Abstract:
An adjustable cutting die mounting system includes at a least pair of securable and releasable two axis mounting and securement assemblies. Each assembly includes a square or rectangular opening in the cutting die board which receives an opposed pair of slotted brackets or guides which are secured to the die within the opening. The slotted brackets cooperatively receive an elongate member which defines an elongate slot. The elongate slot receives a captive mounting bolt which adjustably secures the cutting die board to the drum cutting die drum.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The invention relates generally to mounting devices for rotary cutting dies and more specifically to an adjustable mounting assembly for facilitating two axis adjustment as well as ready securement of a cutting die to a rotary die cutting drum.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Solid, laminated or corrugated fiberboard, cardboard sheet stock, corrugated plastics, vinyl&#39;s, felts, cloth, automotive sound deadening materials and thin, other planar, non-metallic materials may be cut, slit, perforated or scored into regular or irregular shapes to form, for example, inserts, carton blanks, panels, separators and advertising displays. The resulting blanks are stored and shipped flat or utilized in their desired shapes or folded and secured at the point of use. Rotary die cutting machines represent the preferred means for cutting, slitting, perforating and scoring such non-metallic materials. These machines include an upper drum or cylinder to which is secured a rotary steel rule die board having serrated or continuous blades or rules which compress the stock against a lower, contra-rotating anvil which is covered with a stiffly resilient covering. Such rotary steel rule cutting dies are capable of providing complexly configured cut, scored, perforated and slit blanks at high production rates with exceptionally good dimensional accuracy.  
         [0003]     The standard rotary die cutting machine includes a cylinder or drum having a diameter varying from about 7 inches (17.8 cm.) to about 26 inches (66 cm.) which provides correspondingly varying cutting lengths. The die drum includes a plurality of rows of equally spaced, threaded bolt holes which receive complementarily threaded fasteners which are utilized to secure large, complementarily curved wooden die boards containing the steel cutting rules.  
         [0004]     In recent years, such rotary die cutting machines have been combined on the same production line with flexographic printing presses. The combination achieves equally impressive production capability including both multiple color printing and cutting, scoring and slitting in a single pass, continuous flow operation on fiberboard, cardboard or other planar stock.  
         [0005]     One problem that has accompanied the shift to the unitary printing and cutting production line is that downtime of either machine for service, reconfiguration or adjustment amounts to downtime for both machines. Thus, there is significant financial incentive to undertake and perfect apparatus and processes which facilitate rapid changeover, adjustment and repair of these machines. The high production rates of these machines also encourages any attempt to minimize downtime and maximize production time.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     An adjustable cutting die mounting system includes at a least pair of securable and releasable two axis mounting and securement assemblies. Each assembly includes a square or rectangular opening in the cutting die board which receives an opposed pair of slotted brackets or guides which are secured to the die within the opening. The slotted brackets cooperatively receive an elongate member which defines an elongate slot. The elongate slot receives a captive mounting bolt which adjustably secures the cutting die board to the cutting die drum.  
         [0007]     Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable cutting die board mounting system.  
         [0008]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide adjustable mounting components for facilitating adjustment and securement of cutting die boards on the drum of a rotary die cutting machine.  
         [0009]     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an adjustable cutting die mounting system which facilitates both two axis adjustment and securement of the cutting die board to a rotary cutting die drum.  
         [0010]     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an adjustable cutting die mounting system which includes a pair of opposed slotted guides which receive an elongate slotted member therein.  
         [0011]     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following description of the preferred embodiment and appended drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to the same component, element or feature. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a rotary cutting die board in place on a rotary die cutting machine drum incorporating the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the components of an adjustable rotary cutting die board mounting system according to the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary, end elevational view of a portion of the adjustable die board mounting system according to the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the slide portion of an adjustable cutting die mounting system according to the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a full, sectional view of a captive mounting bolt assembly and slide according to the present invention taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a full, sectional view of a captive mounting bolt assembly and slide according to the present invention taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a rotary die cutting cylinder or drum is illustrated and generally designed by the reference number  10 . The rotary die cutting cylinder or drum  10  may reside in a dedicated die cutting machine  12  or may be a portion of a two-stage printing and die cutting machine such as that illustrated in FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,158 which is hereby incorporated by reference. The rotary die cutting cylinder or drum  10  is disposed adjacent and parallel to a contra-rotating anvil  14 . The anvil  14  is covered with a layer or coating of a rugged, stiffly resilient material. Both the die cutting drum  10  and the contra-rotating anvil  14  are driven by a suitable synchronous drive assembly disposed within the machine  12 .  
         [0019]     The die cutting cylinder or drum  10  is an elongate cylinder having a plurality of threaded apertures  18  disposed on an exterior surface  22 . The diameter of the drum  10  may vary from approximately 7 inches (17.8 cm) to 26 inches (66 cm). A common diameter for the drum  10  is 20 inches (50.8 cm) and the threaded apertures  18  are arranged in circumferential lines or columns at 26 equally spaced locations which encircle the drum  10 . Smaller diameter drums  10  will typically utilize fewer apertures  18  in each circumferential column and vice versa. These lines or columns of apertures  18  are most commonly spaced apart 2 inches (5.08 cm) transversely, i.e., axially, across the drum  10 .  
         [0020]     Installed upon the cutting die cylinder or drum  10  is a cutting die board or assembly  30  which extends axially and circumferentially upon and about the drum  10 . The cutting die board or assembly  30  includes a desired pattern of creasing, perforating, scoring or, as illustrated, cutting rules  32  which achieve a desired creased, perforated, scored or cut line or pattern of lines in a product. It will be appreciated that the shape and size of the cutting rules  32  illustrated is merely exemplary and representative and that the cutting rules  32  and the entire cutting die assembly  30  may vary widely and take any necessary and desired configuration. Typically, a plurality of resilient stripper pads  34  are arranged adjacent one or both sides of the cutting rules  32  and assist release of planar stock (not illustrated) as it passes through the machine  12  between the cutting die drum  10  and the anvil  14 .  
         [0021]     Disposed within suitably sized square or rectangular openings or cut-outs  38  in the cutting die board or assembly  30  are preferably a pair of adjustable mounting assemblies  40 . While typically two mounting assemblies  40  will provide appropriate and sufficient mounting security and integrity, depending upon the size of the cutting die board or assembly  30 , it is expected and anticipated that three or four mounting assemblies  40  may be utilized with larger die cutting assemblies  30 . For example, more than two mounting assemblies  40  may be utilized with a cutting die assembly  30  that extends circumferentially around the drum  10  to or substantially near the nominal circumferential limit of 180°.  
         [0022]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , an adjustable mounting assembly  40  according to the present invention is illustrated. The mounting assembly  40  includes a pair of opposed, symmetrically arranged left and right arcuate brackets or guides  42  which extend circumferentially along and about the surface  22  of the drum  10 . Each of the guides  42  includes a correspondingly arcuate slot or recess  44  having rounded, i.e., semi-circular, ends. Disposed within the arcuate slot  44  and extending through chamfered apertures  46  into the cutting die assembly or board  30  are a plurality of fasteners  48  such as wood screws or other tightly securable but removable fasteners.  
         [0023]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , received within the opposed slots or recesses  44  of the brackets or guides  42  in the cutting die assembly  30  is a rectangular, elongate slide block  50 . The elongate slide block  50  includes pairs of pegs or register pins  52  on each of its short ends which have a diameter equal to or just slightly less than the width of the slots or recesses  44  in the arcuate guides  42 . The pegs or pins  52  are received within the slots or recesses  44  and thus the slide block  50  is movable circumferentially about the drum  10  within the guides  42  and the cutting die assembly  30 . The rectangular slide block  50  defines a first, smaller, i.e., narrower and shorter, elongate slot  54  on its upper or outer surface and a second, longer and wider slot  56  on its lower or inner surface which forms a shoulder  58  with the first, smaller slot  54 .  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the first elongate slot  54  of the slide block  50  receives a captive bolt assembly  60  including a machine bolt  62  having a conventional hex or square head  64 . Alternatively, the head  64  of the bolt  62  may define a hexagonal socket adapted to receive an Allen wrench or other configuration such as a square socket or other internal or external configuration engageable by a complementary driver. The machine bolt  62  may include rolled threads  66  having a diameter larger than the diameter of the shank of the bolt  62 . Alternatively, the threads  66  may be cut. The male rolled or cut threads  66  are complementary to the female threads in the apertures  18  on the cutting die drum assembly  10 . The threads  66  assist retention of a stiffly flexible washer  68  which resides about the shank of the bolt  62 . The flexible washer  68  may be fabricated of nylon or other stiffly resilient flexible material such as high durometer rubber or other elastomer. It will be appreciated, however, that the threads  66  may be either rolled or cut into the shank of the bolt  62  as the resiliency and flexibility of the washer  68  which functions as a retaining device to maintain the bolt  62  within the elongate slot  54  of the slide block  50  and rests against the shoulder  58  will function with either style of thread. This is achieved by an interference fit between the inside diameter of the resilient washer  68  and the outside diameter of the bolt  62 . Slidably disposed along the upper surface of the slide block  50  is a flat washer  72  which receives the shank of the bolt  62 . Between the upper surface of the flat washer  72  and the bolt head  64  is a conical compression spring  74 . The conical compression spring  74  biases the bolt  62  in a radially outward direction from the cutting die drum assembly  10  and, as noted, the flexible washer  68  retains the bolt  62  within the elongate slot  54 .  
         [0025]     In operation and use, at least two mounting assemblies  40  are disposed within a cutting die board or assembly  30  by cutting appropriate rectangular openings or cutouts in the cutting die board or assembly  30  in locations remote from the positions of the steel rule cutting, perforating and scoring dies  32 . The slide block  50  having a captive fastener assembly  60  is positioned within the two arcuate brackets or guides  42 , this assembly is inserted into the cutout in the cutting die assembly  30  and the fasteners  46  are inserted and tightened into the cutting die assembly  30 .  
         [0026]     Next, the entire cutting die assembly  30  is placed upon a rotary die cutting cylinder or drum  10  and the bolts  62  are threaded into complementarily threaded passageways  18  on the drum  10  with the cutting die assembly  30  located approximately as desired on the rotary cutting die cylinder or drum  10 . Finally, the cutting die assembly  30  is moved axially (transversely) and circumferentially on the surface  22  of the rotary cutting die cylinder or drum  10  until the steel rule cutting dies  32  and the die board or assembly  30  are properly located relative to the drum  10  and the stock passing through the machine  12  resulting in properly registered and located slitting, scoring, perforating or cutting of the planar stock.  
         [0027]     It will be appreciated that both initial adjustment as just described and adjustment to compensate for shifts of registration during operation can be readily achieved by loosening the bolts  62 , sliding the cutting die assembly  30  upon the surface  22  of the rotary cutting die drum  10 , such bi-axial, i.e., XY, movement being permitted and facilitated by interaction of the mounting bolts  62  in the elongate slot  54  and motion of the sliding blocks  50  in the slots  44  of the arcuate guides  42 .  
         [0028]     Release and removal of the cutting die assembly  30  is equally rapid and straightforward as it entails simply loosening of the bolts  62  sufficiently to allow removal of the cutting die board or assembly  30  from the rotary cutting die cylinder or drum  10 . It will be appreciated that the bolts  62  remain captive within the slots  54  of the slide blocks  50  by virtue of the flexible washers  68  disposed about the shanks of the machine bolts  62 .  
         [0029]     It should be appreciated that although the invention has been described with the guides or brackets  42  disposed circumferentially on the drum or cylinder  30 , and the slide blocks  50  disposed axially, the guides or brackets  42  may be disposed axially and the slide blocks  50  disposed circumferentially about the drum  30  if appropriate changes are made to these components, i.e., the brackets or guides  42  are straightened and the slide blocks  50  are curved to mimic the curvature of the die board or assembly  30 .  
         [0030]     The foregoing disclosure is the best mode devised by the inventor for practicing this invention. It is apparent however, that devices incorporating modifications and variations will be obvious to one skilled in the art of rotary die cutting apparatus. Inasmuch as the foregoing disclosure presents the best mode contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention and is intended to enable any person skilled in the pertinent art to practice this invention, it should not be construed to be limited thereby but should be construed to include such aforementioned obvious variations and be limited only by the spirit and scope of the following claims.