Device and Method for Cutting a Solid Material Driven in Movement

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for cutting a sheet (21) of a non-powdery solid material, driven in movement by a conveyor (2) in a direction, called the conveying direction (5), parallel to a largest dimension of the sheet (21), the cutting device (1) comprising: a conveyor (2) adapted to be able to drive the sheet of solid material in movement from upstream to downstream in a direction, called the conveying direction (5), parallel to a largest dimension of the sheet (21), an assembly, called the transverse cutting assembly (6), of at least two discoidal blades (10, 11) each extending in a plane parallel to a direction, called the transverse cutting direction (8), orthogonal to said conveying direction, at least one carriage (7) supporting said transverse cutting assembly (6),means (20) for driving the carriage (7) in said conveying direction (5) at a driving speed equal to the conveying speed of the sheet on the conveyor (2) in said conveying direction (5), characterized in that; the carriage (7) comprises means (24) for driving said transverse cutting assembly (6) in displacement over the entire width of the sheet in said transverse cutting direction (8), and in that; said transverse cutting assembly (6) comprises means (25) for orienting said transverse cutting assembly (6) adapted for, in a first direction (9) of displacement of said transverse cutting assembly (6) in said transverse cutting direction (8),holding a first blade (10) of said transverse cutting assembly (6) in a lowered position in which the first blade (10) is rotated so as to cut the sheet (2) transversely across its entire width in the first direction (9) of movement and holding a second blade (11) of said transverse cutting assembly in a raised position at a distance from the sheet so as not to cut the sheet (2). Figure for abstract: Figure 4,

Description

Title of the invention: Device and Method for Cutting a Solid Material Driven in Movement Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a device for cutting a sheet of solid material moved from a manufacturing area to a storage area and to a method for cutting said products using said cutting device.

[0002] The invention relates in particular to a device for cutting a sheet of non-powdery solid material driven in movement on a conveyor in a direction, called the conveying direction, parallel to a larger dimension of the sheet and a method for cutting such a sheet of non-powdery solid material driven in movement on a conveyor in said conveying direction.

[0003] The production for construction of insulating panels made of mineral fibers, such as glass wool or rock wool, or of plant fibers consists of forming a continuous and large sheet of a precursor material of such insulating material, heating the continuous sheet of such precursor material for the purpose of finalizing the manufacture of the insulating material and / or drying it flat, then cutting the formed sheet into insulating panels suitable for marketing. Technological background

[0004] An example of a sheet thus formed is shown schematically in [Fig.l] as an illustration of the prior art. As illustrated, the sheet 21 is in the form of a substantially continuous strip progressing in a conveying direction represented by the arrow 5 from a manufacturing zone 3. This sheet 21 is then cut by means of a cutting device 23, known from the prior art, into panels 22 of smaller sizes which are then stacked, packaged and then stored in a downstream zone 4, to be marketed. The panels 22 formed by cutting the sheet 21 have the overall shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, the cutouts 27 extending perpendicular to the largest dimension of the sheet.

[0005] Document US2010 / 186562 discloses a device for cutting into smaller panels a larger glass wool sheet, moved along a conveyor, for the purpose of shipping the panels. The device of US2010 / 186562 comprises two rotating disc-shaped blades driven during cutting in a rocking motion along a horizontal rotation axis. Due to this non-linear rocking motion during cutting, the device of US2010 / 186562 is limited in its use to cutting a glass wool sheet of a width compatible with the amplitude of the rocking motion. of each of the blades.

[0006] The invention therefore aims to overcome this drawback.

[0007] The invention therefore aims to propose a device and a method for cutting a sheet of solid material driven in movement, allowing transverse cutting of the sheet driven in movement, without limitation of the width of the sheet.

[0008] The invention also aims to propose a device and a method for cutting a sheet of solid material driven in movement, allowing an increase in the cutting rate.

[0009] Thus, the invention also aims to propose a device and a method for cutting a sheet of solid material driven in movement, allowing an increase in the speed of movement of the sheet.

[0010] The invention therefore aims to propose a device and a method for cutting a sheet of solid material driven in movement, allowing an increase in the rate of cutting of the sheet and the productivity of a production line for panels made of solid material, in particular solid insulating material.

[0011] The invention also aims to propose a device and a method for cutting a sheet of solid material driven in movement allowing optimization of the service life of the device and its constituent elements.

[0012] The invention also aims to propose a device and a method for cutting a sheet of solid material driven in movement allowing optimization of electrical energy consumption. Summary of the invention

[0013] The invention relates to a device for cutting a sheet of solid material, driven in movement by a conveyor in a direction, called the conveying direction, parallel to a larger dimension of the sheet, the cutting device comprising: - an assembly, called a transverse cutting assembly, of at least two - in particular two - discoidal blades each extending in a plane parallel to a direction, called the transverse cutting direction, orthogonal to said conveying direction, - at least one carriage supporting said transverse cutting assembly, - means for driving the carriage in said conveying direction with a drive speed substantially equal - in particular equal - to a conveying speed of the sheet on the conveyor in said conveying direction, characterized in that; said at least one carriage comprises means for driving said set of transverse cutting in movement over the entire width of the sheet in said transverse cutting direction, and in that; said transverse cutting assembly comprises means for orienting said transverse cutting assembly adapted to, in a first direction of movement of said transverse cutting assembly according to said transverse cutting direction, maintain a first blade of said transverse cutting assembly in a lowered position in which the first blade is driven in rotation to cut the sheet transversely over its entire width in the first direction of movement and maintain a second blade of said transverse cutting assembly in a raised position at a distance from the sheet so as not to cut the sheet.

[0014] Throughout the text: - the terms “above” and “below” refer to a device according to the invention in operating condition in which the sheet of balance material is supported by the conveyor due to the forces of gravity, - the terms "downstream" and "upstream" are defined in relation to the direction and the sense of conveyance of the sheet on the conveyor. The "upstream" part of the device according to the invention corresponds to the supply zone of the cutting device according to the invention with the sheet of non-powdery solid material and the "downstream" part of the device according to the invention corresponds to the zone of production, transport and storage of the panels of said non-powdery solid material cut from the sheet of solid material by the cutting device according to the invention.

[0015] According to certain embodiments, the solid material is a construction material. It may be a thermal and / or sound insulating construction material. It may be a solid material comprising mineral fibers, such as glass fibers (glass wool) or rock fibers (rock wool). It may also be a solid material comprising ceramic fibers. It may also be a solid material comprising fibers of plant origin, such as, for example, hemp fibers, flax fibers, cellulose fibers, in particular cotton fibers, wood fibers and coconut fibers. According to these embodiments, the sheet of non-powdery solid material is carried by a conveyor, from upstream to downstream, between a production site of the sheet and a storage site for panels of said solid material cut from the sheet.

[0016] According to certain embodiments, the conveyor can be of any type. It can be a belt conveyor. Advantageously, the conveyor can be a flat belt conveyor. It can also be a roller conveyor. The conveyor can have any width suitable for receiving and actively conveying a sheet of a non-powdery solid material. According to certain embodiments preferential, the conveyor has a substantially flat and horizontal conveying surface.

[0017] According to certain embodiments, the carriage is arranged so as to extend above the conveyor and transversely relative to the conveyor and over its entire width. The carriage is arranged so as to allow the web to be conveyed on the conveyor, to allow the movement of said transverse cutting assembly over the entire width of the web in said transverse cutting direction and to allow the cutting of the web by the blades of said transverse cutting assembly.

[0018] According to certain embodiments, the carriage comprises at least one transverse rail for rectilinear guidance of the transverse cutting assembly, the transverse cutting assembly being driven in transverse displacement relative to the transverse rail and on the transverse rail by means of a drive device comprising a toothed belt, a chain, a cardan drive or a rack and pinion drive.

[0019] The cutting device according to the invention comprises means for driving the carriage and said transverse cutting assembly to move in said conveying direction. The means for driving the carriage to move in said conveying direction are configured to allow the carriage and said transverse cutting assembly to move downstream in said conveying direction so as to accompany the movement of the sheet by the conveyor, at the same speed as the sheet on the conveyor, and to obtain a cut of the sheet in said transverse cutting direction, i.e. a cut orthogonal to the edge of the sheet, despite the movement of the sheet on the conveyor.The means for driving the carriage and said transverse cutting assembly are adapted to drive the carriage and said transverse cutting assembly in movement in said conveying direction with a driving speed equal to a conveying speed of the sheet on the conveyor in said conveying direction. But the means for driving the carriage in movement in said conveying direction are also configured to allow movement of the carriage upstream in said conveying direction and return the carriage and said transverse cutting assembly to a position adapted to allow initiation of a subsequent transverse cut.

[0020] The means for driving said transverse cutting assembly in movement over the entire width of the sheet in said transverse cutting direction are means for driving said transverse cutting assembly in rectilinear translation relative to the carriage in said transverse cutting direction.

[0021] According to certain advantageous embodiments of a cutting device according to the invention, the means for driving said transverse cutting assembly in movement over the entire width of the sheet in said transverse cutting direction are means for driving in one and the other of the two opposite directions of movement of said transverse cutting assembly in said transverse cutting direction. The cutting rate is thus increased.

[0022] According to the invention, the at least two discoidal blades of said transverse cutting assembly each extend in a plane parallel to said transverse cutting direction and in a plane not parallel to said conveying direction. According to some of these embodiments, the discoidal blades are coplanar. However, according to some of these embodiments, nothing prevents providing that each blade of the transverse cutting assembly has an inclination chosen to produce a beveled cut. According to some embodiments, the discoidal blades extend in a plane orthogonal to said conveying direction.

[0023] According to certain advantageous embodiments according to the invention, the means for orienting said transverse cutting assembly are adapted so that, in a second direction of movement of said transverse cutting assembly relative to the carriage, opposite to the first direction of movement, the second blade is in a lowered position in which the second blade is driven to cut the sheet transversely over its entire width and the first blade of said transverse cutting assembly is in a raised position at a distance from the sheet so as not to cut the sheet.

[0024] According to certain advantageous embodiments of the invention, the means for orienting said transverse cutting assembly are adapted to allow: - lowering said first blade and holding said first blade in the lowered position in the first direction of movement of said transverse cutting assembly in said transverse cutting direction and lifting said second blade into the raised position in this first direction of movement, and - lowering said second blade and holding said second blade in the lowered position in the second direction of movement of said transverse cutting assembly in said transverse cutting direction and lifting said first blade into the raised position in this second direction of movement.

[0025] According to certain embodiments, the device according to the invention comprises at least one electronic card configured to control: - the means for driving the carriage in said conveying direction so as to drive said transverse cutting assembly from upstream to downstream with a speed equal to the conveying speed of the sheet in said conveying direction when the means for driving said transverse cutting assembly drive said transverse cutting assembly in one of the first and second directions of movement of said transverse cutting assembly, and / or - the means for driving the carriage in said conveying direction so as to drive said transverse cutting assembly from downstream to upstream with a speed greater than the conveying speed of the sheet in said conveying direction, when the means for driving said transverse cutting assembly do not drive said transverse cutting assembly in first and second directions of movement of said transverse cutting assembly, and / or - the means for driving said transverse cutting assembly in displacement over the entire width of the sheet in said transverse cutting direction in each of the first and second directions of displacement of said transverse cutting assembly, so as to drive said transverse cutting assembly with a speed adapted to cut the sheet orthogonally to the largest dimension of the sheet in the first direction and in the second direction of displacement of said transverse cutting assembly, - the means for orienting said transverse cutting assembly in the first and second directions of movement of said transverse cutting assembly.

[0026] According to these embodiments, the electronic card of the device according to the invention allows an adjustment of at least one of the largest dimensions (apart from the thickness) of the panels of said solid material cut from the sheet.

[0027] According to certain embodiments, said transverse cutting assembly comprises two discoidal blades, each of the two discoidal blades being provided with its own motor device for driving the blade in rotation.

[0028] According to certain embodiments, said transverse cutting assembly is shaped to have a tilting angle a of non-zero value and less than or equal to 180°. The tilting angle value a is adapted with respect to a smaller dimension - in particular a thickness - of the sheet to be cut.

[0029] According to certain embodiments, the cutting device according to the invention comprises a motor device for tilting said transverse cutting assembly along a tilting axis parallel to said conveying direction. According to certain embodiments, the tilting motor device is adapted to drive said transverse cutting assembly in rotation along the tilting axis and with a non-zero rotation angle value and less than or equal to 180°, in particular of the order of 90°, in either of the two directions of rotation, clockwise and counterclockwise. According to these embodiments, the tilting motor device allows a alternately orienting each of the first and second blades in a cutting orientation.

[0030] According to certain embodiments, the first blade and the second blade of said transverse cutting assembly have opposite directions of rotation. According to these embodiments, the first blade is arranged to cut the web in one of the first and second directions of movement of said transverse cutting assembly according to said transverse cutting direction and the second blade is arranged to cut the web in the other of the first and second directions of movement of said transverse cutting assembly according to said transverse cutting direction.

[0031] According to certain advantageous embodiments, the motor device for driving the first blade and the motor device for driving the second blade respectively drive the first blade and the second blade in rotation without interruption of the drive and rotation during the unwinding of the sheet. In reality, due to the choice of the two blades having opposite directions of rotation, the start and stop phases of the motor devices are unnecessary and the longevity of the motors is improved. In addition, the cutting rate is increased.

[0032] According to these advantageous embodiments, the motor device for driving the first blade and the motor device for driving the second blade respectively drive the first blade and the second blade in rotation without reversing the direction of rotation of each of the first and second blades during the movement of the sheet. In reality, the choice of the two blades having opposite directions of rotation makes it possible to completely eliminate the phases of reversing the direction of rotation of the first and second blades during the movement of the sheet. The phases of reversing the direction of rotation of the first and second blades are unnecessary and the longevity of the motors is improved. In addition, the cutting rate is increased.

[0033] According to certain embodiments, the cutting device according to the invention comprises a single carriage supporting a single assembly, called a transverse cutting assembly, of at least two - in particular two - discoidal blades each extending in a plane parallel to a direction, called the transverse cutting direction, orthogonal to said conveying direction.

[0034] However, nothing prevents provision being made, according to certain other embodiments, for the cutting device according to the invention to comprise a plurality of carriages - in particular two or more carriages -, each carriage supporting a single assembly, called a transverse cutting assembly, of at least two - in particular two - discoidal blades each extending in a plane parallel to a direction, called the transverse cutting direction, orthogonal to said conveying direction. In these other embodiments, the number of cuts and the cutting rate can be increased.

[0035] According to certain embodiments, the cutting device according to the invention comprises at least one second set of blades, called the longitudinal cutting assembly, arranged upstream of said transverse cutting assembly, and adapted to cut the sheet of solid material in a cutting direction parallel to the direction of movement of the sheet.

[0036] However, nothing prevents provision being made for said longitudinal cutting assembly to be arranged downstream of said transverse cutting assembly, and adapted to cut sections formed in the sheet of solid material by said transverse cutting assembly, in a cutting direction parallel to the direction of movement of the sheet.

[0037] According to some of these embodiments, at least one - in particular each - of the blades of said longitudinal cutting assembly is retractable. According to some of these embodiments, at least one - in particular each - of the blades of said longitudinal cutting assembly is adapted to be able to be repositioned transversely, according to said transverse cutting direction. According to these embodiments, the cutting device according to the invention makes it possible to control at least a second of the largest dimensions (apart from the thickness) of the panels of said solid material cut from the sheet.

[0038] According to certain embodiments, the cutting device according to the invention is adapted to allow cutting of the sheet by said transverse cutting assembly so as to form at least one panel of said solid material having a largest dimension - a length - parallel to said conveying direction. According to certain other embodiments, the cutting device according to the invention is adapted to allow cutting of the sheet by said transverse cutting assembly so as to form at least one panel of said solid material having a largest dimension - a length - orthogonal to said conveying direction.

[0039] According to certain embodiments, said transverse cutting assembly is mounted on the carriage and movable in said transverse cutting direction over a distance adapted to the width of the sheet. According to certain embodiments, said transverse cutting assembly is mounted on the carriage and movable in said transverse cutting direction over a distance of between about 1.0 m and about 6.0 m, in particular between about 1.0 m and about 5.0 m, preferably between about 2.0 m and about 4.0 m, more preferably between about 2.4 m and 3.6 m.

[0040] According to certain embodiments, the conveyor is configured to be able to drive the sheet of solid material in movement in said conveying direction with a speed of between around 1 m / min and around 50 m / min, for example around 25 m / min.

[0041] According to certain embodiments, each of the first blade and second blade of said transverse cutting assembly has a diameter adapted according to the thickness of the sheet. According to certain embodiments, each of the first blade and second blade of said transverse cutting assembly has a diameter of between about 300 mm and about 1300 mm, for example about 900 mm.

[0042] The invention also extends to a method of cutting a sheet of solid material driven in movement from upstream to downstream in a direction, called the conveying direction, parallel to a larger dimension of the sheet, method in which:

[0043] an assembly, called a transverse cutting assembly, of at least two discoidal blades each extending in a plane parallel to a direction, called the transverse cutting direction, orthogonal to said conveying direction is driven in simultaneous movements; - transversely in a direction, called the cutting direction, orthogonal to said conveying direction, and - from upstream to downstream in said conveying direction with a speed equal to the speed of movement of the sheet in said conveying direction, method in which, during a first cutting step, said transverse cutting assembly is driven in a first direction of movement of said transverse cutting assembly according to said cutting direction, a first blade of said transverse cutting assembly is placed in a lowered position in which the first blade is driven to cut the sheet transversely across its entire width, a second blade of said transverse cutting assembly is placed in a raised position at a distance from the sheet and does not cut the sheet, whereby the sheet is cut transversely across its entire width, orthogonal to said conveying direction and according to a rectilinear cut.

[0044] In certain embodiments, the method according to the invention comprises a second cutting step subsequent to the first step, during which said transverse cutting assembly is driven in a second direction of movement, opposite to the first direction of movement, according to said cutting direction, the second blade is placed in a lowered position in which the second blade is driven to cut the sheet transversely over its entire width and the first blade of said transverse cutting assembly is placed in a raised position at a distance from the sheet and does not cut the sheet.

[0045] In certain embodiments at least one of the first and second cutting steps is followed by a step of recalling said transverse cutting assembly upstream in said conveying direction with a higher speed (in value absolute) at the speed of movement of the sheet in said conveying direction, said return step comprising an orientation of the at least two discoidal blades of said transverse cutting assembly in one of the following two orientation states of said transverse cutting assembly: - a first orientation state of said transverse cutting assembly in which the first blade of said transverse cutting assembly is placed in a lowered position in which the first blade is adapted to be able to be driven in rotation so as to cut the sheet transversely over its entire width in a first direction of movement and the second blade of said transverse cutting assembly is placed in a raised position at a distance from the sheet, and - a second orientation state of said transverse cutting assembly in which the second blade of said transverse cutting assembly is placed in a lowered position in which the second blade is adapted to be able to be driven in rotation so as to cut the sheet transversely over its entire width in a second direction of movement opposite to the first direction of movement and the first blade of said transverse cutting assembly is placed in a raised position at a distance from the sheet.

[0046] According to certain embodiments, the first blade and the second blade of said transverse cutting assembly have opposite directions of rotation.

[0047] According to certain embodiments, the solid material is a construction material, in particular an insulating material, preferably an insulating material chosen from the group formed by biomaterials such as hemp wool and / or flax fiber wool and / or cotton fiber wool, mineral wools such as glass wool or rock wool, ceramic wools, polymer materials such as polyurethanes and papers. Brief description of the figures

[0048] The description which follows with reference to the appended drawings, given as non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented. In the appended figures:

[0049] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is a general diagram illustrating, outside the invention, the cutting of a sheet of a non-powdery solid material;

[0050] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a flat view of a cutting device according to the invention in a first configuration for cutting a sheet of a non-powdery solid material, the cutting device being seen in the conveying axis, the sheet being conveyed from the rear to the front in [Fig.2];

[0051] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a flat view of a cutting device according to the invention in a second configuration for cutting a sheet of a non-powdery solid material, the cutting device being seen in the conveying axis, the sheet being conveyed from the rear to the front in [Fig.3];

[0052] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of a cutting device according to the invention in a first configuration for cutting a sheet of a non-powdery solid material illustrating a first step of an embodiment of a method for cutting a sheet of a non-powdery solid material according to the invention;

[0053] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of a cutting device according to the invention in a second configuration for cutting a sheet of a non-powdery solid material illustrating a second subsequent step of the first step of the embodiment of the method for cutting a sheet of a non-powdery solid material according to the invention described in [Fig.4];

[0054] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of a cutting device according to the invention in a third configuration for cutting a sheet of a non-powdery solid material illustrating a third subsequent step of the second step of the embodiment of the method for cutting a sheet of a non-powdery solid material according to the invention described in [Fig.5];

[0055] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of a cutting device according to the invention in a fourth configuration for cutting a sheet of a non-powdery solid material illustrating a fourth subsequent step of the third step of the embodiment of the method for cutting a sheet of a non-powdery solid material according to the invention described in [Fig.6];

[0056] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a perspective view of a cutting device according to the invention in a first / fifth configuration for cutting a sheet of a non-powdery solid material illustrating a first / fifth subsequent step of the fourth step of the embodiment of the method for cutting a sheet of a non-powdery solid material according to the invention described in [Fig.7] and in [Fig.4], and

[0057] [Fig.9] [Fig.9] is an illustrative diagram of the movement, in top view, of said transverse cutting assembly of a cutting device according to the invention during the implementation of a method of cutting a sheet of a non-powdery solid material according to the invention. Description of embodiment(s)

[0058] In the figures, and unless otherwise provided, identical elements will bear the same reference signs.

[0059] The [Fig. 1] representative of the state of the art has been described in the introductory part of the present text. A sheet 21 of a solid material is moved by a conveyor (not shown) in a direction, called conveying direction 5, parallel to a larger dimension of the sheet 21 and oriented from upstream 3 to downstream 4 as represented by the arrow 5. In particular, the upstream part 3 of the cutting device 23 of the prior art corresponds to a site 3 for producing the solid material and forming the sheet 21 and the downstream part 4 corresponds to a site 4 for packaging, storing and distributing the panels 22 of said solid material cut from the sheet 21. The panels 22 cut from the sheet 21 are panels in the overall shape of rectangular parallelepipeds.

[0060] The cutting device 1 according to the invention shown in [Fig. 2] is arranged transversely overlapping a conveyor 2. Neither the sheet of non-powdery solid material nor the panels cut from the sheet are shown. The cutting device 1 comprises a support assembly 28 adapted to hold a carriage 7 (not visible in Figures 2 and 3) in a substantially horizontal position and transversely overhanging the conveyor 2 and at a distance from this conveyor 2. The cutting device 1 comprises an assembly, called transverse cutting assembly 6, of two coplanar discoidal blades 10, 11 each extending in the same plane orthogonal to said conveying direction 5. The two discoidal blades 10, 11 are partially protected by a casing. In Figures 2 and 3, said conveying direction 5 is orthogonal to the plane of the figures.Each of the blades 10, 11 is provided with a motor device 13, 14 for driving the blade 10 and the blade 11 in rotation on themselves, each along an axis of rotation parallel to said conveying direction. The direction of rotation of the blade 10 is a counterclockwise direction of rotation represented by a corresponding arrow 34. The direction of rotation of the blade 11 is a clockwise direction of rotation represented by a corresponding arrow 35. The blades 10, 11 have opposite directions of rotation for the same observation angle. The first blade 10 has a direction of rotation chosen to exert a stress oriented from top to bottom and keep the sheet of non-powdery solid material pressed against and in contact with the upper face of the conveyor 2.Said transverse cutting assembly 6 comprises means 25 for orienting said transverse cutting assembly 6 comprising a motor device 29 for orienting said transverse cutting assembly 6 between two alternative positions of said transverse cutting assembly 6. In a first alternative position of said transverse cutting assembly 6 shown in [Fig.2], the first blade 10 is placed and held in a lowered position, the second blade 11 being held in a raised position at a distance from the sheet. From this lowered position, the first blade 10 can be driven in rotation by the motor device 13 for driving the blade 10 in rotation on itself in the counterclockwise direction 34 of rotation. The die. placement of said transverse cutting assembly 6 in a first direction 9 of movement of said transverse cutting assembly 6 combined with the rotation of the first blade 10 allows the cutting of the sheet transversely in a first transverse cutting direction 9. A second alternative position of said transverse cutting assembly 6 is shown in [Fig.3]. This second alternative position of said transverse cutting assembly 6 results from the first alternative position of [Fig.2] by tilting the first and second blades clockwise and by an angle value of 90° along the axis of rotation of the orientation motor device 29.

[0061] In a second alternative position of said transverse cutting assembly 6 shown in [Fig. 3], the second blade 11 is placed and held in a lowered position, the first blade 10 being held in a raised position at a distance from the sheet. In [Fig. 3], the second blade 11 has a direction of rotation chosen to exert a stress oriented from top to bottom and to keep the sheet of non-powdery solid material pressed against and in contact with the upper face of the conveyor 2. From this lowered position, the second blade 11 can be driven in rotation by the motor device 14 for driving the second blade 11 in rotation on itself in the clockwise direction of rotation.The movement of said transverse cutting assembly 6 in a second direction 12 of movement of said transverse cutting assembly 6 combined with the rotation of the second blade 11 allows the cutting of the sheet transversely in a second transverse cutting direction 12. A return to the first alternative position of said transverse cutting assembly 6 as shown in [Fig.2] is obtained by tilting the first and second blades 10, 11 in the counterclockwise direction and by an angle value of 90° along the axis of rotation of the orientation motor device 29.

[0062] The perspective views of a cutting device 1 according to the invention shown in [Fig. 4], 5, 6, 7 and 8 correspond to successive states of the cutting device 1, transiently occupied by the cutting device 1 during the implementation of a method for cutting a sheet of a non-powdery solid material according to the invention. In Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 the sheet of non-powdery solid material is not shown for the purpose of simplifying the views. Furthermore, in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, the direction and the conveying sense of the sheet on the conveyor 2 is indicated by a unidirectional arrow 5. The perspective views of Figures 4 and 8 correspond to the flat view of [Fig. 2]. The perspective view of [Fig. 6] corresponds to the flat view of [Fig. 3].

[0063] In a first state of the cutting device 1 shown in [Fig.4], said transverse cutting assembly 6 is positioned to the left of the cutting device 1 relative to said conveying direction 5 and in an upstream position relative to the device 1 cutting and to said conveying direction 5. In [Fig.4], said transverse cutting assembly 6 is shown on the right in the drawing. In this first state, the first blade 10 is in the lowered position and adapted to be able to cut the sheet. The cutting device 1 comprises a carriage 7 adapted to allow movement of said transverse cutting assembly 6 in a direction, called transverse cutting direction 8, orthogonal to said conveying direction 5. The carriage 7 comprises a rectilinear rail 36 for guiding said transverse cutting assembly 6 arranged substantially horizontally and orthogonal to said conveying direction 5. The carriage 7 comprises motor means 24 for driving said transverse cutting assembly 6 on the rectilinear transverse guide rail 36. The motor means 24 for driving said transverse cutting assembly 6 on the rectilinear guide rail 36 may be of any type.The motor means 24 for driving said transverse cutting assembly 6 on the rectilinear guide rail 36 are adapted to allow rectilinear driving and guiding of said transverse cutting assembly 6 in said transverse cutting direction 8 in either of the two opposite directions (forward and return) of transverse movement of said cutting assembly 6. The carriage 7 comprises means 20 for driving the carriage 7, the rectilinear rail 36 and said transverse cutting assembly 6 in said conveying direction 5. The means 20 for driving the carriage 7, the rectilinear rail 36 and said transverse cutting assembly 6 in said conveying direction 5 may be of any type.The means 20 for driving the carriage 7, the rectilinear rail 36 and said transverse cutting assembly 6 in said conveying direction 5 are adapted to keep the rectilinear rail 36 parallel to said transverse cutting direction 8 during the movement of the carriage 7 in said transverse cutting direction 8. The means 20 for driving the carriage 7, the rectilinear rail 36 and said transverse cutting assembly 6 in said conveying direction 5 comprise two lateral guide rails 37 and two synchronized motor members 38 each arranged at one of the ends of the rectilinear guide rail 36. The two synchronized motor members 38 each cooperate with one of the two lateral guide rails 37 and keep the rectilinear rail 36 parallel to said transverse cutting direction 8 during the movement of the carriage 7 in said transverse cutting direction 8.Furthermore, the two synchronized motor members 38 are controlled to give the carriage 7, the rectilinear rail 36, said transverse cutting assembly 6 and each of the first and second blades 10, 11 a speed of movement in said conveying direction 5 of a value equal to the speed of movement of the sheet in said conveying direction 5. During a first cutting step 30 (shown schematically in [Fig.9]), said transverse cutting assembly 6 is driven synchronously in movement in said . direction 8 of transverse cutting due to the motor means 24 for driving said transverse cutting assembly 6 on the rectilinear guide rail 36 and in displacement according to said conveying direction 5 due to the displacement of the carriage 7 driven in displacement according to said conveying direction 5 by the motor members 38 synchronized with each other. In combination with the activation of the motor device 13 for driving the first blade 10 in rotation on itself, the displacement of said transverse cutting assembly 6 results in a transverse cutting of the sheet of non-powdery solid material. The position of said transverse cutting assembly 6 at the end of the first cutting step 30 is shown in [Fig.5].

[0064] In [Fig. 5], the transverse cutting assembly 6 is positioned to the right of the cutting device 1 relative to said conveying direction 5 and in a downstream position relative to the cutting device 1 and to said conveying direction 5. At the end of the first cutting step 30, the first blade 10 is in the lowered cutting position and the second blade 11 is in the raised position. During a first return step 39, the carriage 7, the transverse cutting assembly 6 and the first and second blades 10, 11 are returned from a downstream position marking the end of the first cutting step 30 to an upstream position relative to said conveying direction 5 marking the initiation of a second cutting step 31. During this first recall step 39, the first and second blades 10, 11 are driven to tilt clockwise and by an angle value of 90° along the axis of rotation of the orientation motor device 29.The state of the cutting device 1 during the initiation of the second cutting step 31 is shown in [Fig.6].

[0065] In [Fig. 6], the transverse cutting assembly 6 is positioned to the right of the cutting device 1 relative to said conveying direction 5 and in an upstream position relative to the cutting device 1 and to said conveying direction 5. At the initiation of the second cutting step 31, the first blade 10 is in the raised position and the second blade 11 is in the lowered cutting position. During the second cutting step 31 (shown schematically in [Fig. 9]), the second blade 11 is driven in rotation on itself by the motor device 14 for driving the second blade 11. During the second cutting step 31, said transverse cutting assembly 6 is driven synchronously in movement in said transverse cutting direction 8 due to the motor means 24 for driving said transverse cutting assembly 6 on the rectilinear guide rail 36.During the second cutting step 31, said transverse cutting assembly 6 is driven synchronously in movement in said conveying direction 5 due to the movement of the carriage 7 driven in movement in said conveying direction 5 by the motor members 38 synchronized with each other. In combination with the activation of the motor device 14 for driving the second blade 11 in rotation on itself, it results from the die. placing said transverse cutting assembly 6 a transverse cutting of the sheet of non-powdery solid material in the second direction 12 of movement of said transverse cutting assembly 6. The position of said transverse cutting assembly 6 at the end of the second cutting step 31 is shown in [Fig.7].

[0066] In [Fig.7], the transverse cutting assembly 6 is positioned to the right of the cutting device 1 relative to said conveying direction 5 and in a downstream position relative to the cutting device 1 and to said conveying direction 5. At the end of the second cutting step 31, the first blade 10 is in the raised position and the second blade 11 is in the lowered cutting position. During a second return step 40, the carriage 7, the transverse cutting assembly 6 and the first and second blades 10, 11 are returned from a downstream position marking the end of the second cutting step 31 to an upstream position relative to said conveying direction 5 marking the initiation of a subsequent cutting step corresponding to the first cutting step 30 described above.During this second recall step 40, the first and second blades 10, 11 are driven to tilt counterclockwise and by an angle value of 90° along the axis of rotation of the orientation motor device 29. The state of the cutting device 1 during the initiation of a subsequent cutting step is shown in [Fig.8].

[0067] [Fig. 9] is a schematic representation of a method for cutting a sheet of a non-powdery solid material according to the invention, schematically tracing the movement of said transverse cutting assembly 6 relative to the cutting device 1 according to the invention. Starting from an initial position of said transverse cutting assembly 6 located upstream and to the left relative to said conveying direction 5 (top right in [Fig. 9]), said transverse cutting assembly 6 is driven in a first cutting step 30 in synchronous movements according to the first direction 9 of movement of said transverse cutting assembly 6 and from upstream to downstream. During a first return step 39, said transverse cutting assembly 6 is brought back from downstream to upstream, without carrying out a cut during this step 39.Then, during a second cutting step 31, said transverse cutting assembly 6 is driven in synchronous movements according to the second direction 12 (return) of movement of said transverse cutting assembly 6 and from upstream to downstream. During a second return step 40, said transverse cutting assembly 6 is brought back from downstream to upstream, without carrying out a cut during this step 40 in a position suitable for allowing the initiation of a subsequent cutting step.

[0068] The movement of said transverse cutting assembly 6 is optimized in both directions 9, 12 of transverse movement, as well as the alternating tilting of the two discoidal blades 10, 11 allowing a transverse cutting of the sheet which is efficient, rapid, and which does not require reversing the direction of rotation of a blade. The cutting method and the device according to the invention make it possible to increase the production rate of solid material panels, in particular panels for construction.

Claims

Claims

1. Device (1) for cutting a sheet (21) of a non-powdery solid material, driven in movement by a conveyor (2) in a direction, called conveying direction (5), parallel to a larger dimension of the sheet (21), the cutting device (1) comprising: - a set, called a transverse cutting set (6), of at least two discoidal blades (10, 11) each extending in a plane parallel to a direction, called the transverse cutting direction (8), orthogonal to said conveying direction, - at least one carriage (7) supporting said transverse cutting assembly (6), - means (20) for driving the carriage (7) in said conveying direction (5) at a driving speed substantially equal to the conveying speed of the sheet on the conveyor (2) in said conveying direction (5), characterized in that; said at least one carriage (7) comprises means (24) for driving said transverse cutting assembly (6) in movement over the entire width of the sheet in said transverse cutting direction (8), and in that; said transverse cutting assembly (6) comprises means (25) for orienting said transverse cutting assembly (6) adapted to, in a first direction (9) of movement of said transverse cutting assembly (6) in said transverse cutting direction (8), maintain a first blade (10) of said transverse cutting assembly (6) in a lowered position in which the first blade (10) is rotated so as to cut the sheet (21) transversely over its entire width in the first direction (9) of movement and maintain a second blade (11) of said transverse cutting assembly in a raised position at a distance from the sheet so as not to cut the sheet (21).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (25) for orienting said transverse cutting assembly (6) are adapted for, in a second direction (12) of movement of said

3. assembly (6) for transverse cutting relative to the carriage (7), opposite the first direction (9) of movement, the second blade (11) is in a lowered position in which the second blade (11) is driven so as to cut the sheet (2) transversely over its entire width in the second direction (12) of movement and the first blade (10) of said transverse cutting assembly (6) is in a raised position at a distance from the sheet so as not to cut the sheet (2). Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the device (1) comprises an electronic card (26) configured to control: - the means (20) for driving the carriage (7) in said conveying direction (5) so as to drive said transverse cutting assembly (6) from upstream to downstream with a speed equal to the conveying speed of the sheet (21) in said conveying direction (5) when the means (24) for driving said transverse cutting assembly (6) drive said transverse cutting assembly (6) in one of the first and second directions (9, 12) of movement of said transverse cutting assembly (6), and / or - the means (20) for driving the carriage (7) in said conveying direction (5) so as to drive said transverse cutting assembly (6) from downstream to upstream with a speed greater than the conveying speed of the sheet (21) in said conveying direction (5), when the means (24) for driving said transverse cutting assembly (6) do not drive said transverse cutting assembly (6), and / or - the means (24) for driving said transverse cutting assembly (6) in displacement over the entire width of the sheet in said transverse cutting direction (8) in one or other of the first and second directions of displacement of said transverse cutting assembly (6) so as to drive said transverse cutting assembly (6) with a speed adapted to cut the sheet orthogonally to the largest dimension of the sheet (21) in each of the first and second directions of displacement of said transverse cutting assembly (6), - the means (25) for orienting said transverse cutting assembly (6) in each of the first and second directions of movement of said transverse cutting assembly (6).

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said transverse cutting assembly (6) comprises two discoidal blades (10, 11), each of the two discoidal blades (10, 11) being provided with a specific motor device (13, 14) for driving the blade (10, 11) in rotation.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said transverse cutting assembly (6) is shaped to have a tilting angle a, of non-zero value and less than or equal to 180° and adapted with respect to a smaller dimension of the sheet to be cut.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a motor device (25) for tilting said transverse cutting assembly (6) along a tilting axis (16) parallel to said conveying direction (5).

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first blade (10) and the second blade (11) of said transverse cutting assembly (6) have opposite directions of rotation.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises at least one second set of blades, called longitudinal cutting assembly (19), adapted to cut the sheet of solid material in a cutting direction parallel to the direction (5) of movement of the sheet.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one of the blades of said longitudinal cutting assembly (19) is retractable and / or repositionable in said transverse cutting direction (8).

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said transverse cutting assembly (6) is mounted movably on the carriage (7) in said cutting direction (8) over a distance of between around 1.0 m and around 6.0 m.

11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the conveyor (2) is configured to be able to drive the sheet (21) of solid material in movement in said conveying direction (5) with a speed of between the order of 1 m / min and the order of 50 m / min.

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that each of the first blade (10) and second blade (11) of said transverse cutting assembly (6) has a diameter of between around 300 mm and around 1300 mm.

13. Method for cutting a sheet (21) of a solid material driven in movement in a direction, called the conveying direction (5), parallel to a largest dimension of the sheet, method in which: a set, called the transverse cutting set (6), of at least two discoidal blades (10, 11) each extending in a plane parallel to a direction, called the transverse cutting direction (8), orthogonal to said conveying direction (5) is driven in movement; - transversely in a direction, called the cutting direction (8), orthogonal to said conveying direction (5), and - in said conveying direction (5) with a speed equal to the speed of movement of the sheet (21) in said conveying direction (5), method in which, during a first cutting step (30),said transverse cutting assembly (6) is driven in a first direction (9) of movement of said transverse cutting assembly (6) according to said cutting direction (8), a first blade (10) of said transverse cutting assembly (6) is placed in a lowered position in which the first blade (10) is driven to cut the web (21) transversely over its entire width, a second blade (11) of said transverse cutting assembly (6) is placed in a raised position at a distance from the web (21) and does not cut the web (21), whereby the web (21) is cut transversely over its entire width, orthogonal to said conveying direction (5) and according to a rectilinear cut.,

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that, during a second cutting step following the first cutting step (30), said transverse cutting assembly (6) is driven in a second direction (12) of movement, opposite to the first direction (9) of movement, according to said cutting direction (8), the second blade (11) is placed in a lowered position in which the second blade (11) is driven to cut the sheet transversely over its entire length. width and the first blade (10) of said transverse cutting assembly (6) is placed in a raised position at a distance from the sheet and does not cut the sheet.

15. Method according to one of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that the first blade (10) and the second blade (11) of said transverse cutting assembly (6) have opposite directions of rotation.

16. Method according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the solid material is a construction material, in particular an insulating material chosen from the group formed by biomaterials, mineral wools, ceramic wools, polymer materials and papers.

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