Technique for printing on sheets during a die-cutting process

Abstract

Device (10) for applying a label and / or marking to a sheet (1) during a punching process in which the sheet (1) is punched, comprising: a stamp (100) designed to apply a label and / or a mark to the sheet surface by means of an application of paint or ink; and a fastening device (200) designed to fasten the punch (100) to a punching tool.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of die-cutting technology; in particular, the invention relates to a technique for applying a lettering and / or marking to a sheet while the sheet is being die-cut using a die-cutting tool. background

[0002] Die-cutting tools are known from the prior art for use in die-cutting machines, such as flatbed die-cutting machines, to cut blanks or strips from a sheet. Such die-cutting tools comprise a carrier plate (for example, a wooden carrier plate) in which at least one slot is provided for receiving one or more cutting lines. The cutting lines preferably consist of strip steel and are shaped and arranged in the carrier plate such that they essentially replicate the contour of the blank or strip to be cut. Cardboard, corrugated board, or honeycomb board can be used as the sheet material to produce recyclable packaging.

[0003] Various techniques for marking and / or labeling sheets or blanks punched from sheets are known in the prior art. A widely used technique is dot peening, in which a desired marking and / or inscription is embossed into the sheet using a dot peening tool (die). Preferably, the dot peening tool is integrated into the die-cutting tool, allowing the sheet to be embossed during the die-cutting process, i.e., in-line with the die-cutting process. However, dot peening tools are complex to manufacture because the needles that reproduce the inscription and / or marking are individually milled into the surface of the die block (e.g., a brass block).Another disadvantage of dot peen marking lies in its limited resolution, which is restricted by the number and size of the needles; the size of the needles and their spacing cannot be scaled down arbitrarily. Consequently, a further disadvantage is that dot peen marking tools cannot be made particularly compact; due to the low resolution and lack of compactness, dot peen marking tools are only conditionally suitable for producing more complex markings and / or lettering.

[0004] To overcome the disadvantages of dot peen marking, particularly its lack of resolution, the use of lasers for marking the sheets is also known from the prior art. While this so-called laser marking technology is well-suited for creating markings and / or inscriptions of various shapes and designs with the highest precision, a disadvantage is that it cannot be integrated into the die-cutting tool. Instead, laser marking requires a separate, and usually expensive, laser marking system to which the sheets or panels to be marked and / or inscribed are fed. The marking thus takes place in a separate process step, independent of the die-cutting process, which further increases the cost of packaging production.

[0005] Another known technique is inkjet printing; here, ink is applied to the surface of the sheet or the blanks die-cut from the sheet using an inkjet printer. Similar to laser marking, a significant disadvantage of inkjet printing is that it requires a separate system from the die-cutting machine; the marking and / or labeling cannot therefore be done in-line with the die-cutting process. Another disadvantage is that the ink is printed on the surface and is therefore not very abrasion-resistant. As a result, the quality of the marking and / or labeling can deteriorate rapidly over time.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a technique for labeling and / or marking a sheet or of blanks punched out of the sheet, which can be carried out in-line, i.e., during or concurrently with the die-cutting of the sheet, and which overcomes the disadvantages of known techniques described above. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a technique for labeling and / or marking sheets during a die-cutting process that is simple, space-saving, and cost-effective to implement, and which can also be easily integrated into (existing) die-cutting tools. Furthermore, the technique according to the invention is intended to deliver improved labeling and / or marking results with good resolution and abrasion resistance. Brief overview

[0007] To solve at least one of the aforementioned problems, a device is provided according to a first aspect of the invention, which is configured for applying a label and / or marking to a sheet during a die-cutting process in which the sheet is die-cut. The device comprises a punch configured to apply a label or marking to the sheet surface by means of a paint or ink application; and a fastening device configured to attach the punch to a die-cutting tool.

[0008] The sheet can be made of any material; preferably, it can be made of cardboard, corrugated cardboard, or honeycomb cardboard. Furthermore, the sheet can have any thickness.

[0009] The stamp can be designed to apply any color or ink (colored ink); the color can be chosen freely. In particular, the device as a whole, and the stamp in particular, can be designed to apply the color or ink (colored ink) to the sheet surface under pressure. This ensures that the applied color or ink bonds well with the sheet material, especially penetrating beneath the sheet surface, thereby increasing abrasion resistance and guaranteeing the durability of the marking and / or lettering.

[0010] Furthermore, the application of color or ink according to the invention using a stamp significantly increases the resolution of the lettering and / or marking compared to the dot peening technique described above. This makes it possible to create markings with complex two-dimensional patterns, logos, or longer text while maintaining a compact design.

[0011] The mounting device allows the die to be mounted (attached) directly in the die-cutting tool. This enables in-line lettering and / or marking, similar to the dot peen marking technique discussed earlier, to be performed during the die-cutting process, i.e., while the sheet is being die-cut. This eliminates the need for an additional lettering and / or marking process before or after the die-cutting process, as is required, for example, with the laser marking or inkjet printing techniques mentioned earlier. Integrating the lettering and / or marking process into the die-cutting process thus simplifies the production of cardboard packaging, especially corrugated or honeycomb cardboard, and in particular reduces the production cycle time.

[0012] The fastening device can be designed to detachably attach the punch to a carrier plate or to the carrier plate surface of the punching tool. This allows the punch to be quickly changed or replaced as needed, thus enabling flexible conversion or retrofitting.

[0013] Furthermore, the fastening device can be designed to (removably) secure the punch at a predetermined height distance from the carrier plate or carrier plate surface. This allows the fastening device to accommodate potentially varying thicknesses of sheets to be punched, as it is understood that sheets of different thicknesses will be punched depending on the nature of the packaging being produced. The fastening device allows the height of the punch, which is attached to the die or carrier plate, to be adjusted to the thickness of the sheet being punched.

[0014] According to one implementation, the mounting device can be modular, comprising a spacer element and an elastic element mounted on the spacer element, upon which the punch is positioned. The desired height of the punch can be set or achieved via the spacer element; as described above, the height of the punch (relative to the surface of the die plate) depends on the thickness of the sheet being punched. In a particularly simple embodiment, the spacer element can be designed as a spacer block, which, for example, is made of the same material as the die plate.

[0015] The elastic element can have a desired elasticity / deformability, which gives the stamp a certain degree of mobility when it touches the sheet, enabling the stamp in particular to compensate for slight unevenness in the sheet; this allows the stamp to be optimally aligned with the sheet surface; this enables a uniform application of color or ink to the sheet across the entire stamp surface.

[0016] In other words, the elastic element can function as a compression element, positioned between the (rigid) spacer and the stamp. The elastic element can be designed to compensate for unevenness in the sheet surface and to apply a uniform pressure to the stamp; this results in a particularly even application of ink or paint to the sheet surface and further improves the quality of the marking or lettering.

[0017] The elastic element can consist of an elastomer; in a particularly simple and cost-effective embodiment, the elastic element can be formed from an elastomer block; the elastomer block can have a thickness in the range of 10-60 mm; furthermore, the elastomer block can be (reversibly) deformable (compressible) so that the punch arranged on the elastomer block remains movable and can flexibly adapt to the conditions of the sheet surface; at the same time, the (reversibly) deformable elastomer block can have a hardness sufficient to transmit a desired contact pressure to the punch evenly.

[0018] Alternatively, the elastic element can include at least one spring element that is (reversibly) deformable (compressible) so that the punch can optimally adapt to the sheet surface; at the same time, the at least one spring element can have a hardness (stiffness) sufficient to transmit a desired contact pressure to the punch evenly.

[0019] Regardless of the specific design, the elastic element can be fixedly or detachably attached to the (rigid) spacer element. In particular, the elastic element can be glued and / or screwed to an end face of the spacer element with its back side facing it.

[0020] The spacer can, in turn, be attached to the die (to the die's carrier plate). For example, the spacer can be positively and / or frictionally connected to the die's carrier plate via its back side. For instance, the spacer can be connected to the die's carrier plate by means of a screw connection. The detachable screw connection allows the spacer, and thus the entire fastening assembly, to be quickly and easily removed from / installed on the die, particularly on the die's carrier plate.

[0021] The punch can be permanently or detachably mounted to the elastic element. According to one implementation, a detachable connection between the punch and the elastic element can be achieved using a magnetic device. This magnetic device can comprise a magnetic plate, which can be attached to the end face of the elastic element, and at least one magnet, which interacts with the magnetic plate and is located on the punch. In the simplest case, the magnetic plate can be a magnetic steel plate glued to the end face of the elastic element. The at least one magnet located on the punch can be a neodymium magnet or another magnet with a high magnetic strength.The magnetic device described here makes it possible to detachably attach the punch to the end face of the elastic element; the magnetic force is sufficient to securely hold the punch to the end face of the elastic element during a punching operation. Conversely, the magnetic device allows the punch to be easily detached from the attachment, thus enabling quick and easy replacement of the punch.

[0022] The modular design of the fastening device described here allows for quick and detachable attachment to the punching tool or the tool's carrier plate; on the other hand, the modular design described here also offers sufficient flexibility, in particular flexible adaptation of the punch to the sheet surface (due to the elastic element), and adjustment of the punch height in the tool (due to the spacer element).

[0023] The stamp can also be of a modular design, consisting of a stamp housing and a stamp insert housed within the housing. The stamp housing, which holds the stamp insert, can be permanently or detachably mounted to the end face of the elastic element. In particular, the detachable connection of the stamp housing to the elastic element can be achieved via the magnetic device described above.

[0024] The stamp insert can have the marking and / or inscription to be applied on its front face. In particular, the stamp insert can be detachably, and especially interchangeably, mounted in the stamp housing. This makes it possible to insert different stamp inserts with different markings or inscriptions into the same stamp housing, thus enabling the creation of any desired markings and / or characters (inscriptions) with the present device.

[0025] Furthermore, the stamp (stamp insert) can include a replaceable ink or color reservoir. For example, the ink or color reservoir can be a stamp pad or a cartridge. Alternatively, a textile material can be incorporated inside the stamp to hold the ink. This ensures that the stamp can be used repeatedly. In particular, the ink or color reservoir can be refilled from the back of the stamp, thus ensuring easy and safe maintenance.

[0026] The device described here enables the abrasion-resistant printing of numerous sheets of cardboard, such as corrugated or honeycomb cardboard, with consistent quality and high resolution. In particular, the device described here can be implemented simply and cost-effectively and can be easily integrated into any die-cutting tool, especially on a carrier plate of a flatbed die-cutting tool, thus enabling in-line stamping during a die-cutting process.

[0027] According to a second aspect, a punching tool, in particular a flatbed punching tool, is provided for punching a sheet, wherein the punching tool comprises a carrier plate with cutting lines arranged in the carrier plate and the device described above, which is mounted on the carrier plate.

[0028] The punching tool is thus designed for simultaneous punching and the application of markings and / or lettering. The device can be mounted on the carrier plate surface in the immediate vicinity of cutting lines. In particular, the device is height-adjusted to the material or sheet to be punched; this height adjustment can be preset, especially by the mounting device, in particular by the spacer plate. Furthermore, the device can be detachably mounted to the carrier plate or its surface via the mounting device. For example, a screw connection can be provided with which the mounting device is detachably mounted to the carrier plate or its surface. Brief description of the drawings

[0029] Further details and advantages of the invention are explained with reference to the following drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a sectional view of the components of a device for applying a marking and / or inscription according to the present invention; and Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b further sectional views of the device of the Fig. 1 in assembled state. Detailed description

[0030] Fig. Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a device 10 according to the present invention, which is provided for applying a marking and / or inscription to a sheet 1 or a blank punched out of a sheet 1. The sheet 1 can be a sheet 1 made of cardboard, in particular a sheet made of corrugated cardboard or honeycomb cardboard.

[0031] The device 10 comprises a punch 100 and a fastening device 200, which is designed to detachably fasten the punch 100 to a carrier plate 2 of a stamping tool (in Fig. 1 is merely the carrier plate 2 (schematically indicated) to be attached.

[0032] The fastening device 200 and the punch 100 are modular in design. The fastening device 200 comprises a spacer element 220, the rear side 222 of which (facing the carrier plate 2) can be brought into contact with the carrier plate 2. In particular, the spacer element 220 can be detachably fastened to the carrier plate 2 by means of a screw connection 210.

[0033] The spacer element 220 can be block-shaped; in particular, it can be made of the same material as the carrier plate 2, for example, wood or a wood composite material. The thickness (height) of the spacer element 220 can be matched to the thickness of the sheet 1 to be punched.

[0034] The elastic element 240 is formed on the end face 224 of the spacer element 220 opposite the back face 222 (the end face 224 faces the arc 1). The elastic element 240 is attached to the end face 224 of the spacer element 220 with its back face 242, for example by gluing.

[0035] The elastic element 240 is block-shaped and consists of an elastomer (elastomeric foam) with a predetermined thickness and / or hardness. Alternatively, this elastic element 240 can also be designed as a mechanical spring element with a predetermined spring constant. It essentially functions as a compression element and is slightly compressed when the lettering and / or marking is applied (stamped). The compression of the elastic element generates a contact force (pressure) that is evenly distributed to the stamp 100 or the stamp insert 140 (which will be described in more detail below). Simultaneously, the compressibility of the elastic element 240 ensures that the stamp 100 or the stamp insert rests evenly against the sheet surface with its end face, compensating for unevenness in the surface. This results in a uniform application of ink or...Ink was ensured on sheet 1, resulting in high-quality marking and / or labeling of the sheet (of the die-cut blank).

[0036] The punch 100 rests with its back against the end face 244 of the elastic element 240 (the end face 244 is again facing the arc 1). In particular, the punch 100 can be detachably attached to the end face 244 of the elastic element 240. The detachable connection is shown in the Fig. The implementation shown in 1 is realized by a magnetic device 260.

[0037] The magnetic device 260 comprises a magnetic plate 262, in particular a magnetic steel plate 262, which is mounted (for example, glued) directly onto the end face 244 of the elastic element 240. The magnetic device 260 further comprises at least one magnetic element 264 (two magnetic elements 264 in the Fig. 1; three or more magnetic elements 264 are also conceivable), which is magnetically attracted to the magnetic plate 262.

[0038] Each of the at least one magnetic element 264 can comprise a neodymium magnet that can form a strong, yet detachable, magnetic connection with the magnetic plate 262. Furthermore, each of the magnetic elements 264 can be received in a corresponding recess 162 in a punch base 160. The described magnetic device 260 allows the punch 100 to be detached from the mounting device 200 without significant assembly effort. Overall, the magnetic device 260 facilitates the replacement of the punch 100; at the same time, the magnetic holding force / adherence force provided by the magnetic device 260 is sufficient to securely hold the punch 100 on the mounting device 200 during operation (i.e., during a punching operation in the stamping process).

[0039] The stamp housing 120, in turn, can be attached via a screw mechanism (screws 180 in Fig. 1) be attached to the punch base 160. This screw mechanism can also be used to detachably attach the punch insert 140, which is held in the punch housing 120. Instead of the screw mechanism described here, other fastening mechanisms, such as a snap-lock or clip mechanism, can also be used to secure the punch insert 140, which is held in the punch housing 120. The fastening mechanisms described here allow for quick replacement of the punch insert 140.

[0040] The respective contour of the marking and / or lettering is formed on the front face of the stamp insert 140 (the side facing sheet 1). The stamp insert 140 may also have a refillable ink pad or ink cartridge for holding paint or ink (color ink) on the back. This ensures that the stamp 100 can be used for many stamping operations, and in particular that the amount of paint or ink applied remains constant over many successive stamping operations.

[0041] In connection with the Fig. 2a and Fig. Section 2b now further explains the application of color or ink to a sheet 1 during a die-cutting process. As in the Fig. As shown in Figure 2a, the device 10 with the punch 100 is mounted on the carrier plate 2 of a punching tool (not shown in the figures) via the fastening device 200. It is understood that the device 10 can be positioned at any desired location on the punching tool relative to the cutting lines, where the marking and / or inscription is to appear later on the punched blank or sheet 1.

[0042] During a punching operation, the punching tool is moved relative to the sheet 1 to be punched (into the Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b lowered), wherein the cutting lines of the punching tool penetrate into and cut arc 1 (into the Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b not visible). In Fig. 2b shows the application of a mark and / or label during the die-cutting process. As shown in the Fig.As shown in Figure 2b, the end face of the stamp insert 140 is pressed against the surface of the sheet 1. As described above, the elastic element 240 exerts a compressive force on the stamp insert 140 that acts essentially uniformly across its entire end face. This ensures that the stamp insert 140 rests evenly on the sheet 1 and applies the desired marking and / or lettering to the sheet surface.

[0043] The technique described here offers several advantages over the prior art. Unlike the dot peening technique discussed earlier, this technique allows for the compact and high-resolution transfer of any markings, patterns, and / or lettering onto the sheet surface. The choice of ink or color is entirely up to the individual; in particular, the stamp can be filled with a desired colored ink; for example, signal colors can be used to highlight warnings. Furthermore, due to capillary action, the applied ink can quickly penetrate the fiber structure of the cardboard sheet and be chemically and physically fixed there, resulting in high abrasion resistance.

[0044] Furthermore, the described device is inexpensive to manufacture (the milling of nails known from nail embossing technology is eliminated; no separate printing stations are necessary), safe (no risk of injury, for example, from the sharp nails), and can be flexibly integrated into a die-cutting tool or quickly retrofitted. Additionally, the dies can be designed compactly and require little space in the die-cutting tool. As with dot peen embossing, the technique described here also allows lettering and / or markings to be applied to the sheet during a die-cutting process.

Claims

[1] Device (10) for applying a label and / or marking to a sheet (1) during a punching process in which the sheet (1) is punched, comprising: a stamp (100) designed to apply a label and / or a mark to the sheet surface by means of an application of paint or ink; and a fastening device (200) designed to fasten the punch (100) to a punching tool. [2] Device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to apply a desired color or ink under pressure to the sheet surface. [3] Device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fastening device (200) is designed to detachably fasten the punch (100) to a carrier plate (2) of a stamping tool. [4] Device (10) according to claim 3, wherein the fastening device (200) is configured to fasten the punch (100) at a predetermined height distance from the carrier plate surface. [5] Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fastening device (200) comprises a spacer element (220) and an elastic element (240) on which the punch (100) is arranged. [6] Device (10) according to claim 5, wherein the punch (100) is detachably mounted on the elastic element (240). [7] Device (10) according to claim 6, wherein the punch (100) is detachably mounted on the elastic element (240) by means of a magnetic device (260). [8] Device (10) according to claim 7, wherein the magnetic device (260) comprises a magnetic plate (262) attachable to the elastic element (240) and at least one magnet (262) which interacts magnetically with the magnetic plate (262) and is arranged on the punch (100). [9] Device (10) according to one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the elastic element (240) is mounted on the spacer element (220), in particular glued on. [10] Device (10) according to one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the spacer element (220) can be connected to the carrier plate (2) of the stamping tool in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner. [11] Device (10) according to one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the spacer element (220) can be connected to the carrier plate (2) of the stamping tool by means of a screw connection. [12] Device (10) according to one of claims 5 to 11, wherein the spacer element (220) is formed from carrier plate material. [13] Device (10) according to any one of claims 5 to 12, wherein the elastic element (240) consists of an elastomer or of at least one spring element. [14] Device (10) according to any one of claims 5 to 13, wherein the elastic element (240) has a thickness in the range of 10 mm to 60 mm. [15] Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the punch (100) comprises a punch housing (120) and a punch insert (140) received in the punch housing (120). [16] Device (10) according to claim 15, wherein the punch housing (120) can be detachably attached to the fastening device (200). [17] Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the stamp (100) comprises a replaceable color or ink reservoir. [18] Device (10) according to claim 17, wherein the color or ink reservoir is designed as a stamp pad or a cartridge. [19] Device (10) according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the color or ink reservoir can be filled from the back of the stamp (100). [20] Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the stamp (100) has a textile inside which holds the ink. [21] Punching tool for punching a sheet (1), comprising: a carrier plate (2) with cutting lines arranged in the carrier plate (2); and the device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the device (10) is mounted on the carrier plate (2). [22] Punching tool according to claim 21, wherein the device (10) is mounted on the carrier plate surface in the immediate vicinity of cutting lines. [23] Punching tool according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the device (10) is detachably mounted on the carrier plate (2) or on the carrier plate surface via its fastening device (200). [24] Punching tool according to one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the punching tool is designed for punching a sheet (1) of corrugated board or honeycomb board.

Images