Rotary cutting die for cutting corrugated board having product ejectors configured to separate die cut product without crushing flutes in the corrugated board

A rotary cutting die adapted to be mounted on a rotary die cylinder for cutting corrugated board fed into a nip defined between the die cylinder and the surface of the anvil to produce a die cut product, the rotary cutting die comprising:

• a curved die board configured to be mounted to the cylinder and including inner and outer surfaces;
• one or more cutting blades mounted on the die board for cutting the corrugated board fed through the nip to produce the die cut product;
• one or more product ejectors disposed on the die board for engaging a portion of the die cut product passing through the nip and exerting a force on the die cut product which assists in separating the die cut product from the cutting die;
• the product ejector comprising compressible material and including an inner end and an outer engaging surface for engaging the die cut product passing through the nip;
• the product ejector including opposed sides that are indented between the inner end and the outer engaging surface to form a relatively narrow column where portions of the outer engaging surface are cantilevered relative to the column;
• wherein compressive forces generated in the product ejector are transmitted to the outer engaging surface;
• and
• a relief area formed in the engaging surface of the product ejector and generally aligned with the column.

A rotary cutting die adapted to be mounted on a rotary die cylinder for cutting corrugated board fed into a nip defined between the die cylinder and the surface of the anvil to produce a die cut product, the rotary cutting die comprising:

• a curved die board configured to be mounted to the cylinder and including inner and outer surfaces;
• one or more cutting blades mounted on the die board for cutting the corrugated board fed through the nip to produce the die cut product;
• one or more product ejectors associated with the die board for engaging a portion of the die cut product passing through the nip and exerting a force on the die cut product which assists in separating the die cut product from the cutting die;
• the product ejector comprising compressible material and including:
• i. a generally central column;
• ii. an outer cantilevered portion cantilevered off the column and wherein the cantilevered portion includes an engaging surface for engaging the die cut product;
• iii. an inner base portion disposed on the end of the product ejector opposite the cantilevered portion, the inner base portion extending laterally from the column such that the width of the inner base portion is greater than a minimum width of the column;
• and
• iv. an open area lying outside the column and within the overall dimensions of the product ejector.

A rotary cutting die adapted to be mounted on a rotary die cylinder for cutting corrugated board fed into a nip defined between the die cylinder and the surface of the anvil to produce a die cut product, the rotary cutting die comprising:

• a curved die board configured to be mounted to the cylinder and including inner and outer surfaces;
• one or more cutting blades mounted on the die board for cutting the corrugated board fed through the nip to produce the die cut product;
• one or more product ejectors associated with the die board for engaging a portion of the die cut product passing through the nip and exerting a force on the die cut product which assists in separating the die cut product from the cutting die;
• each product ejector comprising compressible material and including an inner portion, an intermediate portion and an outer portion which includes an engaging surface for engaging the die cut product passing through the nip;
• wherein the intermediate portion of the product ejector is narrower than the outer portion of the product ejector and wherein the engaging surface includes a larger area than the cross-sectional area of the intermediate portion of the product ejector such that forces generated by the product ejector are distributed over the larger area of the engaging surface of the product ejector;
• and
• wherein the product ejector assumes a generally X-shaped configuration.