Mounting device for mounting supporting plate in flat-bed die-cutting machine, supporting plate and flat-bed die-cutting machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a mounting device (10) for mounting a support plate (12) in a flat-bed die-cutting machine (2), comprising a support, a first and a second adjustment unit (30) and an adjustable abutment unit (32), the adjustment units (30) and the abutment unit (32) being arranged at a distance from one another on the support (11), and a mounting device (10) for receiving the support plate (12) in an adjustable position relative to the support (11), the mounting device (10) having actuators (46, 56) associated with the adjustment unit (30) and the abutment unit (32). The invention further relates to a support plate (12) for a flat-bed die-cutting machine (2) having first and second engagement structures (14) adapted to cooperate with first and second adjustment units (30) of a mounting device (10) as described in any of the preceding claims, and an abutment structure (20) spaced apart from the first and second engagement structures (14), adapted to cooperate with the first and second adjustment units (30) of the mounting device (10) as described in any of the preceding claims. The engagement structure (14) is adapted to position the support plate (12) in a first direction and the abutment structure (20) is adapted to position the support plate (12) in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The invention finally relates to a flat-bed die-cutting machine (2) having the mounting device (10) as described above and the support plate (12) as described above.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a mounting device for mounting a support plate in a flat-bed die-cutting machine, a support plate, and a flat-bed die-cutting machine.

[0002] The die-cutting machine processes sheets of cardboard. This will be briefly explained in conjunction with Figure 1 this.

[0003] The cardboard enters the inlet station 1, is clamped and conveyed through the die-cutting machine 2 (commonly also referred to as a "flat press"), the waste discharge station 3, and the blanking station 4.

[0004] At the die-cutting machine 2, the blanks are cut out from the sheet material and may be provided with folding creases. At the waste discharge station 3, the waste material is separated from the sheet material. At the blanking station 4, the blanks are separated from the cardboard sheet. At the discharge station 5, the remaining part of the sheet material is discharged. The sheet material is conveyed through each station by a chain drive 6 having a number of clamping rods 7. The die-cutting machine 2 imprints for two purposes: cutting out the blanks in the sheet and generating score lines (or even embossing some shapes). The score line is a compression of the cardboard, where the cardboard will be folded to form a box.

[0005] To generate the score lines, the die-cutting machine has a fixed upper tool 8 that carries some knives / rules on a tool plate to cut or score the cardboard. The die-cutting machine also has a lower tool that moves up and down, where the lower tool has a mounting device 10 for carrying the support plate 12 and a thin plate 13 having some slots aligned with the scoring rules of the upper plate. The thin plate is fixed to the support plate by screws or by a quick-locking mechanism. Once mounted on the support plate, the position of the thin plate 13 is fixed on the support plate. The tool plate of the upper tool 8 and the thin plate of the lower tool must be changed for each production run. To change the thin plate, the support plate and the thin plate assembly are withdrawn from the machine, the thin plate is removed and replaced with a new thin plate, and the support plate and the thin plate assembly are put back into the machine.

[0006] In the prior art, to adjust the position of the support plate 12 relative to the tool plate, adjustment screws are used, and the adjustment screws are provided for manual adjustment of the position of the support plate 12 relative to the mounting device 10.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to make the adjustment of the support plate easier.

[0008] For this purpose, the present invention provides a mounting device for mounting a support plate in a flatbed die cutter, which has a support member, first and second adjustment units, and an adjustable abutment unit. The adjustment units and the abutment unit are arranged spaced apart from each other at the support member for receiving the support plate in an adjustable position relative to the support member. The mounting device has actuators associated with the adjustment units and the abutment unit. When the traveling direction of the sheet is defined as the longitudinal direction, the combination of the two adjustment units and the abutment unit allows adjustment of the position of the support plate in both the longitudinal and transverse directions. In addition, rotational adjustment is possible.

[0009] Using an electric motor as an actuator allows adjustment in a convenient manner, so that only a cable for supplying the necessary energy to the actuator is required.

[0010] In one embodiment, each of the adjustment units has a drive element that can be translated relative to the support member. The drive element is a mechanically simple element for defining the position of the support plate relative to the mounting device.

[0011] The drive element can be a screw, and a drive nut is arranged on the screw, and the screw is driven by one of the actuators. This type of linear drive allows the movement provided by the actuator to be transformed into a translational movement in a very convenient manner.

[0012] In one embodiment, the abutment unit includes a translatable wedge. The wedge is a mechanically simple element that allows adjustment of the position of the support plate in a direction perpendicular to the displacement direction of the wedge.

[0013] The wedge can be arranged on a screw, and the screw is driven by one of the actuators. Here, a linear drive is also formed, which allows the movement provided by the actuator to be transformed into a translational movement in a very convenient manner.

[0014] Preferably, a locking unit is provided, which is associated with the abutment unit for mechanically locking the support plate to the mounting device.

[0015] The locking unit can have a locking rod that can be rotationally displaced between a mounting position and a locking position. Using a pivotable locking rod is a mechanically simple solution that does not require complex guides on the mounting device. A pneumatic actuator can be associated with the locking rod so that the locking rod can be biased by a locking force while still allowing some flexibility or displaceability of the locking rod because there is a gas buffer in the pneumatic actuator.

[0016] The above object is also solved by a support plate for a flatbed die-cutting machine, the support plate having: first and second engaging structures adapted to cooperate with the first and second adjustment units of the mounting device as described in any one of the preceding claims; and an abutting structure spaced from the first and second engaging structures, the engaging structures being adapted to position the support plate in a first direction and the abutting structure being adapted to position the support plate in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The engaging structures and the abutting structure cooperate with the adjustment units and the abutting units to allow adjustment of the support plate in a translational manner in both the longitudinal and transverse directions and rotationally about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the support plate.

[0017] The engaging structure may have a forked shape with the two engaging structures opening at the same side of the support plate. This shape of the engaging structure allows reliable cooperation with the adjustment unit of the mounting device while allowing the support plate to be placed at the mounting device in a very simple manner, namely by laterally pushing the engaging structure onto the adjustment unit. The abutting structure preferably has a curved surface with the center of curvature on the side of the support plate opposite the side towards which the engaging structure opens. The curved surface forms the axis of rotation about which the support plate can rotate during the adjustment procedure, this axis remaining substantially stationary during the rotation of the support plate, which simplifies the adjustment procedure.

[0018] The support plate preferably has a rectangular shape, with the engaging structures in radially opposite positions and the abutting structure in a position to form a triangle with the position of the engaging structures. This positioning of the different structures ensures a reliable and stable connection between the support plate and the mounting device. More generally, the engaging structures are placed on opposite sides of the support plate. Preferably, they are placed on the respective transverse sides of the plate. The transverse sides are the sides parallel to the longitudinal axis. The abutting structure is placed on the same side as one of the engaging structures. The configuration of the engaging structures and the abutting structure preferably forms a triangle. Nevertheless, the abutting structure may also be positioned at the same position as one of the engaging structures (resulting in a degenerate triangle with two merged vertices, where the abutting structure is on one of the merged vertices).

[0019] The above object is also solved by a flatbed die-cutting machine having a mounting device as described above and a support plate as described above clamped to the mounting device. Regarding the advantages, reference is made to the above remarks. Preferably, a position sensing system is provided for sensing the position of the support plate relative to the opposing tool. This allows the use of software for adjusting the position of the support plate relative to the tool plate, and thus the position of the thin plate 13 relative to the tool plate can be adjusted by means of a camera system adapted to capture a geometry that indicates the position of the respective plate and allows adjustment of the support plate relative to the tool plate.

[0020] It should be mentioned here that the features and / or advantages explained with respect to the support plate on the one hand and the mounting device on the other hand can be applied to the support plate and the mounting device respectively, and also to a die-cutting machine having both a mounting device and a support plate.

[0021] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings,

[0022] - Figure 1 is a schematic view of a die-cutting machine,

[0023] - Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the support plate and the direction in which its position can be adjusted,

[0024] - Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the support plate,

[0025] - Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a mounting device suitable for receiving Figure 3 the support plate,

[0026] - Figure 5 is a schematic representation of an adjustment unit at the mounting device for Figure 4 ,

[0027] - Figure 6 is a schematic representation of an abutment unit in the mounting device for Figure 4 ;

[0028] - Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a locking unit in the mounting device for Figure 4 ;

[0029] - Figure 8 shows the support plate Figure 4 in an intermediate step when mounted on the mounting device Figure 3 and - Figure 9 is a schematic representation of the support plate mounted to the mounting device.

[0030] Figure 2 Schematically shows a support plate for a die-cutting machine. The direction of travel of the sheet through the die-cutting machine is indicated here by an arrow, and this direction is also referred to as the longitudinal direction.

[0031] In order to achieve the proper position of the support plate 12 and the thin plate 13 relative to the upper tool of the die-cutting machine, the support plate 12 must be displaced in the longitudinal direction (along the y-axis), the transverse direction (along the x-axis), and also rotated about an axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the x-axis and the y-axis (and thus along the z-axis).

[0032] According to the present invention, this adjustment is achieved here by mounting the support plate 12 at three positions on the mounting device 10, where these three positions form a triangle (in Figure 2as indicated by the dashed line).

[0033] At two of the vertices of the triangle, the support plate 12 can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction relative to the mounting device 10, and at the remaining vertex, the position of the support plate 12 can be adjusted in the transverse direction relative to the mounting device 10. Superimposing the longitudinal adjustment and the transverse adjustment in a suitable manner allows for rotational adjustment.

[0034] Figure 3 An embodiment of the support plate 12 according to the present invention is shown.

[0035] The support plate has two engagement structures 14 which are arranged at opposite sides of the support plate 12 and are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction.

[0036] Each engagement structure 14 has a forked shape and two protrusions 16 and a free space 18 between the two protrusions 16. The two engagement structures 14 open at the same side of the support plate ( Figure 3 in the upper side in the figure).

[0037] This support plate 12 further comprises an abutment structure 20 which is positioned here so as to form Figure 2 the triangle indicated in the figure. Regarding the forked shape of the engagement structure 14, it is worth noting that the abutment structure 20 is arranged at the same side of the support plate 12 as that engagement structure 14 which opens towards the center line of the support plate.

[0038] The abutment structure 20 has a convex surface 22 facing the center line of the support plate 12. In other words, the center of curvature is on the side of the support plate which is opposite to the side towards which the engagement structure opens.

[0039] In the illustrated embodiment, the surface 22 has a constant radius, and relative to Figure 3 , the center of curvature is on the lower side of the support plate, and the side towards which the engagement structure 14 opens is the upper side.

[0040] In Figure 4In the figure, the mounting device 10 is schematically shown. Here again, the direction of travel of the sheet is indicated by an arrow. The mounting device 10 has a support 11 (which is preferably a movable crossbar of a flat press) and two adjustment units 30 and an adjacent unit 32 arranged on the support 11. A support plate 12 is placed on top of the support 11, allowing for convenient extraction from the machine. The positions of the units 30, 32 correspond to the vertices of a triangle formed by the joining structure 14 and the adjacent structure 20. Thus, the unit 30 coupled to the joining structure 14 displaces two of the vertices of the triangle along the longitudinal (Y) direction, thereby controlling the longitudinal position and orientation of the support plate 12. The unit 32 coupled to the adjacent structure 20 displaces one of the vertices of the triangle along the transverse (X) direction, thereby controlling the transverse position of the plate 12.

[0041] The mounting device 10 further includes a locking unit 34 associated with the adjacent unit 32.

[0042] Figure 5 The adjustment unit 30 is shown in more detail in the figure.

[0043] It includes a drive element 40 that can be translated. The drive element 40 is here a rod or a screw, which is guided in a guide 42 and held non-rotatably relative to the guide 42.

[0044] A drive nut is arranged on the drive element 40 for converting rotational movement into translational movement of the drive element.

[0045] Here, the drive nut can be formed by a gear 44 with an internal thread, which is mounted on the thread of the drive element 40 such that the rotation of the gear 44 is converted into translational displacement of the drive element 40.

[0046] The gear 44 can be driven by an actuator 46 (preferably an electric motor), which drives a gear 48 meshing with the gear 44. A reduction gear drive can be placed between the actuator 46 and the gear 48.

[0047] The actuator 46 can be controlled to displace the drive element 40 to a desired position in the longitudinal direction.

[0048] Figure 6 The adjacent unit 32 is shown in more detail in the figure. It includes a wedge 50 that can also be translated. It is mounted through a guiding structure 52 and engages at a screw 54 driven by an actuator 56. Here again, a reduction gear drive can be placed between the actuator 56 and the screw 54.

[0049] By operating the actuator 56 in one direction or the other, the wedge 50 can be displaced along the longitudinal direction.

[0050] Figure 7The locking unit 34 is shown in more detail therein. It includes a locking lever 60 pivotally mounted on the mounting device 10. To pivot the locking lever 60 between the mounting position and the locking position, an actuator 62 is provided, which is here a pneumatic actuator having a piston 64 that can be displaced within a cylinder 66.

[0051] As indicated above, the support plate 12 must be changed for each new job of the die-cutting machine. To install the new support plate 12, it is pushed in the transverse direction onto the mounting device 10 (see Figure 8 ), with the open side of the fork-shaped engagement structure 14 facing forward.

[0052] Figure 9 The support plate 12 mounted at the mounting device 10 is shown therein.

[0053] The engagement structure 12 engages at the adjustment unit 30 such that the drive element 40 is received between the protrusions 16 of the engagement structure 12.

[0054] The surface 22 of the adjacent structure 20 abuts at the wedge 50 of the adjacent unit 32. At the opposite outer surface, the locking lever 60 of the locking unit 34 engages to press the adjacent structure 20 against the adjacent unit 32.

[0055] The position of the support plate 12 in the longitudinal direction is defined by the adjustment structure 14 engaging at the drive element 40. This position can be adjusted as needed by appropriate operation of the actuator 46.

[0056] The position of the support plate 12 in the transverse direction is defined by the adjacent support 20 engaging at the wedge 50. This position can be adjusted as needed by actuating the actuator 56 to displace the wedge 50 in the longitudinal direction.

[0057] The support plate 12 is rotated relative to the mounting device 10 by changing the position of the engagement element 40 of the adjustment unit 30 in the longitudinal direction (by operating only one of the actuators 46 or by operating the actuators 46 in opposite directions). During rotation, the surface 22 "acts" on the wedge 50, where the pneumatic actuator 62 exerts a biasing force on the adjacent structure 20.

[0058] By operating the actuators 46 and 56 appropriately relative to each other, the longitudinal position, transverse position, and rotational position of the support plate 12 can be adjusted relative to the mounting device 10 in the desired manner.

[0059] An automated adjustment system can be provided that ensures proper adjustment of the support plate 12 without manual intervention. A camera can be used to capture the geometry indicating the position of the support plate 12, and a control can be used to determine the required adjustments to be made to move the support plate 12 to the desired position.

Claims

1. An installation device (10) for installing a support plate (12) in a flatbed die-cutting machine (2), having a support (11) configured to carry the support plate (12), first and second adjustment units (30), and an adjustable abutment unit (32), the adjustment units (30) and the abutment unit (32) being arranged spaced apart from each other at the support (11) for receiving the support plate (12) in an adjustable position relative to the support (11), the installation device (10) having actuators (46, 56) associated with the adjustment units (30) and the abutment unit (32).

2. The installation device (10) according to claim 1, wherein a locking unit (34) is provided, the locking unit (34) being associated with the abutment unit (32).

3. The installation device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the locking unit (34) has a locking rod (60) which is rotatably displaceable between an installation position and a locking position.

4. The installation device (10) according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the locking unit (34) has a pneumatic actuator (62).

5. The installation device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuators (46, 56) are electric motors.

6. The installation device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the adjustment units (30) has a drive element (40) which is translatably displaceable relative to the support (11).

7. The installation device (10) according to claim 6, wherein the drive element (40) is a screw, a drive nut (44) being arranged on the screw, the screw being driven by one of the actuators (46).

8. The installation device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the abutment unit (32) comprises a translatably displaceable wedge (50).

9. The installation device (10) according to claim 8, wherein the wedge (50) is arranged on a screw (52), the screw (52) being driven by one of the actuators (56).

10. A support plate (12) for a flatbed die-cutting machine (2), having first and second engagement structures (14) adapted to cooperate with first and second adjustment units (30) of a mounting device (10) as described in any one of the preceding claims, and an abutment structure (20) spaced apart from the first and second engagement structures (14), the engagement structures (14) being adapted to position the support plate (12) in a first direction, and the abutment structure (20) being adapted to position the support plate (12) in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

11. The support plate (12) according to claim 10, wherein the engagement structure (14) has a forked shape, with two engagement structures (14) opening at the same side of the support plate (12).

12. The support plate (12) according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the abutment structure (20) has a curved surface (22) with a center of curvature on the side of the support plate (12) opposite to the side towards which the engagement structure (14) opens.

13. The support plate (12) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the support plate (12) has a rectangular shape, wherein the engagement structures (14) are at opposite sides of the plate (12), and wherein the abutment structure (20) is on one of the sides of the plate (12).

14. A flatbed die-cutting machine (2) having a mounting device (10) as described in any one of claims 1 to 9 and a support plate (12) according to any one of claims 10 to 13 clamped to the mounting device (12).

15. The flatbed die-cutting machine (2) according to claim 14, wherein the support plate (12) carries a thin plate (13) comprising at least one slot, and the machine comprises and is provided with a position sensing system for sensing the position of the thin plate (13) relative to an opposing tool (8).

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