Method for Producing a Stamped Metal Sheet

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a stamped metal sheet which has at least one interrupted cutting line in (17) for producing perforations or holding points, which is arranged on a base sheet (15), characterized in that a laser beam is used for producing at least one interruption (14). The invention also relates to a stamped metal sheet.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A method for producing a flexible die, which comprises at least one cutting element interrupted for producing perforations or holding points and arranged on a sheet metal base, the method comprising the step of producing at least one interruption by a laser beam in the at least one cutting element.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one interruption is produced completely by the laser beam.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising providing the at least one cutting element as an uninterrupted cutting element on the sheet metal base and carrying out the step of producing the at least one interruption by the laser beam in the uninterrupted cutting element.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising producing a cutout in the sheet metal base when carrying out the step of producing the at least one interruption by the laser beam.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the laser beam cuts through the sheet metal base to form the cutout.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of carrying out a passage inspection for monitoring the flexible die after and/or during the step of producing the at least one interruption by the laser beam.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the passage inspection is a look-through inspection.

22. The method according to claim 15, the step of producing the at least one interruption by the laser beam including choosing a laser beam energy and choosing a pressure and/or a flow rate of a protective gas such that a flexible die material impacted by the laser beam is removed without any residue.

23. The method according to claim 22, the step of producing the at least one interruption by the laser beam further including blowing off the flexible die material impacted by the laser beam by a protective gas jet of the protective gas.

24. The method according to claim 15, the step of producing the at least one interruption by the laser beam including moving the laser beam perpendicular to the at least one cutting element.

25. The method according to claim 15, wherein the laser beam has a focal point of a diameter of 0.12 mm.

26. The method according to claim 15, the step of producing the at least one interruption by the laser beam including cutting out flexible die sections by circumscribing the flexible die sections by the laser beam to produce the at least one interruption with a length of more than 0.25 mm.

27. The method according to claim 15, wherein an end face of the at least one cutting element facing the at least one interruption is produced without a burr and/or without a bead.

28. The method according to claim 15, wherein a sheet metal base region adjoining the at least one interruption is produced without a burr and/or without a bead.

29. The method according to claim 15, wherein an end face of the at least one cutting element facing the at least one interruption is produced without a burr and/or without a bead and wherein a sheet metal base region adjoining the at least one interruption is produced without a burr and/or without a bead.

30. A flexible die, comprising a sheet metal base and at least one cutting element interrupted for producing perforations or holding points and arranged on the sheet metal base, wherein the at least one cutting element comprises an interruption produced by laser between end faces of the at least one cutting element that are facing each other.

31. The flexible die according to claim 30, wherein the interruption adjoins a cutout in the sheet metal base, wherein the cutout passes all the way through the sheet metal base.

Description

[0033] Further advantages and details of the invention can be taken from the following figure description. It is schematically illustrated in

[0034] FIG. 1 a cross-section of a multi-layer material that has been surficially stamped and stamped through;

[0035] FIG. 2 the result of a perforation stamping;

[0036] FIG. 3 a web of labels with perforation lines;

[0037] FIG. 4 a result of a method according to the invention in the form of cut contours with holding points in a plan view;

[0038] FIG. 5 a plan view of a part of a flexible die according to the invention;

[0039] FIG. 6 a perspective view of a part of a further flexible die according to the invention.

[0040] Individual technical features of the embodiments described in the following can also be combined in combination with afore described embodiments as well as the features of the independent claims and possible further claims to subject matter according to the invention. Inasmuch as expedient, elements that act functionally in the same way are provided with identical reference numbers.

[0041] In FIG. 1, the result of stamping through and surficially stamping of a multi-layer material 1 is illustrated in general. In the cut 5 produced by surficial stamping as well as in the cut 6 produced by stamping through, the top material 2 has been cut through in the region of the cutting element of the flexible die. Also, the adhesive layer 3 in both variants is cut through. The support material 4, on the other hand, is cut through only by stamping through (cut 6).

[0042] The stamping material 1 illustrated in FIG. 2 shows a cross section of a perforation line with approximately same-length material sections 7 which are interrupted in a regular pattern by the stamped-through regions 8. In case the interruptions of the cutting element required for the sections 7 are not embodied deep enough, the material to be processed is squeezed in the region of the interruption according to the old prior art. This, in particular in combination with already worn stamping elements, can lead to a complete separation of the material no longer taking place and to material webs 9 remaining which impair tearing off a label along the perforation line.

[0043] Perforation lines 10 serve, for example, for tearing off label strips in groups with e.g. three labels 11 from a roll of material, as in the embodiment according to FIG. 3.

[0044] In place of perforation lines, also holding points 12, illustrated in FIG. 4, can be embodied as interruptions of the stamped lines 13. The holding points 12, like the material sections 7, are also produced as material sections by interruptions of a cutting or stamping element 13 of a flexible die. The corresponding flexible die is produced by a method according to the invention.

[0045] Correspondingly, a flexible die of which a detail is illustrated in FIG. 5 comprises a cutting element 17 that is provided with a total of three interruptions 14. The cutouts 14 are continuous and represent thus cutouts that can be easily inspected by a passage inspection. This can be done in the context of a visual look-through inspection, either automatically by a light beam which is detected by a photosensor on the other side of the flexible die. In the simplest case, this inspection can be performed by operating personnel who inspect the machined flexible die in front of a backlighting source.

[0046] The interruptions 14 according to FIG. 5 are embodied across the entire width of the stamping element 17. They adjoin in this context regions of a sheet metal base 15 of the flexible die 20 that are not raised anymore.

[0047] The laser beam has produced in the sheet metal base 15 cutouts or openings that are passing all the way through. The rectangular regions illustrated in FIG. 5 have been produced by moving along a laser beam, not illustrated and positioned perpendicular to the figure plane, along a rectangular contour wherein the laser beam has been moved orthogonally to the cutting edge 16 of the cutting element 17 for producing a smooth end face.

[0048] FIG. 6 shows in a perspective view a further detail of the flexible die 20 according to the invention. An end face 18 of the cutting element has been embodied smooth and straight by the laser beam oriented orthogonally to the surface 19 of the sheet metal base 15. The interruption of the cutting element 17 continues in a cutout with edges that are illustrated by interrupted lines, which is embodied so as to pass all the way through the sheet metal base 15.