US 6,629,482 B2 · Boltless cutting mat lock up

Abstract

A cutting mat comprises a cutting mat body and a lock assembly arranged to secure the cutting mat to a rotary anvil. The lock assembly comprises male and female locking members formed at opposite ends of the cutting mat and integral therewith. There are no metal frames or other components welded or otherwise secured to the male or female locking members. The female locking member slips into an axial channel on a rotary anvil. The cutting mat is wrapped around the rotary anvil, and the male member is inserted into the axial channel in locking relationship with the female locking member. Further, the axial edges of the cutting mat are formed in mating, complimentary serpentine shape to prevent a cutting blade from slipping into the seam between adjacent cutting mat surfaces.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims24

Dependent claims

A rotary anvil cutting mat comprising:

a generally elongate body;
opposing, complimentary, first and second axial edges arranged so as to be nonlinear in an axial dimension;
a first end portion proximate said first axial edge and a second end portion proximate said second axial edge;
a female locking member projecting from said first end portion generally normal thereto, said female locking member comprising a locking recess that generally follows the contour defined by said first axial edge such that said locking recess is nonlinear in said axial dimension;
and,
a male locking member projecting from said second end portion generally normal thereto, said male locking member comprising a locking projection that generally follows the contour defined by said second axial edge such that said locking projection is nonlinear in said axial dimension, wherein said cutting mat is wrappable into a generally cylindrical shape such that said female and male locking members abut in mating relationship, said locking projection is received by said locking recess and said first and second axial edges define a nonlinear seam therebetween.

3 more elements

A cutting mat for a rotary anvil, the rotary anvil having a cylindrical periphery and an axial channel extending along the surface thereof, the cutting mat comprising:

a generally elongate body;
opposing first and second axial edges arranged to form a complimentary,
repeating nonlinear pattern in a first axial dimension;
a first end portion proximate said first axial edge and a second end portion proximate said second axial edge;
a female locking member formed integral with said first end portion projecting generally normal thereto;
and,
a male locking member formed integral with said second end portion projecting generally normal thereto, wherein said cutting met is adapted to be installed on said rotary anvil such that said body wraps around said cylindrical periphery of said rotary anvil and said male and female locking members meet in mating relationship within said channel, said mating relationship of said male and female locking members within said channel sufficient to maintain said cutting mat on said rotary anvil without further requiring bolts, glue or latching strips, and wherein said first and second axial edges define a seam that is nonlinear across the entire length thereof.

4 more elements

A cutting mat for a rotary anvil, the rotary anvil having a cylindrical periphery and an axial channel extending along the surface thereof, the cutting mat comprising:

a generally elongate cutting mat body having first and second major surfaces, opposing first and second axial edges arranged so as to be nonlinear in an axial dimension, a first end portion proximate said first axial edge, and a second end portion proximate said second axial edge;
a female locking member extending from said first end portion, said female locking member comprising:
a first side wall projecting generally normal to said cutting mat body in the direction of said first major surface facing towards said cutting mat body;
a base portion projecting from the end of said first side wall and generally normal thereto,
a locking recess, and,
a female mating face opposite said first side wall arranged such that at least a portion of said female mating face generally conforms to the contours defined by said first axial edge so as to be nonlinear in said axial dimension;
and,
a male locking member extending from said second end portion, said male locking member comprising:
a second side wall projecting generally normal to said cutting mat body in the direction of said first major surface and facing towards said cutting mat body;
a base portion projecting from the end of said second side wall and generally normal thereto,
a locking projection, and,
a male mating face opposite said second side wall arranged such that at least a portion of said male mating face generally conforms to the contours defined by said second axial edge so as to be nonlinear in said axial dimension, wherein said cutting mat is installable on said rotary anvil such that said body wraps around said cylindrical periphery, said male and female locking members insert generally within said channel, said male and female mating faces abut one another in mating relationship, and said locking projection is received within said locking recess such that said cutting mat is maintained on said rotary anvil without bolts, glue or latching strips.

9 more elements

A cutting mat for a rotary anvil, the rotary anvil having a cylindrical periphery and an axial channel extending along the surface thereof, the cutting mat comprising:

a generally elongate body having a first major surface and a second major surface;
opposing first and second axial edges arranged to form a repeating curvilinear pattern such that said first and second axial edges are nonlinear in an axial dimension;
a first end portion proximate said first axial edge and a second end portion proximate said second axial edge;
a female locking member formed integral with said first end portion projecting generally normal thereto, said female locking member having a locking recess that extends continuously, substantially the axial length of said cutting mat;
and,
a male locking member formed integral with said second end portion projecting generally normal thereto, said male locking member having a locking projection that extends substantially the axial length of said cutting mat, wherein said cutting mat is adapted to be installed on said rotary anvil such that said body wraps around said cylindrical periphery, said male and female locking members meet in mating relationship within said channel and said locking projection is received in said locking recess such that said cutting mat is maintained on said rotary anvil and said first and second axial edges to define a seam that is nonlinear across the entire length thereof.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,001 words

Summary1,211 words

#The present invention relates in general to a locking arrangement for flexible, annular covers and in particular, to locking members formed integral with a cutting mat for securing to a rotary anvil.

#Rotary die cutting machines are used to cut a continuously moving workpiece by passing the workpiece through the nip of a cutting roller and a rotary anvil. The cutting roller includes any combination of cutting blades or rules, and scoring elements projecting from the surface thereof. The rotary anvil provides a suitable surface to support the workpiece at the point where the work material is cut or scored by the cutting roller. Essentially, the rotary anvil serves as a backstop allowing the cutting blades to be urged against the workpiece being cut without damaging the cutting blades themselves. Because of the speed of operation, rotary die cutting machines are used to perform cutting operations in numerous industries. For example, the corrugated industry utilizes such machines to cut and score corrugated paperboard materials for constructing packaging products such as boxes and shipping containers.

#Typically, several cutting mats are axially aligned on the rotary anvil. Each cutting mat is constructed of a deformable material such as a polymeric composition. The outer surface of each cutting mat is sufficiently rigid to give adequate support to the work material, yet soft enough so that the cutting blades will not wear or be damaged by impact with the rotary anvil. The cutting blades on the cutting roller penetrate the cutting mats in operation. This leads to eventual fatigue and wear of the cutting mats, requiring periodic replacement.

Brief description of the drawings11 figures

#The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals, and in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical rotary anvil having a plurality of cutting mats wrapped around a cylindrical portion and locked into an axially extending channel;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the cutting mat according to the present invention;

Detailed description3,334 words

#In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation, specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It will be appreciated that these are diagrammatic figures, and that the illustrated embodiments are not shown to scale. Further, like structure in the drawings is indicated with like reference numerals throughout.

#FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary rotary anvil 100. The rotary anvil 100 comprises a generally cylindrical anvil portion 102. A shaft 104 extends from opposite end faces 106, 108 of the anvil portion 102, and is particularly adapted to support the rotary anvil 100 for rotation on associated support bearings (not shown) as is known in the art. A channel 110 extends axially along the surface 112 of the anvil portion 102. Any number of cutting mats 114 are wrapped around the surface 112 of the anvil portion 102 and secured thereto, by engaging opposing female and male locking members 116, 118 of the cutting mat 114 in the channel 110.

#The cutting mats 114 each comprise a compressible resilient elastomeric material and may include known processing, stabilizing, strengthening and curing additives as is known in the art. For example, any suitable natural or synthetic polymeric material such as polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated butyl rubber, and like compositions may be used. The cutting mats 114 may further optionally include a backing material (not shown). The backing material may be any suitable material employed in the art for this purpose such as a woven or non-woven fabric or thin flexible sheet material such as sheet metal.

Facts

Application

09/881,943Filed 15 Jun 2001

Published

US 2002/0189419 A119 Dec 2002

Granted

7 Oct 2003

Term ended

15 Jun 2021

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification7 codes

B26D 7/20
Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting: cutting beds
B26D 2007/202
Cutting beds: rollers or cylinders being pivoted during operation
Y10T 83/4841
With anvil backup: with resilient anvil surface
Y10T 83/9312
Anvil: rotatable type

Timeline

15 Jun 2001Application filedUS 09/881,943
13 Sep 2001Assigned to Day International, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
19 Dec 2002PublishedUS 2002/0189419 A1
1 Oct 2003Assigned to Lehman Commenrcial Paper Inc., (Administrative Agent)security interest
7 Oct 2003GrantedUS 6,629,482 B2
7 Dec 2005Assigned to Day International, Inc., Varn International, Inc., Day International Group, Inc., Day International Finance, Inc.release of security interest in patent collateral (releasing 014539/0001)
16 Dec 2005Assigned to Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P.first lien security agreement
19 Dec 2005Assigned to The Bank of New Yorksecond lien security interest
8 Sep 2014Assigned to Deutsche Bank AG, London Branchfirst lien patent short form security agreement
8 Sep 2014Assigned to Deutsche Bank AG, London Branchsecond lien patent short form security agreement
15 Jun 2021Term endedEstimated
20 Sep 2023Assigned to Colouroz Investment 2 LLC, Flint Group US LLC (Nka Flint Group Packaging North America Holdings LLC and Flint Group Cps Inks Holdings LLC), Flint Group Packaging Inks North Ameria Holdings LLC (F/K/A Flint Group North America Corporation), Day International Group, Inc., Day International, Inc.release of first lien security interest in patents at r/f 033694/0695
20 Sep 2023Assigned to Colouroz Investment 2 LLC, Flint Group US LLC (Nka Flint Group Packaging North America Holdings LLC and Flint Group Cps Inks Holdings LLC), Flint Group Packaging Inks North Ameria Holdings LLC (F/K/A Flint Group North America Corporation), Day International Group, Inc., Day International, Inc.release of second lien security interest in patents at r/f 033694/0831

Boltless cutting mat lock up

Life of this patent

Boltless cutting mat lock up

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims24

Description5,001 words

Drawings

Classification7 codes

Life of this patent

Description5,001 words