Sheet processing apparatus

#This invention relates generally to an apparatus for processing or operating on a sheet of material such as for sheets of cardboard for the manufacture of an article such as a folding box or case.

#Sheets of material of the above-indicated kind are usually processed by means of sheet stamping or punching machines, into which a punching or stamping plate with a register or set-up sheet disposed thereon is introduced. The plate comes into contact with the stamping shaping tool or punching tool in the sheet stamping machine or automatic apparatus. In automatic punching or stamping apparatuses of that kind, before the actual production operation is performed, during a single stroke movement, lines of the blades and bending lines must be marked on the set-up sheet, and then die regions or zones are produced on the sheet, then being disposed opposite to the punching or stamping tool which represents a top die.

#It is also known for the setting-up or register operation which is required for producing the die to be carried out by means of a device, referred to a nylo-print plate, which in turn can also be fixed only in the sheet stamping or punching machine itself.

#FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus for processing sheets of cardboard for the manufacture of articles such as folding boxes or cases,

#FIG. 2 shows a view on an enlarged scale and in exaggerated form of a part of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, in cross-section taken along line II--II in FIG. 1,

#FIG. 3 shows a view corresponding to that shown in FIG. 2 with components of the arrangement in a different position, and

#An apparatus 1 for processing or operating on a sheet of material such as a sheet of cardboard or like material for the manufacture for example of an article such as a folding box or case or the like has a table plate member 4 disposed between first and second side frame members or portions 2 which are of a yoke-like configuration, with support legs 3, thereby forming a support frame structure. Arranged above the table plate member 4 is at least one lateral defining member or format bar 5 which is of the height indicated at i in FIG. 1, the bar 5 being displaceable parallel to the side portions 2. For the purposes of displacing the bar 5 across the table plate member 4, the bar 5 is connected to guide or control spindles or shafts as indicated at 6 which pass through mounting bores 7 in the adjacent side portion 2, and has a hand wheel 8 which is rotatable for displacing the bar 5 across the table plate member 4 by actuation of the spindles 6. It will be seen therefore that for example the spindles are geared or ganged together so as to move the bar 5 with a uniform motion, in a parallel manner.

#Reference numeral 9 in FIG. 1 denotes the top surface of the bar 5. Disposed at a spacing indicated by a above the level of the top surface 9 of the bar 5, in the substantially vertical, inwardly facing surfaces 10 of the two side portions 2, are horizontal guide grooves as indicated at 11, which therefore face towards each other in the manner clearly visible in FIG. 1. The guide grooves 11 carry rollers or like guide members as indicated at 12 which are carried on a moving bridge assembly 13 comprising an I-shaped carrier or beam member 14 and side plate assemblies 15 disposed at respective ends thereof. It will be seen therefore that the bridge assembly 13 is movable along the guide tracks formed by the grooves 11, on the rollers 12, in the direction indicated by double-headed arrow x in FIG. 1.

#For the purposes of displacing the bridge assembly 13 along the side portions 2 in the direction indicated by the arrow x, the bridge assembly 13 has a handle 16. Carried on each side portion 2, on the top surface thereof as illustrated in FIG. 1, are guide control means such as detent means or rack means, illustrated in the form of elongate control members in the form substantially of a bicycle-type chain, as indicated at 17. Each end plate structure 15 of the bridge assembly 13 carries a gear or toothed wheel 18 which engages into respective ones of the members 17, to ensure that the bridge assembly 13 is guided parallel to itself, in the course of its movement along the guide tracks 11.