GB2319013A - Suction device - Google Patents

Abstract

A suction device which may be used with a die-cutting press comprises a base 10 and a resilient suction element 11 attached to the base preferably by engagement with an outwardly extending flange 14 on an upstanding boss 13. The base 10 has an inlet port 15 and an outlet port 16 with a venturi 18 therebetween. The venturi 18 may be created as an integral part of the base 10 or it may be defined by one or more inserts (19, fig. 4) which fit inside the base.

Description

SUCTION DEVICE This invention relates to a suction device and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a suction device for use in a die-cutting press.

Diecutting presses use suction devices to hold corrugated cardboard in position prior to die-cutting. Known suction devices comprise a suction element connected at a remote location to a venturi by a length of tubing. The venturi creates suction in the suction element. These known devices suffer from the drawback that there is a reduction in the effective strength of the suction force created by the venturi as a result of the connecting tubing.

The present invention seeks to overcome this drawback.

According to the present invention, there is provided a suction device comprising a base portion and a resilient suction element attached to the base, the base having an inlet port and an outlet port with a venturi therebetween, the venturi communicating with the suction element such that when air passes through the venturi at an elevated pressure, the venturi creates a suction force in the suction element.

Preferably, the base includes an upstanding boss and the suction element is secured directly to the boss. In this case, the boss may have a radially outwardly extending flange and the suction element may engage with this flange.

The venturi may be created as an integral part of the base or it may be defined by one or more inserts which fit within the base.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a suction device according to the present invention, with the suction element shown in section, Figure 2 is a section taken along the line A-A of Figure 1 with the suction element omitted, Figure 3 is a section taken along the line B-B of Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a sectional view of an insert which fits in the through passage of the base of the suction device.

Referring now to the drawings, the suction device shown therein comprises a base 10 and resilient suction element 11 attached to the base 10.

The base 10 comprises a cylindrical base portion 12 and an upstanding boss 13 having a radially outwardly extending flange 14 at its upper end.

The cylindrical base portion has an inlet port 15, an outlet port 16 and a through passage 17 therebetween. A venturi 18 is defined within the through passage 17.

The resilient suction element is typically formed of rubber and comprises a first portion 1 lea which fits over the upstanding boss 13 and which has an annular groove which engages with the flange 14 and a second hollow bellows-like portion 11~.

As shown in the drawings, the venturi 18 is in part defined by the base portion 12 and in part by an insert 19 which fits in the inlet end of the through passage 17. However, the venturi may be wholly defined by the base portion 12, or wholly defined by one or more inserts which are fitted into the through passage 17.

The venturi 18 comprises a small diameter channel 20 in the insert 19 which leads into a larger diameter channel 21 in the exhaust section of the venturi 18.

A through passage 22 in the boss 13 communicates with the venturi at a position where the channel 20 leads into the channel 21 with the result that a suction force is created in the passage 22 and this suction force is communicated to the inside of the suction element 11.

The base 10 and suction element 11 are closely interconnected with the result that there is no, or little, loss of suction force between the venturi and the suction element.

As shown in the drawings, the cylindrical base portion 12 has a further passage 23. This is generally blanked off, but it could be connected to a further suction device.

The suction device described above is intended chiefly for use in a diecutting press and, in particular, for holding corrugated cardboard in position prior to diecutting. A typical die-cutting press with which the suction device is intended for use is described in GB 2224967 A. However, similar suction devices may be used in a wide range of other applications in which an object is to be held by a suction device.

The embodiment described above is given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (7)

1. A suction device comprising a base and a resilient suction element attached to the base, the base having an inlet port and an outlet port with a venturi therebetween, the venturi communicating with the suction element such that when air passes through the venturi at an elevated pressure, the venturi creates a suction force in the suction element.

2. A suction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base includes an upstanding boss and the suction element is secured directly to the boss.

3. A suction device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the boss has a radially outwardly extending flange and the suction element engages with this flange.

4. A suction device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the venturi is created as an integral part of the base.

5. A suction device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the venturi is defined at least in part by one or more inserts which fit within the base.

6. A suction device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A die-cutting press having a plurality of suction devices as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.