Patent ID: 6324768
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: B21D,B30B

Abstract:
In a ball lock punch retainer system, including:a punch, with a ball receiving grooved seat therein,a punch retainer body having a top face and a passage holding said punch,a backing plate attached on the top face of said punch retainer body, a retainer surface adjacent to the backing plate,a spring hole located in the retainer body,a ball positioned within said spring hole to form a ball lock,a spring located in said spring hole, said spring generally acting to bias said ball into a locking engagement with said punch,an access-lock release hole located in the retainer body and communicating with the ball located in the spring hole,the improvement comprising,an elongated gage member movably positioned within said access hole, one end of said gage member having a ball contact surface thereon,said gage member having an indicating area thereon with an upper end, a middle part, and a lower end,and the gage member being operative to determine when the ball lock is in proper position relative to said retainer surface adjacent to the backing plate,such that when the middle part of said indicating area is visible next to a reference surface when said contact surface makes first touch with the ball, this indicates the ball lock is properly positioned,whereas if the upper end of said indicating area is visible beneath said reference surface when said first touch occurs, this indicates the ball lock is too low, andwhereas if the lower end of said indicating area is submerged or hidden from view in the access hole when said first touch occurs, this indicates the ball lock is too high.