Apparatus for flatting, punching or stamping

Abstract

An apparatus (2) for flatting, punching or stamping a material (40) introduced into the apparatus (2), said apparatus (2) comprising a first cylinder (14) provided with an outer layer configured for flatting, punching or stamping the material (40); a back-pressure cylinder (16) extending parallel to the first cylinder (14) and an adjustment mechanism (22, 22′, 28, 28′, 34, 34′, 36) for adjusting the distance between the first cylinder (14) and the back-pressure cylinder (16). The adjustment mechanism (22, 22′, 28, 28′, 34, 34′, 36) comprises a first contact member (22) and preferably a second contact member (22′) brought into contact with the bottom portion (circumference) of the first cylinder (14). The contact member(s) (22, 22′) are mounted on a structure (34, 34′) being movably mounted relative to the back-pressure cylinder (16).

Claims

1. An apparatus for flattening, punching or stamping a material introduced into the apparatus, said apparatus comprising: a first cylinder provided with an outer layer configured for flattening, punching or stamping the material; a back-pressure cylinder extending parallel to the first cylinder; an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the distance between the first cylinder and the back-pressure cylinder, characterised in that the adjustment mechanism comprises a first contact wheel and a second contact wheel brought into contact with a circumference of a bottom portion of the first cylinder, wherein the first contact wheel is mounted on a first arm and the second contact wheel is mounted on a second arm and the arms are mounted to a base plate that is movably mounted relative to the back-pressure cylinder by means of a shaft wherein the arms are arranged and configured in such a manner that the contact wheels will displace the first cylinder vertically relative to the back-pressure cylinder upon rotation of the arms relative to each other.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the adjustment mechanism comprises a contact portion and a rotatably mounted cam engaging the contact portion.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that the contact portion is a wheel attached to the shaft.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that the cam has a geometry that allows a rotation of its shaft to cause a linear vertical displacement of the first cylinder.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that the rotatably mounted cam comprises a shaft extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the back-pressure cylinder.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that each contact wheel is sandwiched between the two arms.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the apparatus comprises a base plate arranged below the arms, wherein the base plate comprises an upper profile adapted to engage with the arms, hereby preventing the arms from being displaced further vertically downwardly when the arms rest on said upper profile.

8. An apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that the two arms arranged in both ends of the back-pressure cylinder.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below. The accompanying drawings are given by way of illustration only, and thus, they are not limitative of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side view of portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3A shows a side view of the apparatus according to the invention in a first configuration;

(5) FIG. 3B shows a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3A in a second configuration;

(6) FIG. 3C shows a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3C in a third configuration;

(7) FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of a punching system comprising an apparatus according to the invention and

(8) FIG. 5 shows a graph illustrating the relationship between the angular position of a cam and the distance between the circumference of the upper cylinder and the lower cylinder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) Referring now in detail to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention, an apparatus 2 for flatting, punching or stamping of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1.

(10) FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an apparatus 2 according to the invention. The apparatus 2 may be used to carry out a flatting, punching or stamping process. The apparatus 2 comprises a rotatably mounted cylinder 14 (e.g. a punching/cutting cylinder) having a shaft 8 surrounded by an annular portion 19 in its proximal end. The cylinder 14 and its shaft 8 as well as the annular portion 19 are provided as a one-piece body. A ring member 24 is provided at the circumference in the end of the cylinder 14. Support members 10, 10′ each comprising two rotatably mounted engagement wheels (see FIG. 2) are arranged to bear against and hereby support the top portion of the cylinder 14. These wheels are configured to press against the cylinder 14 and hereby provide a back pressure against the pressure provided onto the bottom portion of the cylinder 14. These two wheels are rotatably mounted in a support member 10, 10′ formed as a holding arrangement being pivotally fixed in a single centrally arranged point of the support member 10, 10′. A pivot extends through a bore in each of the support members 10, 10′. In a preferred embodiment according to the invention the cylinder 14 is driven by a servo motor (not shown) mechanically connected to the shaft 8. In practice, one can drive the cylinder 14 by using a drive unit connected to any suitable electrical or hydraulic power source.

(11) The support members 10, 10′ are rotatably attached to a first frame plate 4 and a second frame plate 4′, respectively. The frame plates 4, 4′ are plane plates extending parallel to each other. The cylinder 14 extends between and through both frame plates 4, 4′. The cylinder 14 is preferably hollow in order to reduce the weight of the cylinder 14.

(12) The apparatus 2 comprises an additional cylinder 16 (a back-pressure cylinder) attached to a shaft (not shown) being rotatably mounted to the outer portion of the cylinder 16. The shaft is maintained in a fixed position, whereas the outer portion of the cylinder 16 is capable of rotating relative to the shaft. A cover 18 is attached to a base plate 6. The cover 18 prevents the cam adjustment portion 20 from being moved in axial direction. The cam adjustment portion 20 is configured to be mechanically connected to a drive unit (e.g. a stepper motor). The distal portion of the cam adjustment portion 20 is cylindrical (hollow). However, its more proximal portion is shaped as a cam as shown in FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4.

(13) A hydraulic cylinder 26, 26′ is arranged below each end of the cylinder 16. The hydraulic cylinders 26, 26′ are arranged and configured to provide a pressure that allow for compressing the two cylinders 14, 16 sufficiently toward each other. This is, in particular important when the apparatus is applied for punching and cutting procedures. The apparatus 2 comprises a second base plate (not shown) arranged in the opposite end than the first base plate 6. A hydraulic cylinder 26′ is arranged under the second base plate.

(14) A shaft 36 extends through a first arm 34 and a second arm 34′ as well as a wheel (38 shown in FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4). Accordingly, the arms 34, 34′ and the wheel are attached to a common shaft 36. Each arm 34, 34′ comprises a rotatably mounted wheel 22, 22′ abutting the circumference of the cylinder 14. By rotating the arms 34, 34′ relative to each other, the wheels 22, 22′ will displace the upper cylinder 14 vertically relative to the lower cylinder 16. Rotation of the arms 34, 34′ is preferably done by means of a stepper motor (not shown) mechanically connected to the shaft 20. The stepper motor may be connected to a control unit configured to be wirelessly connected to an external device (e.g. a tablet). Hereby, the external device (e.g. a tablet) can be used to adjust the distance between the circumference of the upper cylinder and the lower cylinder.

(15) In one preferred embodiment according to the invention each rotatably mounted wheel 22, 22′ is sandwiched between two parallel plates. Accordingly, the arm 34, 34′ comprises two parallel plates, wherein a pivot for the wheel 22, 22′ extends through the plates.

(16) The cylinder 14 may be configured to receive a flexible punching plate (not shown) being attached to the cylinder 14 being attached to the outside surface of the cylinder 14 by means of magnetic attraction.

(17) It may be an advantage that the one servo motor is applied to drive both the cylinder 14 and the additional back-pressure cylinder 16.

(18) FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the portion of the apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 1. It can be seen, that the support member 10 comprising a body portion is arranged on the top of the cylinder 14. The body portion has an arced side facing the cylinder 14. The arced side has a shaped corresponding to the cylindrical surface of the cylinder 14. Two wheels 12, 12′ are rotatably attached to the body portion of the support member 10. The wheels 12, 12′ are brought into engaging contact with the circumference of the cylinder 14. Accordingly, the wheels 12, 12′ press against the top portion of the cylinder 14. A drive unit e.g. a servo motor (not shown) being mechanically connected to the shaft 8 will cause the cylinder 14 to rotate in a clockwise CW or counterclockwise CCW direction as indicated with arrows. The cylinder 14 comprises a shaft 8 constituting the central portion of the cylinder 14. The centre of rotation 54 of each arm 34, 34′ is indicated.

(19) The bottom portion of the cylinder 14 rests on two wheels 22, 22′ rotatably attached to two arms 34, 34′ attached to a common shaft 36. Accordingly, the arms 34, 34′ are configured to be rotated relative to each other. The wheels 22, 22′ are attached to the arms 34, 34′ by means of pins 28, 28′.

(20) A cylinder 16 is rotatably attached to a hollow shaft 20. The cylinder 16 is supported by a support structure 26.

(21) A back-pressure cylinder 16 having a cylindrical outer portion is rotatably attached to a fixed shaft, to which the base plates (see FIG. 1) are attached. The connection between the shaft and the back-pressure cylinder 16 and the base plates are locked by means of engaging structures (e.g. tongue and groove structures). Accordingly, the shaft and the back-pressure cylinder 16 cannot rotate relative to each other. The outer portion of the back-pressure cylinder 16 can rotate relative to the shaft by means of the toothed ring member 24′ that engages the corresponding toothed ring member 24 of the (magnetic) cylinder 14. It is, however, not necessary to separately drive the back-pressure cylinder 16 because the motion of the foil material (see FIG. 4) being feed through the gap between the cylinders 14, 16 will cause the back-pressure cylinder 16 to rotate.

(22) The arms 34, 34′ are rotatably mounted in such a manner that rotation of the arms 34, 34′ relative to each other will change the position of the wheels 22, 22′ on the circumference of the cylinder 14 and hereby vertically displace the upper cylinder 14 relative to the lower cylinder 16.

(23) FIG. 3A illustrates a side view of a portion of an apparatus 2 according to the invention in a first configuration. The apparatus 2 corresponds to the one shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. A first distance D.sub.3 is provided between the centre of the upper cylinder 14 and the centre of the lower cylinder 16. By changing this distance D.sub.3, it is possible to adjust the distance between the circumference of the upper cylinder 14 and the lower cylinder 16. When the apparatus 2 is applied for a punching process, the invention makes it possible to adjust the punching depth very accurately. Besides, it is possible to adjust the punching depth on a continuous basis.

(24) The apparatus 2 comprises a first arm 34 and a second arm 34′ rotatably attached to a common shaft 36 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the upper cylinder 14 and the lower cylinder 16. The arms 34, 34′ are arranged and configured to rotate about their centre of rotation 54. The arms 34, 34′ can also pivot about the shaft 36. When the arms 34, 34′ are rotated, the rotatably mounted wheels 22, 22′ being rotatably attached to the arm 34, 34′ by means of pins 28, 28′, will press the upper cylinder 14 vertically upwards or allow the upper cylinder 14 to be lowered vertically, because the upper cylinder 14 rests on the wheels 22, 22′ being moved.

(25) The shaft 36 extends through a wheel that rests on a cam 30 having a shaft 32. Put together the cam 30 and its shaft 32 constitute a camshaft that will displace the wheel 38 vertically upon being rotated.

(26) FIG. 3B illustrates a side view of the apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 3A in a second configuration, whereas FIG. 3C illustrates a side view of the apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 3C in a third configuration.

(27) In FIG. 3B, the shaft 32 has been rotated about 125 degrees clockwise. Accordingly, the wheel 38 has been lowered compared with the configuration shown in FIG. 3A and the arms 34, 34′ are rotated towards each other. The distance D.sub.2 is slightly smaller than the distance D.sub.3 in shown in FIG. 3A.

(28) In FIG. 3C, the shaft 32 has been further rotated approximately 125 degrees clockwise. Accordingly, the wheel 38 has been even further lowered compared with the configuration shown in FIG. 3B and the arms 34, 34′ are rotated further towards each other. Accordingly, the distance D.sub.1 is smaller than the distance D.sub.2 in shown in FIG. 3B.

(29) The cam has a geometry that allows a rotation of its shaft 32 to cause a linear vertical displacement of the upper cylinder 14. Accordingly, adjustment of the distance between the centre of the upper cylinder 14 and the centre of the lower cylinder 16 can be linearly changed by rotating the shaft 32 (this is further explained with reference to FIG. 5). Furthermore, the invention makes it possible to provide a very accurate adjustment of the distance between the centre of the upper cylinder 14 and the centre of the lower cylinder 16 because a large (angular) range of motion of the cam 30 is required for vertically displacing the upper cylinder 14 relative to the lower cylinder 16.

(30) FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of a punching system comprising an apparatus 2 to the invention. The apparatus 2 corresponds to the one shown in FIG. 3A and comprises an upper cylinder 14 displaceably arranged on two wheels 22, 22′ rotatably attached to two arms 34, 34′ being pivotally arranged to a common shaft 36. A wheel 38 rotatably attached to the shaft 36 rests on a cam 32 having a shaft 32. The cam 30 has a peripheral surface geometry that secures that the upper magnetic cylinder 14 is uniformly displayed vertically relative to the lower cylinder 16 in dependence of the rotation of the shaft 32 upon rotation of the shaft 32.

(31) The punching system comprises a first pair of driving rolls 42, 42′ arranged to feed foil material 40 from a foil roll 50 to the apparatus 2. A first tensioning idler 44 and a second tensioning idler 44′ are arranged to tension the foil material 40 before the foil 40 enters the apparatus 2 from the left side of the apparatus 2.

(32) Moreover, the punching system comprises a second pair of driving rolls 48, 48′ arranged to pull foil material 40 from the apparatus 2 in order to allow the foil 40 to be rolled up on the roll 50′. A third tensioning idler 46 and a fourth tensioning idler 46′ are arranged to tension the foil material 40 before the foil 40 enters the apparatus 2 from the left side of the apparatus 2.

(33) The punching system is configured to punch the foil 40 by means of a flexible punching plate attached to a portion of the magnetic cylinder 14. The apparatus 2 preferably comprises a flexible punching plate/cutting die.

(34) The apparatus 2 may be used to process several materials including paperboard, laminated paperboard, foil material of metal, plastic material or paper.

(35) FIG. 5 illustrates a graph 52 showing the relationship between the angular position θ of a cam and the distance D between the circumference of the upper cylinder and the lower cylinder of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

(36) The largest distance D.sub.3 between the circumference of the upper cylinder and the lower cylinder (of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) corresponds to a zero-angular position θ.sub.1 of the cam as indicated in the left bottom portion of FIG. 5.

(37) A smaller distance D.sub.2 is provided between the circumference of the upper cylinder and the lower cylinder when the cam is rotated approximately 125 degrees clockwise into the angular position θ.sub.2 as indicated in the middle bottom portion of FIG. 5.

(38) An even smaller distance D.sub.1 is provided between the circumference of the upper cylinder and the lower cylinder when the cam is further rotated approximately 125 degrees clockwise into the angular position θ.sub.3 as indicated in the right bottom portion of FIG. 5.

(39) The graph 52 shows that there is a linear relationship between the angular position θ of the cam and the and the distance D between the circumference of the upper cylinder and the lower cylinder.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(40) 2 Apparatus for flatting, punching or stamping 4, 4′ Frame plate 6 Base plate 8 Shaft 10, 10′ Support member 12, 12′ Wheel 14, 16 Cylinder 18 Cover 19 Annular portion 20 Cam adjustment portion 22, 22′ Wheel 24, 24′ Ring member 26, 26′ Hydraulic cylinder 28, 28′ Pin 30 Cam 32 Shaft 34, 34′ Arm 36 Shaft 38 Wheel 40 Foil 42, 42′, 44, 44′ Cylinder 46, 46′, 48, 48′ Cylinder 50, 50′ Roll 52 Graph 54 Centre of rotation θ, θ.sub.1, θ.sub.2, θ.sub.3 Angle D, D.sub.1, D.sub.2, D.sub.3 Distance CW Clockwise CCW Counterclockwise