A TELESCOPIC COMPRESSION DEVICE AND EXCHANGE TOOL OF FLAT BED DIE-CUTTING MACHINES, FLAT BED STRIPPING MACHINES OR PART SEPARATING MACHINE

Abstract

A telescopic compression device (10) for flat bed die-cutting, stripping and part separating machines is provided, comprising a socket (12), at least one guide element (14, 15) which is slidably guided in the socket (12) and an elastic bias means (34) which biases the at least one guide element (14, 15) towards a furthest extended position and an elastic security element (44) which has an inherent stiffness and secures the at least one guide element (14, 15) to the socket (12). Furthermore, an exchange tool (2) of flat bed die-cutting machines, flat bed stripping machines or part separating machines is provided.

Claims

1. A telescopic compression device for a flat bed die-cutting, stripping, and/or part separating machine, the telescopic compression device comprising: a socket; at least one guide element which is slidably guided in the socket; an elastic bias means which biases the at least one guide element towards a furthest extended position; and a security element which has an inherent stiffness and secures the at least one guide element to the socket.

2. The telescopic compression device according to claim 1, wherein the security element at least partially encompasses the guide element and/or the socket.

3. The telescopic compression device according to claim 1, wherein the security element is a clamp.

4. The telescopic compression device according to claim 1, wherein: the socket comprises a flange, and the security element comprises a support element which abuts against a surface of the flange that faces in a direction away from the guide element.

5. The telescopic compression device according to claim 4, wherein the security element comprises a ring which abuts against an axial end face of the guide element that faces away from the socket.

6. The telescopic compression device according to claim 5, wherein the security element comprises at least one bracket, which connects the support element and the ring.

7. The telescopic compression device according to claim 1, wherein the security element is a rod.

8. The telescopic compression device according to claim 7, wherein the rod extends from a free end of the guide element-up to the socket.

9. The telescopic compression device according to claim 7, wherein the rod is inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the compression device.

10. The telescopic compression device according to claim 1, wherein the security element comprises thermoplastic polyurethane.

11. The telescopic compression device according to claim 1, wherein the security element is formed as one piece.

12. The telescopic compression device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one guide element comprises at least two guide elements which are arranged telescopically with respect to one another and are slidable into the socket against a force of the elastic bias means.

13. An exchange tool of a flat bed die-cutting, stripping, and/or part separating machine, the exchange tool comprising: a carrier plate in which at least one through-hole is formed; the telescopic compression device according to claim 1, inserted into the at least one through-hole such that the telescopic compression device protrudes from the carrier plate; and a pressure plate that is mounted at a free end of the telescopic compression device.

Description

[0033] Further features and advantages of the invention can be derived from the following description and from the attached drawings. In the drawings

[0034] FIG. 1 shows an inventive exchange tool in a schematic side view,

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a compression device according to an inventive embodiment,

[0036] FIG. 3 shows the compression device of FIG. 2 in a side view,

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a section through the compression device along line A-A in

[0038] FIG. 3,

[0039] FIG. 5 shows a compression device according to a further inventive embodiment,

[0040] FIG. 6 shows the compression device of FIG. 5 in a side view,

[0041] FIG. 7 shows the compression device of FIGS. 5 and 6 in a further side view, and

[0042] FIG. 8 shows a section through the compression device along line E-E in FIG. 6.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows an exchange tool 2 for a flat bed die-cutting, stripping or part separating machine. The exchange tool 2 comprises a pressure plate 4 and a carrier plate 6. The pressure plate 4 is fastened to the carrier plate 6 by means of several telescopic compression devices 10.

[0044] An inventive telescopic compression device 10 is shown in FIG. 2 in a perspective view. FIG. 3 shows a side view of the compression device 10.

[0045] The pressure plate 4 is aligned with respect to the carrier plate 6 in a very precise manner.

[0046] As is obvious from FIGS. 2 and 3, the compression device 10 comprises a socket 12 and two guide elements 14, 15. The guide elements 14, 15 are arranged telescopically with respect to one another and are slidable into the socket 12.

[0047] The socket 12 and the guide elements 14, 15 are for example injection moulded parts, in particular comprising or consisting of Polyoxymethylen.

[0048] The socket 12 is cup-shaped in the shown embodiment.

[0049] On two opposite sides of the socket 12, a radially extending flange 16 is formed respectively. Each flange 16 comprises a through hole 18, to be fastened to the exchange tool 2, in particular to the carrier plate 6, for example by means of screwing.

[0050] Each flange 16 is arranged with a distance to an end face of the socket 12 or a bottom of socket 12. Thus, the compression device 10, respectively the socket 12, may be arranged at least partially in a through hole of the carrier plate 6, as shown in FIG. 1 by means of a press-fit.

[0051] Each of the guide elements 14, 15 comprises an anti-rotation lock 22, which is achieved by at least one elongated nose 24 formed at an outer surface each guide element 14, 15 and extending in an axial direction of the compression device 10. Each nose 24 is slidably engaged in a corresponding groove 26 of the socket 12 of the other one of the guide elements 14.

[0052] The outermost one of the two guide elements 15 comprises a screw hole 28 for screwing the pressure plate 4 of the exchange tool 2 to the compression device 10.

[0053] As can be seen in FIG. 4, which shows a section through the compression device 10, a nut 32 is embedded in the outermost guide element 15 in the area of the screw hole 28 for providing a reliable screw connection.

[0054] The compression device 10 further comprises an elastic bias means 34 (see FIG. 4), which biases the guide elements 14, 15 towards a furthest extended position. The bias means 34 is for example a helical spring. In the Figures, the guide elements 14, 15 are always depicted in the furthest extended position.

[0055] FIG. 4 furthermore shows that the intermediate guide element 14 which is positioned between the socket 12 and the other guide element 15 has the form of a sleeve. Thereby, the outermost guide element 15 may slide into the intermediate guide element 14 when the compression device 10 is compressed.

[0056] In order to secure the guide elements 14, 15 to the socket 12 the intermediate guide element 14 comprises lateral protrusions 36 which engage behind respective protrusions 38 which are formed at in inner surface of the socket 12.

[0057] The outermost guide element 15 has respective lateral protrusions which engage behind protrusions on an inner surface of the intermediate guide element 14. These are not visible in FIG. 4 because they are displaced about 90° relative to the protrusions 36, 38 of the intermediate guide element 14 and the socket 12.

[0058] In order to assemble the compression device 10, the bias means 34 is arranged in the socket 12 and the guide elements 14, 15 are stacked on the socket 12. Afterwards, the socket 12 and the guide elements 14, 15 are pressed together. Due to a slight elasticity of the socket 12 and the guide elements 14, 15, the protrusions 36 of the intermediate guide element 14 snap behind the protrusion 38 of the socket 12 and the protrusions of the outermost guide element 15 snap behind the protrusions in the intermediate guide element 15.

[0059] When the compression device 10 is assembled, the guide elements 14, 15 cannot be released from the socket 12 in a non-destructive manner.

[0060] When a force acts on the compression device 10, the guide elements 14, 15 may telescopically slide into the socket 12 against the force of the bias means 34.

[0061] During operation of a flat bed die-cutting, stripping or part separating machine, the compression device 10 may be compressed with a repetition rate of three times a second or even more. Thus, the compression device 10 may be subjected to heavy loads. Therefore, it may happen that the compression device 10 fails. Usually, at first the bias means 34 fails before the complete compression device 10 fails due to the ceased elastic force of the bias means 34.

[0062] In order to inhibit a misalignment of the pressure plate 4 to the carrier plate 6, the compression device 10 comprises an elastic security element 44, which has an inherent stiffness and secures the guide elements 14, 15 to the socket 12.

[0063] By means of the security element 44, the pressure plate 4 may stay aligned relative to the carrier plate 6, even if the bias means 34 fails.

[0064] According to a first embodiment, which is shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the security element 44 is a clamp.

[0065] In particular, the security element 44 at least partially encompasses the guide elements 14, 15 and the socket 12, thereby securing the guide elements 14, 15 to the socket 12.

[0066] By securing the guide elements 14, 15 to the socket 12, the security element 44 likewise secures the pressure plate 4 to the carrier plate 6, since the pressure plate 4 is fastened to the compression device 10, in particular to the outermost guide element 15 and the compression device 10, in particular the socket 12, is fastened to the carrier plate 6.

[0067] In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2 to 4, the security element 44 comprises a support element 46. The support element 46 abuts against the socket 12, in particular against a surface 48 of the flange 16 that is faced in a direction away from the guide elements 14, 15.

[0068] As can be seen in FIG. 4, the support element 46 has a through hole 50 which is congruent with the through hole 18 of the flange 16. Thus, the support element 46 may be screwed to the carrier plate 6 together with the socket 12.

[0069] In order to achieve a level adjustment or the compression device 10 at the carrier plate 6, the flange 16 at which the support element 46 is arranged is thinner than the other flange 16 by the thickness of the support element 46.

[0070] Furthermore, the security element 44 comprises a ring 52 which abuts against an axial end face 54 (see FIG. 4) of the guide element 15 that is faced away from the socket 12.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 4, the axial end 54 face of the guide element 15 may be stepped and thereby enables a form fitting engagement of the ring 52 with the guide element 15. In particular, the axial end face 54 is stepped such that the ring 52 does not protrude beyond the guide element 15 in an axial direction.

[0072] The security element 44 further comprises at least one bracket 56, in particular two brackets, which connects the support element 46 and the ring 52.

[0073] Preferably, the bracket 56 is arched, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

[0074] The security element 44 may be formed from one piece, in particular the security element 44 is an injection moulded part.

[0075] For example, the security element 44 comprises thermoplastic polyurethane or consists of thermoplastic polyurethane.

[0076] FIGS. 5 to 8 visualize a further embodiment of an inventive compression device 10.

[0077] For identical structures with identical functions, which are known from the above design, the same reference signs are used in the following and reference is made in this respect to the previous explanations, whereby the differences of the respective design are dealt with in the following in order to avoid repetitions.

[0078] The compression device according to FIGS. 5 to 8 differs from the compression device 10 according to FIGS. 2 to 4 in the form of the security element 44. In particular, the security element 44 according to FIGS. 5 to 8 is a flexible rod 58 which has an inherent stiffness.

[0079] The rod 58 extends from a free end of the outermost guide element 15 up to the socket 12, in particular to the flange 16.

[0080] At the free end of the guide element 15 a flap 60 may be formed to which the rod 58 may be fastened.

[0081] As for example shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the rod 58 is inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the compression device 10.

[0082] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the rod 58 is straight. In a further embodiment, the rod 58 may be curved.