Geometrical instruments – Gauge – Comparator
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-18
2001-12-04
Hirshfeld, Andrew H. (Department: 2859)
Geometrical instruments
Gauge
Comparator
C033S613000, C033S627000, C116S281000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324768
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention broadly relates to a ball lock punch retainer system, which includes a new and unique checking gage for determining whether the ball lock is properly positioned.
The state-of-the-art for ball lock punch retainer products and systems is shown in earlier U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,181,438; and 5,881,625, the disclosures of which patents are incorporated herein by reference.
For approximately 40 years or longer there has been a significant problem in the field of ball lock punch retainers used in the tool and die industry. This problem involves improper location of the ball lock relative to the punch member, which is held within a punch retainer passage inside of the retainer body itself. On numerous prior occasions within the industry, which involve manufacture and usage of thousands and thousands of ball lock punch retainer products, if the ball lock was improperly positioned such that the lock was too high, or if the lock was too low, then serious problems would occur during actual manufacturing usage of the punch and retainer assembly in numerous different types of die stamping activities, i.e., where the punch members are used to form holes in various types of sheet metal or other metal objects which are being pierced by the punch to form holes or apertures in the metal.
For example, if the ball lock was improperly positioned to high, then there would be the possibility of a serious problem, wherein the punch might be pulled out of the retainer body during the stamping operation, which is very detrimental to proper usage of the punch and retainer assembly. In addition, if the ball lock was improperly positioned too low, then the punch would have a tendency to rotate on its axis, thereby losing the alignment for specially shaped points on the punch, which are used to form a specially shaped aperture or hole in the metal product being stamped. Also, if the ball lock was positioned too low this could cause a fracture of the ball member itself, which typically might cause a breakout of the retainer and a release of the punch member from the retainer body. While the above problems have been present in the art since the conception of the ball lock system, those skilled in the art have had little success in finding a solution to these problems.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new system wherein a ball lock punch retainer assembly can be operated or tested in conjunction with a gage member which will uniquely enable the user of the ball lock punch retainer to ascertain whether the ball lock itself is properly positioned.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and unique ball lock punch retainer/checking gage system.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and unique checking gage, which can be utilized with a ball lock punch retainer system to determine if the ball lock is properly positioned.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method of using a specially designed gage member to determine whether a ball lock is properly positioned in a punch retainer system.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new method of using a gage member to ascertain whether the ball in a punch retainer system is too low, too high, or whether it is properly positioned.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the subsequent description, drawings and claims have been reviewed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A ball lock punch retainer system, including a punch, with a ball receiving grooved seat therein, a punch retainer body, a backing plate, a spring hole located in the retainer body, a ball positioned within said spring hole, a spring located in said spring hole, said spring generally acting to bias said ball into a locking engagement with said punch, an access hole located in the retainer body and communicating with the ball located in the spring hole, an elongated gage member which can be moved into and out of said access hole, one end of said gage member having a ball contact surface thereon, said gage member having an indicating area thereon with an upper end, a middle part, and a lower end, and the gage member being operative to determine when the ball lock is in proper position relative to the punch; and, the invention also includes a new and unique method of using a specially designed gage member to determine whether a ball lock is properly positioned in a punch retainer.
By the term “indicating area” as used herein it is meant an indicating surface area, or neck portion, or flat surface portion which is positioned on the gage member and can be used to gage or measure the positioning of the ball within the ball lock. The “indicating area” can be a flat surface, a painted surface, a groove, an etched surface, an embossed surface, or any other suitable form of predetermined marking or indicia placed on the gage member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3412471 (1968-11-01), Smith
patent: 5038599 (1991-08-01), Wellman
patent: 5345685 (1994-09-01), Bloor
patent: 5457892 (1995-10-01), Birschl
patent: 5881625 (1999-03-01), Wellman
patent: 5913385 (1999-06-01), Thibodeau
AIP, Inc.
Dinnin & Dunn
Gonzalez Madeline
Hirshfeld Andrew H.
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