International Business Machines Corporation

Michael R Baldwin

Anthony F Coneski

Alan V Hall

An apparatus for simultaneously punching multiple holes in a ceramic substrate comprises a plurality of vertically movable and individually solenoid-operable punch drives disposed on a frame and selectively movable up and down relative to the frame. A horizontal arm extends from each of the punch drives and a punch extends from each of the extending arms and is movable vertically by the extending arms. Each of the punches is operable individually and operable simultaneously with selected others of the punches to punch one or more holes in a substrate at the same time. There may be provided at least four of the punches wherein the punches are disposed horizontally adjacent to one another in at least a 2.times.1 or a 2.times.2 grid with a spacing between adjacent punches of less than 8 mm. There may also be provided a control system for selectively operating the punch drives, with the control system adaptable to minimize the number of simultaneous strokes of the punches needed to punch a required number of holes in a substrate.

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Peekskill, NY, United States of America

Michael R Baldwin