Abstract
A counter-die, in particular for creasing paper, cardboard or corrugated cardboard, has at least one groove channel which is formed, in relation to the groove channel cross section, between two groove channel walls which are spaced apart from one another and form the groove channel. The groove channel walls in each case form and/or have an upper side which forms a contact and/or bearing surface for the material to be cut and/or creased. The counter-die is formed at least in regions, preferably at least in a part region of a groove channel wall which is assigned to the groove channel, of an elastic material, in particular in order to provide an upper side of at least one groove channel wall of the at least one groove channel, which upper side can be displaced at least in regions and springs back elastically.
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A counter-die for punching and/or creasing product, the counter-die comprising: two mutually spaced apart groove-channel walls defining a groove channel therebetween, each of said groove-channel walls having an upper side forming a contact and/or bearing face for the product to be processed; elastic material disposed to form a displaceable and elastically resilient upper side of at least a portion of at least one of said groove-channel walls of said groove channel.
22. The counter-die according to claim 21, wherein said elastic material, upon impingement of the counter-die by pressure, is at least partially compressible such that an upper side of at least one of said groove-channel walls of said groove channel, proceeding from an initial position, is displaceable in a downward manner in a processing direction, and wherein the upper side, after the impingement with pressure, springs back to an uncompressed state in a self-acting manner to return to the initial position.
23. The counter-die according to claim 21, wherein the counter-die is configured from said elastic material only in regions and has at least one elastic part-region formed from said elastic material.
24. The counter-die according to claim 23, which comprises at least one stable part-region adjoining said at least one elastic part-region and formed of a material that is more dimensionally stable and/or harder than a material of said elastic part-region.
25. The counter-die according to claim 24, wherein said stable part-region that adjoins said at least one elastic part-region is configured of a material that in an impingement with pressure in a compressive force range in which said at least one elastic part-region is compressible is dimensionally stable and non-compressible.
26. The counter-die according to claim 23, wherein said at least one elastic part-region defines an external layer of the counter-die that runs in a transverse direction and/or is horizontally aligned, and/or said at least one elastic part-region defines an intermediate layer of the counter-die that runs in the transverse direction and/or is horizontally aligned.
27. The counter-die according to claim 26, wherein said elastic part-region forming the external layer adjoins said stable part-region and forms an upper side and/or lower side in relation to a processing direction.
28. The counter-die according to claim 26, wherein said elastic part-region forming the intermediate layer is adjoined on both sides, in relation to the vertical axis and/or processing direction, by a respective layer of the stable part-region, or said elastic part-region forming the intermediate layer is adjoined on one side by a stable part-region and on the other side by a carrier and/or adhesive and/or cover layer.
29. The counter-die according to claim 23, wherein said elastic part-region is configured in at least one part-region that is directly adjacent to the groove channel.
30. The counter-die according to claim 20 being a die strip having at least one groove channel, wherein said at least one groove channel is formed by two mutually spaced-apart, raised material strips that extend parallel to one another and form said groove channel walls, and wherein at least one material strip forming a groove channel wall of a groove channel has an upper side formed of elastic material that is elastically resilient and is displaceable, at least in a part-region of the material strip that is assigned to the groove channel.
31. The counter-die according to claim 30, wherein at least one of said material strips forming the groove channel walls is formed of multiple layers, wherein said at least one material strip is only in regions configured from an elastic material and has at least one elastic part-region configured from the elastic material that forms at least one elastic layer of the material strip and extends in a transverse direction and/or is horizontally aligned, said elastic layer of the material strip being adjoined by a residual wall region of the material strip that forms a stable part-region and which, in relation to the at least one elastic layer, is configured from a more dimensionally stable and/or harder material.
32. The counter-die according to claim 31, wherein one or more of the following is true: said at least one elastic layer is an elastic upper layer that at least in regions forms the upper side; said at least one elastic layer is at least one intermediate layer that at least in regions forms an intermediate tier; said at least one elastic layer is an elastic lower layer of the material strip that at least in regions configures the lower side.
33. The counter-die according to claim 31, wherein said material strip forming one or both walls of the groove channel is formed of a plurality of layers, wherein said elastic layer is formed by an elastic upper layer that at least in regions configures the upper side and is adjoined, downwardly and distally from said upper layer, by at least one lower layer of the material strip that forms the stable part-region, said at least one lower layer being formed of a material which, in relation to the elastic upper layer, is more dimensionally stable and/or harder and which, upon impingement with pressure in a compressive force range in which the elastic upper layer is compressible, is dimensionally stable and non-compressible.
34. The counter-die according to claim 31, wherein said at least one elastic part-region, when viewed in the longitudinal extent direction of the die-strip, extends at least partially along a longitudinal extent of a material strip length of the dies-strip.
35. The counter-die according to claim 21 being a creasing matrix or a punch-creasing plate having at least one groove channel that is machined into a surface of a matrix main body or a punch-creasing plate main body, wherein groove channel walls that delimit said at least one groove channel are defined by said matrix main body or said punch-creasing plate main body, and wherein said elastic material is disposed to define an elastically resilient upper side that is displaceable at least in regions of at least one groove channel wall of said at least one groove channel at least in regions.
36. The counter-die according to claim 35, wherein said matrix main body or said punch-creasing plate main body is configured from an elastic material only in regions, and at least one elastic part-region is formed by said elastic material and at least in part is formed by at least one elastic layer of said matrix main body or said punch-creasing plate main body that extends in a transverse direction and/or is horizontally aligned, said elastic layer being adjoined by a residual wall region of said matrix main body or said punch-creasing plate main body that configures a stable part-region which in relation to said at least one elastic layer is formed of a more dimensionally stable and/or harder material, which, upon an impingement with pressure in a compressive force range in which the at least one elastic layer is compressible, is dimensionally stable and non-compressible.
37. The counter-die according to claim 36, wherein one or more of the following is true: said at least one elastic layer is an elastic upper layer that at least in regions forms an upper side; said at least one elastic layer is at least one elastic intermediate layer that at least in regions configures an intermediate tier; said at least one elastic layer is an elastic lower layer of the matrix main body or of the punch-creasing plate main body that at least in regions form a lower side.
38. The counter-die according to claim 21, wherein said elastic material has a modulus of elasticity of 10 to 500 MPa.
39. The counter die according to claim 21, which comprises a more stable part-region adjoining said at least one elastic part-region, said more stable part-region having a material that, in relation to said elastic part-region, is more dimensionally stable and/or harder, said more stable part-region having a modulus of elasticity of 600 to 250,000 MPa.
40. A method for creasing paper, cardboard, or corrugated cardboard material, the method comprising: providing a punching and/or creasing tool with at least one counter-die, the counter-die having at least one groove channel between two mutually spaced-apart groove channel walls forming the groove channel, and wherein the groove channel walls have an upper side with a contact and/or bearing face for the material to be processed; wherein the counter-die at least in regions is configured from an elastic material, so that the counter-die is at least partly elastic such that, upon impingement with pressure from a tool that carries out the creasing operation is at least partially compressed; subjecting the counter-die to pressure with the tool to at least partially compress the counter-die in such a manner that an upper side of at least one of the groove channel walls of a groove channel, proceeding from an initial position, is displaced in a downward direction defining a processing direction, and wherein the upper side after the impingement with pressure, by virtue of the elastic material springs back to the uncompressed state in a self-acting manner, returning to the initial position.
Description
[0046] In the figures:
[0047] FIG. 1a schematically shows a cross-section through an exemplary die strip according to the invention that configures a counter-die, in the state of production prior to the use thereof in a punching or creasing tool, respectively;
[0048] FIG. 1b shows the die strip according to FIG. 1a at the beginning of a punching or creasing process, respectively;
[0049] FIG. 1c shows a cross-section corresponding to that of FIG. 1b in an impingement of the punched or creased product, respectively, by pressure by way of a punching or creasing tool, respectively;
[0050] FIG. 1d shows a cross-section through the die strip corresponding to that of FIGS. 1b and 1c, at the end of the punching or creasing process, respectively, when the processed punched or creased product, respectively, is removed;
[0051] FIG. 1e schematically shows a perspective illustration of the die strip of FIGS. 1a to 1d, from which it can be seen that the upper layer of the material strip that is formed from an elastically resilient material extends across the entire length of the die strip;
[0052] FIG. 1f shows an embodiment of a die strip that is an alternative to that of FIGS. 1a to 1e, in which only a peripheral edge region of the upper side of the material strip that is directly adjacent to a groove channel is configured from an elastically resilient material;
[0053] FIG. 1g shows embodiments which are an alternative to that of FIG. 1a;
[0054] FIG. 1h shows further embodiments that are an alternative to that of FIG. 1a;
[0055] FIG. 2a schematically shows a plan view of an exemplary creasing matrix;
[0056] FIG. 2b schematically shows a heavily enlarged sectional illustration along the line A-A of FIG. 2a, wherein a variant of embodiment in which the upper side of the creasing matrix that configures the contact and/or bearing face for the material be processed is configured by a raised layer from an elastically resilient material only in a peripheral edge region that is directly adjacent to the groove channel is shown in the left image half of said FIG. 2b, while it is illustrated in the right image half of FIG. 2b that the upper side of the creasing matrix is entirely or at least in a manner covering a large area, respectively, formed by a layer from an elastically resilient material;
[0057] FIG. 2c schematically shows an embodiment that is an alternative in particular to the left image half of FIG. 2b, in which the layer from the elastically resilient material that is provided only in regions is embedded and received so as to be substantially flush with the surface in a peripheral edge recess of the upper side of the creasing matrix that is directly adjacent to the groove channel;
[0058] FIG. 3a schematically shows a perspective illustration of a further embodiment according to the invention of a counter-die which here is configured as a punch-creasing plate;
[0059] FIG. 3b schematically shows a heavily enlarged sectional illustration along the line B-B of FIG. 3a, wherein a variant of embodiment in which the upper side of the punch-creasing plate that configures the contact and/or bearing face for the material to be processed is configured by a raised layer from an elastically resilient material only in a peripheral edge region that is directly adjacent to the groove channel is shown in the left image half of said FIG. 3b, while it is illustrated in the right image half of FIG. 3b that the upper side of the punch-creasing plate is entirely or at least in a manner covering a large area, respectively, formed by a layer from an elastically resilient material;
[0060] FIG. 3c schematically shows an embodiment that is an alternative in particular to the left image half of FIG. 3b, in which the layer from the elastically resilient material that is provided only in regions is embedded and received so as to be substantially flush with the surface in a peripheral edge recess of the upper side of the punch-creasing plate that is directly adjacent to the groove channel.
[0061] A cross-section through a first embodiment according to the invention of a counter-die that is configured as a die strip 1 is shown schematically and in an exemplary manner in FIG. 1a, said die strip 1, in relation to the cross-section, here in an exemplary manner in the central region having a groove channel 2 which is formed by two mutually spaced-apart raised material strips 3, 4 which in an exemplary manner run so as to be mutually parallel and configure groove channel walls.
[0062] The material strips 3, 4 which here in an exemplary manner in terms of their external shape are configured so as to be identical or the same, respectively, are applied as raised profiles to a carrier layer 5, for example a carrier film. Securing the material strips 3, 4 to the carrier layer in principle can be performed in any suitable manner. The securing of the material strips 3, 4 to the carrier layer 5 by means of an adhesive layer 6 which can be formed, for example, by an adhesive agent or the like, is shown here in an exemplary manner.
[0063] The carrier layer on the lower side thereof that faces away from the material strips 3, 4 is provided with a further adhesive layer 7, for example, which in turn can likewise be configured by an adhesive agent or the like. This adhesive layer 7 is moreover preferably provided or covered, for example by a protective cover 8 that covers said adhesive layer 7 and is releasable, for example by tearing off. This protective cover 8 can be formed from paper, for example, or else can also be formed by a film or the like.
[0064] Moreover, as can furthermore be derived from the schematic and exemplary cross-sectional illustration of FIG. 1a, the two groove channel walls or material strips 3, 4, respectively, that configure the groove channel 2 here are configured in two layers, having an upper layer 9 from an material that at a defined impingement with pressure is elastic and configures the upper side as an elastic part-region, and having a lower layer 10 from a material that at the same impingement with pressure is dimensionally stable and non-compressible, but at least from a material that in relation to the elastic material of the upper layer 9 is more dimensionally stable and/or harder.
[0065] The upper layer 9 from the elastic material is preferably formed by an elastomer, for example from polyurethane (PU). Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is particularly preferable.
[0066] The material of the lower layer 10 is, for example, a metal, fiber board, or a plastics material. A thermosetting plastics material, for example polyester, or a thermoplastic material, for example polypropylene in, can be used as the plastics material for the lower layer 10, in order to mention only one example. The plastics materials used can moreover also be fiber-reinforced, for example be reinforced with glass fibers or carbon fibers, in order to mention only one example. Other hard materials can also be used at any time.
[0067] The elastic material of the upper layer 9 here is preferably selected such that said elastic material has an elasticity modulus of 10 to 500 MPa, preferably of 20 to 400 MPa, most preferably of 20 to 250 MPa.
[0068] The lower layer 10 of the material strips 3, 4 preferably has an elasticity modulus of 600 to 100,000 MPa, particularly preferably of 700 to 40,000 MPa.
[0069] The upper layer 9 of the material strips 3, 4 preferably has here a layer thickness d of 0.01 to 1.90 mm, preferably of 0.05 to 0.30 mm.
[0070] The overall layer thickness D of the upper layer 9 and the lower layer 10 of the material strips 3, 4 (that is to say without the adhesive layers 6, 7, without the carrier layer 5, and without the protective cover 8) is preferably 0.1 to 2.0 mm, preferably 0.3 to 1.7 mm.
[0071] As can be furthermore seen from FIG. 1e which shows only a perspective schematic view of the die strip 1 that in FIG. 1a is shown in the cross-section, the upper layer 9 when viewed in the longitudinal extent direction of the die strip 1 here extends across the entire material strip length.
[0072] By contrast to the illustration in FIG. 1e, the upper layer 9 according to a further design embodiment (not shown here) that is configured from an elastically resilient material could extend only across a part-region of the longitudinal extent direction x of the die strip, or be provided only in portions in relation to the longitudinal extent direction x of the die strip, respectively, for example in such a manner that the lower layer 10 is exposed between individual upper-layer regions that are configured from an elastically resilient material. An arrangement of this type in part-regions or regions, respectively, or portions, is in principle of course also possible in conjunction with an embodiment such as is illustrated in FIGS. 1a to 1d, and in FIG. 1f.
[0073] As can be very well seen from FIG. 1a which shows a cross section, the upper layer 9 (like the lower layer 10) when viewed in the transverse direction y here extends across the entire width of the respective material strip 3, 4 and thus configures an elastic layer that runs in the transverse direction y and is horizontally aligned.
[0074] Alternatively thereto, the elastically resilient material could also configure only a part-region of the upper side of the material strips 3, 4, as this is illustrated schematically and only in an exemplary manner in FIG. 1f. The upper side there of the material strip 4 that is illustrated here in an exemplary manner in a peripheral edge region 11 that is directly adjacent to the groove channel 2 has a recess 12 which here in only an exemplary manner is in the manner of a pocket and/or a step, the elastically resilient material being inserted into said recess 12 so as to be flush with the surfaces of the wall regions 13 and 14 that are adjacent thereto. The upper layer 9 that is configured from an elastically resilient material, for example an elastomeric material, here thus configures only a part-region of the upper side of the material strip 4. It is to be understood that the opposite material strip 3 (not shown here) can be configured either in analogous manner, or else alternatively like the material strip described previously, in which the entire upper layer is formed from an elastically resilient material.
[0075] According to a further alternative embodiment, instead of the embodiment having the elastic upper layer 9, illustrated in FIG. 1a, or additionally thereto, as is illustrated schematically and only in an exemplary manner in FIGS. 1g and 1h an elastic intermediate layer and/or an elastic lower layer could also be provided. An embodiment in which only one elastic intermediate layer 9a which here in an exemplary manner is continuous in the transverse direction y and is horizontally aligned is provided as an elastic layer is schematically illustrated in the left image half of FIG. 1g. By contrast, an embodiment in which only one elastic lower layer 9b which here in an exemplary manner is continuous in the transverse direction y and is horizontally aligned is provided as a substantially external elastic layer of the material strip 3 or 4, respectively, is schematically illustrated in the right image half of FIG. 1g. It is to be understood that the opposite material strips 3, 4 in the case of a specific embodiment here can of course be constructed so as to be substantially the same or identical, respectively, at least in terms of the composition and the configuration of the layer.
[0076] As is illustrated in FIG. 1h, combinations are also possible, for example in such a manner as shown in the left image half of FIG. 1h, so that apart from an elastic upper layer 9 corresponding to the design embodiment as per FIG. 1a, an elastic intermediate layer 9a corresponding to the left image half of FIG. 1g is also additionally provided. Or in that, as is illustrated in the right image half of FIG. 1h, in addition to the elastic intermediate layer 9a corresponding to the embodiment of the left image half of FIG. 1g, an elastic lower layer 9b corresponding to the embodiment shown in the right image half of FIG. 1h is furthermore provided. It is to be understood here too that the opposite material strips 3, 4 in the case of a specific embodiment can of course be constructed so as to be preferably substantially the same or identical, respectively, at least in terms of the composition and the configuration of the layer.
[0077] Of course, even further combinations are possible, for example a combination of an elastic upper layer 9 with an elastic lower layer 9b (not shown here) or a combination of an elastic upper layer 9 with an elastic intermediate layer 9a and an elastic lower layer 9b (not shown here).
[0078] As has already been explained, in the context of the examples of different embodiments shown in FIGS. 1g and 1h it is preferable that the two material strips 3, 4 that are assigned to a groove channel 2 and configure the latter are constructed so as to be substantially the same or identical, respectively, even when there is of course in principle also the possibility for said material strips 3, 4 to be of dissimilar construction.
[0079] Otherwise, the construction of FIGS. 1g and 1h is identical to that of FIG. 1a such that reference can be made to the explanations pertaining thereto and only those reference signs which relate to the elastic layers are indicated in FIGS. 1g and 1h.
[0080] As can furthermore be derived from FIG. 1a a pilot strip 15, which in a manner known per se serves for being fitted onto a crease line or the like in order for the die strip upon release of the protective cover 8 to be able to be secured and positioned accurately on a punching plate, for example, in the activation of a tool, can be releasably mounted in the groove channel 2 of the die strip 1 prior to said pilot strip 15 being fitted.
[0081] FIGS. 1b to 1d now show the die strip 1 according to the invention according to an embodiment of FIG. 1a in operation during a punching or creasing procedure, respectively, in whichpresently only in a manner representative of all suitable punched or creased products, respectivelya printed sheet 16 from paper, cardboard, corrugated cardboard, or the like materials, as the punched or creased product, respectively, is incorporated in a punching or creasing tool, respectively, (not illustrated in more detail here) in such a manner (arrow 17) that the printed sheet 16 bears in a planar manner on the elastic upper layer 9 of the material strips 3, 4 of the die strip 1 that configures the contact and/or bearing face for the printed sheet 16. It is to be understood that a multiplicity of die strips of this type can be present and that the fundamental operating principle is shown in a schematic and only exemplary manner here in conjunction with FIGS. 1b to 1d.
[0082] As is indicated in FIG. 1b by the pressure arrows 18, a force acting in the direction toward the groove channel 2, by way of which force the printed sheet 16 is deformed or creased, respectively, in a printed-sheet wall region 20 facing the groove channel 2, as is illustrated in FIG. 1c, is exerted on the printed sheet 16 by way of a tool-side creasing tool 19 which is only schematically illustrated here and can be formed by a crease line, for example, in the punching or creasing procedure.
[0083] As is furthermore illustrated in FIG. 1c, the upper layer 9 that is produced from an elastically resilient material in this punching or creasing procedure respectively, at least in the peripheral edge region 11 that is directly adjacent to the groove channel is compressed by the force acting on the material strips 3, 4 from the side of the printed sheet, as is illustrated in an exemplary and schematic manner by the arrows 21 in FIG. 1c, while the remaining region of the material strips 3, 4 which is produced from the comparatively more dimensionally stable and/or harder material in this impingement with pressure maintains its shape without any modification, thus remains dimensionally stable and non-compressed, thus imparting the required stability to the respective material strip 3, 4.
[0084] After the punching or creasing procedure, respectively, that is to say when the creasing tool 19 is again lifted away from the die strip 1 in a manner corresponding to the arrows 22 and the creased printed sheet 16 is rejected or removed, respectively, from the tool in a manner corresponding to the arrow 23, the upper layer 9 springs back to the initial position as is schematically illustrated by the arrows 24 in FIG. 1d. The production process can recommence then.
[0085] The upper layer 9 springing back herein supports the rejection process because catching of the printed sheet 16 is avoided, for example. Moreover, a longer production and service life is achieved by the upper layer 9 having elastic properties.
[0086] It is to be understood that the functional principle that is shown here only in a schematic and fundamental manner by means of the particularly preferred embodiment of FIG. 1a of course applies in analogous manner to all other exemplary embodiments that are comprised by the scope of protection, in particular for the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1fd, 1g, and 1h.
[0087] It is furthermore to be understood that the printed sheet 16 during the punching or creasing procedure, respectively, is retained or held in position, respectively by means of a suitable holding installation which is not illustrated here.
[0088] A further alternative exemplary embodiment of a counter-die that is configured as a creasing matrix 25 is now shown in FIG. 2a. This creasing matrix which is produced, for example, from a hard paper, for example Pertinax, but fundamentally also from any other suitable material (fundamentally also entirely from an elastic material) here has a plurality of groove channels 2 which are shown here in only an exemplary manner. These groove channels 2 are incorporated, for example by milling, as depressions into the surface of a matrix main body 26 such that the groove channel walls that delimit the respective groove channel 2 are configured by the matrix main body 26.
[0089] As is illustrated in an only schematic and exemplary manner in FIG. 2b which shows a sectional illustration of exaggerated size along the line A-A of FIG. 2a, the upper side of the creasing matrix 25 here in a large area or optionally even entirely (right image half of FIG. 2b), respectively, or alternatively only in regions (left image half of FIG. 2b) can be configured by an elastic material such that the upper side of the creasing matrix that configures the contact and/or bearing face for a printed sheet 16 at least in regions is formed by this elastically resilient material. It also applies here again in principle, in a manner analogous to that of the variant of embodiment according to FIGS. 1a to 1h, that the region of the upper side that configures the elastic part-region is configured from a material that in a defined impingement with pressure is elastic, while the material of the matrix main body 26 is formed from a material that in the same impingement with pressure is dimensionally stable and non-compressible, but at least from an material that in relation to the elastic material of the upper side is more dimensionally stable and/or harder.
[0090] The elastically resilient material here, in a manner analogous to that of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 can be formed by an elastomeric layer that is applied to the matrix main body 26 and which is fixedly connected to the matrix main body 26. The layer 27 from the elastically resilient material, which is formed from an elastically resilient material, for example PU or TPU, respectively, herein can in principle be applied for example to the matrix main body 26 prior to the groove channels 22 being incorporated therein, or else be applied subsequently. An integral configuration of the elastic layer is possible here in principle.
[0091] As has already been indicated above, it is illustrated in the left image half of FIG. 2b that the layer from the elastically resilient material can in principle also be configured only in a peripheral edge region 11 that is directly adjacent to the groove channel 2.
[0092] The layer 27 as is illustrated in FIG. 2c, in a manner analogous to the design embodiment according to FIG. 1f, can however again also be inserted in a recess 12 in the peripheral edge so as to be flush with the surface. In terms of this design embodiment according to FIG. 2c reference is otherwise made to the analogous explanations pertaining to FIG. 1f.
[0093] Even while this is not illustrated explicitly in FIGS. 2a to 2c, it is to be understood that the layer 27 from the elastically resilient material of course extends at least in regions or at least in portions, preferably entirely, along the groove channels 2 of the creasing matrix 25.
[0094] The layer 27 from the elastically resilient material preferably has an elasticity modulus of 10 to 500 mPa, preferably of 20 to 400 MPa, most preferably of 20 to 250 MPa. The elasticity modulus of the matrix main body 26 is preferably 600 to 100,000 MPa, particularly preferably 1000 to 50,000 MPa.
[0095] Furthermore, the layer thickness d of the region that is formed by the elastically resilient material can be 0.01 to 1.90 mm, preferably 0.05 to 0.30 mm. the overall layer thickness D of the matrix main body is preferably 0.1 to 2.0 mm, preferably 0.3 to 1.7 mm.
[0096] A further alternative exemplary embodiment of a counter-die that is configured as a punch-creasing plate 28 is shown in FIG. 3a. This punch-creasing plate 28 that is produced from steel, for example, but in principle also from any other suitable material (in principle also entirely from an elastic material) here has a plurality of groove channels 2 which are shown only in an exemplary manner. These groove channels 2 are incorporated, for example by milling, as depressions in the surface of a punching plate as the punch-creasing plate main body 29 such that the groove channel walls that delimit the respective groove channel 2 are configured by the punch-creasing plate main body 29.
[0097] As is illustrated only schematically and in an exemplary manner in FIG. 3b which shows a sectional illustration, illustrated in an exaggerated size, along the line B-B of FIG. 3a, the upper side of the punch-creasing plate 28 here in a large area or optionally even entirely (right image half of FIG. 3b), respectively, or alternatively only in regions (left image half of FIG. 3b) can be configured by an elastic material such that the upper side of the punch-creasing plate that configures the contact and/or bearing face for a printed sheet 16 at least in regions is formed by this elastically resilient material. It also applies here again in principle, in a manner analogous to that of the variant of embodiment according to FIGS. 1a to 1h, that the region of the upper side that configures the elastic part-region is configured from a material that in a defined impingement with pressure is elastic, while the material of the punch-creasing plate main body 29 is formed from a material that in the same impingement with pressure is dimensionally stable and non-compressible, but at least from a material that in relation to the elastic material of the upper side is more dimensionally stable and/or harder.
[0098] The elastically resilient material here, in a manner analogous to that of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 can be formed by an elastomeric layer that is applied to the punch-creasing plate main body 29 and which is fixedly connected to punch-creasing plate main body 29. The layer 30 from the elastically resilient material, which is formed from an elastically resilient material, for example PU or TPU, respectively, herein can for example in principle be applied to the punch-creasing plate main body 29 prior to the groove channels 22 being incorporated therein, or else be applied subsequently. An integral configuration of the elastic layer is possible here in principle.
[0099] As has already been indicated above, it is illustrated in the left image half of FIG. 3b that the layer from the elastically resilient material in principle can also be configured only in a peripheral edge region 11 that is directly adjacent to the groove channel 2.
[0100] The layer 30 as is illustrated in FIG. 3c, in a manner analogous to the design embodiment according to FIG. 1f, can however again also be inserted in a recess 12 in the peripheral edge so as to be flush with the surface. In terms of this design embodiment according to FIG. 3c reference is otherwise made to the analogous explanations pertaining to FIG. 1f.
[0101] Even while this is not illustrated explicitly in FIGS. 3a to 3c, it is to be understood that the layer 30 from the elastically resilient material of course extends at least in regions or at least in portions, preferably entirely, along the groove channels 2 of the creasing matrix 25.
[0102] The layer 30 from the elastically resilient material preferably has an elasticity modulus of 10 to 500 MPa, preferably of 20 to 400 MPa, most preferably of 20 to 250 MPa. The elasticity modulus of the punch-creasing plate main body is preferably 1000 to 240,000 MPa, particularly preferably 2000 to 220,000 MPa.
[0103] Furthermore, the layer thickness d of the region that is formed by the elastically resilient material can be 0.01 to 1.90 mm, preferably 0.05 to 0.30 mm. the overall layer thickness D of the punch-creasing plate main body is preferably 0.1 to 2.0 mm, preferably 0.3 to 1.7 mm.
[0104] The functional mode of the creasing matrix 25, or of the punch-creasing plate 28, respectively, is exactly as has been described in the context of the die strip 1 in FIGS. 1b to 1d, such that in terms thereof reference is made to the explanations in the context of the latter. This means that here again the layer 27 in the case of the creasing matrix 25 as well as the layer 30 in the case of the punch-creasing plate 28 in an impingement with pressure during the punching or creasing procedure is compressed and subsequently after the end of the respective punching or creasing procedure, respectively, springs back to the initial position such that the upper sides of the groove channel walls of the respective groove channel 2, proceeding from an initial position are displaced in a downward manner at least partially in the vertical axis and/or processing direction z, wherein the upper side after the impingement with pressure, by virtue of the elastic material springing back to the uncompressed state in a self-acting manner, returns back to the initial position.
[0105] Here too, as is plotted in the exemplary manner with dashed lines in each case only in the left image half in FIG. 2b and FIG. 3b, alternatively or additionally to the layer 27 or 30, respectively, at least one elastic intermediate layer 27a or 30a, respectively, and/or optionally even an elastic lower layer 27b or 30b, respectively, can be provided. It is in principle advisable or optionally even required, respectively, in conjunction with an elastic intermediate layer 27a or 30a, respectively, in the case of the presently planar main bodies that said intermediate layer 27a or 30a, respectively, extends across the entire or almost the entire area, respectively, of the creasing matrix or of the punch-creasing plate, respectively, and thus configures a substantially continuous intermediate layer. Moreover, the intermediate layer, or at least one of the intermediate layers, respectively, in this instance is to be preferably configured in a region that neighbors the groove channel in order for functional reliability to be guaranteed.
[0106] As is demonstrated by the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3 shown here, it is particularly advantageous for the upper sides which configure a contact and/or bearing face for the punched and/or creased product to be processed, for example a printed sheet, when viewed in the direction of the vertical axis z to be configured so as to be substantially horizontal and/or flat so that the punched and/or creased products to be processed can bear thereon or against in a planar connection. Alternatively or additionally thereto, it is particularly advantageous when at least in relation to a groove channel the upper sides that lie on opposite sides of the groove channel when viewed in the direction of the vertical axis z are at the same height or are at least approximately at the same height, respectively.
[0107] The explanations made in the preceding paragraph apply explicitly in very general terms to all counter-dies according to the invention and are not to be considered to be limited only to the exemplary embodiments shown.
