Rotary cutting die for cutting corrugated board having a reinforcement member for reinforcing and stabilizing a cutting or scoring rule disposed adjacent a product ejector opening

A method of constructing a rotary cutting die for cutting corrugated board and forming a die cut product, comprising:

• forming one or more product ejector openings in a curved die board;
• disposing a compressible product ejector in the product ejector opening wherein in use the product ejector engages the die cut product and assists in the separation of the die cut product from the rotary cutting die;
• securing a cutting or scoring rule in the die board adjacent the product ejector opening;
• and
• reinforcing the cutting or scoring rule in the die board by embedding a reinforcing member in the die board at a position between the product ejector opening and the cutting or scoring rule.

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

• a curved die board configured to be mounted to the cylinder and including inner and outer surfaces;
• a cutting or scoring rule seated in the die board and projecting from the outer surface thereof for cutting or scoring the corrugated board fed through the nip to produce the die cut product;
• a product ejector opening formed in the die board adjacent the cutting or scoring rule;
• a product ejector disposed in the product ejector opening and projected outwardly therefrom past the outer surface of 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;
• and
• a cutting or scoring rule reinforcement member secured in the die board for reinforcing and stabilizing the cutting or scoring rule and the die board adjacent the reinforcement member;
• and
• wherein the cutting or scoring rule reinforcement member is disposed on an inner wall within said product ejector opening.