Continuous punch apparatus

Abstract

A continuous punch apparatus comprises a first punch station and a second punch station. The first punch station includes a first punching assembly and a second punching assembly that are laterally spaced apart from each other. The first punching assembly and the second punching assembly are configured to be moved laterally. The second punch station includes a third punching assembly. The third punching assembly is configured as having a punch head with a cross-section parallel to a sheet material and increasing in a direction away from the sheet material, so that a substantial punching section of the punch head of the third punching assembly in punching through the sheet material can be selectively used.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A continuous punch apparatus comprising:
 a first punch station including a first punching assembly and a second punching assembly that are laterally spaced apart from each other, the first punching assembly and the second punching assembly adapted to form a first cut-out contour and a second cut-out contour, respectively, in a sheet material; and   a second punch station including a third punching assembly, the third punching assembly adapted to form a third cut-out contour m the sheet material between the first cut-out contour and the second cut-out contour after the sheet material is moved to the second punch station from the first punch station, the third cut-out contour communicating with the first cut-out contour and the second cut-out contour,   wherein a punch head of the third punching assembly punching through the sheet material has a cross-section parallel to the sheet material and increasing in a direction away from the sheet material, and   wherein the first punching assembly and the second punching assembly are configured to be adjusted laterally to form the first cm-out contour and the second cut-out contour having variable positions, and the third punching assembly is configured so that the punch head selectively uses a substantial punching section to form the third cut-out contour having variable sizes, thereby a combined cut-out contour formed by the first cut-out contour, the second cut-out contour and the third cut-out contour is variable.   
     
     
         2 . According to the continuous punch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the substantial punching section of the third punching assembly is selected based on the lateral adjustment of the first punching assembly and the second punching assembly. 
     
     
         3 . According to the continuous punch apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first punching assembly and the punching assembly are movably arranged on lateral sliding guides and are secured by fasteners. 
     
     
         4 . According to the continuous punch apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the substantial punching section of the third punching assembly is selected by means of adjusting a height of the third punching assembly relative to the sheet material. 
     
     
         5 . According to the continuous punch apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the substantial punching section of the third punching assembly is selected by means of adjusting a height of the sheet material relative to the third punching assembly. 
     
     
         6 . According to the continuous punch apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the substantial punching section of the third punching assembly is selected by means of adjusting a cylinder stroke of the punch head of the third punching assembly. 
     
     
         7 . A continuous punch apparatus comprising:
 a first punch station adapted to form at least one first cut-out contour in a sheet material; and   a second punch station adapted to form at least one second cut-out contour, the sheet material experiencing punching operation in the first punch station and the second punch station, the at least one first cut-out contour and the at least one second cut-out contour communicating with each other to form a combined cut-out contour,   wherein the first punch station is configured so as to cause variable positions of the at least one first cut-out contour, and the second punch station is configured so as to cause variable sizes of the at least one second cut-out contour via geometry of a punch head of the second punch station by means of selectively using a substantial punching section of the punch head punching through the sheet material.   
     
     
         8 . According to the continuous punch apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the punch head of the second punch station punching through the sheet material has a cross-section parallel to the sheet material and increasing in a direction away from the sheet material. 
     
     
         9 . According to the continuous punch apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first punch station performs punching,g, operation earlier than the second punch station. 
     
     
         10 . According to the continuous punch apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the second punch station performs punching operation earlier than the first punch station.