Machine for cutting hides

Abstract

Machine for cutting hides (100), which comprises a first support frame (2), advancement means (3), mounted on the first support frame (2) along an advancement direction (X), intended to support a hide (100) on an advancement plane (α) and arranged for advancing said hide (100) along the advancement direction (X). The machine also comprises a cutting station (4), placed downstream of the advancement means (3) and comprising a support element (40), which is side-by-side the advancement means (3) and is arranged for supporting at least one portion of the hide (100), and cutting means (41), which are placed above the support element (40), are movable along a first movement direction (Y), in order to carry out at least one cut of the hide (100). The support element (40) comprises a main portion (400), which is extended along a main extension direction (Z), transverse to the advancement direction (X) and to the first movement direction (Y), and such main portion (400) is provided with a lateral surface (401). The support element (40) also comprises a plurality of abutment elements (402), which are projectingly extended from the lateral surface (401) of the main portion (400) and are arranged to abuttingly support the hide (100) during the cut.

Description

Field of application

[0001] The present invention regards a machine for cutting hides according to the preamble of the independent claim 1.

[0002] The present machine is adapted to be employed for cutting hides, both in the tanning field and in the leather goods industry, such as for example in the production of articles made of hide / leather, in particular clothing articles and accessories such as for example handbags, shoes, clothes, and belts.

[0003] The present machine is in particular employable as trimmer machine, in order to cut or trip raw hides or treated hides (e.g. already calcined or tanned) in view of the subsequent tanning and / or finishing operations.

[0004] The present machine is therefore situated in the technical field of production of machines for tanning and / or leather goods.State of the art

[0005] As is known, in the hide processing industry, the raw hides are first of all separated from the animal by means of a skinning operation and, subsequently, they are treated by means of a machine known in the technical jargon as fleshing machine, in order to remove possible meat residues that remained attached to the animal's hide.

[0006] Following the fleshing, the hides are subjected to a trimming operation, by means of which the hide is trimmed in order to remove the less worthy parts present on the edges and to discard possible portions of the hide that have defects, before the subsequent tanning steps.

[0007] Indeed, it can frequently occur that the raw hide has defects and irregularities, mainly deriving from the process of skinning the hide executed before the slaughter of the animal. For example, the most frequent defects that appear on the raw hides consist of portions with reduced thickness, of holes or of the so-called stripped defect, which consists of small incisions on the hide that are formed during the skinning process.

[0008] The operation of cutting the hides during trimming is conventionally executed manually by an operator. More in detail, the hide is initially spread out (manually or by means of an operating arm) on a support table having dimensions that are usually smaller than those of the hide to be cut and, subsequently, the operator manually executes the operation of cutting, by means of manual knives or cutters, the lateral portions of the raw hide that project from the support table.

[0009] However, such manual trimming is particularly slow in terms of time, above all in the case of large-size hides or high-thickness hides, i.e. hard to manually trim. In addition, such operation is extremely imprecise and not very constant over time, since it is entrusted to the sensitivity of the operator and to his / her discretional repeatability. Finally, the manual trimming is particularly dangerous for the operator who executes it.

[0010] Therefore, over the years, automated machines have been developed for the cutting and trimming of the hides, capable of automatically operating, with greater precision and without requiring the need for operator assistance.

[0011] Such machines are generally provided with a base frame, comprising a cutting surface on which the hide is spread, and cutting means, e.g. with disc blade, arranged in order to cut the hide and impart a precise geometry to the latter.

[0012] More in detail, such machines of known type comprise a conveyor belt, against which the hide to be trimmed is abutted and which slides along an advancement direction, so as to advance the hide towards the cutting means, which are placed in abutment against the conveyor belt, to intercept the advancement direction, so as to intercept and trim the raw hide.

[0013] In particular, the aforesaid cutting means are fixed with respect to the conveyor belt and are usually placed at the lateral edges of the latter, with the respective blades oriented along the advancement direction, so as to trim the hide at its lateral edges in a continuous and automatic manner.

[0014] However, also such a kind of machines for cutting or trimming hides has in practice proven that it does not lack drawbacks.

[0015] The main drawback lies in the fact that such machines involve high times and maintenance costs. Indeed, with the passage of time, the cutting means significantly wear the conveyor belt against which the hide to be cut is abutted. Such wear involves a frequent substitution of the conveyor belt, which is extremely costly in terms of time and money for the company.

[0016] Such wear is also even more considerable due to the fact that the cutting means act in a constant manner on the same conveyor belt portion, further reducing the lifetimes of the latter.

[0017] In addition, also the cutting means, by acting against the rigid surface of the conveyor belt, undergo a quicker wear and, therefore, generate an imprecise cut, and require frequent sharpening operations or, if chipped, must be substituted.

[0018] A further drawback lies in the fact that even such machines have poor precision during their use. Indeed, as set forth above, the raw hides have many defects due to different thicknesses between the various zones of the hide, and the arrangement of the aforesaid fixed cutting means with respect to the conveyor belt causes an insufficient cutting at the portions with increased thickness, and / or wear of the conveyor belt that is even more significant in the case of hide portions with reduced thickness.

[0019] In addition, such machines do not allow optimizing the cutting and the trimming of the raw hides as a function of the different hides that must be trimmed. Indeed, as is known, the raw hides often have a variable number and concentration of defects, whose arrangement can vary depending on the type of hide and on the skinning operation that was previously executed.

[0020] Such machines, however, by having cutting means fixed at a fixed distance from the edge of the conveyor belt, provide for cutting the hides with pre-established sizes and dimensions, in some cases determining the waste of valuable hide portions, those with good aesthetic value, or in other cases determining the presence of defects not cut in the trimmed hide.

[0021] Further examples of machines for cutting hides are described in the documents DE 3326776A1 and FR 1152744A, which comprise a further support element, separate from the conveyor belt, which is placed below the cutting means and is adapted to support the hide during the cutting operation. In particular, the machine described in the document DE 3326776A1 comprises two counter-rotating rollers, between which the hide to be cut passes, of which one of the rollers is provided with shaped blades in order to cut the hide. The document FR 1152744A comprises a support roller which is provided with a plurality of rigid needles, configured for receiving the hide to be cut on the upper part and lifting it, making it advance along a cutting path. More in detail, the machine described in the document FR 1152744A provides that the support roller is provided with multiple rows of needles, spaced from each other, and that the cutting means are placed above, between two adjacent rows of needles, so as to cut the hide supported between these two rows, preventing the interference between the cutting means and the rigid needles of the support roller.

[0022] However, such machines do not allow resolving the abovementioned problems of the machines of known type, and in particular they do not allow reducing the wear and the risks of breakage of the components, and carrying out a cut in a precise manner, diversified depending on the user requirements.Presentation of the invention

[0023] In this situation, the problem underlying the present invention is that of overcoming the drawbacks manifested by the prior art up to now, by providing a machine for cutting hides, which allows reducing the wear of the cutting surface and of the cutting means with respect to the machines of known type.

[0024] Further object of the present invention is to provide a machine for cutting hides, which requires reduced maintenance and reduced substitution of its elements.

[0025] Further object of the present invention is to provide a machine for cutting hides, which allows cutting the hides with high precision.

[0026] Further object of the present invention is to provide a machine for cutting hides, which allows trimming hides in an optimized manner based on the defects that are actually present.

[0027] Further object of the present invention is to provide a machine for cutting hides, which ensures high operating flexibility.

[0028] Further object of the present invention is to provide a machine for cutting hides, which is entirely reliable in operation.

[0029] Further object of the present invention is to provide a machine for cutting hides, which is simple and inexpensive to achieve.Brief description of the drawings

[0030] The technical characteristics of the invention, according to the aforesaid objects, are clearly found in the contents of the below-reported claims and the advantages thereof will be more evident in the following detailed description, made with reference to the enclosed drawings, which represent a merely exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention, in which: figure 1 shows a perspective view of the machine for cutting a hide, object of the present invention; figure 2 shows a further perspective view of the machine for cutting hides of figure 1, with several parts removed in order to better illustrate other parts; figure 3 shows a detail of the machine for cutting hides of figure 1, relative to a support element for the cutting means; figure 4 shows a sectional side view relative to the support element of figure 3; figure 5 shows a side view relative to the support element of figure 3; figure 6 shows a perspective view of a detail of the machine for cutting hides of figure 1, with a cutting station highlighted; figure 7 shows a partial side view of the machine for cutting a hide of figure 1, with the cutting station highlighted; figure 8 shows an enlarged detail of the side view of the cutting station of figure 7, with actuator members highlighted. Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

[0031] With reference to the enclosed drawings, reference number 1 overall indicates an embodiment of a machine for cutting hides 100, object of the present invention.

[0032] The present machine 1 is adapted to be employed in production plants of the tanning industry, so as to cut and / or trim a hide 100, whether this is raw or treated, for the subsequent steps of tanning or finishing.

[0033] In particular, the machine 1, object of the present invention, is preferably employable in the initial step of production of a tanning product, in which the hide 100 to be tanned is prepared before proceeding to the subsequent actual tanning step.

[0034] More in detail, the present machine 1 is inserted within a production plant of the tanning industry, advantageously downstream of a fleshing machine and / or of a possible analyzer machine, which respectively have the functions of removing from the hide 100 the meat residues that have remained attached following the skinning and analyzing the hide 100 to be cut and / or trimmed in order to identify the presence of possible defects, such as for example irregularities or abrasions.

[0035] In addition, the present machine 1 is advantageously placed upstream of a splitter machine, which has the function of cutting the hide 100 in order to divide it, as is known, between the top cut / grain (the most external and most valuable part of the hide) and the bottom cut / split (the internal part, on the meat side, generally of lower quality), which generally follow two tanning processes that different from each other based on the use aims of the hide 100 itself.

[0036] Without departing from the protective scope of the present invention, the machine 1 can also be placed downstream of the splitter machine, in order to analyze the top cut / grain and / or the bottom cut / split of the already-split hide, or of other machines adapted to carry out further treatments on the raw hide.

[0037] In accordance with the idea underlying the present invention, the machine 1 for cutting hides 100 comprises a first support frame 2, preferably made of metal material, which is advantageously intended to be abutted against the ground, directly or indirectly with platforms or other structures.

[0038] The machine 1 also comprises first advancement means 3, which are mounted on the first support frame 2, are intended to support the hide 100 on an advancement plane α and are arranged for advancing the latter along an advancement direction X.

[0039] More in detail, the first advancement means 3 advantageously comprise at least two first transport rollers 31, mechanically mounted on the first support frame 2, rotatably around corresponding first rotation axes R1 that are parallel to each other.

[0040] In addition, the first advancement means 3 advantageously comprise a first conveyor belt 32, which is wound as a ring around at least the two first transport rollers 31 and is susceptible of advancing along the advancement direction X, substantially perpendicular to the first rotation axes R1 of the first transport rollers 31 themselves.

[0041] Advantageously, the first conveyor belt 32 can be any one support element adapted to allow abuttingly supporting the hide 100 to be cut, regardless of its physical and mechanical characteristics, in fact for such purpose a common conveyor belt can be suitable, or a fabric (such as for example a felt belt) or a grid.

[0042] Advantageously, at least one of the two transport rollers 31 is motorized, in order to automatically advance the hide 100 along the aforesaid advancement direction X.

[0043] For such purpose, the first advancement means 3 advantageously comprise first motor means 30, which are preferably mounted on the first support frame 2 and are mechanically connected to at least one first transport roller 31 in order to rotate it around the corresponding first rotation axis R1 so to advance the first conveyor belt 32 in the advancement direction X.

[0044] Preferably, the first motor means 30 comprise at least one electric motor, preferably mounted on the first support frame 2 and fitted on a first transport roller 31 in order to rotate it around the first rotation axis R1 thereof.

[0045] Advantageously, the aforesaid electric motor is selected between brushless electric motor or synchronous three-phase motor.

[0046] Preferably, the first advancement means 3 comprise tensioning means, which are mounted on the first support frame 2 and are mechanically connected to at least one first transport roller 31 in order to move it along a direction substantially parallel to the actuation direction X. In this manner, the first conveyor belt 32 is maintained at a tension value such that the friction between the first transport roller 31 actuated by the first motor means 30 and the first conveyor belt 32 is sufficient to advance the first conveyor belt 32 itself.

[0047] Preferably, the tensioning means comprise at least one threaded bar fixed to the first support frame 2 and mechanically connected to a first transport roller 31 in order to exert a force on the latter that is substantially parallel to the advancement direction X. The tensioning means comprising a threaded bar are well known to the man skilled in the art and therefore will not be described with greater detail hereinbelow.

[0048] Without departing from the protective scope of the present invention, the tensioning means can comprise at least one hydraulic piston mounted on the first support frame 2 and mechanically connected to a first transport roller 31.

[0049] Advantageously, the movement means 3 comprise two second transport rollers, mechanically mounted on the first support frame 2, rotatably around corresponding second rotation axes that are parallel to each other and preferably parallel to the first rotation axes R1 of the first transport rollers 31.

[0050] Preferably, the first conveyor belt 32 is wound as a ring around the first transport rollers 31 and the second transport rollers.

[0051] More in detail, the first conveyor belt 32 comprises an operative upper portion 32' substantially advantageously directed upward, which is extended between the first transport rollers 31, on which the hide 100 to be processed is intended to be placed, and a lower connection portion 32" placed spaced and below the operative upper portion 32' and advantageously substantially parallel to the latter.

[0052] In this case, by operative upper "portion" 32' of the first conveyor belt 32, it must be intended the part of the latter that is situated, at each instant, above said first transport rollers 31, and by lower connection "portion" 32" it must be intended the remaining part of the first conveyor belt 32 itself. More in detail, due to the advancement of the first conveyor belt 32, the part of the latter that constitutes the aforesaid operative upper portion 32' is not always the same but varies at each instant, and consequently also the part that constitutes the lower connection portion 32".

[0053] The machine 1 also comprises a cutting station 4, which is placed downstream of the first advancement means 3 and comprises a support element 40, which is side-by-side the first advancement means 3 along the advancement direction X and is arranged for supporting at least one portion of the hide 100 placed downstream of the first advancement means 3.

[0054] In other words, the hide 100 during its advancement along the aforesaid advancement direction X is supported by the first advancement means 3 in order to find, subsequently, and preferably immediately downstream, the cutting station 4 arranged in order to cut and / or trim the hide 100.

[0055] The cutting station 4 also comprises cutting means 41, which are placed above the support element 40, are movable along a first movement direction Y, substantially orthogonal to the advancement plane α in order to intercept the portion of the hide 100 supported by the support element 40 and carry out at least one cut of the aforesaid hide 100.

[0056] Advantageously, the cutting means 41 comprise at least one cutting member 410, for example a rotary blade, known in the technical jargon with the term "cutter" which is preferably made of metal material. Of course, the rotary blade can also be made of a different material, such as for example a ceramic material.

[0057] Preferably, the rotary blade has a cutting edge, placed on radial peripheral portion thereof, adapted to intercept the hide 100 in order to cut it, but it can also be provided with a serrated profile without departing from the protective scope of the present invention.

[0058] Advantageously, the cutting means 41 are actuatable in rotation in order to cut the hide 100, in particular by means of a first actuator member 43.

[0059] More in detail, the cutting station 4 comprises a first actuator member 43, preferably an electric motor, which is mounted on the cutting means 41 and is provided with a rotor connected to the cutting member 410 and arranged for the latter (e.g. a rotary blade) of the cutting means 41 around a rotation axis thereof in order to carry out the cut of the hide 100.

[0060] Advantageously, the aforesaid electric motor is selected between brushless electric motor or synchronous three-phase motor.

[0061] More in detail, the first actuator member 43 comprises a motion transmission mechanism, preferably of chain or belt type, interposed between the aforesaid electric motor and the cutting member 410.

[0062] Advantageously, the cutting means 41 are placed above the advancement plane α of the first advancement means 3, such that their movement along the aforesaid first movement direction Y allows intercepting the hide 100 that lies on the advancement plane α.

[0063] The support element 40 comprises a main portion 400, which is extended along a main extension direction Z, transverse to the advancement direction X and to the first movement direction Y, and such main portion 400 is provided with a lateral surface 401.

[0064] In accordance with the preferred embodiment, illustrated in figure 2, the main portion 400 of the support element 40 is a cylindrical roller and preferably has a circular section, obtained by means of a section plane orthogonal to the advancement plane α. Preferably, the main portion 400 of the support element 40 has an external diameter comprised between 60 and 160 mm.

[0065] Alternatively, the main portion 400 of the support element 40 is a prismatic body, and preferably has a polygonal section (e.g. square or rectangular), obtained by means of a section plane orthogonal to the advancement plane α. Preferably, the main portion 400 of the support element 40 has a maximum external size comprised between 60 and 160 mm.

[0066] Advantageously, the support element 40, and preferably the main portion 400 of the latter, is extended for the entire width of the first advancement means 3, and still more preferably has an extension along the main extension direction Z comparable to the extension of the first conveyor belt 32 along the same main extension direction Z. The support element 40 also comprises a plurality of abutment elements 402, preferably spaced from each other, which are projectingly extended from the lateral surface 401 of the main portion 400 and are arranged to abuttingly support the hide 100 during cutting.

[0067] Advantageously, the cut attained by the cutting means 41 is therefore localized at the support element 40, preferably always on a hide portion 100 that is abutted against the support element 40, which therefore defines a cutting zone of the machine 1.

[0068] In other words, the cutting means 41 are arranged for always operating spaced from the advancement means 3, and in particular from the first conveyor belt 32, without having to intercept the latter.

[0069] In accordance with the aforesaid preferred embodiment, the plurality of abutment elements 402 are extended radially from the aforesaid cylindrical roller.

[0070] Advantageously, the abutment elements 402 of the plurality of abutment elements 402 are extended between a first end 402', fixed to the main portion 400 of the support element 40, and an opposite free second end 402", against which during use at least part of the hide 100 is intended to be abutted during cutting.

[0071] Advantageously, the abutment elements 402 are provided with an extension, measured between their first end 402' and their second end 402", comprised between 10 and 50 mm.

[0072] Advantageously, the second ends 402" of the abutment elements 402 define a maximum external diameter of the support element 40 and the advancement plane α is preferably tangent to such maximum external diameter.

[0073] Advantageously, at least part of the abutment elements 402 of the support element 40 is directed towards the advancement means 3 and, preferably, the second ends 402" of the abutment elements 402 are substantially placed at the front end of the advancement means 3, and in particular of the conveyor belt, in order to define with the latter an advancement continuity of the hide 100 along the aforesaid advancement direction X.

[0074] Advantageously, at least part of the abutment elements 402 of the support element 40 is directed towards the cutting means 41, and the second ends 402" of the abutment elements 402 are placed substantially coplanar to the advancement plane α of the first advancement means 3.

[0075] Advantageously, the abutment elements 402 directed towards the cutting means 41 are substantially oriented substantially parallel to the first movement direction Y and between them define an abutment plane substantially parallel and coplanar to the advancement plane α.

[0076] Advantageously, the abutment elements 402 are elastically pliable elements, arranged in order to be elastically deformed at least partially when the cutting means 41 intercept the hide 100 during cutting. More in detail, the abutment elements 402 are susceptible of being deformed and / or moved when the cutting means 41, for example the rotary blade, is moved along the first movement direction Y and at least partially intercepts the aforesaid abutment plane. Advantageously, it is also possible to provide that the aforesaid abutment elements 402 are instead deformed along the aforesaid first movement direction Y following the action of the cutting means 41.

[0077] Advantageously, the arrangement of a plurality of abutment elements 402 ensures that only those in direct contact with the cutting means 41 are elastically deformed, while the others remain substantially in their original position, continuing to support the hide 100 during cutting.

[0078] Preferably, the abutment elements 402 of the support element 40 comprise a plurality of bristles, and in particular each abutment element 402 comprises a bundle of bristles which are fixed the main portion 400 of the support element 40, at the first ends 402' thereof.

[0079] Preferably, the aforesaid bristles are placed such that the bundle of bristles has a tapered shape, to be opened, between the first end 402' and the second end 402", in order to define a greater support surface and thus to more stably support the hide 100 to be cut.

[0080] Preferably, the bristles of the abutment elements 402 are made of polymer material, such as for example Nylon.

[0081] Advantageously, the machine 1 comprises first movement means 5, which comprise a first motor 50 operatively connected to the support element 40, in order to move the support element 40 around the main extension direction Z in order to accompany the advancement of the hide 100 along the advancement direction X. Preferably, the first motor 50 is arranged for rotating the support element 40 in the advancement sense of the hide 100, so as to allow the advancement thereof along the advancement direction X.

[0082] Advantageously, the abutment elements 402 are placed substantially on the entire lateral surface 401 of the main portion 400 of the support element 40, in order to support the hide 100 constantly during the rotation of the support element 40.

[0083] In this manner, indeed, the rotation of the support element 40 does not negatively affect the abutment support of the hide 100, since the hide 100 is always sustained by the abutment elements 402 placed on the lateral surface portion 401 that is situated successively along the rotation sense.

[0084] Advantageously, the abutment elements 402 are equally distributed along the entire lateral surface 401 of the main portion 400 and are preferably placed along the entire extension thereof along the main extension direction Z.

[0085] Advantageously, the cutting means 41 are actuatable to be moved (with at least one motion component) parallel to the main extension direction Z of the support element 40.

[0086] Advantageously, the cutting station 4 comprises a second support frame 42.

[0087] The second support frame 42 can be attained in a single body with the first support frame 2 or be a stand-alone structure, separated from the first support frame 2.

[0088] The second support frame 42 is advantageously provided with a slide guide 420, placed above the support element 40 and which is extended substantially parallel to the main extension direction Z of the support element 40 itself.

[0089] Advantageously, the cutting means 41 are slidably mounted on the slide guide 420 of the second support frame 42 and are movable along the slide guide 420 in order to cut the hide portion 100 that is situated on the support element 40.

[0090] In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the slide guide 420 is a slide guide, and the cutting station 4 comprises a pinion, mounted on the cutting means 41 and mechanically associated with the rack of the slide guide 420 in order to allow the movement of the cutting means 41 along the aforesaid slide guide 420 parallel to the main extension direction Z.

[0091] For such purpose, the cutting station 4 comprises a second actuator member 44, preferably an electric motor, which is mounted on the cutting means 41 and is provided with a rotor fixed to the pinion in order to drive the sliding of the cutting means 41 along the aforesaid slide guide 420.

[0092] Advantageously, the aforesaid electric motor is selected between brushless electric motor or synchronous three-phase motor.

[0093] Of course, it is also possible to provide for a different second actuator member 44, such as for example a linear actuator, whose variants are nevertheless well known to the man skilled in the art and therefore will not be described in detail hereinbelow.

[0094] Advantageously, the second support frame 42 is provided with a guide bracket 421, placed above the slide guide 420 and the cutting means 41 comprise a slider 411, slidably engaged with the aforesaid guide bracket 421 in order to more precisely and safely guide the sliding of the cutting means 41 along the slide guide 420.

[0095] Advantageously, the cutting means 41 are actuatable to rotate around the first movement direction Y.

[0096] Advantageously, the cutting means 41 are rotatably mounted on the second support frame 42, and in particular on the slide guide 420, around the first movement direction Y, and are movable in rotation around the first movement direction Y.

[0097] More in detail, the cutting station 4 comprises a third actuator member 45, preferably an electric motor, which is mounted on the cutting means 41 and is provided with a rotor connected to the cutting member 410 and arranged for actuating in rotation the cutting member 410 (e.g. the rotary blade) of the cutting means 41 around the first movement direction Y.

[0098] Advantageously, the aforesaid electric motor is selected between brushless electric motor or synchronous three-phase motor.

[0099] Advantageously, therefore, the cutting means 41 comprise an operative head which can cut in all directions of the advancement plane α due to the combination of the rotation of the cutting member 410 around the first movement direction Y (due to the third actuator member 45) and to its possible movement along the aforesaid slide guide 420 parallel to the main extension direction Z (due to the second actuator member 44).

[0100] In this manner it is therefore possible to localize the cutting of the hide 100 in a precise, restricted point of the machine 1, constituted by the support element 40, without however limiting the freedom of actuation and cutting of the cutting means 41, therefore obtaining a machine 1 that is extremely versatile and precise, but simultaneously provided with a reduced wear impact both on the conveyor belt 32 and on the same cutting means 41.

[0101] As set forth above, the cutting means 41 are movable along a first movement direction Y.

[0102] More in detail, the cutting station 4 comprises actuation means, which are provided with a fourth actuator member 46, preferably a linear actuator, which is provided with a fixed portion mounted on the second support frame 42, and a movable piston fixed to the cutting means 41 (and in particular at least to the cutting member 410), in order to move the cutting means 41 along the first movement direction Y.

[0103] Advantageously, as is visible in figure 4, the fixed portion of the fourth actuator member 46 is mounted on the second support frame 42 by means of a support body provided with at least one, and preferably two, guide holes, which are slidably engaged by respective guide pistons fixed to the cutting means 41, so as to slidably guide the cutting means 41 with respect to the second support frame 42 along the aforesaid first movement direction Y.

[0104] Advantageously, the machine 1 also comprises second advancement means 6, which are placed downstream of the cutting station 4 and are preferably mounted on the second support frame 42 of the same cutting station 4.

[0105] Otherwise, it is possible to provide for a suitable support frame for the second advancement means 6, separating them from the cutting station 4, without departing from the protective scope of the present invention.

[0106] The second advancement means 6 are advantageously intended to receive and support the hide 100 downstream of the cutting station 4, which advances along the advancement direction X following the cutting carried out by the cutting means 41.

[0107] In particular, the second advancement means 6 are susceptible of supporting the hide 100 on a recovery plane β, which is preferably parallel to and spaced from the advancement plane α of the advancement means 3.

[0108] The second advancement means 6 advantageously comprise at least two third transport rollers 61, preferably mechanically mounted on the second support frame 42, and rotatable around corresponding third rotation axes R3 that are parallel to each other.

[0109] In addition, the second advancement means 6 advantageously comprise a second conveyor belt 62, which is wound as a ring around at least the two third transport rollers 61 and is susceptible of advancing along a recovery direction X', preferably parallel to the advancement direction X and substantially perpendicular to the third rotation axes R3 of the third transport rollers 61 themselves.

[0110] Advantageously, the second conveyor belt 62 defines the aforesaid recovery plane β, which is preferably placed below the advancement plane α. In particular, the aforesaid recovery plane β is advantageously tangent to the external maximum diameter defined by the abutment elements 402, at a tangency point opposite that defined by the advancement plane α.

[0111] Advantageously, the second conveyor belt 62 can be any one support element adapted to allow abuttingly supporting the cut hide 100 that is to be recovered, regardless of its physical and mechanical characteristics, for such purpose it being in fact intended as suitable both for a common conveyor belt or otherwise a fabric (such as for example a felt belt) or a grid.

[0112] Advantageously, at least one of the two third transport rollers 61 is motorized, in order to automatically advance the hide 100 along the aforesaid recovery direction X'.

[0113] For such purpose, the second advancement means 6 advantageously comprise second motor means 60, which are preferably mounted on the second support frame 42 and are mechanically connected to at least one third transport roller 61 in order to place it in rotation around the corresponding third rotation axis R3 so to advance the second conveyor belt 62 in the recovery direction X'.

[0114] Preferably, the second motor means 60 comprise at least one electric motor, preferably mounted on the second support frame 42 and fitted on a third transport roller 61 (preferably on the third transport roller 61 placed more distant from the cutting station 4) in order to place it in rotation around the third rotation axis R3 thereof.

[0115] Advantageously, the aforesaid electric motor is selected between brushless electric motor or synchronous three-phase motor.

[0116] Advantageously, the machine 1, object of the present invention, comprises a logic control unit, not represented in the enclosed figures, which is operatively connected at least to the cutting means 41, and preferably also to the first advancement means 3, in order to drive the advancement of the hides 100 along the advancement direction X and the consequent actuation of the cutting means 41 in order to cut and / or trim the hides 100.

[0117] Preferably, the logic control unit is also operatively connected to the first motor 50 of the first movement means 5, in order to synchronize the rotation of the support element 40 based on the rotation of the advancement means 3.

[0118] Advantageously, in addition, the logic control unit is configured for receiving an input, by a user or by an image acquisition unit installed above the machine 1, and such input is indicative of the presence of possible defects present on the hide 100 to be trimmed.

[0119] More in detail, the logic control unit comprises a data reception unit, arranged for receiving the aforesaid input signal, and a calculation unit, configured for calculating, based on the aforesaid input signal, an optimized cutting path.

[0120] In particular, with the expression "optimized cutting path" it is intended the path that the cutting means 41 must complete in order to trim the hide 100, cutting out the defects but limiting to a minimum the waste of so-called "precious" material.

[0121] Advantageously, therefore, the logic control unit is configured for driving the actuation of the cutting means 41, and in particular of the first actuator member 43, of the second actuator member 44, and of the third actuator member 45 (in addition to the advancement means 3 and the first movement means 5) in order to execute the cutting according to the preset cutting path, always remaining at the support element 40, as set forth above.

[0122] The invention thus conceived therefore attains the pre-established objects.

Claims

1. Machine for cutting hides, comprising: - a first support frame (2); - advancement means (3), mounted on said first support frame (2) along an advancement direction (X), intended to support a hide (100) on an advancement plane (α) and arranged for advancing said hide (100) along said advancement direction (X); - a cutting station (4), placed downstream of said advancement means (3) and comprising: - a support element (40), which is side-by-side said advancement means (3) along said advancement direction (X) and is arranged for supporting at least one portion of said hide (100) placed downstream of said advancement means (3); - cutting means (41), which are placed above said support element (40), are movable along a first movement direction (Y), orthogonal to said advancement plane (α) in order to intercept the portion of said hide (100) supported by said support element (40) and carry out at least one cut of said hide (100); said support element (40) comprising a main portion (400), which is extended along a main extension direction (Z), transverse to said advancement direction (X) and to said first movement direction (Y), and which said main portion (400) is provided with a lateral surface (401); said machine being characterized in that said support element (40) also comprises a plurality of abutment elements (402), which are projectingly extended from the lateral surface (401) of said main portion (400) and are arranged to abuttingly support said hide (100) during said cutting; wherein the abutment elements (402) of said plurality of abutment elements (402) are elastically pliable elements, arranged for being elastically deformed at least partially when said cutting means (41) intercept said hide (100) during said cutting.

2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the abutment elements (402) of said plurality of abutment elements (402) are extended between a first end (402'), fixed to the main portion (400) of said support element (40), and an opposite, free, second end (402"), against which during use at least part of said hide (100) is intended to be abutted, during said cutting.

3. Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that at least part of the abutment elements (402) of said support element (40) is directed towards said cutting means (41), and the second ends (402") of said abutment elements (402) are placed coplanar to the advancement plane (α) of said advancement means (3).

4. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the abutment elements (402) of said support element (40) comprise a plurality of bristles.

5. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main portion (400) of said support element (40) is a cylindrical roller, and that said plurality of abutment elements (402) are radially extended from said cylindrical roller.

6. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises movement means (5), which comprise a first motor (50) operatively connected to said support element (40), in order to move said support element (40) around said main extension direction (Z) in order to accompany the advancement of said hide (100) along said movement direction (X).

7. Machine according to claim 6, characterized in that said abutment elements (402) are placed on the entire lateral surface (401) of the main portion (400) of said support element (40), in order to support said hide (100) constantly during the rotation of said support element (40).

8. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cutting station (4) comprises a second support frame (42), which is provided with a slide guide (420), placed above said support element (40) and which is extended parallel to the main extension direction (Z) of the main portion (400) of said support element (40); said cutting means (41) being slidably mounted on the slide guide (420) of said second support frame (42) and being movable along said slide guide (420) in order to cut the portion of said hide (100) that is situated on said support element (40).

9. Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that said cutting means (41) are rotatably mounted on said second support frame (42), in particular on said slide guide (420), around said first movement direction (Y), and are movable in rotation around said first movement direction (Y).

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