A processing unit of a machine tool for the punching processing of workpieces, in particular metal sheets, has a punching tool carrier configured to receive a punching tool and a stripper carrier for a stripper. The punching tool carrier can be moved by a punch drive along a stroke axis by a transverse drive element being driven by a punch drive motor relative to the punching tool carrier with a transverse drive movement along a transverse movement axis which extends in the transverse direction of the stroke axis. The stripper carrier can be moved along the stroke axis by a stripper drive, and the transverse drive element of the punch drive during the transverse drive movement can be moved relative to the stripper carrier along the transverse movement axis and the punching tool carrier and the stripper carrier can be moved relative to each other along the stroke axis.