Abstract
A cutting-die creasing apparatus includes anchors that together with crease members allow for the quick exchange or replacement of crease members on a die-cutting board. The creasing apparatus does not require fasteners such as nails or staples, nor does it require adhesives or other adherents to attach the crease members to the board and to maintain the structural integrity of the overall system. The creasing apparatus also maintains a more consistent geometric alignment due to the anchor being located via the initial geometrically located cut into the die board as opposed to surface mounted creasing systems, the location of which may vary dependent on how it is applied. The system also provides for a wide variety of designs that can be customized and produced to fit specific applications.
Claims
1. A creasing apparatus comprising: a die mounting board having a slot cut therein; an anchor having a body portion tightly fit within the slot and a head rail portion extending above the mounting board; a crease member having an upper part for impacting a workpiece and a lower part having a formation shaped to tightly and removably engage the head rail portion of the anchor.
2. The creasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body portion includes gaps and the slot includes discontinuities corresponding in position to the gaps, such that the body portion fits within the slots but not in the discontinuities.
3. The creasing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the mounting board is in the form of a cylinder and is fit over a die cylinder that is driven in rotation.
4. The creasing apparatus according to claim 3, comprising an anchor cylinder arranged close to the die cylinder and the workpiece is driven tightly through a gap between the two cylinders by counter rotation of the cylinders.
5. The creasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the anchor is impact driven into the slot to be tightly held therein.
6. The creasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body portion and head rail portion of the anchor are straight.
7. The creasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body portion and the headrail portion of the anchor are curved.
8. The creasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the crease member has a single ridge at a point of impact with the workpiece.
9. The creasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the crease member has multiple ridges at a point of impact with the workpiece.
10. The creasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the crease member formation includes lip portions and the head rail of the anchor has shoulders elevated above a top surface of the mounting board, and when the crease member and the anchor are engaged, the lip portions underlie the shoulders to snap engage the crease member to the anchor.
11. The creasing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the lip portions are tightly held between the top surface of the mounting board and an under surface of the shoulders.
12. A creasing apparatus comprising: a die mounting board having a slot cut therein; an anchor having a body portion tightly fit within the slot; a crease member having an upper part for impacting a workpiece and a lower part having a formation shaped to tightly and removably engage the anchor.
13. The creasing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the body portion includes gaps and the slot includes discontinuities corresponding in position to the gaps, such that the body portion fits within the slots but not in the discontinuities.
14. The creasing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the mounting board is in the form of a cylinder and is fit over a die cylinder that is driven in rotation.
15. The creasing apparatus according to claim 14, comprising an anchor cylinder arranged close to the die cylinder and the workpiece is driven tightly through a gap between the two cylinders by counter rotation of the cylinders.
16. The creasing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the anchor is impact driven into the slot to be tightly held therein.
17. The creasing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the anchor comprises a plate shape and the crease member has parallel walls the resiliently clamp the anchor.
18. The creasing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the anchor comprises a plate shape and the crease member has parallel walls with undulating facing surfaces that resiliently clamp the anchor.
19. The creasing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the crease member has a single ridge at a point of impact with the workpiece.
20. The creasing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the crease member has multiple ridges at a point of impact with the workpiece.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a die-cutting system according to the embodiments of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view taken from FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
[0025] FIG. 3A is a fragmentary sectional view showing an anchor member for being installed in a circumferential direction along the die board;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3 with the crease member removed;
[0027] FIG. 5 is an end view of a further embodiment crease member profile according to the invention;
[0028] FIG. 6 is an end view of a further embodiment crease member profile according to the invention;
[0029] FIG. 7 is an end view of a further embodiment crease member profile according to the invention;
[0030] FIG. 8 is an end view of a further embodiment crease member profile according to the invention;
[0031] FIG. 9 is an end view of a further embodiment crease member profile according to the invention;
[0032] FIG. 10 is an end view of a further embodiment crease member profile according to the invention;
[0033] FIG. 11 is an end view of a further embodiment crease member profile according to the invention;
[0034] FIG. 11A is an end view of the crease member of FIG. 11 showing the crease member installed on an anchor;
[0035] FIG. 12 is an end view of a further embodiment crease member profile according to the invention;
[0036] FIG. 13 is an end view of a further embodiment crease member installed on an anchor; and
[0037] FIG. 14 is an end view of a further embodiment crease member installed on an anchor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
[0039] This application incorporates by reference U.S. Ser. No. 15/821,322, filed Nov. 22, 2017, and U.S. Provisional application 62/427,653, filed Nov. 29, 2016.
[0040] FIG. 1 is a simplistic view of a creasing system according to an embodiment of the invention. The system includes an anchor cylinder 20, an anchor blanket 26, and the raw sheet of material 30, such as corrugated cardboard stock, from which the blank is created. The driving force for the entire rotary die process that creates the blank is usually a motor which directly spins the die board cylinder 50 upon which the die-board 46 is zo fastened and indirectly spins the anchor cylinder 20 via a system of gears from the die-board cylinder in the direction indicated by the arrows. The raw sheet of material 30 is fed between the cylinders 20, 50 normally via a feeder (not shown). The rotational direction and motion of the cylinders grab the raw sheet of material. Various forces (normal, rotational and tangential) are imparted on the raw sheet of material as it travels between the cylinder creates the blank. Once the full blank is created, it is either stacked or conveyed further down the processing line.
[0041] FIGS. 2-3 show an assembly view of an anchor 40, a crease member 70 (described below), and the die-cutting board 46, all mounted on the cylinder 50.
[0042] FIG. 4 shows the anchor 40 mounted to the die-cutting board without the crease member installed. The anchor is preferably a metallic anchor.
[0043] FIGS. 2-3 and 4 show the creasing system applied substantially parallel to the cylinder 50 axis. The system also applies to the direction perpendicular to the cylinder axis and all directions in between. As shown in FIG. 3A, in the perpendicular direction, or circumferential to the die board, an anchor 40a has an arc shape whose radius R at its base equals that of the die-board 46 inside radius.
[0044] The anchor 40 or 40a is secured to the die-board by static forces created when a lower body portion 40b of the anchor is forced into the laser or jig cut lines or slots 56 which are precut into the board 46. Gaps 60 are cut into the lower body portion 40b of the anchor 40, 40a and the locations of the gaps 60 correspond to segments along the lines 56 that are not cut into the die-board. These segments form solid bridges 61 in the board 46 allow for the die-board to maintain enough structural integrity about the anchor to keep the die-board together while still allowing for the static force to secure the anchor 40, 40a into the board 46.
[0045] The anchor 40, 40a includes an enlarged head rail 64 located above the upper surface 67 of the board 46. The head rail 64 provides shoulders 66 that are spaced above the upper surface 67 of the board 46. A crease member 70 is mounted onto the head rail 64 and includes inwardly turned lip portions 70a, 70b that underlie the shoulders 66 and are gripped between the upper surface 67 and the shoulders 66. The crease member 70 shown in FIGS. 1-3 has a triangular profile with lateral flat base members 70c, 70d that press against the surface 67 when the crease member 70 is snap installed onto the anchor 40, 40a.
[0046] FIGS. 5-10 illustrate different crease members which can be mounted to the anchor according to various embodiments of the invention.
[0047] FIG. 5 illustrates a crease member 100 that is configured to mount to the anchor. This crease member 100 includes a ridge 106 formed by angular walls 110, 112 that angle into substantially parallel walls 114, 116. The ridge 106 is connected on a back side into a mounting clasp 120 that resiliently clamps onto the anchor. The clasp 120 includes substantially parallel walls 124, 126 having inward turned lip portions 130, 132 used to underlie the anchor head. When the crease member is installed onto the anchor, the clasp 120 grips the anchor and the walls 114, 116 press against the surface of the die board. The walls 114, 116 can resiliently deflect outwardly to hold the crease member 100 to the anchor securely in a resilient fashion.
[0048] FIG. 6 illustrates a crease member 200 that is configured to mount to the anchor. This crease member 200 includes substantially parallel ridges 206, 207 formed by angular walls 210, 212 that angle into substantially parallel walls 213, 215. The substantially parallel walls 213, 215 are connected on a back side into a flat wall 217 formed with a mounting clasp 120 that resiliently clamps onto the anchor. The clasp 120 includes substantially parallel walls 124, 126 having inward turned lip portions 130, 132 used to underlie the anchor head. The angular walls are angled into substantially parallel walls 214, 216. When the crease member is installed onto the anchor, the clasp 120 grips the anchor and the walls 214, 216 press against the surface of the die board. The walls 214, 216 can resiliently deflect outwardly to hold the crease member 200 to the anchor securely in a resilient fashion.
[0049] FIG. 7 illustrates a crease member 300 that is configured to mount to the anchor. This crease member 300 includes a raised C-shaped wall 302 forming substantially parallel ridges 306, 307. The C-shaped wall 302 is connected to an intersection of angular walls 310, 312. The C-shaped wall 302 is connected on a back side into a mounting clasp 120 that resiliently clamps onto the anchor. The clasp 120 includes substantially parallel walls 124, 126 having inward turned lip portions 130, 132 used to underlie the anchor head. When the crease member is installed onto the anchor, the clasp 120 grips the anchor and the walls 310, 312 press against the surface of the die board. The walls 310, 312 can resiliently deflect outwardly to hold the crease member 300 to the anchor securely in a resilient fashion.
[0050] FIG. 8 illustrates a crease member 400 that is configured to mount to the anchor. This crease member 400 includes substantially parallel ridges 406, 407 formed by angular walls 410, 412 that angle into substantially parallel walls 413, 415. The ridge 106 is connected on a back side into a mounting clasp 120 that resiliently clamps onto the anchor. The clasp 120 includes substantially parallel walls 124, 126 having inward turned lip portions 130, 132 used to underlie the anchor head. The angular walls 410, 412 are angled into substantially parallel walls 414, 416. When the crease member is installed onto the anchor, the clasp 120 grips the anchor and the walls 414, 416 press against the surface of the die board. The walls 414, 416 can resiliently deflect outwardly to hold the crease member 400 to the anchor securely in a resilient fashion.
[0051] FIG. 9 illustrates a crease member 500 that is configured to mount to the anchor. This crease member 500 includes a three ridge formation 502, including a primary ridge 503 and two secondary ridges 504, 505 straddling the primary ridge 503. The three ridge formation 502 is formed with angular walls 510, 512. The three ridge formation 502 is connected on a back side into a mounting clasp 120 that resiliently clamps onto the anchor. The clasp 120 includes substantially parallel walls 124, 126 having inward turned lip portions 130, 132 used to underlie the anchor head. When the crease member is installed onto the anchor, the clasp 120 grips the anchor and the walls 510, 512 press against the surface of the die board. The walls 510, 512 can resiliently deflect outwardly to hold the crease member 500 to the anchor securely in a resilient fashion.
[0052] FIG. 10 illustrates a crease member 600 that is configured to mount to the anchor. This crease member 600 includes an upstanding ridge 603. The upstanding ridge 603 is formed with angular walls 610, 612. The upstanding ridge 603 is connected on a back side into a mounting clasp 120 that resiliently clamps onto the anchor. The clasp 120 includes substantially parallel walls 124, 126 having inward turned lip portions 130, 132 used to underlie the anchor head. When the crease member is installed onto the anchor, the clasp 120 grips the anchor and the walls 610, 612 press against the surface of the die board. The walls 610, 612 can resiliently deflect outwardly to hold the crease member 600 to the anchor securely in a resilient fashion.
[0053] FIG. 11 illustrates a crease member 700 that is configured to mount to the anchor. This crease member 700 includes a ridge 706 formed by angular walls 710, 712 that angle into substantially parallel walls 714, 716. The ridge 706 is connected on a back side into a mounting clasp 720 that resiliently clamps onto the anchor. The clasp 720 includes substantially parallel walls 724, 726 having inward turned lip portions 730, 732 used to underlie the anchor head. The clasp 720 also includes a center wall 733 having a concave face 734 for pressing against the anchor head. When the crease member is installed onto the anchor, the clasp 720 grips the anchor and the walls 714, 716 press against the surface of the die board. The walls 714, 716 can resiliently deflect outwardly to hold the crease member 700 to the anchor securely in a resilient fashion.
[0054] FIG. 11A illustrates one way in which the crease m ember 700 is held onto the anchor 40. When the crease member is snapped down onto the anchor member and the head rail thereof, substantially parallel walls 714, 716 press against the upper surface 67 of the board 46 and can resiliently flex slightly outwardly with respect to the anchor. This causes a resilient force upward by the lip portions 730, 732 on the shoulders 66a, 66b of the anchor rail. This resilient force created by the outer legs and the lip portions against the anchor head rail can be present in all of the embodiments described herein. Additionally, there can be a resilient clamping force on the anchor head by the lip portions 730, 732 and the center wall 733.
[0055] FIG. 12 illustrates a crease member 800 that is configured to mount to the anchor. This crease member 800 includes substantially parallel walls 806, 807 for forming reverse folds, which extend into lower substantially parallel walls 813, 815. The substantially parallel walls 813, 815 are connected on a top end by a flat wall 817 formed with a mounting clasp 820 that resiliently clamps onto the anchor. The clasp 820 includes substantially parallel walls 824, 826 having inward turned lip portions 830, 832 used to underlie the anchor head. The clasp 820 also includes a center wall 833 having a concave face 834 for pressing against the anchor head. When the crease member is installed onto the anchor, the clasp 820 grips the anchor and the walls 813, 815 press against the surface of the die board. The walls 813, 815 can resiliently deflect outwardly to hold the crease member 800 to the anchor securely in a resilient fashion.
[0056] FIG. 13 illustrates a crease member 900 that is configured to mount to a modified anchor 40′. This crease member 900 includes a ridge 906 formed by angular walls 910, 912 that angle into substantially parallel walls 914, 916. The ridge 906 is connected on a back side into a mounting clasp 920 formed by substantially parallel walls 930, 932 that resiliently clamp onto the anchor. The clasp 920 includes a vertical slot 933 that adds flexibility to the spreading movement of the walls 930, 932. In this embodiment the anchor is configured as a straight wall 940 without an anchor head rail. When the crease member is installed onto the anchor, the clasp 920 resiliently grips the wall 940 between the walls 930, 932. The wall 940 slightly and resiliently spreads the walls 930, 932 causing a friction fit. The walls 914, 916 press against the surface of the die board when the crease is installed onto the anchor.
[0057] FIG. 14 illustrates a crease member 1000 that is configured to mount to the modified anchor 40′. This crease member 1000 includes a ridge 1006 formed by angular walls 1010, 1012 that angle into substantially parallel walls 1014, 1016. The ridge 1006 is connected on a back side into a mounting clasp 1020 formed by substantially parallel walls 1030, 1032 that resiliently clamp onto the anchor. The clasp 1020 includes a vertical slot 1033 that adds flexibility to the spreading movement of the walls 1030, 1032. The walls 1030, 1032 include an undulating profile 1030a, 1032a respectively with parallel rounded ridges 1030b, 1032b respectively. In this embodiment the anchor 40′ is configured as the straight wall 940 without an anchor head rail. When the crease member is installed onto the anchor, the clasp 1020 resiliently grips the wall 940 between the walls 1030, 1032. The wall 940 slightly and resiliently spreads the walls 1030, 1032 causing a friction fit. The undulating profiles 1030a, 1032a increase the frictional engagement between the walls 1030, 1032 and the wall 940. The walls 1014, 1016 press against the surface of the die board when the crease is installed onto the anchor.
[0058] The use of a resilient gripping of the walls 930, 932 of an anchor wall 940, or the walls 1030, 1032 with undulating inside surfaces are techniques that could be used on any of the embodiments described herein. The walls 124, 126 of the clasps 120 shown in FIGS. 5-10 could be configured to grip the anchor head rail by resiliently clamping toward each other onto the sides of the head rail, in addition to, or instead of, the other provisions for holding the crease member onto the head rail, such as the inwardly turned lip portions 130, 132.
[0059] The crease member 70, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, and 1000 described herein are preferably composed of a plastic or other polymer material, such as a polymer resin, such as a Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride (RPVC). Other materials may be possible, such as a powdered metal. It may also be possible to co-extrude two different polymer resins to produce the crease member.
[0060] The crease members and anchors shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 are installed as a compression or adherence fit. To enhance the engagement of the crease member and the anchor an adhesive can be used between the walls 930, 932 and the wall 940; and between the walls 1030, 1032 and the wall 940. It is possible only a weak adhesive would suffice.
[0061] From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.
