U.S. patent number 3,882,750 [Application Number 05/490,458] was granted by the patent office on 1975-05-13 for rotary anvil construction.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Dayco Corporation. Invention is credited to John C. Duckett, Rufus Neal Ensley.
United States Patent |
3,882,750 |
Duckett , et al. |
May 13, 1975 |
Rotary anvil construction
Abstract
A rotary anvil construction is provided which is comprised of a
cylindrical anvil which has a die-cutting mat which is readily
attached thereon and detached therefrom through the use of a
locking wedge which provides its locking action by rotation thereof
about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said
construction.
Inventors: |
Duckett; John C. (Clyde,
NC), Ensley; Rufus Neal (Clyde, NC) |
Assignee: |
Dayco Corporation (Dayton,
OH)
|
Family
ID: |
23948134 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/490,458 |
Filed: |
July 22, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
83/659; 83/347;
83/698.42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B21D
28/18 (20130101); F16C 13/00 (20130101); B23D
35/00 (20130101); B26D 7/20 (20130101); Y10T
83/9312 (20150401); Y10T 83/9466 (20150401); B26D
2007/202 (20130101); Y10T 83/4841 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
B23D
35/00 (20060101); B26D 7/00 (20060101); B26D
7/20 (20060101); F16C 13/00 (20060101); B21D
28/02 (20060101); B21D 28/18 (20060101); B26d
007/20 (); B26d 007/26 () |
Field of
Search: |
;83/659,331,356.3,346,347 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Abercrombie; Willie G.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In combination: a rotary anvil having an outer substantially
cylindrical surface and having a pair of spaced holding surfaces
extending inwardly from said cylindrical surface and defining
opposed walls of a longitudinal groove in said anvil, a die-cutting
mat made of a compressible resilient elastomeric material attached
against said anvil, said mat comprising a main central portion
having opposite end portions provided with a pair of identical
locking flanges extending from said end portions and being received
within said groove, and a wedge between said flanges, said wedge
having a major and a minor-sectional axis, said wedge having a
comparatively large dimension across its major axis and being
arranged substantially perpendicular said holding surfaces and
thereby urging said flanges tightly against said holding surfaces
to tighten and lock said mat against said anvil while
simultaneously moving associated outer edges of said mat firmly
against each other to provide a single line contact therebetween,
said wedge having a comparatively small dimension across its minor
axis and thus being adapted to be initially arranged between said
flanges with its minor axis substantially perpendicular thereto,
said wedge being adapted to be rotated approximately 90.degree. to
position its major axis and comparatively large dimension in said
perpendicular arrangement.
2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said flanges
extend substantially perpendicularly from said end portions and
each of said flanges has a channel therein extending across its
full width which is particularly adapted to receive at least a
portion of said wedge.
3. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which one of said
channels has a configuration which corresponds to and is larger in
cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of said wedge to
allow easy insertion of said wedge axially along said one channel
and the other of said channels has a configuration which
corresponds to and is approximately one-half of the cross-sectional
area of said wedge, so that with said wedge rotated with its major
axis substantially perpendicular said holding surfaces said
comparatively large dimension thereof urges said flanges tightly
against said holding surfaces.
4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising
means rotatably supporting said wedge in a fixed position in said
groove of said anvil.
5. A combination as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising an
insert of substantially U-shaped cross-sectional configuration
fixed within the peripheral outline of said anvil and extending the
full axial dimension thereof, said insert having a pair of surface
portions comprising said substantially cylindrical surface and
having a pair of planar surfaces each adjoining an associated one
of said surface portions and defining said holding surfaces of said
longitudinal groove.
6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said U-shaped
insert has means rotatably supporting said wedge in a fixed
position on said anvil.
7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 in which said U-shaped
support has a bight and a pair of legs extending outwardly from
opposite ends of said bight, said means rotatably supporting
comprising a plurality of spaced post-like members extending from
the central part of said bight.
8. A combination as set forth in claim 3 in which said wedge has a
roughly elliptical cross-sectional configuration, one channel has a
corresponding elliptical cross-sectional configuration and said
other channel has a substantially semielliptical cross-sectional
configuration.
9. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which each of said
channels has a substantially semielliptical cross-sectional
configuration across its full width which is particularly adapted
to receive at least a portion of said wedge and said wedge has an
elliptical cross-sectional configuration.
10. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said flanges are
made as an integral part of said mat of the same compressible
resilient elastomeric material and said flanges have cooperating
recess means adjoining at least one end of said channels, said
recess means being adapted to receive a tool used to provide said
90.degree. rotation of said wedge.
11. A combination as set forth in claim 10 in which said recess
means is in the form of a pair of substantially semicylindrical
cutouts in each flange.
12. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said wedge is
comprised of a plurality of spaced substantially semielliptical
sections extending across the full length of said rotary anvil.
13. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said planar
holding surfaces diverge toward a longitudinal axis extending
through said anvil in a dovetailed manner.
14. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said wedge is of
solid substantially elliptical cross-sectional configuration
throughout its length.
15. A combination: a rotary anvil having an outer substantially
cylindrical surface and having a pair of spaced holding surfaces
extending inwardly from said cylindrical surface and defining
opposed walls of a longitudinal groove in said anvil, a die-cutting
mat made of a compressible resilient elastomeric material attached
against said anvil, said mat comprising a main central portion
having opposite end portions provided with a pair of identical
locking flanges extending from said end portions and being received
within said groove, a wedge between said flanges, said wedge having
a major and a minor cross-sectional axis, said wedge having a
comparatively large dimension across its major axis and being
arranged substantially perpendicular said holding surfaces and
thereby urging said flanges tightly against said holding surfaces
to tighten and lock said mat against said anvil while
simultaneously moving associated outer edges of said mat firmly
against each other to provide a single line contact therebetween,
said wedge having a comparatively small dimension across its minor
axis and thus being adapted to be initially arranged between said
flanges with its minor axis substantially perpendicular thereto,
said wedge being adapted to be rotated approximately 90.degree. to
position its major axis and comparatively large dimension in said
perpendicular arrangement, and an insert of substantially U-shaped
cross-sectional configuration fixed within the peripheral outline
of said anvil and extending the full axial dimension thereof, said
insert having a pair of surface portions comprising said
substantially cylindrical surface and having a pair of planar
surfaces each adjoining an associated one of said surface portions
and defining said holding surfaces of said longitudinal groove.
16. A combination as set forth in claim 15 in which said U-shaped
insert has means rotatably supporting said wedge in a fixed
position on said anvil.
17. A combination as set forth in claim 16 in which said flanges
extend substantially perpendicularly from said end portions and
have a height which is less than the depth of said groove so that
said wedge positions said flanges against said diverging holding
surfaces with minimum contact between the terminal ends of said
flanges and said anvil.
18. A combination as set forth in claim 17 in which said mat has an
inside surface and each of said flanges has a channel therein
extending across its full width and spaced from said inside
surfaces with each of said channels receiving a portion of said
wedge therein.
19. A combination as set forth in claim 18 in which said U-shaped
support has a bight and a pair of legs extending outwardly from
opposite ends of said bight, said means rotatably supporting
comprising a plurality of spaced post-like members extending from
the central part of said bight.
20. A combination as set forth in claim 19 in which means rotatably
supporting comprises a rod extending substantially the full length
of said anvil while being rotatably supported by said post-like
members and said wedge is comprised of a plurality of spaced
sections detachably fixed around said rod adjacent said post-like
members.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Rotary anvil constructions which utilize die-cutting mats and are
attached by various means against the outside surfaces of
associated anvils are in wide use throughout industry. Many of
these previously proposed anvil constructions are unnecessarily
complex and expensive while others have mats which are very
difficult to install and remove from their associated rotary
anvils.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,675, applicants have proposed a simple
rotary anvil construction which overcomes many of the deficiencies
of the previously proposed anvil constructions; however, applicants
have found that it is desirable to provide a rotary anvil
construction in which the wedge used to hold the die-holding mat
can be installed into position more easily yet without impairing
the ability of the mat to be held in position in a firm and secure
manner.
SUMMARY
This invention provides an improved rotary anvil construction which
employs a die-cutting mat which is readily installed on and removed
from an associated rotary anvil in a minimum of time. The
die-cutting mat is held on its rotary anvil so that a single
rectilinear line contact is provided between its end portions and
such line extends longitudinally across the anvil. The rotary anvil
construction employs a locking wedge which may be provided as a
separate member or as an integral part of the rotary anvil and such
wedge is locked in position to fasten the mat in position by
rotation thereof about an axis substantially parallel to the axis
of the construction.
Other details, uses, and advantages of this invention will be
readily apparent from the exemplary embodiments thereof presented
in the following specification, claims, and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings show present exemplary embodiments of
this invention, in which
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a rotary anvil
construction of this invention having an easily installed and
removed die-cutting mat;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end view taken essentially on the
line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are fragmentary perspective views illustrating
a series of steps which may be employed to install and lock the
die-cutting mat of FIG. 1 in position;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating another
exemplary embodiment of rotary anvil construction of this invention
which has a wedge thereof rotatably supported by a U-shaped insert
which is detachably fixed to the rotary anvil;
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the U-shaped member of
FIG. 7 with its wedge and support means for such wedge;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 4
illustrating one of the first of a series of method steps which may
be employed to install and lock the die-cutting mat of FIG. 7 in
position;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view taken essentially on the line 10--10 of
FIG. 9; and
FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 illustrating the rotatable
locking wedge rotated into its locking position.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Reference is now made of FIG. 1 of the drawing which illustrates
one exemplary embodiment of a rotary anvil construction 20 of this
invention. The anvil construction 20 is particularly adapted to be
used with an associated rotary cutter or cylinder (not shown)
having cutting means or blades thereon and the anvil construction
20 serves as a backup allowing the blades of such rotary cutter to
be urged against a workpiece which is to be cut, such as a sheet of
either plain or corrugated paper, or other suitable sheet material
so that the cutting may be achieved without jagged edges.
The rotary anvil construction 20 comprises a rotary anvil or
cylinder 21 having an outer substantially cylindrical surface 22
and having a pair of spaced holding surfaces 23 extending inwardly
from the surface 22 and the surfaces 23 define opposed side walls
of longitudinal groove 24 which extends along the full length of
the cylinder 21 in substantially parallel relation to the central
longitudinal axis 25 of such cylinder. The cylinder 21 may be made
of any suitable material and is preferably made of a rigid material
such as metal.
The construction 20 comprises a die-cutting mat 26 which has an
inside surface 27, a pair of opposite end portions 30, and a pair
of locking lips or flanges 31 and 32, FIG. 2. Each flange 31 and 32
extends from the terminal end of its associated end portion 30 and
the flanges 31 and 32 have channels 33 and 34 respectively therein
each extending across the full width of its flange with each
channel being particularly adapted to receive at least a portion of
a locking wedge 35 which is used to lock the mat 26 in
position.
One of the channels, channel 34 of this example, has a
cross-sectional configuration which corresponds to the
cross-sectional configuration of the wedge and channel 34 is
slightly larger in area than the cross-sectional area of wedge
which allows easy insertion of the wedge along the full length of
the channel 34 and hence the flanges 31 and 32. The other channel
33 has a cross-sectional area which corresponds to approximately
one half of the cross-sectional area of the wedge 35 and the
channels 33 and 34 are made and sized so that with the wedge 35
arranged with its major axis substantially perpendicular to the
holding surfaces 23 opposed ends thereof, defining its
comparatively large dimension 36, urge the flanges 31 and 32
tightly against the holding surfaces 23 to lock the mat 26 firmly
against the outside cylindrical surface 22 of cylinder 21.
Simultaneously with this locking action the wedge 35 moves outer
edges 37 of the mat 26 firmly against each other to provide a
single line junction or contact 40 therebetween, see FIG. 1, and
such line contact comprises a rectilinear line contact. During the
process of wedging the flanges 31 and 32 firmly in position, it
will be seen that the wedge 35 partially compresses the lower
portions of the flanges 31 and 32, as illustrated at 41 in FIG. 2,
while urging and slightly compressing the edges 37 against each
other to assure the provision of the single line contact 22 and
such single line coincides substantially precisely (i.e., free of
bulges or indentations) with a right circular cylindrical outside
surface 42 defined by the outside surface of the mat 26 once it is
installed in position, see FIG. 6.
The cylindrical rotary anvil or cylinder 21 has an insert 43 of
substantially U-shaped cross-sectional configuration fixed within
the peripheral cylindrical outside surface 22 of the anvil 21 and
extending the full length of such anvil, see FIGS. 1-4. The insert
43 has a U-shaped configuration, when viewed from an end thereof or
in cross-section, a defined by a bight 44 and a pair of outwardly
extending leg portions 45 with the leg portions 45 having outer
surface portions 46 which comprise the substantially cylindrical
surface 22 of cylinder 21. The insert 43 has a pair of spaced
transverse planar surfaces each adjoining an associated one of the
surface portions 46 and such planar transverse surfaces define the
holding surfaces 23 of cylinder 21.
The holding surfaces 23 diverge toward the longitudinal axis 25 of
the cylinder 11 and are arranged in what might be considered a
dovetailed manner whereby once the wedge 35 is installed in
position the mat 26 is held firmly against the cylinder 21 for
normal operation of the anvil construction 20.
As seen from FIG. 2, the flanges 31-32 extend substantially
perpendicularly from the end portions 30 and each flange 31-32 has
a height 47 which is less than the depth 50 of the groove 24, FIG.
4, so once the wedge 35 positions the flanges 31-32 in the manner
illustrated in FIG. 6, the flanges are urged against the diverging
holding surfaces 23 and the flanges 31-32 and wedge 35 define a
dovetailed structure which cooperates with the dovetailed
arrangement of the holding surfaces 23 yet there is minimal contact
between the terminal ends 51 of the flanges 31-32 and the fixed
insert 43 whereby there is minimum contact between the flange ends
51 and cylinder 21. This minimum contact, if any, is only at corner
portions 52 of ends 51 and assures that there is no tendency for
forces to act in a direction perpendicular the longitudinal axis 25
of cylinder 21 whereby there is no tendancy to move the flanges
radially outwardly away from such longitudinal axis, see FIG.
2.
The mat 26 has its inside surface 27 and each of the flanges 31-32
has its channel 33--34 extending inwardly therein from its outer
surfaces 54. Each channel 33-34 extends across the full width of
its flange and is spaced from the inside surface 27 by a distance
indicated at 55. The channels 33-34 are arranged in aligned
relation with the mat 26 installed in position and cooperate to
receive the wedge 35 therethrough so that wedge 35 tightens and
locks the mat against the anvil 21 and simultaneously moves the
outer edges 37 in position to define the single line contact 40
between edges 37.
The mat 26 has a bottom sheet-like portion or backing sheet 56
which defines the portion thereof which is held against the
cylindrical surface 22 of the cylinder 21 and the sheet-like
portion 56 is preferably made of a suitable metallic material and
has an exposed surface which defines the inside surface 27 of the
mat 26. The metal backing sheet 56 assures that the mat 26
maintains its form under all operating and storage conditions;
however, it will be appreciated that the mat 26 need not
necessarily have the backing sheet 56 provided as an integral part
thereof whereby it may be comprised entirely of a suitable
elastomeric material which may be reinforced with a suitable woven
material or other suitable reinforcing means.
The rotatable locking wedge 35 of this exemplary embodiment of the
invention has a roughly elliptical cross-sectional configuration
and is shown as being of solid cross section throughout; however,
it will be appreciated that such wedge may be tubular having a
uniform wall thickness about its outer periphery or may be tubular
having a right cylindrical bore extending therethrough.
The channel 34 provided in the flange 32 also has a roughly
elliptical configuration when viewed from an end thereof or when
viewed at any cross section therealong perpendicular to its
longitudinal axis and the elliptical configuration of the channel
34 is such that the roughly elliptical wedge 35 may be easily
inserted therealong and once such wedge 35 has been extended along
the full length of the channel 34 it is ready to be locked in
position simply by rotation thereof approximately 90.degree. as
will be described in more detail subsequently. It will also be seen
that the channel 33 in the flange 31 has what may be considered a
substantially semielliptical end or cross-sectional
configuration.
By the mere fact that the wedge 35 is substantially elliptical in
cross-sectional configuration, it has its comparatively large
dimension 36 along what may be considered its major axis and a
comparatively smaller or narrower dimension 60 along its minor axis
with the major and minor axes being in accordance with known
nomenclature of an ellipse.
The flanges 31-32 are made as an integral part of the mat 26 and of
the same compressible resilient elastomeric material; and, as seen
in FIG. 2, the flanges 31-32 have cooperating recess means
designated generally by the reference numeral 61 adjoining at least
one end of the channels 33 and 34 and the recess means 61 in this
example is shown as a pair of substantially semicylindrical cutouts
62 in each flange 31-32. The recess means 61, comprised of
semicylindrical cutouts 62, is particularly adapted to receive a
tool, such as a tool T illustrated in FIG. 5, to provide 90.degree.
rotation of the elliptical wedge to provide the unique locking
action as will be described subsequently. It will be appreciated
that the recess means 61 may be provided only at one end of the
cooperating flanges 31-32 or at both ends thereof.
Having presented the detailed description of the anvil construction
20, the presentation will now proceed with the manner in which the
mat 26 may be simply installed on the cylinder or anvil 21 and for
this description particular reference is made to FIGS. 2-5 of the
drawings. The mat is positioned as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the
drawings with one of its flanges, shown as the flange 31,
positioned within the groove 24 whereupon the mat 26 is wrapped
around cylindrical surface 22 so that its other flange 32 is
arranged above groove 24 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3. The
other flange 32 is then inserted in position within groove 24 in
the manner illustrated in FIG. 4 whereby the flanges 31-32 are
arranged within groove 24 with their respective channels 33 and 34
in substantially aligned relation. The elliptical wedge 35 is
preferably slightly smaller in cross-sectional area or very nearly
the same cross-sectional area as the channel 34 so that it may be
easily axially inserted in channel 34 until it extends the full
length of the flanges 31-32 and an end portion 63 thereof is within
recess means 61.
As previously mentioned, the wedge 35 has a comparatively small
dimension 60 across its minor axis and thus is easily adapted to be
initially arranged between the flanges 31-32 and indeed in this
example extends along the comparatively larger elliptical channel
34. The wedge 35 is adapted to be rotated approximately 90.degree.
to position its major axis and hence the comparatively large
dimension 36 thereof substantially perpendicular to the holding
surfaces 23 thereby urging the flanges 31-32 tightly against such
holding surfaces to tighten and lock the mat 26 against the rotary
anvil 21.
The tool T has an end portion 64 which is of roughly tubular
elliptical cross-sectional configuration which is adapted to
surround end portion 63 of the wedge 35 and the end 64 is adapted
to be received within the recess means 61 whereupon the end of a
handle 65 of the tool T is grasped and the tool T rotated either
clockwise or counterclockwise roughly 90.degree. to thereby urge
the flanges 31-32 tightly against the holding surfaces 23 thereby
partially compressing the flanges 31-32 and locking the mat 26 in
position.
It is a simple matter to remove the mat 26 by, in essence,
following the reverse of the above-described procedure whereupon
tool T is used to again rotate wedge 35 through an angular
increment of roughly 90.degree. enabling easy extraction of such
wedge from within the elliptical channel 34 and such extraction may
be achieved by engaging the end of the wedge 35 with a screw
driver, or the like, until a sufficient length of the wedge 35 is
pushed out from the channel 34 allowing easy grasping thereof and
extraction of such wedge. It will be appreciated that the wedge 35
has a length substantially equal to, though less than, the
corresponding dimension of the flanges 31-32.
Another exemplary embodiment of this invention is illustrated in
FIGS. 7-11 of the drawings. The anvil construction of FIGS. 7-11 is
very similar to the anvil construction 20; therefore, such anvil
construction will be designated generally by the reference numeral
20A and parts thereof which are similar to corresponding parts of
the anvil construction 20 will be designated by the same reference
numeral as in the anvil construction 20 also followed by the letter
designated A and not described again in detail. Only those
component parts which are substantially different from
corresponding parts of the anvil construction 20 will be designated
by a new reference numeral also followed by the letter designation
A and described in detail.
The main difference between the anvil construction 20 and the anvil
construction 20A is that instead of having a rotatable locking
wedgee which is a separate removable component part as is wedge 35,
the anvil construction 20A has a wedge which is also designated
generally by the reference numeral 35A but which is supported in a
fixed position in the groove 24A of the rotary anvil 21A and is a
part of its substantially U-shaped insert 43A, see FIGS. 7 8 and
10. The insert 43A extends substantially the full axial dimension
of the rotary anvil or cylindrical 21A and such U-shaped insert is
defined by a bight 44A and a pair of outwardly extending leg
portions 45A extending from opposite ends of such bight.
The U-shaped insert 43A is adapted to be and is detachably fixed to
the rotary anvil 21A and has means designated generally by the
reference numeral 66A rotatably supporting the wedge 35A in a fixed
position on the U-shaped insert 43A; and, with the insert 43A being
fixed on the anvil 21A such means 66A rotatably supporting the
wedge 35A effectively rotatably supports wedge 35A in a fixed
position on the anvil 21A.
The means 66A rotatably supporting the wedge 35A comprises a
plurality of post-like members 67A which may be provided as either
an integral part of the member 43A or be suitably detachably fixed
to its bight 44A; and, the postlike members 67A extend from the
central part of the bight 44A and each has bearing means 70A fixed
thereto. The bearing means 70A may have a suitable anti-friction
surface 71A which is particularly adapted to receive the outside
surface of the rotatable substantially right circular cylindrical
member or rod 72A.
The rod 72A carries the wedge 35A and in this example, it will be
seen that the wedge 35A is comprised of a plurality of sections or
lengths each designated by the same reference numeral 73A even
though sections 73A are of different lengths. The sections 73A are
suitably fixed at spaced intervals along the rod 72A by any
suitable means such as detachable set screws, adhesive means,
welding, or the like.
It is a simple matter to install the die cutting mat 26A in
position and installation is substantially similar to the
installation of the mat 26 and in the manner illustrated in FIGS.
3-5. In particular, the flanges 31A and 32A are installed in
position in the manner illustrated in FIG. 9 whereupon it will be
seen that the wedge 35A and hence component portions 73A are
arranged so that the minor axis of the rotatable fixed wedge 35A is
initially arranged between flanges 31A-32A with the minor axis
substantially perpendicular to the flanges and in a fixed position.
The tool T is again employed by inserting the end 64 thereof around
end portion 63 of the wedge 35A whereupon tool handle 65 is grasped
and rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise 90.degree.. in a
similar manner as described previously for the construction 20
whereupon the comparatively large dimension 36A, i.e., along the
major axis the elliptical wedge 35A, is urged against the flanges
31A and 32A urging such flanges tightly against the holding
surfaces 23A to tighten and lock the mat 26A against the anvil 21A
while simultaneously moving associated outer edges 37A of the mat
firmly against each other whereby a single line contact 40A is
provided.
Removal of the mat 26A is achieved following the reverse procedure
whereupon the tool T is installed in position and the rotatable
elliptical wedge 35A is rotated 90.degree. whereby, in essence, the
small dimension 60A along the minor axis of the rotatable wedge 35A
is arranged perpendicular to the holding surfaces 23A enabling the
flanges 31A and 32A to be easily withdrawn from the groove 24A and
the mat 26A removed.
It should be noted that the flanges 31A-32A of the mat 26A have
substantially identical channels which will be designated by the
reference numeral 70A and such channels are of roughly
semielliptical configuration when viewed from an end or at any
cross section therealong.
In this disclosure of the invention, the rotatable wedge 35 and 35A
have been illustrated and described as having a substantially
elliptical cross-sectional configuration; however, it is to be
understood that such wedges may have any other suitable
cross-sectional configuration provided that each wedge, in essence,
has an eccentric arrangement with a major and a minor axis and with
the dimension along the major axis thereof being large when
compared to the dimension along the minor axis. Such a wedge would
then be positioned with its small dimension extending between
associated flanges of the die-cutting mat whereupon such a wedge
would then be rotated roughly 90.degree., or other suitable angular
increment, bringing its larger dimension into camming engagement
against surface portions of the flanges of such mat to provide a
unique locking action simply by rotation of the rotatable wedge.
The unlocking of the wedge is also achieved by simple rotation
thereof facilitating easy removal of such wedge.
In this disclosure of the invention, the wedges 35 and 35A have
been shown and described as having comparatively smooth outside
surfaces of arcuate or curvilinear configuration; however, it will
be appreciated that the rotatable wedge need not necessarily be as
shown herein but may be of approximately rectangular
cross-sectional configuration defined by a series of cooperating
planar surfaces.
In this disclosure, the wedges 35 and 35A have been shown as being
rotatably cammed into locking engagement using a tool T which in
each instance has a portion 64 which surrounds an associated end
portion of the wedge and a roughly 90.degree. rotation is provided.
However, it will be appreciated that either wedge 35 or 35A may be
provided with slots or the like therein which may be adapted to
receive a suitable tool therewithin thereby eliminating the need to
provide a recess means such as recess means 61 or 61A in the
flanges of the associated mats either 26 or 26A. For example, such
a slotted wedge may have slots suitable for receiving Phillips head
type screw driver or an Allen head type wrench.
In this disclosure of the invention the rotary anvil or cylinder 21
of the anvil construction 20 is shown provided with insert 43 which
has holding surfaces 23 provided on such insert; however, it will
be appreciated that the surfaces 23 may be provided on the cylinder
21 directly without requiring an insert.
Similarly in the anvil construction 20A the insert 43A may be
eliminated, if desired, and means 66A used to support the wedge 35A
in a fixed position directly on the cylinder 21A.
The mat of this invention may be made of any suitable elastomeric
material which is capable of being used in association with a
rotary cutter; and, it has been found such mat may be of any
suitable polymer such as polyurethane, or a suitable rubber
compound whether natural or synthetic rubber.
While present exemplary embodiments of this invention, and methods
of practicing the same, have been illustrated and described, it
will be recognized that this invention may be otherwise variously
embodied and practiced within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *