Handheld punch tool

Abstract

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. The head including a drive member reciprocable along a third axis in response to rotation of the motor shaft about the second axis, and a punch coupled to the drive member and reciprocable in response to reciprocation of the drive member along the third axis. The handheld punch tool further includes a debris collection container removably coupled to the head. The debris collection container is configured to receive chips generated during operation of the handheld punch tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handheld punch tool comprising:
 a housing defining a first axis;   a motor contained within the housing, the motor having a motor shaft defining a second axis;   a head coupled to the housing, the head including
 a drive member reciprocable along a third axis in response to rotation of the motor shaft about the second axis, and 
 a punch coupled to the drive member and reciprocable in response to reciprocation of the drive member along the third axis; and 
   a debris collection container removably coupled to the head, the debris collection container configured to receive chips generated during operation of the handheld punch tool.   
     
     
         2 . The handheld punch tool of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the head includes a die having a passageway within which the punch is reciprocable,   wherein the die includes a first opening in communication with the passageway and a second opening in communication with the passageway, and   wherein the debris collection container is removably coupled to the head in one of a first position in which the debris collection container is configured to receive chips through the first opening, or a second position in which the debris collection container is configured to receive chips through the second opening.   
     
     
         3 . The handheld punch tool of  claim 2 , wherein the first opening and the second opening are disposed on opposite sides of the die. 
     
     
         4 . The handheld punch tool of  claim 2 , further comprising a plug removably coupled to the first opening when the debris collection container is in the second position and to the second opening when the debris collection container is in the first position. 
     
     
         5 . The handheld punch tool of  claim 1 , wherein the head is rotatable relative to the housing about the third axis with the debris collection container coupled to the head. 
     
     
         6 . The handheld punch tool of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a battery receptacle,
 wherein the handheld punch tool further comprises a battery pack at least partially insertable into the battery receptacle along the first axis to couple the battery pack to the battery receptacle, and   wherein the battery pack is configured to supply power to the motor.   
     
     
         7 . The handheld punch tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive assembly coupling the motor shaft to the drive member, wherein the drive assembly is disposed axially between the motor and the head along the second axis. 
     
     
         8 . The handheld punch tool of  claim 1 , wherein the debris collection container includes one or more magnets configured to attract chips into the container. 
     
     
         9 . A handheld punch tool comprising:
 a housing defining a first axis;   a motor contained within the housing, the motor having a motor shaft defining a second axis;   a head coupled to the housing, the head including
 a drive member reciprocable along a third axis in response to rotation of the motor shaft about the second axis, and 
 a punch coupled to the drive member and reciprocable in response to reciprocation of the drive member along the third axis; and 
   a debris collection container configured to be removably coupled to the head in a first position and a second position, the debris collection container configured to receive chips generated during operation of the handheld punch tool in each of the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         10 . The handheld punch tool of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the head includes a die having a passageway within which the punch is reciprocable,   wherein the die includes a first opening in communication with the passageway and a second opening in communication with the passageway, and   wherein the debris collection container is configured to receive chips through the first opening in the first position and through the second opening in the second position.   
     
     
         11 . The handheld punch tool of  claim 10 , wherein the first opening and the second opening are disposed on opposite sides of the die. 
     
     
         12 . The handheld punch tool of  claim 9 , wherein the housing includes a battery receptacle,
 wherein the handheld punch tool further comprises a battery pack at least partially insertable into the battery receptacle along the first axis to couple the battery pack to the battery receptacle, and   wherein the battery pack is configured to supply power to the motor.   
     
     
         13 . The handheld punch tool of  claim 9 , further comprising a drive assembly coupling the motor shaft to the drive member, wherein the drive assembly is disposed axially between the motor and the head along the second axis. 
     
     
         14 . The handheld punch tool of  claim 9 , wherein the debris collection container includes one or more magnets configured to attract chips into the container. 
     
     
         15 . A handheld punch tool comprising:
 a housing defining a first axis;   a motor contained within the housing, the motor having a motor shaft defining a second axis;   a head coupled to the housing, the head including
 a drive member reciprocable along a third axis in response to rotation of the motor shaft about the second axis, and 
 a punch coupled to the drive member and reciprocable in response to reciprocation of the drive member along the third axis; and 
   a debris collection container configured to receive chips generated during operation of the handheld punch tool,   wherein the head is rotatable relative to the housing about the third axis, and   wherein the debris collection container is rotatable with the head about the third axis.   
     
     
         16 . The handheld punch tool of  claim 15 , wherein the debris collection container is removably coupled to the head. 
     
     
         17 . The handheld punch tool of  claim 16 , wherein the head includes a die having a passageway within which the punch is reciprocable,
 wherein the die includes a first opening in communication with the passageway and a second opening in communication with the passageway, and   wherein the debris collection container is removably coupled to the head each of a first position in which the debris collection container is configured to receive chips through the first opening, and a second position in which the debris collection container is configured to receive chips through the second opening.   
     
     
         18 . The handheld punch tool of  claim 17 , wherein the first opening and the second opening are disposed on opposite sides of the die. 
     
     
         19 . The handheld punch tool of  claim 15 , wherein the debris collection container includes one or more magnets configured to attract chips into the container. 
     
     
         20 . The handheld punch tool of  claim 15 , wherein the housing includes a battery receptacle,
 wherein the handheld punch tool further comprises a battery pack at least partially insertable into the battery receptacle along the first axis to couple the battery pack to the battery receptacle, and   wherein the battery pack is configured to supply power to the motor.