Abstract: A corrugated box finishing machine including a plurality of vacuum belts for moving flat box blanks or “boards” along a horizontal path for use as either a die-cutting machine or a flexo-folder-gluer machine. A folding mechanism at the opposite sides of the machine has an active position where it folds parts of the boards as in a flexo-folder-gluer machine, and an inactive position spaced from the path of conveyance and the boards to accommodate boards which are not to be folded.

Abstract: A corrugated box making machine has a vacuum transfer mechanism for moving corrugated boards along a path of conveyance including stations having printing and die cutter mechanisms which operate on the boards. The printing mechanisms include a print and impression cylinder, the latter being mounted in a vacuum housing that also holds drive rolls for moving the boards along the path during which the boards are held against the rolls by vacuum in the housing. The latter is movable substantially above the print cylinder to provide convenient access for maintenance of the print cylinder or replacement of its printing plates.

Abstract: A corrugated box making machine has a vacuum transfer mechanism for moving corrugated boards along a path of conveyance including stations having printing and die cutter mechanisms which operate on the boards. The printing mechanisms include a print and impression cylinder, the latter being mounted in a vacuum housing that also holds drive rolls for moving the boards along the path during which the boards are held against the rolls by vacuum in the housing. The latter is movable substantially above the print cylinder to provide convenient access for maintenance of the print cylinder or replacement of its printing plates.

Abstract: A corrugated box making machine has a vacuum transfer mechanism for moving corrugated boards along a path of conveyance including stations having printing and die cutter mechanisms which operate on the boards. The printing mechanisms include a print and impression cylinder, the latter being mounted in a vacuum housing that also holds drive rolls for moving the boards along the path during which the boards are held against the rolls by vacuum in the housing. The latter is movable substantially above the print cylinder to provide convenient access for maintenance of the print cylinder or replacement of its printing plates.

Abstract: A corrugated box making machine has a vacuum transfer mechanism for moving corrugated boards along a path of conveyance including stations having printing and die cutter mechanisms which operate on the boards. The printing mechanisms include a print and impression cylinder, the latter being mounted in a vacuum housing that also holds drive rolls for moving the boards along the path during which the boards are held against the rolls by vacuum in the housing. The latter is movable substantially above the print cylinder to provide convenient access for maintenance of the print cylinder or replacement of its printing plates.

Abstract: A corrugated box finishing machine has a station where dust, debris and other particles are cleaned from the corrugated boards before they are conveyed to the printing station. Electrostatic charges on the particles are neutralized by a static bar and the particles are then removed from the boards by a rotating brush. The particles are drawn into a vacuum chamber underlying the path of conveyance of the boards, and the static bar is positioned in an enclosure in proximity to the boards but isolated from the vacuum in the vacuum chamber. The enclosure has surfaces which direct the particles away from the static bar which is oriented to further minimize contact with the removed particles. The cleaning brush includes a plurality of brush sections mounted on a rotatable shaft made from carbon fiber material.

Abstract: A corrugated box finishing machine has a station where dust, debris and other particles are cleaned from the corrugated boards before they are conveyed to the printing station. Electrostatic charges on the particles are neutralized by a static bar and the particles are then removed from the boards by a rotating brush. The particles are drawn into a vacuum chamber underlying the path of conveyance of the boards, and the static bar is positioned in an enclosure in proximity to the boards but isolated from the vacuum in the vacuum chamber. The enclosure has surfaces which direct the particles away from the static bar which is oriented to further minimize contact with the removed particles. The cleaning brush includes a plurality of brush sections mounted on a rotatable shaft made from carbon fiber material.

Abstract: A corrugated box finishing machine has a station where dust, debris and other particles are cleaned from the corrugated boards before they are conveyed to the printing station. Electrostatic charges on the particles are neutralized by a static bar and the particles are then removed from the boards by a rotating brush. The particles are drawn into a vacuum chamber underlying the path of conveyance of the boards, and the static bar is positioned in an enclosure in proximity to the boards but isolated from the vacuum in the vacuum chamber. The enclosure has surfaces which direct the particles away from the static bar which is oriented to further minimize contact with the removed particles. The cleaning brush includes a plurality of brush sections mounted on a rotatable shaft made from carbon fiber material.

Abstract: A corrugated box finishing machine has a station where dust, debris and other particles are cleaned from the corrugated boards before they are conveyed to the printing station. Electrostatic charges on the particles are neutralized by a static bar and the particles are then removed from the boards by a rotating brush. The particles are drawn into a vacuum chamber underlying the path of conveyance of the boards, and the static bar is positioned in an enclosure in proximity to the boards but isolated from the vacuum in the vacuum chamber. The enclosure has surfaces which direct the particles away from the static bar which is oriented to further minimize contact with the removed particles. The cleaning brush includes a plurality of brush sections mounted on a rotatable shaft made from carbon fiber material.

Abstract: A corrugated box finishing machine has a station where dust, debris and other particles are cleaned from the corrugated boards before they are conveyed to the printing station. Electrostatic charges on the particles are neutralized by a static bar and the particles are then removed from the boards by a rotating brush. The particles are drawn into a vacuum chamber underlying the path of conveyance of the boards, and the static bar is positioned in an enclosure in proximity to the boards but isolated from the vacuum in the vacuum chamber. The enclosure has surfaces which direct the particles away from the static bar which is oriented to further minimize contact with the removed particles. The cleaning brush includes a plurality of brush sections mounted on a rotatable shaft made from carbon fiber material.

Abstract: A rotary die cutter mechanism for cutting and/or creasing corrugated boards including a rotatable die cylinder with a cutting die, and a rotatable anvil against which the corrugated boards are cut as they pass between the die cylinder and the anvil. A computer is used to determine how much the speed of the anvil should be changed to compensate for changes in the diameter of the anvil so that the boards are cut to the desired dimension. A fine adjustment of the size of the boards to be cut is made by providing information to the computer representative of the specific die being used. The computer then calculates an adjusted speed of the anvil to cut the boards to the desired dimension, and then sends a signal to a motor for changing the speed of the anvil to the adjusted speed calculated by the computer.

Abstract: A rotary die cutter mechanism for cutting and/or creasing corrugated boards including a rotatable die cylinder with a cutting die, and a rotatable anvil against which the corrugated boards are cut as they pass between the die cylinder and the anvil. A computer is used to determine how much the speed of the anvil should be changed to compensate for changes in the diameter of the anvil so that the boards are cut to the desired dimension. A fine adjustment of the size of the boards to be cut is made by providing information to the computer representative of the specific die being used. The computer then calculates an adjusted speed of the anvil to cut the boards to the desired dimension, and then sends a signal to a motor for changing the speed of the anvil to the adjusted speed calculated by the computer.

Abstract: A rotary die cuter for a box making machine has an abrading cylinder mounted for rotation alongside the anvil for engaging and resurfacing the blanket of the anvil on a virtually continuous basis to smooth, level and even the surface of the blanket. This resurfacing occurs during normal operation of the rotary die cutter so no production is lost. The abrading cylinder has a sheet layer of abrasive material spirally wrapped on the surface of the cylinder and bonded thereto with adhesive material on the backside of the sheet layer. The abrading cylinder is movable towards or away from the anvil by a servo motor and gearbox. The position of the abrading cylinder relative to the anvil is determined by an encoder which sends the information to a computer or programmable controller which calculates the changing diameter of the blanket and the amount of speed change that must be imparted to the anvil to compensate for its changing diameter.