Punching device for punching an initial stack from leafy material

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a die-cutting device for punching out a starting stack consisting of flaky material, in particular a die-cutting device for punching out labels from a starting stack of flaky material. In such a die-cutting device, the starting stack is pushed into the cutting die by a relative movement of a punch and a cutting blade, often also referred to as a die-cutting tool. During the actual punching process, the cutting blade is generally stationary while the punch pushes the stack into the cutting blade. This is also the case in the present invention.

[0002] A punching device having the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from WO 01 / 87554 A1.

[0003] A problem with this type of die-cutting device is that setting up and aligning the cutting blade is relatively time-consuming. This is particularly problematic when processing relatively small order volumes, especially when labels with different contours need to be die-cut, as is the case, for example, with beverage bottle labels, which typically require three labels: a neck label, a body label, and a back label. With the die-cutting device known from WO 01 / 87554 A1, it is necessary to reconfigure the device for each label, specifically by installing and aligning the contour cutting blade for the respective label.Removing the old die and installing and aligning the new contour cutting die involves considerable time and therefore costs, making such a process uneconomical for small order volumes. The object of the present invention is to provide a die-cutting device that overcomes these disadvantages. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to design the die-cutting device according to the invention in such a way that it can be created by simply modifying an existing die-cutting device.

[0004] The invention proposes a die-cutting device for die-cutting a starting stack of sheet material, as defined in claim 1. The die-cutting device comprises a die-cutting area and a movable die-cutting punch for pressing the starting stack into a contour die arranged in the die-cutting area, forming a blank stack upon passage of the contour die arranged in the die-cutting area through the starting stack. Preferably, the die-cutting device is a die-cutting device for punching labels from a starting stack. In this case, the blank stack is a stack of punched-out labels.The die-cutting device according to the invention comprises at least two contour cutting dies, wherein the at least two contour cutting dies are mounted in a common receiving device, preferably stationary, wherein the receiving device is movable with respect to the die-cutting area, wherein in one position of the receiving device one of the at least two contour cutting dies is arranged in the die-cutting area and in another position of the receiving device the other of the at least two contour cutting dies is arranged in the die-cutting area. The receiving device thus makes it possible to bring at least two, preferably differently designed, contour cutting dies into the die-cutting area, so that the contour cutting die located in the die-cutting area is used in the die-cutting process of the initial stack.Accordingly, with the solution according to the invention, it is not necessary to first mount and align one contour cutting die in the punching device, then remove that die, and then install and align the other. This significantly reduces the setup time of the punching device, as the need for removal, installation, and alignment is eliminated. In this way, the entire holding unit that carries the contour cutting dies only needs to be aligned once. Because the contour cutting dies are already aligned in the holding unit beforehand, there is no need to align the specific contour cutting die to be used for punching, or at least only minor alignment adjustments are necessary.

[0005] To change the contour cutting die, only the travel position of the holding device needs to be changed. Therefore, the holding device can also be described as a tool changing device, since it enables a tool change—namely, the change of the contour cutting die used in the punching process—by changing its travel position.

[0006] Preferably, the die-cutting device has at least three contour cutting dies, wherein these three contour cutting dies are mounted in the common holding device, preferably in a fixed position. The three contour cutting dies are, in particular, contour cutting dies for cutting out three different bottle labels. Preferably, a first contour cutting die of the three contour cutting dies serves to cut out a bottle neck label, the second contour cutting die of the three contour cutting dies serves to cut out a bottle body label, and the third contour cutting die serves to cut out a bottle back label.

[0007] To enable particularly simple setup and replacement of the receiving device in the punching machine, it is considered advantageous if the receiving device is part of a device comprising a base body, wherein the device is held in the punching machine by means of the base body, and the receiving device is mounted in the base body. Preferably, the receiving device is movable relative to the base body.

[0008] Preferably, the device can be handled as a single unit. This makes it particularly easy to insert and remove the entire device from the punching machine.

[0009] The base body is preferably held in a fixed position within the punching device. It is considered particularly advantageous if the base body is clamped within the punching device. This ensures secure mounting of the device within the punching device.

[0010] It is considered particularly advantageous if the base body is designed as a frame with a central through-opening, which serves as a passage for the punched-out stack of blanks. This achieves high stability while maintaining low weight.

[0011] It is considered advantageous if the receiving device, in particular the device itself, is removable and mounted in the punching device. In this context, it is considered particularly advantageous if the device can be inserted into a holding device of the punching device and fixed in a centered position therein. To achieve alignment of the contour cutting blades with respect to the punch without having to change their alignment in the receiving device, it is considered advantageous if the holding device is adjustable so that, even in a fixed position, the alignment of the receiving device in the punching device with respect to the punching area can be changed.

[0012] Preferably, the device is designed in such a way that it can be used in an existing punching device.

[0013] It is considered particularly advantageous if the holding device has two parallel strips between which the device, especially the base body, can be inserted and fixed. Preferably, the strips are designed as wedge strips, which are slidable relative to each other in order to clamp the base body and thus fix it in its position. To achieve alignment of the device fixed in the wedge strips, it is considered particularly advantageous if the wedge strips are slidably mounted and, preferably by means of a stepper motor, their position can be changed to align the receiving device in the punching machine. Retrofitting or upgrading an existing punching machine is then particularly simple and straightforward.

[0014] It is considered particularly advantageous if the receiving device, especially the device itself, can be inserted into the holding device perpendicular to the direction of travel of the punch. This facilitates assembly and disassembly.

[0015] Preferably, the device can be inserted from the side.

[0016] It is considered particularly advantageous if the punching device, especially the assembly, has guide means for guiding the movement of the holding unit during its travel. Preferably, these guide means are wedge-shaped rollers. The guide rollers also preferably serve to support the holding unit. This ensures safe and reproducible movement of the holding unit, even with a relatively high weight, particularly during long-term operation. Preferably, the guide means are mounted in the base body. The guide means ensure that the respective travel position can be approached reproducibly and with particular precision, thus avoiding tolerances or deviations in the approached travel position.

[0017] Preferably, the direction of travel of the punch is inclined to a horizontal plane. Preferably, the receiving device is supported on the guide means in the direction of the punch.

[0018] It is considered advantageous if the movableness of the receiving device is achieved by pivoting the receiving device about a pivot axis, wherein in one pivot position of the receiving device one of the at least two contour cutting blades is arranged in the cutting area and in another pivot position of the receiving device the other of the at least two contour cutting blades is arranged in the cutting area. Accordingly, in this design, the cutting device is configured such that the at least two contour cutting blades are mounted in a pivotably mounted receiving device, wherein the receiving device is pivotable with respect to the cutting area, wherein in one pivot position of the receiving device one of the at least two contour cutting blades is arranged in the cutting area and in another pivot position of the receiving device the other of the at least two contour cutting blades is arranged in the cutting area.The embodiment with a swiveling mounting device has the advantage that the mounting device can be built relatively compactly. Furthermore, the swiveling capability has the advantage that tilting and bending moments are avoided when using a relatively large number of contour cutting dies.

[0019] The pivot axis preferably runs parallel to the direction of travel of the punch or substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the punch. An angle formed between the pivot axis and the direction of travel of the punch preferably has an absolute value of ≥ 0° and ≤ 10°. Preferably, the pivot axis of the receiving device runs above the axis of travel of the punch.

[0020] Preferably, the pivot axis of the receiving device runs above the punching area. This prevents any punching waste from entering the area of ​​the pivot axis, which could obstruct the removal of the punching waste and / or damage any drive mechanism of the receiving device caused by intruding punching waste.

[0021] Preferably, the contour cutting die arranged in the die-cutting area is located below the other contour cutting dies. This prevents die-cutting waste from accumulating on the other contour cutting dies, thus avoiding the need to clean the contour cutting dies of die-cutting waste before use.

[0022] Instead of achieving mobility of the holding device by pivoting it, it is quite conceivable to achieve mobility by linear displacement of the holding device. In this arrangement, one of the at least two contour cutting blades is positioned in the cutting area in one displacement position of the holding device, and the other of the at least two contour cutting blades is positioned in the cutting area in another displacement position.

[0023] However, it is also quite conceivable to provide a sliding function in addition to the swivel function.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the punching device is provided with a drive for moving the receiving unit between the at least two travel positions, in particular between the at least two sliding or pivoting positions. With regard to the drive, it is considered particularly advantageous for a pivotable receiving unit if the drive is arranged above the punching area.

[0025] Preferably, the drive is accessible from the outside, in particular arranged outside a housing or cover of the punching device. This makes the drive particularly easy to access.

[0026] Preferably, the drive is not an integral part of the device, allowing the device to be handled independently. This simplifies handling. In this context, it is advantageous if a swivel arm interacting with the drive is detachably connected to the receiving device. After detaching the swivel arm, the entire device can then be removed from the punching machine particularly easily, while the drive remains in the punching machine.

[0027] It is considered particularly advantageous if the drive is mounted on the holding device, especially on one of the rails, preferably the upper rail of the holding device. When the holding device is adjusted to align the receiving device in the punching machine, the drive is then moved accordingly. This method of mounting the drive on the holding device therefore has the advantage that the holding device can be adjusted to align the receiving device or the contour cutting dies stored in the receiving device, and yet the drive can remain in the punching machine even when the device or the receiving device is removed. This simplifies the handling of the device or the receiving device.

[0028] However, it is also quite conceivable that the drive unit is an integral part of the device.

[0029] With regard to a pivotable receiving device, it is considered particularly advantageous if the receiving device is arc-shaped, preferably circular arc-shaped. In particular, the receiving device is designed as an arc slide. This makes the receiving device particularly easy to manufacture.

[0030] It is considered particularly advantageous if the receiving device has through-openings, with the contour cutting blades arranged in the area of ​​these openings. This results in a particularly low weight for the receiving device, which has a beneficial effect on its mounting. Preferably, the through-openings are larger than the openings of the contour cutting blades. Preferably, the receiving device is designed as a receiving frame.

[0031] Preferably, the receiving device is arranged on a side of the base body facing the punch. This allows the receiving device to be supported by the base body during the punching process, thus avoiding bending moments and resulting in a particularly stable construction. Because the receiving device is supported by the base body during the punching process, it can be less rigid, saving material and weight. It is also conceivable that the receiving device could be supported by the base body or additionally by a support element of the punching machine during the punching process.

[0032] Preferably, the punching device has a cover, the cover being designed to cover the contour cutting blades not located in the punching area. This reduces the risk of injury and also prevents damage to the holding device and / or the contour cutting blades from external forces.

[0033] Preferably, the punching device has an adjustable holding element, wherein the holding element prevents the movement of the receiving device in a holding position and allows the movement of the receiving device in a released position. Particularly during the punching process, the holding element is in the holding position to prevent unintentional movement of the receiving device relative to the punching die, which would negatively affect the punching result.

[0034] For particularly precise positioning in each travel position, it is considered advantageous if the receiving device has a counter-structure associated with that travel position, wherein the holding element interacts with the counter-structure associated with that travel position, in particular by at least partially engaging with it. This results in a quasi-positive locking connection between the holding element and the counter-structure in the respective travel position. Preferably, the counter-structure is designed as a notch or groove, in particular as a wedge-shaped notch or groove. The counter-structure is preferably formed at the upper edge of the receiving device, in particular at the upper edge of the arc slide. Accordingly, the holding element is also preferably arranged above the receiving device.

[0035] It is considered particularly advantageous if the holding means interacts with the receiving device in a force-locking and / or form-locking manner in the holding position, in particular if the receiving device is held clampingly between the holding means and a support structure, especially the base body of the device, in the holding position.

[0036] With regard to the guiding means and / or the holding means, it is considered particularly advantageous if these structures have a conically tapered cross-section, especially a wedge-shaped cross-section. The wedge shape of the guiding means and / or the holding means has the advantage that the wedge shape causes self-centering of the receiving device, especially if the receiving device also has wedge-shaped outer edges with which the guiding means or the holding means interact.

[0037] It is quite conceivable that the guide elements and / or the holding element are mounted in a movable manner, so that they can be pressed against the receiving device with varying degrees of force, depending on whether the receiving device is to be moved to change its position for changing the contour cutting die, or whether a punching operation is to be carried out. During the punching operation, the holding element and / or the guide elements are pressed against the receiving device with correspondingly greater force than when the receiving device is moved to change the contour cutting die.

[0038] For a particularly simple and robust design, it is considered especially advantageous if the guide elements are fixedly mounted, particularly fixedly within the base body, and only the holding element is movable. This mobility can be achieved, for example, by means of a pneumatic cylinder.

[0039] Preferably, the guiding means and / or the holding means are designed as rollers.

[0040] It is considered particularly advantageous if the receiving device has wedge-shaped guide edges for guiding the receiving device during its movement. Preferably, these guide edges interact with the guiding means and / or the holding means.

[0041] Furthermore, it is considered particularly advantageous if the base body has wedge-shaped outer edges and the holding device, especially the holding strips, has corresponding wedge-shaped outer edges. This allows for a particularly good and stable positioning of the base body and thus of the device within the punching machine.

[0042] It is considered particularly advantageous if the receiving device can be moved into a locking position, and if the receiving device can be locked in the locking position by means of a locking device. This prevents unintentional movement of the receiving device. Preferably, the punching device is designed such that the receiving device can be locked relative to the base body of the device. The locking device can be, for example, a detent pin, a bolt, a cotter pin, or a screw. Preferably, in the locking position, an opening in the base body and a corresponding opening in the receiving device are arranged overlapping, and the locking device is inserted into the overlapping openings.The locking position facilitates loading the punching device with the holding device and removing the holding device from the punching device, as the locking mechanism prevents movement of the holding device during the assembly and disassembly process. Preferably, the connection between the swivel arm and the holding device is released in the locking position.

[0043] The invention is explained in more detail in the following figures using different embodiments, without being limited to these.

[0044] They show: Fig. 1 shows a punching device according to the prior art in a side view, Fig. 2 shows a partial area of ​​the punching device according to Fig. 1in a side view, Fig. 3 a partial area of ​​a first embodiment of the punching device according to the invention in a side view obliquely, Fig. 4 components of the punching device according to Fig. 3 In a perspective view, Fig. 5 Components of the punching device according to Fig. 3 in a front view, Fig. 6, manageable components of the punching device as a unit according to Fig. 3 Fig. 7 shows a tool changing device of a further embodiment of the stamping device according to the invention in a front view, Fig. 8 shows a tool changing device of a further embodiment of the stamping device according to the invention in a perspective view, Fig. 9 shows a guide roller of the tool changing device according to Fig. 5 in a perspective view.

[0045] The basic structure of a punching device 1 is described in the Figs. 1 and 2illustrated, showing a punching device 1 according to the prior art as known from WO 01 / 87554 A1.

[0046] The in the Figures 1 and 2The die-cutting device 1 shown is used to cut labels from a starting stack 2 of sheet material. The die-cutting device 1 has a die-cutting area 3 and a movable die-cutting punch 5 for pressing or pushing the starting stack 2 into a contour cutting die 4 arranged in the die-cutting area 3. When the contour cutting die 4, arranged in the die-cutting area 3, passes through the starting stack 2, a stack of die-cut labels is formed. The die-cutting device 1 has a drive 28 for linearly moving the die-cutting punch 5 in the direction of the double arrow 25.The contour cutting blade 4 is mounted in a fixed position in a base body 18, wherein this base body 18 is in turn fixed in a centered position between an upper clamping strip 16 and a lower clamping strip 17 with respect to the clamping strips 16, 17, wherein these two clamping strips 16, 17 are in turn mounted in a fixed punching head plate 7 and are adjustable to it in order to enable the alignment of the fixed contour cutting blade 4 with respect to the punching die 5.

[0047] The contour cutting die 4 is essentially hollow cylindrical and has a completely closed contour.

[0048] The initial stack 2, which is typically a pre-cut stack, for example, a stack of labels cut in a guillotine cutter, is fed into the die-cutting device 1 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel 25 of the die-cutting punch 5 and pushed against a stop (not shown). As the die-cutting punch 5 extends, it presses the stack 2 against the contour die 4, thus forcing the stack 2 through the contour die 4 with each stroke of the die-cutting punch 5. After the stack 2 has been cut, the die-cutting punch 5 retracts, and a new stack 2 is then inserted laterally into the area of ​​the die-cutting punch 5. The die-cutting punch 5 then pushes this new stack 2 through the contour die 4, and as this new stack 2 is pressed, the previously cut stack 2 is pushed out of the rear of the die 4 and, if necessary, fed into further processing.The stamping waste generated during the stamping process is fed to a waste container 24 via a deflector plate 23.

[0049] In a punching device 1 according to the prior art, as described in the Figs. 1 and 2As shown, when changing the contour cutting die 4, it is necessary to remove the contour cutting die 4 located in the cutting area 3 from the cutting device 1, install the new contour cutting die 4, and adjust it in the cutting area 3 to achieve optimal cutting results. This tool change is time-consuming, particularly due to the alignment process. Furthermore, the contour cutting die 4, along with its base body 18, must be removed from the cutting area 3. This requires loosening the upper clamping strip 16 and the lower clamping strip 17, removing the base body 18 along with the contour cutting die 4 from the cutting device 1, and inserting the new contour cutting die 4, along with its base body 18, into the cutting device 1. Adjustment of the new contour cutting die 4 is then unavoidable.

[0050] The stamping device according to the invention, from the components in the Fig. 3 , 4 , 5 and 6The examples shown are essentially like those in the Figures 1 and 2The punching device 1 shown is constructed as described below, so that only the differing components will be discussed in more detail. The punching device 1 has at least two, in this case three, different contour cutting dies 4a, 4b, 4c, wherein the three contour cutting dies 4a, 4b, 4c are fixedly mounted in a common receiving device 10, which in this case is designed as a sheet slide. This receiving device 10 is movable with respect to the punching area 3, wherein in a first moving position of the receiving device 10 the first of the three contour cutting dies 4a, 4b, 4c is arranged in the punching area 3, in a second moving position of the receiving device 10 the second of the three contour cutting dies 4a, 4b, 4c is arranged in the punching area 3, and in a third moving position of the receiving device 10 the third of the three contour cutting dies 4a, 4b, 4c is arranged in the punching area 3. In the case of the Fig. 3 , 4 , 5 and6 In the shown travel position, the first contour cutting knife 4a is arranged in the punching area 3.

[0051] In this case, the movableness of the holding device 10 is achieved by pivoting it about a pivot axis 29. This pivoting capability allows for easy, straightforward, and particularly quick changing between the contour cutting dies 4a, 4b, and 4c. For this purpose, the holding device 10 simply needs to be moved into the corresponding pivot position. In this case, the pivoting is accomplished by a drive 11, which interacts with the holding device 10 via a pivot arm 15 that is detachably connected to it.

[0052] It is quite conceivable that, after changing the pivot position, a minor readjustment of the contour cutting blade 4a, 4b, 4c is carried out via the adjustable clamping strips 16, 17 in order to achieve optimal alignment of the contour cutting blade 4a, 4b, 4c located in the punching area 3. However, even if such a minor readjustment is necessary, the time saved when changing the contour cutting blade 4a, 4b, 4c using the invention is considerable compared to changing the contour cutting blade 4 in an embodiment of the punching device 1 according to the prior art, since there is no need to remove the contour cutting blade 4 from the punching device 1.a new installation of a contour cutting blade 4 in the punching device 1 is necessary, and in addition, the necessary readjustment is much smaller and can therefore be carried out more quickly than with a complete readjustment when replacing the contour cutting blade 4, as is necessary for the punching device 1 according to the state of the art.

[0053] In the present case, the reception facility 10 is part of a facility 8 that can be treated as a unit. This is particularly evident from the Fig. 6The figures show the device 8 in its entirety and in isolation. The drive 11 is not part of the device 8, but remains in the punching device 1 when the device 8 is removed from the punching device 1. The device 8 has a base body 18, which holds the device 8 in the punching device 1. The receiving device 10 is mounted in the base body 18. The base body 18 has wedge-shaped outer edges 22, which interact with the clamping strips 16, 17 to fix the base body 18 and thus the entire device 8 in the punching device 1. A holder 6 is attached to the upper clamping strip 16, which is not part of the device 8. This holder 6, in turn, serves to receive the drive 11 and the swivel arm 15 connected to the drive 11.The swivel arm 15 is non-rotatably connected to the receiving device 10 in the upper region by a knurled screw 34 which passes through the swivel arm 15 and is screwed into a thread 33 of the receiving device 10. Since this device 8 has the contour cutting dies 4a, 4b, 4c and allows the contour cutting die 4a, 4b, 4c located in the punching area 3 to be easily changed by pivoting the receiving device 10, the device 8 is a tool changing device.

[0054] Two guide elements 12, designed as guide rollers, are fixedly mounted in the base body 18 to guide the movement of the receiving device 10 when the receiving device 10 is pivoted. The guide elements 12 are arranged below the receiving device 10, and the receiving device 10 rests on these guide elements 12. The guide rollers are conical or wedge-shaped, and the receiving device 10 has a wedge-shaped guide edge 21, which is formed by a lower edge of the receiving device 10. The upper edge of the receiving device 10, opposite this lower guide edge 21 which interacts with the guide rollers, is also designed as a wedge-shaped guide edge 21. A retaining element 13, which is also designed as a guide roller, interacts with this upper guide edge 21.This holding element 13 is adjustable in the vertical direction within the base body 18, the adjustability being achieved by two pneumatic cylinders 14 fixed within the base body 18. The pneumatic cylinders 14 allow the holding element 13 to be moved vertically to prevent the receiving device 10 from pivoting in a lower holding position and to allow pivoting in an upper release position. The holding element 13 serves, in particular, to hold the receiving device 10 in the appropriate position during a punching operation and to prevent unintentional movement of the receiving device 10. Due to the wedge shape of the holding element 13, the receiving device 10 is pressed against the base body 18 in the holding position of the holding element 13 and thus held in a clamping position.Furthermore, the upper guide edge 21 has three notches 20, with the holding element 13 being mounted in one of the notches 20 corresponding to the respective travel position and interacting with it in a form-fitting manner. This allows the respective travel position to be approached with particular precision and reproducibility.

[0055] To prevent the receiving device 10 from over-rotating, stops 19 are attached to the receiving device 10, limiting its swivel range. At each end of the swivel range, one of the stops 19 comes into contact with one of the guide elements 12, thus preventing further swiveling.

[0056] In addition to serving as a carrier for the holding device 10, the base body 18 also acts as a support structure for the holding device 10 during the punching process, since the holding device 10 is supported against the relatively rigid base body 18 during the punching process, which in turn is supported against the head plate 7. As a result, the mechanical load on the holding device 10, and in particular on the swivel arm 15, during the punching process is essentially absorbed by the head plate 7 and the base body 18, thus preventing damage to the holding device 10.

[0057] To facilitate the removal and installation of the device 8 and the mounting and dismounting of the contour cutting dies 4a, 4b, 4c on and from the receiving device 10, the receiving device 10 is movable relative to the base body 18 into a locking position, wherein the receiving device 10 can be locked in the locking position by means of a manually actuated locking device 30, which in this case is designed as a locking bolt. For this purpose, the locking device 30 is inserted into a corresponding recess 31 formed in the base body 18 in a pivot position in which the middle contour cutting die 4b would be located in the cutting area. In this position, the locking device 30 prevents the receiving device 10 from pivoting relative to the base body 18 by means of a positive locking mechanism.

[0058] The contour cutting dies 4a, 4b, 4c are each attached to a bearing assembly 32, which in turn is fixedly connected to the receiving assembly 10, in this case by screws. It is quite conceivable that, for the purpose of initial setup and alignment, the contour cutting dies 4a, 4b, 4c can be adjusted within their respective bearing assemblies 32 and fixed in a correspondingly centered position within the receiving assembly 10. The bearing assemblies 32 themselves can, in turn, be fixedly connected to the receiving assembly 10 at defined positions. In principle, alignment of the contour cutting dies 4a, 4b, 4c within their respective bearing assemblies 32 and mounting of these bearing assemblies 32 on the receiving assembly 10 is only necessary during the initial setup of the device 8.When using device 8 in the punching device 1, only the entire device 8 needs to be aligned. Alignment of the individual contour punching knives 4a, 4b, 4c is then no longer necessary.

[0059] The Fig. 7 Figure 1 shows a further embodiment of the punching device 1, which differs from the first embodiment essentially in the design of the receiving device 10. In the embodiment shown in the Fig. 7 In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving device 10 is not pivotable, but is displaceable in the base body 18 in the direction of the double arrow 27, thus essentially in the Z direction.

[0060] The embodiment according to Fig. 8 differs from the embodiment according to Fig. 7essentially by the direction of the displacement, whereby the displacement is enabled in the direction of the double arrow 28, which essentially takes place in the X direction. Reference symbol list

[0061] 1 Punching device 2 Output stack 3 Punching area 4 Contour cutting die 4a Contour cutting die 4b Contour cutting die 4c Contour cutting die 5 Punch 6 Holder 7 Punching head plate 8 Setup 9 Contour cutting die 10 Mounting device 11 Drive 12 Guide means 13 Holding means 14 Pneumatic cylinder 15 Swivel arm 16 Upper clamping strip 17 Lower clamping strip 18 Base body 19 Stop 20 Notch 21 Guide edge 22 Outer edge 23 Deflector plate 24 Waste container 25 Arrow 26 Arrow 27 Arrow 28 Drive 29 Swivel axis 30 Locking means 31 Recess 32 Bearing device 33 Thread 34 Knurled screw

Claims

1. Punching apparatus (1) for punching a starting stack (2) of sheet-like articles, in particular for punching out labels from a starting stack (2) of sheet-like articles, wherein the punching apparatus (1) has a punching region (3) and a movable punching ram (5) for pressing the initial stack (2) into a contour punching blade (4a, 4b, 4c) arranged in the punching region (3), for forming a stack of copies when the contour punching blade (4a, 4b, 4c) arranged in the punching region (3) passes through the starting stack (2), characterized in that the punching apparatus (1) has at least two contour punching blades (4a, 4b, 4c), wherein the at least two contour punching blades (4a, 4b, 4c) are mounted in a common accommodating device (10), wherein the accommodating device (10) is movable in relation to the punching region (3), wherein, in one movement position of the accommodating device (10), one of the at least two contour punching blades (4a, 4b, 4c) is arranged in the punching region (3) and, in another movement position of the accommodating device (10), the other of the at least two contour punching blades (4a, 4b, 4c) is arranged in the punching region (3).

2. Punching apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the accommodating device (10) is a constituent part of a device (8), wherein the device (8) has a main body (18), wherein the device (8) is held in the punching apparatus (1) by means of the main body (18) and the accommodating device (10) is mounted in the main body (18).

3. Punching device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the accommodating device (10), in particular the device (8), is mounted in the punching apparatus (1) so as to be removable, and preferably the accommodating device (10), in particular the device (8), is insertable into a holding device (16, 17) of the punching apparatus (1) perpendicularly to the movement direction of the punching ram (5) and is fixable therein.

4. Punching apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the punching apparatus (1), in particular the device (8), has guide means (12) for guiding the movement of the accommodating device (10) when the accommodating device (10) moves.

5. Punching apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the movability of the accommodating device (10) is formed by a pivotability of the accommodating device (10) about a pivot axis (29), wherein, in one pivoting position of the accommodating device (10), one of the at least two contour punching blades (4a, 4b, 4c) is arranged in the punching region (3) and, in another pivoting position of the accommodating device (10), the other of the at least two contour punching blades (4a, 4b, 4c) is arranged in the punching region (3).

6. Punching apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the pivot axis (29) of the accommodating device (10) extends above the punching region (3), and preferably the contour punching blade (4a, 4b, 4c) arranged in the punching region (3) is situated below the remaining contour punching blades (4a, 4b, 4c).

7. Punching apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the movability of the accommodating device (10) is formed by a linear displaceability of the accommodating device (10), wherein, in one displacement position of the accommodating device (10), one of the at least two contour punching blades (4a, 4b, 4c) is arranged in the punching region (3) and, in another displacement position of the accommodating device (10), the other of the at least two contour punching blades (4a, 4b, 4c) is arranged in the punching region (3).

8. Punching apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the punching apparatus (1), in particular the device (8), has a drive (11) for moving the accommodating device (10) between the at least two movement positions.

9. Punching apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the respective contour punching blade (4a, 4b, 4c) is mounted in a bearing device (32) so as to be adjustable and, in a centred position, fixable, wherein the respective bearing device (32) is connectable in a positionally fixed manner to the accommodating device (10) at defined positions.

10. Punching apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the accommodating device (10) is of arc-shaped, preferably circular-arc-shaped, form, in particular is in the form of an arched carriage.

11. Punching apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the punching apparatus (1) has an adjustable holding means (13), wherein the holding means (13), in a holding position, prevents the movement of the accommodating device (10) and, in a release position, allows the movement of the accommodating device (10).

12. Punching apparatus according to Claim 11, the holding means (13), in the holding position, interacting in a force-fitting manner with the accommodating device (10), in particular, in the holding position, the accommodating device (10) being held with clamping action between the holding means (13) and a supporting structure.

13. Punching apparatus according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein the holding means (13) is formed by one of the guide means (12), in particular by a guide means in the form of a guide roller (13).

14. Punching apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 13, wherein the accommodating device (10) has wedge-shaped guide edges (21) for guidance of the accommodating device (10) during the movement of the accommodating device (10).

15. Punching apparatus according to one of Claims 2 to 14, wherein the main body (18) has wedge-shaped outer edges (22), and the holding device (16, 17) has corresponding wedge-shaped outer edges (22).