Magnetic support plate for cladded steel and steel-backed polymer stamping/blocking and embossing graphic arts dies

A graphic arts impression die assembly for mounting on a support unit of graphic arts impression apparatus and comprising:

• a non-ferrous support member having a die mounting surface;
• a die mounted on said die mounting surface of the support member;
• a plurality of magnetic elements each having opposed faces with the magnetic north pole being at one face of each element and the south pole being at the opposed face of each element,
• said magnetic elements being embedded in the support member in spaced relationship from one another with adjacent pairs of the magnetic elements being disposed in positions with the magnetic north and south poles of one of the magnetic elements of each pair oriented opposite the north and south pole disposition of the other magnetic element of a respective pair;
• and
• a ferro-magnetic component associated with each of said pairs of magnetic elements and located adjacent the faces thereof remote from said die mounting surface of the member in substantially bridging relationship to each of said pair of magnetic elements for increasing the magnetic force of each pair of magnetic elements adjacent the die mounting surface of the member to enhance the magnetic attraction of the die toward the mounting surface of the member.

A method of supporting cladded steel and steel-backed graphic arts impression dies for use in sheet or web-fed graphic arts presses comprising:

• providing a non-ferrous support member having a die mounting surface for substantially complementally receiving a cladded steel or steel-backed stamping/blocking or embossing die;
• providing a plurality of magnetic elements each having opposed faces with the magnetic north pole being at one face of each element and the south pole being at the opposed face of each element with said magnetic elements embedded in the support member in spaced relationship from one another with adjacent pairs of the magnetic elements disposed in positions with the magnetic north and south poles of one of the magnetic elements of each pair oriented opposite the north and south pole disposition of the other magnetic element of a respective pair;
• and
• concentrating the magnetic field surrounding those ends of the magnetic elements in closes proximity to the die assembly supporting surface of the support member and decreasing the flux leakage from the magnets at the perimeter of the magnetic field created by respective pairs of magnets by positioning a ferro-magnetic component adjacent the faces of the magnetic elements remote from said die mounting surface of the member in substantially bridging relationship to each of said pair of magnetic elements.