There is disclosed an alignment device for aligning a counterplate with a die plate. The alignment assembly comprises an elongate alignment pin, the pin being disposed in a mounting body; a spacer member, comprising a spacer portion and a retaining portion for retaining the spacer member to the assembly. The alignment pin, spacer member and/or mounting body are configured such that the pin can be retained in the mounting body in a first, extended, position, and in a second, retracted, position; and the spacer member is preferably retained to the assembly in both the extended and retracted positions of the pin. The pin is also configured to be drawn into an extended position by a setting tool for alignment of the counterplate relative to the die.

A method and apparatus which allow cutting-creasing rules (1) for die-cutters to be obtained from sections of cutting rules and sections of creasing rules are described. In particular, the method comprises: ⋅ (a) from a cutting rule (13) for die-cutters having height H, separating sections (2′, 2″, 2′″) provided with a cutting edge (4) and provided with coupling means (9, 10) to obtain an interlocked coupling (8) with other sections (3′, 3″, 3′″) of a creasing rule (14), ⋅ (b) from a creasing rule (14) for die-cutters having height H′, separating sections (3′, 3″, 3′″) provided with a creasing profile (5) and provided with coupling means (11, 12) to obtain an interlocked coupling (8) with other sections (2′, 2″, 2′″) of a cutting rule (13) ⋅ (c) coupling in succession the sections (2′, 2″, 2′″) of the cutting rule (13) to the sections (3′, 3″, 3′″) of the creasing rule (14) until the cutting-creasing rule (1) is obtained, the steps (a) and (b) are not carried out by tools different from each other for the cutting rule (13) and the creasing rule (14), but by the same shearing tool.

A system and method for aligning and installing graphical dies onto an embossing press or foil stamping press is provided. The system includes a number of die support panels having a number of threaded openings disposed in columns and rows in a grid like fashion and identified with x and y axis indicia. The system also includes a number of dies with a number of apertures each identified with a pair of x and y axis indicia. Fasteners and indicia are used to align and attach the dies to the die support panels in a predetermined position. The system preferable further comprises one or more adjusters used to make minute positioning adjustments to the die after it is installed on the panel.

A cutting die for rotary die-cutting of a label laminates is described herein. The cutting tools of the die include at least one of the following cutting edge parameters: effective height, shape and bevel angle arranged to be different in a first direction when compared to a second direction of the cutting die. The use of the cutting die, a method for designing a cutting die and a method for die-cutting a label laminate are also described.

A counter-die includes a body portion comprised of a relatively soft plate material that is substantially planar for use in a die converting process. The counter-die is comprised of a metallic material that includes a bearing surface that is work-hardened over time in a repeated die converting process to provide a work-hardened outer layer that exhibits a medium-hard to hard characteristic as compared to the body portion of the counter-die.

A thermoform packaging machine comprising, as work stations, a forming station for thermoforming troughs in a packaging film, at least one sealing station for sealing the troughs with a cover film, and a cutting station as well as a feeding device for causing a feed of the packaging film. A method for using such a thermoform packaging machine wherein a controller determines for two or more work stations, prior to a process step, which required feed length each of these work stations has, the required feed length indicating the distance by which the packaging film will have to be conveyed for the next process step of the respective work station, before a feed length specification is ascertained from the required feed lengths determined and the feeding device is controlled accordingly.

A 3-dimensional (3D) pattern puncher for punching a lithium metal electrode to provide one or more unit electrodes is provided. The 3D pattern puncher includes a mold punch configured to move up and down, the mold punch corresponding to a size of the unit electrode; a die corresponding to the mold punch; a mold blade disposed at an edge of the mold punch and configured to punch the lithium metal electrode to provide the one or more unit electrodes; and a 3D pattern positioned at an inner portion of the mold punch where the mold blade is not disposed.

A padding system mountable on a working surface of a die press device to provide a cushion for die cutting includes one or more padding blocks, each of the one or more padding blocks including a backing layer and a padding layer. The backing layer is composed of a flexible magnetic material and the padding layer is composed of a soft cushion material. The padding layer is bonded to the backing layer.

A magnetizable cylinder has a cylinder body formed from a magnetizable material with an outer cylindrical surface configured to receive a flexible cutting die. The cylinder body has first and second axial ends spaced apart by the outer cylindrical surface and a hollow interior. First and second journals are joined to the cylinder body with interference fits. At least one of the first and second journals has a weep hole extending through the journal into the hollow interior of the cylinder body. The interference fit of the journals to the cylinder body result from thermal changes of at least one of the first journal, the second journal, and the cylinder body prior to joining the first journal to the cylinder body and the second journal the cylinder body.

A system for generating rules inserted into at least one pattern board including: a controller configured to generate at least one shape diagram, the controller also configured to determine number and measurement of crease rules to be generated based on the at least one shape diagram; a cutting station configured to receive and cut a first crease rule into the number and measurement of the crease rules; and a sorter configured to receive the crease rules from the cutting station and sort the crease rules according to the measurement of the crease rules, wherein the sorted crease rules are inserted into each of the at least one pattern board along with a cutting rule shaped by each of at least one bender.