Patent ID: 6565496
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: B23D,B23P,B23Q,H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for loading punch pins into a gang-punch apparatus comprises:a punch pin supply plate containing a plurality of openings in a grid in which a plurality of punch pins are positioned vertically, the punch pins having an elongated shank of a first diameter and a second larger diameter head which head rests on or is slightly above the upper surface of the supply plate; a punch pin removal device for removing a punch pin from the supply plate into the punch pin removal device; a left jaw and a right jaw each movable horizontally and each having an upper surface and a lower surface and a mating opening at each end thereof for receiving and holding a punch pin vertically; a punch pin receiver device having an open upper end and an open lower end for receiving the removed punch pin from the punch pin removal device in a vertical orientation with the head upward, the lower end of the punch pin receiver device being positioned proximate the upper surface of the left jaw; a punch pin blow down device for exerting a force on the punch pin in the punch pin receiver device; a punch pin pusher device for exerting a force on the head of the punch pin; and an X-Y table on which a gang-punch pin holding plate having a plurality of openings is secured thereto for positioning the gang-punch punch pin holding plate; wherein a punch pin removed from the supply plate by the punch pin removal device is transferred to the punch pin receiver device, the left jaw and right jaw are mated and positioned over the gang-punch punch pin holding plate opening to be filled and the punch pin receiver moved over the opening and the punch pin blow down device forces the punch pin from the punch pin receiver into the opening in the jaws, the punch pin receiver and punch pin blow down devices are then moved away and the punch pin pusher device used to exert a force on the head of the punch pin forcing the punch pin partly into the gang-punch punch pin holding plate opening, the jaws are then moved away and the punch pin pusher device used to exert a force on the head of the punch pin forcing the punch pin into the gang-punch punch pin holding plate opening with the above steps being repeated until the desired number of punch pins are transferred from the punch pin supply plate to the gang-punch punch pin holding plate.