Abstract: An elongated rubber ejector is mounted to a die board that forms a part of a cutting die and the ejector functions to engage cut corrugated board and eject the same from the cutting die. The rubber ejector includes upper and lower faces or surfaces with each face including a series of spaced apart raised lugs with a series of spaced apart voids or relief areas disposed between the lugs. Lugs and relief areas formed on one face are staggered with respect to the lugs and relief areas formed on the other face. In practice, the lugs are compressed during a die cutting operation. Once the corrugated board has been cut and the die board and an opposed anvil have been moved apart, the lugs and the ejector expand and in the process the rubber ejector engages the cut corrugated board and ejects the same from the cutting die.

Abstract: Toothed perforating rules upon the die roll of the rotary die apparatus form tear strips, punchouts, reverse fold lines, nicking connections and similar weakened or frangible sections in corrugated paperboard sheets during passage thereof through the nip between the die and anvil rolls of the apparatus. The teeth of the die rules are tapered and sharpened, and produce perforations in the paperboard panel that decrease in size with increasing distance from the inner liner of the paperboard sheet. The teeth produce an array of relatively long slits in the inner liner of the sheet, and underlying shorter slits within at least one other ply of the panel. The toothed die members may extend at any desired angle or angles relative to the machine direction of the apparatus and/or relative to the direction of the corrugations within the paperboard panel.

Abstract: A resilient-scrap ejector is provided for a cutting die. The scrap ejector includes an elongated body made of a resilient material. The elongated body includes a longitudinally-extending web. A plurality of lugs extend from opposite sides of the web and are separated by notches. The notches provide void spaces which allow for deformation for the elongated body when the elongated body is subjected to compressive forces. The scrap ejector is located in a cavity or recess formed in the cutting die for ejecting and stripping scrap severed from the blank. By providing displacement zones or voids, the height of the scrap ejector can be increased without compressing the material beyond the limits of its resiliency.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for perforating and creasing a paperboard sheet utilizing a rotary die process. The method and apparatus employ a die rule that comprises a base adapted to be attached to a die roll of a rotary die machine, a plurality of tooth elements, and open spaces between at least some of the plurality of tooth elements. Each of the plurality of tooth elements comprises a body portion that is fixed to and extends radially outwardly from the die roll and a laterally-tapered tooth portion. Each open space is defined by lateral portions of adjacent teeth element body portions and by the base outer edge. The body portion preferably extends radially outwardly from the base so that substantially all of the tooth portion penetrates the outer surface of the paperboard, and the base outer edge extends outwardly so that it engages and creases the inner surface of the paperboard.

Abstract: Toothed perforating rules upon the die roll of the rotary die apparatus form tear strips, punch-outs, reverse fold lines, nicking connections and similar weakened or frangible sections in corrugated paperboard sheets during passage thereof through the nip between the die and anvil rolls of the apparatus. The teeth of the die rules are tapered and sharpened, and produce perforations in the paperboard panel that decrease in size with increasing distance from the inner liner of the paperboard sheet. The teeth produce an array of relatively long slits in the inner liner of the sheet, and underlying shorter slits within at least one other ply of the panel. The toothed die members may extend at any desired angle or angles relative to the machine direction of the apparatus and/or relative to the direction of the corrugations within the paperboard panel.

Abstract: The creasing rule includes elongate creasing members that extend outwardly from opposite sides of a central axis of the rule. The creasing members on each side of the rule are spaced laterally from each other and are in staggered, non-aligned relationship with the creasing members upon the opposite side of the rule's axis. Each creasing member has a relatively tall head section adjacent the rule axis, and decreases in height between the head section and the opposite end of the member. The members preferably are formed of durable plastic material and are so mounted upon the die board of the rotary die apparatus as to be quickly and easily replaced when desired. Head sections of the creasing elements form a relatively wide and deep primary crease in the paperboard material of the panel, and medial and end sections of the creasing members simultaneously form secondary creases that extend outwardly from opposite sides of the primary crease.

Abstract: The scrap ejector has a relatively long and thin body made of stainless steel or other resilient and durable material. The leading end portion of the body overlies and is secured to the outer surface of the die roll. In its undeflected condition, the trailing end portion of the body is spaced radially from the die roll. In one embodiment the body has a pad of compressible elastomer upon the surface thereof distal from the die roll, and in another embodiment the body has an arcuate portion projecting from the aforesaid surface of the body. During passage of the scrap ejector through the nip between the die and anvil rolls engagement between the anvil roll and the resilient pad (in the first embodiment) or the arcuate portion (in the second embodiment) deflects the trailing end portion of the body to a position wherein its terminal end is closely adjacent the surface of the die roll and the leading surface of the cutting rule which trims the leading edge portion of the paperboard stock.