Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6286403
-
Patent Number
6,286,403
-
Date Filed
Thursday, April 22, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, September 11, 200123 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 083 215
- 083 151
- 083 152
- 083 644
- 083 578
- 083 4861
- 083 614
- 083 6391
- 083 590
- 083 508
- 083 487
- 083 486
- 083 636
- 083 100
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A cutting machine for cutting long lengths of sheet material, roll material, or web material into predetermined or discrete lengths comprises a frame having a stationary blade extending transversely of the frame and a carriage movable transversely of the material to be cut having a movable blade thereon that cooperates with the stationary blade to cut material. The movable blade is mounted on the carriage so that it can be canted at an angle with respect to the stationary blade during transverse movement of the carriage in one direction and can be oppositely canted at an angle with respect to the stationary blade during movement of the carriage in the opposite direction. In one embodiment, a toggle mechanism is used to cant the movable blade. In a second embodiment, a fluid cylinder is used to cant the movable blade.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to a cutting machine and, more particularly, to a cutting machine having a rotary cutting blade frictionally cooperating with a stationary blade disposed transversely of the frame of the cutting machine, the rotary cutting blade being canted in a first direction during forward traverse of the rotary cutting blade across the material to be cut, and being canted in the opposite direction during reverse transverse movement of the cutting blade across the material to be cut.
Cutting machines are known wherein a rotary blade cooperates with a stationary blade for cutting material from a supply roll into sheets of predetermined length. Normally, in such cutting machine, the rotary blade is parallel to the cutting edge of the stationary blade. In another cutting machine used for shear slitting, a round bottom blade is mounted in fixed canted relationship to a top blade. The blades can move relative to one another in one direction for cutting material, but not in the reverse direction.
In order to speed operation of the cutting machine and enhance the cutting action, it is contemplated to provide a cutting machine for material of various types that includes a rotary cutting blade that may be canted by different means in order to accomplish the desired cutting results. In one embodiment, a fluid cylinder is contemplated to cant the rotary cutting blade at each end of transverse travel across the material to be cut. In a second embodiment, a toggle mechanism is contemplated to cant the rotary cutting blade at each end of transverse travel across the material to be cut.
In cutting certain materials, such as copper film, shards or particles are formed which tend to contaminate and perhaps scratch the surface of adjacent sheets. It is desired that the cut be as clean as possible and that there be no shards.
An object of the present invention is to provide a cutting machine for cutting material from long sheets, rolls or webs or the like into sheets of discrete length by cutting transversely of the material to be cut in both a first direction and a reverse direction, with the cutting machine including a movable blade and a stationary blade, with the movable blade canted with respect to the stationary blade during movement is said first direction and said reverse direction.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cutting machine with a toggle mechanism to cant the rotary cutting blade at the end of transverse movement in each direction of operation in order to enable cutting in both directions transverse of the material to be cut.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cutting machine with a fluid cylinder to cant the rotary cutting blade at the end of transverse movement in each direction of operation in order to enable cutting in both directions transverse of the material to be cut.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cutting machine for cutting material into suction manifold adjacent the cutting region in order to draw particles of cut material and dust into the suction manifold and remove them from the cutting region between the rotary cutting blade and the stationary blade.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made more apparent in the description which follows.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a cutting machine for cutting material from long lengths, rolls, webs, or the like into sheet material which includes a stationary blade disposed transversely of the material to be cut and a movable blade cooperating with the stationary blade to cut material, the movable blade being canted in one direction during forward traverse of the carriage carrying the movable blade and the movable blade being canted in the opposite direction during reverse traverse movement of the carriage.
In another aspect, this invention pertains to a method of cutting long lengths of sheet material, rolls or webs of material or the like into discrete lengths utilizing a stationary blade extending transverse of the material to be cut and a movable blade cooperating with the stationary blade to cut material, comprising the steps of canting the movable blade in one direction during forward traverse of the movable blade across the material to be cut and canting the blade in the opposite direction during reverse traverse of the movable blade across the material to be cut, whereby, the movable blade makes essentially point contact with the stationary blade during cutting operation and cutting of material is effected in both forward and reverse traverse of the movable blade with respect to the material to be cut.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
There is shown in the attached drawing presently preferred embodiments of the present invention, wherein like numerals in the various views refer to like elements; and wherein:
FIG. 1
shows a side view of an embodiment of the cutting machine for cutting material into sheet material of discrete length embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a perspective schematic view illustrating the stationary cam limit means that cooperate with the toggle mechanism for canting the movable blade with respect to the stationary blade at the ends of transverse movement;
FIG. 3
is an enlarged view of a portion of the cutting machine, partially in cross-section, illustrating the cooperation of the movable blade and the stationary blade and the suction means for removing particles of cut material and dust from the cutting region between the movable blade and the stationary blade;
FIG. 4
is a bottom view of the portion of the cutting machine shown in
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is a detail view illustrating the cooperation between the canted movable blade and the stationary blade;
FIG. 6
is a detail view illustrating the carriage for the movable blade in the resting position at one side of the cutting machine adjacent a stationary cam;
FIG. 7
is a detail view illustrating the carriage for the movable blade as it approaches the stationary cam at the opposite side from that shown in
FIG. 6
;
FIG. 8
is a detail view illustrating the carriage for the movable blade just after engaging the stationary cam and reversing a lever of the toggle mechanism to cant the movable blade so as to cut in the opposite direction as shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7
;
FIG. 9
is a bottom view of the base of the second embodiment of the present invention utilizing a fluid cylinder to cant the movable blade;
FIG. 10
is an elevation view of the base of the second embodiment of the present invention utilizing a fluid cylinder to cant the movable blade; and
FIG. 11
is an operational schematic of the second embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
There is shown in
FIGS. 1-8
a first embodiment of the cutting machine
10
of the present invention. The cutting machine
10
includes a frame
12
having adjustable stabilizing legs
14
for appropriately supporting the frame
12
on a surface. The frame
12
has mounted thereon spaced journals
16
for carrying a roll
17
of material to be cut. The material can be metal, such as copper, fiberglass, prepreg or the like. Further, as noted above, the material can be in a form other than a roll, for example, elongated sheets or web material. In the embodiment of
FIG. 1
, a dancer roll
18
is carried on rods
20
that are pivoted at their ends in a journal block
22
. A shaft
24
is carried in the journal blocks
22
. Rod
26
is secured to the shaft
24
. The spring
28
is connected at one end to the rod
26
and at the other end to a member secured to the journal
16
so as to bias the dancer roll
18
upwardly as viewed in FIG.
1
. This arrangement will apply a proper tension to the material
19
which is fed from the roll
17
to the feed roll
32
and the pinch roll
34
on the frame
12
. The material
19
will be fed over the stationary cutting bar or blade
36
onto the output conveyor
38
.
Supported transversely of the frame
12
is a tubular cross beam
40
. Movable on the cross beam
40
is a carriage assembly
42
which carries a movable round blade
44
that is adapted to cooperate with the stationary blade,
36
to cut material
19
from the roll
17
into discrete sheets.
The carriage assembly
42
includes a toggle mechanism
43
to cant the movable blade
44
with respect to the stationary blade
36
at the end of each traverse of the carriage assembly
42
across the frame
12
, as will be described more fully hereinafter.
A clamping mechanism
46
is provided on the frame
12
that cooperates with the stationary blade
36
in order to hold the material to be cut in the cutting position.
Turning to
FIG. 2
, there is shown the cross beam
40
for supporting the carriage assembly
42
for movement transversely of the frame
12
. The movable blade
44
is rotatably carried on the carriage assembly
42
and frictionally cooperates with the stationary blade
36
to cut material. The carriage assembly
42
includes a base
50
to which is secured a tubular housing
52
that embraces the cross beam
40
and is carried thereon. Pivoted on the base
50
is a lever
54
having a roller
56
rotatably carried on the end thereof. Biasing the lever
54
are a first spring
58
and a second spring
60
as will be described more fully hereinafter. The lever cooperates with a stationary cam
62
carried on the left side of the frame
12
and a stationary cam
64
on the right side of the frame
12
in order to cant the movable blade
44
with respect to the stationary blade
36
.
The tubular housing
52
is moved by suitable actuating means, for example, as shown, a cog belt
51
movably carried on the cross beam
40
and driven at one end by a cut motor
53
operatively connected to a gear reducer
55
that is in turn connected to a flange
57
connected to a pulley shaft
59
upon which the cog belt
51
travels.
There is a like pulley shaft
59
secured at the other end of the cross beam
40
for supporting the cog belt
51
.
Carried on the frame
12
proximate each end of travel of the carriage assembly
42
is a proximity limit switch
63
,
65
for detecting when the carriage assembly
42
has reached the desired limit of movement.
With reference to
FIGS. 3-8
, the structure and operation of the toggle mechanism
43
for selectively canting the movable blade
44
at each end of traverse across the frame
12
will be more fully described. Material from the roll
17
is fed between the feed roll
32
and the pinch roll
34
. The material will be clamped by the clamping mechanism
46
that is actuated toward and away from the stationary blade
36
by a suitable mechanism, for example, a fluid cylinder or a mechanical rack arrangement. The clamping mechanism
46
preferably is provided with an opening
47
in the form of an elongated slot positioned closely adjacent the cutting region between the movable blade
44
and the stationary blade
36
. The clamping mechanism
46
includes a chamber
49
that communicates with the elongated slot or opening
47
and is connected to a source of suction (not shown) to create suction at the opening
47
. The elongated slot or opening
47
and the chamber
49
provide suction means to draw any shards from cutting or any dirt or dust into the clamping mechanism
46
and away from the cutting region.
The movable blade
44
is round and is rotatably carried on the carriage assembly
42
. The blade
44
frictionally cooperates with the stationary blade
36
in order to cut material. The movable blade
44
is joined to journal
66
that is supported on spring
68
arm that depends from a bracket or pivot block
70
that is suitably secured to the base
50
by screws
72
. The spring arm
68
is in the form of a leaf spring for biasing the movable blade
44
, which is rotably carried on the journal
66
, against the stationary blade
36
.
Rigidly fixed to the pivot block
70
is a main lever
74
. Spring
60
is connected at one end to the lever
74
and at the other end to the depending post
76
on lever
54
. The spring
58
is connected at one end to the post
78
depending from the base
50
and at the other end to the post
76
. As clearly seen in
FIGS. 3 and 4
, the lever
54
pivots on the post
80
that depends from the base
50
. The springs
58
and
60
are arranged in an overcenter arrangement as will be shortly be explained more fully.
An adjustable stop means is provided at each side of the lever
74
to limit the movement thereof. Each adjustable stop comprises a block
82
secured to the base
50
and a screw
84
threaded in an opening in the block
82
and extending through the block on both sides thereof. The screw
84
can be rotated to a desired adjusted position and then locked in place by the lock nut
86
. The adjustable stop on the opposite side of the lever
74
is constructed in the same manner and is identified with the same numerals. Resilient bumpers can be positioned over the inner ends of the screws
84
to cushion the blow when the lever
74
is moved from one cant position to the other.
FIG. 5
shows the cant of the movable blade
44
with respect to the stationary blade
36
. The angle of cant a is small, on the order of 1 to 10 degrees, depending upon the application.
Turning to
FIGS. 6-8
, the operation of the toggle mechanism will be described.
FIG. 6
illustrates the start position of the base
50
with the toggle mechanism
43
thereon. The roller
56
on the lever
54
is adjacent the stationary cam
62
. Spring
60
has pivoted the main lever
74
in order to cant the movable blade
44
as shown in FIG.
6
. The main lever
74
contacts the adjustable stop
84
.
FIG. 7
shows the base
50
as it approaches the stationary cam
64
at the opposite side of the frame from the stationary cam
62
. Shortly, the roller
56
on the lever
54
will contact the stationary cam
64
. The spring
60
will pull the lever
54
over center.
As seen in
FIG. 8
, the lever
54
has just been moved over center. The spring
58
will urge the lever
74
to the position shown and the movable blade
44
will be canted in the opposite direction from that shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7
preparatory to movement of the carriage and the base
50
carried thereon in the opposite direction. The movable blade
44
will make essentially point contact with the stationary blade
36
during both directions of traverse across the frame.
There is shown in
FIGS. 9-11
a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the movable blade
44
is canted by a fluid cylinder rather than by a toggle mechanism. Referring to
FIGS. 9 and 10
, the base
150
is like the base
50
. Lever
174
pivots on the pivot pin
172
on base
150
. Secured to the base
150
is a bracket
162
that anchors an end of the fluid cylinder
164
of the fluid cylinder means
165
. An actuating rod
163
moves out and in from the fluid cylinder
164
, as indicated by the arrows in FIG.
9
. The outlets
169
and
171
from the fluid cylinder
164
are connected to a suitable source of pressure, for example, an air compressor (not shown) in order to actuate the actuating rod
163
in or out from the fluid cylinder
164
. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that the fluid cylinder means may be hydraulically powered rather than pneumatically powered. The actuating rod
163
is secured to the bracket
168
on the lever
174
for selectively pivoting the lever
174
on the base
150
to cant the movable blade
44
with respect to the stationary blade
36
.
An adjustable stop means is provided at each side of the lever
174
to limit the movement thereof. Each adjustable stop comprises a block
182
secured to the base
150
and a screw
184
threaded in an opening in the block
182
and extending through the block on both sides thereof. The screw
184
can be rotated to a desired adjusted position and then locked in place by the lock nut
186
. The adjustable stop on the opposite side of the lever
174
is constructed in the same manner and includes screw
184
′, block
182
′ and lock nut
186
′.
The journal
166
for rotatably supporting the movable blade
44
may incorporate a flat power cylinder operable axially in order to apply a force to urge the movable blade
44
against the stationary blade
36
in normal operation. The face of the stationary blade
36
facing the movable blade is angled, as shown in
FIG. 10
so as to provide minimum contact between the blades
36
and
44
.
The journal
166
is supported on an arm
191
that depends from a block
192
. Block
192
is adjustably connected to the block
194
by a threaded member
193
in order to provide for adjustment along the longitudinal axis of the threaded member
193
. The block
194
is adjustably connected to the block
196
that is secured to the pivot block
170
by a threaded member
195
in order to provide for adjustment along the longitudinal axis of the member
195
. This adjustment arrangement provides both x and y axis adjustment so as to position the movable blade
44
with respect to the stationary blade
36
. Other adjustment means could be employed to accomplish the desired purposes.
Turning to
FIG. 11
, there is shown an operational schematic of the embodiment of
FIGS. 9 and 10
. The operating system includes a microprocessor based electronic counter
200
having a length button
202
thereon which can be pressed to initiate and terminate operation of the cutting machine. When the length button
202
is pressed to initiate operation, a signal is sent to the feed motor
204
to begin the feed of material. Signals corresponding to the advance of the material are sent to the encoder
206
. When a predetermined number of signals are counted by the encoder
206
, which correspond to the desired discrete length desired, a signal is sent to the electronic counter
200
to terminate operation of the feed motor
204
and initiate operation of the clamp mechanism
46
to clamp material to be cut against the stationary blade
36
. At the same time a signal is sent to the direction relay
208
. The direction relay
208
is in circuit with a left limit switch
163
and the right limit switch
165
. When the left limit switch
163
is closed, the cut motor
53
will be actuated to move the carriage assembly
142
so as to cut material. When the carriage assembly
142
reaches the stationary cam at the right side of the frame, the right limit switch
165
will be closed and the direction relay
208
will be actuated to drive the carriage assembly in the opposite direction transverse of the material. It will be understood that the frame for the second embodiment will be essentially the same as the frame for the first embodiment. The left and right limit switches
163
and
165
are essentially the same as the proximity limit switches shown in FIG.
2
.
There has been provided by the present invention a unique cutting machine that incorporates a rotary cutting blade that frictionally cooperates with a stationary blade, the rotary cutting blade being canted in one direction during forward traverse of the rotary cutting blade along the stationary blade, and being canted in the opposite direction during reverse transverse movement of the cutting blade to effect cutting of material in both directions of operation.
While we have shown presently preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that the invention may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A cutting machine for cutting material including long sheets, rolls or webs or the like, into sheet material of discrete lengths comprising a frame, a feed roll on said frame, a clamping mechanism cooperating with said feed roll for holding material to be cut, a stationary blade disposed tranversely on the frame, said clamping mechanism selectively holding the material to be cut against the stationary blade, a carriage movable on the frame, a drive mechanism operatively connected to the carriage for moving the carriage on the frame, the carriage including a base having a pivot extending therefrom, a block carried on the pivot, a movable blade carried rotatably on the block, a lever on the block, actuating means cooperating with the lever for selectively pivoting the block between a first position and a second position for positively canting the movable blade to a predetermined angle with respect to the stationary blade, said clamping mechanism comprising a transversely elongated body having a chamber therein and an elongated slot extending transversely and being adjacent to the stationary blade, suction means communicating with the chamber for supplying suction thereto to draw particles of cut material and dust into the chamber and remove them from the cutting region between the movable blade and the stationary blade, whereby, the movable blade is canted in one direction during forward traverse movement of the carriage and is canted in the opposite direction during reverse transverse movement of the carriage, thereby effecting cutting of material in both directions of operation with essentially only a single point of contact between the stationary blade and the movable blade.
- 2. A cutting machine as in claim 1, wherein the actuating means comprises a fluid cylinder operatively connected to the block for selectively pivoting same to selectively cant the movable blade with respect to the stationary blade.
- 3. A cutting machine as in claim 3, wherein the fluid cylinder is an air cylinder.
- 4. A cutting machine as in claim 1, including guide rail means on the frame for engaging with and guiding the carriage.
- 5. A cutting machine as in claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism for moving the carriage on the frame comprises a cog belt.
- 6. A cutting machine as in claim 1 including means for biasing the movable blade toward the stationary blade.
- 7. A cutting machine as in claim 1, wherein the movable blade is round and is rotatably carried on the block, and the angle of cant of the movable blade with respect to the stationary blade is on the order of 1 to 10 degrees.
- 8. A cutting machine as in claim 7, wherein the angle of cant is on the order of 3 degrees.
- 9. A cutting machine as in claim 1 including a limit switch at each side of the frame, each limit switch being in circuit with the drive mechanism for reversing the direction of the drive mechanism when the carriage reaches its traverse limit.
- 10. A cutting machine for cutting material including long sheets, rolls or webs or the like, into sheet material of discrete lengths comprising a frame, a feed roll on said frame, a clamping mechanism cooperating with said feed roll for holding material to be cut, a stationary blade disposed tranversely on the frame, a carriage movable on the frame, a drive mechanism operatively connected to the carriage for moving the carriage on the frame, the carriage including a base having a pivot extending therefrom, a block carried on the pivot, a movable blade carried rotatable on the block, a lever on the block, actuating means cooperating with the lever for selectively pivoting the block between a first position and a second position for positively canting the movable blade to a predetermined angle with respect to the stationary blade, said actuating means being constructed and arranged to selectively adjust the predetermined angle of cant between the movable blade and the stationary blade, whereby, the movable blade is canted in one direction during forward traverse movement of the carriage and is canted in the opposite direction during reverse transverse movement of the carriage, thereby effecting cutting of material in both directions of operation with essentially only a single point of contact between the stationary blade and the movable blade.
- 11. A cutting machine as in claim 10, wherein the actuating means comprises a fluid cylinder operatively connected to the block for selectively pivoting same to selectively cant the movable blade with respect to the stationary blade.
- 12. A cutting machine as in claim 10, including guide rail means on the frame for engaging with and guiding the carriage.
- 13. A cutting machine as in claim 10, wherein the drive mechanism for moving the carriage on the frame comprises a cog belt.
- 14. A cutting machine as in claim 10, wherein the clamping mechanism selectively holds the materials to be cut against the stationary blade.
- 15. A cutting machine as in claim 10, including means for biasing the movable blade toward the stationary blade.
- 16. A cutting machine as in claim 10, wherein the movable blade is round and is rotatably carried on the block and the angle of cant of the movable blade with respect to the stationary blade is on the order of 1-10 degrees.
- 17. A cutting machine as in claim 16, wherein the angle of cant is on the order of 3 degrees.
- 18. A cutting machine as in claim 10, including a limit switch at each side of the frame, each limit switch being in circuit with the drive mechanism for reversing the direction of the drive mechanism when the carriage reaches its traverse limit.
- 19. A cutting machine for cutting material including long sheets, rolls or webs or the like, into sheet material of discrete lengths comprising a frame, a feed roll on said frame, a clamping mechanism cooperating with said feed roll for holding material to be cut, a stationary blade disposed tranversely on the frame, a carriage movable on the frame, a drive mechanism operatively connected to the carriage for moving the carriage on the frame, the carriage including a base having a pivot extending therefrom, a block carried on the pivot, a movable blade carried rotatably on the block, a lever on the block, actuating means cooperating with the lever for selectively pivoting the block between a first position and a second position for positively canting the movable blade to a predetermined angle with respect to the stationary blade, and including adjustment means for selectively positioning the movable blade with respect to the stationary blade, whereby, the movable blade is canted in one direction during forward traverse movement of the carriage and is canted in the opposite direction during reverse transverse movement of the carriage, thereby effecting cutting of material in both directions of operation with essentially only a single point of contact between the stationary blade and the movable blade.
- 20. A cutting machine as in claim 19, wherein the adjustment means is disposed between the journal and the block for adjusting the position of the movable blade toward and away from the stationary blade both longitudinally and traversely.
- 21. A cutting machine as in claim 19, wherein the actuating means comprises a fluid cylinder operatively connected to the block for selectively pivoting same to selectively cant the movable blade with respect to the stationary blade.
- 22. A cutting machine as in claim 19, wherein the drive mechanism for moving the carriage on the frame comprises a cog belt.
- 23. A cutting machine as in claim 19, wherein the clamping mechanism holds the material to be cut.
- 24. A cutting machine as in claim 19, including means for biasing the movable blade toward the stationary blade.
- 25. A cutting machine as in claim 19, wherein the movable blade is round and is rotatably carried on the block and the angle of cant of the movable blade with respect to the stationary blade is on the order of 1-10 degrees.
- 26. A cutting machine as in claim 25, wherein the angle of cant is on the order of 3 degrees.
- 27. A cutting machine as in claim 19, including a limit switch at each side of the frame, each limit switch being in circuit with the drive mechanism for reversing the direction of the drive mechanism when the carriage reaches its traverse limit.
US Referenced Citations (26)