
   
       11 . A die holder for a punch press comprising a die holder body that is divided into two cooperating moveably related die holding portions confronting one another,
 each of the die holding portions of the die holder has a centrally facing surface constructed and arranged to contact a mating outer surface of a die,   at least one of the die holding portions is a clamp that is moveably mounted on the die holder with a pivotal connection at one end thereof for enabling the clamp to pivot with respect to the other die holding portion,   a manually operable fastener that has a locking handle for being grasped by an operator for forcing an end of the moveable clamp member that is opposite the pivotal connection toward a locking position so as to exert pressure on the die for retaining the die in place within the die holder.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the locking handle has a cam member thereon with a lobe that is operatively associated with the die holder for tightening the clamp member when the lever arm is moved to a locking position. 
   
   
       13 . The punch press die holder of  claim 11  wherein the clamp member comprises a removable arcuate segment of the rim of the die holder. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the clamp member has a pair of ends, each with a connection to a portion of the die holder, the manually operable fastener comprises one of said connections and the other of said connections comprises a hook and socket or pivotal connection between one end of the clamp member and a portion of the die holder adjacent thereto. 
   
   
       15 . The punch press die holder of  claim 1  wherein the manually moveable fastener assembly comprises a locking handle and a handle extension is pivotally connected to the locking handle by a pivot pin. 
   
   
       16 . The punch press die holder of  claim 15  wherein the die holder has a retaining slot for the pivot pin to retain the clamp member in a closed position. 
   
   
       17 . The punch press die holder of  claim 1  wherein the clamp fastener assembly has an eyebolt connected to a free end thereof with a clamping nut threaded on one end thereof for engagement with a clamp hook located on said die holder body. 
   
   
       18 . The punch press die holder of  claim 15  wherein the clamp member has a clamp link pivotally connected between a proximal end thereof and a rim of the die holder body. 
   
   
       19 . The punch press die holder of  claim 18  wherein a moveable clamp adjustment base is adjustably connected between the link and the rim of the die holder. 
   
   
       20 . The die holder of  claim 1  wherein the die support is provided with a finger slot to facilitate manual removal of the die from the die holder. 
   
   
       21 . The die holder of  claim 1  wherein the die holder has a finger slot in a die supporting surface that opens outwardly in a horizontal direction and opens upwardly to expose a lower surface of a die. 
   
   
       22 . A die holder for a punch press comprising, a die holder body having a socket for supporting a die therein, a clamp member proximate the socket for engaging and holding the die in the socket, a manually moveable arm member mounted upon the die holder and being operatively associated with the clamp member for moving the clamp member into a die-retaining position when the arm member is moved manually to an operating position and said arm member releasing the die when the arm member is moved manually away from the operating position such that the clamp member is then moveable away from the die-retaining position to provide an opening for access to the die at one side thereof for removing the die from the die holder. 
   
   
       23 . The die holder of  claim 22  wherein one end of the clamp member is connected to the die holder body by a clamp hook or a pivotal connection for supporting said one end of said clamp member on the die holder body.