Cutting machine

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6286403
  • Patent Number
    6,286,403
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, April 22, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 11, 2001
    23 years ago
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)
Number Name Date Kind
519682 Randall May 1894
931220 Roesch et al. Aug 1909
1888744 Shook Nov 1932
1888754 Alexander et al. Nov 1932
3205743 Langenberg et al. Sep 1965
3701301 Gudmestad Oct 1972
3821915 Larrable Jul 1974
4034634 Arbter Jul 1977
4046044 Paterson et al. Sep 1977
4152962 Hendrischk May 1979
4361957 Krotz et al. Dec 1982
4455905 Raymond Jun 1984
4541405 Schlough Sep 1985
4555967 Jumel Dec 1985
4576076 Pyle Mar 1986
4665787 Arnold et al. May 1987
4754674 Periman Jul 1988
4781094 Moretti Nov 1988
4864906 Hall Sep 1989
4907014 Tzeng et al. Mar 1990
5168786 Huggins et al. Dec 1992
5307716 Onishi et al. May 1994
5611253 Saito et al. Mar 1997
5647261 Wierenga Jul 1997
5845554 Kozyrski Dec 1998
5868056 Pfarr et al. Feb 1999