Vacuum die mount
First Claim
1. Die mounting apparatus, comprising:
- a rotatable die cylinder having a die mounting surface;
means for connecting an interior of said die cylinder to a source of vacuum;
at least one valve unit mounted in said die cylinder, said valve unit having an actuating member protruding above said die mounting surface when the valve is closed, depression of said actuating member opening the valve for placing said die cylinder interior in communication with said die mounting surface;
a rigid die mounted on said die mounting surface over said actuating member and being held on said surface in use by vacuum applied below said die through said valve unit, said actuating member being depressed by said die;
a seal sandwiched between said die and said die mounting surface, said seal defining a closed area on an underside of said die and to which area the vacuum is in use applied; and
said seal comprising at least one elongate element having a lengthwise direction and a width transverse to said lengthwise direction, said element having a bubble formed intermediate its width and extending in said lengthwise direction, said bubble being flattened between said die and said die mounting surface when said vacuum is applied to said closed area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for mounting a die, particularly a rigid cutting die, on a die cylinder includes having a bubble along a seal on the die to bridge any gaps between the die and the die cylinder when the die is initially positioned on the die cylinder. This bubble seal enables a vacuum to be applied between the initially positioned die and the die cylinder to pull the die down against and into conformity with the surface of the die cylinder, at the same time flattening the bubble seal. A key at a trailing edge of the die locates in an axial keyway in the die cylinder to circumferentially position the die; a bolt is then inserted at a leading edge of the die to establish axial location. During operation the die is held in position by the vacuum. Beam sensors and light reflectors may be incorporated to sense when a wrong die is present and shut down the apparatus. Ball valve members may be incorporated in the surface of the die to distribute the vacuum and also to enable the die to be rolled along the surface of the die cylinder while initially being positioned.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. Die mounting apparatus, comprising:
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a rotatable die cylinder having a die mounting surface; means for connecting an interior of said die cylinder to a source of vacuum; at least one valve unit mounted in said die cylinder, said valve unit having an actuating member protruding above said die mounting surface when the valve is closed, depression of said actuating member opening the valve for placing said die cylinder interior in communication with said die mounting surface; a rigid die mounted on said die mounting surface over said actuating member and being held on said surface in use by vacuum applied below said die through said valve unit, said actuating member being depressed by said die; a seal sandwiched between said die and said die mounting surface, said seal defining a closed area on an underside of said die and to which area the vacuum is in use applied; and said seal comprising at least one elongate element having a lengthwise direction and a width transverse to said lengthwise direction, said element having a bubble formed intermediate its width and extending in said lengthwise direction, said bubble being flattened between said die and said die mounting surface when said vacuum is applied to said closed area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for cutting paperboard sheets, comprising:
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a motor; means for controlling said motor; a die roll rotatably mounted for rotation by said motor, said die roll having a cylindrical surface; a cutting die having a rigid curved shell with at least one cutting rule mounted therein, said shell being mountable on said die roll surface; vacuum means for applying a vacuum between said surface and said die for drawing and holding said die against said surface; first and second sensor means, connected to said controlling means, for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves; a first reflector mounted on said die roll and covered in use by said die when mounted on said surface; a second reflector mounted on said die; said first sensor means functioning to cause said motor to be switched off if said first sensor means senses reflected electromagnetic waves from said first reflector; and said second sensor means functioning to cause said motor to be switched off if said second sensor means does not sense reflected electromagnetic waves from said second reflector. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. Die mounting apparatus, comprising:
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a motor; a die cylinder mounted for rotation by said motor; a die mountable on an exterior surface of said die cylinder; means for generating a vacuum and being selectively switchable on or off; means for applying said vacuum between said surface and said die when mounted on said surface; a light reflector mounted on said die; and means for sensing light reflected from said reflector when said die cylinder is rotating, and for causing said motor to be switched off if said vacuum generating means is switched on and no reflected light is received by said sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of mounting on a die cylinder a cutting die having a wooden shell, comprising the steps of:
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locating a key on the die in an axial keyway in the die cylinder to position the die circumferentially on the die cylinder;
thenmoving the die axially on the die cylinder and aligning a bolt hole in the die with a selected bore in the die cylinder to position the die axially on the die cylinder;
theninserting a bolt through said bolt hole into said bore during said moving and inserting steps, causing a protruding but readily collapsible seal on said die to bridge gaps occurring between the die and the die cylinder due to the wooden shell of the die being distorted and not conforming exactly to the die cylinder, and causing said seal to define a closed area between said die and said die cylinder; and
thenapplying vacuum to said closed area between the die and the die cylinder to draw the die towards and into surface conformity with the die cylinder and to flatten said seal. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A method of mounting a rotary cutting die, having a substantially rigid shell, on a die cylinder, comprising the steps of:
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placing said die on said die cylinder at a desired lateral and circumferential location with a collapsible seal protruding from said rigid shell contacting a mounting surface of said die cylinder, said seal defining a closed area between said shell and said mounting surface; and applying vacuum to said closed area to draw said shell into intimate surface contact with said mounting surface and simultaneously collapse said seal.
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33. A method of mounting and controlling use of a rotary cutting die, comprising the steps of:
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mounting a rotary cutting die on a die cylinder; applying vacuum between said die and said die cylinder to hold said die on said die cylinder; drivingly rotating said die cylinder while still applying said vacuum; transmitting first and second signals towards the rotating die and die cylinder; stopping said drivingly rotating of said die cylinder in response to absence of said first signal being reflected by a first reflector on said die; also stopping said drivingly rotating of said die cylinder in response to presence of said second signal being reflected by a second reflector on said die cylinder; and continuing said drivingly rotating of said die cylinder in response to said first signal being reflected by said first reflector and said second signal not being reflected by said second reflector. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A method of mounting a rotary cutting die, having a substantially rigid shell, on a rotatable die cylinder, comprising the steps of:
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placing said die on said die cylinder to be held thereon in use by application of vacuum between said die and said die cylinder; beginning rotation of said die cylinder with said die thereon; sensing whether a signal is coming from the rotating die; and stopping said rotation of said die cylinder in response to absence of said signal coming from said die when said application of vacuum has occurred.
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Specification