A method for performing a design rule check of a computer aided design (CAD) file corresponding to a geometry of a tool for use in a process for making an article from a starting material. Design rules defined to avoid a geometry of the tool documented as causing an inefficiency in a non-printing or non-platemaking operation of the process are stored in a computer. A design rule checking (DRC) module of the computer processes the CAD file relative to the stored design rules, identifies violations, automatically suggests design changes responsive to each violation, receives a user input responsive to suggested design changes, and modifies the CAD file in response to the user input. Non-transitory computer readable media containing code for implementing the method and related CAD systems are also described.

A rotary cutting die including a curved die board having a series of product ejector openings formed completely through the die board. Secured to an inner surface of the die board is a substrate. A series of product ejectors are secured to the substrate and project therefrom through the product ejector openings and past an outer surface of the die board. These product ejectors function to engage a portion of a die cut product passing through the nip and exert a force on the die cut product which assists in separating the die cut product from the rotary cutting die.

An assembly and method of forming a press cutting die that includes a cutting blade that is supported by a blade support assembly or blade support. The blade support includes a first base portion and a second base portion that are each contoured to cooperate with one another to capture a portion of the cutting blade along an interface between the first and second base portions. Preferably, one or more keys extend between the first and second base portions and traverse the geometric plane associated with the cutting blade. Such a press cutting die is particularly applicable for cutting biologically compatible materials having a desired shape from a bulk source of the biologically compatible material.

A device by which thin-walled materials, such as labels and flat lids for containers, can be punched in micro or small quantities. The device includes a band steel cutting edge (11) that is elastically mounted in the punching direction. The matrix is likewise elastically held on the matrix plate perpendicular to the punching direction by virtue of a matrix seat (33) fastened to the region in the matrix plate (27) that is adjacent to the opening (29). On the matrix seat, an elastically deformable intermediate plate (47) is placed, and the matrix (55) is placed on the intermediate plate.

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.

In a method of aligning an upper and a lower changeable tool (2, 10, 18) in a device for processing, e.g., sheets of paper, provision is made that with the aid of at least one digital camera (50, 51), the upper changeable tool (2) is aligned with a sheet that has been moved in and the lower changeable tool (18) is aligned relative to the upper changeable tool (2) after the sheet has been moved out.

An improvement to a lead forming system that provides quick changeover without complete disassembly. By removing a pair of fasteners securing a pair of die inserts, a spring pack in an upper die unit can be freely rotated and interchanged or modified. The spring pack has a plurality of chamfers that allow the spring pack to rotate within the die pack until a narrower side is presented for removal. Straightforward access to the cutting units is afforded when the spring pack is removed. Risk of damage to various components of the lead forming system is minimized and the precision and accuracy of the new setup is increased because the system was minimally disassembled. A method for removing the spring pack in the upper die unit is fully disclosed.

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 die apparatus includes an upper die and a lower die used for blanking a thin plate, a stripper which is formed on the upper die and is arranged between the upper die and the lower die, and a punch which blanks a part of the thin plate. The stripper or the lower die is provided with a protruding part which reduces flexure of the stripper occurring when a test punching is performed by actuating the punch without the thin plate.

[Problem] To make it easy to attach a counterplate to a specified position on a cutting plate, to prevent the counterplate falling from the cutting die during blanking, and to prevent the counterplate from making contact with a sheet. [Solution] The present invention includes: a housing (2) which includes a hole-side inclined portion (21), and in which an accommodation hole is formed; an engaging means (3) which alternates between a lower lock and an upper lock in the housing (2); and a sliding shaft member (4) fitted in the housing. The inside diameter of the upper side of the hole-side inclined portion (21) is larger than the inside diameter of the lower side thereof. The engaging means (3) is disposed above the hole-side inclined portion (21). In the sliding shaft member (4), the following are integrally formed: a lower-side inclined portion (42) which is disposed above a protruding part that protrudes below the housing (2), and which has the same direction of inclination as the hole-side inclined portion (21) and a different angle of inclination thereto; and a middle inclined portion (43) which is disposed above the lower-side inclined portion (42), and which has the opposite direction of inclination to the hole-side inclined portion (21). When the sliding shaft member (4) is pulled downwards and is stopped at the lower limit position, the lower lock state is engaged, and when the sliding shaft member (4) is pushed upwards and is stopped at the upper limit position, the upper lock state is engaged.