Forming punching apparatus

Abstract

A punching apparatus for forming workings on a workpiece has a punch holder unit, which includes an upper support body rotatable about a working axis, a punch holder body that houses a plurality of upper forming tools and an upper beating element movable parallel to the working axis to selectively interact with an established upper forming tool, and a die holder unit that includes a lower support body rotatable about the working axis, a die holder body that houses a plurality of lower forming tools and a lower beating element movable linearly along and rotatably about the working axis to selectively interact with an established lower forming tool. The lower beating element is movable linearly between an non-operative position, a first operative position, and a second operative position.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A punching apparatus for at least one between forming and deformation workings on a workpiece and associable with a punching machine, comprising:
 a punch holder unit which includes an upper support body rotatable about a working axis, a punch holder body that is rotatably connected to said upper support body and arranged to slidably house a plurality of upper forming tools, and an upper beating element that is slidably supported by said upper support body and is movable parallel to said working axis to selectively interact with an established upper forming tool so as to partially push it outside the punch holder body to interact with said workpiece;   a die holder unit comprising a lower support body rotatable about said working axis, a die holder body fixed to said lower support body and arranged to slidably house a plurality of lower forming tools, and a lower beating element housed in said lower support body and movable linearly along and rotatably about said working axis to selectively interact with an established lower forming tool, said lower beating element being movable linearly between an non-operative position, in which said lower beating element is locked in rotation by a first stop arrangement and does not rotate with said lower support body, a first operative position, in which said lower beating element is connected by a second stop arrangement to said lower support body so as to rotate together with the lower support body about said working axis, and a second operative position, in which said lower beating element pushes said established lower forming tool partially outside the die holder body so as to interact with said workpiece.   
     
     
         17 . The punching apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said die holder body comprises a plurality of lower seats each of which being suitable to receive a lower tool holder element to which a respective lower forming tool is associated, said lower tool holder element comprising a first end configured to receive and support said respective lower forming tool and a second end suitable to interact with said lower beating element. 
     
     
         18 . The punching apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said lower beating element is slidably connected to said die holder body by means of a first guide pin having a first upper end fixed to said die holder body and a second lower end that is slidably coupled to a seat of said lower beating element. 
     
     
         19 . The punching apparatus according to  claim 16 , comprising a first elastic arrangement interposed between said lower beating element and said die holder body and configured to elastically keep said lower beating element spaced apart from said die holder body in said non-operative position. 
     
     
         20 . The punching apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said die holder unit comprises a plurality of lower thrust elements that are slidably connected to said die holder body and arranged to support respective lower tool holder elements of said lower forming tools, wherein each lower thrust element can be abutted and moved along said working axis by said lower beating element so as to move the respective lower tool holder element and the relative lower forming tool. 
     
     
         21 . The punching apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein said die holder unit comprises a second elastic arrangement interposed between each lower thrust element and said die holder body and configured to keep said lower thrust elements elastically spaced apart from said die holder body in a respective non-operative position when said lower thrust elements are not abutted and pushed by said lower beating element. 
     
     
         22 . The punching apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said first stop arrangement comprises a first tab configured to engage a longitudinal groove made on an external wall of said lower beating element and wherein said second stop arrangement comprises a second tab fixed to said second support body and configured to engage said longitudinal groove. 
     
     
         23 . The punching apparatus according to  claim 16 , comprising a driving system acting on said lower beating element to move it linearly in said operative positions along a thrust direction. 
     
     
         24 . The punching apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein said driving system comprises a first linear actuator adapted to move said lower beating element between said non-operative position and said first operative position and a second linear actuator adapted to move said lower beating element between said first operative position and said second operative position. 
     
     
         25 . The punching apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said die holder body comprises an upper wall adapted to abut and support said workpiece, wherein in said upper wall there are a plurality of lower seats each of which being adapted to receive a lower tool holder element to which a respective lower forming tool is associated. 
     
     
         26 . The punching apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said punch holder body comprises a plurality of upper seats each of which is adapted to receive a respective upper thrust element and an upper tool holder element associated with a corresponding upper forming tool, said upper thrust element being interposed between said upper beating element and said upper tool holder element. 
     
     
         27 . The punching apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein each upper thrust element comprises an abutment end configured to interact with a respective beating portion of said upper beating element and a connecting end that is coupled to said upper tool holder element. 
     
     
         28 . The punching apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said punch holder unit comprising an abutment element slidably connected to said upper support body and to which said upper beating element is fixed. 
     
     
         29 . The punching apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said upper support body comprises a through seat suitable for receiving and slidably guiding said upper beating element. 
     
     
         30 . The punching apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein said first guide pin is substantially coaxial to said working axis. 
     
     
         31 . The punching apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein said abutment element is configured to interact with a ram element of the punching machine. 
     
     
         32 . A punching machine comprising a punching apparatus according to  claim 16 .