Tool assembly employing a flexible retainer

摘要

A flexible retainer (44) for retaining die blades in a tool assembly. The retainer (44) comprises inner and outer walls (84,82) with the inner wall (84) being generally concentric with and radially spaced inward from the outer wall (82). The inner wall (84) defines a central opening in the retainer which is configured and adapted to extend radially around the die blades so that the retainer retains the die blades in the die assembly while allowing radial movement of the die blades. The retainer may have at least one channel that extends axially between the inner and outer walls (84,82).