GB2331478A

GB2331478A - Sheet material die-cutting method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2331478A
Application number: GB9727473A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yasuyuki Isowa; Atsuhisa Hirohata
Original assignee: Isowa KK
Current assignee: Isowa KK
Priority date: 1997-11-25
Filing date: 1997-12-30
Publication date: 1999-05-26
Also published as: GB9727473D0; JPH11156796A; ITMI980198A1; IT1298540B1; FR2771327A1; DE19805319A1

Abstract

A sheet material die cutting apparatus comprises a die cylinder 19 having a die-cutting blade 16 which co-operates with an anvil roller (21, fig 4). Sheet material 11 is fed between the cylinders. The cylinders are angled by an amount (# 1 fig 5) to the direction of feed of the sheet material and lateral portions 16a of the die blade are angled by a similar amount (# 1 , fig 5) to the axis of the die cylinder 19 such that cuts by the lateral die blade portions are made in a direction perpendicular to the direction of feed P of the sheet material. Iongitudinal die cutting blades 16b are set perpendicular to the lateral blades to make cuts in the direction of feed P of the sheet material. While the material is in contact with the cylinders it adopts a diagonal path perpendicular to the cylinder axes.

Description

1 2331478 SHEET MATERIAL DIE-CUTTING METHOD AND EQUIPMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a die-cutting method and equipment which die-cuts a sheet material to an appointed shape by a die-cutting blade disposed on a die cylinder by causing said sheet material to pass between said die cylinder and an anvil cylinder.

Description of the related art

Die-cutting equipment has been preferably used as a means for forming blanks, etc. which will be a base material of carton boxes which can be assembled and disassembled, by die-cutting a sheet material such as sheetlike corrugated cardboard to an appointed shape. The die-cutting equipment is provided with a die cylinder to which a die having a diecutting blade of an appointed shape planted in a board of curved shape is detachably attached, and an anvil cylinder having its axial line disposed in parallel to the die cylinder, to which an anvil made of urethane material is attached, wherein the anvil is able to receive the blade tip of the abovementioned die-cutting blade in a contacted state. Both cylinders are mutually driven in an opposite direction by an outside drive source to which the cylinders are commonly connected via a gear train, or the respective cylinders are independently driven by separate outside drive sources. Therefore, a sheet material, which is represented by a corrugated cardboard, horizontally fed between both the cylinders, is put between the abovementioned die-cutting blade and the anvil cylinder and fed forward, and in this process the corresponding sheet material is die-cutting (so-called soft-cut) to an appointed shape.

Furthermore, in the abovementioned die-cutting equipment, in addition to a "soft cut" type in which an anvil made of urethane material is attached to the anvil cylinder, a so-called "hard-cut" type may be available, in which a metallic plate made of material, the hardness of which is softer than 2 1 1 that of the cylinder, such as stainless steel, aluminium or copper, etc. is attached to the outer circumference of a cylinder constructed of an ironoriented hard material, wherein a sheet material is die-cut by causing a diecutting blade to be brought into contact With the outer circumference of the metallic plate, or a sheet material is die-cut by causing a die-cutting to be directly brought into contact with the outer circumferential surface of a cylinder without applying a metallic plate.

In the abovementioned die-cutting equipment, the die cylinder is disposed so that its axial line is made parallel to the reference line orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction. Therefore, a lateral die-cutting blade which is disposed at the abovementioned die and laterally creases a sheet material in parallel to the reference line is set so as to become parallel to the corresponding reference line. When die-cutting the sheet material by using the lateral die-cutting blade set as described above, since the corresponding blade is brought into contact with the sheet material at the entire length thereof, a great stress is instantly applied to the die cylinder and the anvil cylinder. Since such impact load is repeatedly given to both the cylinders, there is a problem by which the service life of bearing portions, etc. of the cylinders is shortened. Therefore, although a countermeasure is taken to increase the mechanical strength of the bearings, etc., such a shortcoming arises, where the system is made large-sized, resulting in an increase of the production cost. Furthermore, in a case of the abovementioned "hard cut type", since the lateral die-cutting blade of the die is directly brought into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder, there arises another problem by which vibrations occur or the blade may be damaged, etc.

Furthermore, in the die-cutting equipment, in order to score a sheet material for folding to make carton boxes, etc., there is a case where a die having a scoring blade for scoring planted in the abovementioned curved board is used. At this time, impact load is given to the scoring blade for scoring in parallel to the reference line as in the abovementioned lateral diecutting blade, and a problem is pointed out, where a scoring line is strongly given to cause breakage to occur due to the scoring. That is, in the diecutting equipment, since the die-cutting of sheet materials is enabled by causing the tip end of a die-cutting blade protruding from the curved board to 3 be engaged in the anvil, the surface of the corresponding anvil is obliged to be damaged due to engagement of the abovementioned blade if the die-cutting work is continued for a long time. The part where the tip end of the blade is engaged in is unavoidably worn due to the damage at the anvil. Accordingly, in this case, the axial distance between the die cylinder and the anvil cylinder is shortened in order to securely carry out the die-cutting and the engagement quantity of the die-cutting blade is secured with respect to the anvil cylinder. However, the interval between the scoring blade and the anvil cylinder is also shortened to cause the sheet material to be unnecessarily strongly scored, resulting in a damage due to the scoring. Furthermore, even in a case of the "hard type", since the tip end of the die-cutting blade is caused to become dull as time elapses, good die-cutting will not be carried out. Therefore, at this time, the axial distance between the die cylinder and the anvil cylinder is also shortened, still another problem arises, by which such a scoring damage as mentioned above will occur.

As a result of wearing at only the part where the tip end of the diecutting blade is engaged in at the anvil, the surface of the anvil is made uneven (concave and convex), still another problem arises, by which the scoring performed by the abovementioned scoring blade can not be carried out smoothly. In this respect, although the part in which the tip end of the diecutting blade is engaged with respect to the anvil cylinder is changed by shifting the die cylinder in its axial direction, no good result could be expected because of the lateral die-cutting blade being parallel to the axial line of the corresponding cylinder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention was proposed in order to favorably solve the problems internally existing in the abovementioned prior arts, and it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a sheet-material die-cutting method and equipment which ensure a longer period of service life of die-cutting blade, scoring blade, and die cylinder, etc. and is able to attempt to decrease the total weight thereof

In order to solve the abovementioned shortcomings and problems and 4 to achieve the object, a sheet material die-cutting method according to the invention comprises steps offeeding a sheet-hke material, having the reference state in which the front edge of the sheet feeding direction becomes parallel to the reference line orthogonal to said sheet feeding direction, between a die cylinder and an anvil cylinder, which are disposed so that their a3dal lines are inclined an appointed degree of angle with respect to the reference line, constitute a pair and are mutually caused to rotate in an opposite direction, and die-cutting the abovementioned sheet material along a lateral diecutting line parallel to the reference line and a longitudinal die-cutting line parallel to the sheet feeding direction by a die-cutting blade disposed on the abovementioned die cylinder while diagonally moving the sheet material in parallel in compliance with the angle of inclination of both the cylinders toward the downstream side with the reference state thereof retained.

In order to solve the abovementioned shortcomings and problems and to achieve the object, a sheet material die-cutting method according to the invention comprises steps offeeding through a transfer device a sheet-hke material, having the reference state in which the front edge of the sheet feeding direction becomes parallel to the reference line orthogonal to said sheet feeding direction, between a die cylinder and an anvil cylinder, which are disposed so that their axial lines are inclined an appointed degree of angle with respect to the reference line, constitute a pair and are mutually caused to rotate in an opposite direction, and diagonally moving a sheet material, which is transferred to the downstream side by a rotation action of both the abovementioned cylinders, in parallel in compliance with the angle of inclination of both the cylinders, toward the downstream side with the reference state thereof retained, in such a state where the upstream side of the sheet material can be kept so as to allow a parallel movement by the abovementioned transfer device, and, in this process, die-cutting the abovementioned sheet material along a lateral diecutting line parallel to the reference line and a longitudinal die-cutting line parallel to the sheet feeding direction by a die-cutting blade disposed on the abovementioned die cylinder.

In order to solve the abovementioned shortcomings and problems and to achieve the object, a sheet material die-cutting method according to another invention comprises steps of feeding a sheet-like material, having the reference state in which the front edge of the sheet feeding direction becomes parallel to the reference line orthogonal to said sheet feeding direction, between a die cylinder and an anvil cylinder, which are disposed so that their axial lines are inclined an appointed degree of angle with respect to the reference line, constitute a pair and are mutually caused to rotate in an opposite direction, by a lateral diecutting blade in which one end portion thereof disposed on the abovementioned die cylinder and positioned at an end portion inclined to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction of said cylinder is inclined so that the same comes to the preceding side in the rotation direction of the die cylinder, and simultaneously the inclination angle with respect to a lateral reference line passing through the preceding end and parallel to the abovementioned axial line is set to be roughly the same as the inclination angle between the axial line and the reference line, gradually die-cutting a lateral die-cutting line parallel to the front edge from one end portion in the lengthwise direction to the other end portion while diagonally moving the sheet material with the reference state thereof retained, toward the downstream side in parallel in compliance with the inclination angle of the abovementioned die cylinder and anvil cylinder, and by a longitudinal die-cutting blade disposed on the abovementioned die cylinder and orthogonal to the lateral die-cutting blade, gradually diecutting the sheet material from one end portion in the lengthwise direction to the other end portion along the longitudinal die-cutting line parallel to the side edge orthogonal to the front edge while diagonally moving the sheet material with the reference state thereof retained, in parallel in compliance with the angle of inclination of the abovementioned die cylinder and anvil cylinder.

In order to solve the abovementioned shortcomings and problems and to achieve the object, a sheet material die-cutting method according to still another invention comprises steps of.. feeding through a transfer device a sheet-hke material, having the reference state in which the front edge of the sheet feeding direction becomes 6 1 parallel to the reference line orthogonal to said sheet feeding direction, between a die cylinder and an anvil cylinder, which are disposed so that their axial lines are inclined an appointed degree of angle with respect to the reference line, constitute a pair and are mutually caused to rotate in an opposite direction, diagonally moving the upstream side of a sheet material transferred to the downstream side by a rotation action of both the abovementioned cylinders, toward the downstream side with the reference state thereof retained, in parallel in compliance with the angle of inclination of both the cylinders, while keeping such a state where the paraRel movement is permitted by the abovementioned transfer device, in this process, by a lateral die-cutting blade in which one end portion thereof disposed on the abovementioned die cylinder and positioned at an end portion inclined to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction of said cylinder is inclined so that the same comes to the preceding side in the rotation direction of the die cylinder, and simultaneously the inclination angle with respect to a lateral reference line passing through the preceding end and paral.lel. to the abovementioned axial line is set to be roughly the same as the inclination angle between the axial line and the reference line, graduaUy diecutting the sheet material from one end portion in the lengthwise direction to the other end portion along the lateral die-cutting line parallel to the front edge thereof, and by a longitudinal die-cutting blade disposed on the abovementioned die cylinder and orthogonal to the lateral die-cutting blade, gradually diecutting the sheet material from one end portion in the lengthwise direction to the other end portion along the longitudinal die-cutting line parallel to the side edge orthogonal to the front edge thereof.

In order to solve the abovementioned shortcomings and problems and to achieve the object, a sheet material die-cutting method according to still another invention comprises steps of. die-cutting a lateral die- cutting line paraBel to the reference line and a longitudinal die-cutting line parallel to the sheet feeding direction by a diecutting blade disposed on the abovementioned die cylinder while, when the die cylinder and anvil cylinder mutually caused to rotate in an opposite direction are positioned so that their axial lines are inclined an appointed degree of 7 angle with respect to the reference line orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction, diagonally moving a sheet material, which is fed through a transfer device between both the cylinder, in parallel in a reference state where the front edge of the sheet feeding direction becomes parallel to the reference line, toward the downstream side, with the reference state thereof retained, in compliance with the angle of inclination of both the cylinders by keeping the upstream side of the sheet material fed to the downstream side by a rotation action of both the cylinders in a state where its parallel movement is allowed by the transfer device, wherein a lateral die-cutting line parallel to the reference line and a longitudinal die-cutting line parallel to the sheet feeding direction are die-cut by a die-cutting blade disposed on the abovementioned die cylinder while straightly moving a sheet material, which is fed through a transfer device between both the cylinders at its reference state, toward the downstream side at its reference state when the axial line of both the abovementioned cylinders is positioned at a reference state made parallel to the reference line.

In order to solve the abovementioned shortcomings and problems and to achieve the object, sheet material die-cutting equipment according to still another invention is provided with a die cylinder driven and rotated in an appointed direction, on which a die having a die-cutting blade planted in a curved board is detachably applied, and an anvil cylinder which is disposed in parallel to the die cylinder and is driven and rotated in the opposite direction of the corresponding die cylinder, wherein a sheet-like material is fed between both the cylinders at a reference state where the front edge thereof in the sheet feeding direction is made parallel to the reference line orthogonal to the corresponding sheet feeding direction, and a die-cutting of an appointed shape is performed onto the sheet material by the abovementioned diecutting blade, wherein the abovementioned die cylinder and anvil cylinder are disposed so that their axial lines are inclined an appointed degree of angle with respect to the abovementioned reference line, the abovementioned die is equipped with a lateral die-cutting blade which diecuts a lateral die-cutting line parallel to the front edge of a sheet material and a longitudinal die-cutting blade which is orthogonal to the abovementioned lateral die-cutting blade and die-cuts a longitudinal diecutting line parallel to the side edge orthogonal to the front edge of the sheet 8 material, the die is applied onto said die cylinder so that the end portion position at the end portion side inclined to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction of the die cylinder in the abovementioned lateral die-cutting blade is inclined so as to be at the preceding side in the rotation direction of the corresponding cylinder, the inclination angle of the lateral die-cutting blade with respect to a lateral reference line passing through the preceding edge of the abovementioned lateral die-cutting blade and parallel to the axial line is set to be roughly the same as the inclination angle between the abovementioned axial line and the reference line, and the angle of inclination of the longitudinal die-cutting blade with respect to the longitudinal reference line passing through the preceding edge in the rotation direction of the die cylinder at the abovementioned longitudinal die-cutting blade and orthogonal to the abovementioned lateral reference line is set to be roughly the same as the angle of inclination between the abovementioned axial line and reference line, and a transfer device which feeds the abovementioned sheet material between the abovementioned die cylinder and anvil cylinder at its reference state is constructed so that parallel movements of the corresponding sheet material is allowed when being put and transferred between both the cylinders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a configurational view showing the outline of a printer diecutter for which die-cutting equipment according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is employed, FIG.2 is a rough plan view showing major parts of a printer die-cutter according to the preferred embodiment, FIG.3 is a rough plan view showing die-cutting equipment according to the preferred embodiment, FIG.4 is is a rough side view showing die-cutting equipment 9 according to the preferred embodiment, FIG.5 is a rough plan view showing a die cylinder according to the preferred embodiment and a curved board of the die removed from the corresponding cylinder in an exploded state, FIG.6 is a rough plan view of a die cylinder on which a die according to the preferred embodiment is applied, FIG. 7 is a brief perspective view of a die cylinder on which a die according to the preferred embodiment is applied, FIG.8 is an explanatory view showing a state where a sheet material diagonally moves at its reference state in parallel, FIG.9 is an explanatory view showing the center of the front side lateral die-cutting blade in a die according to the preferred embodiment, FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing the relationship between an attaching hole of the die cylinder and an attaching hole of a curved board according to the preferred embodiment, FIG. 11 is a bottom view of a sheet transfer device according to the preferred embodiment, FIG. 12 is a view showing a sheet transfer device according to another preferred embodiment along with the die-cutting equipment, FIG. 13 is a view showing a sheet transfer device according to still another preferred embodiment along with the die-cutting equipment, FIG. 14 is an outline view showing a means for adjusting the movement of the die cylinder in the axial direction, FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing another example of the die, FIG. 16 is an outline view showing another preferred embodiment of the die-cutting device in an inclined state, and FIG. 17 is an outline view showing still another preferred embodiment in a reference state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Next, a description is given of a sheet material die-cutting method and equipment according to the invention, based on preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 and FIG.2 are configurational views showing a printer diecutter, which is a typical corrugated card board processing machine, in which diecutting equipment 10 according to a preferred embodiment is employed. The processing machine is constructed so that a plurality of printer units 13 (three units in the preferred embodiment), which carry out an appointed printing on a sheet material 11, are disposed at the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction of a sheet feeding device 12 which sends out and feeds sheet materials 11, represented by a corrugated cardboard, one by one, and a sheet transfer device 14 and die-cutting equipment 10 which carries out a die-cutting on the sheet material 11 to which multi-color printing is applied. Furthermore, it is general that the machine centers C 1, C2 of the sheet feeding device 12 and the respective printer units 13 are aligned into and are made coincident with each other in the sheet feeding direction P, and the sheet material 11 fed from the sheet feeding device 12 is caused to pass through the respective printer units 13 and are printed in such a state where the center of the sheet material 11 in its sheet width direction (the center in the direction crossing the sheet feeding direction P) is coincident with the machine centers C1, C2. However, although there is a case where they are used without making the machine center C of the sheet feeding device 12 with the center of the sheet material 11 in its sheet width direction, even in such a case, the center in the sheet width direction is made coincident with the center to which print plates corresponds in the printer units 13.

In the abovementioned die-cutting equipment 10, a die cylinder 19 on 11 which a die 18 having a die-cutting blade 16 of an appointed shape planted in a curved board 17 of a curved shape is detachably wound and an anvil cylinder 21 to which a urethane-made anvil 20 for receiving the blade tip of the abovementioned die-cutting blade 16 in a slightly engaged state is applied are rotatably disposed with their axial line LI (See FIGA) made parallel to each other, between a pair of frames 15, 15 spaced in a direction of crossing the sheet feeding direction P, in a relationship that the pass line of the sheet material 11 is put therebetween.

Both the abovementioned cylinders 19, 20 are connected to each other via a gear train (not illustrated), and they are constructed so that they can be driven and rotated in an opposite direction via the gear train by an electric motor 23 independent from the main drive motor 22 which drives the abovementioned sheet feeding device 12, the respective printer units 13, and sheet transfer device 14. Therefore, a sheet material 11 horizontally fed via the sheet transfer device 14 between both cylinders 19, 21 is put between the abovementioned die-cutting blade 16 and anvil 20 and is sent to the downstream side, and in this process, an appointed die-cutting is given to the corresponding sheet material 11. Furthermore, the machine center C3 of the die-cutting equipment 10 is aligned with and is made coincident with the machine centers C1, C2 of the abovementioned sheet transfer device 12 and printer units 13 in the sheet feeding direction P (See FIG.2).

Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, a sheet material 1 is formed to be rectangular, in which its long sides I la (front edge and rear edge) are made orthogonal to its short sides 1 lb (both side edges), wherein the sheet material 11 is fed to the die-cutting equipment 10 at a reference state where the long sides I la are parallel to the base line L2 orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction P and its short sides 1 lb are made parallel to the sheet feeding direction P. Still furthermore, as the anvil cylinder 2 1, in addition to the abovementioned "soft-cut type", a so-called "hard-cut" type may be available, in which a metallic plate made of material, the hardness of which is softer than that of the cylinder, such as stainless steel, aluminium or copper, etc. is attached to the outer circumference of a cylinder constructed of an iron-oriented hard material, wherein a sheet material is die-cut by causing a die- cutting blade to be brought into contact with the outer circumference of 12 the metallic plate, or a sheet material is die-cut by causing a die- cutting to be directly brought into contact with the outer circumferential surface of a cylinder without applying a metallic plate.

The confronting surfaces of the abovementioned pair of frames 15, 15 are inclined in parallel to each other at an appointed degree of angle with the respect to the sheet feeding direction P, and the axial lines L1 of both cylinders 19, 21 disposed between both the frames 15, 15 are set so as to be inclined an appointed degree of angle 0 1 when being observed in plane with respect to the abovementioned base line L2 (See FIG.5). And since both cylinders 19, 20 are thus inclined and disposed, the sheet material 11 horizontally fed via the abovementioned sheet transfer device 14 is caused to diagonally move in parallel to the inclination at a reference state in compliance with the angle of inclination of both cylinders 19, 21 as shown in FIG.8 when the same is put between the abovementioned die-cutting blade 16 and anvil 20 and is sent to the downstream side. Furthermore, the angle 0 1 of inclination of the die cylinder 19 and anvil 21 is preferably set to 0.5 to 10'. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, although both the cylinders 19, 21 (inclination angle 0 1) are inclined in the direction that the axial end at the drive side (the side where the independent motor 23 is disposed) in FIG.2 goes away from the sheet transfer device 14, it may be inclined in the direction that the operation side axial end goes away from the sheet transfer device 14.

The curved board 17 of the abovementioned die 18 is curved to be arcuate at the inner diameter which is roughly equal to the outer diameter of the die cylinder 19, and the curved board 17 is positioned on the corresponding cylinder 19 (See FIG.6 and FIG.7) in a state where the lateral base line L3 parallel to the end portion crossing the curving direction thereof becomes parallel to the axial line L1 of the die cylinder 19. A plurality of attaching holes 17a are drilled at positions deviating from the position where the abovementioned die-cutting blade 16 is planted, and a plurality of attaching holes 48 at an appointed interval in the axial direction and circumferential direction, wherein the curved board 17 is fixed by screwing bolts (not illustrated) inserted into a plurality of attaching holes 17a into the corresponding attaching holes 48 of the die cylinder 19 (See FIG. 10).

13 Furthermore, the attaching holes 17a are secured so that when the center C in the lengthwise direction of the lateral die-cutting blade 16a which die-cuts the lateral die-cutting line 24 at the frontmost edge side of the abovementioned sheet material in the curved board 17 fixed at the die cylinder 19 via the corresponding attaching holes 17a is made coincident with the machine center C3 of the die-cutting equipment 10 when the same center C comes to the diecutting position of sheet material I I (See FIG. 9). Furthermore, the attaching holes 48 of the die cylinder 19 are provided at appointed patterns at the entire outer circumference so that they can meet the dimensional changes of the curved board 17 in line with order changes.

A lateral die-cutting blade 16a, of the die-cutting blades 16 planted in the abovementioned curved board 17, which applies to the sheet material 11 a lateral die-cutting line 24 parallel to the abovementioned base line L2 (long sides 1 la) is, as shown in FIG.5, inclined so that the end portion A positioned at the end portion side (the operation side in FIG. 2) inclined to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction comes to the preceding side in the rotation direction of the die cylinder 19, and at the same time the angle 0 Vwith respect to the lateral base line L3 passing through the preceding end A is set to be roughly equal to theangle 0 1 of inclination with respect to the reference line L2 of the abovementioned axial line L l.

That is, if the axial line L1 of the die cylinder 19 and anvil cylinder 21 is inclined and disposed with respect to the abovementioned reference line L2 and the lateral die-cutting blade 16a in the die 18 applied to the die cylinder 19 is inclined so that the end portion A positioned at the end portion side inclined toward the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction of the die cylinder 19, the lateral die-cutting blade 16a is gradually brought into contact with a sheet material 11 caused to diagonally move in parallel toward the downstream side with its reference state retained, after the sheet material 11 is horizontally fed at its reference state between both cylinders 19 and 2 1, from one end portion side to the other end portion in the lengthwise direction, and a diecutting is carried out thereonto. Thereby, it is possible to prevent that a large stress is given to both the cylinders 19, 21 and lateral diecutting blade 16a due to the lateral die-cutting blade 16a being brought into contact with the sheet material 11 on its entire length.

14 1 Furthermore, a longitudinal die-cutting blade 16b, of the die-cutting blades 16 planted in the abovementioned curbed board 17, which applies to the sheet material 11 a longitudinal die-cutting line 2 5 orthogonal to the abovementioned lateral die-cutting line 24 is, as shown in FIG.5, disposed on the curved board 17 orthogonal to the abovementioned lateral die-cutting blade 16a. That is, in a state where the curved board 17 is applied with respect to the die cylinder so that the lateral base line L3 and ax:ial line Ll are made parallel to each other, the longitudinal diecutting blade 16b is such that the inclination angle 0 1" of the corresponding longitudinal die-cutting blade 16b with respect to the longitudinal base line L4 passing through the preceding end B in the rotation direction of the die cylinder 19 and orthogonal to the abovementioned lateral base line M is made roughly equal to the inclination angle 0 1 between the abovementioned amial line Ll and the reference line L2. And by thus disposing the longitudinal die-cutting blade 16b, the longitudinal die-cutting blade 16b is gradually brought into contact with the sheet material I I caused to diagonally move toward the downstream side at its reference state in parallel from one end portion side to the other end portion side in the lengthwise direction and a die-cutting is performed thereon. Thereby, a longitudinal die- cutting line 25 orthogonal to the lateral diecutting line 24 die-cut by the abovementioned lateral die-cutting blade 16a is die-cut (See FIG.3).

A further detailed description is given of the disposed state of a diecutting blade 16 on the abovementioned die 18. The abovementioned lateral die-cutting blade 16a is positioned to be spiral in a state where the die 18 is applied onto the die cylinder 19, and the perpendicular line from the blade tip to the blade root at the respective points in the extension direction in the corresponding lateral die blade 16a is set so as to cross (to be orthogonal to) the axial line L I of the die cylinder 19. Thereby, it is possible to receive load given to the blade tip of a lateral die-cutting blade 16a at the axial center of the die cylinder 19, and it is possible to prevent vibrations from occurring due to an eccentric load being given to the corresponding cylinder 19. Furthermore, the longitudinal die-cutting plate 16b is positioned to be spiral in a state where the abovementioned die 18 is applied to the die cylinder 19, and the perpendicular line from the blade tip to the blade root at the respective points in the extension direction in the corresponding longitudinal die-cutting blade 16b are set so as to cross (to be orthogonal to) the axial line Llofthediecyhnder19. That is, at the longitudinal die-cutting blade 16b, it is possible to receive load given to the blade tip at the axial center of the die cylinder 19 and possible to prevent that the cylinder 19 vibrates.

Furthermore, when applying a curved board 17 onto the die cylinder 19 inclined and disposed as described above, the curved board 17 may be positioned, using as the reference the center C in the lengthwise direction of the lateral die-cutting blade 16a at the front side in the rotation direction, which die-cuts a lateral die-cutting line 24 at the frontmost end side (the extreme downstream side) of the abovementioned sheet material 11. That is, when the center C (See FIG.9) in the lengthwise direction of the front side lateral die-cutting blade 16a arrives at a die-cutting position of sheet material 11 by rotations of the die cylinder 19, the corresponding center C is positioned to be aligned with the machine center C2 of the abovementioned printer units 13 or the center of a print plate, that is, the center in the sheet width direction of the sheet material 11. Thereby, it is possible to apply a die-cutting at an optimal position corresponding to the print position on a sheet material 11 fed to die-cutting equipment 10 in a state where the center in the sheet width direction is made coincident with the machine center C2 of the printer units 13 or the center of the print plate, and by the center C in the lengthwise direction of the front side lateral die- cutting blade 16a being made coincident with the center of the sheet material I I in its leng-thwise direction, it is possible to make uniform the trim portion 44 at at both sides in the width direction, which is generated when die-cutting the corresponding sheet material 11 (See FIG. 3).

A lateral scoring blade 28 for applying a lateral scoring line 26 and a longitudinal scoring blade 28 for applying a longitudinal scoring line 27 onto a sheet material 11 are planted in the abovementioned curved board 17. Accordingly, the lateral scoring blade 28 is disposed in parallel to the lateral die-cutting blade 16a, and the longitudinal scoring blade 29 is disposed in parallel to the longitudinal die-cutting blade 16b, and the lateral scoring blade 28 is constructed so that the lateral scoring blade 28 is gradually brought into contact with the sheet material 11 from one end portion to the other end 16 portion in the lengthwise direction (extension direction) as in the lateral diecutting blade 16a in order to score the sheet material 11. Furthermore, the planting conditions of lateral scoring blade 28 and longitudinal scoring blade 29 with respect to the curved board are the same as those for the abovementioned lateral die-cutting blade 16a and longitudinal die-cutting blade 16b. That is, the lateral scoring blade 28 is positioned to be spiral in a state where the die 18 is applied onto the die cylinder 19, and the perpendicular line from the blade tip to the blade root in the extension direction at the respective points in the extension line at the corresponding lateral scoring blade 28 is always set so as to cross (to be orthogonal to) the axial line Ll of the die cylinder 19. Furthermore, the longitudinal scoring blade 29 planted in the curved board 17 orthogonal to the lateral scoring blade 28 is positioned to be spiral in a state where the abovementioned die 18 is applied to the die cylinder 19, and the perpendicular line from the blade tip to the blade root at the respective points in the extension direction at the corresponding longitudinal scoring blade 29 is always set so as to cross (to be orthogonal to) the axial line Ll of the die cylinder 19.

In the respective printer units 13 which constitute the abovementioned processing equipment, as shown in FIG. 1, a printing cylinder 30 to which a print plate is attached (not illustrated) and an impression cylinder 31 are disposed with the pass line of sheet material 11 put therebetween so as to rotate in an opposite direction, and an ink transfer mechanism 32 is disposed at the disposed side of the printing cylinder 30. The printing cylinder 30 of the printer unit 13 is established so as to be at the opposite side (the down side in the drawing) of the disposed position of the die cylinder 19 in the abovementioned die-cutting equipment 10. Furthermore, in a case where the relationship between the printing cylinder 30 and impression cylinder 31 in the printer unit 13 is upsidedown reversed (that is, surface printing), the relationship between the die cylinder 19 and anvil cylinder 21 in the die-cutting equipment 10 is such that they are also disposed with upside down. However, in a case of only a die-cutting blade 16 (in a case where no scoring blade such as a lateral die-cutting blade 28 or longitudinal scoring blade 29, etc. is provided), the printing cylinder 30 and die cylinder 19 may be disposed at the same side.

1 It is constructed that two sheet transfer devices 14 of the same construction are disposed in series at the downstream side of the printer unit 13 at the extreme downstream side, and a sheet material 11 to which an appointed printing is given by both the transfer devices 14 is fed to the diecutting equipment 10. The respective sheet transfer devices 14 are provided an air chamber 33 disposed upward of the sheet pass line, and a duct 34 which communicates with a suction means such as a blower (not illustrated) is connected to the air chamber 33, wherein it is constructed that the air chamber 33 is caused to enter a negative pressure by operating the suction means. A plurality of openings 33a of an appointed pattern are provided at the underside of the air chamber 33 as shown in FIG. 11. Furthermore, a plurality of feed rollers which are driven and rotated and act as transfer means are rotatably disposed in the air chamber, and each of the feed rollers 35 is positioned in such a state where it may protrude downward from the outer circumference through the corresponding openings 33a. That is, the upper surface of sheet material 11 is brought into contact with the feed rollers 35 by a suction force resulting from the negative pressure in the air chamber 33, whereby a feeding force resulting from rotations of the corresponding feed rollers 35 is given to the sheet material 11, and the sheet material 11 is fed. Furthermore, since the sheet transfer device 14 feeds the sheet material I I in such a state where the surface thereof not printed by the abovementioned printer unit 13 is adsorbed and held, the sheet material 11 can be fed without staining the printed surface of the corresponding sheet material 11. Therefore, in a case where the printing is a surface printing in the printer unit 13, the sheet transfer device 14 is constructed so that the sheet material I I is fed with the underside of the sheet material 11 adsorbed and held inversely of the preferred embodiment.

The negative pressure secured in the air chamber 33 in the abovementioned sheet transfer device 14 is set to a value which allows a sheet material 11 to diagonally move in parallel toward the downstream side by the abovementioned die-cutting equipment 10. Thereby, smooth parallel movement of the sheet material 11 is permitted, and an accurate die- cutting can be given to the corresponding sheet material 11.

The sheet feeding device 12, the respective printer units 13 and sheet 18 transfer device 14 are, as shown in FIG.2, constructed so that they are coupled to each other via a gear train 36 and each mechanism can be driven and rotated by a main drive motor 22. Furthermore, the main drive motor 22 and another independent motor 23 which drives the abovementioned die-cutting equipment 10 are drive -controlled by a controlling means 37. Sheet materials 11 sent out one by one at its reference state toward the printer unit 13 by the sheet feeding device 12 at an appointed timing are horizontally fed to the die-cutting equipment 10 via the sheet transfer device 14 and are accurately die-cut at the position of the sheet material, corresponding to the position to which a print is given, by the corresponding die-cutting device 10 after an appointed printing is given at the predetermined position by the printer units 13.

It is constructed that a vibration conveyor 38 and a stacker 39 are disposed in series at the downstream side of the abovementioned diecutting equipment 10 and products die-cut to an appointed shape by the corresponding die-cutting equipment 10 are laminated on the stacker 39 via the vibration conveyor 39. Furthermore, since the sheet materials diecut by the die-cutting equipment 10 are caused to diagonally move toward the downstream side in parallel as described above, the machine centers Cl, C2 of the sheet transfer device 14, printer units 13 and sheet feeding device 12 disposed at the upstream side of the die-cutting equipment 10 are deviated only the parallel shift distance from the machine center of the abovementioned vibration conveyor 38 and stacker 39.

(Actions of the preferred embodiment) Next, a description is given of the actions of die-cutting equipment according to the abovementioned preferred embodiment. Sheet materials 11 fed one by one toward the printer units 13 at an appointed timing by the sheet feeding device 12 driven by the abovementioned main drive motor 22 takes such a reference state where the center thereof in the sheet width direction is the machine center C2 of the printer units 13 or the center of a print plate. An appointed printing is given to the predetermined position of the sheet materials I I by the respective printer units 13. Accordingly, the printed sheet materials 11 are transferred to the downstream side by a rotation force

19 of the abovementioned feeding roller 35 in such a state where the nonprinted surface thereof is adsorbed and held by the abovementioned sheet transfer device 14.

Sheet materials 11 horizontally fed one by one between the die cylinder 19 and anvil cylinder 21 via the abovementioned sheet transfer device 14 are, as shown in FIG.3, in such a reference state where their long side 1 la is parallel to the reference line L2 and their short side lib becomes parallel to the sheet feeding direction P. In other words, the sheet materials 11 are fed in a state where the forming position (illustrated with an alternate long and two dashes line in FIG.3) of the lateral diecutting line 24 scored on the sheet materials 11 becomes parallel to the reference line L2.

Sheet materials 11 horizontally fed at the reference state between both cylinders 19, 21 driven and rotated in an opposite direction by the abovementioned independent motor 23 are put between the abovementioned die-cutting blade 16 and anvil 20 and are transferred to the downstream side. At this time, since the upstream side of the sheet material 11 is retained by the abovementioned sheet transfer device 14 in a state where its parallel movement is permitted, the corresponding sheet material 11 is caused to move in parallel toward the downstream side at the reference state in compliance with the inclination angle of both cylinders 19, 2 1. In this process, an appointed die-cutting is given to the corresponding sheet material 11. That is, as regards the lateral die-cutting blade 16a in the abovementioned die 18, a die-cutting is commenced with one preceding end portion A of the corresponding die-cutting blade 16a in its lengthwise direction brought into contact with the sheet material 11, wherein the lateral die-cutting blade 16a is gradually brought into contact with the sheet material 11 toward the other following end in line with rotations of the die cylinder 19 to perform a diecutting. As described above, since the lateral die-cutting blade 16a of the die 18 applied on the corresponding cylinder 19 is inclined at an angle 0 V, which is almost the same as the angle 0 1, with respect to the die cylinder 19 inclined and disposed at an angle 0 1 with respect to the reference line L2 so that the end portion A positioned at the end portion side inclined to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction of the die cylinder 19 is placed at the preceding side of the die cylinder 19 in the rotation direction, the lateral die-cutting line 24 die-cut by the corresponding lateral die-cutting blade 16a on the sheet material 11 caused to diagonally move in parallel toward the downstream side is made parallel to the reference line L2 Cong side 11 a) as shown in FIG.3.

Furthermore, as regards the longitudinal die-cutting blade 16b in the abovementioned die 18, a die-cutting is commenced with one preceding end B of the corresponding die-cutting blade 16b in the lengthwise direction brought into contact with a sheet material 11, and the longitudinal diecutting blade 16b is gradually brought into contact with the sheet material 11 toward the other following end in line with rotations of the die cylinder 19 and a diecutting is carried out. Since the longitudinal die-cutting blade 16b is orthogonal to the abovementioned lateral diecutting blade 16a, a longitudinal die-cutting line 25 scored by the corresponding longitudinal die-cutting blade 16b on the sheet material 11 caused to diagonally move in parallel at the reference state toward the downstream side is made parallel to the sheet feeding direction P (short side 1 1b) as shown in FIG.3.

Furthermore, as described above, since the center C of the front side lateral die-cutting blade 16a in the lengthwise direction Is positioned so that the same is made coincident with the center of the sheet material 11 in the sheet width direction when the center C comes to the die- cutting position of the sheet material 11 by rotations of the die cylinder 19, there is no case where the printing position slips with respect to the die-cutting position, and the widths of the trim portion 44 at both sides in the width direction, which is generated when die- cutting the sheet material 11 are made equal to each other. Furthermore, since the lateral die-cutting blade 16a and longitudinal die-cutting blade 16b in the abovementioned die 18 are, as shown in FIG. 10, set so as to face the position where they do not interfere with the attaching holes 48 of the die cylinder 19, each of the die-cutting blades 16a, 16b is securely supported on the outer circumference of the die cylinder 19 over the entire length thereof. Therefore, it is possible to prevent that a secure diecutting can not be carried out due to fluctuations of the respective die-cutting blades 16a, 16b in the diametrical direction when die-cutting the sheet material 11. The relationship between both the cylinders 16a, 16b and the attaching holes 48 is determined by fixing each attaching hole 17a secured at 21 the abovementioned curved board 17 with bolts, corresponding to appropriate attaching holes 48.

That is, since the lateral die-cutting blade 16a by which a lateral diecutting line 24 is applied to the sheet material 11 is gradually brought into contact with the sheet material 11 without being brought into contact with the same at one time, no large stress (impact force) is given to the die cylinder 19, anvil cylinder 21 and lateral die-cutting cylinder 16a itself. Therefore, it is possible to lengthen the service life thereof without increasing the mechanical strength of bearings, etc. of both cylinders 19, 2 1, and it is possible to attempt to decrease the size and to reduce the production cost. As regards the die 18, it is not necessary to increase the supporting streng7th of the lateral diecutting blade 16a, to increase the thickness of the curved board 17 nor to attach any supporting members to prevent the inclination of the blade. Accordingly, it is possible to attempt to reduce the production of the die 18 itself and the maintenance cost. Still furthermore, since each of the perpendicular lines in the lateral die-cutting blade 16a and longitudinal diecutting blade 16b is set so as to cross the axial line Ll of the die cylinder 19, the load given to the lateral die-cutting blade 16a and longitudinal die-cutting blade 16b can be received at the axial center of the die cylinder 19, and it is possible to prevent that vibrations, etc. are generated by load being given to the corresponding cylinder in its eccentric direction. Thereby, the supporting structure of the die cylinder 19 can be simplified.

Simultaneously with die-cutting by the abovementioned die-cutting blade 16, a lateral scoring line 26 parallel to the lateral die-cutting line 24 is applied by the lateral scoring blade 28, and a longitudinal scoring line 27 parallel to the longitudinal to the longitudinal die-cutting line 24 is applied by the longitudinal scoring blade 29. At this time, as regards the lateral scoring line 28 on the die 18, the lateral scoring blade 28 is gradually brought into contact with the sheet material without being brought into contact with the same over the entire length at one time, a lateral scoring line 26 is not strongly applied to the sheet material 11, whereby no break due thereto occurs. Furthermore, as regards the longitudinal scoring blade on the die 18, the longitudinal scoring blade 29 is gradually brought into contact with the sheet material 11 from one end portion to the other end portion in the lengthwise 22 direction in line with rotations of the die cylinder 19. Still furthermore, the impact load given to the lateral scoring blade 28 and longitudinal scoring blade 29 is small, whereby it is possible to lengthen the service life of the corresponding blades 28, 29. Since it is constructed that, in the preferred embodiment, the die-cutting equipment 10 is driven by another motor 23 independent from the main drive motor 22 which drives the upstream side sheet transfer device 14, printer unit 13 and sheet feeding device 12, vibrations, etc. which are generated by the corresponding die-cutting equipment 10 can be prevented from being transmitted to other mechanisms. Furthermore, since it is possible to feed sheet materials 11 to the die-cutting equipment 10 with its reference state retained, conventional devices can be used as the respective devices located at the upstream side of the corresponding die- cutting equipment 10, resulting in no large facility change.

Herein, since the lateral die-cutting blade 16a of the die 18 is positioned to be spiral on the outer circumference of the abovementioned die cylinder 19, the lateral die-cutting blade 16a does not straightly come in the axial direction with the anvil 20 of the abovementioned anvil cylinder 2 1. Therefore, it is possible to change the engagement portion of the blade tip of the lateral die-cutting blade 16a with respect to the anvil 20. That is, an eccentric wearing resulting from engagement of the lateral die-cutting blade 16a with the same position at all times can be prevented, and it is possible to lengthen the service life of the anvil 20. Since it is possible to uniformly wear the anvil 20 by preventing wear at only the same position, it is possible to prevent in advance defective scoring lines and scoring breaks resulting from generation of uneven places (convexes and concaves) on the surface of anvil. Furthermore, since the lateral die-cutting blade 16a is inclined (positioned to be spiral) in the circumferential direction of the anvil 20, the lateral diecutting blade 16a which comes in the anvil 20 can sweep out scales of the anvil 20 when the same is separating from the anvil 20. Still furthermore, since the longitudinal die-cutting blade 16b of the die 18 is constructed so as to be inclined in the sheet feeding direction P, it is possible to prevent the anvil 20 from being eccentrically worn, and to sweep out the scales thereof as in the case of the lateral die-cutting blade 16a.

Sheet materials 11 to which a die-cutting is applied by the 23 abovementioned die-cutting equipment 10 is held by the abovementioned vibration conveyor 38, is able to move in parallel to the abovementioned sheet feeding direction P, and is laminated on the stacker 39 after scales are separated by the corresponding conveyor 38.

(Another preferred embodiment) FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 shows another preferred embodiment of a sheet transfer device, wherein the sheet transfer device 40 shown in FIG. 12 has a pair of feed rolls 41, 41 rotatably disposed on and below the pass line of sheet material 11. The sheet transfer device 40 is constructed so that, by driving and rotating both feed rolls 41, 41 in an opposite direction, the sheet material 11 can be horizontally fed between the die cylinder 19 and the anvil cylinder 2 1. Furthermore, in a sheet transfer device 42 shown in FIG. 13, a pair of endless belts 43, 43 are disposed on and below the pass line of sheet material 11 so as to travel, wherein by causing both endless belts 43, 43 to be driven and travel in an opposite direction, the sheet material 11 can be horizontally fed between the die cylinder 19 and the anvil cylinder 21. Andineither construction, the nipping pressure of the sheet material 11 by the feed rolls 4 1, 41 or endless belts 43, 43 is set to a value which permits parallel movements of the sheet material 11 when passing through the die-cutting equipment 10.

Accordingly, even in a case where any one of the sheet transfer devices 40, 42 according to the above preferred embodiment is used, it is possible to adequately die-cut the lateral die-cutting line 24 and longitudinal die-cutting line 25 on the sheet material 11, which is caused to diagonally move in parallel at its reference state toward the downstream side, by the die-cutting equipment 10. Furthermore, such a construction may be employed, in which an air chamber and endless belts are combined, sheet materials are brought into contact with the endless belts by negative pressure formed in the air chamber, and the sheet material can be transferred by travelling of the corresponding endless belts.

In the abovementioned preferred embodiment, although a description was given of a case where, in order to make uniform the widths of the trim portions 44 at both sides in the width direction, which are produced when

24 die-cutting a sheet material 11, the curved board 17 is positioned on the basis of the center C of the front side lateral die-cutting blade 16a in its lengthwise direction when applying the same in the die cylinder 19, the corresponding center C may be made coincident with the center in the sheet width direction by other methods. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the die cylinder 19 is axially movably supported with respect to the frames 15, 15, and at the same time an adjusting screw 45 rotatably disposed at the axial end of the 1 1 corresponding cylinder 19 is screwed in a nut 47 fixed via a housing 46. And by turning the adjusting screw 45 and moving to adjust the die cylinder in the axial direction, it is possible to position the center 3 of the front side lateral die-cutting blade 16a in its lengthwise direction at the curved board 17 applied to an optional position of the corresponding cylinder 19, so that the same can be made coincident with the center in the sheet width direction when the lateral die-cutting blade 16a comes to the die-cutting position. That is, in this case, there is no worry about the planting position of the lateral die-cutting blade 16a with respect to the curved board 17 and the applying position of the curved board 17 with respect to the die cylinder 19. Accordingly, in a case where the die cylinder 19 is moved and adjusted, the amount of movement is stored in a control means 37, and it is possible to feed back the corresponding memory data for the next use.

Furthermore, the movement and adjustment of the die cylinder 19 in the axial direction can be substituted by moving and adjusting the entirety of the die-cutting equipment 10, or changing the feeding position of sheet material 11 to be fed to the die-cutting equipment 10 on the basis of the center C of the lateral die-cutting blade 16a disposed in the die cylinder 19 in its lengthwise direction. Furthermore, in a case where the feeding position of sheet material I I is changed, the abovementioned printer units 13 and sheet feeding device 12 are constructed so as to be movable and adjustable, whereby the position of the machine centers C 1, C2 is adjusted, side guides, etc. for retaining both sides of the sheet material 11 in its width direction are adjusted in the sheet feeding device 12, or in the printer units 13, the printing cylinder 30 is constructed so as tobe movable and adjustable in the axial direction by a method similar to the movement mechanism of the abovementioned die cylinder 19, thereby carrying out various adjustments. Furthermore, in the printer units 13, the attaching position of a print plate on the corresponding cylinder 30 can be correspondingly changed without adjusting the abovementioned printer units 13 and printing cylinder 30. In a case where the feeding position of the sheet material 11 is changed, the amount of movement, etc. of the side guides and printing cylinder 30 is stored in the control means 37, and it is possible to feed back the corresponding memory data to the next uses.

Herein, the shapes of lateral and longitudinal die-cutting blades 16a, 16b planted in the abovementioned die 18 and of lateral and longitudinal scoring blades 28, 29 are not limited to those used for die-cutting rectangular blanks as in the abovementioned preferred embodiments. They may be formed in compliance with various types of blanks. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 15, in a case when die-cutting two blanks from a sheet material 11, die-cutting blades 16, 16 of the same shape are juxtaposed in the lengthwise direction of the curved board 17. When a plurality of die-cutting blades 16 are disposed as in the above, the curved board 17 may be positioned in the die cylinder 19 in such a manner that a hypothetical line having a length equivalent to the distance between end portions spaced in the left and right direction of the corresponding blade group is set so as to be aligned with and made coincident with two lateral die-cutting blades 16a, 16a which die-cut the lateral die-cutting lines 24, 24 at the extreme front edge side of the abovementioned sheet material 11, on the basis of the center C' of the corresponding hypothetical line in its lengthwise direction. That is, the curved board 17 is positioned so that when the center C' of the hypothetical line in the lengthwise direction comes to the die-cutting position of the sheet material 11 in line with rotations of the die cylinder 19, the corresponding center C' can be made coincident with the center in the sheet width direction of the sheet material 11 fed from the abovementioned sheet transfer device 14 (the center machine center C2 of the printer unit 13 or the center of a print plate). Thereby, a die- cutting can be securely executed at adequate left and right positions of the center in the sheet width direction by the respective diecutting blades on a sheet material 11, fed to the die-cutting equipment 10 in a state where the center in the sheet width direction is coincident with the machine center C2 of the printer units 13, on which printing is carried out by print plates disposed left and right in the printer units 13. In this case, the width of the tnm portions generated at both the sides in the width direction by 26 die-cutting two blanks from a sheet material 11 can be made uniform.

Furthermore, in a case where three or more blanks are die-cut from a sheet material 11, the die 18 is positioned with the die cylinder 19 as in the above description. Furthermore, various kinds of methods described above are available as the adjusting method by which the center C' of the hypothetical line is made coincident with the center in the sheet width direction. Furthermore, in view of the relationship between the inclination angle 0 1" of the abovementioned longitudinal die-cutting blade 16b and the pitch of attaching holes 48 secured on the die cylinder 19, in a case where two or three or more blanks are die-cut from a single sheet material 11 as described above, when a line passing through the center C' of the abovementioned hypothetical line and parallel to the longitudinal die-cutting blade 16b is caused to overlap the attaching holes 48 of the die cylinder 19, the curved board 17 may be attached to the die cylinder 19 with the corresponding center C'shpped from the machine center C3 of the die-cutting equipment 10 (See FIG. 15).

Herein, there are some cases where the lateral die-cutting blade 16a may not be inclined, depending upon the kinds and specifications of the abovementioned sheet material 11. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, it may be constructed that the position of the die-cutting equipment 10 can be changed to an inclined state (FIG. 16) where the axial line L I of the abovementioned cylinders 19, 21 are inclined with respect to the reference line L2, and a reference state (FIG. 17) where the axial line L 1 is made parallel to the reference line L2, wherein the state of the diecutting equipment 10 can be optionally changed, depending upon the kinds and specifications of the sheet material 11. In this preferred embodiment, the die-cutting equipment 10 can be constructed so as to be horizontally rockable, centering around the fulcrum F of one frame 15 which constitutes the corresponding equipment 10, and at the same time, a piston rod 49a of a positioning cylinder is coupled to the other frame 15. That is, by causing the positioning cylinder 49 to move normally or reversely, it is possible to position the die-cutting equipment 10 at its inclined position or its reference state. Furthermore, in a case where the die-cutting equipment 10 is set to the reference state as shown in FIG. 17, the die-cutting blade 50 in the die 18 disposed on the abovementioned die cylinder 19 is set so

27 that its lateral die-cutting blade 50a is set to be parallel to the abovementioned lateral base line W and the longitudinal die-cutting blade 50b orthogonal to the abovementioned lateral die-cutting blade 50a is set to be parallel to the sheet feeding direction P. And the sheet material 11 fed to the die-cutting equipment 10 at its reference state is die-cut along the lateral diecutting line 24 and the longitudinal die-cutting line 25 by the die-cutting blade 50 while straightly moving to the downstream side with its reference state kept. Furthermore, as a means for changing the die-cutting equipment 10 from the inclined state to the reference state or vice verse, various kinds of mechanism may be employed instead of the positioning cylinder.

In the preferred embodiments, although it is constructed that the die cylinder and anvil cylinder are driven and rotated by an independent motor, the respective cylinders may be driven and rotated by separate motors, or they may be driven and rotated via gears and/or line shafts, etc. connected to the main drive motor which drives the sheet feeding device and printer units, etc. Still furthermore, in the preferred embodiments, although a description was given on the basis of an example in which a die-cutting blade for rectangular die-cutting is used, the diecutting shape is not limited to the rectangularity. The shape may be of any type including various kinds of flaps, etc. Furthermore, the lateral die-cutting blade and longitudinal die-cutting blade in a die-cutting blade installed in compliance with various kinds of die-cutting shapes may be positioned on the basis of the abovementioned setting.

28

Claims

W-HAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A sheet material die-cutting method comprising steps offeeding a sheetlike material (11), having the reference state in which the front edge of the sheet feeding direction (P) becomes parallel to the reference line (L2) orthogonal to said sheet feeding direction (P), between a die cylinder (19) and an anvil cylinder (2 1), which are disposed so that their axial lines (L1) are inclined an appointed degree of angle (0 1) with respect to the reference line (L2), constitute a pair and are mutually caused to rotate in an opposite direction, and die-cutting said sheet material (11) along a lateral die-cutting line (24) parallel to the reference line and a longitudinal die-cutting line (25) parallel to the sheet feeding direction (P) by a die-cutting blade (16) disposed on said die cylinder (19) while diagonally moving the sheet material in parallel in compliance with the angle of inclination of both the cylinders (19, 2 1) toward the downstream side with the reference state thereof retained.

2. A sheet material die-cutting method comprising steps of. feeding through a transfer device (14) a sheet-like material (11), having the reference state in which the front edge of the sheet feeding direction (P) becomes parallel to the reference line (L2) orthogonal to said sheet feeding direction (P), between a die cylinder (19) and an anvil cylinder (2 1), which are disposed so that their axial lines (L 1) are inclined an appointed degree of angle (0 1) with respect to the reference line (L2), constitute a pair and are mutually caused to rotate in an opposite direction, and diagonally moving said sheet material (11), which is transferred to the downstream side by a rotation action of both said cylinders, in parallel in compliance with the angle of inclination of both the cylinders (19, 2 1), toward the downstream side with the reference state thereof retained, in such a state where the upstream side of the sheet material (11) can be kept so as to allow a parallel movement by said transfer device (14), and, in this process, diecutting said sheet material (11) along a lateral die-cutting line (24) parallel to the reference line (L2) and a longitudinal die-cutting line (25) parallel to the sheet feeding direction (P) by a die-cutting blade (16) disposed on said die cylinder (19).

29

3. A sheet material die-cutting method according to the invention comprising steps of. feeding a sheet-like material (11), having the reference state in which the front edge of the sheet feeding direction (P) becomes parallel to the reference line (L2) orthogonal to said sheet feeding direction (P), between a die cylinder (19) and an anvil cylinder (2 1), which are disposed so that their axial lines (L1) are inclined an appointed degree of angle (0 1) with respect to the reference line (L2), constitute a pair and are mutually caused to rotate in an opposite direction, and by a lateral die-cutting blade (16a) in which one end portion (A) thereof disposed on said die cylinder (19) and positioned at an end portion inclined to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction (P) of said cylinder (19) is inclined so that the same comes to the preceding side in the rotation direction of the die cylinder (19), and simultaneously the inclination angle (0 V) with respect to a lateral reference line (L3) passing through the preceding end (A) and parallel to said axial line (L1) is set to be roughly the same as the inclination angle (0 1) between the axial line (L1) and the reference line (L2), gradually die-cutting a lateral die-cutting line parallel to the front edge from one end portion in the lengthwise direction to the other end portion while diagonally moving the sheet material with the reference state thereof retained, toward the downstream side in parallel in compliance with the inclination angle of said die cylinder (19) and anvil cylinder (2 1), and by a longitudinal die-cutting blade (16b) disposed on said die cylinder (19) and orthogonal to the lateral die-cutting blade (16a), gradually diecutting the sheet material (11) from one end portion in the lengthwise direction to the other end portion along the longitudinal die-cutting line (25) parallel to the side edge (lib) orthogonal to the front edge (1 la) while diagonally moving the sheet material (11) with the reference state thereof retained, in parallel in compliance with the inclination angle of said die cylinder (19) and anvil cylinder (2 1).

4. A sheet material die-cutting method according to the invention comprising steps of: feeding through a transfer device (14) a sheet-like material (11), having the reference state in which the front edge of the sheet feeding direction (P) becomes parallel to the reference line (L2) orthogonal to said sheet feeding direction (P), between a die cylinder (19) and an anvil cylinder (2 1), which are disposed so that their axial lines (L 1) are inclined an appointed degree of angle (0 1) with respect to the reference line (L2), constitute a pair and are mutually caused to rotate in an opposite direction, and diagonally moving the upstream side of a sheet material (11) transferred to the downstream side by a rotation action of both said cylinders (19, 2 1), toward the downstream side with the reference state thereof retained, in parallel in compliance with the inclination angle of both the cylinders (19, 2 1), while keeping such a state where the parallel movement is permitted by said transfer device (14), in this process, by a lateral die-cutting blade (16a) in which one end portion (A) thereof disposed on said die cylinder (19) and positioned at an end portion inclined to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction of said cylinder (19) is inclined so that the same comes to the preceding side in the rotation direction of the die cylinder (19), and simultaneously the inclination angle (0 1) with respect to a lateral reference line (L3) passing through the preceding end (A) and parallel to said axial line (L1) is set to be roughly the same as the inclination angle (0 1) between the axial line (L1) and the reference line (L2), gradually die-cutting the sheet material (11) from one end portion in the lengthwise direction to the other end portion along the lateral diecutting line (24) parallel to the front edge (1 la) thereof, and by a longitudinal die-cutting blade (16b) disposed on said die cylinder (19) and orthogonal to the lateral die-cutting blade (16a), gradually diecutting the sheet material (11) from one end portion in the lengthwise direction to the other end portion along the longitudinal die-cutting line (25) parallel to the side edge (1 1b) orthogonal to the front edge (11 a) thereof.

5. The sheet material die-cutting method as set forth in claims 2 or 4, wherein the upstream side of the sheet material (11) fed to the downstream side by a rotation action of said die cylinder (19) and anvil cylinder (2 1) is retained in such a state where the same is permitted to execute parallel movements by a suction action of said transfer device (14).

6. A sheet material die-cutting method comprising steps of.

31 die-cutting a lateral die-cutting line (24) parallel to the reference line and a longitudinal die-cutting line (25) parallel to the sheet feeding direction (P) by a die-cutting blade (16) disposed on said die cylinder (19) while, when the die cylinder (19) and anvil cylinder (2 1) mutually caused to rotate in an opposite direction are positioned so that their axial lines (L1) are inclined an appointed degree of angle (0 1) with respect to the reference line (L2) orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction (P), diagonally moving a sheet material (11), which is fed through a transfer device (14) between both the cylinder (19, 2 1), in parallel in a reference state where the front edge (1 la) of the sheet feeding direction (P) becomes parallel to the reference line (L2), toward the downstream side, With the reference state thereof retained, in compliance with the inclination angle of both the cylinders (19, 21) by keeping the upstream side of the sheet material (11) fed to the downstream side by a rotation action of both the cylinders (19, 21) in a state where its parallel movement is allowed by the transfer device (14), wherein a lateral die-cutting line (24) parallel to the reference line and a longitudinal die-cutting line (25) parallel to the sheet feeding direction (P) are die-cut by a die-cutting blade (50) disposed on said die cylinder (19) while straightly moving a sheet material (11), which is fed through a transfer device (14) between both the cyhnders (19, 2 1) at its reference state, toward the downstream side at its reference state when the axial line (L 1) of both said cylinders (19, 21) is positioned at a reference state made parallel to the reference line (L2).

7. The sheet material die-cutting method as set forth in claim 6, wherein with respect to a die cylinder (19) at its said inclined state, an end portion (A) positioned at the edge side inclined to theupstream side in the sheet feeding direction of said cylinder (19) is inclined so as to become the preceding side of the die cylinder (19) in the rotation direction, a die-cutting blade (16) is provided with a lateral diecutting blade (16a), in which the inclination angle (0 1') with respect to the lateral base line (M) passing through the preceding end (A) and parallel to the axial line (L1) is set to be roughly the same as the inclination angle (0 1) between the axial line (L1) and the reference line (U), and a longitudinal die-cutting blade (16b) orthogonal to said lateral die-cutting blade (16a) and is disposed at the die 32 cylinder (19), and a lateral die-cutting line (24) and a longitudinal die- cutting line (25) are die-cut on said sheet material (11) by said die- cutting blade (16), and with respect to the die cylinder (19) at its said reference state, a diecutting blade (50) is provided with a lateral die- cutting blade (50a) set in parallel to said lateral reference line (U) and a longitudinal die-cutting blade (50b) orthogonal to said lateral die- cutting blade (50a) and is disposed at the die cylinder (19), and a lateral die-cutting line (24) and a longitudinal diecutting line (25) are die-cut on said sheet material (11) by said die-cutting blade (50).

8. Sheet material die-cutting equipment comprising a die cylinder (19) driven and rotated in an appointed direction, on which a die (18) having a die-cutting blade (16) planted in a curved board (17) is detachably applied, and an anvil cylinder (2 1) which is disposed in parallel to said die cylinder (19) and is driven and rotated in the opposite direction of said die cYhnder, in which a sheet-like material (11) is fed between both the cylinders (19, 2 1) at a reference state where the front edge (I 1a) thereof in the sheet feeding direction (P) is made parallel to the reference line (L2) orthogonal to said sheet feeding direction (P), and a die-cutting of an appointed shape is performed onto the sheet material (11) by said die-cutting blade (16), wherein said die cylinder (19) and anvil cylinder (2 1) are disposed so that their aidal lines (L1) are inclined an appointed degree of angle (0 1) with respect to said reference line (U), said die (18) is equipped with a lateral die-cutting blade (16a) which die-cuts a lateral die-cutting line (24) parallel to the front edge (I 1a) of a sheet material (11) and a longitudinal die- cutting blade (16b) which is orthogonal to said lateral die-cutting blade (16a) and die-cuts a longitudinal die-cutting line (25) parallel to the side edge (I 1b) orthogonal to the front edge (1 1a) of the sheet material 11), said die (18) is applied onto said die cylinder (19) so that the end portion (A) at the end portion side inclined to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction of the die cylinder (19) in said lateral die-cutting blade (16a) is inclined so as to be at the preceding side in the rotation direction of said cylinder (19), the inclination angle (0 1) of said lateral die-cutting blade (16a) With 33 respect to a lateral reference line (L3) passing through the preceding edge (A) of said lateral die-cutting blade (16a) and parallel to the axial line (L1) is set to be roughly the same as the inclination angle (0 1) between said axial line (L1) and the reference line (L2), and the inclination angle (0 1') of the longitudinal die-cutting blade (16b) with respect to the longitudinal reference line (L4) passing through the preceding edge (B) in the rotation direction of the die cylinder (19) at said longitudinal die-cutting blade (16b) and orthogonal to said lateral reference line (L3) is set to be roughly the same as the inclination angle (0 1) between said axial line (L1) and reference line (L2), and a transfer device (14) which feeds said sheet material (11) between said die cylinder (19) and anvil cylinder (2 1) at its reference state is constructed so that parallel movements of said sheet material (11) is allowed when being put and transferred between both the cylinders (19, 2 1).

9. The sheet material die-cutting equipment as set forth in claim 8, wherein said transfer device (14) is provided with an air chamber (33), the inside of which is caused to enter negative pressure and transfer members (35) with which said sheet material (11) absorbed by the negative pressure occurred inside said air chamber (33) is brought into contact, and the sheet material (11) brought into contact with said transfer members (35) are transferred by a drive force of said transfer members (35).

10. The sheet material die-cutting equipment as set forth in claim 8 or 9, wherein the center (C), in the lengthwise direction, of a lateral diecutting blade (16a) for die-cutting a lateral die-cutting line (24) at the frontmost edge side of said sheet material (11) is set so as to be made roughly coincident with the center, in the sheet width direction, of the sheet material (11) fed from said transfer device (14) when the same center (C) comes to the die-cutting position of the sheet material (11).

11. The sheet die-cutting equipment as set forth in claim 8 or 9, wherein the center (C), in the lengthwise direction, of all the lateral diecutting blades for die-cutting the lateral die-cutting lines (24) at the frontmost edge side of said sheet material (11) is set so as to be made roughly coincident with the center, in the sheet width direction, of the sheet material (11) fed from said 34 transfer device (14) when the same center (C) comes to the die-cutting position of the sheet material (11).

12. The sheet die-cutting equipment as set forth in claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the machine centers (Cl, C2) of the sheet feeding device (12) disposed in series at the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction of said transfer device (14) and the printer units (13) are aligned with and coincident with the machine center (C3) of said die-cutting equipment (10) in the sheet feeding direction (P), and a plurality of attaching holes (17a), secured on a curved board (17), used for fixing said curved board (17) on said die cylinder (19) in said die-cutting equipment (10) are provided at such positions where the center (C), in the lengthwise direction, of a lateral die-cutting blade (16a) for die-cutting a lateral die-cutting line (24) at the frontmost edge side of said sheet material (11) at said curved board (17) fixed on the die cylinder (19) via said attaching holes (1 7a) is made roughly coincident with the machine center (C3) of the die-cutting equipment (10) when the same center (C) comes to the die-cutting position of the sheet material (11).

13. The sheet die-cutting equipment as set forth in claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the machine centers (Cl, C2) of the sheet feeding device (12) disposed in series at the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction of said transfer device (14) and the printer units (13) are aligned with and coincident with the machine center (C3) of said die-cutting equipment (10) in the sheet feeding direction (P), and a plurality of attaching holes (17a), secured on a curved board (17), used for fixing said curved board (17) on said die cylinder (19) in said die-cutting equipment (10) are provided at such positions where the center (C), in the lengthwise direction, of all the lateral die-cutting blades (16a) for die-cutting lateral die-cutting lines (24) at the frontmost edge side of said sheet material (11) at said curved board (17) fixed on the die cylinder (19) via said attaching holes (17a) is made roughly coincident with the machine center (M) of the die-cutting equipment (10) when the same center (C) comes to the die-cutting position of the sheet material (11).

14. The sheet die-cutting equipment as set forth in any one of claims 8 through 13, wherein said die (18) is provided with a lateral scoring blade (28) parallel to said lateral die-cutting blade (16a) and a longitudinal scoring blade (29) parallel said longitudinal die-cutting blade (16b), a lateral scoring line (26) parallel to the lateral die-cutting line (24) is formed on said sheet material (11) by said lateral scoring blade (28) and a longitudinal scoring line (27) parallel to said longitudinal die-cutting line (25) is formed thereon by said longitudinal scoring blade (29).

15. The sheet die-cutting equipment as set forth in any one of claims 8 through 14, wherein said die cylinder (19) and anvil cylinder (2 1) is able to be positioned at any one of the inclined state where the axial lines (L 1) is inchned an appointed degree of angle (0 1) with respect to said reference hne C2) and the reference state where the axial hnes (L1) become parallel to the reference hne (L2).

16. A sheet material die-cutting method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A sheet material die-cutting equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.