US 7,096,709 B2 · Graphic arts die and support plate assembly

Abstract

A graphic arts die and support plate assembly is provided that is adapted to be mounted as a unit on the chase of a flat bed or rotary graphic arts press. The assembly includes a plurality of spaced individual dies fixedly mounted in predetermined relative relationship on a support plate member of the unit. Alignment holes in each die that register with orifices in the support plate member are adapted to receive temporary alignment pins thereby assuring correct positioning of the dies with respect to one another on the support plate member until the dies are affixed to the support plate member. Makeready and die lock-up time of the press is significantly decreased because all dies of the assembly may be preregistered with a design artwork before mounting of the die and support assembly on the press. A series of graphic arts die units are also provided that are adapted to be mounted as an assembly encompassing more than 180° of the circumference of a rotary press chase. The graphic arts die units have die support plate members that may be aligned with indicia on the press chase, and that have notch structure receiving a tool for facilitating alignment and spacing between adjacent die support plate members. Cutouts in the die support plate members permit manual selective shifting of a die relative to the die support plate member therefor using a tool received in a cutout and engageable with the die.

Claims52

Dependent claims

A graphic arts die assembly adapted to be mounted as a unit on the apertured chase of a flat bed press or the apertured cylindrical chase of a rotary graphic arts press, said assembly comprising:

a plurality of dies each having a stamping, embossing or die cut surface and an opposed mounting surface;
a die support member for the dies, said member having a die receiving surface and an opposed surface engageable with the chase of a flat bed press or the chase on the cylinder of a rotary press,
the plurality of graphic arts dies being mounted on said die receiving surface of the die support member in predetermined relative positions;
a plurality of upstanding die fasteners secured to the die receiving surface of the die support member, there being at least two fasteners for each die,
each of the dies having a through hole positioned to receive a respective fastener therein;
and
a releasable connector on each fastener engaging a respective die for maintaining each die in a fixed position on the die support member,
said fasteners received in the through holes of a respective die being positioned in predetermined relationship with respect to and outboard of the design defining surface of that die.

5 more elements

A method of preparing a graphic arts die assembly adapted to be mounted as a unit on the apertured chase of a flat bed graphic arts press or the apertured cylindrical chase of a rotary graphic arts press, said method comprising the steps of:

forming a stamping, embossing or die cutting operating surface in each of a plurality of dies, each of said operating surfaces conforming to design artwork;
forming at least two through holes in each die located outboard of and in predetermined disposition relative to the operating surface of a respective die;
providing a die support member for the dies in which the support member has a die receiving surface and an opposed mounting surface engageable with a flat bed chase or a rotary cylinder chase;
attaching a plurality of fasteners to the die support member and each located relative to one another in disposition to be received in a respective through hole of a corresponding die;
positioning the dies on the support plate with fasteners received in respective holes in a corresponding die;
and
applying a connector to each of the fasteners in disposition releasably engaging a respective die to fixedly secure each die to the support member;
and
forming at least one support member hold down slot in the die support member in disposition spaced from the perimeter edge of the support member.

6 more elements

Graphic arts die units adapted to be mounted as an assembly on the apertured chase of a flat bed press or apertured cylindrical chase of a rotary press, said assembly comprising:

a plurality of dies each having a stamping, embossing or die cut surface and an opposed mounting surface;
a plurality of die support plate members for the dies, said plate members having edge portions, a die receiving surface, and an opposed mounting surface engageable with the chase of a flat bed press or the chase on the cylinder of a rotary press,
at least one die being mounted on each of the die support plate members in predetermined disposition with respect to the surface of a corresponding die support member,
each of said die support plate members having an edge portion that is adjacent the edge portion of at least one other die support member when the graphic arts die units are assembled in predetermined relative dispositions on a flat bed press chase or the chase of a rotary press,
said adjacent edge portions of the die support plate members each having notches therein, each of said notches being located in disposition to align to a corresponding notch in an opposed edge portion of an adjacent die support plate member,
each pair of opposed notches cooperating to define an opening for removable reception of a combination alignment and spacing tool.

3 more elements

A graphic arts die assembly adapted to be mounted as a unit on the apertured chase of a flat bed press or the apertured cylindrical chase of a rotary graphic arts press, said assembly being configured to process a plurality of artwork design images in predetermined relative relationship with respect to one another, said assembly comprising:

a plurality of dies each having a design-defining stamping, embossing or die cut surface conforming to a respective artwork design image, and an opposed mounting surface;
a die support member for the dies, said support member having a die receiving surface and an opposed surface engageable with the chase of a flat bed press or the chase on the cylinder of a rotary press;
a plurality of die fasteners secured to the die support member and extending away from the die receiving surface thereof,
there being at least a pair of fasteners for each of said dies, and through holes in each die receiving respective fasteners,
each of said pair of fasteners being located on the support member in a position that corresponds with and is established by the position of a particular artwork design image such that the dies mounted on the support member are in predetermined spaced relative positions with the stamping, embossing, or die cut surface of each die in precise register with its corresponding artwork design image;
and
a releasable connector on each fastener engaging a respective die for maintaining each die in its fixed position on a die support member.

4 more elements

A graphic arts die assembly adapted to be mounted as a unit on the apertured chase of a flat bed press or the apertured cylindrical chase of a rotary graphic arts press configured to process a plurality of artwork designs in predetermined relationship with respect to one another, said assembly comprising:

a plurality of dies each having a design defining stamping, embossing or die cut surface conforming to a respective artwork design, and an opposed mounting surface,
each of said dies having a plurality of alignment apertures;
a die support member for the dies, said member having a die receiving surface and an opposed surface engageable with the chase of a flat bed press or the chase on the cylinder of a rotary press,
said support member having an orifice aligned with each of the die apertures,
the plurality of graphic arts dies being on said die receiving surface of the die support member,
each of said dies having a plurality of alignment apertures,
said support member having an orifice aligned with each of the die apertures, each pair of aligned apertures and orifices being adapted to receive an alignment tool,
said apertures of each die and the orifices in the support member aligned therewith being located in relative dispositions such that the stamping, embossing, or die cut surface of each die as mounted on the support member corresponds to and will be in register with a respective artwork design;
a plurality of upstanding die fasteners secured to the die receiving surface of the die support member, there being at least two fasteners for each die,
said fasteners for each die being located in predetermined disposition relative to the die apertures and the support member orifices aligned with respective apertures,
each of the dies having a through hole positioned to receive a respective fastener therein;
and
a releasable connector on each fastener engaging a respective die for maintaining each die in a fixed position on the die support member.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Graphic arts die and support plate assembly

Life of this patent

Graphic arts die and support plate assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims52