Patent Description:
The cutting machines requires frequent change of die cutters based on cutting patterns, and the die cutters are usually disposed on die cutter plates. For the existing cutting machines, the die cutters are mostly changed manually, which leads to long change time and low efficiency. Furthermore, the position of the changed die cutters has poor repeatability and the size of the cut products is low in accuracy. Although some cutting machines adopt a mechanical device for automatic change of die cutter, the mechanical device is complex in structure and the size accuracy of the cut products is still unsatisfactory. A die cutter clamping and limiting device according to the preamble of claim <NUM> is known from the document <CIT>.

In order to address the above technical problems, the present invention provides a die cutter clamping and limiting device and a cutting and processing center using the device, so as to achieve clamping on a die cutter automatically and change the die cutter automatically. It is simple in structure and can shorten the time for changing the die cutter and noticeably improve the use efficiency of the cutting machine. Further, the position repeatability and the positioning accuracy of changing the die cutter are improved, and the size accuracy and stability of the cut products are also increased, so as to satisfy the users.

The present invention is achieved by providing a die cutter clamping and limiting device. The die cutter clamping and limiting device includes a clamping assembly and a limiting assembly which are mounted on a die cutter fixing plate of a cutting machine. The clamping assembly includes a left die pressing plate, a right die pressing plate, and pressing cylinders. The left die pressing plate and the right die pressing plate are disposed on the left and right side edges of a lower surface of the die cutter fixing plate respectively. The pressing cylinders are disposed inside the die cutter fixing plate and drive the left die pressing plate and the right die pressing plate respectively to press the die cutter closely against the lower surface of the die cutter fixing plate. The limiting assembly includes front limiting components and rear limiting components located at front and rear side surfaces of the die cutter fixing plate. At least one of the front limiting component and the rear limiting component is a movable limiting component and the other is a fixed limiting component or movable limiting component. The movable limiting components perform limiting or unlocking for the front and rear side surfaces of the die cutter by performing linkage with the left die pressing plate or the right die pressing plate.

Furthermore, two pressing cylinders are disposed at the right and left sides of the die cutter fixing plate respectively. The two pressing cylinders act simultaneously to press or release the die cutter.

Furthermore, the pressing cylinder includes a cylindrical hole, a valve core shaft, an upper piston, a lower piston, an upper air chamber and a lower air chamber, where the cylindrical hole is disposed inside the die cutter fixing plate, and the valve core shaft, the upper piston, the lower piston, the upper air chamber and the lower air chamber are disposed inside the cylindrical hole. The upper piston and the lower piston are disposed on the valve core shaft respectively. The upper air chamber is disposed between the upper piston and the top wall of the cylindrical hole. The lower air chamber is disposed between the upper piston and the lower piston. An upper air pipe connector and a lower air pipe connector are disposed on the die cutter fixing plate respectively. The upper air pipe connector and the lower air pipe connector are in communication with the upper air chamber and the lower air chamber through an upper channel and a lower channel disposed in the die cutter fixing plate.

Furthermore, a stop washer is disposed on an inner wall of the cylindrical hole to limit a movement position of the lower piston.

Furthermore, the fixed limiting component includes a limiting block and a fastening bolt. The limiting block limits the movement position of the die cutter, and the fastening bolt fixes the limiting block on a side surface of the die cutter fixing plate.

Furthermore, the movable limiting component includes a first connection bar, a second connection bar, a first rotary shaft, a second rotary shaft, and a third rotary shaft. The first rotary shaft is fixed on the die cutter fixing plate, and the third rotary shaft is fixed on the left die pressing plate or the right die pressing plate. The first rotary shaft is movably disposed in the middle of the first connection bar, and the second rotary shaft movably connects an end of the first connection bar to an end of the second connection bar. A blocking portion is disposed on the other end of the first connection bar to limit the die cutter, and the other end of the second connection bar is movably connected with the third rotary shaft.

Furthermore, one segment of inclined surface or arc-shaped surface is disposed on the blocking portion of the first connection bar.

Furthermore, limiting screws are disposed between the left die pressing plate/the right die pressing plate and the die cutter fixing plate. The limiting screws are used to limit a maximum distance between the left die pressing plate/the right die pressing plate and the die cutter fixing plate respectively.

Furthermore, side covers are also disposed on the die cutter fixing plate.

The present invention is achieved by providing a cutting and processing center, which includes a die cutter fixing plate and a die cutter for cutting an object. The die cutter clamping and limiting device mentioned above is disposed on the die cutter fixing plate to clamp the die cutter.

Compared with the prior arts, in the die cutter clamping and limiting device and the cutting and processing center using the device in the present invention, the clamping and limiting device includes a clamping assembly and a limiting assembly and is mounted on the die cutter fixing plate of the cutting machine. The clamping assembly presses the die cutter closely against the lower surface of the die cutter fixing plate, and the limiting assembly performs limitation for the front and rear side surfaces of the die cutter, thereby achieving automatic clamping on the die cutter and automatic change for the die cutter. The present invention is simple in structure and can shorten the time for changing the die cutter and noticeably improve the use efficiency of the cutting and processing center. Further, the position repeatability and the positioning accuracy of changing the die cutter are improved, and the size accuracy and stability of the cut products are also increased.

In order to make the technical problems, the technical solutions and the beneficial effects of the present invention clearer and more intelligible, the present invention will be further elaborated in combination with accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are used only to explain the present invention rather than limit the present invention.

By referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> at the same time, a preferred embodiment of a die cutter clamping and limiting device and a cutting machine using the device in the present invention includes a clamping assembly <NUM> and a limiting assembly which are mounted on a die cutter fixing plate <NUM> of the cutting machine.

The clamping assembly <NUM> includes a left die pressing plate <NUM>, a right die pressing plate <NUM>, and pressing cylinders <NUM>. The left die pressing plate <NUM> and the right die pressing plate <NUM> are disposed on the left and right side edges of a lower surface of the die cutter fixing plate <NUM> respectively. The pressing cylinders <NUM> are disposed inside the die cutter fixing plate <NUM> and located at four corners of the die cutter fixing plate <NUM> in a manner of left-right and back-front symmetry. The pressing cylinders <NUM> drive the left die pressing plate <NUM> and the right die pressing plate <NUM> respectively to press the die cutter A closely against the lower surface of the die cutter fixing plate <NUM>.

The limiting assembly includes front limiting components and rear limiting components located at front and rear side surfaces of the die cutter fixing plate <NUM>, where at least one of the front limiting component and the rear limiting component is a movable limiting component <NUM> and the other is a fixed limiting component or movable limiting component <NUM>. The movable limiting components <NUM> perform limiting or unlocking for the front and rear side surfaces of the die cutter A by performing linkage with the left die pressing plate <NUM> or the right die pressing plate <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the movable limiting components <NUM> are respectively disposed at the front and rear side surfaces of the die cutter fixing plate <NUM>.

When the die cutter A is in a clamped state, the left die pressing plate <NUM> and the right die pressing plate <NUM> press the die cutter A closely against the lower surface of the die cutter fixing plate <NUM> along an up-down direction under the drive of the pressing cylinders <NUM>. At this time, the limiting assembly performs limiting for the front and rear side surfaces of the die cutter A. In this way, the position repeatability and positioning accuracy of changing the die cutter are improved and the size accuracy of the cut products is also improved.

The limiting assembly acts in the following process: when the left die pressing plate <NUM> and the right die pressing plate <NUM> of the clamping assembly <NUM> press the die cutter A closely against the lower surface of the die cutter fixing plate <NUM>, the movable limiting components <NUM> perform limiting for the front side surface and/or rear side surface of the die cutter A immediately. On the contrary, when the left die pressing plate <NUM> and the right die pressing plate <NUM> of the clamping assembly <NUM> release the up-down press on the die cutter A, the movable limiting components <NUM> release limitation for the front side surface and/or the rear side surface of the die cutter A immediately.

Two pressing cylinders <NUM> are disposed at the right and left sides of the die cutter fixing plate <NUM> respectively. The two pressing cylinders <NUM> act simultaneously to press or release the die cutter A.

The pressing cylinder <NUM> includes a cylindrical hole <NUM>, a valve core shaft <NUM>, an upper piston <NUM>, a lower piston <NUM>, an upper air chamber <NUM> and a lower air chamber <NUM>, where the cylindrical hole <NUM> is disposed inside the die cutter fixing plate <NUM> and the valve core shaft <NUM>, the upper piston <NUM>, the lower piston <NUM>, the upper air chamber <NUM> and the lower air chamber <NUM> are disposed inside the cylindrical hole <NUM>. The upper piston <NUM> and the lower piston <NUM> are disposed on the valve core shaft <NUM> respectively. The upper air chamber <NUM> is disposed between the upper piston <NUM> and the top wall of the cylindrical hole <NUM>. The lower air chamber <NUM> is disposed between the upper piston <NUM> and the lower piston <NUM>. An upper air pipe connector <NUM> and a lower air pipe connector <NUM> are disposed on the die cutter fixing plate <NUM> respectively. The upper air pipe connector <NUM> and the lower air pipe connector <NUM> are in communication with the upper air chamber <NUM> and the lower air chamber <NUM> through an upper channel <NUM> and a lower channel <NUM> disposed in the die cutter fixing plate <NUM>.

In the present invention, the pressing cylinders <NUM> are directly made inside the die cutter fixing plate <NUM>, which simplifies the structure of the die cutter clamping and limiting device, reduces the weight of the die cutter fixing plate <NUM> and improves its stability.

The pressing cylinders <NUM> act in the following process: when high pressure air is introduced into the upper air chamber <NUM> via the upper air pipe connector <NUM>, the lower air chamber <NUM> recovers air via the lower air pipe connector <NUM>, and then the valve core shaft <NUM> is driven to move down together with the upper piston <NUM> and the lower piston <NUM> disposed thereon, and then the valve core shaft <NUM> pushes open the left die pressing plate <NUM> or the right die pressing plate <NUM>, thereby unlocking the die cutter A. When high pressure air is introduced into the lower air chamber <NUM> via the lower air pipe connector <NUM>, the upper air chamber <NUM> recovers air via the upper air pipe connector <NUM>, and then the valve core shaft <NUM> is driven to move up for resetting together with the upper piston <NUM> and the lower piston <NUM> disposed thereon, and then the valve core shaft <NUM> drives the left die pressing plate <NUM> or the right die pressing plate <NUM> closely against the die cutter A.

A stop washer <NUM> is disposed on an inner wall of the cylindrical hole <NUM> to limit a movement position of the lower piston <NUM>, so as to limit a movement position of the valve core shaft <NUM>, thereby limiting a telescoping height of the pressing cylinder <NUM>.

The fixed limiting component includes a limiting block and a fastening bolt (not shown). The limiting block limits the movement position of the die cutter A, and the fastening bolt fixes the limiting block on a side surface of the die cutter fixing plate <NUM>.

The movable limiting component <NUM> includes a first connection bar <NUM>, a second connection bar <NUM>, a first rotary shaft <NUM>, a second rotary shaft <NUM>, and a third rotary shaft <NUM>. The first rotary shaft <NUM> is fixed on the die cutter fixing plate <NUM>, and the third rotary shaft <NUM> is fixed on the left die pressing plate <NUM> or the right die pressing plate <NUM>. The first rotary shaft <NUM> is movably disposed in the middle of the first connection bar <NUM>, and the second rotary shaft <NUM> movably connects an end of the first connection bar <NUM> to an end of the second connection bar <NUM>. A blocking portion <NUM> is disposed on the other end of the first connection bar <NUM> to limit the die cutter A, and the other end of the second connection bar <NUM> is movably connected with the third rotary shaft <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, one segment of inclined surface or arc-shaped surface <NUM> is disposed on the blocking portion <NUM> of the first connection bar <NUM> , and thus it is convenient to push the die cutter A back to a correct limiting position when the first connection bar <NUM> performs limiting for the die cutter A.

The movable limiting component <NUM> acts in the following process: when the pressing cylinders <NUM> drive the left die pressing plate <NUM> or the right die pressing plate <NUM> to move down, the third rotary shaft <NUM> and the second connection bar <NUM> move down accordingly, and the second connection bar <NUM> also drives, via the second rotary shaft <NUM>, an end of the first connection bar <NUM> to move down. Thus, the first connection bar <NUM> rotates around the first rotary shaft <NUM>, so as to lift up the other end of the first connection bar <NUM>, thus releasing the limited die cutter A. When the pressing cylinders <NUM> drive the left die pressing plate <NUM> or the right die pressing plate <NUM> to move up, the third rotary shaft <NUM> and the second connection bar <NUM> move up accordingly, and the second connection bar <NUM> drives, via the second rotary shaft <NUM>, an end of the first connection bar <NUM> to move up. Thus, the first connection bar <NUM> rotates around the first rotary shaft <NUM>, so as to lower the other end of the first connection bar <NUM>, thus limiting the die cutter A.

Limiting screws <NUM> are disposed between the left die pressing plate <NUM>/the right die pressing plate <NUM> and the die cutter fixing plate <NUM>. The limiting screws <NUM> are used to adjust and limit a maximum distance between the left die pressing plate <NUM>/the right die pressing plate <NUM> and the die cutter fixing plate <NUM>.

With the clamping and limiting device of the present invention, the die cutter A can be quickly limited and clamped, thus achieving quick change of the die cutter A. Further, good position repeatability and high positioning accuracy are ensured.

Side covers <NUM> are also disposed on the die cutter fixing plate <NUM> to cover the upper air pipe connector <NUM> and the lower air pipe connector <NUM>.

The present invention further provides a cutting and processing center (not shown), including the die cutter fixing plate <NUM> and the die cutters A for cutting an object. The above die cutter clamping and limiting device mentioned above is disposed on the die cutter fixing plate <NUM> to clamp a die cutter A.

Claim 1:
A die cutter clamping and limiting device, comprising a clamping assembly (<NUM>) and a limiting assembly which are mounted on a die cutter fixing plate (<NUM>) of a cutting machine, wherein the clamping assembly (<NUM>) comprises a left die pressing plate (<NUM>), a right die pressing plate (<NUM>), and pressing cylinders (<NUM>), the left die pressing plate (<NUM>) and the right die pressing plate (<NUM>) are disposed on the left and right side edges of a lower surface of the die cutter fixing plate (<NUM>) respectively, wherein the limiting assembly comprises front limiting components and rear limiting components located at front and rear side surfaces of the die cutter fixing plate (<NUM>), wherein at least one of the front limiting component and the rear limiting component is a movable limiting component (<NUM>) and the other is a fixed limiting component or movable limiting component (<NUM>), wherein the movable limiting components (<NUM>) perform limiting or unlocking for the front and rear side surfaces of the die cutter (A) by performing linkage with the left die pressing plate (<NUM>) or the right die pressing plate (<NUM>),
characterized in that,
the pressing cylinders (<NUM>) are disposed inside the die cutter fixing plate (<NUM>) and drive the left die pressing plate (<NUM>) and the right die pressing plate (<NUM>) respectively to press a die cutter (A) closely against the lower surface of the die cutter fixing plate (<NUM>).