Metal tools and implements – making – Machines – Die-forming
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-07
2001-02-20
Rachuba, M. (Department: 3724)
Metal tools and implements, making
Machines
Die-forming
C076S107800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189414
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a counter plate and a cutting die for use in a die cutting machine, where the counter plate is a receiving surface for cutting blades of the machine while the cutting die is provided for stamping a sheet-shaped material into a predetermined shape.
Heretofore, die cutting machines have been used for stamping a sheet shaped material such as a synthetic resin film, a thin sheet of paper, and a sheet of carton board into a stamped piece thereof having a predetermined shape. The conventional die cutting machine comprises a cutting die and a female die, by which a sheet shaped material is stamped into a predetermined shape by pressing the cutting die against the material placed on the female die.
Conventional die cutting machines typically comprise a cutting die having cutting blades and rulings, and a counter plate or female die. Typically, the counter plate is made of a veneer plate or a metal plate, on which grooves are formed by means of a laser machining, the grooves being adapted to permit insertion of the blades and rulings. Both the cutting blades and the rulings are typically formed by bending a strip of plate material and inserting it into the grooves formed on the base plate. The counter plate or receiving plate is arranged opposite the cutting die in the die cutting machine. The counter plate is usually made of a metal plate with a thickness of about 1.5 mm. The counter plate is a flat receiving surface, except portions formed as hollows corresponding to the rulings.
The die cutting machine so constructed is able to stamp a sheet of material such as a synthetic resin film, a thin sheet of paper, and a sheet of box board into a desired shape by pressing the cutting blades against the receiving surface of the counter plate by pulling down the cutting die (i.e., from its resting position) after placing the sheet material on the counter plate
60
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As the cutting blade comes into repeated contact with the receiving surface, the counter plate described should be made of a material having an extremely high hardness (i.e., around HRC 500), such as a high hardness stainless steel. However, the use of such hard material results in several disadvantages such as the high cost and time of production. Fabrication of the plate using less hard materials results in less durable cutting parts, especially to the counter plate due to the formation of recessed area as a result of repeated contact with the cutting blades.
Typically, cutting blades are prepared from a band shaped material having an extremely high hardness (i.e., around HRC 500), so that it takes much time to cut the material into pieces having a predetermined length, and to bend each piece into a predetermined shape to form each cutting blade. Furthermore, spring back can occur at the time of bending the cutting blade, and corrective action is usually required to prevent the spring back. Consequently, the fabrication of the cutting blades is a time consuming process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a process for fabrication of a cutting die machine that reduces the amount of labor, reduces the cost of the raw materials, and reduces the process steps required to create the cutting and scoring parts of the die cutting machine, without sacrificing the durability or quality of those parts. The present invention also provides a die cutting machine having more durable and reliable cutting and scoring components, without requiring special materials, or costly modifications.
Specifically, the present invention provides A counter plate to be provided as substantially planar receiving surface opposed to a cutting die and to be installed in a die-cutting machine for stamping a sheet material into a predetermined shape and making ruled lines thereon by using said cutting die on which cutting blades and rulings are securely fixed, said counter plate comprising a plate body having a plurality of hollows formed on portions corresponding to said rulings; wherein said plate body is made of a thin steel plate; and wherein a plurality of edge bearing portions formed on portions corresponding to said cutting blades are hardened by irradiation with a laser beam so that partial melting occurs, and quenched so that solidification occurs.
The invention further provides a cutting die to be installed in a die-cutting machine, comprising a base plate on which thin cutting blades for stamping a sheet material into a predetermined shape and rulings for making ruled lines on said sheet material are fixed, wherein each of said cutting blades has a cutting edge portion hardened by irradiation with a laser beam in such a manner that said cutting blades are fixed on said base plate during irradiation with the laser beam.
The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a counter plate to be provided as a receiving substantially planar surface opposed to a cutting die and to be installed in a die-cutting machine for stamping a sheet material into a predetermined shape and making ruled lines thereon by using said cutting die on which cutting blades and rulings are securely fixed, said method comprising the steps of: forming hollows on portions of a plate body made of a thin steel corresponding to said rulings; and hardening portions of said plate body in order to form edge-bearing portions corresponding to said cutting blades by irradiation with a laser beam so that partial melting occurs, and quenching so that solidification occurs.
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Katayama Isamu
Nagasawa Shigeru
Yoshizawa Akinori
Huntley & Associates
Rachuba M.
Yoshizawa Industry Inc.
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