Publication Type: Article

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.