Claims
- 1. A steel rule die comprising:
- (a) an upper, dimensionally-stable plate which has been laser cut in a series of primary main kerfs;
- (b) an intermediate plate of a synthetic plastic material having the property of elastic deformability, said intermediate plate having been laser cut in a series of secondary main kerfs, said series of secondary main kerfs being originally identical to said series of primary main kerfs, but, in addition, including, in at least one of said secondary main kerfs, at least one region which includes an interference kerf, said interference kerf being of substantially the same width as said secondary main kerf but being laterally-offset from a longitudinally-extending axis of said secondary main kerf, and being in direct communication with said secondary main kerf, said intermediate plate also including a relief kerf, said relief kerf being disposed alongside said interference kerf, and being spaced a predetermined distance from the closer outer edge of said secondary main kerf, said laterally-offset distance between said interference kerf and said secondary main kerf being substantially equal to the width of said secondary main kerf, the length of said relief kerf being substantially equal to, but slightly longer than, the length of said interference kerf;
- (c) a lower, dimensionally-stable plate which has been laser cut in a series of tertiary main kerfs which is identical to said series of primary main kerfs;
- (d) a plurality of steel rules each of which extend downwardly through an associated one of said series of primary main kerfs and each of which extend downwardly through, and are selectively-releasably-secured within an associated one of said series of secondary main kerfs in said intermediate plate and extend into, and repose within, an associated one of said series of tertiary main kerfs in said lower plate; and
- (e) means rigidly securing said upper, dimensionally-stable plate, said intermediate synthetic plastic plate and said lower dimensionally-stable plate together in a dimensionally-stable manner, thereby to provide a monolithic unit.
- 2. A steel rule die comprising:
- (a) an upper steel plate which has been laser cut in a series of primary main kerfs;
- (b) an intermediate plate of a synthetic plastic material having the property of elastic deformability, said intermediate plate having been laser cut in a series of secondary main kerfs, said series of secondary main kerfs being originally identical to said series of primary main kerfs, but, in addition, including, in each of said secondary main kerfs, at least one region which includes an interference kerf, said interference kerf being laterally-offset from a longitudinally-extending axis of said secondary main kerf, and being in direct communication with said secondary main kerf, said intermediate plate also including a relief kerf, said relief kerf being disposed alongside said interference kerf, being spaced a predetermined distance from the closer outer edge of said secondary main kerf said laterally-offset distance between said interference kerf and said secondary main kerf being substantially equal to the width of said secondary main kerf, the length of said relief kerf being substantially equal to, but slightly longer than, the length of said interference kerf;
- (c) a lower steel plate which has been laser cut in a series of tertiary main kerfs which is identical to said series of primary main kerfs;
- (d) a plurality of steel rules each of which extend downwardly through an associated one of said series of primary main kerfs and which extend downwardly through, and are selectively-releasably-secured within an associated one of said series of secondary main kerfs in said intermediate plate and extend into, and repose within, an associated one of said series of tertiary main kerfs in said lower plate; and
- (e) means rigidly securing said upper steel plate, said intermediate plate of synthetic plastic material and said lower steel plate together in a dimensionally-stable manner, thereby to provide a monolithic unit.
- 3. The steel rule die as claimed in claim 1, including a peripheral band encasing the peripheral edges of said intermediate synthetic plastic plate.
- 4. The steel rule die as claimed in claim 2, including a peripheral steel band encasing the peripheral edges of said intermediate synthetic plastic plate, and which is sandwiched between perimetral edges of said upper plate and said lower plate.
- 5. The steel rule die as claimed in claim 1, wherein said intermediate synthetic plastic plate is formed of a thermoplastic, carbonate-linked polymer.
- 6. The steel rule die as claimed in claim 2, wherein said intermediate synthetic plastic plate is formed of a polymeric ester of methacrylic acid.
- 7. The steel rule die as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one main kerf in said series of primary main kerfs is linear, whereby a corresponding tertiary main kerf is likewise linear, and wherein a corresponding secondary main kerf and a corresponding interference kerf are likewise linear, and wherein an associated said relief kerf is linear.
- 8. The steel rule die as claimed in claim 2, wherein each primary main kerf is linear, whereby each corresponding tertiary main kerf is likewise linear, and wherein each corresponding secondary main kerf and each corresponding interference kerf each are likewise linear, and wherein said associated relief kerf is linear.
- 9. The steel rule die as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one primary main kerf is arcuate, whereby a corresponding tertiary main kerf is likewise arcuate, and wherein a corresponding secondary main kerf and a corresponding interference kerf each are likewise arcuate, and wherein said associated relief kerf is linear.
- 10. The steel rule die as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one primary main kerf is linear, whereby a corresponding tertiary main kerf is likewise linear, and wherein a corresponding secondary main kerf and a corresponding interference kerf each are likewise linear, and wherein said associated relief kerf is arcuate.
- 11. The steel rule die as claimed in claim 2, wherein each primary main kerf is linear, whereby each corresponding tertiary main kerf is likewise linear, and wherein each corresponding secondary main kerf and each corresponding interference kerf eahc are likewise linear, and wherein said associated relief kerf is arcuate.
- 12. The steel rule die as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one primary main kerf is arcuate, whereby a corresponding tertiary main kerf is likewise arcuate, and wherein a corresponding secondary main kerf and a corresponding interference kerf each are likewise arcuate, and wherein said associated relief kerf is arcuate.
- 13. The steel rule die as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means rigidly securing solid upper plate, said intermediate plate and said lower plate together in a dimensionally-stable manner includes a nut and bolt combination passing through aligned apertures in the four corners of each said plates.
- 14. The steel rule die as claimed in claim 13, including a plurality of set screws which are secured within aligned apertures adjacent said primary kerf, said secondary kerf and said tertiary kerfs, to enhance the dimensional stability of said intermediate synthetic plastic plate.
- 15. The steel rule die as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one main kerf in said secondary series of main kerfs is provided with a pair of opposed interference kerfs, and with a pair of corresponding opposed relief kerfs.
- 16. The steel rule die as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one said relief kerf is fitted with an insert of a natural rubber or synthetic rubbery material.
- 17. The steel rule die as claimed in claim 16, wherein said synthetic rubbery material is a polyurethane rubber.
- 18. A steel rule die comprising:
- (a) an upper steel plate which has been laser cut in a series of primary main kerfs;
- (b) an intermediate plate which is formed of a thermoplastic, carbonate-linked polymer which has the property of elastic deformability, said intermediate plate having been laser cut in a series of secondary main kerfs, said series of secondary main kerfs being originally identical to said series of primary main kerfs, but, in addition, including, in at least one of said secondary main kerfs, at least one region which includes an interference kerf, said interference kerf being of substantially the same width as said secondary main kerf but being laterally-offset from a longitudinally-extending axis of said secondary main kerf, and being in direct communication with said secondary main kerf, said intermediate plate also including a relief kerf, said laterally-offset distance between said interference kerf and said secondary main kerf being substantially equal to the width of said secondary main kerf, the length of said relief kerf being substantially equal to, but slightly longer than, the length of said interference kerf, said relief kerf being disposed alongside said interference kerf, and being spaced a predetermined distance from the closer outer edge of said secondary main kerf wherein each primary main kerf is linear, whereby each corresponding tertiary main kerf is likewise linear, and wherein each corresponding secondary main kerf and each corresponding interference kerf each are likewise linear, and wherein said associated relief kerf is linear;
- (c) a lower steel plate which has been laser cut in a series of tertiary main kerfs which is identical to said series of primary main kerfs;
- (d) a peripheral steel band encasing peripheral edges of said intermediate plastic plate, said steel band being sandwiched between perimetral edges of said upper plate and said lower plate;
- (e) a plurality of steel rules each of which extend downwardly through an associated one of said series of primary main kerfs and each of which extend downwardly through, and are selectively-releasably-secured within an associated one of said series of secondary main kerfs in said intermediate plate and extend into, and repose within, an associated one of said series of tertiary main kerfs in said lower plate; and
- (f) means rigidly securing said upper steel plate, said intermediate plate of synthetic plastic material and said lower steel plate together in a dimensionally-stable manner, thereby to provide a monolithic unit, said means rigidly securing solid upper plate, said intermediate plate and said lower plate together in a dimensionally-stable manner including a nut and bolt combination passing through aligned apertures in the four corners of each said plates.
- 19. The steel rule die as claimed in claim 18, including a plurality of set screws which are secured within aligned apertures adjacent to said primary kerf, to said second kerf and to said tertiary kerf to enhance the dimensional stability of said intermediate synthetic plastic plate.
- 20. The steel rule die as claimed in claim 18, wherein at least one said relief kerf is fitted with an insert of a natural rubber or synthetic rubbery material.
RELATED INVENTION
This application is a continuation-in-part of application U.S. Ser. No. 60/053,979, filed Jul. 28, 1997, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
US Referenced Citations (13)