GB2336247A

GB2336247A - A clamping system using a clip-in magnet arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2336247A
Application number: GB9805457A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter George Veale
Original assignee: W E Veale & Co Ltd
Current assignee: W E Veale & Co Ltd
Priority date: 1998-03-16
Filing date: 1998-03-16
Publication date: 1999-10-13
Also published as: GB9805457D0

Abstract

A clamping system, suitable for securing a planar object 12 to a metallic support 13, comprises a fixing element 1 with a magnet 6 arranged to hold the base of the fixing element 1 against a metallic support 13. A flange 3 is arranged at the upper surface of the fixing element 1 which contacts the upper surface of the planar object 12 when the fixing element 1 is secured in a releasable manner within aperture means 11 arranged within the planar object 12. The fixing element 1 includes at least one member biased to project from a side wall of the said element to secure it in a releasable manner within the said aperture means 11. The aperture means 11 may be a stainless steel liner with a groove or indentation and a spring 9 biased ball 5 arrangement may be used in the fixing element 1. The fixing element 1 and the associated aperture means 11 and a method of their use are also claimed. A lever arrangement for releasing the fixing element is also disclosed. The clamping system may be used to clamp a plywood die board on to a metal support used in forming packaging.

Description

1 Clamping System The present invention relates to a system for clamping

articles relative to one another, in particular to a system for clamping die boards into the chase or auto platen of a cutting and creasing carton making machine.

2336247 When producing packaging materials such as cardboard boxes, it is common practice to fix die boards, which are generally made of wood based materials such as plywood or board and which carry an impression of the desired box template, to a metallic support which is called a chase or an auto platten. This then forms a template for cutting out the card or board which can be subsequently folded into the appropriate packing or box.

Location of the die boards on the chase or autoplatten is important in order to ensure accurate punching out of the template. The die boards are located precisely on the chase or auto platten for example by means of cam or other devices provided on the auto platten which interact with edges of the die boards. Once located in this manner, the die boards must be fixed to the autoplatten. This may be effected by means of screws. However this is a relatively time consuming and labour intensive process, as the location of the screws must be aligned precisely with corresponding holes in the autoplatten.

There is a need for a reversible clamping system which can rapidly and easily fix an object such as a die board to a metallic support such as a chase or auto-platten.

The present invention provides a system for reversibly clamping a planar object to a metallic support, said system comprising aperture means for inclusion in said planar object, and a fixing element locatable within said aperture means, 2 said fixing element comprising (a) a magnet arranged to hold a base of the fixing element to the metallic support, (b) a flange at an upper surface of the fixing means, arranged to contact an upper surface of said planar object when the fixing means is located in the aperture means, (c) at least one projecting member extending from a side wall of the fixing element, said projecting member being biased outwards from the side wall such that it can hold the fixing element within the aperture means, and (d) means for removing the fixing element from said aperture means.

Suitable planar objects for use in the system of the invention are die boards such as those used in the packaging industry. They are nonmagnetic in nature and so do not interact themselves with the magnet provided in the fixing element.

The aperture means may comprise a simple hole or opening in the planar object. However, where the object is of a relatively soft material such as wood, plywood or board, it may not be hard enough to interact with the projection of the fixing element in an appropriate manner. Therefore in a preferred embodiment, the aperture means comprises a support structure or liner, preferably of a metal such as stainless steel. The support structure is locatable in an aperture in the planar object. Suitably, the aperture is of circular cross section.

The support structure or liner may be provided with a groove or indentation which is arranged to accommodate the projecting member when the fixing element is located within it.

The fixing element itself will generally comprise a housing which includes an aperture in the lower surface in which a suitable magnet is located. A liner, for example of brass or 3 nylon, may be provided around the edges of this aperture so as to contact the magnet.

In a preferred embodiment, the housing further includes at least one further aperture in the side walls which accommodates biasing means arranged to act upon the projecting member. Suitable biasing means include a spring such as a coil spring. An end of the biasing means is arranged to abut against an end wall of the said further aperture. The other end of the biasing means is in contact with the projecting member so as to bias it generally outwards from the sides of the housing.

The projecting member may be of any shape but conveniently comprises a metal ball such as a steel ball. Preferably more than one projecting member is provided in order to ensure that the fixing element is reliably held within the aperture means. Where more than one projecting member is provided, they are suitably arranged equidistantly around the fixing element.

Depending upon the size of the fixing element, from 2-6 preferably 3 projecting members can be provided. Each member will be provided with its own biasing means.

The housing suitably includes a flange at the upper surface, which extends over the planar object so as to hold it against the metallic support when the fixing element is in place in the aperture means.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the flange does not extend around the entire circumference of the aperture means but is provided with one or more indentations. This allows an operator to examine the system so as to ensure that it is correctly located. Indentations of this type may be included in other magnetic fixing elements, for example those which rely on screw action to locate them.

4 Suitably the means for removing the said fixing element from said aperture means comprises a lever system. A hole is suitably provided in the upper surface of the housing. This hole may be provided with an sidewardly extending opening or groove, preferably a radial, which can accommodate an end portion of a lever device. Insertion of a suitably dimensioned lever device into the opening or groove will allow removal of the fixing element from the aperture means by levering against the opposing side wall of the hole.

In this system, the shape of the lever and the dimensions of both the hole and the opening or groove will be such that these elements can interact with each other in the manner described. Suitable dimensions will depend upon factors such as the size of the fixing element etc. and can be readily calculated by the skilled person.

Suitably, in order to facilitate the removal of the fixing element, the side walls of the housing are tapered so as allow tilting movement within the aperture means.

Further aspects of the invention include fixing elements and/or support liners and or levers for use in the system as defined above.

The invention will now be particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fixing element of the invention; Figure 2 is a section through the clamping system of the invention; and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation illustrating the removal of a fixing element of the invention.

The fixing element (Figure 1) comprises a housing (1) of generally circular cross section, having an aperture (2) in the lower surface and a flange (3) extending around the upper surface. The flange (3) is provided with indentations (4).

Three equidistantly spaced balls (5) project from side walls of the housing (1).

The aperture (2) accommodates a powerful magnet (6) (Figure 2) which is supported within it by way of a brass or nylon liner (7). Apertures (8) in side walls of the housing (1) each accommodate a coil spring (9) arranged to interact with a ball (4) so that the ball projects sideways from the housing.

In use the fixing element is inserted into a stainless steel liner (11) which fits snugly into a die board (121, by simply applying pressure so as to overcome the biasing of the springs (9). The die board may suitably be a 15mm plywood die board.

A radial groove (10) is provided in the liner (11) and arranged to accommodate the balls (4) once the fixing element is in place. This prevents movement of the fixing element out of the liner (11).

At this point, the magnet (6) contacts a chase or autoplatten (13) holds fast to it. The flange (3) abuts the upper surface of the die board (12), thereby holding the die board fast against the chase or autoplatten so that cutting can take place.

In order to remove the die board (12) from the auto platten (13), the force of the magnet (6) and the spring (9) must be 6 overcome. In order to achieve this, a hole (14) is provided in the upper surface of the housing (1). A radial groove (15) is provided within this hole (14) preferably at a lower region thereof.

A lever device (16) is provided which is shaped so that it can project into the hole (14) and an end portion (17) thereof can project into the groove (15). The application of pressure to the other end of the lever device (16) will have the effect of 10 raising the housing (1) against the effect of the magnet (6) Suitably the side walls (18) of the housing taper inwards at the lower end to allow for the necessary tilting to of the housing to occur.

Thus the fixing element can be quickly and easily removed from the liner, and thus the die board can be taken off the auto platten. Since this operation may need to be undertaken many times during the day, the clamping system as described will provide significant advantages in terms of speed and 20 efficiency of the clamping operation.

Although of use particularly in packaging production, the clamping system of the invention can be widely used wherever clamping to metallic supports is required.

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Claims

1. A system for reversibly clamping a planar object to a metallic support, said system comprising aperture means for inclusion in said planar object, and a fixing element locatable within said aperture means, said fixing element comprising (a) a magnet arranged to hold a base of the fixing element to the metallic support, (b) a flange at an upper surface of the fixing means, arranged to contact an upper surface of said planar object when the fixing means is located in the aperture means, (c) at least one projecting member extending from a side wall of the fixing element, said projecting member being biased outwards from the side wall such that it can hold the fixing element within the aperture means, and (d) means for removing the fixing element from said aperture means.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the planar object is a die board.

3. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the aperture comprises a support structure or liner.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein the support structure or liner is of stainless steel.

5. A system according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the support structure or liner may be provided with a groove or indentation which is arranged to accommodate the projecting member when the fixing element is located within it.

6. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fixing element comprises a housing which includes an aperture in the lower surface in which a suitable magnet is located.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein a liner is provided around the said aperture, arranged to contact said suitable magnet.

8 8. A system according to claim 7 wherein the housing further includes at least one further aperture in the side walls which accommodates biasing means arranged to act upon the projecting member.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein the biasing means comprises a coil spring, an end of which is arranged to abut against an end wall of the said further aperture, and the other end of the biasing means is in contact with the projecting member so as to bias it generally outwards from the sides of the housing.

10. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the projecting member comprises a metal ball.

11. A system according to any one of the preceding claims which comprises more than one projecting member which are arranged equidistantly around the fixing element.

12. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the flange is provided with one or more indentations.

13. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means for removing the said fixing element from said 25 aperture means comprises a lever system.

14. A system according to claim 6 in which the walls of the said housing are tapered so as to allow tilting of the housing to facilitate the removal of the fixing element from the 30 aperture means.

15. A system for reversibly clamping a planar object to a metallic support, said system comprising aperture means for inclusion in said planar object and a fixing element which is reversibly locatable in said aperture means, said fixing element having a flange at an upper surface which is arranged to contact an upper surface of said planar object when the fixing means is located in said aperture means, indentations being provided in said flange.

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16. A fixing element adapted for use in an system according to any one of the preceding claims.

17. A support liner adapted for use in the system according to any one of claims 1-16.

18. A lever adapted for use in the system according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

19. A method for reversibly clamping a planar object to a metallic support, said method comprising providing aperture means of the system according to any one of claims 1 to 16 in said planar object, and introducing a fixing element of said system into the aperture means.

20. A method for reversibly clamping a planar object to a metallic support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Example.

21. A system for reversibly clamping a planar object to a metallic support, substantially as herein before described with reference to the drawings.