Complementary systems are provided for use with industrial punch presses which enhance the functionality of the presses relative to the machining of workpieces. The systems can be adapted to function with certain already-existing structure and operations of the presses, to maximize overall effectiveness and efficiency in using the systems with the presses. Alternately, or in combination, the systems can be linked to one or more functionalities of the punch presses, whereby these functionalities can be used in manipulating the systems when used with the presses.

Complementary systems are provided for use with industrial punch presses which enhance the functionality of the presses relative to the machining of workpieces. The systems can be adapted to function with certain already-existing structure and operations of the presses, to maximize overall effectiveness and efficiency in using the systems with the presses. Alternately, or in combination, the systems can be linked to one or more functionalities of the punch presses, whereby these functionalities can be used in manipulating the systems when used with the presses.

A punch press includes a die, a punch, a support that supports the punch, a shifting member, and a rotating mechanism. The shifting member includes an opposing surface that opposes the punch. The shifting member is movable toward and away from the die together with the support and the punch and rotatable about an axis extending in a direction in which the shifting member moves toward and away from the die. The shifting member includes a recess in the opposing surface. The rotating mechanism rotates the shifting member about the axis to shift the shifting member between an abutment position where the basal end surface of the punch is abut against the opposing surface and a retraction position where the basal end surface of the punch is retracted into the recess.

A punch press includes a die, a punch, a support that supports the punch, a shifting member, and a rotating mechanism. The shifting member includes an opposing surface that opposes the punch. The shifting member is movable toward and away from the die together with the support and the punch and rotatable about an axis extending in a direction in which the shifting member moves toward and away from the die. The shifting member includes a recess in the opposing surface. The rotating mechanism rotates the shifting member about the axis to shift the shifting member between an abutment position where the basal end surface of the punch is abut against the opposing surface and a retraction position where the basal end surface of the punch is retracted into the recess.

A handheld punch tool includes a housing defining a first axis, a motor contained within the housing, the motor having a motor shaft defining a second axis, and a head coupled to the housing and rotatable relative to the housing about a third axis. The head includes a drive member reciprocable along the third axis in response to rotation of the motor shaft about the second axis and a punch coupled to the drive member and reciprocable along a fourth axis in response to reciprocation of the drive member along the third axis. The third axis is perpendicular to the first axis, and the fourth axis is parallel to the third axis such that rotation of the head about the third axis varies a position of the punch relative to the housing.

A punching apparatus includes a beating element that is arranged for interacting with at least one punching tool and is movable inside a container along and around a work axis, a first rotating actuator coupled to the beating element to move it linearly along the work axis between internal and external operating positions and drive the punching tool, and a second rotating actuator connected to the beating element and arranged for rotating it around the work axis, in particular for angularly orienting the punching tool. The second rotating actuator comprises a second electric motor having a stator fixed to the container and a rotor that is internal to the stator and connected to the beating element to rotate it. The rotor extends along the work axis to face, and be engaged with, the stator between the operating positions.

A punching system adapted to punch a sheet metal includes a platform, a punching portion, a base portion and a turret device. The punching portion is disposed on the platform, and a first upper die is detachably installed in the punching portion. The base portion is disposed between the punching portion and the platform, and a first lower die is detachably installed in the base portion. The punching portion is adapted to move back and forth along a first direction relative to the platform. The turret device is adapted to move along a second direction relative to the platform, and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. A plurality of second upper dies and second lower dies are correspondingly installed on the turret device.

A multi-tool is a constituent part of a punch device, in particular of a turret punch press. An upper tool part has a plurality of upper tools which are activatable from a head side via a machine pusher of the punch device for workpiece-machining purposes. A lower tool part has a plurality of lower tools. A workpiece is arrangeable between the upper tool part and the lower tool part. In each case one of the lower tools interacts with an associated upper tool. The number of the upper tools is greater than the number of the lower tools. This results in a multi-tool for extending the possible uses of a punch device.

A punching system adapted to punch a sheet metal includes a platform, a punching portion, a base portion and a turret device. The punching portion is disposed on the platform, and a first upper die is detachably installed in the punching portion. The base portion is disposed between the punching portion and the platform, and a first lower die is detachably installed in the base portion. The punching portion is adapted to move back and forth along a first direction relative to the platform. The turret device is adapted to move along a second direction relative to the platform, and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. A plurality of second upper dies and second lower dies are correspondingly installed on the turret device.

The invention relates to tools and methods for the handling of workpieces in a processing machine, having a tool body, having a clamping pin that is fixedly arranged on the tool body and having an indexing wheel that is arranged between the clamping pin and the tool body. At least one suction element is provided, to which a fluid channel leads, and the at least one suction element can be transferred by means of the indexing wheel or the tool body into an active position, in which the fluid channel is closed and, due to lengthening of the at least one suction element, the at least one suction element is attached by suction to the workpiece, and the at least one suction element can be transferred by means of the indexing wheel or the tool body into a rest position, in which the fluid channel is open.