Modular comb element for a machine for the automatic cutting of a mat of sheet material

Abstract

The object of the present invention is a modular comb element (10) of a machine (2) for the automatic cutting of a mat of sheet material, the cutting machine comprising a plurality of cutting supports (4), each of which has a plurality of bristles (6) on which the mat (M) is placed, the comb element comprising: a plate forming a support (12), a first row of teeth and a second row of teeth extending longitudinally from the support, the teeth (14) of the first row of teeth being arranged alternately with the teeth (16) of the second row of teeth, the free ends of the teeth of the first row of teeth being further from the downstream edge of the support than the free ends of the teeth of the second row of teeth, a ramp (18) mounted on the downstream edge of the support and inclined with respect to the support so as to limit the contact surface between the mat of sheet material and the comb element, and air injection means located on the downstream edge of the ramp and extending over the entire width of the ramp so as to facilitate the unloading / loading of the mat of sheet material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the general field of machines for automatically cutting sheet-like materials, particularly textile materials, using vibrating blades that pass through a suction cutting support driven by a conveyor. More specifically, it relates to loading and unloading combs mounted on such a cutting machine. Background Technology

[0002] Generally, a vibrating blade cutter includes a cutting conveyor for driving a pad of sheet material to be cut during the cutting operation. This cutting conveyor is housed in a high-vacuum chamber to keep the sheet material stationary during the cutting operation.

[0003] In this type of machine, the cutting conveyor also serves as a penetrating cutting support for the vibrating blade. It is well known that making the cutting support permeable by the blade allows the blade to not only completely penetrate the material to be cut during the cutting operation, but also extend downwards beyond the surface of the support and into the bottom of the material providing this surface.

[0004] For this purpose, the cutting support typically consists of an assembly of blocks driven by a conveyor belt. Each block includes multiple bristles mounted in parallel rows on a base plate. Transverse channels are formed through the base plate to allow intake air to pass through. Thus, these blocks can be pierced by the cutting blade while also supporting the sheet material to be cut.

[0005] The vibrating blade cutter is also equipped with loading combs and unloading combs located at both ends of the conveyor. The loading combs assist in transferring the sheet material pads to be cut from the upstream spreading table located at the upstream end of the cutter's conveyor. Similarly, the unloading combs assist in transferring the cut pads from the downstream end of the cutter's conveyor to the downstream unloading conveyor.

[0006] Therefore, the unloading combs form the transition between the area where the pad is kept under vacuum (i.e., on the suction cutting support) and the area without vacuum (i.e., on the unloading conveyor). Furthermore, these unloading combs must minimize the surface area of ​​the cutting support bristles that do not contact the pad while ensuring the continuity of the pad.

[0007] An unloading comb typically includes several angled, parallel protrusions that penetrate the bristles of the cutting support to form a ramp guiding the cut pad toward the unloading conveyor as it exits the cutting face. These protrusions are arranged parallel to each other and span the entire width of the cutting face at the downstream end of the conveyor. For example, reference can be made to document US 2020 / 0156280, which describes an exemplary embodiment of an unloading comb having two rows of protrusions of different lengths penetrating the cutting support.

[0008] The unloading combs known in the prior art have certain drawbacks. In particular, during the cutting of the mat, the bristles of the cutting support can deform, resulting in uneven distribution. However, the unloading combs known in the prior art cannot rearrange the support bristles that pass through the comb. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Therefore, the main objective of this invention is to provide a comb that does not have the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0010] This objective is achieved by a modular comb element for an automated machine for cutting sheet material pads. The cutting machine includes multiple cutting supports mounted on a conveyor, each support comprising multiple bristles on which the sheet material pad is intended to be placed. The comb element includes a plate forming the support, a first row of teeth and a second row of teeth extending longitudinally from the support, the teeth of the first row of teeth alternating with those of the second row of teeth, and the free ends of the teeth of the first row of teeth being farther from the downstream edge of the support than the free ends of the teeth of the second row of teeth. According to the invention, the comb element further includes a ramp mounted on the downstream edge of the support and inclined relative to the support to limit the contact surface between the sheet material pad and the comb element, and an air injection device located at the downstream edge of the ramp and extending across the entire width of the ramp to facilitate the unloading / loading of the sheet material pad.

[0011] A significant feature of the comb according to the invention is that it provides a ramp mounted on the downstream edge of the support and inclined relative to the support. This ramp, and the associated air injection device, limits the contact surface between the sheet material pad (to be unloaded or loaded) and the comb, facilitating the transition between the suction-bearing and non-suction-bearing portions of the sheet material pad. This greatly facilitates the unloading (or loading) of the sheet material pad.

[0012] A significant feature of the comb according to the invention is that it consists of multiple independent modular components assembled on the same plate to ensure continuity between the cutting conveyor and the unloading conveyor (for the unloading comb) and between the spreading table and the cutting conveyor (for the loading comb). The comb is a highly stressed component, and its modular design allows for replacement only of components that may have been damaged.

[0013] Another significant feature of the comb according to the invention is that it provides two rows of teeth. The first row of teeth can straighten the bristles on the cutting support of the machine that may deform and no longer be perpendicular to the sheet material pad. The second row of teeth can tighten the heads of the bristles on the cutting support to limit the free space between them.

[0014] The air injection device includes at least one row of downstream air injection holes that appear at the downstream edge of the ramp located between two adjacent teeth and open in an air supply channel that extends over the entire width of the support.

[0015] In this configuration, the air injection device further includes a second row of downstream air injection holes that appear at the downstream edge of the ramp between two adjacent teeth and open in the air supply channel.

[0016] Similarly, the air injection device further includes a row of upstream air injection holes that appear at the upstream edge of the slope and open in the air supply channel.

[0017] The air supply channel is connected to the surrounding air or to the pressurized air circuit.

[0018] Preferably, the comb-like element further includes a third row of teeth independent of the first and second rows of teeth, the third row of teeth being mounted below the support and longitudinally recessed from the first and second rows of teeth. The teeth of the third row ensure the repositioning of the bristles of the cutting support, which may have been potentially deformed as they passed through the other two rows of teeth.

[0019] In this configuration, the teeth of the third row of teeth extend longitudinally from the upstream edge of the support opposite the downstream edge. Similarly, the free ends of the teeth of the third row of teeth are longitudinally recessed from the downstream edge of the support.

[0020] In this case, preferably, the teeth of the third row of teeth are laterally offset from the teeth of the first row of teeth and the teeth of the second row of teeth.

[0021] Preferably, the free ends of the teeth in the first row of teeth are bulbous. This bulbous shape ensures guidance of the bristle shafts before the heads of the bristles of the cutting support are fully occupied by the comb-like elements.

[0022] Preferably, the lateral distance between two adjacent teeth separating the first row of teeth corresponds substantially to the lateral volume of an even number of adjacent bristles of the cutting support, while the lateral distance between two adjacent teeth separating the first row of teeth and the second row of teeth corresponds substantially to half of the lateral distance between two adjacent teeth separating the first row of teeth. These distances ensure that the bristle heads are tightly packed between the two teeth.

[0023] The present invention also relates to a machine for automatically cutting sheet material pads, comprising a plurality of cutting supports mounted on a conveyor, each of the cutting supports comprising a plurality of bristles, the sheet material pad to be cut being placed on the bristles, the machine further comprising, at least at one end of the machine, a comb composed of a plurality of comb-like elements as described above.

[0024] The ends are unloading ends and / or loading ends (in this case, the combs are unloading combs and / or loading combs, respectively).

[0025] Some comb-like elements have features that distinguish them from other comb-like elements. In particular, the term "features" refers to the number of teeth in the two rows, the length of the teeth, the shape of the teeth, the position of the teeth, etc. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a partial side view of the unloading end of a cutting machine with an unloading comb, provided by the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the unloading comb element is shown.

[0028] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of a comb-shaped element provided in a variable embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A top view of the comb-shaped element is shown.

[0030] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 The bottom view of the comb-shaped element is shown.

[0031] Figure 6 yes Figure 3 A side view of the comb-shaped element is shown.

[0032] Figure 7 yes Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the comb-shaped element is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0033] In a vibrating blade cutter, the sheet material to be cut is driven by a cutting conveyor during the cutting operation. The upper part of the cutting conveyor serves as a cutting support, while the lower part is typically placed in a high-vacuum chamber to keep the material stationary during the cutting operation.

[0034] Figure 1 The downstream end (referred to as the unloading end) of this cutter 2 is partially shown. As shown in the figure, the cutting support 4 consists of an assembly of multiple blocks mounted on a belt (not shown) used to drive the cutting conveyor.

[0035] In a well-known manner, each block of the cutting support comprises multiple bristles 6 arranged in parallel rows. Each bristle 6 has a foot 6a mounted on a base plate 8 and a head 6b opposite the foot, which is intended to serve as a pad (M) for the sheet material to be cut.

[0036] As described in patent application FR 20 03043 filed on March 27, 2020, the block of the cutting support can be formed by an assembly of multiple modular elements, each modular element including bristles arranged in the same and unique bristle rows.

[0037] In addition, at the downstream end of the cutting surface (relative to the forward direction T of the cutting conveyor), the cutting machine includes an unloading comb that is typically raised relative to the cutting surface and extends over the entire width of the cutting surface.

[0038] The main function of the unloading comb is to assist in transferring the mat M to be unloaded from the downstream end of the cutting conveyor to the unloading conveyor (not shown).

[0039] According to the present invention, the unloading comb is modular. That is, the unloading comb consists of a plurality of modular comb-like elements 10, which are placed end-to-end to form a comb.

[0040] Still according to the present invention, such as Figures 2 to 5 As shown, each comb element 10 includes a plate 12 forming a generally horizontal support, from which a first row of teeth 14 and a second row of teeth 16 extend longitudinally, with the teeth of the first row of teeth alternating with those of the second row of teeth.

[0041] Furthermore, the free end of tooth 14 in the first row of teeth is farther from the downstream edge of the support than the free end of tooth 16 in the second row of teeth. In other words, tooth 14 in the first row of teeth protrudes relative to tooth 16 in the second row of teeth.

[0042] The teeth 14 and 16 of these two rows of teeth are generally triangular with their own upper ridges 14a and 16a, which are inclined downward relative to the basically horizontal support 12 of the comb-like element.

[0043] Preferably, the inclination of the upper ridge 16a of the second row of teeth 16 is greater than the inclination of the upper ridge 14a of the first row of teeth 14.

[0044] Preferably, the free ends of the teeth 14 in the first row are bulbous, that is, they are round and convex, especially in... Figure 3 and Figure 4 As you can see.

[0045] This special bulbous shape ensures the guidance of the bristle 6 rod of the cutting bracket before the head 6b of the bristle 6 is fully occupied by the unloading comb. When the cross-section of the bristle rod is smaller than the cross-section of its head, the bulbous free end of the tooth 14 is located below the entire head, thus avoiding interference with the bristle rod.

[0046] According to the present invention, a bevel 18 is installed at the downstream edge of the support 12 of each comb element 10.

[0047] More specifically, the inclined surface 18 extends continuously upstream of the teeth 14 and 16 and slopes downward relative to the generally horizontal support 12. Figure 6 As shown, the inclined surface 18 therefore has an angle of inclination relative to the support 12. α The tilt angle is between 0 and 45° and is substantially equal to the tilt angle formed by the respective upper ridges 14a of the teeth 14 of the first row of teeth.

[0048] The inclined plane 18 configured in this way can limit the contact surface between the pad M to be unloaded and the comb element 10.

[0049] Each comb element 10 according to the invention further includes an air injection device located at the downstream edge of the ramp 18 and extending across the entire width of the ramp, to facilitate unloading of the pad M.

[0050] In particular, such as Figures 2 to 4 and Figure 7 As shown, these air injection devices include at least one row of downstream air injection holes 20 that appear at the downstream edge of the ramp 18 located between two adjacent teeth 14, 16 and open in an air supply channel 22 extending over the entire width of the support.

[0051] Preferably, the air injection device further includes a second row of downstream air injection holes 24, which also appear at the downstream edge of the ramp 18 located between two adjacent teeth 14, 16, and open in the same air supply channel 22.

[0052] exist Figure 4 and Figure 7In this context, these second-row air injection holes are particularly noticeable. It can be seen that by positioning these air injection holes 24 below the first-row downstream air injection holes 20, these air injection holes 24 are aligned with the first-row downstream air injection holes 20.

[0053] Preferably, the air injection device further includes a row of upstream air injection holes 26 that appear at the upstream edge of the slope 18 and open in the air supply channel 22.

[0054] More specifically, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the multiple upstream air injection holes 26 in this row are located at the longitudinal end of the inclined surface 18 opposite to the positions of the multiple downstream air injection holes 20, 24 in the multiple rows.

[0055] In addition, multiple upstream air injection holes 26 in this row appear in a substantially vertical direction, while multiple downstream air injection holes 20, 24 in multiple rows appear in a substantially horizontal direction.

[0056] All air injection ports 20, 24 and 26 share an air supply passage 22 that can be supplied with ambient air or connected to a pressurized air circuit (not shown).

[0057] All air injection holes 20, 24, and 26 allow the area of ​​ramp 18 to be under atmospheric pressure or a slight overpressure (depending on the supply from channel 22), thereby limiting the portion of the mat to be unloaded that is under vacuum due to the suction in the cutting conveyor. This greatly facilitates the transfer of mat M from the cutting conveyor to the unloading conveyor.

[0058] According to an advantageous arrangement of the invention, the comb element 10 further includes a third row of teeth 28 independent of the first and second rows of teeth 14, 16. The third row of teeth 28 is mounted below the support 12 and is longitudinally recessed within the first and second rows of teeth.

[0059] like Figure 6 As shown, the teeth 28 of the third row of teeth extend longitudinally from the upstream edge of the support 12, which is opposite to the downstream edge.

[0060] In addition, the free end of the third row of teeth 28 is longitudinally recessed from the downstream edge of the support 12.

[0061] In addition, such as Figure 5 As shown, preferably, the teeth 28 of the third row of teeth are laterally offset from the teeth 14 of the first row of teeth and the teeth 16 of the second row of teeth.

[0062] In other words, the third row of teeth 28 is inserted laterally between two adjacent teeth 14 and 16 belonging to the first and second rows.

[0063] The third row of teeth 28 has the function of ensuring the repositioning of the bristles 6 of the cutting bracket 4, which may have been potentially deformed as they pass through the other two rows of teeth 14, 16.

[0064] According to another advantageous arrangement, the lateral distance separating two adjacent teeth 14 of the first row of teeth is... d (See Figure 2 and 5 It basically corresponds to the lateral volume of the even number of adjacent bristles 6 of the cutting bracket 4.

[0065] exist Figure 2 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the lateral distance between two adjacent teeth 14 corresponds to the lateral volume of the four bristles 6 of the cutting bracket 4.

[0066] Similarly, the lateral distance between two adjacent teeth 14 and 16 separating the first and second rows of teeth. d’ (See Figure 2 and 5 This basically corresponds to the lateral distance between two adjacent teeth 14 that separate the first row of teeth. d Half of it.

[0067] Therefore, in Figure 2 In the exemplary embodiment shown, this lateral distance d’ The transverse volume corresponding to the two bristles 6 of the cutting bracket.

[0068] As mentioned above, the unloading comb is modular, meaning that the unloading comb is composed of multiple modular comb-shaped elements placed end to end as described above.

[0069] In particular, this modularity has the following advantages: depending on the specific characteristics of the lower-level cutting support, some comb elements of the unloading comb can have characteristics different from other comb elements.

[0070] The "characteristics" of a comb-like element refer to the number of teeth in two or three rows, the length of the teeth, the shape of the teeth, the lateral spacing between two teeth, and so on.

[0071] In addition, similar to the unloading comb described above, the cutter also includes a loading comb (not shown) at the level of the other longitudinal end of the cutting face. This loading comb is typically raised relative to the cutting face and can assist in loading the sheet material pad from the spreading table to the cutting face.

[0072] The invention also applies to loading combs that are advantageously modularized, and each comb element has the same characteristics as the unloading comb described above.

Claims

1. A modular comb element (10) for an automated machine (2) for cutting sheet material pads (M), the machine comprising a plurality of cutting supports (4) mounted on a conveyor, each of the cutting supports comprising a plurality of bristles (6) on which the sheet material pad is placed, the comb element comprising a plate forming a support (12), a first row of teeth and a second row of teeth extending longitudinally from the support, the teeth (14) of the first row of teeth and the teeth (16) of the second row of teeth being alternately arranged, and the free ends of the teeth of the first row of teeth being farther from the downstream edge of the support than the free ends of the teeth of the second row of teeth, characterized in that, The comb element (10) also includes a ramp (18) mounted on the downstream edge of the support and inclined downward relative to the support to limit the contact surface between the sheet material pad and the comb element, and air injection devices (20, 24 and 26) located at the downstream edge of the ramp and throughout the entire width of the ramp to facilitate unloading of the sheet material pad. The inclined surface (18) extends continuously upstream of the teeth (14, 16); The air injection device (20, 24 and 26) includes at least one row of downstream air injection holes (20) that appear at the downstream edge of the ramp between two adjacent teeth (14, 16) and open in an air supply channel (22) that extends over the entire width of the support and communicates with ambient air or with a pressurized air circuit.

2. The element according to claim 1, wherein, The air injection device (20, 24 and 26) further includes a second row of downstream air injection holes (24) that appear at the downstream edge of the ramp between two adjacent teeth (14, 16) and open in the air supply channel (22).

3. The element according to claim 1, wherein, The air injection device (20, 24 and 26) further includes a row of upstream air injection holes (26) that open at the upstream edge of the slope and open in the air supply channel (22).

4. The element according to claim 1, further comprising a third row of teeth (28) independent of the first row of teeth and the second row of teeth, the third row of teeth (28) being mounted below the bracket (12) and longitudinally recessed from the first row of teeth and the second row of teeth.

5. The element according to claim 4, wherein, The teeth (28) of the third row of teeth extend longitudinally from the upstream edge of the support opposite to the downstream edge.

6. The element according to claim 4, wherein, The free end of the tooth (28) of the third row of teeth is longitudinally recessed from the downstream edge of the support.

7. The element according to claim 4, wherein, The teeth (28) of the third row of teeth are laterally offset from the teeth (14) of the first row of teeth and the teeth (16) of the second row of teeth.

8. The element according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The free end of the tooth (14) of the first row of teeth is bulbous.

9. The element according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The lateral distance between two adjacent teeth (14) separating the first row of teeth ( d The lateral dimension corresponds to the even number of adjacent bristles (6) of the cutting bracket, while the lateral distance between two adjacent teeth (14, 16) separating the first row of teeth and the second row of teeth is ( d’ ) corresponds to the lateral distance between two adjacent teeth separating the first row of teeth ( d Half of ).

10. A machine (2) for automatically cutting sheet material pads (M), comprising a plurality of cutting supports (4) mounted on a conveyor, each of the cutting supports (4) comprising a plurality of bristles (6) on which the sheet material pad to be cut is placed, the machine further comprising, at least at one end of the machine, a comb composed of a plurality of comb-like elements (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The machine according to claim 10, wherein, The terminus is the unloading end.

12. The machine according to claim 10, wherein, Some comb elements have characteristics that differ from those of the other comb elements.

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