Document production system and method with automated die exchange

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9802330-B2
Application number	US-201615219867-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2016
Priority date	Aug 1, 2012
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

A media cutting system is disclosed comprising a die cutter including a cutting surface and a plurality of dies stored proximate the cutting surface, a die exchange system including a die storage system configured to support the plurality of dies and a die transport system, and a computer system comprising a controller configured to operate the die transport system and the die cutter. A die exchange system and methods of making and using the die exchange system also are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A media cutting system comprising:
a rotary die cutter comprising a media cutting table,
a die exchange system configured to automatically move a selected rotary die between a storage position in the die exchange system and a cutting region in the rotary die cutter, the die exchange system including a die transport system, and a die storage system configured to support a plurality of rotary dies on a plurality of rotary die supports, the die storage system further comprising a ferris wheel type elevator configured to displace the selected rotary die from a storage position to a loading position, the die transport system comprising a die positioning mechanism configured to move the selected rotary die horizontally from the loading position in the rotary die cutter, and
a computer system comprising a controller configured to operate the die transport system and the rotary die cutter.

2. The media cutting system of claim 1 , further including a first optical reader positioned upstream from the rotary die cutter to read data on a sheet of media indicative of the rotary die to be used to cut the sheet.

3. The media cutting system of claim 2 , wherein the controller receives die selection data from the first optical reader.

4. The media cutting system of claim 1 , further comprising a printer positioned in-line with the rotary die cutter.

5. The media cutting system of claim 1 , wherein the printer is positioned upstream from the rotary die cutter.

6. The media cutting system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to receive die selection data from a processor associated with the printer.

7. The media cutting system of claim 6 , further comprising a buffer system disposed between the printer and the rotary die cutter.

8. The media cutting system of claim 6 , wherein no buffer system is included between the printer and the rotary die cutter.

9. The media cutting system of claim 1 , further comprising a second optical reader configured to associate data on a die with a location on a die storage support.

10. The media cutting system of claim 1 , further comprising a vision inspection system positioned downstream from the rotary die cutter configured to determine the precision of a cut made on a sheet of media.

11. The media cutting system of claim 1 , wherein the selected rotary die is located on a drum, and the drum with the selected rotary die mounted thereon is moved horizontally from the loading position into the rotary die cutter.

12. The media cutter system of claim 1 , wherein the selected rotary die comprises a plate, and the die transport system includes a positioning sensor configured to position the plate on a rotary drum disposed in the die cutter.

13. A die exchange system comprising:
a die transport system, and a die storage system configured to support a plurality of rotary dies on a plurality of rotary die supports, the die storage system further comprising a ferris wheel type elevator configured to displace a selected rotary die from a storage position to a loading position, the die transport system comprising a die positioning mechanism configured to move the selected rotary die horizontally from the loading position into a rotary die cutter.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the die exchange system is configured to be retrofitted to an existing rotary die cutter.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the die exchange system receives die selection data from at least one of the rotary die cutter and an indicia reader associated with the rotary die cutter.

16. A method of cutting media, comprising:
obtaining a first set of media sheets,
automatically selecting a first rotary die to be used to cut the first set of media sheets,
automatically positioning the first rotary die in a die cutter using the die exchange system of claim 13 .

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
cutting the first set of media sheets using the first rotary die,
automatically removing the first rotary die from the die cutter,
obtaining a second set of media sheets,
automatically selecting a second rotary die to be used to cut the second set of media sheets,
automatically positioning the second rotary die in the die cutter in a cutting position,
automatically adjusting cutting parameters for the second rotary die, and
cutting the second set of media sheets using the second rotary die.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the selected rotary die is located on a drum, and the drum with the selected rotary die mounted thereon is moved horizontally from the loading position into the rotary die cutter.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the selected rotary die comprises a plate, and the die transport system includes a positioning sensor configured to position the plate on a rotary drum disposed in the die cutter.

Assignees

• Xerox Corp

Inventors

• Hoover Linn C
• Nowak William J
• Hannaway William J

Classifications

• B41J11/70

  cutting perpendicular to the direction of paper feed · CPC title

• Y10T483/18

  Tool transfer to or from matrix · CPC title

• B41F13/56

  Folding or cutting · CPC title

• Y10T29/49002

  Electrical device making · CPC title

• B26D7/26

  Means for mounting or adjusting the cutting member; Means for adjusting the stroke of the cutting member · CPC title