Flexible die and supporting cylinder

Abstract

An improved flexible die and cylinder for mounting such die. The flexible die consists of a substantially planar, flexible, sheet of metal which has been etched to form a cutting edge. The ends of the die include a plurality of spaced holes for mounting the die to the cylinder. A pair of depressions in the exterior of the cylinder mount lock bars. The lock bars include a plurality of pins which engage the holes in the die. The cylinder includes a support segment and a transport segment. Air passages in the cylinder open onto an angularly extending selector groove at each end of the cylinder. A selector collar is mounted at each end of the cylinder and includes an air passage therethrough which will mate at one end with the selector groove, and at the other end with one of a series of discrete air channels extending longitudinally through the support segment. These channels in turn communicate with associated rows of the apertures. The angular orientation of the collar therefore determines the placement of the reduced or increased air pressure upon the support segment. Generally similar air channels extend through the transport segment. A selected one of these air channels may be connected to an air supply by a suction conduit. The conduit includes a biased sliding section such that the cylinder may be moved axially upon the shaft while maintaining the suction conduit in operative position.