Rotary anvil construction
United States Patent I191 Duckett et a1.  
 [4m Apr. 29, 1975 1 ROTARY ANVIL CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventors: John C. Duekett; Rufus Neal Ensley.  
 both of Clyde. NC.  
 [73] Assignee: Dayco Corporation. Dayton. Ohio [22] Filed: Jan. 7. 1974 [2] I App]. No.: 431.447  
 1.307.041 6/19 I 9 Crawford r.  
 3.363.496 1/1968 Sauer 83/669 3.577.822 5/l97l Sauer s r 83/659 3.765.329 Ill/i973 Kirkpatrik et a1. 83/659 X Primary E.\&#39;nminerAndrew R. .luhasz Assixlcmt Evaminer-Leon Gilden [57} ABSTRACT A rotar)- anvil construction is provided which includes a rotary anvil having an outer substantially cylindrical surface and having a longitudinally extending groove extending inwardly from the surface. A die cutting mat is provided and comprises a main body terminating in substantially identical L-shaped end portions which are received within the groove and each L- shaped portion has a first planar surface including an outermost edge. a second surface arranged transverse the inner edge of the first planar surface. and a third surface extending from the terminal outer edge of the second surface and transverse the second surface. A clamping bar is provided which has at least an outer portion thereof made of a mat-like material similar to the mat and the bar extends the entire distance hetween the first planar surfaces and has a pair of spaced clamping surface portions each engaging an associated one of the second transverse surfaces. The bar holds the mat against the anvil and has a pair of opposed outer edges each adjoining an outermost edge of an associated first surface.  
 19 Claims. 5 Drawing Figures ROTARY ANVIL CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Rotary anvil constructions are used widely throughout industry. and in general such rotary anvil constructions employ die-cutting mats which are attached against the outside surfaces of such anvils. There are numerous devices and techniques for attaching diecutting mats in position; nevertheless. the need exists for an improved rotary anvil construction comprised of an anvil. die-cutting mat. and fastening means of simple and economical construction and wherein the component portions of such an improved rotary anvil con struction may be installed or assembled by relatively unskilled personnel.  
 SUMMARY This invention provides an improved rotary anvil construction which satisfies the above-mentioned need and such construction comprises a rotary anvil having an outer substantially cylindrical surface and having a longitudinally extending groove extending inwardly from the surface. A die cutting mat is provided and comprises a main body terminating in substantially identical L-shaped end portions which are received within the groove and each L-shaped portion has a first planar surface including an outermost edge. a second surface arranged transverse the inner edge of the first planar surface. and a third surface extending from the terminal outer edge of the second surface and transverse the second surface. A clamping bar is provided which has at least an outer portion thereof made of a mat-like material similar to the mat and the bar extends the entire distance between the first planar surfaces and has a pair of spaced clamping surface portions each engaging an associated one of the second transverse surfaces. The bar holds the mat against the anvil and has a pair of opposed outer edges each adjoining an outermost edge of an associated first surface.  
  Other details. uses. and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the exemplary embodiments thereof presented in the following specification, claims, and drawing.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The accompanying drawing shows present preferred embodiments of this invention, in which FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one exemplary embodiment ofa rotary anvil construction of this invention having a die cutting mat fastened in position on a rotary anvil by a clamping bar;  
  FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view particularly illustrating the manner in which the end portions of the die cutting mat of FIG. I are held in position;  
  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken essentially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;  
  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a clamping bar which may be used interchangeably with the clamping bar of FIG. I; and  
  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating still another exemplary embodiment of a clamping bar which may be used interchangeably with the clamping bar illustrated in FIG. I.  
 III  
 DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made of FIG. I of the drawing which illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a rotary anvil construction of this invention which is designated generally by the reference numeral [0. The anvil construction I0 is particularly adapted to be used with an associated rotary cutter or cylinder (not shown) which has cutting means or blades thereon for cutting a sheet-like workpiece such as paper. cardboard. and other materials and the anvil construction III serves as a backup allowing the blades of such a rotary cutter to be urged against the workpiece to enable cutting thereof efficiently and without jagged edges.  
  The rotary anvil construction I0 comprises a rotary anvil which has an outer substantially cylindrical surface 12 and has a longitudinally extending groove [3 in the anvil II with such groove extending inwardly from the cylindrical surface l2 toward a central longitudinal axis A of the anvil II which is also the axis of the anvil construction [0. The anvil construction I0 has a diecutting mat 14 which is of optimum simplicity and the mat I4 is held in position by a clamping bar IS in a manner to be described in detail subsequently.  
  As seen particularly in FIGS. I and 2 the mat I4 has a main body portion I6 terminating in substantially identical L-shaped end portions each designated generally by the reference numeral 17 and the end portions 17 are received within the groove 13 and suitably detachably fixed in position by the clamping bar 15. The groove [3 of this example has a roughly U-shapcd outline defined by a bight l8 and a pair of legs I9 extending perpendicularly outwardly from opposite ends of the bight 18. Due to its simplicity the groove [3 may in many instances be cut in presently used rotary anvils by modifying a similar existing groove therein to thus provide the anvil construction 10 of this invention by rework of existing anvils.  
  Each L-shaped portion I7, see FIGS. 2 and 3, has a first planar surface 20 which includes an outermost edge 21, a second planar surface 22 arranged transverse to and extending from the inner edge 23 of the first planar surface 20 and in this example the second planar surface 22 extends substantially perpendicular to the planar surface 20. Each L-shaped portion 17 also has what will be referred to as a third planar surface 24 which extends from the terminal outer edge 25 of the substantially perpendicularly arranged planar surface 22 and the planar surface 24 is arranged transverse, approximately perpendicular in this example. the planar surface 22 and hence approximately parallel the planar surface 20.  
  The clamping bar 15 is adapted to engage the L- shaped end portions 17 in a manner now to be de scribed now in detail and the bar 15 is a substantially T-shaped bar which extends the full axial length of the groove 13 which in turn extends the full axial length of the anvil II. The bar 15 is suitably detachably fixed in position and extends parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the rotary anvil construction 10.  
  The bar 15 has at least an outer portion 26 thereof, which in this example has a thickness indicated at 27. which is made of a mat-like material similar to the material used to make the mat I4 and hence such outer portion 26 is fully useable as a die cutting mat. The bar 15 also has an inner portion 28 which in this example is made of a suitable metallic material, In addition. it ..&#39;ill be seen that the clamping bar I5 has a pair ofoppositcly arranged approximately parallel planar surfaces 30 and each planar surface 30 has an outer edge SI: and. each planar surface is defined by a rectangular planar strip of portion 26 cooperating and being coplanar with a similar rectangular planar strip of portion 28.  
  The clamping bar has fastening means designated generally by the reference numeral 32 for fastening such bar and hence the mat 15 against the rotary anvil 1] and the fastening means 32 will be described in detail subsequently; however. with the clamping bar I5 fastened in position by the fastening means 32. it will be seen that the oppositely arranged planar surfaces 30 of the clamping bar 15 are in fact-to-face contact with the first planar surfaces 20 and each outer edge 31 of the clamping bar adjoins an associated outer edge 2] of a surface 20 comprising the mat 14.  
  As previously mentioned. the clamping bar 15 is a substantially T-shaped bar as viewed either from an end thereof or in cross-section and the T-shaped configuration thereof is defined by a transverse arm portion 33, see FIG. 3. which is supported on a perpendicularly arranged leg portion 34 thereof so as to define a pair of spaced clamping surfaces 35 on opposite sides of the leg portion 34. The leg portion 34 has a pair of parallel surfaces each designated by the reference numeral 36 and defining opposite sides thereof, and once the clamping bar I5 is fastened in position by its fastening means 32, the clamping surfaces 35 are urged firmly against the transverse surfaces 22 with the leg portion 34 of the clamping bar 15 being received between the substantially parallel surfaces 24 of end portions 17.  
  The fastening means 32 comprises a plurality of threaded openings 37 in the anvil II. a plurality of bores 40 in the clamping bar 15. which with the clamping bar 15 placed in position each bore 40 is arranged in aligned relation with a threaded opening 37. a plurality of counter&#39;bores 41 in the bar 15 with each counterbore being arranged coaxially with an associated bore 40 and each counterbore 4| defining a flat annular surface 42 at the outer edge of its bore 40, and a plurality of bolts each designated generally by the reference numeral 43. Each bolt 43 has a threaded portion 44 threadedly received in an associated threaded opening 37 and a head 45 provided with a bottom annular bear ing surface 46 so that the annular surface 46 of the head is received against an associated annular surface 42 to thereby urge the clamping bar I5 toward the central axis A of the anvil and detachably fix the end portions I7 of the mat 14 in position against the anvil II.  
  To provide access for each threaded bolt 43 comprising the fastening means 32 the rotary anvil construction 10 has a plurality of plugs 50 each having a substantially right circular cylindrical outside surface 51 and a top surface 52 which conforms in contour or configuration to the clamping bar 15. Each plug 50 is received within an associated right circular cylindrical bore 53 in the outer portion 26 and the outside surface 5! corresponds substantially in configuration to the cylindrical surface 53 and is tight-fitting therewithin. The plug being ofa mat-like material is compressible yet it is resilient and springs back to its original configuration once a compressing force is removed therefrom. Accordingly, the plug may be held by friction alone with its surface 51 against surface 53 so that the plug 50 will not fall out during normal operation of the rotary anvil construction It).  
  However. friction alone may not be sufficient to hold each plug 50 in position, especially with centrifugal 5 force also acting thereon and although a suitable adhe- -ive means may be provided on the outside surface of the plug to hold such plug in position, if desired, such use of adhesive means requires added machine down time to allow such plug adhesive to dry or set. Also, it It) is very difficult to remove an adhcsively fastened plug from a rotary anvil construction without substantial damage to the mat and plug. Plug removal may be desirable to rotate the mat end-for-end on its anvil. for example, or to reuse a bar IS with a new mat.  
  However, it is preferred that each bolt 43 have at least its head 45 made of a suitable magnetic material. As seen in FIG. 3, each plug 50 preferably has a backing strip 54 made of a suitable material, such as a ferrous material, capable of being magnetically attracted by the magnetic head 45. The strip 54 is suitably bonded or fixed to the plug 50 and once a bolt 43 has been threaded in position to hold the clamping bar as described above and its plug installed in position there above it will be held in position either solely by magnetic attraction or by magnetic attraction cooperating with the previously mentioned friction fit, depending on the size tolerances involved.  
  It will also be appreciated that instead of making each bolt 43 with a magnetic head 45 each bolt 43 may be of conventional construction and made of a ferrous material whereupon each plug 50 may be made with its strip 54 having magnetic capabilities by being made of a suitable permanent magnet material 54. Indeed, both the head 45 and strip 54 may be in the form of perma nent magnets.  
  It will also be appreciated that the entire plug 50 may be made ofa suitable elastomeric mat-like material and have magnetized particles dispersed throughout so that the entire plug 50 would be in the form of a permanent magnet so that it would be attracted to the head 45 of a bolt 43. In this latter type construction the mat like material would also be capable to being repeatedly cngaged by cutting means of a rotary cutter without any more damage thereto than to the remainder of top portion 26 of the clamping bar 15.  
  The T-shaped clamping bar 15 of FIGS. 1-3 has an outer portion 26 and a lower or inner portion 28 made of a suitable metallic material as previously described and the outer portion 26 is bonded or fixed by a suitable adhesive means, or the like, against the inner portion 28. However, it will be appreciated that such lower portion of the clamping bar need not necessarily be made of a magnetic material but may be made of a monmetallic material such as a high-strength plastic material as shown in FIG. 4, and in this latter instance the outer portion 26 is also suitably bonded or fixed against the inner portion 28, whereupon it will be seen that in FIG. 4 the bar is also designated by the reference numeral 15 and its lower portion designated by the reference numeral 28A.  
  The clamping bar need not necessarily be made of two different materials as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 4, indeed. the entire clamping bar may be made of the same material as illustrated in FIG. 5 and such clamping bar may be made of a suitable comparatively strong material having essentially the properties of the outer portion 26 in the clamping bar I5 previously described.  
 The clamping bar of HO. 5 is also designated by the reference numeral and the entire cross-section thereof is crosshatched as a plastic material; and. the bar 15 of FIG. 5 may be made by any known process including by extrusion thereof through a suitable die.  
  The clamping bars illustrated in H05. 4 and S are fastened in position in substantially the identical manner described in connection with clamping bar 15 presented in FIGS. 1-3 of the drawing and the bars 15 of FIGS. 4 and S are fully interchangeable with the bar of FIGS. l3. In addition. each bar 15 of FIGS. 1-5 is attached in position using substantially identical fasten ing means to hold an associated mat [4 in position and may utilize the various types and combinations of plugs and fastening bolts with or without magnetized heads as described above. i y  
  The mat l4 may be made of any suitable elastomeric material which is capable of being used with a rotary cutter. and. such mat may be made of a suitable polymer such as polyurethane or a suitable rubber compound whether natural or synthetic rubber.  
  A suitable vacuum tool may be provided with the anvil construction of this invention to remove the plugs 50 and such tool may be in the form of a plunger arrangement capable of exerting vacuum against the top surface 52 of each plug 50 whereby the plug would be simply removed by vacuum.  
  The top or outer portion of the clamping bar 15 and plug 50 is also preferably made of a mat-like elastomeric material similar to the material used to make the mat l4 and as previously defined. The plug 50 may also be made of such elastomeric mat-like material impregnated with magnetic particles. or the like. as mentioned before and when thus made each plug may be simply removed by using any article made of a ferrous metal and the plug removed using magnetic attraction.  
  While present exemplary embodiments of this invention. and methods of practicing the same. have been illustrated and described. it will be recognized that this invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.  
 What is claimed is:  
  1. In combination: a rotary anvil having an outer substantially cylindrical surface and having a longitudinally extending groove therein extending inwardly from said surface; a die-cutting mat comprising a main body terminating in substantially identical L-shaped end portions which are received within said groove: each L- shaped portion having. a first planar surface including an outermost edge. a second surface arranged transverse the inner edge of said first planar surface. and a third surface extending from the terminal outer edge of said second surface and transverse said second surface; a clamping bar extending the entire distance between said first planar surfaces and having a pair of spaced clamping surface portions each engaging an associated one of said second transverse surfaces. said bar holding said mat against said anvil and having a pair of opposed outer edges each adjoining an outermost edge of an as sociated first planar surface. said bar having at least an outer portion thereof made of a mat-like material similar to said mat; and means fastening said bar and hence said mat against said anvil.  
  2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said bar has a pair of oppositely arranged planar surfaces in face-to-face contact with said first planar surfaces and lit eachof said pair of; opposed outer edges defines an edge of its associated planar surface.  
  3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said second and third surfaces are also planar surfaces. said second planar surface is arranged substantially perpendicular said first planar surface. and said third planar surface is arranged substantially perpendicular to said second planar surface whereby said first and third planar surfaces are approximately in parallel relation.  
  4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said clamping bar is a substantially T-shaped bar defined by a transverse arm portion which is supported on a perpendicularly arranged leg portion so as to define said pair of spaced clamping surfaces on the underside of said arm and on opposite sides of said leg portion.  
 5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said leg portion of said T-shaped clamping bar has a pair of parallel surfaces defining opposite sides thereof and once said T-shaped clamping bar is fastened into position said pair of parallel surfaces of said leg portion are arranged between said third surfaces.  
  6. A combination as set forth in claim I in which said clamping bar comprises a T-shaped clamping bar and has an inner portion made of a metallic material with said outer portion thereof being bonded there-against.  
  7. A combination as set forth in claim I in which said clamping bar comprises a T-shaped clamping bar and has an inner portion made of a comparatively hard and high-strength plastic material with said outer portion thereof being bonded thereagainst.  
  8. A combination as set forth in claim l in which said clamping bar comprises a T-shaped clamping bar and has an inner portion made of the same material as said outer portion.  
  9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which said clamping bar is made by an extrusion process and said inner portion and outer portion thereof blend smoothly together as a unitary structure.  
  10. A combination as set forth in claim I in which said groove is a substantially U-shaped groove having a bight and a pair of substantially parallel legs extending from opposite ends thereof.  
  H. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said fastening means comprises a threaded opening in said anvil, a bore in said bar arranged in aligned relation with said opening. a counterbore in said bar outwardly of and coaxial with said bore and defining a flat annular surface at the outer edge thereof. a bolt having a threaded portion threadedly received in said threaded opening and a head received&#39;against said flat annular surface. and a plug made of said mat-like material and being received in said counterbore.  
  12. A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said mat-like material of which said plug is made is a compressible yet resilient material and said plug has an outside diameter which is larger than the corresponding inside diameter of said counterbore whereby said plug is compressed radially inwardly and received within said counterbore so that it is held at least in part by friction.  
  13. A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which at least one of said threaded bolt and plug is comprised of a magnetic material and the other of said bolt and plug is comprised ofa material capable of being attracted by said magnetic material whereby said plug is at least partially held within said counterbore by magnetic attraction.  
  l4. A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said bolt has at least a head thereon made of a magnetic material and said plug is comprised ofa material which is attracted by said magnetic material whereby said plug is at least partially held within said counterbore by magnetic attraction.  
  15. A combination as set forth in claim H in which said material which is attracted by said magnetic means comprises a flat strip made of a ferrous metal bonded to the underside of said plug.  
  16. A combination as set forth in claim 14 in which said material which is attracted by said magnetic material comprises a plurality of magnetic particles randomly dispersed throughout said plug.  
  17. A combination as set forth in claim 14 in which said head has a substantial vertical height thereby providing a substantial volume of magnetic material to assure adequate magnetic attraction.  
 Hi. A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said fastening means comprises another threaded opening in said anvil. another bore in said bar arranged in aligned relation with said other opening. another counterbore in said bar outwardly and coaxial with said other bore and defining another flat annular surface at the outer edge of said outer bore. another bolt having a threaded portion threadedly received in said other threaded opening. said other bolt having a head received against said other flat annular surface, and another plug made of said mat-like material and being received in said other counterbore.  
  l9. A combination as set forth in claim IS in which each of said bolts has at least a head thereon made of a magnetic material and each of said plugs is comprised of a material which is attracted by said magnetic material whereby each plug is at least partially held within its counterbore by magnetic attraction.