Abstract: A cutting die for cutting corrugated board that includes a quick attach and detach securing mechanism. The blade securing mechanism allows a blade to be quickly and easily removed from a die board that forms a part of the cutting die, and allows a replacement blade to be quickly and easily inserted into the die board. The die board includes a first slit for receiving a blade and a second slit adjacent the first slit. The blade securing mechanism is associated with the second slit for spreading the second slit and effectively closing the first slit against the blade so as to secure the blade within the first slit.

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: 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: A creasing rule is used in connection with a steel rule cutting die to form creases or fold lines in a blank cut from a sheet material, such as corrugated paper board. The creasing rule includes a base portion which fits into the slot of a die board, and a top portion which extends outwardly from the surface of the die board. The top portion terminates in a creasing edge, which, in cooperation with an anvil roll, compresses the sheet material to form a crease or fold line in the sheet material. The creasing edge of the creasing rule is formed with a plurality of undulations giving the creasing edge a generally sinusoidal form. The undulations on the creasing rule taper inwardly towards the plane of the base portion as the undulations extend from the creasing edge towards the base portion and finally merge into the flat base portion. The size or magnitude of the undulations can be varied depending on the thickness of the sheet material being used. Additionally, the pitch of the undulations (i.e.

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.

Abstract: The apparatus includes an elongate housing containing a rotatable plate-mounting drum, a reversibly rotatable brush roll, and first and second spray manifolds for respectively spraying fresh water and recirculated water onto the printing plates. The plate-mounting drum may be formed of perforate metal so as to facilitate mounting printing plates thereon. When the printing plate or plates to be cleaned extend longitudinally along only part of the plate-mounting drum, valves associated with the manifolds may be closed to cause water to be discharged only from those manifold sections that confront the printing plates. The fresh water supply circuitry of the apparatus is separate from the circuit for the recirculated water circuitry. A limit switch associated with a housing cover of the apparatus prevents discharge of water from the spray manifolds when the cover is not fully closed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing characters on a surface of a grit-erodible body are provided. A negative of the characters is first produced, usually photographically. Ultraviolet light is then directed through the negative onto a blasting mask blank comprising a backing sheet and a uniform layer of polymerizable material thereon. Light struck portions of the layer harden and the rest is washed away to produce the characters, and specifically a font of type. Selected characters are then positioned backward on a transfer sheet and transported to the surface of the body of grit-erodible material to which they are adhered, with the transfer sheet then peeled away. Blasting grit is then directed toward the surface to erode the grit-erodible material around the characters to a desired depth.

Abstract: A punch for a cutting die is provided for forming holes in corrugated board or the like. The hole punch includes a tubular metal member of circular transverse cross section having one end substantially flush with the back surface of a die plate in which it is mounted and the other end extending beyond the front surface of the die plate and terminating in a circular cutting edge. A body of resilient material, preferably molded rubber, is located within the cylindrical member and has one end terminating near the back end of the tubular member and another end terminating near the cutting edge of the tubular member. The purpose of the body is to eject and strip the scrap of corrugated board from the punch and from the rest of the blank being formed by the cutting die. The resilient body has a central, cylindrical recess at one end which enables the resilient material to be deformed inwardly when engaging a corrugated board being cut by the circular cutting edge.

Abstract: A cutting die is provided with scrap ejection provisions for removing scrap from the die. The ejection provisions are particularly effective for ejecting elongate scrap from elongate openings such as slots which are formed in carton blanks and the like, the blanks being produced from sheet material, such as corrugated board. The ejection system includes resilient ejection member located between two parallel cutting rules, which members eject or push out the scrap from between the rules in an asymmetrical manner, exerting more force along one edge of the scrap than the other. This causes the scrap to twist and be more easily ejected. An additional ejection member is located outside one of the cutting rules to cause a portion of the blank to deflect to further aid in the scrap ejection.

Abstract: A punch for a cutting die is provided for forming holes in corrugated board or the like. The hole punch includes a tubular metal member of circular transverse cross section having one end substantially flush with the back surface of a die plate in which it is mounted and the other end extending beyond the front surface of the die plate and terminating in a circular cutting edge. A body of resilient material, such as natural gum rubber or latex, is located within the cylindrical member and has one end terminating near the back end of the tubular member and another end terminating near the cutting edge of the tubular member. The purpose of the body is to eject and strip the scrap of corrugated board from the punch and from the rest of the blank being formed by the cutting die. The resilient body has a central, cylindrical passage extending completely therethrough, in a preferred form.

Abstract: A creasing rule is provided for a cutting die for processing corrugated board. The creasing rule has an elongate, smooth, unbroken web having an outer side and an under side with the outer side having rounded, longitudinally-extending shoulders and a central, longitudinally-extending ridge extending outwardly therefrom at a central portion thereof. A pair of flanges extend outwardly from edges of the web and extend in opposite directions when mounted on a die plate of the cutting die. The under side of the web of the creasing rule has a shallow, longitudinally-extending groove therein which is preferably centrally or symmetrically located with respect to the ridge on the opposite side. The flanges of the creasing rule are affixed to the die plate, usually by staples driven through the flanges.

Abstract: Apparatus for printing indicia on corrugated board in particular is provided. The apparatus includes a printing plate made of a polymer material which has a number of advantages over conventional printing plate materials. However, because the polymer material is somewhat resilient and exhibits a degree of yieldability, and dimensionally-stable sheet is provided, which is either on the back of the material or molded into the material near the back. The printing plate is adhered to a mounting sheet which is also dimensionally stable and is mounted on a printing plate cylinder. A resilient or compressible layer or pad is affixed to the back of the mounting sheet, between the mounting sheet and the printing cylinder, and is of a size at least equal to that of the printing plate.

Abstract: Mounting means for mounting a printing plate on a printing plate cylinder are provided. The mounting means include a mounting member or sheet made of a plastic sheet material which is solvent resistant, strong, dimensionally stable, conforms truly to the printing plate cylinder, and is of uniform thickness. The leading edge of the mounting member is turned back to form a structurally-integral lip thereon which is readily connected to a mounting flange on the printing plate cylinder. The mounting means further include a mounting strap which affixes the mounting member on the cylinder with the lip engaged with the flange of the cylinder. The mounting strap has a first portion received in an opening of the mounting member and a second portion having an integral lip which engages another mounting flange of the printing cylinder.