GB2301058A - Punch roller - Google Patents

Abstract

A punch roller (P) is assembled for use by placing punch elements (E) in their holes (3), and then lightly tightening bolts (9) to hold the punch elements in place while leaving them free to move in pitch. The punch roller (P) is then rotated as is a cooperating female die roller (D) to cause the free end of each punch element (E) to be received in the respective die socket 10 thereof. The bolts (9) are then tightened, to urge the clamp ring (8) tight to the roller body, so that the punch elements (E) are set in their proper alignment with respect to the sockets of the die roller (D). The rollers P and D may then be used to punch holes in continuous stationery, with confidence that all the holes will be cut property, and the punches will not suffer undue wear.

Description

HOLE PUNCHING The invention relates to the punching of holes in continuous stationery, and in particular for punching tractor feed holes in the longitudinal margins of the stationery.

It is usual to punch the holes by passing the paper between two rollers, one of which has punch elements radially spaced about one roller "the punch roller, the other, the "die roller, having die sockets each to receive the leading end of the punch elements so that together the rollers cut the holes in the paper. It is necessary to align the elements in the punch roller so that they will be received accurately in the die roller sockets otherwise undue wear and the like will take place but it is difficult to arrange the punches in accurate alignment with the sockets especially when the roller is of a relatively small diameter, say 30 cm. or substantially less. It is an object of this invention to provide a solution to this problem.

In one aspect the invention provides a method of assembling punch elements in a punch roller, the punch roller being arranged to cooperate with a die roller having sockets each in a predetermined position and each to receive the leading portion of a punch element so that the punch roller and the die roller will together form a hole in continuous stationery, the method comprising: (i) loosely mounting punch elements in holes therefor spaced about the circumference of the punch roller; (ii) aligning the punch roller with the die roller and, (iii) rotating both rollers to cause the leading portion of each punch element to be received in the socket therefor in the die roller, and (iv) securing the punch elements in their holes in the punch roller in the orientation adopted after reception in the respective die socket.

In another aspect the invention provides a punch roller to cooperate with a die roller, the punch roller having holes spaced about the circumference thereof, the die roller having spaced apart die sockets in a predetermined position spaced about the circumference thereof each to receive the leading portion of punch elements received in the punch roller holes, engaging means being present on the punch roller for loosely mounting the punch elements in their jp;es and for securing the punch elements in their holes.

In a preferred feature the means for loosely mounting the elements and for securing the elements in position comprises bolts to urge a movable wall towards an opposite fixed wall thereof. Preferably the moveable wall for the holes comprises an annulus formed of hard material, the annulus being held against the roller body by the bolts which are received in threaded bores therefor in the roller body.

Because the invention is seen to optimum advantage in the case of small diameter rollers it is preferred that the roller has a diameter of about 30 cm or less.

Preferably each punch element comprises a solid cylindrical body of substantially constant diameter. Such an element may be reversed so that each end thereof may be used.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a punch roller of the invention, parts being shown in section, the die roller being shown in ghost outline; Figure 2 is a elevation showing in the punch roller; and Figure 3 is an enlarged view showing part of the die roller and of the punch roller.

The punch roller P and the die roller D shown in Figure 1 each comprises a cylinder 1 secured to an axle 2. The cylinder is about 30 cm or less in diameter. Shallow holes 3 are spaced apart in the punch roller P about the end faces to receive the punch elements E. The elements are formed of hardened metal. Each hole 3 comprises a base 4 and sidewalls 5, and an open mouth 6. Bolt holes 7 are present between each pair of holes 3. A punch clamp 8 also formed of a hardened steel is secured by bolts 9 received in the bolt holes 7 to secure the punch elements E against face 1. The punch elements E are solid cylinders of constant diameter formed of, e.g. a tool steel. To assemble the punch roller P for use the punch elements E are placed in their holes 3, and the bolts 9 are lightly tightened to hold the punch elements E in place while leaving them free to move in pitch.The die roller D has spaced apart sockets 10 which are in fixed positions. The punch roller P is then rotated as is the die roller D to cause the free end of each punch element E to be received in the respective die socket 10 of the cooperating die female roller D. The bolts 9 are then tightened, to urge the clamps ring 8 tight to the roller body, so that the punch elements E are set in their proper alignment with respect to the sockets of the die roller D. The rollers P and D may then be used to punch holes in continuous stationery, with confidence that all the holes will be cut properly, and the punches will not suffer undue wear. The use of springs or the like has been avoided. When the edges of punch elements E are worn (which will happen with time) they are released and reversed and then secured in place in the same fashion as before, with the fresh end being available for hole punching. The punch roller P may have a small diameter down to say 50 mm.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown.

Claims (9)

1. A method of assembling punch elements in a punch roller, the punch roller being arranged to cooperate with a die roller having sockets each in a predetermined position and to each receive the leading portion of a punch element so that the punch roller and the die roller will together form a hole in continuous stationery, the method comprising: (i) loosely mounting punch elements in holes therefor spaced about the circumference of the punch roller; (ii) aligning the punch roller with the die roller and, (iii) rotating both rollers to cause the leading portion of each punch element to be received in the socket therefor in the die roller, and (iv) securing the punch elements in their holes in the punch roller in the orientation adopted after reception in the respective die socket.

2. A punch roller to cooperate with a die roller, the punch roller having holes spaced apart about the circumference thereof, the die roller having spaced apart die sockets in a predetermined position each to receive the leading portion of punch elements received in the punch roller holes, engaging means being present on the punch roller for loosely mounting the punch elements in their holes and for securing the punch elements in their holes.

3. A punch roller according to Claim 2, wherein the means for loosely mounting the elements and for securing the elements in position comprises bolts to urge a movable clamp.

4. A punch roller according to Claim 3, wherein the holes for the punch elements are holes and are formed in the roller body and the moveable wall comprises an annulus formed of hard material, the annulus being held against the roller body by the bolts and clamps which are received in threaded bores therefor in the roller body.

5. A punch roller according to Claim 3 or 4, having a diameter of about 30 cm or less.

6. A punch roller according to Claim 5, having a diameter of 50 mm.

7. A punch roller according to Claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein each punch element comprises a solid cylindrical body of substantially constant diameter.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1 A method of assembling punch elements in a punch roller, the punch roller being arranged to cooperate with a die roller having sockets each in a predetermined position and to each receive the leading portion of a punch element so that the punch roller and the die roller will together form a hole in continuous stationery, the method comprising: (i) loosely mounting punch elements in holes therefor spaced about the circumference of the punch roller with the punch elements free to move in pitch; (ii) aligning the punch roller with the die roller and, (iii) rotating both rollers to cause the leading portion of each punch element to be received in the socket therefor in the die roller, and (iv) securing the punch elements in their holes in the punch roller in the configuration adopted after reception in the respective die socket.

2. A punch roller to cooperate with a die roller, the punch roller having holes spaced apart about the circumference thereof, the die roller having spaced apart die sockets in a predetermined position each to receive the leading portion of punch elements received in the punch roller holes, engaging means being present on the punch roller for loosely mounting the punch elements in their holes and for securing the punch elements in their holes, the punch elements being free to move in pitch to a new configuration when loosely mounted and being securable by said engaging means in said new configuration.

3. A punch roller according to Claim 2, wherein the means for loosely mounting the elements and for securing the elements in position comprises bolts to urge a movable clamp.

4. A punch roller according to Claim 3, wherein the holes for the punch elements are formed in the roller body and the moveable clamp comprises an annulus formed of hard material, the annulus being held against the roller body by the bolts and clamps which are received in threaded bores therefor in the roller body.

5. A punch roller according to Claim 3 or 4, having a diameter of about 30 cm or less.

6. A punch roller according to Claim 5, having a diameter of 50 mm.

7. A punch roller according to Claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein each punch element comprises a solid cylindrical body of substantially constant diameter.

8. A method of assembling punch elements in a punch roller, the method being substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A punch roller substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.