Method for the preparation of a cutting and / or punching and / or creasing tool

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a cutting and / or stamping-out and / or creasing tool (10) comprising a carrier plate (12) for accommodating at least one line (14, 16) from the group comprising cutting and / or scoring and / or creasing lines, wherein the carrier plate (12) of the cutting and / or stamping-out and / or creasing tool (10) and / or at least one line (14, 16) from the group comprising cutting and / or scoring and / or creasing lines and / or at least one plastic or elastomer strip (18) to be arranged on the carrier plate (12) and / or at least one embossing element (20) is produced by means of an additive manufacturing method.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing a cutting and / or punching and / or creasing tool comprising a carrier plate for receiving at least one cutting and / or scoring and / or creasing line. The invention further relates to a corresponding carrier plate and a punching and / or scoring and / or creasing tool with at least one such carrier plate.

[0002] Punching, scoring, and / or creasing tools for linearly cutting, scoring, and / or creasing foldable materials typically comprise carrier plates having receiving slots into which so-called cutting, scoring, and / or creasing lines are inserted as insert sections with a desired profile. Such punching, scoring, and / or creasing tools are primarily used in paper and cardboard processing, for example, to cut out blanks from foldable materials for folding boxes and to provide them with folding or tear lines by scoring and / or line embossing. However, other suitable materials such as corrugated cardboard, plastic films, and the like can also be processed. A combined creasing and cutting tool is described, for example, in EP 1 238 793 A1 and DE 38 31 393 A1.The tool comprises scoring and creasing lines that are pressed force-fittingly into slot-shaped recesses in a carrier plate. WO 2013 / 060375 A1, US Pat. No. 5,855,149 A, and EP 1 629 934 A2 disclose methods for producing embossing and cutting tools that disclose a generative construction of structures on a carrier plate, a carrier cylinder, or a carrier sleeve.

[0003] The publication US 2013 / 0255346 A1 describes a material stamping die or tool. An additive manufacturing machine and material for producing a stamp are mentioned.

[0004] However, a disadvantage of the known methods for manufacturing such punching, scoring, and / or creasing tools is the fact that changes to the layout of the punching, scoring, and / or creasing tool are very difficult to implement. This significantly increases the cost and may delay the manufacturing process of the punching, scoring, and / or creasing tool.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a generic method for producing a cutting and / or punching and / or creasing tool, which enables fast and economical production even with possible corrections and / or changes to the design of the cutting and / or punching and / or creasing tool. A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier plate for a cutting and / or punching and / or creasing tool and a corresponding cutting and / or punching and / or creasing tool, which enables fast and economical production even with possible corrections and / or changes to the design of the cutting and / or punching and / or creasing tool.

[0006] The objects are achieved according to the invention by a method having the features of patent claim 1, by a carrier plate having the features of patent claim 14, and by a punching and / or scoring and / or grooving tool according to patent claim 15. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0007] A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing a cutting and / or punching and / or creasing tool comprising a carrier plate for receiving at least one line from the group of cutting and / or scoring and / or creasing lines, wherein according to the invention the carrier plate of the cutting and / or punching and / or creasing tool and at least one plastic or elastomer strip to be arranged on the carrier plate are produced by means of a generative manufacturing process. In addition, several plastic or elastomer strips have different degrees of hardness relative to one another and / or a plastic or elastomer strip has different degrees of hardness within the individual strip. Cutting and / or scoring and / or creasing lines are also understood to mean combinations of these lines, which are designed, for example, as perforation lines, roughening lines, wavy lines, stripping lines, or tear lines.The use of a generative manufacturing process enables the rapid and economical production of cutting and / or punching and / or creasing tools. In particular, it is possible to produce the cutting and / or punching and / or creasing tool in its entirety using the generative manufacturing process. This means that, according to the invention, it is possible to produce the carrier plate with the elements arranged thereon using generative manufacturing in a single process step.

[0008] In addition, it is possible for at least one or more of the lines from the group of cutting and / or scoring and / or creasing lines to be produced using the generative manufacturing process, wherein the generatively manufactured lines can have different degrees of hardness relative to one another and / or within the line. In addition, they can be arranged as a separate element on the carrier plate or formed integrally with the carrier plate. The plastic or elastomer strip to be arranged on the carrier plate is also produced using a generative manufacturing process and can be arranged as a separate element on the carrier plate. Furthermore, it is possible to form at least one projection on the carrier plate for receiving and fastening the at least one plastic or elastomer strip, wherein the projection is generatively manufactured integrally with the carrier plate.It is also possible for recesses, for example in the form of a groove, to be formed in the carrier plate to accommodate a corresponding plastic or elastomer strip.

[0009] The plastic or elastomer strip can also be used with a clamping effect. The plastic or elastomer strip mentioned can be a so-called rubber coating, which ensures springback of the material to be punched using the cutting and / or punching and / or creasing tool. The material to be punched can be paper, cardboard, or plastic, in particular for the production of packaging blanks or packaging films. Other materials are also conceivable. Furthermore, the method according to the invention offers the possibility of generatively building up individual or all elements of the cutting and / or punching and / or creasing tool to be produced on a prefabricated carrier plate.The carrier plate can, for example, consist at least in part of a composite material, in particular a carbon fiber reinforced composite material and / or of at least one material from the group of multiplex wood (not produced by additive manufacturing), in particular hardened multiplex wood, steel, aluminum and plastic. Furthermore, it is possible for the carrier plate to have at least one fit and / or opening for receiving and / or fastening the embossed element. The additively manufactured elements of the cutting and / or punching and / or creasing tool have the same or different degrees of hardness relative to one another and / or within the individual element. For example, a line can have different hardnesses. The same applies to the plastic or elastomer strips. This means that different requirements for the additively manufactured elements can be easily met with minimal processing effort, depending on the respective intended use.

[0010] Since the total number of manufacturing steps can always be minimized compared to conventional manufacturing processes for cutting, punching, and / or creasing tools, the method according to the invention can be implemented particularly quickly and cost-effectively. Furthermore, it is possible to react very quickly and flexibly to possible changes in the design of the cutting, punching, and / or creasing tool.

[0011] In advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention, the additive manufacturing process is a stereolithography process, a digital light processing process, a 3D printing process, a fused deposition process, a multi-jet modeling process, a selective laser sintering or selective laser melting process, an electron beam melting process, or a combination of these processes. The use of individual or a combination of these manufacturing processes depends on the product to be manufactured. For example, a cutting or creasing line and a corresponding carrier plate can be manufactured from different materials and using different additive manufacturing processes.In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, even when using different materials or different generative manufacturing processes, these are selected in such a way that different elements of the cutting and / or punching and / or grooving tool can be manufactured in one generative manufacturing step.

[0012] If a stereolithography process is used as the generative manufacturing process, the material used can be, in particular, at least one liquid, photosensitive plastic material and / or a synthetic resin and / or a photosensitive lacquer. The material used for the selective laser sintering or selective laser melting process can be at least one plastic, synthetic resin, metal, metal alloy, or ceramic, or a combination of these materials in powder form. Furthermore, it is possible to use at least one UV-curing lacquer and / or at least one UV-curing ink as the material for the 3D printing process. Other materials for generative manufacturing processes not explicitly mentioned, as well as other generative manufacturing processes not mentioned, can also be used according to the invention.

[0013] In further advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention, the carrier plate can have at least one recess for receiving a cutting and / or scoring and / or creasing line. It is possible for the recess to have a width that is slightly less than the width of the cutting and / or scoring and / or creasing line. This allows the corresponding line to be subsequently inserted and fastened in the carrier plate in a clamped and precisely fitting manner. Furthermore, it is possible for the at least one recess to be created with a predetermined oversize relative to the line and the method to comprise the following further steps: filling the recess with a curable filler material; curing the filler material in the recess; creating at least one further second recess in the cured filler material for precisely receiving the line and inserting the line into the precisely dimensioned second recess.In other words, it is provided that at least one first recess, which is oversized with respect to the lines to be inserted, is initially made in the carrier plate. Depending on the line to be inserted later, the recess or cutout can generally be groove-shaped, hole-shaped, elongated, interrupted and / or continuous. The first recess is then filled with the hardenable filler material. The first recess can generally be filled completely or only partially. It is also possible for several different filler materials to be filled into the first recess one after the other or simultaneously. After the filler material(s) in the first recess have hardened, a second, precisely dimensioned recess is created in the hardened filler material, into which the cutting and / or scoring and / or creasing line is finally inserted.This aspect of the method according to the invention achieves various advantages. Since the first recess should only approximately correspond to the contour of the cutting and / or scoring and / or creasing line to be used, and since the line used is embedded in the hardened filler material in the finished carrier plate, the material of the carrier plate plays only a minor role in this regard, so that there is considerably greater flexibility in selecting the carrier plate material compared to the prior art. The hardenable filler material, which later holds the line to the carrier plate, can be selected independently of the carrier plate material. For example, a filler material can be used which, after hardening, has a stronger clamping effect than the carrier plate material. The second recess, which, depending on the line to be used, can also generally be groove-shaped, hole-shaped orcan be produced in the form of an elongated hole, interrupted and / or continuous, can be precisely introduced into the hardened filler material instead of into the carrier plate material. If one or more cutting, scoring and / or creasing lines are incorrectly positioned, the filler material can be removed, e.g. by milling, without destroying the carrier plate. Refilling the first recess with additional filler material and creating a new second recess to accommodate a line are both possible. It is also possible to only fill the incorrectly positioned second recess with filler material. Once the filler material has hardened again, the second recess can be recreated. The tool can also be manufactured more cost-effectively, since if the positioning of the lines needs to be corrected, there is no need to produce a completely new tool or use a new carrier plate.

[0014] A second aspect of the invention relates to a carrier plate of a tool from the group of cutting and / or punching and / or creasing tools, with at least one line from the group of cutting and / or scoring and / or creasing lines. According to the invention, the carrier plate is obtainable and / or obtained by means of a method according to one of the embodiments of the first aspect of the invention. This allows the carrier plate to be manufactured simply and cost-effectively. Further resulting features and their advantages can be found in the descriptions of the first aspect of the invention, with advantageous embodiments of the first aspect of the invention being regarded as advantageous embodiments of the second aspect of the invention.

[0015] A third aspect of the invention relates to a cutting and / or punching and / or creasing tool with at least one carrier plate comprising at least one line from the group of cutting and / or scoring and / or creasing lines. The invention provides that the carrier plate is obtainable and / or obtained by means of a method according to one of the embodiments of the first aspect of the invention.

[0016] The cutting and / or punching and / or grooving tool according to the invention can be manufactured precisely, simply, and cost-effectively. Further resulting features and their advantages can be found in the descriptions of the first aspect of the invention, with advantageous embodiments of the first aspect of the invention being considered advantageous embodiments of the third aspect of the invention.

[0017] It shows: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a punching tool according to the invention; and Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a punching tool according to the invention.

[0018] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a punching tool 10, wherein the punching tool 10 has a carrier plate 12. It can be seen that a recess 24 is formed in the carrier plate 12, into which a cutting line 14 is inserted. The cutting line 14 is made of steel and was subsequently inserted into the recess 24 of the carrier plate 12. The cutting edge of the cutting line 14 protrudes beyond a surface of the carrier plate 12 that faces the material to be punched during the punching process. The same applies to a creasing line 16 that is also formed on this surface. It can be seen that the creasing line 16 is formed integrally with the carrier plate 12. The production of the carrier plate 12 and the creasing line 16 takes place in a generative manufacturing step. For example, the carrier plate 12 and the creasing line 16 can be made of metal, a metal alloy, or plastic.On the surface facing the material to be punched during the punching process, projections 22 are also formed, which serve to receive corresponding elastomer strips 18 (rubber lining). The projections 22 are in turn manufactured integrally with the carrier plate 12 and the creasing line 16 in a generative manufacturing step. However, it is also possible for all of the illustrated elements of the punching tool 10 to be manufactured generatively.

[0019] Fig. 2shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a punching tool 10. It can be seen that the carrier plate 12 is designed as a foundation with fits and bores 26. The fits and bores 26 serve to receive and fasten an embossing element 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the embossing element 20 is fastened to the carrier plate 12 by means of screws 28. The fits and bores 26 of the carrier plate 12 are manufactured with the latter using additive manufacturing. The embossing element 20 can also be manufactured using additive manufacturing. It can be seen that the embossing element 20 has a structure 30 in the direction of a material to be processed during a punching and embossing process, which structure is embossed into the corresponding material.

Claims

1. A method for producing a cutting and / or punching and / or grooving tool (10), comprising a carrier plate (12) for accommodating at least one line (14, 16) from the group of the cutting and / or scoring and / or grooving lines, characterized in that the carrier plate (12) of the cutting and / or punching and / or grooving tool (10) and at least one plastic or elastomer strip (18) to be arranged on the carrier plate (12) are produced by means of a generative manufacturing method, wherein multiple plastic or elastomer strips (18) have different degrees of hardness in relation to each other and / or one plastic or elastomer strip (18) has different degrees of hardness within the individual strip.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one line (14, 16) from the group of the cutting and / or scoring and / or grooving lines is produced by means of a generative manufacturing method, wherein the generatively manufactured lines (14, 16) have different degrees of hardness in relation to each other or within the line (14, 16).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one or more of the lines (14, 16) from the group of the cutting and / or scoring and / or grooving lines are generated by means of a generative manufacturing method and arranged on the carrier plate (12) as a separate element or formed integrally with the carrier plate (12).

4. The method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the plastic or elastomer strip (18) to be arranged on the carrier plate (12) is arranged on the carrier plate (12) as a separate element.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one projection (22) for accommodating and attaching the at least one plastic or elastomer strip (18) is formed on the carrier plate (12), wherein the projection (22) is generatively manufactured integrally with the carrier plate (12).

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the generative manufacturing method is a stereolithographic method, a digital light processing method, a 3D printing method, a fused deposition modeling method, a multi jet modeling method, a selective laser sintering or selective laser melting method, an electron beam melting method or a combination of these methods.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one liquid, photosensitive plastic material and / or a synthetic resin and / or a photosensitive varnish are used as the material for the stereolithographic method.

8. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one plastic, synthetic resin, metal, metal alloy or ceramic or a combination of these materials in powder form is used as the material for the selective laser sintering or selective laser melting method.

9. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one UV-curing varnish and / or at least one UV-curing ink are used as the material for the 3D printing method.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier plate (12) comprises at least one recess (24) for accommodating a cutting and / or scoring and / or grooving line (14, 16).

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the recess (24) has a width, which is slightly less than the width of the cutting and / or scoring and / or grooving line (14, 16).

12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one recess (24) is generated with a predetermined excess with respect to the line (14, 16) and the method includes the following further steps: - filling the recess (24) with a curable filling material; - curing the filling material in the recess (24); - generating at least one further second recess in the cured filling material for dimensionally accurate accommodation of the line (14, 16); and - inserting the line (14, 16) into the dimensionally accurate second recess.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier plate (12) comprises at least one fit and / or opening (26) for accommodating and / or attaching the stamping element (20).

14. A carrier plate of a tool (10) from the group of the cutting and / or punching and / or grooving tools, with at least one line (14, 16) from the group of the cutting and / or scoring and / or grooving lines, characterized in that the carrier plate (12) is obtainable and / or obtained by means of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A cutting and / or punching and / or grooving tool with at least one carrier plate (12), which includes at least one line (14, 16) from the group of the cutting and / or scoring and / or grooving lines, characterized in that the punching and / or scoring and / or grooving tool (10) is produced by means of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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