Rapid change radius punch for press brake

Abstract

An adapter tool having an attachment section, a body, and a connector. The body is attached to the attachment section and has a punch seat and a clamping space. The connector has a clamping plate that can rotate in relation to the body. The clamping place has an engagement member configured to engage a punch insert. The connector is configured to move between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the engagement member is a first distance from the punch seat. In the second position, at least a portion of the clamping plate resides within the clamping plate space, and the engagement member is located a second distance from the punch seat the connector to the body. The biasing member biases the connector to the first position. The first distance is less than the second distance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an adapter tool comprising:
 an attachment section; 
 a body, coupled to the attachment section, comprising a punch seat and defines a clamping plate space; and 
 a connector comprising a clamping plate in rotational attachment with the body; 
   and the clamping plate comprises an engagement member;
 wherein a hinge couples the connector to the body and the connector is configured to move between a first position and a second position; in the second position, at least a portion of the clamping plate resides within the clamping plate space, and the engagement member is located a second distance from the punch seat; in the first position, the engagement member is a first distance from the punch seat, and the first distance is less than the second distance; and a biasing member biases the connector to the first position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clamping plate comprises the hinge, and the body defines a hinge pinhole, and a hinge pin extends through the hinge pinhole and the hinge. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is located inside the clamping plate space. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body defines a punch shoulder, and the punch shoulder is aligned with the punch seat. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a punch insert, wherein the punch insert comprises a punch attachment and a punch abutment and defines a punch locking groove; wherein the punch insert is located inside the body and abuts the punch seat, and the engagement member engages the punch locking groove to secure the punch insert to the adapter tool in the first position. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the punch insert defines a punch ledge, the body further comprises a projection, and the projection abuts the punch ledge. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the punch insert corresponds to the punch seat. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a second punch insert, wherein the second punch insert comprises a second punch attachment and a second punch abutment, and defines a second punch locking groove; the second punch insert is configured to be located inside the body and to abut the punch seat, and the engagement member is configured engages the second punch locking groove to secure the second punch insert to the adapter tool in the first position. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein in the second position, the engagement member is disengaged from the punch locking groove, and the punch insert is free to be removed from the punch seat. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a press brake, and the press brake comprises a press brake attachment and a die, and the attachment section is coupled to the press brake attachment, and the punch seat is aligned with the die. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the attachment section is configured to be secured to the press brake attachment, and the press brake attachment is selected from the group consisting of European Style AMADA One-Touch System, WILA Style, AMADA Auto Tool Change, and Bolt Change. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus comprising:
 a press brake comprising:
 a die; 
 an actuation arm; 
 an adapter tool comprising:
 an attachment section coupled to the actuation arm; 
 a body, coupled to the attachment section, comprising a punch seat and defines a clamping plate space; 
 a connector comprising a clamping plate in rotational attachment with the body; and the clamping plate comprises an engagement member; and 
 
 a punch insert, coupled to the adapter tool and aligned with the die, defining a punch locking groove and comprising a punch attachment and a punch abutment; 
   wherein the die is aligned with the punch insert; the connector is configured to move between a first position and a second position; a hinge couples the connector to the body and a biasing member biases the connector to the first position; in the first position, the engagement member engages the punch locking groove; and in the second position at least a portion of the clamping plate resides within the clamping plate space, the engagement member is disengaged from the punch locking groove, and the punch insert is able to be removed from the punch seat.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the actuation arm comprises a press brake attachment that is coupled to the attachment section, and the press brake attachment is selected from the group consisting of European Style AMADA One-Touch System, WILA Style, AMADA Auto Tool Change, and Bolt Change. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the clamping plate comprises the hinge, and the body defines a hinge pinhole, and a hinge pin extends through the hinge pinhole and the hinge. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the punch insert defines a punch ledge, the body further comprises a projection, and the projection abuts the punch ledge. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a second punch insert, wherein the punch insert comprises a second punch attachment and a second punch abutment and defines a second punch locking groove; wherein the second punch insert is configured to be located inside the body and to abut the punch seat, and the engagement member is configured engages the second punch locking groove to secure the second punch insert to the adapter tool in the first position. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the press brake is configured to move from a press brake first position to a press brake second position; in the press brake first position, the punch insert is a distance away from the die, and in the press brake second position, the punch insert forces an item to abut the die.