Corrugated board cutting die having a scoring or cutting assembly that reduces corrugated board cracking during scoring and cutting operations

A cutting die for cutting corrugated board wherein during a cutting or scoring operation the cutting die reduces the tendency of the corrugated board to crack along a scoring or cutting line, the cutting die comprising:

• a. a die board;
• b. a pair of spaced apart cutting or scoring rules wherein the pair of cutting or scoring rules includes a pair of scoring rules, a pair of cutting rules, or a scoring rule and a cutting rule;
• c. a first elastomer mounted on the die board on a first side of the pair of cutting or scoring rules;
• d. a second elastomer mounted on the die board on second side of the pair of cutting or scoring rules;
• e. the first elastomer spaced outwardly from one of the pair of cutting or scoring rules such that there is a first space defined between the first elastomer and one of the pair of the cutting or scoring rules;
• f. the second elastomer spaced outwardly from the other one of the pair of cutting or scoring rules such that there is a second space defined between the second elastomer and the other one of the pair of cutting or scoring rules;
• g. a first retainer mounted on the die board adjacent an outside edge of the first elastomer for engaging and retaining the elastomer during the scoring or cutting operation, and wherein the first elastomer lies between the pair of scoring or cutting rules and the first retainer;
• h. a second retainer mounted on the die board adjacent an outside edge of the second elastomer for engaging and retaining the second elastomer during a scoring or cutting operations and wherein the second elastomer lies between the pair of cutting or scoring rules and the second retainer;
• and
• i. wherein the pair of scoring or cutting rules, first and second elastomers, and the first and second retainers are configured and spaced on the die board such that during the scoring or cutting operation, exposed surfaces of the first and second elastomers engage portions of the corrugated board on opposite sides of the pair of cutting or scoring rules so as to move the first and second elastomers inwardly towards the pair of scoring or cutting rules and not substantially outwardly past the first and second retainers to at least partially fill the first and second spaces and urge the engaged portions of the corrugated board inwardly towards the pair of cutting or scoring rules, reducing the tendency of the corrugated board to crack adjacent the scoring or cutting lines produced during the scoring or cutting operation.

A method of scoring corrugated board with a rotary cutting die apparatus which includes a cylinder, rotary anvil, die board mounted on the cylinder, a scoring rule mounted on the die board, first and second elastomers mounted on the die board and spaced outwardly from the scoring rule such that an open space is formed between the scoring rule and each of the first of the second elastomers, and first and second retainers mounted on the die board outwardly of the first and second elastomers for engaging the first and second elastomers and limiting their outward movement, the method comprising:

• a. engaging the corrugated board with the cutting die apparatus by feeding the corrugated board between the die board and the rotary anvil;
• b. engaging portions of the corrugated board on each side of the scoring rule with the first and second elastomers;
• c. retaining the elastomers with the first and second retainers and generally preventing the elastomers from moving outwardly past the first and second retainers during the scoring operation;
• and
• d. deforming the first and second elastomers while engaged with portions of the corrugated board on opposite sides of the scoring rule and causing the first and second elastomers to move inwardly towards the scoring rule and not substantially outwardly past the first and second retainers and at least partially filling the open spaces formed between the scoring rule and each of the first and second elastomers, wherein the inward deformation of the first and second elastomers applies an inwardly directed force to the portions of the corrugated board engaged by the first and second elastomers and thereby reduces the tendency of the corrugated board to crack on opposite sides of a scoring line produced during the scoring operation.

A cutting die for cutting corrugated board wherein the cutting die during a cutting or scoring operation, reduces cracking the corrugated board along a scoring or cutting line, the cutting die comprising:

• a. a die board having at least one scoring rule or cutting blade;
• b. an elastomer mounted on the die board;
• c. the elastomer spaced outwardly from the scoring or cutting rule such that there is an open space defined between the scoring rule or cutting blade and the elastomer;
• d. a retainer mounted on the die board adjacent an outside edge of the elastomer for engaging and retaining the elastomer during the cutting or scoring operation such that during the cutting and scoring operation the elastomer is generally prevented from deforming and moving outwardly past the retainer;
• and
• e. wherein the scoring rule or cutting blade, elastomer, and retainer are configured and spaced such that during the scoring or cutting operation, exposed surfaces of the elastomer engage a portion of the corrugated board so as to move the elastomer inwardly towards the scoring rule or cutting blade and not substantially outwardly past the retainer to at least partially fill the open space and urge the engaged portion of the corrugated board towards the scoring rule or cutting blade so as to reduce the tendency of the corrugated board to crack along one side of the scoring or cutting line.

A rotary cutting die for cutting corrugated board wherein the cutting die during a scoring operation, reduces cracking in the corrugated board along a scoring line, the cutting die comprising:

• a. a curved die board configured to be mounted on a cylinder and having at least one scoring rule mounted thereon and wherein the die board is configured to score corrugated board passing through a nip between the die board and a rotary anvil;
• b. a first elastomer mounted on the die board on a first side of the scoring rule;
• c. a second elastomer mounted on the die board on a second side of the scoring rule;
• d. the first elastomer spaced outwardly from the scoring rule such that there is a first space defined between the scoring rule and the first elastomer;
• e. the second elastomer spaced outwardly from the scoring rule such that there is a second space defined between the scoring rule and the second elastomer;
• f. a first retainer mounted on the die board adjacent an outside edge of the first elastomer for engaging and retaining the first elastomer during the scoring operation, and wherein the first elastomer lies between the scoring rule and the first retainer;
• g. a second retainer mounted on the die board adjacent an outside edge of the second elastomer for engaging and retaining the second elastomer during the scoring operation, wherein the second elastomer lies between the scoring rule and the second retainer;
• and
• h. wherein the scoring rule, the first and second elastomers, and the first and second retainers are configured and spaced such that during the scoring operation, exposed surfaces of the first and second elastomers engage portions of the corrugated board on opposite sides of the scoring rule so as to move the first and second elastomers inwardly towards the scoring rule and not substantially outwardly past the first and second retainers to at least partially fill the first and second spaces and urge the engaged portions of the corrugated board inwardly towards the scoring rule so as to reduce the tendency of the corrugated board to crack on opposite sides of the scoring.