Patent ID: 8459161

Claim:
A punch retainer comprising: a continuous cylindrical body having opposite first and second ends with a continuous cylindrical exterior sidewall extending therebetween, at least one of said ends being a flat surface; a punch-retaining passage in said body; a spring passage in said body, said spring passage having an intersecting area with said punch-retaining passage; a ball disposed in said spring passage; a spring disposed in said spring passage and biasing said ball toward said intersecting area; only a single dowel passage for holding a locating dowel, said dowel passage located in said body and having opposite first and second ends with said first end being substantially flush with said flat surface and open to receive an aligning dowel pin through said first end, said dowel passage having a circular cross section with a substantially constant inner diameter between said first and second ends; and a retention feature operable to receive a fastener that secures said body to a press platen or die set, said retention feature consisting of a single fastener passage in said body.