Apparatus for removably securing a cutting component

#The present invention relates generally to web printing presses, and in particular to securing a cutting component on a cylinder of a folder in a web printing press.

#Web printing presses print a continuous web of material, such as paper. The continuous web then is cut in a cutting unit of a folder so as to form signatures which can then be folded or output. The web is typically cut at the nip formed by a knife cylinder and an anvil cylinder by a blade carried by the knife cylinder in cooperation with a cutting rubber or other assembly carried by the anvil cylinder.

#European Patent Application No. EP 1 136 411 A2 (which corresponds to commonly-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/533,685, which U.S. application is herewith incorporated by reference herein) discloses a folding apparatus having first cutting and anvil cylinders which partially cut a web so as to form first cuts. The partially cut web is guided between transport tapes to second cutting and anvil cylinders, which cut the web between the first cuts so as to form signatures. The transport tapes pass through axially-spaced grooves in the second cutting and anvil cylinders (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

#The present invention is elaborated upon below based on exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

#FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional schematic view of an apparatus for removably securing a cutting component on a cutting component cylinder according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a lock mode.

#FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional schematic view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a release mode.

#Referring to FIGS. 1-4, an embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention for securing a cutting component on a cutting component cylinder. In the embodiment shown securing apparatus 10 includes fixed anvil 4, movable anvil 6, and locking rod 8 for securing cutting rubber 2 on anvil cylinder 30. Cutting rubber 2 may be made of a suitable resilient material, such as polyurethane, for example. In other embodiments of the present invention, another cutting component, such as a cutting groove or a cutting blade, for example, may be secured on an anvil cylinder or a knife cylinder, or other cylinder, of a folder apparatus. Locking rod 8 enables apparatus 10 to assume a lock mode, in which cutting rubber 2 is secured, or fixed, on anvil cylinder 30, and a release mode, in which cutting rubber 2 is easily removable from anvil cylinder 30.

#Movable anvil 6 pivots about a pivot axis 12 so as to enable anvil 6 to assume the lock mode, as shown in FIG. 1, or the release mode, as shown in FIG. 2. In the lock mode, cutting component 2 is clamped between movable anvil 6 and fixed anvil 4. In the release mode, movable anvil 6 is rotated away from fixed anvil 4 so as to unclamp cutting component 2 from between the anvils. The lock mode is a condition in which cutting rubber 2 is positively secured on anvil cylinder 30, whereas the release mode is a condition in which the cutting rubber is positively unsecured from anvil cylinder 30 so as to permit easy repositioning or removal of the cutting rubber.

#Locking rod 8 may be a generally cylindrical rod element having eccentric, or cam, members 5 and capable of being rotated, or turned, about pivot axis 11 so as to rotate eccentric members 5 into two angular positions 90° relative to each other. Eccentric members 5 each include a face 7, a face 9, and a face 14. Face 7 is a further radial distance from pivot axis 11 than face 9 is, while face 14 is still a further radial distance from pivot axis 11 than face 7 is. When locking rod 8 is positioned as shown in FIG. 1, face 7 is located adjacent movable anvil 6 with surface 13 of movable anvil 6 abutting cutting rubber 2 so as to force the cutting rubber against fixed anvil 4. In this, the lock, mode of locking rod 8, cutting rubber 2 is positively clamped, or locked, between surface 13 of movable anvil 6 and fixed anvil 4. Surface 13 of movable anvil 6 may be rough or jagged, as through plasma spray roughening, so as to enhance the gripping effect of movable anvil 6 on cutting rubber 2. When locking rod 8 is rotated as shown in FIG. 2 (90° from the position shown in FIG. 1), face 9 is located adjacent to movable anvil 6 so as to permit the movable anvil to move in a direction away from fixed anvil 4. In this, the release, mode, cutting rubber 2 is easily removable from anvil cylinder 30. As locking rod 8 is rotated between the lock and release modes, securing apparatus 10 transitions through an “over-toggle” position (not shown) in which face 14 is located adjacent to movable anvil 6. This over-toggle position provides a positive-locking effect so that locking rod 8 is either in the release mode or positively in the lock mode.