Patent attributes
A hold-down device is provided for securing graphic arts die plates or die to flat bed or rotary chases having a series of generally cylindrical, hold-down device-receiving cavities. The chase cavities have an innermost portion of greater diameter than the outermost portion of the cavity, presenting a downwardly-facing shoulder therebetween. The device, which is adapted to be inserted in one of the cavities, has a pair of opposed, generally semi-circular anchor members. A fulcrum component positioned between the anchor members has a generally circular fulcrum section received in respective, opposed internal grooves in the anchor members. A lock ring that interconnects the ends of the members remote from the fulcrum section, biases those ends toward one another. When the device is installed in a cavity, the ends of the anchor members are forced toward one another to an extent that the device will fit within the outermost portion of the cavity. Insertion of the device into the cavity is continued until the ends of the anchor members remote from the lock ring are able to move outward relatively into underlying relationship with the shoulder of the cavity. The lock ring serves to maintain the uppermost ends of the anchor members in engagement with the shoulder of the cavity. The device can be removed from the cavity at any time by use of a tool that moves the upper ends of the anchor members toward one another to an extent clearing the cavity shoulder so that the device can then be pulled out of the cavity.
