claimed as new is: 1. A punch and die mechanism for punching washers and similar articles comprising a reciprocable punch holder, a female die assembly held thereby, said assembly including a plurality of exchangeable die members, each provided with a piercing punch and an eject6r mechanism, a die bed, a male die assembly, including -a plurality of exch,@ngeable male. blanking punches and a split die base for holding said blanking punches, said die base consisting of a plurality of members, holding said punches pressed against s-aid bed in operative parallel pqsition when joined together and a stripping plate surrounding the ends of said blanking punches. 2. A punch and die mecham'sm for punching washers and similar articles comprising a reciprocable punch holder, a female die assembly held thereby, sa4ld assembly including a plurality of exchangeable die members, each provided with a piercing punch, an ejector mechanism, a fixed die shoe, a split die base consisting of two members facing each other across a gap both adapted to be fixed on said die shoe, 96,id members being provided with a plui@ality bf aligned recesses on the sides facing each other, -a plurality of removable blanking punches adapted to be placed into and to be held within the recesses of the two members facing each other and enclosing the lower part of said removable blanking punches, while the upper part of said punches project upwardly, therefrom and a stripping plate surrounding the projecting ends of said blanking dies. 3. A punch and die mechanism for punching washers and similar articles comprising a reciprocable punch holder, a female die assembly held thereby, said assembly including a plurality of exchangeable die members, each provided with a piercing punch and an ejector mechanism, a fixed die shoe, a split die base, consisting of at least two base members fixedly but removably connected with said die shoe, said members having surfaces facing each other across a gap, and being provided on the surfaces facing each other with a plurality of cylindrical recesses, facing each other, adjustable clamping means for holding said base member at a predetermined distance, removable cylindrical blanking punches with cutting edges having enlarged foot portions, adapted to fit i-nto the space between the cylindrical recesses of the two members facing each other, and to be fixedly held therein along a part of their length with their end portions carrying the cutting edges 'orojecting from the die base towards the female die assembly, and a stripping plate and a rubber base plate surrounding said projecting ends of the blanking punches. 4. A punching press with a punch and die mechanism for punching washers and similar articles, comprising a stationary male die assembly, holding a plurality of blanking punches, said assembly including a die shoe, a split die base, consisting of at least two base members fixedly but removably connected with said die shoe and with each other, said base members having surfaces facing each other across a gap, said surfaces being provided with cylindrical recesses adapted to fixedly hold said exchangeable blankwith t central hole, a reciprocating punch holder, adapted to carry an exchangeable female die assembly provided With a recess of a length substantially of the length of the exchangeable die assembly, the said die assembiy including an exchangeable die membei- provided with a plurality of bores equally numbered to the number of blanking punches and cooperating with the blank10 ing punches of the male member, said die member being further provided with an elongated recess above said,bores, a plurality of knock-out cylinders, each provided with a central bore, located in the bores of the die member, an elongated 15 knock-out plate, arranged within the recess of the die member -and pressing against said cylinders, a piercing punch plate and a backing plate provided.with holes, the holes in said plates being aligned, the die member, backing plate and 20 piercing punch plate being held against each other and being removably fixed on the punch holder covering the recess in the same, piercing punches held by and projecting from the -piercing punch. plate through the recess of the die 25 member and through the central bores of the knock-out member, knock-out pins acting on said knock-out plate passing through the aligned holes of the piercing punch plate and the backing plate, an equalizer plate arranged in the re30 cess of the punch holder behind-the backing plate and a knock-out rod, held in said punch holder and op6rated by the press. 5. In a punch and die mechanism the improvement comprising: a split die base including a 35 pair of members removably mounted on the die shoe of the mechanism, a plurality of notches in each of the members of the split die base, a plurality of exchangeable blanking punches mounted in said notches of said die base, and 40 means for holding said blankin-, punches from vertical displacement. 6. The combination of claim 5 in which one of said members has one side in juxtaposition to one side of the other of said members, and 45 said notches being substantially semi-cylindrical and positioned along each of said sides formin.- substantially cylindrical apertures for engaging the periphery of said blanking punches. 7. The combination of claim 6 in which the rO nieans for holding said blanking punches from vertical displacement includes a widened foot portion on said blanking punches adjacent to said die shoe, and groove means in said notches on said base members for cooperation with said 55 widened foot portion. 8. The combination of claim 5 in which means are provided for clamping said die base members to.@ether, a rubber plate mounted on said base members and having apertures therein 60 through which the upper ends of the blanking punches may extend, a stripper plate mounted on said rubber plate and having apertures therein in alignment with the apertures in said rubber plate, the upper ends of said blanking punches 65 being received in the apertures of said stripper plate, and a portion of said stripper plate lying above the plane of the upper surfaces of said blanking punches. 9. In a punch and die mechanism the improve70 ment comprising: a split die base including a pair of members removably mounted on the die shoe of the mechariism, a plurality of notches in each of the members of the split die base, a plurality of exchangeable blanking punches 75 mounted in said notches of said die base, and

means for holding sgid blankliig punches from' vertical displacement, and in which the split@ die base is provided with a plurality of apertures, therethrough, dowels mountod in- some of 'the apertures for positioning the base on the shoe 5@ aild screws for securing the base in position pass - ing through others of said apertures, in which one of said members has one side in juxtaposition to one side of the other of said members, and said notches being substantially semicylindrical 10 and positioned along each of said sides forming substantiaily cylindrical apertures for engaging the perii)hery of said blanking punches; in which the means for holdin,@ said blanking punches from vertical displaceme-@it includes a widened foot 15 portion on said blanking punches adjacent to said die shoe, and groove means, in said notches on said base members for cooperation with said widened foot portion. 10. In a punch and die mechanism the im20 provement comprising: a split die base including a pair of members removably mounted on the die shoe of the mechanism, a plurality of notches in each of the members of the split die base, a plurality of exchan@eable blanking punches 2- mounted in said 'ies of said die base, and a not@ means for holding said blanking punches from vertical displacement; in which the means for holding said blanking punches from vertical displacement includes a widened foot portion on 30 said blai-iking punches adjacent to said die shoe, and groove means in said notches on said base members for cooperation with said widened foot portion; in which means aTe provided for clamping said die base members together, a rubber plate mounted on said base members and having apertures therein through which the upper ends bf the blanking punches may extend, a stripper plate mounted on said rubber plate and having apertures therein in alignment with the apertures in said rubber plate, the upper ends of said blanking punches being received in the apertures of said stripper plate, and a portion of said stripper plate lying above the plane of the upper surfaces of said blanking punches. RALPH A. CARRIER, JR. DREYFUS C. DAVIS. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 507,260 Coleman ---------- Oct. 24, 1893 679,699 Mason ------------- July 30, 1901 727,931 Fraser ------------- May 12, 1903 1,989,412 Gruchacz ---------- Jan. 29, 1935 2,111,156 Schneider --------- Mar. 15, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 215,517 Great Britain ------ May 15, 1924

Pat,6nted Oct. 24, 1990 2 527pO9l UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE t,@27,Ogi j?lfl@ci-IIN -G AND DIE MECHANISM FOR tHtPRODUCTION OF MICA WASHERS Italph A. Carilier, Jrl., Gerton, and Dreyfus C. Davis, Oteeii, N. C., assignors t6 Ashevifle Me-A Company, Asheville, N. C., a corporation Application February 2, 1948, Serial go. 6,719 10 Claims. (Cl. 164-118) This invention relates to punch and die mechanisms operable in conjunction with a punching press and it has more particular reference to mechanisms of this type us0d for producing mica washers. It is the general object of the invention 5 to provide a punch and die mechanism by means of which an increased production of washers may be obtained and by means of which the same mechanism with small changes is adapted to Produce washers of a large variety of sizes and 10 with all diameters of the central hole. A main object of the invention consists in providing means whereby adaptation of the same mechanism for different sizes may be obtained by making a very small number of parts ex- 15 changeable and by providing means for making these parts easily removable. A further object of the invention consists in providing means whereby multiple cutting can take place, with a large variety of diameters of 20 the washers and of the central holes. A further and more specific object of the invention consists in providing means whereby, with one die of a given size, washers with a large variety of inside diameters may be cut. 25 A further and more specific object of the invention consists in providing a die in which the blanking punches as well as the piercing punches may be readily replaced by other punches of different size. 30 A still further and more specific object of the invention consists in providing a guard or pro@ tective device surrounding the movable parts so closely that the operator may bring his hand safely into proximity to the reciprocating parts 35 of the machine, while placing the work sheet in position. This allows a largely increased production and the production of washers from smaller and less expensive mica sheets. Further objects will be made apparent in the 40 course of the following detailed description of the invention. The inventive concept is capable of being embodied into different constructions, but in the drawing only one such construction is shown bY 45 way of example. It is to be understood that this example has been seiected in order to explain the principle of the inverition and the best mode of applying such principle, but does not supply a survey of further possible modes of appli- 50 cation. Modificati6ns of the example shown do therefore not necessarily constitute a departure from the invention. In the accompanying drawings: 2 Figure 2 is a plan view of the mechanism, with the punch holder removed. Figure 3 is an elevational sectional view of the niechanism, the section being taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a sectional plan view, the section being taken along line 4-4 of Figure 'I. Figure 5 is another sectional plan view the section being taken along line 5-5 of Figure 1. Figure 6 is another plan view which is however taken by looking upwardly from line 6-6 of Figure I towards the die assembly. Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the matrix die carrying base and of the matrix dies. Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the parts connected with the upper die assembly. The punch and die mechanism according to the invention may be associated with the standard mechanism operated with a standard press; only those parts of the known mechanisms are shown which are closely associated with the improvements according to the invention. In all other respects it is assumed that the mechanism shown is connected with the usual type of standard punch presses, and is operated in the well known manner. In Figures I and 3, 1 0 indicates the stem of a punch holder I I which is adapted to be clamped into the ram of a punch press moving up and down or in any other direction, the vertical direction being selected for a more convenient. showing. The punch holder I I may be of any approved construction and is movable by means of slide blocks,12 along the columns or spindles 14 which are rhounted on the die shoe I 6. On said die shoe a split die base indicated generally at I 8 is mounted consisting of the two members 19, 20 which are held on the die shoe by means of screws 29 and dowels 2 1. The die base 18 as a whole may be of substantially circular shape., The two halves 19, 20 are semic c ar and face each other along parallel surfaces 23 across a gap. A number of substantiaily semi-circular notches or recesses 22 are provided in the two parallel surfaces which accommodate the lower portion of the blanking punches 24. The punches are of a substantially cylindrical s ape, - a widened foot portion 26 adjacent. a grooved or restr@icted portion 27. They are provided with a central cylindrical bore or hole 28, which is substantially of the diameter of the piercing punches 30, near the cutting edges, but is widened in the remaining portion of the blankFigure 1 is an elevational view of a punch and 55,ing punches to allow the disks cut out from the die mechanism. center of the washer to drop. Bores 31 in the die

2,527,091 3 shoe are arranged which correspond with the bores 28 and form discharge channels for the said centers. The blanking punches are held firmly within the notches or recesses 22, the lower portion Of 5 which accommodates and holds the widened foot portion 26. The two members 19 and 20 which are encircling the punches are held in their relative position by means of clamping screws 33, shown in Figures 5 and 7 and pass- 1( ing between the notches or recesses and the punches at the height of the grooved portions 27 of the latter. Bores 34 for the passage of these clamping screws are shown in Figures 5 and 7. 1.-, The split die base holding the punches and the die shoe, as will be seen from the above, are so firmly held together that they form a structural unit. Above ti-ie split die base a live rubber plate or ring 35 is located, upon which the strip@per plate 36 rests. The stripper plate may be circular with cylindrical holes or bores 37 closely surrounding the upper p6rtion of the blanking punches 24 carrying the cutting edges. The upper surface of the stripping plate may be located slightly above the end faces of the blankin.@ punches 24, as is customary with arrangements of this type. The female portion of the die is firrnly held in the punch holder I I by means of screws and dowels which are however'not shown in Fligure 3 of the drawing for the@ sake of clarity. It comprises the die member 40 (Figure 8) which is of circular shape and is provided with an 3r, elongated recess 42 along one of its digmeters, in its upper portion.. The lower portion facing the die base or male die assembly is provided with the bores or openings 44 leading from the recess 42 to the outer (lower) surface of the die 40 member where they cooperate with the cutting edges of the male punches 24.' The number of bores 44 is equal to the number of punches used, and these bores accornmodate the knock out cylinders 45 of the ejector 6r sheddor MeChOnism 45 of the die assembly. Thege cylinders Ai-e@ provided with central bores 46 throiigh which the piercing punches 30 are passing. The piercing punches 30 comprise an active-or'punching liortion held by a stem 48 which is fixedly mounted 50 on a pie@-cing punch plate 50. Tho punch plate ig interchangeable so as to bring piercing punches of diff erent sizes into action. Behind the piercing l@unch plate- 50- A backing plate 52 is arranged for transmitting th6 lires- 55 sure to the assembly and for taking iip the' forces produced by the shearing rosistance . of the material. The backing plate 52 and-the pierding - punch plate 50 are both provided with aligned 6,ddiVion- 60 al bores 54, 5 6 respectively, arranged in thelatter plate around the piercing punches. Through these bores knock out pins 55 are p@ssihg, which press on an elongated knock out plate 60 resting on the upper surface, of the knock but cyl- 65 inders 45 and provided with bbres 61. These pins on the otber end, wmch is located above the backing plate 52 ' are acted uijon by dn elongated pressure equalizer pleit@@ 62 which may move within an elongat6d'recess 64 of the punch 70 holder I 1. The bqualizer plbt'e 62 is rhoved within the recess 64 by the knbck out rod 65-held by the stem 10 and is operated by a corkesponding rod (not shown) which is associated with all standard die presseg. 75 4 Closely surrounding the 6ntire female die assembly and ejector is a guard member 70 (Figures I and 2) which extends upwardly up to the press stock and on the other side reaches down so far that only a small slot 72 is left between it and the plane passing through the upper surface of the stripper plate 36. The guard plate may be provided with slits or windows 74 permitting observation of the punchin.- process; but otherwise the slot 72 is so small that merely the stock or work piece may be inserted. The guard plate is supported by posts 75 (Figures 2 and 6) which are supported in the die shoe. The operator is thus fully protected even if working in the immediate vicinity of the press. The close surrounding of the die permits a close approach of the operator who may use his hands safely at a very short distance from the tools. In an arrangement of this type this leads to a greatly improved production and economy, as on account 6f cetta'm irregularities of the sheet i't is frequontly necessary t(i place work sheets in certain positions to be selected individually to obtain good results. Sh6ets with defects or irregularities have therefore no longer to be discarded. The operation of the mechanism need not be d6scribed in detail. It may only be mentioned that upon movenient of the press head the female die assembly mounted on the punch holder is moved agaihst the male die member assenibly with the piercing punches 30 entering the bores 28 and the blanking pilnchos 24 cooperating with tho cutting edges of the cti6 member 40 to form the blaiik. The stri@pping plate 36 is pressed down and the rubber is compressed so that the blanking punches to a certain ektent may enter iiito the bores of the female die member 40 thus s-evering the blanks from the stock. Upon retu'rn mov6nient of the press head, the rubber expands the stripper plate and pushes the inner sheet from which the washer disks have been removed upwardly. The blanks are still held on the upper part of the cutting portion of the piercing pun6h. The knoc'k out mechanisni is n6w working with the knock out rod pressing down on the equalizer plate and the knock out pins 55 pres@ing against the knock 6Lit plate 60 ' The plate presses the knock out cylinder downwardly so as to eject or remove the washers frorn th6 piercing punches, The main advantages of the construction, as above desc ribed, consist in the fact that the blanking and piercilig punches are both readily removed without difficulty, the former by disconn . ecting the members of the split base 18 and the l@iter by removing the interchangeable punch plate 50. Washers of anY size and any central bore may- thus be made on the same punch and die mechanism on which merely certain parts are exchanged. It is possible, if merely the diameter of. the contral hole varies to continue operation after excha-ngingt the punchos in the manner indicated in Figure 7, an operation @vhich is easy to perform withiii@ a 8hort time. Moreover the construction embodies a @multiple cutter which greatly incre@ses the output. A main advantage also resides in the above explained guard plate Pi7oviding full@'protection t6 th@' operator without forcing him to keep @t'a distance from the tool. The press operator can therefore safely p6sition smaller and cheaper or partly defective sheets of rnica on the (fie for high speed operation. The Production is increased both on . account

of thO multiple die and on account of the close-: ing punches, each blanking punch beiiig lirovided ness of the operator. to the tool. @ It will be clear that. constructive changes or variations . of an unessential i3haracter @ do not affect the invention. . Having described the invention, what is