Abstract: A die-cutting device for die-cutting labels includes a die-cutting cylinder and a counterpressure cylinder. A distance between the die-cutting cylinder and the counterpressure cylinder is adjustable. Accordingly, the die-cutting cylinder is locked in position by a locking force and the counterpressure cylinder is displaceably supported by a guide. The locking force and the guide generally form a right angle. A narrow-web printing press includes such a die-cutting device.

Abstract: To cut a backed ply material with an ultrasonic blade, an anvil is utilized to provide support. The backed ply material travels in a first direction, the ultrasonic blade includes a tip, and the ultrasonic blade is operable to travel along a path. This path is oriented in a transverse manner relative to the first direction. The anvil includes a rigid base for securing the anvil to a cutting assembly and a surface coinciding with the path. The surface is secured to the base. The anvil further includes a groove disposed upon the surface. This groove is in cooperative alignment with the tip.

Abstract: Tool holding systems described herein include a tool holder configured to releasably retain a metal-processing tool and to define a tool holder passage extending along a stroke axis, an adjustment drive operable to rotate the tool holder about the stroke axis, and a stroke drive including a spindle operable independent of the adjustment drive to translate the tool holder along the stroke axis. The stroke drive defines a stroke drive passage cooperating with the tool holder passage to define a waste disposal passageway through the tool holding system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting device, in particular a crosscutting shearing machine, longitudinal cutting shearing machine or roller cut shearing machine for cutting metal sheets, and to a method for controlling such a device, the device comprising a top blade 1 and a bottom blade 2 and at least one drive device 4, which is connected to the top and/or the bottom blade 1, 2 in order to drive the cutting operation, the device having a lateral guide 3, 3? for guiding the top knife 1, the length of which guide is designed to be adjustable. By means of such an adjustable-length lateral guide 3, 3?, an adjustable overlap is made possible and, inter alia, an optimal rolling cut movement for various thicknesses of a sheet to be cut is ensured.

Abstract: An adjustable print media cutter system and method are disclosed. In one form, the print media cutter system incorporates a blade assembly and an anvil assembly that are configured to provide an adjustable gap between a cutting blade and an anvil. Rotation of an adjustment cam adjusts the gap between the cutting blade and the anvil, thereby adjusting a depth of cut made into or through a print media that is fed between the blade assembly and the anvil assembly during operation of the adjustable print media cutter system.

Abstract: Tool holding systems described herein include a tool holder configured to releasably retain a metal-processing tool and to define a tool holder passage extending along a stroke axis, an adjustment drive operable to rotate the tool holder about the stroke axis, and a stroke drive including a spindle operable independent of the adjustment drive to translate the tool holder along the stroke axis. The stroke drive defines a stroke drive passage cooperating with the tool holder passage to define a waste disposal passageway through the tool holding system.

Abstract: An anvil drum for a rotary cutting apparatus having a rotary axis comprises an axle on each axial side of the anvil and concentric with the axis. Each of the axles is adapted to receive a bearing, and an anvil surface substantially concentric with the rotary axis. A reference portion is provided including an axial reference surface coaxial to the axis and a radial surface perpendicular to the axis. At least one connection device is provided for connecting a cover member on each axial side of the anvil so as to cover the bearing, respectively. An anvil assembly is further provided with such an anvil drum and the bearings, each cover member being provided with a blind opening adapted arranged coaxially with respect to the axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting fiberglass insulation batting with a rotary blade where an elongate section of fiberglass insulation batting is manually pushed into an inlet of the apparatus whereupon the blade bites into the fiberglass insulation batting and whereupon the elongate now split section of fiberglass insulation batting begins to protrude from the outlet of the apparatus, whereupon the protruding sections of fiberglass insulation batting are manually grabbed and pulled through the apparatus further driving the rotary blade and further cutting the fiberglass insulation batting.

Abstract: Web processing method and apparatus (30, 300) is provided for high speed, extremely accurate die cutting or lamination operations. Processing station (32,300) includes a vacuum hold down plate (32,308) which receives and holds an image bearing incremental segment of the web. In feed and out feed tension on the web is released while a segment of the web is held by the hold down plate. The hold down plate with a segment of the web thereon is selectively shifted about X, Y, and ? axes as required to bring the image on the web segment into alignment with a web processing component at the processing station.

Abstract: Web processing apparatus (30, 300) is provided for high speed, extremely accurate die cutting or lamination operations. Processing station (32, 300) includes a Vacuum hold down plate (32, 308) which receives and holds an image bearing incremental segment of the web. In feed and out feed tension on the web is released while a segment of the web is held by the hold down plate. The hold down plate with a segment of the web thereon is selectively shifted about X, Y and ? axis as required to bring the image on the web segment into alignment with a web processing component at the processing station.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for die-cutting a stack of sheet-like materials, particularly labels, whereby the stack is pressed into the die-cutter blade by a relative movement of a punching ram and a hollow cylindrical die-cutter blade.

Abstract: High speed, extremely accurate web or sheet-fed segment die cutting or lamination apparatus (30, 300) has a processing station (32, 300), which receives a sheet or web segment, and is provided with a vacuum hold-down plate (142, 306) for holding initially fed segments (38). The plate is shiftable as necessary along orthogonal X-Y axes in the plane of the segment (38), and/or is rotatable about a &thgr; axis transverse to the segment plane. Plate movement is effected by a series of aligned, translatable eccentric drive units (178-182, 346-350). Segments (38) carry positioning fiducials (44) that are compared with fixed reference indicia (250, 252) in the station (32, 300). The comparison data is used by a controller (254) to generate the plate movement information used in simultaneous operation of the associated plate drive units (178-182, 346-350).

Abstract: The present invention provides a tool centering mechanism for a punch press having a plurality of tools installed in juxtaposition and which can simultaneously be replaced with new ones, wherein the tool pitch of the tools can be adjusted to agree with the pitch of cooperating tools. A tool holder (32) is provided on a first support (7), the tool holder (32) has a plurality of tool support sections (13,14) spaced at a predetermined pitch and which can each support a tool (9). The tool support sections (13,14) each allow a tool (10) cooperating with the tool (9) in punching to be installed on its axis. In a punch press of the above construction, the tool holder (32) and one (10B) of the cooperating tools (9) can be moved relative to the first support (7) and a second support (8), respectively.

Abstract: A tool holder having a plurality of tools fixed thereon is used in a production machine such as a production press to position one tool after the other opposite a workpiece holder. All of the tools perform the same operation and can be brought into position by a pneumatic cylinder which can angularly displace a pinion engaging a rack.

Abstract: A high speed rotary cutter assembly for transversely cutting a moving web, comprising a cutting roll and an anvil roll rotating at web speed which are selectively movable toward and away from one another to set the rotary cutter assembly in operative and idle modes, respectively. The invention also extends to a web handling device for forming a continuous multi-form web into a stack, comprising a folder assembly laying successive forms of the web in a superposed relationship on a table to form a stack. A temporary stack support assembly is extended along an arcuate descending path between the folder assembly and the table when the stack is completed for temporarily holding the incoming folded product until the completed stack on the table has been ejected.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting strips or wafers of wood into contoured pieces for forming an inlay of a desired pattern in a groove of a decorative wooden article, the apparatus comprising a base plate having a work surface with a trough extending thereon; a cutting arm pivotally secured at a first end thereof to the work surface and having an operating handle at a second end thereof, and a member holding a cutting blade on the cutting arm intermediate the handle and the first end, whereby the blade may be raised and lowered by the handle to extend at an angle to and across the trough to effect a cutting operation on strips or wafers of wood placed in the trough in a cutting zone; and first and second fixed stop members disposed in the trough on opposite sides of the cutting arm at predetermined distances from the cutting zone so that a strip or wafer of wood may be placed thereagainst with a portion extending to the cutting zone for an initial cut; and wherein the blade has a multi-planar cutting surface to facili

Abstract: A machine for cutting filing folders to provide identification tabs which includes the use of two rollers, a cutter roller and an anvil roller. The cutter roller has a plurality of surface cutters spaced circumferentially to cut identification tabs selectively at each end and centrally of a folder. The anvil roller has clearance areas, and also an anvil area which will cooperate with one of the surface cutters depending on the circumferential orientation of the cutter roller. The machine provides for a gear drive for the rollers and a mechanism for lifting and adjusting the orientation of the cutter roller to effect cutting of the file edges with one of the surface cutters.

Abstract: In a punching unit for punching apparatus having a punch removably mounted on the upper half side of a support section formed nearly in a channel-shape such that the punch will face a die mounted on the lower half side of the support section, and a lifting mechanism for vertically moving the punch, a flat force-cutting blade is attached at the bottom end of the punch rotatably mounted on the support section, and a lifting mechanism is provided in the support section to turn the punch through an angle of 90 degrees.

Abstract: A cutting and punching apparatus for sheet material, designed to be movably mounted on an automatic cutting machine, having a cutting tool and a punching tool, wherein said apparatus comprises means for vibrating said cutting tool, means for vertically displacing said cutting tool, means for rotating said cutting tool, means for sharpening said cutting tool, means for vertically displacing said punching tool, means for rotating said machine tool, and a supporting base on which are grouped in a compact manner all said means, which means being operable both simultaneously and independently of each other.

Abstract: A tool carrier for a punch or stamping machine in which the positioning piston-and-cylinder devices for respective actuating elements are disposed with a fixed center-to-center spacing from one another on opposite sides of a plane of symmetry and the tool holders are disposed in the tool carrier with their tools located symmetrically with respect to this plane so that individual tools can be operatively enabled by single actuating elements, larger tools by pairs of such actuating elements and even larger tools by two pairs of such actuating elements in symmetrical relationship.

Abstract: A rotary die-cut apparatus, in which a die roll cooperates with a resiliently covered anvil roll for die-cutting carton blanks passed therebetween, incorporates a constant mesh gear train between the die roll and the anvil roll for providing an infinite hunting ratio between the rolls. This provides more uniform wear of the anvil roll cover and prolongs its effective life. Preferably, this gear train includes a harmonic drive having a wave generator cam rotatable by a trim motor. An arrangement for sensing changes in diameter of the anvil roll due to wear of its cover may provide an input for determining the speed of the trim motor. A resurfacing mechanism for removing the outer surface of the cover when worn may provide this input. A pulse generator is preferably incorporated in a controller of the trim motor for periodically making random changes in the speed of the trim motor.

Abstract: A press assembly is disclosed with a series of punch/die sets for successive operations on parts connected together in a strip. The punch/die sets are conveniently relocatable anywhere on regularly-spaced fixed stations and the stations can receive more than one punch/die set. The punches and dies in the sets can be mounted on removable base plates or otherwise made movable to any spacing, such that the sets are easily spaced to reflect a length of the parts being manufactured. The increment of strip feed between operations of the press is also adjustable. The press assembly can therefore be inexpensively set up to make parts of any characteristic length.

Abstract: A cutting machine for solid bodies such as rubber tires according to the invention comprises a blade base 14 moved vertically by pressing cylinders 1. Downwardly directed cutting blades 18 are mounted on the underside of the blade base 14. These blades 18 can retractably project through slits 15a formed in a presser plate 15 positioned below the blade base 18. Rubber tires T.sub.1 placed on a receiver 27 are cut by the blades 18 with the presser plate 15 compressively retaining the tires T.sub.1. The resultant cut pieces are discharged by horizontally moving an accommodating box 22 through discharge cylinders 23. The receiver 27 is slightly rotated after a predetermined number of cutting operations.

Abstract: A perforating apparatus wherein two rolls define a nip for a running web of paper which is provided with rows of transverse perforations by tools at the periphery of one of the rolls. The rolls are driven in opposite directions by a timing shaft through the medium of a system of gears including an intermediate gear which indirectly drives the one roll and is directly or indirectly mounted on an eccentric. The eccentric is driven by a power train including a differential one output shaft of which carries the eccentric and another output shaft of which is normally held against rotation but can be turned by a worm to thereby change the phase of the one output shaft relative to the input shaft of the differential to thus compensate for eventual inaccuracies in the distribution of perforating tools at the periphery of the one roll.

Abstract: A punch press has a punch support and die support which are rotatable about a common vertical axis, and a drive mechanism for rotating and effecting the reorientation of the tooling relative to the X and Y axes of the punch press. In this fashion, rotation of the tooling will enable reorientation of a single cutting surface, and location of various of the distinctly contoured cutting surfaces, at the desired cutting position to effect cutouts of different contour or angular orientation in a workpiece relative to the X and Y axes. The punch has a cutting portion which is of a cross section providing at least two cutting surfaces of different contours with at least at least two arcuate cutting surfaces. In accordance with one embodiment, the punch is desirably of elongated cross section with a length L along its elongated axis and a width W in its transverse axis which is less than 1/2 L.

Abstract: A compact notching device comprises a single piston and cylinder assembly including a piston rod, a shaft axially and rotatably mounted within the piston rod, and means for longitudinally coupling the shaft to the piston rod such that when the piston rod reciprocates, the shaft reciprocates, means for attaching an instrument in fixed relation to the shaft, means for rotating the shaft and the instrument, and a presser foot assembly mounted in fixed relation to and carried by the piston rod or the shaft.

Abstract: A device for cutting or stamping metal bars and sections comprising a machine frame having a slide which is guided for movement in a frame and which is driven in the direction of its length by an hydraulic or pneumatic drive which applies a driving force substantially along the longitudinal center line of the slide, a pair of tools one of which is connected to the machine frame, the other being carried by the slide, said pair of tools being laterally offset relatively to the line of application of the driving force, and the machine frame being provided with laterally spaced guides both above and below the tools for guiding said movement of the slide. An additional force is applied to the slide to oppose the torque which in use will be generated by the force couple which is formed by the aforesaid driving force applied by the hydraulic or pneumatic drive and the cutting or stamping reaction force which will be developed in use by the pair of tools.

Abstract: A turret type punch press machine, adjustable means for aligning tool elements of spaced rotors comprising, a supporting member for at least one of the rotors, the supporting member being pivottably connected to a main frame of the machine, adjustable positioning and locking means for providing limited vernier adjustment of said supporting member about its pivot point on the machine, an indexing mechanism mounted on the supporting member providing for multi-position indexing of the rotor about its axis, and wherein the indexing mechanism is adjustable to provide limited angular positioning of the rotor for each indexed position thereof and to provide, in conjunction with the adjustable positioning of the supporting member two limited and substantial orthogonal directions of adjustment of the position of a tool mounted in the rotor on the supporting member.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting frozen food is supported on a table provided with a series of grasping members surrounding the food and resiliently urged inwardly so that when a vertically reciprocable cutting blade cuts the frozen food, the severed pieces of food are restored to their original positions so that a subsequent cut made in an angularly related position in the food will subdivide the food in equal portions. A series of press plates are mounted for vertical movement with the cutting blade to resiliently bear against the top of the food while being cut to prevent upward tilting of the pieces being severed.

Abstract: In apparatus for the placement and alignment of punch knives mounted in a knife holder on a punch press, a first swivel arm is pivotally supported at one end on a support for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. A second swivel arm is supported on the other end of the first swivel arm. The second swivel arm is a double-armed parallelogram member pivotally movable about a vertical axis and about horizontal axes at each of the opposite ends. A knife holder is pivotally connected to the parallelogram member at the opposite end from the first swivel arm. Due to the pivotal support of the two swivel arms and the pivotal connection of the knife holder, the knife holder can be moved along horizontal and vertical coordinates. A return member is associated with the second swivel arm for returning it into the horizontal position after the completion of a punching operation.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and an apparatus for providing decorative material in the form of strips. These strips may be applied to window panes in order to give the appearance of leaded windows. A work guide and adjustable work stop are mounted on a ring which rotates around a die and cooperating reciprocating cutter. By adjustment of the stop and of the ring the strip material may be placed against the guide and stop and cut to the desired length and angle.

Abstract: Apparatus for severing continuous lengths of hollow fibers into predetermined, equal lengths for use as chemical vapor dispensers is provided.

Abstract: A device for cutting a piece of a flat workpiece at a selected location identifiable by two or more binary coded numbers which device includes a cutter, a cutting platen having an upper workpiece supporting surface and a lower portion, a plurality of upstanding, shiftable members, a guiding arrangement on the platen adjacent the lower portion for loosely receiving the members, an arrangement for moving the members in accordance with the coded numbers and a structure for forcing the cutter against the cutting surface. In accordance with another aspect, the shiftable members are movable by binary fluid motors each including a series of axially aligned fluid actuating units having strokes corresponding to binary numbers and an arrangement for actuating certain of these units in the fluid motor to move the shiftable members in accordance with the extended condition of the binary motors.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting cigar wrappers with a selected profile from a natural tobacco leaf, the apparatus comprises a vacuum supporting structure on a leaf receiving member. An arrangement is provided for selecting a cut position on the leaf and oriented with respect to the leaf receiving member and a cutting platen is provided including a leaf supporting surface and an arrangement for creating a vacuum on the surface to support a leaf. The platen is positioned in a known leaf receiving location and a transfer means is provided for transferring the leaf from the leaf receiving member to the leaf supporting surface of the cutting platen. The cutter having the desired profile is provided for cutting the profile from the leaf. The platen is then shifted from its leaf receiving position to a leaf cutting position with the support surface of the platen spaced from the wrapper cutter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extending the useful life of resilient covers on anvil rolls of rotary die cutters by causing the die cutting rules to penetrate the covers at sequential incrementally small circumferentially spaced locations around the cover by adding to the speed of rotation of the anvil roll relative to the speed of the die holder roll. Lateral reciprocation of the anvil roll is translated to rotary motion by a gear and pivot lever arrangement, such rotary motion being added to the normal speed of the anvil roll.

Abstract: Interposed between the cutting surface and the pressure head is a magnetic die holder including base and die carrying sections, the former being mounted on a telescoping member which is pivotally connected to the head for vertical movement therewith and which permits movement of the holder in a plane parallel to the cutting surface. The base and die carrying sections are connected by a spring to permit the die carrying section to be vertically displaced with respect to the base section for accurate positioning of the die relative to the cutting surface. The die carrying section is also rotatable relative to the base section to permit orientation of the die at any angle with respect to the cutting surface. The die carrying section includes an electromagnet which retains the die thereon. Also located on the die carrying section are a pair of handle grips, each having a switch mounted thereon, both of which must be simultaneously actuated in order to initiate vertical movement of the pressure head.

Abstract: A die cutting roll carries outwardly projecting die cutting blades, and a parallel back-up roll carries a resilient mat which is engaged by the blades. The rolls are driven by a set of helical gears, and the back-up roll is reciprocated axially by a set of air cylinders, so that the back-up roll moves in a helical direction when the blades are out of engagement with the mat to avoid a repeating pattern of blade engagement with the mat and thereby extend the useful service life of the mat. The sheets to be die cut are successively fed between the rolls from the bottom of a stack by a reciprocating feed member driven by oscillating arms pivotally supported by a shaft. The shaft may be rotatably adjusted on an eccentric axis while the sheets are being fed for quickly phasing the feed of the sheets relative to the rotation of the die cutting roll to obtain precise registry of each sheet with the die cutting blades.

Abstract: The present apparatus is constructed for separating previously punched out workpieces from the surrounding waste material, for example, punched-out carton shapes. Preferably, the workpieces are arranged in a stack supported on a worktable. Power driven break-out tool means are located for up and down movement, as well as for lateral back and forth movement above the worktable. If desired, power driven push out means are arranged below the worktable with a push rail extending through a respective channel in the worktable. The break-out tool means and the push rail are arranged to be effective on a stack of workpieces on opposite sides and at opposite ends. The break-out tool and/or the push rail apply a levering action to the workpieces to break any lands or bridges which prior to such levering action connect the workpiece proper to the surrounding waste material.

Abstract: An anvil roll has a steel core and an outer portion of polyurethane. The roll is slightly rotated after a number of veneer clipping operations by a clutch which drives the roll after the roll is pushed by a knife down away from arcuate braking surfaces. An airbag normally urges the roll into engagement with the braking surfaces and is collapsed during adjustment of the roll. Operation of the clutch is prevented during the clipping operation. A double-acting cylinder drives the knife through a toggle joint linkage, and cushioning cylinder means aid in overcoming inertia of the knife at the start of a clipping cycle and also cushion the return of the knife. The cylinder has poppet check valves to rapidly admit air thereto.

Abstract: Cutting apparatus including an elongate knife shiftable between cutting and noncutting positions, and an elongate anvil having an arcuate striking surface against which the knife may strike. The anvil includes an elongate shaft having an arcuate lower surface which rests in an elongate cradle and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The upper surface of the shaft facing the knife has a resilient covering secured thereto. A rotator connected to the anvil is operable to produce random angular incremental rotation of the anvil between cutting strokes of the knife to present different cutting surfaces of the anvil to the knife. The support for the anvil includes a support member having a pair of oppositely facing, angularly disposed surfaces and a pair of holding blocks having angularly disposed surfaces which engage the surfaces of the support member.

Abstract: An apparatus which cuts web, eg mat board, in several directions is provided, which includes a knife carriage which rides on moveable rails over the mat board, the knife carriage having mounted thereon a rotatable blade assembly which indexes the blade to four 90.degree. positions. The blade is retractably mounted in the blade assembly at preferably a bevel angle. Accordingly, the apparatus can rapidly cut a rectangular mat board picture frame or cut or score other patterns.