Punch press and a tool magazine for the press

A punch press provided with a tool magazine in which a plurality of tool mounting gondolas are supported movably in a vertical loop by and between two endless chains arranged vertically around sprocket wheels. Each gondola is supported at its supporting points which differ from each other at least in height, whereby the gondola is moved around in the loop without overturn when the sprocket wheels are rotated by a motor. Each of the gondolas stays at a manually tool changing location of the magazine where a table is provided for changing a number of tool assemblies in the magazine. The table has at least one guide which is positioned at two different heights, and along the guide tool assemblies or an upper and a lower die holders are drawn out of the gondola horizontally and placed in desired positions for replacement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a punch press, in particular to a punch press 
provided with an improved tool magazine. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
A conventional punch press has a tool magazine of horizontal type or 
vertical type for storing tool assemblies to be used. The tool assemblies 
are taken out for use of the magazine at its automatically tool changing 
location and then carried and attached to a tool attaching section of the 
punch press by an automatic tool changer which also takes out tool 
assemblies of the tool attaching section of the punch press and carries 
them to the tool magazine. 
Punch presses provided with a tool magazine of horizontal type are, for 
example, described in Japanese patent (U) 62-127321 and West Germany 
Patent (A1) 3507220. A press described in the above Japanese Patent has a 
tool magazine within a frame of the press, and therefore the number of 
tool assemblies stored in the magazine is limited. A press described in 
the above West German Patent has a tool magazine outside a frame of the 
press and therefore occupies a large area for the magazine. 
A tool magazine of vertical type is, for example, described in Japanese 
patent (A) 61-115630. In this tool magazine, tool assemblies will be 
upside down when the magazine is operated to select the tool assemblies. 
This troubles the operator for changing tool assemblies manually with 
ease. 
When a number of tool assemblies in the magazine are replaced with other 
tool assemblies at the manually tool changing location opposite the 
automatically tool changing location of the magazine, it is carried out 
manually. Therefore, the operator is sometimes injured when changing or 
carrying the tool assemblies since the weight of a punching tool 
assemblies or an upper die holder is about 25 Kg (245N, 55 pounds). 
Japanese Patent (B2) 64-135 discloses a device whereby the operator can 
take out tool assemblies safely of a tool magazine. For this device, 
however, a pair of tool assemblies, that is, an upper and a lower die 
holders taken out are superimposed. This makes it difficult for the 
operator to handle the tool assemblies easily and therefore handle them 
safely. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide a punch 
press including within the press a tool magazine in which a number of tool 
assemblies are stored 
It is a second object of the present invention to provide an improved tool 
magazine for a punch press which enables the operator to take out tool 
assemblies of and push them into the magazine at its manually tool 
changing location, manually with ease for his safety. 
The punch press of the present invention includes at least a tool carrying 
section for carrying a pair of tool assemblies attachably and detachably, 
a tool magazine adjacent to the tool carrying section for storing a 
plurality of tool assemblies, and a tool changer which moves between the 
tool carrying and the tool magazine for taking out tool assemblies of the 
magazine and then attaching the tool assemblies to the tool carrying 
section, wherein the tool magazine supports a plurality of gondolas each 
carrying at least a pair of tool assemblies, at supporting points on the 
gondola, the supporting points being different from each other at least in 
height. 
In particular, on the tool magazine mounted are two groups of sprocket 
wheels which are vertically arranged beside the gondolas, two endless 
chain respectively attached to around each group of sprocket wheels, and a 
driving device such as a motor for rotating the groups of sprocket wheels. 
The gondolas are spaced and supported pivotally by and between the two 
chains and moved vertically in the loop while kept in the upright position 
by means of the driving device. A group of sprocket wheels of the above 
are shifted the same height from another group as the height difference of 
the supporting points. 
A tool magazine of the present invention for a punch press supports a 
plurality of tool mounting gondolas movably vertically in the magazine and 
has a table provided with at least a guide which is positioned at two 
different heights, wherein an upper and a lower die holders can be drawn 
out of the gondola respectively along the guide horizontally one by one at 
the two different heights. 
The table of the tool magazine is slidable transversely to stop in front of 
each pair of tool assemblies in the gondola which stays at the manually 
tool changing location. 
The table of the tool magazine includes, for example, at least two guides 
arranged at different heights, along which the upper and lower die holders 
are respectively guided and drawn out of the gondola horizontally and 
placed in desired positions. 
In the tool magazine, the upper and lower die holders are drawn out of the 
gondola along the guide horizontally in same parallel directions and 
placed in different positions on the table which are not superimposed. 
The table is preferably a fold-away table. 
An example of the tool magazine includes a device for shifting the table 
with the guide in an upper and lower positions, wherein the upper die 
holder is moved horizontally along the guide of the table which is in the 
upper position while the lower die holder is moved along the guide of the 
table which is in the lower position. 
The table of the tool magazine includes, for example, at least a device for 
sliding along the guide and engaging with the tool assemblies for drawing 
the tool assemblies out horizontally to desired positions. 
According to the punch press of the present invention, a great number of 
tool assemblies are stored in the tool magazine which occupies only a 
small area. Furthermore, the tool assemblies are kept in position without 
overturn in the gondolas when the gondolas are moved in the vertical loop. 
Therefore, the automatic tool changer can easily take out tool assemblies 
of the tool magazine at its automatically tool changing location, and the 
operator can easily change tool assemblies in the tool magazine at its 
manually tool changing location. 
According to the tool magazine of the present invention, the operator can 
easily and safely change tool assemblies in the tool magazine by using a 
table attached to the magazine. The table can be fold up when not used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Now, the present invention is described in detail with reference to 
accompanying drawings. 
In FIGS. 1 and 2, a turret punch press 1 of the present invention is shown. 
The punch press is provided with a tool magazine and a tool changer. The 
general structure of the punch press is explained first. The turret punch 
press 1 has a frame 3. At the central part of the frame 3 rotatable 
turrets 9 consisted of an upper turret disc 5 and a lower turret disc 7 
are supported by the frame 3. The turrets carry on their perimeter zones a 
plurality of tool assemblies 6 consisted of one or more punching tool 
assemblies and one or more die tools. The turrets 9 are rotated by a 
driving device 25 shown in FIG. 25. 
On the left-hand side of the turrets 9 and in the perimeter zones there is 
provided a punching location 11 above which a striker (not shown) is 
mounted on the frame 3. The striker is operated by a driving device (not 
shown) mounted on an upper part of the frame 3 and is moved vertically for 
hitting the punching tools. Therefore, a workpiece W positioned between 
the punching tool assemblies and the die tool assemblies is subject to 
machining. 
Under the upper part of the frame 3 there is a center table 13 fixed to the 
lower part of the frame 3 or the floor. Two tables 15, 15 are arranged 
beside the center table 13 and are movable transversely or in a direction 
Y along guides 17 extended in the direction Y. 
A carriage base 19 extended in a direction Y is mounted on the movable 
tables 15. The carriage base 19 is provided with a device 21 for moving 
and positioning a work W. The work positioning device 21 includes two or 
more clampers 25 attached to a carriage 23 which is mounted on the 
carriage base 19. The carriage 23 is slidable along the carriage base 19 
in the direction X, while the clampers 25 are slidable on the carriage 23 
also in the direction X for changing gripping positions for a work W. The 
work W held by the clampers 25 is moved in both the directions X and Y by 
moving the carriage 23 and the two tables 15 in directions X and Y 
respectively, and a part of the work W to be punched is positioned between 
the upper and lower turret discs 5 and 7 at the punching location 11. 
Adjacent to and on the right-hand side of the frame 3 there is provided a 
tool magazine 27. In the tool magazine 27 there are a plurality of 
gondolas 31 supported by frames 29 of the magazine 27. In each of the 
gondolas 31 one or more pairs of tool assemblies 6 are installed and 
spaced in the direction Y. The gondolas 31 go around vertically in the 
magazine 27 and stop at automatically tool changing and manually tool 
changing locations 28, 30 about which description will be made later. 
In the perimeter zones of the turrets there are a plurality of sections 33 
each formed in a U-shaped notch. Each of the sections 33 carries a pair of 
tool assemblies 6. The tool assembly module 6 is attachable and detachable 
for quick changing. The tool assembly modules 6 are detached from or 
attached to the turrets 9 at a tool changing location 35 of the punch 
press 1. The turrets 9 are rotatable for carrying each pair of tool 
assemblies to the tool changing location 35. In front of the tool changing 
location 35 is disposed an automatic tool changer 37 which moves in the 
direction Y. The automatic tool changer 37 has a plurality of housings 39 
in which pairs of tool assemblies 6 are carried after the tool assemblies 
are taken out of the turrets 9 or the gondolas 31 in the tool magazine 27. 
Under the automatic tool changer 37, a base 41 extending in the direction Y 
is fixed to the lower part of the frame 3, and on the base 41 guide rails 
43 extending also in the direction Y are mounted. The housings 39 are 
slidably mounted on the guide rails 43 and are integrally engaged with a 
ball screw 47 which is engaged at an end with a fixed nut (not shown) and 
connected at the other end to a driving motor 45 so that the housings 39 
can move between the tool changing location 35 and the tool magazine 27 
when the ball screw 47 is rotated by operating the motor 45. 
By the way, a location 28 in front of the tool magazine 27 in FIG. 1 at 
which the automatic tool changer 37 stops is called an automatically tool 
changing location, while a location 30 of the tool magazine 27, opposite 
the automatically tool changing location 28 is called a manually tool 
changing location. Each housing 39 is provided with a clamper (not shown) 
for catching a pair of tool assemblies 6 in the tool carrying section 33 
or gondola 31. The automatic tool changer 37 moves between the tool 
changing location 35 of the punch press 1 and the automatically tool 
changing location 28 of the magazine 27 for replacing pairs of tool 
assemblies 6 in the tool carrying sections 33 of the turrets 9 with those 
stored in the tool magazine 27. 
In FIG. 3-5, the structure and functions of the tool magazine 27 is 
explained in detail. In FIG. 3, the frames 29 of the tool magazine 27 are 
fixed to the frame 3 of the punch press 1, for example, with bolts (not 
shown). Two groups of sprocket wheels each consisted of an upper and a 
lower wheels 73L and 77L or an upper and lower wheels 73R and 77R are 
rotatably mounted on the frames 29 of the tool magazine 27. One group of 
sprocket wheels 73R, 77R are located in lower positions shifted Z1 in 
height from the other group 73L, 77L as clearly shown in FIG. 4. 
The upper and lower sprocket wheels 73L and 77L and 73R and 77R are 
connected with each other with endless chains 79L and 79R respectively so 
that the chains 79L and 79R can rotate around the wheels when the upper 
sprocket wheels 73L and 73R are rotated. The plurality of gondolas 31 are 
pivotally attached to and suspended from and between the two chains 79L, 
79R, and spaced and kept in upright position in the loop of chain. Each 
gondola is supported at two supporting points 81, 83 on its side walls 82, 
84. The supporting points 81, 83 on the gondola 31 shift the same distance 
in height from each other as the height difference Z1 of the two groups of 
sprocket wheels 73L, 77L and 73R, 77R. 
A driving device 55 for rotating the upper sprocket wheels 71L and 71R is 
mounted on the frames 29 of the tool magazine 27. The driving device 55 
has a final reduction gear 57 to which a driving motor 59 such as a servo 
motor is connected. 
Above the driving device 55 there a transverse shaft 61 is rotatably 
mounted on the frames 29 of the magazine 27. To ends of the shaft 61 gears 
63L and 63R are fixed respectively. The gear 63L is engaged by a gear 65 
attached to the final reduction gear 57. In addition, the gears 63L and 
63R are engaged respectively by gears 67L and 67R which are rotatably 
mounted on the frames 29 of the magazine 27, and the gears 67L and 67R are 
engaged with gears 69L and 69R of the sprocket wheels 73L and 73R 
respectively. 
On the other hand, under the driving device 55 there the sprocket wheels 
77L and 77R are rotatably mounted through their bearings 75L and 75R 
respectively on the frames 29 of the magazine 27. The sprocket wheels 77L 
and 77R are followers. 
According to the above mentioned structure, the upper sprocket wheels 73L, 
73R are rotated through the final reduction gear 57, gears 65 and 63L, the 
shaft 61, and the gears 63R, 67L, 67R, 69L, and 69R when the motor 59 is 
driven, and consequently the endless chains 79L and 79R are moved around. 
As a result, the gondolas 31 go around in the magazine 27. The gondolas 31 
do not turn upside down even if they move transversely where they are 
subject to horizontal force or overturning moment since they are supported 
at the supporting points 81, 83 which differ from each other in height. 
Hence, the gondolas can move vertically and horizontally keeping their 
upright position in a loop. This means that the pairs of tool assemblies 
in the gondolas are kept in upright position. Therefore, an operator at 
the manually tool changing location can easily change the tool assemblies 
in the magazine, and these replaced tool assemblies are taken out while 
kept also in upright position by the automatic tool changer at the 
automatically tool changing location. 
In FIG. 5, a modified arrangement of sprocket wheels is shown. In this 
arrangement, each group of sprocket wheels has four wheels 73L, 74L, 77L 
and 78L (or 73R, 74R, 77R and 78R), and more gondolas move around in a 
vertical rectangular loop, wherein more tool assemblies may be carried in 
the gondolas and wherein both automatically and manually tool changing 
locations may be positioned more appropriately. The left-hand side is the 
automatically tool changing location 28, and the right-hand side is the 
manually tool changing location 30. 
The supporting points 81 and 83 are shifted from each other in height and 
may also be shifted transversely as shown by a dimension X1 in order to 
make gondolas balanced or move further appropriately. 
In FIGS. 6-12, another or a second example of the tool magazine 27 for a 
punch press is described. 
In FIG. 6, the magazine 27 includes two pairs of sprocket wheels 73, 77 
rotatably mounded on frames 29 of the magazine 27. Each pair of the 
sprocket wheels 73, 77 are connected by an endless chain 79 so that the 
endless or looped chain 79 can go around when the upper sprocket wheel 73 
is rotated by a motor (not shown) as explained above. A plurality of 
gondolas 31 are pivotally attached to and spaced in the looped chains 79, 
that is, supported by and between the chains 79. The two pairs of sprocket 
wheels 73, 77 are positioned at the same height as each other, and each 
gondola 31 is supported at four supporting points 83, 84 two by two on 
each side of the gondola 31. The supporting points 83, 84 are arranged 
symmetrically. However, the two pairs of wheels 73, 77 may shifted from 
each other, and the supporting points may be shifted in height as 
indicated by reference numerals 81 and 83 as described above. 
The left-hand side is an automatically tool changing location 28 of the 
magazine 27, where an automatic tool changer 37 of the punch press is 
staying. The right-hand side is a manually tool changing location 30 at 
which a table 44 is attached to the magazine 27. The table 44 is slidable 
in the direction Y. 
In FIGS. 7-9, a plurality of, for example three pairs of tool assemblies 6 
are stored in each gondola 31. A guide member 62 (FIGS. 8 and 9) such as a 
LM guide extending in the direction Y is fixed to the frame 29 of the 
magazine 27, and the table 44 is slidable along the guide member 62 in 
order to stop in front of each of the three tool assemblies 6 stored in 
the gondola 31 which is staying at the manually tool changing position 30, 
for taking out the tool assemblies 6 of the gondola 31. To one side of the 
table 44 attached is a bolt 66 (FIG. 9) for fixing the table 44 in desired 
positions in front of the gondola 31. The bolt 66 is provided at a distal 
end with an engaging pin 68 and at a proximal end with a handle 70. 
On the other hand, holes 72 are formed in the guide member 62. The pin 68 
of the bolt 66 is inserted in one of the holes 72 by means of the handle 
70, and as a result the table 44 is fixed in front of the tool assemblies 
where the center line of the table coincides with that of the tool 
assemblies. 
The table 44 is shaped like a step, and rails 74a are attached to sides of 
an upper part of the step for guiding the punching tool assemblies or 
upper die holder 8 when it is taken out of the gondola 31, while rails 74b 
are attached to sides of a lower part of the step for guiding the die tool 
assemblies or lower die holder 10 when it is taken out of the gondola 31. 
Two setting devices 76 are slidably mounted on the upper and lower rails 
74a and 74b respectively for drawing out and pushing the tool assemblies 6 
into the gondola 31. 
In FIGS. 10-12, here, description will be made about the setting devices 76 
in detail. In FIGS. 10 and 11, the setting device 76 and the upper die 
holder 8 which includes two punching tools P are shown. The setting device 
76 includes a main body 80 which slidably engages with rails 74a of the 
upper die holder 8, a small piece of plate 82 fixed to the bottom of the 
main body 80 with bolts 88, and a shaft 96. The shaft 96 is provided at a 
distal end with a pin 94 which engages with a groove 92 formed in the 
shape of a crescent in an upper surface of a flange of the upper die 
holder 8, and is provided at a proximal end with a handle 98. The handle 
98 is fixed to the proximal end with screws 100. The shaft 96 is rotatably 
supported in the main body 80. The device 76 shown in FIG. 12 and used for 
the lower die holder 10 which includes die tools D is the same as that 
used for the upper die holder 8. 
In order to push the upper and lower die holders 8 and 10 into the gondola 
31, first, the table 44 is moved to a predetermined place and fixed there 
by engaging the pin 68 of the bolt 66 with the hole 72 of the guide 62 as 
described above with reference to FIG. 9. Then, the setting devices 76 are 
moved until these come into contact with the upper and lower holder 8 and 
10, and the handles 98 are turned over. Consequently, the shafts 96 are 
rotated and the pins 94 of the shafts 96 are engaged with the 
crescent-shaped grooves 92. The plates 82 support bottom surfaces of the 
flange 84 of the die holders 8 and 10. 
Then, the die holders 8 and 10 are slid along the guides 74a and 74b and 
installed in the gondola 31 when the operator pushes the handles 98. The 
die holders 8 and 10 are then disengaged from the pins 94 when the shafts 
96 are rotated and detached from the grooves 92. The die holders 8 and 10 
are drawn out of the gondola 31 in a similar manner. 
The upper and lower die holder 8 and 10 are drawn out of gondola along the 
rails 74a and 74b one by one, and then placed in the different positions 
58, 60 (FIGS. 8 and 9) on the table 44. The positions 58, 60 are not 
superimposed. Therefore, the operator can see both die holders 8 and 10 at 
the same time and handle them easily and safely. 
In FIGS. 13-20, a further or third example of the tool magazine 27 is 
described. In the magazine 27 a plurality of tool mounting gondolas 31 
(FIG. 13) move around as explained above. The same reference numerals are 
used for devices or functional elements here in FIG. 13 as those used for 
the second example of the tool magazine shown in FIG. 6. The right-hand 
side is a manually tool changing location 30 at which a table 44 is 
attached to the magazine 27. 
In FIGS. 14-16, the structure of the table 44 is explained. A plate 165 
extending in the direction Y is fixed to frames 29 of the magazine 27 with 
bolts 67. A guide rail 169 extending in the direction Y is fixed to an 
upper part of the plate 165, and two upright plates 173 are slidably 
mounted on the guide rail 169 through a guide member 171. A grip 173T is 
fixed to at least one of the upright plates 173 as shown in FIG. 15, and a 
pair of rollers 175 are mounted on lower parts of the upright plates 173 
as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. The rollers 175 rotatably contact with the 
plate 165 fixed to the frame 29 of the magazine 27. Accordingly, the 
upright plates 173 are moved horizontally while guided by the guide rail 
169 and the rollers 175 when an operator pulls or pushes the grip 173T. 
Two horizontal plates 177 and 179 arranged at two different heights for 
supporting the upper and lower die holders 8 and 10 respectively are 
placed between the two upright plates. The upper table plate 177 is 
rotatably supported in the upright plates 173 with pins 181, while the 
lower table plate 179 is supported in the upright plates 173 with pins 183 
through blocks 87 fixed to edges of the lower table plate 179. The upper 
and lower table plates 177 and 179 are connected to each other by vertical 
links 185 in a rotatable manner with respect to the vertical links 185. 
The lower table plate 179 is also supported between the upright plates 173 
with four pins 183A, 183B, 183C, and 183D which are fixed to the blocks 
187 as shown in FIG. 17. 
The pins 183C and 183A are normally thrust to the left by contracted coil 
springs 189 as shown in FIG. 18, and as a result pins 183D and 183B are 
thrust to the left through the blocks 187 and pushed in the square notches 
191 formed in the upright plates 173. Therefore, the table plates 177 and 
179 are stable. 
On the upper and lower table plates 177 and 179 mounted are a plurality of 
guide rails 193 and 195 extending in the direction X. The upper and lower 
die holder 8 and 10 are moved horizontally on the guide rails 193 and 195 
respectively and placed in two different positions 58 and 60 on the table 
44 when they are drawn out of the gondola 31 or pushed in the gondola 31. 
The two positions 58 and 60 are not superimposed, and therefore the 
operator can see both the upper and lower die holder 8 and 10 at the same 
time and handle them easily and safely. 
The table 44 is designed as mentioned above, so that the pins 183C and 183A 
are disengaged from the square notches 91 when the lower table plate 179 
is pulled to the right (FIG. 18). Then, lower table plate 179 rotates 
clockwise, and the vertical links 185 moves rightwards and upwards causing 
the upper table plate 177 to rotate clockwise. In other words, the table 
44 is fold up as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. A vertical door or rolling door 
197 is pulled downwards in order to close the tool magazine 27 for the 
operator's safety since the gondolas 31 may be operated in the magazine 
27. The table 44 folded up is set in the working position by rotating the 
lower table plate 179 counterclockwise and by engaging the locking pins 
183D and 183B with the engaging notches 191. 
In FIG. 21-25, a further or fourth example of the tool magazine 27 is 
described. In the magazine 27 a plurality of tool mounting gondolas 31 
move around as shown in FIG. 21 and as explained above. The same reference 
numerals are used for devices or functional elements here in FIG. 21 as 
those used for the second and third example of the tool magazine shown in 
FIG. 6 and FIG. 13. Each gondola carries three pairs of tool assemblies as 
shown in FIG. 24. The right-hand side is a manually tool changing location 
30 in FIG. 21 at which a table 44 is attached to the magazine 27. 
In FIG. 22-24, the structure of the table 44 is explained. The table 44 
includes a box-shaped main body 166 which is movable to the right and the 
left in FIG. 23 or in the direction Y as described above. Next to the main 
body 166, a worktable 168 is installed as shown in FIG. 24. An operator 
moves tool assemblies manually to and fro between the main body 166 and 
the worktable 168 for replacement of tool assemblies 6 in the gondola 31 
with other tool assemblies. Three pairs of guide rails 170 extending in 
the direction X are mounted on the main body 166. Upper or lower die 
holders 8 or 10 are placed on the guide rails 170. 
An upright plate 172 is slidably mounted on the tool magazine 27, and to 
the upright plate 172 a horizontal plate 176 is fixed as shown in FIGS. 22 
and 23. A plurality of small vertical plates 178, 180 spaced in the 
direction Y are provided in order to connect the upright and horizontal 
plates 172 and 176 rigidly and to reinforce the horizontal plate 176. 
The horizontal plate 176 is provided with, for example, four bearing blocks 
182, 184, 186, and 188. Two of the bearing blocks 182 and 186 are 
connected to each other by a shaft 190, while the other two bearing blocks 
184 and 188 are connected to each other by a shaft 192. The shaft 190 is 
connected at a front end through the bearing block 182 to a lower end of a 
link 194 and at a rear end through the bearing block 186 to a lower end of 
a link 198 and to an upper end of a link 202. The shaft 192 is connected 
at a front end through the bearing block 184 to a lower end of a link 196 
and at a rear end through the bearing block 188 to a lower end of a link 
200 and to an upper end of a link 204. Lower ends of the links 202 and 204 
are connected to both ends of a horizontal link 210 with hinges 206 and 
208 respectively. 
A pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 214 is supported at its lower end on the 
upright plate 172 rotatably around a pin 212. An upper end 218 of a piston 
rod 216 of the cylinder 214 is attached to the horizontal link 210 as 
shown in FIG. 23. 
A plate 220 is attached to the bottom of the main body 166 for supporting 
four blocks 224. Each of the blocks 224 is provided with a groove 222 
extending transversely (or in the direction Y). Four guide rollers 226 are 
rotatably attached to upper ends of the links 194, 196, 198, and 200 and 
are placed in the grooves 222 of the blocks 224. The plate 220 is provided 
with a plurality of vertical guide rods 228 which extend downwards and 
penetrate the horizontal plate 176. 
The table 44 is designed as mentioned above, so that the links 202, 204 are 
rotated clockwise through the horizontal link 210 when the piston rod 216 
of the cylinder 214 is extended up to a place shown by imaginary lines in 
FIG. 23. As a result, the links 194, 196, 198, and 200 are also rotated 
clockwise simultaneously, while guide rollers 226 are rolled in the 
grooves 222 towards the right. Hence, the table 44 is lowered in position. 
In this lower position of the table 44, the lower die holders 10 are moved 
horizontally along the guide rails 170. The table 44 is raised up in 
position when the piston rod 216 is plunged in the cylinder 214. In this 
upper position of the table 44, the upper die holders 8 are moved 
horizontally along the guide rails 170. When the table 44 is moved to and 
fro between the upper and lower positions, it is guided vertically by the 
guide rods 228. 
Accordingly, the upper and lower die holder 8 and 10 are placed in the 
upper and lower positions respectively not manually but automatically. 
Furthermore, the operator can draw or push the upper and lower die holders 
8 and 10 one by one in any order. In addition, the table 44 does not falls 
in even if the pressure of the fluid in the cylinder 214 drops suddenly, 
since the upper and lower die holders are located at the two heights by 
means of the link mechanism. 
Furthermore, the operator can use both hands for handling the upper and 
lower die holders if he uses a foot switch 230 (FIG. 25) connected to a 
pump motor (not shown) of the cylinder 214 for actuating the cylinder 214. 
As shown in FIG. 5 the tool assemblies are carried to and fro between the 
table 44 and a wagon 238 by means of an air cylinder balancer 234 which is 
suspended from the tool magazine 27 by a fold-away suspender 232 and which 
has at a lower end a L-shaped tool for engaging with the tool assemblies 
8, 10. The air cylinder 234 is movable in the direction X along the 
suspender 232, as well as in the direction Z.