Abstract: A method and apparatus for piling a plurality of cut blanks of a flexible material in overlapped and shingled or stacked relationship. After being cut each blank is accelerated to increase its lineal speed to thereby produce a gap between the blank and an immediately succeeding blank. After acceleration, each blank is deflected, preferably by a plate, away from and out of its accelerated path of travel toward an underlying receiving surface such as a conveyor or platform. After being deflected, the trailing portion of each blank is displaced preferably by rotating cams so that when rapidly decelerated, an immediately succeeding blank passes into and is deposited in overlapping relationship with such blank. To deposit the blanks is stacked relationship with their leading edges substantially aligned, they are decelerated from their forward travel to a complete stop preferably by striking a positive stop.

Abstract: A piece of material cut from a web is removed by a stripper mechanism which is preferably embodied in a pair of die cylinders having coacting cutting blades which cut pieces from a web of material passing between the cylinders. As the cylinders rotate, a piece to be removed is releasably secured to one of the cylinders for rotation therewith, the secured piece is pivoted to lift its leading edge from the die by coaction with a finger on the other die which bears on a trailing portion of the piece. After the piece is carried away by the one die, it is removed by cooperation with a stripper plate which passes between the raised leading edge of the piece and the die and releases and removes the piece from the die.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for accurately attaching a die plate to a cylinder segment in a manner that assures accurate registration of two die plates so attached to cylinder segments used in a cutting and creasing machine to cut or crease material passing through a nip formed therebetween. Pins on the arbor in the cutting and creasing machine accurately locate the cylinder segments. A "Make Ready Machine" is used to accurately locate each die plate on a cylinder segment. The "Make Ready Machine" includes axial and circumferential position indicators which are used to accurately place each cylinder segment in a predetermined position when it is mounted in the Make Ready Machine. Once the cylinder segment is in the predetermined position, the die plate is placed on the cylinder segment and moved until each of three lands on the die plate are in proper alignment with a view finder on the Make Ready Machine.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of making a pair of die plates having raised lands which cooperate to cut or crease material pressed between them. A line drawing of the desired pattern of cuts and creases is converted to coded information which is fed to the memory of an automatic machine tool. The automatic machine tool then produces a master image of the pattern of cuts and creases by selectively removing an opaque layer from a light transmitting substrate. The width of the lines on the master image are controlled according to whether cuts or creases are to be made, the height of the lands to be formed and the chemical properties of the material of which the die plates are to be formed. The master image is used to control chemical etching of the die plates, and thereafter the automatic machine tool, controlled by the same coded information, forms the desired profile for the lands. In addition, special machining is performed where cutting lands intersect each other.

Abstract: A pair of cylinder arbors have a plurality of arcuate cylinder segments extending circumferentially around a portion of the arbor. The segments are adjustable relative to the arbors in a circumferential direction. Each of the segments has a respective cutting and/or scoring die plate secured thereto. The die plates are relatively thin plates having lands formed thereon which cooperate with lands formed on the die plates on the other arbor to cut material moving through a nip defined by the segments. The material is cut by the lands into carton blanks for example, and broke. The broke is suitably separated from the carton blanks. The segments on one of the cylinder arbors carries a movable broke removing mechanism which includes pins which engage the broke. The pins extend through openings in the segments and die plates thereon and are actuated by an axially movable cam bar which is situated from a suitable cam.