Patent ID: 8413561

Claim:
A multiple punch and die assembly adapted to be placed in a punch press having a punch ram for imparting movement to a selected punch assembly for carrying out a punching or forming operation comprising: a punch assembly for holding a plurality of selectively operable punches mounted for independent movement in the punch assembly so as to selectively engage a workpiece, said punch assembly having a punch carrier for reciprocal motion within a punch guide; a striker body engaging the punch carrier, said striker body being selectively, toollessly connectable to the punch carrier by a pair of tabs located on a lower circumference of the striker body, said pair of tabs located on a lower circumference of the striker body with a radial separation other than 180 degrees; a circumferential lip in the punch carrier for receiving the pair of tabs and having corresponding radially separated reliefs for allowing the pair of tabs to pass the circumferential lip, the engagement of the pair of tabs by the circumferential lip locking the striker body to the punch carrier while permitting relative rotation of the striker body and punch carrier to select a punch for engagement by the striker; and detent means for releasably positioning the striker body in one of a plurality of operating positions, at which a punch is positioned for being struck selectively by the ram via the striker body such that one punch is driven to an operating position when at least one other punch is in inactive.