PREPARING TRAIL-SHAPED MATERIALS WITH DEFECT DETECTION

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for cutting web-shaped material, in particular textile materials, and to a method for cutting web-shaped material.

[0002] The processing of web-shaped material is often carried out into fixed cutting lengths, where the cutting length is the maximum length a section of the web-shaped material may have. At the same time, it is unknown when defects will occur during the processing or production of the web-shaped material. Such defects are detected and recorded by a defect detection unit. After cutting, the web-shaped material is laid down in a Z-shape, that is, in overlapping layers arranged back and forth.

[0003] DE3639972 A1 discloses the cutting of web-shaped material used for cigarette packaging. The device comprises a detection unit that determines the position of a defect in the web-shaped material. The defect can be cut off and disposed of by means of two cutting devices. The two cutting devices are arranged at a fixed distance from each other, which is determined by a defined section of the material web.

[0004] DE1588301 A1 discloses a method in which several sections of predetermined length are cut out of a defective web of material, resulting in the smallest possible residual. In the described method, the cutting command is stored in a shift register, which has the length of the distance between the defect detector and the shears, and then transferred to the single shears of the device.

[0005] The state of the art does not reveal a solution for processing web-shaped material that is to be processed into cutting lengths that are longer than the distance between defect detection and cutting position.

[0006] For example, longer pieces of a web-like material are to be processed into lengths of 25 m and 50 m. If, in this example, a defect is detected after 45 m, a 25 m piece can still be cut and processed from the web-like material.

[0007] If the web-shaped material is laid out in a large container, the defect is marked or the position of the defects is saved.

[0008] To obtain a flawless 25 m piece, 20 m must be removed from the already cut 45 m section of the web-like material. This interrupts the process. This is time-consuming and thus slows down the production process of the web-like material sections, or requires additional effort, for example, by assigning several people to subsequently cut the material web.

[0009] This elaborate and time-consuming procedure is primarily used when the web-shaped material has at least one of the following properties: The web-like material has a high coefficient of friction, which means that sheeted material cannot be easily pulled out of a container. The web-like material is heavy. This can also make it difficult to transport the web-like material from a sheeted state. The web-like material is elastic, which may necessitate remeasuring the distances on the web when the material is under tension, or requiring re-detection of defects.

[0010] Furthermore, the problem described above also exists if the web sections to be processed are longer than the distance between the defect detection and the cutting position. This means that a defect cannot simply be removed during the process.

[0011] The objective technical task is to remove and cut off defective sections of the web-shaped material while still in the production unit, i.e., before the web-shaped material is placed in packaging units, especially if the web-shaped material has at least one of the aforementioned properties.

[0012] This problem is solved by a device according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 10.

[0013] The invention relates to a device for cutting a web-like material, comprising at least one cutting device, a control unit, and a defect detection unit. The web-like material comprises webs of paper, film, textiles, or other thin materials. The web-like material is guided past the defect detection unit and then past the at least one cutting device in a downstream direction using a means for moving the web-like material. The defect detection unit is configured to monitor the web-like material for defects and to detect any defects occurring in the web-like material. The defect detection unit is further configured to transmit a signal containing information about the result of the monitoring to the control unit.

[0014] The at least one cutting device can cut the web-shaped material at at least one initial cutting position. The cutting device can include a blade. It is also possible for the cutting device to perform the at least one cut using ultrasound. Optionally, further cutting positions may be present.

[0015] In one embodiment, the cut can be made manually using scissors. In another embodiment, the cutting device comprises a robot arm with a cutting unit. The robot arm can be moved to a first cutting position and further cutting positions, if present, in order to then cut the web-shaped material using the cutting unit.

[0016] Preferably, the device can include several cutting devices.

[0017] Defects are undesirable, localized properties of the web-shaped material. Defects can compromise the structural integrity of the web-shaped material and / or its appearance. Examples of defects include holes, tears, uneven patterns, or structures within the web-shaped material. In textiles, these can be caused by, among other things, missing warp threads, missing weft threads, or a crushed arrangement of weft threads. Other causes of defects can include foreign bodies or impurities in the web-shaped material.

[0018] Defects are detected by the defect detection unit. Preferably, the defect detection unit includes a camera. The defect detection system may also include a thermographic unit.

[0019] The fault detection unit generates a signal containing information about the monitoring result and sends it to the control unit. This signal preferably includes information about whether a fault has been detected. If a fault has been detected, the signal includes information for determining the fault's location. This information can be directly available in spatial coordinates or determined indirectly via the time of fault detection.

[0020] The device comprises at least one first sheeting hopper, the first sheeting hopper being configured to receive a web section of the downstream transported web-shaped material of a defined minimum cutting length. The first cutting position of the at least one cutting device is arranged upstream above the first sheeting hopper. The defined minimum cutting length is the shortest intended length of a finished web section.

[0021] The sheeting hopper is designed to hold web-shaped material, which has been laid down in stacked layers, moving back and forth, up to a certain capacity. The use of sheeting hoppers makes it possible to prepare web-shaped material for cutting at the specified cutting length without the need for large and complex storage facilities for the web-shaped material.

[0022] The device according to claim 1 is configured to perform the method according to claim 10. In particular, the control unit of the device is configured to perform the method and to control the device, the method comprising the steps of: I. Defining a fixed cutting length or several fixed cutting lengths of different lengths; II. Monitoring the material web by means of the defect detection unit for defects in the web-shaped material and transmitting a signal containing information on the result of the monitoring to the control unit; III. A) if a defect was detected in step II, determining a defect distance between the position of the detected defect and the position of the last cut performed in the device or of a last cut already planned downstream due to a detected defect; comparing the defect distance with the plurality of fixed cutting lengths to determine at least one cutting distance, wherein: i.1. If the defect distance is greater than the specified minimum cutting length and less than the specified maximum cutting length, the defect distance is divided into sections of the specified cutting lengths, and the minimum cutting distance is determined from these sections; 2. If the defect distance is less than a specified minimum cutting length, the cutting distance is at least the defect distance; or 3. If a defect-free section of the web-shaped material exists which is greater than the specified maximum cutting length, the cutting distance is the specified maximum cutting length; 4. Sending at least one cutting command to the at least one cutting device, wherein the web-shaped material is cut at at least one web position located upstream of the last planned or executed cut by the cutting distance.

[0023] A specified cutting length is the length that a section of the web-shaped material should have after cutting. The specified minimum cutting length can be at least 1 m and the specified maximum cutting length at most 200 m. Preferably, the minimum specified cutting length is 10 m, more preferably the specified minimum cutting length is 20 m, and more preferably 25 m. Preferably, the specified maximum cutting length is 50 m, more preferably the specified maximum cutting length is 75 m, and more preferably 100 m. There is at least one specified cutting length. If several specified cutting lengths are defined, they have different lengths.

[0024] The detection of defects in the web-like material is carried out by the defect detection unit. This unit transmits the signal, which contains information about the result of the inspection, to the control unit. If no defect is detected, the signal preferably contains the information that the web is defect-free at the inspected location or that no defect was detected at the time of the inspection.

[0025] If a defect is detected, the signal contains information about that defect, allowing conclusions to be drawn about its position on the web-like material. This information can include, for example, a positional data point on the web-like material, such as a two-dimensional coordinate or a length measurement. The information can also include the time at which the defect was detected, so that, in combination with other data such as the web speed, the location of the defect can be determined.

[0026] Furthermore, the information regarding the monitoring result can preferably include details about the extent of the defect on the material web. Preferably, this is the position of the detected defect where the extended defect was first detected.

[0027] Preferably, a fault length is measured at the position of the detected fault, which indicates the upstream extent of the fault.

[0028] In the case of an extensive fault, an additional cut is made at the position determined by the most upstream end of the fault, so that the fault is completely removed from the web-shaped material.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the signal is sent to the control unit at periodic intervals. These periodic intervals can be, for example, 1 s, 2 s, 5 s, 10 s or 20 s.

[0030] In another preferred embodiment, the signal is only sent to the control unit once either an error has been detected or once a fault-free section of the specified maximum cutting length is present.

[0031] The control unit determines the fault distance. The fault distance is the distance between the position of the detected fault and the position of the last cut performed or of a last cut already planned downstream due to a detected fault.

[0032] Depending on the length of this fault distance, the next cutting distance is determined. The cutting distance is the distance between the last cut performed, or the last cut already scheduled downstream due to a detected fault, and the newly defined upstream path position where the cut will be made. The control unit determines the newly defined path position and the cutting distance.

[0033] A cutting command is sent to the cutting device. This cuts the web-shaped material upstream according to the cutting distance, starting from the position of the last cut performed or a last cut already planned downstream due to a detected fault.

[0034] For example, if no fault is detected over a length of 100 m with a specified maximum cutting length of 100 m, the web-shaped material will be cut 100 m from the last cut, or, if this has not yet been carried out, 100 m from the last cut already planned downstream due to a detected fault.

[0035] If the error distance is greater than the specified minimum cutting length and less than the specified maximum cutting length, the error distance is divided into sections of the specified cutting lengths, thus determining at least one path position for the cut and therefore at least one cutting distance. A residual section may remain after this division.

[0036] Preferably, in step IIIA of the procedure, a first defect distance is determined. Steps IIIA and IV are repeated with a second defect distance if a residual length of the first defect distance remains after step IIIA. The second defect distance is the distance between the position of the defect detected in step II and the last path position of the cut, which is determined in step IV for the first defect distance.

[0037] In a first embodiment of process step III A) i, the defect spacing is divided into sections so that the remaining section is minimal. This embodiment allows the amount of discarded web-shaped material to be kept to a minimum.

[0038] In a second embodiment of process step III A) i, the defect distance is compared with the specified cutting lengths, and if the defect distance is greater than a first specified cutting length and less than a second specified cutting length, then the cutting distance is the first specified cutting length. The first specified cutting length is less than the second specified cutting length, and there is no further specified cutting length whose length lies between the first specified cutting length and the second specified cutting length.

[0039] The remaining second defect distance can be determined and is again compared with the plurality of specified cutting lengths. If the second defect distance is greater than the specified minimum cutting length, the procedure described above for the second embodiment of process step III A) i is repeated until the remaining second defect distance is less than the specified minimum cutting length. The second defect distance that is less than the specified minimum cutting length is the remaining section of this embodiment.

[0040] In repeated iterations of process step III A) in the second embodiment, the remaining, second error distance of the previous iteration is the error distance of the subsequent iteration.

[0041] By means of the second embodiment of process step III A) i, the longest possible web sections can be cut within the error distance.

[0042] The remaining section, which in both embodiments of process step III A) i is always smaller than the specified minimum cutting length, is therefore treated as the error distance after step III A) ii of the process.

[0043] For example, a fault is detected at 65 m after the last cut. The defined cut lengths are 20 m, 50 m, and 100 m. A subdivision of the 65 m fault distance into three sections of 20 m length and a remaining section of 5 m is possible according to the first embodiment of the fault distance subdivision, or into one section of 50 m length and a remaining section of 15 m according to the second embodiment of process step III A) i.

[0044] If the defect spacing is smaller than a specified minimum cutting length, the cutting distance is at least the defect spacing. This can occur if defects appear close to the previous cut, for example, if defects are close together and therefore a path segment of the specified minimum cutting length cannot be removed. It can also occur if, as in the previous example, a new defect spacing is determined after process step III A) i, which is smaller than the specified minimum cutting length. After removing a section of the length of a first specified cutting distance, a material segment usually remains whose length is smaller than the specified minimum cutting length. A second cutting distance is then determined after process step III A). Preferably, this cutting distance corresponds to the defect spacing; more preferably, the cutting distance is the defect spacing plus a tolerance length.The tolerance length specifies a length that allows for the removal of surface-extended defects from the web-shaped material in such a way that no defects or defect components remain in the further web-shaped material. The tolerance length is therefore preferably adapted to the typical extent of the defects in the current direction. For example, the tolerance length is 1 cm, preferably 2 cm, more preferably 5 cm, and particularly 10 cm. In another embodiment, the extent of each individual defect is adapted in the current direction.

[0045] In another embodiment, the cutting distance in process step III A) ii is the specified minimum cutting length. In the example above, the cutting distance is then at least 20 m.

[0046] In one embodiment, the device comprises at least one second sheeting container, at least one cutting device, and at least one second cutting position, wherein all sheeting containers together can accommodate at least one web section of a defined maximum cutting length, and wherein the sheeting container furthest downstream can accommodate at least one web section of a defined minimum cutting length. The cutting positions are arranged upstream of the sheeting containers such that, when the sheeting containers are full, the at least one cutting device can cut the web-like material into web sections corresponding to the filling capacity of the sheeting containers. The cutting positions are preferably located immediately upstream of the sheeting containers.

[0047] In one embodiment, the device comprises at least two cutting devices, the cutting positions of which are located upstream of the sheeting containers in such a way that, when the sheeting containers are full, the respective cutting devices can cut the web-shaped material into web sections of the filling capacity of the sheeting containers.

[0048] The sheeting containers can also hold a web section whose length is shorter than the section that would fill the container. The at least one cutting device can then divide the web-shaped material into sections corresponding to the partial fill of the sheeting containers. Cutting takes place at the cutting position located above the sheeting container.

[0049] For example, if, with two cutting hoppers with a filling capacity of a specified minimum cutting length of 25 m, the second cutting hopper is 60% full, i.e., the cutting hopper holds a track section of length 15 m, then track sections of length 40 m or 25 m and 15 m can optionally be cut.

[0050] The device preferably comprises at least one cutting device with preferably three cutting positions and in particular four cutting positions.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises at least three cutting devices and particularly preferably at least four cutting devices, each with one cutting position.

[0052] Likewise, the device preferably comprises at least three sheeting containers and particularly preferably at least four sheeting containers, wherein the number of sheeting containers preferably corresponds to the number of cutting positions.

[0053] A multitude of stripping hoppers, combined with upstream cutting positions, allows the web-shaped material to be cut directly after stripping. This makes it possible to cut the web-shaped material into sections of suitable length, depending on the location of defects, without having to remove the material from a storage container. A single stripping hopper, from which the material must be pulled before the cutting process, is often not suitable for every type of web-shaped material. Such a storage container for web-shaped material would therefore be costly, especially for webs several meters long. During stripping, the web-shaped material is laid down in Z-shaped layers, one on top of the other. The first stripped web-shaped material is located at the bottom of the stripping hopper.If the material were to be removed from below, force would have to be applied. This would create tension on the sheet-like material. Depending on the coefficient of friction of the sheet-like material and the weight of the sheet-like material being removed, this could lead to damage to the sheet-like material during removal. Furthermore, with elastic, sheet-like material, this process would lead to deformation, particularly stretching, of the material sheet, which in turn would necessitate a re-determination of the defect's position in the material. Regardless of whether this re-determination is carried out, for example, by re-measurement or by calculating the new defect position, the device or procedure becomes more complex.In the present invention, it is not necessary for the web-shaped material to be under tension; therefore, it is also suitable for cutting long web sections of heavy, elastic web-shaped material whose surface has a high coefficient of friction.

[0054] Preferably, all cutting containers can accommodate a web section of a specified minimum cutting length. Preferably, the cutting containers can collectively accommodate at least one web section of the specified maximum cutting length.

[0055] Preferably, the filling capacity of a sheeting container is adjustable, and preferably the distance between the cutting positions is also adjustable to this filling capacity of the sheeting containers, so that the cutting position is always arranged upstream immediately in front of the sheeting containers.

[0056] In the sheeting hoppers, a web section of the material, at least the length of the first cutting gap, is initially collected. The first cutting command is then executed by a cutting device at the first cutting position, which is located upstream directly above the sheeting hopper. This hopper, in combination with the sheeting hoppers located downstream below it, can hold at least the web section the length of the first cutting gap. The sheeting hopper furthest upstream below the first cutting position does not need to be completely full. The cutting device then divides the web material into a web section the length of the first cutting gap.

[0057] If a further cutting command is forwarded to a cutting device by the control unit, the second web section of the web-shaped material, which has at least the length of the second cutting distance, is preferably collected in the at least one sheeting container arranged upstream of the first cutting position where the first cutting command was executed. Subsequently, this second cutting command is preferably carried out by the cutting device at the cutting position that is located upstream directly above the sheeting container, which, in combination with the sheeting containers arranged upstream of the first cutting position, can hold at least the web section with the length of the second cutting distance.

[0058] Any additional cutting commands that may be present are determined using the same procedure.

[0059] Preferably, the stripping containers include bottoms that can be opened individually. After cutting, the bottom furthest downstream, as well as all bottoms downstream of the first cutting position where the first cut was made, can be opened. This allows the cut web section to be fed preferably to a collection device. If further cuts have been made, then all bottoms of the stripping containers located downstream of the cutting position where a cut was made are opened. After the cutting command is executed, all bottoms of the stripping containers located downstream of the cutting position furthest downstream where a cut was made are opened first. In this way, the cut web sections can be successively fed individually, starting downstream, to a collection device.

[0060] Furthermore, the device preferably comprises at least two collection devices. The first collection device is designed to collect web sections that have at least one defect. The second collection device can collect web sections of at least one specified minimum cutting length. Particularly preferably, the number of collection devices in the device corresponds to at least the number of specified cutting lengths, with the addition of a collection device for the defective web sections. The cut web section is preferably sorted into a collection device depending on its length. Thus, a web section that is shorter than a specified minimum cutting length will always be sorted into the first collection device.Likewise, the defect-free web sections with a length of a specified cutting length will preferably be sorted into collecting devices that only hold other defect-free web sections of the same length.

[0061] Preferably, the web sections of the specified cut lengths are placed directly into a suitable shipping carton. This has the advantage that no intermediate stock is created and the need to transfer the finished material webs is avoided.

[0062] Preferably, the signal to the control unit, which contains information about the monitoring result, also includes further information about the fault if one has been detected. Faults can preferably be classified into a first fault class and a second fault class. For example, the first fault class consists of faults that restrict the functionality of the web-like material and therefore must be removed, while the faults in the second fault class are faults whose occurrence is acceptable for the further use of the web-like material.

[0063] Preferably, the device comprises a marking device, wherein the marking device can indicate defects on the web-shaped material and wherein the defect device is arranged downstream of the defect detection unit.

[0064] Preferably, the errors of the second error class and optionally the errors of the first error class are marked using the marking device.

[0065] Figure 1 shows a schematic structure of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention.

[0066] Figure 2 shows a schematic structure of another embodiment of the device according to the invention.

[0067] Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0068] Figure 4 Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the invention. The figure illustrates an exemplary cutting process.

[0069] Figure 5 shows the embodiment of the Figure 4 The illustration shows how the cut section of track is sorted.

[0070] Figure 6shows another schematic representation of an embodiment of the invention with a cutting device.

[0071] The device 100 after Figure 1 This serves to cut the web-shaped material 120 into sections of the specified cutting length. L to cut 0 and at the same time to cut out possible defect areas from the web-shaped material 120.

[0072] The device 100 comprises the defect detection unit 101, the control unit 105, and a cutting device 103. The web-shaped material is guided past the defect detection unit 101. The defect detection unit 101 detects any defects present in the material and sends a signal to the control unit 105. Downstream of the defect detection unit 101, the web-shaped material is collected in a cutting hopper 102. This cutting hopper 102 can collect a web section of the specified cutting length. L record 0, wherebyL 0 is the only fixed cutting length. Upstream of the sheeting container 102, there is a cutting position of at least one cutting device 103. Here, a cutting device 103 with a cutting position upstream of the sheeting container 102 is arranged.

[0073] If no fault is detected, a track section of length L The section is cut off at 0. If, however, a defect is detected, the cutting distance is determined by the distance between the detected defect and the last cut performed, or the last cut already planned downstream due to a detected defect. The cut is made using the cutting device 103 while the sheeting hopper 102 is not completely filled.

[0074] The cut material strips of length LItems 0 can be directly inserted into shipping cartons 104b. The shipping carton would then only contain flawless, cut material strips of length 0. L 0 included. Cut material strips that are shorter than L If there are 0, they are collected in a collection device 104a for residual sections.

[0075] Another embodiment of the device 100, as in Figure 2The system shown comprises the defect detection unit 101, the control unit 105, and four cutting devices 103a, 103b, 103c, and 103d. The web-shaped material 120 is guided past the defect detection unit 101. The defect detection unit 101 detects whether a defect is present in the material and sends a signal to the control unit 105. Downstream of the defect detection unit 101, the web-shaped material 120 is collected in several trimming hoppers 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d. The trimming hoppers furthest downstream, 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d, are filled first. Each trimming hopper can hold a web section of the specified minimum cutting length. L 0. Upstream of the sheeting tanks 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, a cutting position of a cutting device 103a, 103b, 103c, 103d is arranged.

[0076] The cut material webs are collected in the collection devices 104a, 104b, 104c, 104d, 104e.

[0077] The inventive method is described in Figure 3 schematically represented.

[0078] The specified cutting lengths for the processing of the material web are in this embodiment L 0 , L 1 , L 2 and L 3 after step I, (step 201). This could be, for example, L 0 = 25 m, L 1 = 50 m, L 2 = 75 m and L 3 = 100 m.

[0079] If a fault is detected by the fault detection unit 101 (step 202), a signal containing information about the result of the monitoring, such as the position of this fault, is sent to the control unit 105.

[0080] If a defect-free web section of the specified maximum cutting length exists, then the cutting distance is the specified maximum cutting length (step 204a). A web section of length L 3, i.e. separated by 100 m.

[0081] An error occurs at that point LIf F is detected, the defect distance is determined (step 203). If a cut has already been made, and no further defect occurred between this cut and the detected defect, the defect distance is the distance between the position of the detected defect and the last cut. If a further defect was previously detected between the already made cut and this detected defect, then, according to the method according to the invention, this results in a cutting command being sent to the cutting device. This cutting command does not yet have to have been executed. In this case, a cut has already been planned. The cutting distance is then the distance between the position of this planned cut and the position of the detected defect.

[0082] The error margin determined in this way is compared with the specified cutting lengths (steps 204b, 204c).

[0083] If the defect distance is greater than the minimum specified cutting length and less than the specified maximum cutting length (step 204b), the defect distance is divided into sections of the specified cutting lengths, and the minimum cutting distance is determined from these sections. The cuts are planned such that a residual section remains that is essentially minimal. It is also possible to preferably cut the largest possible sections from the defect-free portion of the web-shaped material 120, which has the length of the specified defect distance.

[0084] If the error distance is less than a specified minimum cutting length (step 204c), then the cutting distance is at least the error distance.

[0085] Steps 203 and 204 (III) can be represented by the following pseudocode. Here, the largest possible sections are cut from the defect-free portion of the web-shaped material 120.

[0086] The variables for the cutting lengths L 0 , L 1 , L 2 and L 3 are L0, L1, L2 and L3.

[0087] First, it is determined whether a flawless piece of the specified maximum cutting length L3 is present. If so, a cutting command is sent for a web segment of length L3, and the web position at which the cut will be made is redefined.

[0088] The function `cut(Pos)` sends the cutting command for the web-shaped material 120 to the cutting device 103, 103a, 103b, 103c, 103d. The new path position for the cut is given by the distance to the old path position of the cut. This distance is the argument of the function `cut`.

[0089] If a fault is detected and no fault-free track section of length L3 can be extracted, a fault distance is determined.

[0090] The error distance is compared to the defined cutting lengths L0, L1, L2, and L3. The error distance is always either shorter than L0, longer than L3, or it lies between two consecutive defined cutting lengths. Each error distance can therefore be assigned to exactly one case.

[0091] When a cutting command is sent or the function cut is called, the new error distance between the error and the last cut performed or the last cut already planned downstream due to a detected error is updated via the new path position of the cut.

[0092] The new error margin is also compared with the specified cutting lengths.

[0093] If the error distance is less than L0, the path position at which the cut occurs is determined by the error distance, and the cut is made at the error position. Therefore, the new error distance becomes 0, and the loop termination condition is met.

[0094] After sending the at least one cutting command (step 205) to the at least one cutting device 103, 103a, 103b, 103c, 103d, the web-shaped material 120 is cut at at least one web position which is located according to the cutting distance, starting from the last cut performed or the last cut already provided downstream by means of the cutting device 103, 103a, 103b, 103c, 103d due to a detected error.

[0095] After cutting, the cut web sections are collected in the collecting devices 104a, 104b, 104c, 104d, 104e. Each collecting device can hold cut web sections of length L 0, L 1 , L 2 or L 3. Track sections smaller than L Items 0 are discarded. Assigning them to their respective collection containers has the advantage that track sections of the same length can be quickly prepared for shipping. The collection container 104b, 104c, 104d, 104e can also be the shipping carton.

[0096] Figure 4 and Figure 5 show an embodiment of the invention in which the bottoms of the sheeting containers 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d can be opened individually.

[0097] Provided no fault is detected, the sheeting tanks 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d will be filled. The sheeting tanks furthest downstream will be filled first.

[0098] Similarly, the cutting containers 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d can only be partially filled if, for example, a web section of a cutting length that is smaller than the specified maximum cutting length is to be cut.

[0099] If at least one fault is detected by means of the fault detection unit 101, at least one cutting command is transmitted by means of the control unit 105 to the at least one cutting device 103a, 103b, 103c, 103d. Figure 4 shows the cutting process for a fault that occurs after a fault distance which is greater than L 1 and L 0 combined, has occurred. Therefore, a track section of length L 1 and a railway section of length L0 is cut out of the defect-free, web-shaped material 120 between the last cut and the detected defect. The cutting device 103a, which is located above the furthest downstream sheeting hopper 102a, does not perform a cut. The two upstream cutting positions of the cutting devices 103b, 103c cut the web-shaped material 120 into the web section of length L 1 and the railway section of length L 0. The most upstream cutting position also performs a cut to remove a web segment containing the defect. This web segment is smaller than the smallest specified cut length. L 0 .

[0100] Next, all the bottoms of the sheeting tanks 102a and 102b, which hold the sheeted and cut section of track furthest downstream, are opened. This section of track has the lengthL 1. At the same time, the collecting device 104c, the track sections of the same length (here L 1) holds, moves below the cutting containers 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d so that the cut web section can be collected, as in Figure 5 shown.

[0101] This process is repeated until all cut web sections, including the web section which has defects, have been collected by means of a collection device 104a, 104b, 104c, 104d, 104e.

[0102] Here, the railway section of length will first be described. L 0 into the collection device 104b for L 0 is sorted and then the track section containing the fault is sorted into a collection device 104a for faulty track sections.

[0103] The procedure can then be repeated.

[0104] Figure 6Figure 1 shows a further embodiment of the invention with a single cutting device 103 having four possible cutting positions a, b, c, d. The cutting unit of the cutting device, for example a blade or an ultrasonic cutting unit, can be moved between the cutting positions. The positioning of the cutting unit can be carried out, for example, by means of a robot arm. Alternatively, the cutting unit can be guided to the correct cutting position along the material path by means of a guide rail.

[0105] This embodiment is particularly advantageous when a technically sophisticated cutting unit is used, for example, an ultrasonic cutting unit. As in Figure 4 The web-shaped material is cut at 3 positions, here b, c and d.

Claims

1. Device for cutting a material in web form, comprising at least one cutting device (103, 103a, 103b, 103c, 103d) for cutting up the material in web form (120) at at least a first cutting position into web sections, a control unit (105), a defect detection unit (101), a means for moving the material in web form (120), so that the material in web form (120) can be taken in a downstream-proceeding direction first past the defect detection unit (101) and then past the at least one cutting device (103, 103a, 103b, 103c, 103d), and wherein the defect detection unit (101) is designed to monitor the material in web form (120) for defects and to transmit to the control unit (105) a signal which contains information on the result of the monitoring, characterized in that the device comprises at least a first cuttling container (102, 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d), wherein the first cuttling container (102, 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d) can receive a web section of the downstream-transported material in web form (120) of a fixed minimum cut length, wherein during the cuttling the material in web form is laid in layers one on top of the other in a z-shaped manner, wherein the fixed minimum cut length is the shortest intended length of a prepared web section, and wherein the first cutting position of the at least one cutting device (103, 103a) is arranged upstream above the first cuttling container (102, 102a).

2. Device according to Claim 1, comprising at least a second cuttling container (102, 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d) and at least a second cutting position, wherein all of the cuttling containers (102, 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d) combined can receive a web section of a fixed maximum cut length, wherein the fixed maximum cut length is the longest intended length of a prepared web section, and wherein the first cuttling container (102, 102a) is arranged furthest downstream, and wherein the cutting positions are in each case arranged upstream ahead of the cuttling containers (102, 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d).

3. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein all of the cuttling containers (102, 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d) can receive a web section of a fixed minimum cut length.

4. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein each cuttling container has a bottom and the bottoms of the cuttling containers (102, 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d) can be opened individually.

5. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the filling capacity of a cuttling container (102, 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d) is adaptable and wherein the distance between the cutting positions is adaptable to this filling capacity of the cuttling containers (102, 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d).

6. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the fixed minimum cut length is 25 m and wherein the fixed maximum cut length is 100 m.

7. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises a marking device, wherein the marking device can mark defects on the material in web form (120) and wherein the marking device is arranged downstream after the defect detection unit (101) .

8. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises at least two catching devices (104a, 104b, 104c, 104d, 104e), and wherein the first catching device (104a) can receive web sections that have a defect and the other catching devices (104b, 104c, 104d, 104e) can receive web sections of at least one of the fixed cut lengths.

9. Device according to Claim 8, wherein the device comprises a catching device (104a, 104b, 104c, 104d, 104e) respectively for each fixed cut length.

10. Method for cutting a material in web form (120) using a device according to at least one of Claims 1 to 9, comprising the steps of: I. fixing (201) a fixed cut length or a number of fixed cut lengths that have different lengths; II. monitoring the material web (202) by means of the defect detection unit (101) for defects in the material in web form (120), and transmitting to the control unit (105) a signal which contains information on the result of the monitoring; III. A) if a defect was detected in step II, determining (203) a defect distance between the position of the detected defect and the position of the last cut carried out in the device or a last cut already provided downstream as a result of a detected defect; comparing (204b, 204c) the defect distance with the multiplicity of fixed cut lengths in order to determine at least one cutting distance, wherein: i. if the defect distance is greater than the fixed minimum cut length and less than the fixed maximum cut length (204b), the defect distance is divided into sections of the fixed cut lengths and at least one cutting distance is determined from this, ii. if the defect distance is less than a fixed minimum cut length (204c), the cutting distance is at least the defect distance, or B) if a defect-free section of the material in web form (120) which is greater than the fixed maximum cut length is obtained (204a), the cutting distance is the fixed maximum cut length; IV. sending (205) at least one cutting command to the at least one cutting device (103, 103a, 103b, 103c, 103d), wherein the material in web form (120) is cut at at least one web position which, taken from the last planned cut or cut carried out, is upstream by the cutting distance.

11. Method according to Claim 10, wherein, after the implementation of the cutting command, first all of the bottoms of the cuttling containers (102, 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d) that are arranged downstream of the cutting position at which a cut has been carried out are opened, so that the web section cut furthest downstream is discarded first.

12. Method according to Claim 10 or 11, wherein the cut web section is sorted into a catching device (104a, 104b, 104c, 104d, 104e) which only holds other defect-free web sections of the same length.

13. Method according to at least one of Claims 10 to 12, wherein the defect detected by means of the defect detection unit (101) is classified by means of the control unit (105) into a first defect class and a second defect class, wherein only the defects of the first defect class are taken into consideration in the method according to Claim 10.

14. Method according to at least one of Claims 10 to 13, wherein the defects of the second defect class and optionally the defects of the first defect class are marked by means of the marking device.

15. Method according to at least one of Claims 10 to 14, wherein, in step III A, first a first defect distance is determined, and wherein steps III A and IV are carried out once again with a second defect distance if, after step III A i, a residual length of the first defect distance remains, wherein the second defect distance is the distance between the position of the defect detected in step II and the last web position that is determined in step IV in relation to the first defect distance.