Cutting – With product handling means – Means to move – guide – or permit free fall or flight of product
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-12
2002-11-12
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3724)
Cutting
With product handling means
Means to move, guide, or permit free fall or flight of product
C083S440100, C083S690000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06477930
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(i) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an improvement in apparatus for the automatic die cutting of blanks primarily for making formable paperboard containers. In particular, it relates to improvements in the blanking operation to assist in the removal of the carton blanks, after the stripping operation, in an efficient manner.
(ii) Description of the Prior Art
With the advent of many different sizes, shapes and configurations of cardboard or similar type containers, it is well-known in the art to die-cut, strip and blank cardboard box blanks using an automatic sequential press or die cutting machine. By automating the process and by using computer-aided technology, it is now possible to confiture die-cut blanks in a limitless number of dimensions and specifications and, as well, to lay-out any number of blanks on a single sheet of cardboard while automatically cutting, stripping and blanking the sheets with little or no human operator intervention. One typical system and press known in the art is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,639, issued Aug. 16, 1994 and assigned to Die-X Tooling Systems.
As described in that U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,639, computer technology, combined with attendant laser technology, has enabled cardboard box manufacturers to utilize highly accurate cutting and creasing dies for producing a planar sheet of die-cut blanks, and also to produce male and female blanking dies used automatically to separate the die-cut or stamped forms from the intervening web or waste portion of the sheet. Automatic blanking, in particular, results in a tremendous cost savings compared to the identical operation when performed by labourers using manual blanking means.
The current technology and the known prior art includes automatic systems or presses that feed large sheets of cardboard for cutting and scoring of blanks and also, for automatically stripping the excess cardboard from the stamped cardboard sheet, leaving a flexible thin webbing supporting the various rows of stamped carton forms. The known prior art also contemplated the use of a male and female combination blanking die for automatically separating the planar forms from the flexible web. The male die, effective through the use of a blanking member, pushed each of the cardboard cartons which were blanked through the web and through the apertures in the supporting female die. The thin web typically remained on the face of the female die while the separated blanks were pushed through the blanking holes into a stack below the female blanking die.
For speed and efficiency, the prior art also contemplated the use of a travelling feed bar and grippers to “pull” a cardboard sheet through the various stations of the machine on a continuous chain drive or other mechanism, thereby automatically feeding the sheet from station to station. Similarly, in most applications, the remaining flexible web on the face of the female die after blanking was also pulled away through the use of the travelling bar and grippers into a waste container or other receptacle at the end of the machine.
The general configuration of automatic die cutting machines for the production of such die-cut blanks is well-known. A sheet of cardboard blank material was automatically interposed or urged by mechanical means beneath the surface of a cutting die as part of the first stage of the operation. The cutting die comprised a planar die having specially configured cutting edges which were created through the use of computer and laser technology to reflect a particular series of die-cut blank lay-outs for cutting. Once a sheet was interposed under the cutting die on a cutting platen, the cutting die was pressed onto the sheet from below thereby causing the sheet to be “cut” or “scored” by the cutting die thereabove.
While not essential for a thorough understanding of the present invention, a typical system and press known in the art for automatic die cutting and blanking, which is taught in that U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,639, will now be briefly described.
The press generally comprised means for feeding a series of blank, planar sheets into the press or system, e.g., by the use of a travelling bar and appended pulling grippers and then to a scoring and/or cutting station. Thereafter, at the scoring or stamping station, a plurality of rows and columns of die-cut forms were stamped or scored on to the cardboard sheet, although the cardboard sheet remained in one piece and was next pulled automatically to a stripping station where much of the small pieces of excess cardboard around the die-cut forms was automatically removed. What remained was a series of stamped and creased die-cut forms which were held together by a thin web therebetween. The thin web and attached die-cut blanks were then automatically pulled into a blanking station where the die-cut blanks were completely separated from the web and were dropped onto a pallet for transfer.
The blanking station specifically included the use of a male blanking die/female blanking die combination which, when engaged, pressed and separated the box blanks from the web and onto the pallet. The remaining thin web lay on the face of the female die component and was ready for disposal in a disposal area at the end of the press. As a result of the blanking operation, a planar cardboard blank was produced and was in a condition for assembly, by automatic folding or otherwise, and for the insertion of merchandise, food stuffs or other products to be contained therein.
That male blanking die/female blanking die combination included a female blanking die portion and a complementary male blanking die for blanking or separating die-cut cardboard carton blanks or other forms into a detached web and a substantially planar and unassembled die-cut cardboard blank. The die-cut cardboard sheet was automatically pulled through the press, and over the female die portion, through the use of travelling bar having appended gripper fingers which were adapted to grip the leading edge of the die-cut sheet.
After blanking, the web remained on the face of the female die portion and included a series of intermediate web portions which, together, formed an extremely flexible and flimsy cardboard “skeleton” which must be removed from the female blanking die face. In actual operation, the travelling bar and appended grippers pulled the flexible web over the female blanking die face, including the leading edges of the female blanking die.
In the operation of the blanking dies, the male blanking die was pressed downward through the corresponding through holes in the female blanking die, thereby separating and pushing the blanked cardboard carton through the through holes, resulting in die-cut blanks and leaving a cardboard web on the surface of the female blanking die. At this point, it was then necessary automatically to remove the remaining web portion from the face of the female blanking die by use of the travelling bar and grippers.
After the initial cutting process, the entire cut or scored sheet was automatically pulled or urged into a second (or “stripping”) station for the operation for the stripping away of most of the excess material from around the cut box blanks. The stripping operation comprised the use of a female stripping tool onto which the cut sheet was automatically interposed. The female stripping tool had a series of configured openings which corresponded to the cut portions of the cut sheet and was adapted to receive the male stripping tool from above. The male stripping tool cooperated with the female stripping tool, and effectively broke away and separated the majority of excess material from the box blanks by being urged downwardly onto the sheet arranged over the female stripping tool. It was, of course, critical that the male and female stripping tools be aligned precisely and that the cut sheet be arranged in alignment therebetween to insure that stripping was effectively accomplished without tearing of the box flank, jamming of the machine or damage thereto. Further,
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Hail III Joseph J.
LandOfFree
Jogger member, system and method for mounting jogger members... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Jogger member, system and method for mounting jogger members..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Jogger member, system and method for mounting jogger members... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2988129