Patent ID: 6389940
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: B26D,B26F,H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for punching greensheets comprising the steps of:supplying a stack of greensheets to be punched; moving a single greensheet into a gang punch tool assembly comprising: a punch platen having through openings therein to allow movement of the punch platen vertically along vertically disposed guide rods; vertically disposed guide rods; means to move the punch platen vertically downwardly and upwardly along the guide rods; locking blocks to lock the punch platen in a desired gang punch position; a gang punch secured to the lower surface of the punch platen having a plurality of actuatable punch pins therein, which when the gang punch is actuated the pins move vertically upwardly and downwardly; a die platen having through openings therein to allow movement of the die platen vertically along the vertically disposed guide rods; reciprocating means attached to the lower surface of the die platen for moving the die platen upwardly and downwardly along the guide rods; a die secured to the upper surface of the die platen, the die having a plurality of openings corresponding to the punch pins in the gang punch; a greensheet feeder device to feed a greensheet to the die; a punched greensheet removal device for removing a punched greensheet from the die; structural means for carrying the punch platen, die platen, guide rods, reciprocating means, greensheet feeder device and punched greensheet removal device; means to actuate the punch pins in the gang punch to move the punch pins upwardly and downwardly; moving the die platen and die upwards to mate with the gang punch and greensheet; actuating the gang punch to force the punch pins downward through the die openings to form openings in the greensheet; deactivating the gang punch to retract the punch pins upwardly out of the die and greensheet; moving the die platen and die to a position separated from the gang punch; removing the punched greensheet using the punched greensheet removal device; and repeating the above steps to punch a plurality of greensheets.