Publications

This study develops a kinematic correction for the pressure plate of a flat-bed die-cutting press by supplementing the main wedging drive with rack-driven eccentric mechanisms. The input stroke is recalculated so that every corrected configuration reaches the same normalised maximum while retaining an 80 mm working stroke, which enables a consistent comparison of three relative eccentricities and four eccentric start positions. At a relative eccentricity of 0.10, the left start position widens the calculated near-top dwell angle from 14.4° to 17.4° and reduces the magnitude of the dominant negative acceleration invariant from 1.5299 to 1.0564. Separate tests on a related sectional-plate eccentric stand found peak-torque reductions of 18–31% along the fibres and 23–42% across them, supporting the principle of temporal load redistribution while remaining indirect evidence rather than direct validation of the proposed single-plate mechanism.

This paper presents an invariant-based framework for the scalable kinematic comparison of pressure-plate (platen) drive mechanisms used in die-cutting presses. The maximum platen stroke is adopted as a unit displacement invariant (λS = 1), which allows displacement, velocity, and acceleration to be expressed in dimensionless form as functions of the main-shaft angle. Four drive architectures — the existing wedging mechanism, a two-slider layout, a wedging mechanism with an additional driven crank, and a double-wedging mechanism — are evaluated using contact-interval metrics defined by a normalised displacement threshold (S_i(φ) ≥ 0.98). The approach exposes distinct motion-law features, including asymmetric strokes and the long dwell (“plateau”) behaviour in the contact zone that is critical for embossing and creasing: contact lasts 0.07 of a full main-shaft revolution for the existing wedging drive against 0.32 for the double-wedging drive. To validate the analytical invariants, a closed-loop workflow is implemented in which the mechanism geometry is synthesised in Python, transferred to SolidWorks through automated parameter transfer, and verified against Motion Study results exported to CSV, while experimental acceleration measurements taken at constant shaft speed confirm the characteristic shape features of the predicted curves. The methodology provides a practical, scale-consistent tool for mechanism selection and motion-law tuning in press applications.

This paper presents the design and analysis of a novel double-wedging drive mechanism for the pressure plate of a flat die-cutting press, proposed as an alternative to traditional crankshaft-based systems. The mechanism improves motion transmission, increases the uniformity of contact with the cardboard sheet, and reduces inertial loads during embossing, creasing, and cutting. A kinematic scheme is developed and analytical expressions for displacement and torque are derived, while a custom Python tool automates parameter calculation, model generation, and integration with SolidWorks for simulation and optimisation. Three-dimensional models and motion studies validate the analytical results and confirm the mechanism’s advantages for high-cyclicity die-cutting equipment.

Scientific research on die-cutting press pressure-plate drive mechanisms is analysed and, based on the results, an upgraded drive is proposed that combines two wedging mechanisms, an additional pair of driven cranks, and a gear transmission. A geometric synthesis of the mechanism determines its relative and absolute dimensions, and a methodology based on similarity theory is developed to calculate its kinematic parameters, yielding analytical expressions for the invariants of the mechanism’s motion. A 3D model is designed from the synthesis results and a virtual experiment is conducted in SolidWorks. For a press operating at 60 cycles per minute with an 80 mm plate displacement, the maximum speed reaches 0.372 m/s while inertial loads at plate reversal remain minimal (negative acceleration of −0.139 m/s²), confirming the effectiveness of the proposed drive.

Flat die-cutting is the primary method of producing cardboard packaging, and the pressure-plate drive must deliver large, uniform forces with stable, repeatable motion. This paper performs the geometric synthesis of a combined double-wedging mechanism for the pressure-plate drive and determines its relative and absolute dimensions. Analytical dependencies for the kinematic parameters are derived and evaluated over a full working cycle, and a 3D model is built to verify the synthesised geometry. The results show that the combined double-wedging scheme provides smoother plate motion and lower inertial loading than conventional drives, making it suitable for modern sectional die-cutting equipment.

This conference paper reasons for the use of a crank-gear drive of the pressure segment in a sectional die-cutting press. It shows how combining a crank mechanism with a gear transmission shapes the motion of the pressure segment, increasing the dwell during cutting and reducing inertial loads. The proposed drive is presented as a route to higher productivity and better cut quality in sectional die-cutting equipment.

The die-cutting of large-format cardboard concentrates very high forces on the pressure plate and its drive. This paper argues for replacing the traditional monoblock pressure plate with a two-section design, in which the plate is split into independently driven sections. Dividing the load between sections lowers the instantaneous force on the drive, reduces plate deformation, and improves the uniformity of cutting and creasing. The study defines the conditions under which the two-section plate is justified for high-capacity die-cutting automata.

This paper reports analytical research into the torques arising during the cutting of cardboard in a die-cutting press equipped with eccentrics in the pressure-plate drive. Experimental cutting data are interpreted analytically to describe how the resistance torque varies with the plate position throughout the cutting phase. The resulting dependencies link material resistance, plate kinematics, and drive loading, providing a basis for sizing the drive and predicting power demand. The findings improve the accuracy of engineering calculations for die-cutting equipment.

This conference paper provides the technical justification for a sectional construction of the pressure plate in a die-cutting press. It analyses the loads acting on the plate during cutting and shows how splitting the plate into sections reduces the peak drive force and the elastic deformation of the plate. The reasoning supports the transition from monoblock to sectional pressure plates in high-load die-cutting equipment.

This trade-journal article discusses the prospects of replacing the monoblock pressure plate of die-cutting equipment with a sectional one. Written for an engineering-practitioner audience, it explains how a sectional plate distributes the cutting load, lowers drive loading, and can improve the productivity and reliability of carton-packaging production. The article outlines the design considerations for moving from a monoblock to a sectional plate.

This article presents an innovative technical search for the design of the pressure-plate drive in a die-cutting press. It reviews the limitations of conventional drives and outlines wedging-mechanism-based concepts that smooth the plate’s motion and reduce inertial loads, aimed at improving the quality and stability of cardboard die-cutting. The article frames the direction of the author’s subsequent research and patents.

This paper studies the movement of the pressure plate driven by wedging mechanisms in a flat die-cutting press. Analytical relationships are derived for the displacement, velocity, and acceleration of the plate over the working cycle, and the influence of the wedging-mechanism parameters on the motion is examined. The results show how the wedging drive shapes the plate’s approach and dwell during cutting, providing a basis for tuning the drive to reduce impact and improve cut quality.

This study examines schemes of combined double-crank wedging drive mechanisms for the pressure plate of a die-cutting press and defines the conditions for their application. Structural and geometric synthesis of the mechanisms is performed, and their kinematic and functional characteristics are derived analytically. The combined double-crank wedging arrangement is shown to increase dwell during the cutting phase and to smooth the plate’s motion, improving the quality and stability of cardboard die-cutting. Recommendations are given for selecting the scheme parameters according to the required press cyclicity.

High technological loads arise during the die-cutting of cardboard, concentrating force on the pressure plate and its drive. This paper analyses those loads and justifies a sectional design of the pressure plate driven by wedging mechanisms, in which the plate is divided into independently loaded sections. The proposed concept reduces the peak force acting on the drive at any instant, lowers deformation, and improves the uniformity of cutting and creasing across large formats. The study establishes the conditions under which the sectional pressure plate is advantageous for high-capacity die-cutting equipment.

This paper compares the kinematic parameters of several wedging drive mechanisms used in the pressure-plate drives of flat die-cutting presses. Three-dimensional models of the mechanisms are built and analysed with SolidWorks Motion, extracting the displacement, velocity, and acceleration of the pressure plate across a full cycle. The CAD/CAE-based comparison identifies which wedging configuration delivers the most stable motion and the lowest inertial loads at plate reversal. The approach demonstrates how motion simulation can support the selection and optimisation of die-cutting drive mechanisms before prototyping.

This paper presents a complex comparative analysis of existing and proposed pressure-plate drive mechanisms used in flat die-cutting presses. The mechanisms are evaluated by their structure, kinematics, and force behaviour to reveal the strengths and limitations of each drive type. On this basis, directions for improving the drive are formulated, focusing on reducing inertial loads, stabilising plate motion, and increasing productivity. The work provides a systematic reference for selecting and upgrading die-cutting press drives.

This paper experimentally evaluates how the speed regime of a die-cutting press affects the force loading of the combined pressure-plate drive mechanism during cardboard cutting. Measurements across a range of cyclic speeds relate the drive loading to the operating rate and to the resistance of the cardboard. The results quantify how higher cyclicity increases inertial loading and inform the selection of a working speed that balances productivity and drive load.

This paper reports an experimental evaluation of the loads in the combined drive mechanism of the pressure plate of a flat die-cutting press. A test setup measures the forces and torques acting on the drive during cardboard cutting, and the measured data are compared with analytical estimates. The study validates the load model of the combined mechanism and clarifies the conditions that govern its power demand.

This trade-journal article justifies the need to improve the pressure-plate drive mechanism used in die-cutting equipment. It describes the technological demands of die-cutting, identifies the shortcomings of the existing drive, and outlines directions for its modernisation to raise productivity and cutting quality. The article sets the practical context for the author’s research on improved drive mechanisms.

An alternative drive mechanism for the lower pressure plate of a die-cutting press is proposed, based on coupled master and slave crank-crosshead contours. The modified mechanism synchronises the motion of the plate and improves the uniformity of the cutting force compared with the conventional single-contour drive. Analytical relationships describing the plate’s displacement and velocity are derived, and the operating advantages of the modified scheme are discussed. The solution forms part of a series of improvements to flat die-cutting press drives.

This paper presents a methodology for optimising the main press mechanism of a die-cutting machine to improve productivity and manufacturing quality while reducing drive power. Analytical dependencies are derived for mechanism synthesis, and dedicated software is developed to analyse and visualise candidate kinematic schemes. The resulting workflow supports a strictly vertical pressure-plate motion and provides an automated engineering tool for selecting mechanism parameters.

This paper performs the kinematic synthesis of a die-cutting press mechanism under the condition of equal forward and return strokes of the pressure plate. Analytical relationships are derived that size the mechanism links so that the working and idle strokes are balanced, which stabilises the machine’s cyclic motion. The synthesised mechanism provides a basis for a smoother, better-balanced die-cutting drive.

This article describes a specialised computer-aided design program for studying the mechanisms of printing and packaging machines. The software allows a mechanism to be constructed visually, animated, and analysed for its kinematic parameters, and it generates 3D models that can be exported to other CAD systems. By combining synthesis, visualisation, and analysis in one environment, the tool accelerates the early design of linkage mechanisms.

This paper presents a methodology for exporting data, visualising mechanisms, and generating their 3D models within a specialised computer-aided-design environment. It describes how a mechanism defined in the program is converted into engineering documentation and into 3D geometry for other CAD systems, including automated generation via AutoLISP. The methodology links mechanism analysis with downstream design and modelling work.

This paper analyses the software available for the research of the mechanisms of printing and packaging machines. Existing programs for mechanism synthesis, kinematic analysis, and visualisation are compared by their capabilities and limitations, and the requirements for a specialised research tool are formulated. The analysis motivates the author’s own software for the construction and kinematic analysis of machine mechanisms.

This article describes a specialised computer-aided design program for studying the mechanisms of printing and packaging machines. The software allows a mechanism to be constructed visually, animated, and analysed for its kinematic parameters, and it generates 3D models that can be exported to other CAD systems. By combining synthesis, visualisation, and analysis in one environment, the tool accelerates the early design of linkage mechanisms. Its application to printing and packaging machinery is demonstrated.

This paper presents a software system for the automated kinematic analysis of lever (linkage) mechanisms with constant link lengths, developed in Embarcadero RAD Studio. The system decomposes an arbitrary mechanism into structural (Assur) groups and computes the positions, velocities, and accelerations of the links across a full cycle. Results are presented as graphs and tables and can be exported for further engineering use. The tool automates routine kinematic calculations for the linkage mechanisms of printing and packaging machines.

This article describes a computer program for the kinematic analysis of second-class mechanisms of arbitrary structure. The mechanism is divided into Assur groups, and the program sequentially determines the positions, velocities, and accelerations of all links. The approach makes it possible to analyse a wide range of linkage mechanisms automatically, without deriving the equations manually for each case. The program is intended for engineering practice and for teaching the theory of mechanisms and machines.