FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to die-cutting machines, and more specifically to a fin assembly for attachment to a die-cutting machine to divide and align panels cut from a sheet of material in the die-cutting machine. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Different colors and graphics are frequently printed on a large sheet of paperboard material to form an array of panel blanks containing the desired color scheme, graphics, logos, and other information. The sheet is then fed into a die cutter having cutting dies with a matching array of rows and/or columns to stamp or cut out the individual blanks. The blanks are then stacked for further processing. 
         [0003]    To temporarily hold the cut blanks together and enable them to be stacked in appropriate alignment as they are fed from the die cutter for subsequent handling and processing, and to prevent bleeding of ink and/or the formation of dark bands at the edges of the graphics between adjacent blanks, narrow strips of the sheet material, known as gutters, are left between adjacent blanks. These gutter strips are treated as waste, and in accordance with conventional practice are removed by hand after the cut blanks leave the guillotine section of the die cutter. Hand removal of the gutter strips leads to repetitive motion injuries and significant slowing of the die cutter run speed. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a means that eliminates the need for hand removal of the gutter strips. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention comprises a fin assembly for attachment to a die cutting machine to guide and align at least two blanks as the blanks are fed through the machine, wherein the blanks as cut from a sheet in the machine are devoid of gutters. The fin assembly comprises at least one thin plate-like fin having length and height dimensions and a narrow thickness. Means are provided for mounting said at least one fin in the die cutting machine in a position so that the length dimension of the fin is in substantial alignment with the cut separating the blanks so that the blanks fall on opposite sides of the fin as they are fed through the machine, whereby the fin keeps the blanks separated and in proper alignment. 
         [0006]    In particular, the fin assembly of the invention is mounted in the guillotine section of the machine and maintains the blanks separated and in proper alignment as they fall into the gate section. 
         [0007]    In a preferred construction the fin assembly comprises a mounting bar adapted to be attached to the frame of the die cutter in the guillotine section so as to extend horizontally and transversely of the die cutter, with one or more vertical fins and backstops attached to the mounting bar for adjustment along its length. In one embodiment the backstops are attached to and extend at a right angle from the fins, and in another embodiment the backstops are separately attached to the mounting bar. The number of fins used depends upon the number of blanks being cut from the sheet. Thus, if a single cut is being made to form two panel blanks, a single fin can be positioned in alignment with the cut between the blanks. If two cuts are being made to form three blanks, then two fins would be attached to the mounting bar with one fin in alignment with each cut, and so forth up to any number of fins to accommodate the number of cuts and panel blanks being made. 
         [0008]    The fin assembly of the invention allows the die cut blanks to run though the die cutter without the need for gutter tabs, thereby eliminating the exposure to injuries from hand removal of gutter tabs and allowing much higher die cutter run speed. The invention allows the user to separate and square blanks for bundling or transfer to another machine, and on a pilot run use of the fin assembly eliminated the need for hand removal of 500,000 tabs and finished the job in three shifts whereas it would have taken six to nine shifts to complete with conventional equipment not having the fin assembly of the invention. 
         [0009]    The fin assembly can be used in any converting plant running multiple-out die-cut blanks on flatbed die cutters and can be set up as a rail system or as individual fin assemblies on multiple flat bed die cutting equipment with gate and belt delivery systems. The height, depth and width of the assembly is adapted to the machine it is applied to. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary top isometric view of the guillotine and gate sections of a typical prior art die cutting machine of the type on which the fin assembly of the invention can be used. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a plan view showing an example of a sheet of paperboard material that is cut to form two panel blanks, with a gutter tab interconnecting the two blanks in accordance with conventional practice. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged fragmentary top isometric view of the guillotine and gate sections of a die cutter machine of  FIG. 1 , showing in better detail the machine frame member to which the fin assembly of the invention can be mounted. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a first form of fin assembly according to the invention, wherein the fin assembly is adapted for use with the machine frame member of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged side view in elevation of one of the fins in the assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a view in section taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a fragmentary front view in elevation of one end of the mounting bar for the fin assembly of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the mounting bar, taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a front view in elevation of one of the backstops used in the fin assembly. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a view in section taken along line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a top plan view of one of the mounting brackets for attaching the fin assembly to the machine frame member shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a side view in elevation of the bracket of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is an end view of the bracket, looking toward the left hand side of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a fragmentary top isometric view showing a fin assembly having two fins and three backstops according to the invention mounted in a die cutter at the entrance side of the guillotine section. 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged fragmentary top isometric view of one end of the assembly of  FIG. 14 , showing details of the mounting structure for attaching the fin assembly to the frame member of the die cutter. 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is a fragmentary top isometric view showing a sheet cut to form two panel blanks as in the prior art arrangement of  FIG. 2 , but devoid of a gutter tab in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  is fragmentary isometric view looking toward the entrance of the guillotine section of a die cutter, with a fin assembly according to the invention mounted to the machine and having a single fin for use to divide two blanks as shown in  FIG. 16 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 18  is a fragmentary isometric view looking down into the guillotine and gate sections of a die cutter that is configured to make five cuts to form six panel blanks, wherein the blanks are shown just leaving the guillotine section and about to settle into the gate section. 
           [0029]      FIG. 19  shows the blanks of  FIG. 18  being guided into aligned relationship on top of one another by an array of five fins in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 20  is a fragmentary isometric view looking into the guillotine section of another type of conventional die cutter machine. 
           [0031]      FIG. 21  is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view looking toward the machine frame member and backstops as conventionally used in the machine of  FIG. 20 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 22  is a further enlarged fragmentary top isometric view of the machine frame member and nuts conventionally used to attach the backstops shown in  FIG. 21 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 23  is a front view of a second embodiment of fin assembly according to the invention, wherein the fin assembly is adapted for mounting to the machine frame member of  FIG. 22 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 24  is a side view in elevation of one of the fins in the assembly of  FIG. 23 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 25  is a view in section taken along line  25 - 25  in  FIG. 24 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 26  is a somewhat schematic fragmentary isometric view of the fin assembly of  FIG. 23  mounted to the machine frame bar shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 27  is an exploded isometric view of an alternate fin and back stop construction wherein the back stop is attached to the fin rather than to the machine frame bar, and the backstop is used to secure the fin to the machine frame bar. 
           [0038]      FIG. 28  is an assembled view of the fin and back stop. 
           [0039]      FIG. 29  shows the fin and back stop of  FIGS. 27 and 28  attached to the machine frame bar. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    The guillotine section  10  and gate section  11  of a conventional die cutting machine are shown generally in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . As seen best in  FIG. 3 , a conventional machine has a back stop  12  attached to the machine frame  13  to keep blanks B from falling out of the machine as they are fed from the guillotine section into the gate section, but when multiple blank panels B 1  and B 2  as shown in  FIG. 2  are formed by a cut  14  extending across the blank sheet there is nothing to keep the blank panels from orienting haphazardly and overlapping as they fall onto the gate. Consequently, as shown in  FIG. 2  a gutter tab  15  is left connected between the blank panels B 1  and B 2  to hold them in position relative to one another when they are die cut and fed into the gate section. Before subsequent processing of the blank panels can begin, these gutter tabs must be removed and they are currently removed by hand. This manual step exposes workers to repetitive motion injury and significantly slows down the die cutter run speed. 
         [0041]    A first form of fin assembly devised by applicant to cure this shortcoming of conventional die cutting machines is shown at  20  in  FIGS. 4-15 . In this embodiment, the fin assembly comprises: an elongate mounting bar  30  that extends horizontally and transverse to the path of movement of blanks in the die cutting machine when the mounting bar is in operative position; at least one fin  40  mounted on the bar for adjustment along the length of the bar; at least one back stop  50  mounted on the bar for adjustment along the length of the bar; and a mounting bracket  60  attached to each of the opposite ends of the bar for mounting the assembly to the machine frame  13 . 
         [0042]    All of the components of the assembly are preferably made of aluminum, but any suitable material can be used. In a particular construction of the fin assembly according to the invention, each fin  40  is approximately 8 inches long from its back edge to its front edge as viewed in  FIG. 4 , for example, has an overall height of about 5½ inches, and a thickness of about ⅜ inch. The mounting bar  30  is about 48 inches long, has a width from its top edge to its bottom edge of about 1½ inches, and a thickness of about ½ inch. The back stops  50  have a length of about 5½ inches, a width of about 1½ inches, and a thickness of about ⅝ inch. The mounting brackets  60  have a length L of about 3½ inches, a width W of about 2½ inches, and a height H of about 1 inch. Although particular dimension for the assembly components have been given by way of example, it should be understood that the dimensions can be varied to suit the particular application. 
         [0043]    As seen best in  FIGS. 4 ,  7  and  8 , the mounting bar  30  has planar front and back surfaces  31  and  32 , channels  33  and  34  in its top and bottom edges, respectively, and three countersunk openings  35 ,  36  and  37  extending through each of its opposite ends. 
         [0044]    Each fin  40 , as seen best in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , is substantially rectangularly shaped, with opposite planar faces  41 A and  41 B, a back edge  42 , a beveled or rounded top edge  43 , and a cut-away upper outer corner  44 . A generally rectangularly shaped cut-out  45  is made in the fin spaced a short distance from the back edge  42  and approximately midway between the top and bottom edges. A generally T-shaped cut-out  46  in the back edge in line with the cut-out  45  forms two opposed spaced apart projections or lips  47  and  48 , and a hole  49  extends from the cut-out  45  into the cut-out  46  approximately midway between the projections  47  and  48 . 
         [0045]    The back stops  50  have a planar front face  51 , a rearwardly sloping beveled top end  52 , and a generally T-shaped cut-out  53  in the back face  54  approximately midway between the top and bottom ends of the back stop. The T-shaped cut-out defines two opposed spaced apart projections or lips  55  and  56 . 
         [0046]    Each mounting bracket  60  has a substantially rectangularly shaped top wall  61  with a front flange  62  depending from a front edge thereof and a back flange  63  depending from a back edge thereof. A lip  64  on the inner bottom edge of flange  63  is in opposed facing relation to flange  62 , and a plurality of countersunk openings  65 A,  65 B and  65 C extend through the front flange  62 . 
         [0047]    In use, the mounting brackets  60  are attached to the ends of the mounting bar  30  by extending fasteners  70  through the two outermost openings  36  and  37  in the mounting bar and into the first two openings  65 A and  65 B in the front flange  62  of the bracket, leaving exposed the third opening  65 C in the mounting bracket. The fins  40  and back stops  50  are then slid onto the mounting bar, with the lips  47 ,  48  on the fins and the lips  55 ,  56  on the back stops slidably engaged in the channels  33  and  34  in the top and bottom edges of the mounting bar. 
         [0048]    The mounting brackets are then mounted to the machine frame member  13  by engaging the lip  64  on the bottom end of flange  63  beneath the back edge of the frame member and pivoting the mounting brackets and attached fin and back stop assembly down to the position shown best in  FIGS. 4 and 15 . When the mounting brackets are positioned as desired on the frame member  13 , a set screw  71  is extended through the third opening  65 C in the mounting bracket and into engagement with the edge of the frame member  13  to secure the mounting bracket and attached fin assembly to the frame member. 
         [0049]    The fins  40  are then slid along the length of the mounting bar  30  so that they are in alignment with the locations of the cut or cuts  14  dividing the sheet into the number of blanks (e.g. B 1  and B 2  as shown in  FIG. 16 ) being cut in the die cutter and then secured in position by extending a set screw  72  through the respective openings  49  and into engagement with the front face of the mounting bar  30 . As the blanks (e.g. B 1  and B 2 ) exit the guillotine section and drop into the gate section the fins keep them aligned so that they are neatly stacked and ready for further processing. 
         [0050]    The back stops  50  are then slid into positions adjacent the fins to engage the trailing edge of blanks exiting the guillotine section and dropping into the gate section to prevent the blanks from falling out of the machine. 
         [0051]    The tapered upper edges of the fins and back stops facilitate movement of the blanks downwardly past them and prevent hang-up of the blanks on the upper edges of these structures. 
         [0052]    It should be noted that in a die cutter equipped with the fin assembly of the invention the stripper  80  (see  FIGS. 16 and 17 ) is appropriately modified so that it completely removes the gutters from the blanks B 1  and B 2 , leaving them unattached to one another, i.e. the stripper is modified so that it does not leave a gutter tab  15  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0053]      FIGS. 18 and 19  are somewhat schematic depictions of a die cutter set up to make five cuts to separate the sheet into five blanks B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , B 4  and B 5 . The fin assembly  20 ′ accordingly has five fins  40 A,  40 B,  40 C,  40 D and  40 E in alignment with the respective cuts, and associated back stops  50 A,  50 B,  50 C and  50 D to properly guide and align the five blanks as they exit the guillotine section and drop into the gate section. In this regard, the fin assembly of the invention can have any number of fins positioned in any desired spacing, depending upon the blanks being cut in the machine. 
         [0054]      FIGS. 20 and 21  are fragmentary views of a different model conventional die cutting machine  100 , showing the guillotine and gate sections  101  and  102 , respectively. Rather than the generally flat horizontal frame member  13  as in the previous machine shown in  FIGS. 1-15 , machine  100  has a slotted frame member  103  with a forwardly facing slot  104  extending along its length, and hexagonal nuts  105  held in and slidable along the slot. Back stops  106  are adjustably positioned on the frame member  103  by extending fasteners  107  through the back stops and into the nuts  105 . A greatly enlarged isometric view of the frame member  103  is shown in  FIG. 22 . 
         [0055]    A slightly modified fin assembly is shown at  110  in  FIG. 23 . This form of fin assembly is substantially the same as the previous fin assembly  20 , except that the mounting brackets  60  are omitted, the fins  111  have a plurality of openings  112  through them, and a notch  113  is in the upper rear corner of the fins. The openings  112  comprise vents for escape of air as the blanks drop past the fins, and the notch  113  provides clearance between the fins and adjacent machine parts in the machine  100 . 
         [0056]    The fins  111  and back stops  50  are assembled to the mounting bar  30  in the same way as in the previous embodiment and are not further described in connection with this form of the invention. However, as seen best in  FIG. 26 , the mounting bar  30  is attached to the machine frame member  103  by extending fasteners  114  through one of the openings  35 ,  36  or  37  in the ends of the mounting bar and into respective adjacent nuts  105  in the slotted frame member  103  rather than through the intermediary of a mounting bracket  60 . 
         [0057]    An alternate fin and back stop assembly is shown at  120  in  FIGS. 27-29 . In this form of the invention the back stop  121  comprises a rectangular plate secured in a notch  122  in the back edge of the fin  123  by fasteners  124  extended through openings  125  in one edge of the plate and into the back edge of the fin so that the back stop extends at a right angle to the fin. Openings  126  and  127  are formed through the top and bottom ends, respectively, of the back stop  121  in the edge opposite the edge having the openings  125 . This fin and back stop combination may be attached directly to the machine frame member  103  by extending a fastener  128  through one of the openings  126  or  127  and into a respective nut  105  in the slotted frame member  103 . The back stop  121  may be positioned on the opposite side of the fin by removing the fasteners  124 , inverting the back stop so that it extends from the opposite side of the fin, and reattaching the fasteners. 
         [0058]    While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail herein, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
A fin assembly for attachment to a die cutting machine to guide and align at least two blanks cut from a sheet in the machine as the blanks are fed through the machine. The fin assembly includes at least one thin plate-like fin having length and height dimensions and a narrow thickness. The fin is mounted in the machine so that the length dimension is in substantial alignment with a respective cut separating two blanks cut in the machine, so that the blanks fall on opposite sides of the fin as they are fed through the machine, whereby the fin keeps the blanks separate and aligns them as they are fed through the machine. At least one back stop is associated with the fin to prevent blanks from moving in a reverse direction and falling out of the machine when they fall past the fin.