Patent ID: 7121178

Claim:
A punching tool for green sheets, comprising a lower tool base plate, which is arranged to be supported resting on the table of a punching machine and which is embodied workpiece-nonspecifically, a lower-tool operative part, which is embodied workpiece-specifically, detachably mounted on an upper surface of said lower tool base plate, a linear guide device, which is supported by the lower tool base plate, an upper tool base plate, which is supported movably toward and away from the lower tool base plate by the linear guide device and is embodied workpiece-nonspecifically, and an upper-tool operative part, which is mounted on the upper tool base plate and is embodied workpiece-specifically or is adaptable to different workpieces; and wherein: said lower tool operative part includes a plurality of plates including a lower vacuum plate, having a bottom surface that rests on said upper surface of said lower tool base plate, an air distributor plate, an intermediate plate, and an upper cutting plate containing openings for receiving punching dies on the upper tool operative part during a punching operation; said lower tool operative part further includes vacuum conduits, which extend through at least said vacuum plate to secure a green sheet in place during a punching operation, and compressed air supply conduits disposed in said vacuum plate; and, said vacuum plate has walls that define a substantially hollow interior space for receiving slugs punched from a green sheet during a punching operation, with the interior space being in direct communication with an underlying opening in the lower tool base plate in order to remove slugs from the lower tool operative part.