Abstract: A rotary cutting die apparatus for cutting corrugated board and trimming an outside trim piece from the corrugated board. The rotary cutting die apparatus includes a die cylinder, a cutting die mounted to the die cylinder, and an anvil cylinder disposed adjacent the die cylinder. Mounted on the cutting die is at least one trim cutting blade for trimming an outside portion from a corrugated board passing between the die cylinder and the rotary anvil. Mounted on the cutting die outside of the trim blade is one or more trim strippers or devices for engaging the cut trim pieces and moving the cut trim pieces away from the cutting die and generally separating them from the finished corrugated board product produced by the die cutting apparatus. In the case of the embodiment illustrated herein, each trim stripper or device includes a base secured to the cutting die and an angled elastomer finger extending from the base.

Abstract: A rule for use in conjunction with a cutting die and adapted to be received within an elongated slit formed in a die board. The rule includes an upper edge and a lower edge, and a main body extending between the lower and upper edges. A series of notches are generally uniformly formed and spaced about a lower portion of the rule such that the respective notches effectively extend through the lower edge of the rule and are open along the lower edge of the rule. The series or group of notches function to facilitate the curving of the rule and further function to bridge certain uncut sections of the die board that exist within one or more slits formed in the die board.

Abstract: A rule for use in conjunction with a cutting die and adapted to be received within an elongated slit formed in a die board. The rule includes an upper edge and a lower edge, and a main body extending between the lower and upper edges. A series of notches are generally uniformly formed and spaced about a lower portion of the rule such that the respective notches effectively extend through the lower edge of the rule and are open along the lower edge of the rule. The series or group of notches function to facilitate the curving of the rule and further function to bridge certain uncut sections of the die board that exist within one or more slits formed in the die board.

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: 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: 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: 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.