Punch holder with replaceable radius tips

Abstract

A press brake system that utilizes a punch holder adapted to be used with punch chips of various radii to achieve the desired bend on a part. The system maintains a common shut height enabling the press brake operator to be able to put different radius tip punches next to each other in a single press brake tooling setup.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A press brake system using a first punch tool for bending a workpiece, the workpiece requiring several bends with different radii, said first punch tool comprising:
 a punch holder having an upper portion of a first shape;   a first punch tip having a first radius formed on the lower portion of said punch holder; and   means for removably securing said first punch tip to said punch holder.   
     
     
         2 . The press brake system of  claim 1  wherein said first punch tip is removed from said punch holder and replaced by a second punch tip having a second radius, said first radius being different from said second radius. 
     
     
         3 . The press brake system of  claim 1  further including a second punch tool, said first and second punch tools extending along a longitudinal axis of said press brake system, each of said second tools having an upper portion of a shape substantially identical to said first shape. 
     
     
         4 . The press brake system of  claim 3  wherein said first and second punch tools have punch tips of a different radii. 
     
     
         5 . The punch brake system of  claim 4  wherein the shut height of said first and second punch tools are substantially the same. 
     
     
         6 . A punch tool for use in a brake press system, said punch tool having upper and lower portions comprising:
 a punch holder extending along a horizontal axis, said upper portion of said punch holder having a notch adapted to be engaged by a component within said press brake system; and   a punch tip that is removably secured to said lower portion of said punch holder.   
     
     
         7 . The punch tool of  claim 6  wherein said punch tip is secured to said punch holder by a plurality of fasteners extending along said horizontal axis.