device for automatically cutting pieces from a mattress formed from a plurality of superimposed layers of flexible material

Abstract

Device for automatically cutting pieces in a mattress formed from a plurality of superimposed layers of flexible material The invention relates to a device (100) for automatically cutting pieces in a mattress (12) formed from a plurality of superimposed layers of flexible material, comprising a rotating barrel (102), at least two rotating cutting tools (104-1 to 104-4) mounted inside the barrel while being eccentric relative to a rotating axis (Z-0) thereof, a driving motor (114) for the cutting tools, and a barrel pivoting motor (116) which is capable of pivoting the barrel around its rotating axis to allow a chosen cutting tool to engage with the driving motor for the cutting tools.Each cutting tool comprises a cylindrical punch (106-1) coupled to a tool holder which can be moved vertically relative to the barrel between a lowered piercing position and a raised rest position, and a presser foot (118-4) mounted under the tool holder. Figure for abstract: Fig. 2.

Description

Title of the invention: Device for automatically cutting pieces from a mattress formed from a plurality of superimposed layers of flexible material Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the automatic cutting of pieces from a mattress formed from superimposed layers of flexible sheet material.

[0002] A particular field of application of the invention is that of cutting pieces from a mattress formed from superimposed folds of textile material, in particular in the clothing, furniture or automobile industry, or from stacked sheets of non-textile material such as leather. Prior art

[0003] A well-known method for automatically cutting pieces from sheet material consists of feeding the material onto a cutting table in the form of several superimposed layers forming a mattress, and cutting the pieces by means of a cutting tool moving above the table and carrying a die of the desired shape.

[0004] The punch of the cutting tool is for example formed from a hollow cylindrical tube having a cutting edge. This tube is mounted on a mandrel forming a tool holder which makes it possible to transmit the torque and the drilling force to the punch. The punch is moved vertically relative to the cutting table in a back and forth movement to pierce the mattress. Depending on the thickness of the mattress to be cut, a support forming a crowbar and resting on the mattress can also be used to facilitate drilling of the mattress.

[0005] After drilling the mattress and before drilling a new one, it is necessary to remove the cut material scraps which are found in the form of pellets or scraps trapped inside the punch. For this purpose, it is known to remove the scraps of material trapped in the punch by sucking them up, either from the top by passing them directly through the punch, or from the bottom by passing them through the support forming a presser foot. Reference may be made, for example, to document US 7,591,615 which describes a cutting device equipped with such systems for removing scraps of material.

[0006] It is also known to use cutting devices which have several cutting tools of different diameters (typically 4 or 6 cutting tools). In practice, the different cutting tools are mounted in a rotating barrel. The choice of the cutting tool is made by rotating the barrel in order to position the cutting tool cut chosen in front of the selector to drive it in translation and generate a pressure force during drilling.

[0007] A pneumatic motor centered on the axis of rotation of the barrel allows, by means of a pinion, the simultaneous rotation of all the different tools of the cutting device. Furthermore, a material scrap suction tube is mounted on the periphery of the barrel in order to recover by suction the material scraps at the free end of the selected cutting tool.

[0008] Such a cutting device with multiple cutting tools is particularly advantageous due to its versatility. On the other hand, its architecture makes it particularly bulky. Statement of the invention

[0009] The main aim of the present invention is therefore to overcome such drawbacks by proposing a cutting device with multiple cutting tools having a small footprint.

[0010] According to the invention, this aim is achieved by means of a device for automatically cutting pieces from a mattress formed from a plurality of superimposed layers of flexible material, including: - a rotating barrel forming a support for cutting tools; - at least two rotary cutting tools which are mounted inside the barrel while being eccentric relative to a rotary axis thereof; - a cutting tool drive motor which is fixed relative to the barrel and positioned eccentrically relative to the rotary axis thereof; and - a barrel pivot motor which is adapted to pivot the barrel about its rotary axis to allow a selected cutting tool to engage with the cutting tool drive motor, the barrel pivot motor being positioned eccentrically relative to the rotary axis of the barrel; - each cutting tool including: a cylindrical punch which is rotatable by the drive motor and which is coupled to a tool holder which can be moved vertically relative to the barrel between a lowered drilling position and a raised position, and a ring support forming a presser foot which is mounted under the tool holder.

[0011] The device according to the invention is remarkable in that it is very compact and has a reduced footprint. Indeed, by moving the drive motor cutting tools outside the barrel makes it possible to reduce the overall diameter of the barrel (compared to the prior art solution in which the drive motor is centered on the axis of rotation of the barrel).

[0012] Preferably, each cutting tool further comprises at least one common rod for guiding the presser foot and the tool holder of said cutting tool, said rod being capable of sliding vertically inside at least one socket mounted inside the barrel. The use of guide rods which are common to the presser feet and the tool holders makes it possible to further reduce the diameter of the barrel, and therefore the size of the device.

[0013] In this case, each rod may be able to slide vertically inside two ball bushings spaced vertically inside the barrel.

[0014] Also preferably, the device further comprises a material scrap suction tube mounted inside the barrel by means of a sliding pivot connection and being positioned along the rotary axis thereof, said suction tube being locked in rotation. The positioning of the suction tube in the center of the barrel makes it possible to further reduce the size of the device.

[0015] In this case, the suction tube may have, at a lower end, a suction mouth capable of being positioned opposite the presser foot of the selected cutting tool.

[0016] In addition, the suction tube may have an external stop capable of coming into contact with a cam secured to each tool holder in order to raise the suction tube when the tool holder moves from its lowered drilling position to its raised rest position.

[0017] More preferably, the device further comprises, for each cutting tool, an indexing slide fixed at one end to the presser foot and comprising a groove in which a fastener secured to the tool holder is capable of sliding. The presence of the slide allows the cutting tool to pass through the mattress of flexible material while allowing the presser foot to stop on the surface thereof.

[0018] The groove of each indexing slide may have an enlarged section allowing the tool holder attachment to pass through in order to release the indexing slide. Thus, the slide facilitates the changing of cutting tools by allowing the presser feet to be released.

[0019] More preferably, the punch of each cutting tool is provided at an upper end with a pinion capable of being meshed with a drive pinion of the drive motor, the pinion of the selected cutting tool being capable of translating vertically along the drive pinion during the vertical movement of the cutting tool. This feature allows the driving of a single cutting tool (the chosen one) by the drive pinion of the motor, which optimizes the inertia of the assembly. (in particular compared to the prior art solution in which the drive motor simultaneously engages all the cutting tools).

[0020] The device may comprise four rotating cutting tools of different diameters which are mounted inside the barrel while being angularly spaced from each other by 90°.

[0021] The presser foot of each cutting tool may comprise, at a free end, a guide barrel mounted on springs in order to ensure holding pressure on the mattress of flexible material to be cut.

[0022] The die of each cutting tool may receive an ejector rod which is fixed vertically relative to the die.

[0023] The device may further comprise a raising and lowering cylinder which is capable of being coupled to the tool holder of the selected cutting tool to move it vertically between its lowered drilling position and its raised position. Brief description of the drawings

[0024] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a schematic view of a cutting table equipped with a automatic cutting device according to the invention;

[0025] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the cutting device according to the invention.

[0026] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a longitudinal sectional view of the cutting device of the [Fig.2],

[0027] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a view showing the cutting tool drive mechanism of the cutting device of [Fig.2].

[0028] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a partial perspective view of the cutting device of [Fig.2] showing the indexing slides.

[0029] [Fig.6] to [Fig.1 1] Figures 6 to 11 schematically illustrate an operating cycle of the cutting device of [Fig.2]. Description of the embodiments

[0030] The invention applies to the automated cutting by means of a die cutter of pieces in a mattress formed of several superimposed layers of flexible sheet material, in particular fabric.

[0031] Such a cutting operation is generally carried out by means of a cutting table 10 (such as that illustrated in [Fig.l]) onto which the material to be cut is brought in the form of a mattress 12 formed from a stack of several layers of material.

[0032] Typically, the cutting table comprises a gantry 14 on which is mounted a cutting head 16 composed of a main cutting tool 18 (for example a vibrating blade), and a device 100 for automatically cutting parts in accordance with the invention. Under the control of a workstation 20, the gantry 14 can move along the cutting table (X direction), while the main cutting tool 18 and the cutting device 100 can move simultaneously along the gantry (Y direction) so as to be able to reach any area of ​​the mattress 12 placed on the table.

[0033] The cutting device 100 according to the invention is shown very schematically in [Fig. 2]. It comprises in particular a fixed frame 101 which is mounted on the gantry of the cutting table.

[0034] The cutting device 100 comprises in particular a rotary barrel 102 forming a cutting tool support which is integral with the frame 101 and which has a rotary axis Z-0 positioned vertically.

[0035] The cutting device 100 of Figures 1 to 4 also includes four rotary cutting tools 104-1, 104-2, 104-3, and 104-4 which are mounted inside the barrel 102 having their respective rotary axis Z1, Z-2, Z-3, Z-4 which is eccentric with respect to the rotary axis Z-0 of the barrel and parallel thereto (i.e. the respective rotary axes of the cutting tools are not coaxial with the rotary axis of the barrel).

[0036] As shown in [Fig. 4], in this embodiment with four cutting tools, the latter are advantageously mounted inside the barrel while being angularly spaced from each other by 90°. Of course, the number of cutting tools could be different, for example six (in which case the cutting tools would advantageously be angularly spaced from each other by 60°).

[0037] In a known manner, each cutting tool 104-1 to 104-4 comprises in particular a cylindrical punch 106-1 to 106-4 which is capable of being rotated about the respective rotary axis of the cutting tool. This punch is coupled to a tool holder 108-1 to 108-4 which is capable of being moved vertically relative to the barrel 102 between a lowered drilling position and a raised rest position.

[0038] For this purpose, the cutting device according to the invention comprises a raising and lowering cylinder 111 (for example a pneumatic cylinder) which is coupled to the tool holder of the cutting tool chosen by the operator (in the example of [Fig.2], this is the cutting tool 104-3) to move it vertically between its lowered drilling position and its raised rest position.

[0039] The punches 106-1 to 106-4 have diameters which are different from one cutting tool to another. Typically, these punches are hollow cylindrical drills each provided with a cutting edge at their free end. In addition, the punch 106-1 to 106-4 of each cutting tool receives an ejection rod 109 which is fixed vertically relative to the punch.

[0040] As shown in particular in Figures 1 and 4, the punch 106-1 to 106-4 of each cutting tool is provided at an upper end with a short pinion 110-1 to 110-4 which is adapted to be meshed by a long drive pinion 112 of a drive motor 114.

[0041] For this purpose, the cutting device according to the invention comprises a drive motor 114 for the cutting tools which is integral with the frame (and therefore fixed relative to the barrel). The rotary axis Z-5 of this drive motor is positioned eccentrically relative to the rotary axis Z-0 of the barrel (while being parallel to it).

[0042] More specifically, the drive motor 114 comprises a drive pinion 112 which is elongated along the rotary axis Z-5. This drive pinion 112 is intended to mesh with the short pinion 110-3 of the selected cutting tool 104-3 (see in particular [Fig.3]).

[0043] Furthermore, due to its elongated shape along the rotary axis Z-5, the short pinion 110-3 of the chosen cutting tool can translate along the drive pinion 112 when the corresponding tool holder is moved vertically (between its raised rest position and its lowered drilling position).

[0044] The cutting device 100 according to the invention also comprises a motor 116 for pivoting the barrel (for example an electric motor) for pivoting the barrel 102 around its rotary axis Z-0 in order to allow the cutting tool 104-1 to 104-4 chosen by the operator to engage with the drive motor 114 of the cutting tools.

[0045] For this purpose, the barrel pivoting motor 116 is positioned outside the barrel 102 and eccentrically relative to the rotary axis Z-0 thereof. The motor 116 is actuated on command from the operator to pivot the barrel 102 about its rotary axis until the short pinion of the cutting tool selected by the operator engages with the drive pinion of the drive motor 114. This control is carried out for example via a workstation.

[0046] It will be noted that each cutting tool 104-1 to 104-4 further comprises an annular support forming a presser foot 118-1 to 118-4 which is mounted under the corresponding tool holder 108-1 to 108-4. This presser foot (or presser foot) makes it possible to exert pressure on the mattress of flexible material when it is cut.

[0047] More specifically, the presser foot 118-1 to 118-4 of each cutting tool comprises, at a free end, a guide barrel 122-1 to 122-4 and is equipped with two springs 124. This guide barrel 122-1 to 122-4 comprises an opening 120 for the passage of material scraps towards a suction tube described later.

[0048] Furthermore, each cutting tool 104-1 to 104-4 comprises two rods 126-1 to 126-4 common to the vertical guidance of both the presser foot 118-1 to 118-4 and the tool holder 108-1 to 108-4 of said cutting tool. These rods 126-1 to 126-4 are each capable of sliding vertically inside two sockets (for example of the socket type balls) which are mounted inside the barrel, spaced vertically from each other.

[0049] The common guidance of the presser foot and the tool holder of the same cutting tool by means of these common rods 126-1 to 126-4 is particularly advantageous in order to reduce the overall size and simplify the device.

[0050] As indicated previously, the cutting device according to the invention also comprises a suction tube 130 for the material scraps mounted inside the barrel 102 while being positioned along the rotary axis Z-0 thereof (i.e. coaxially with the barrel). This suction tube is connected upstream to suction means, such as for example a suction motor equipped with a filter (not shown in the figures).

[0051] The suction tube 130 is mounted by means of a sliding pivot connection 132 (of the lip seal type) coaxial with the barrel so as to obtain vertical guidance of the suction tube relative to the barrel.

[0052] At its lower end, the suction tube 130 comprises a suction mouth 134 opposite which the opening 120 of the presser foot of the cutting tool chosen by the operator is positioned (see [Fig.3]).

[0053] At its upper end, the suction tube 130 slides along a column 136 of the frame 101 making it possible to block the suction tube in rotation relative to the barrel.

[0054] As shown in [Fig. 3], the suction tube 130 has an external stop 138 which comes into contact with a cam 140 secured to each tool holder 108-1 to 108-4 in order to raise the suction tube when the tool holder passes from its lowered drilling position to its raised rest position.

[0055] As shown in [Fig. 5], there is advantageously provided, for each cutting tool 104-1 to 104-4, an indexing slide 142 which is fixed at a lower end on the presser foot 118-1 to 118-4 and which comprises a groove 144 in which slides an attachment 146 secured to the tool holder 108-1 to 108-4 during the vertical movement of the latter between its raised rest position and its lowered drilling position.

[0056] This indexing slide 142 allows the cutting tool 104-1 to 104-4 to pass through the mattress of flexible material while allowing the presser foot to stop on the surface thereof.

[0057] Preferably, each indexing slide 142 has an enlarged section 142a which allows the attachment 146 of the tool holder to pass through in order to release the indexing slide and the presser foot, in particular during an intervention on the cutting tool.

[0058] The operation of the cutting device according to the invention follows clearly from the above (see Figures 6 to 11).

[0059] The cutting device 100 is brought above the mattress 12 of flexible material at an area in which pieces are to be cut. The cutters of the set of cutting tools are in their raised rest position.

[0060] The operator selects the cutting tool to be used (here the cutting tool 104-1) from the work station so that the motor 116 pivots the barrel 102 around its rotary axis Z-0 until the short pinion of the chosen cutting tool meshes with the drive pinion 112 of the drive motor 114.

[0061] The punch 106-1 of the selected cutting tool 104-1 is then rotated about its rotary axis by activation of the drive motor 114. The jack 111 is then actuated to lower the punch 106-1 of the selected cutting tool to its lowered drilling position so that it pierces the mattress 12 right through ([Fig.6]).

[0062] During the descent, the short pinion of the selected cutting tool 104-1 translates vertically along the drive pinion 112 of the drive motor 114 while continuing to mesh with the latter.

[0063] In addition, the tool holder 108-1 of the chosen cutting tool pushes the associated presser foot 118-1 downwards so that the latter comes to bear against the upper surface of the mattress 12 to ensure guidance of the punch and thus obtain greater drilling precision.

[0064] It will be noted that the presser foot 118-1 carrying the guide barrel descends with the tool holder 108-1 onto the mattress 12 and the springs make it possible to ensure a slight holding pressure on this mattress.

[0065] It will also be noted that, in this drilling position, the ejection rod 109 associated with the chosen cutting tool remains in a fixed position.

[0066] At the end of the stroke, the punch 106-1 of the cutting tool 104-1 is filled with scraps of material P cut through the mattress 12. The jack 111 is then actuated to raise the punch 106-1 of the chosen cutting tool to its raised rest position ([Fig.7] and [Fig.8]).

[0067] During this rise cycle, the material scraps P trapped inside the punch 106-1 rise with the latter until they come into contact with the lower end of the ejection rod 109 associated with the chosen cutting tool ([Fig.9]).

[0068] The suction mouth 134 of the suction tube 130 which is opposite the opening 120 of the presser foot 118-1 then comes to suck up the scraps of material P trapped inside the punch 106-1 as the punch rises ([Fig.10] and [Fig.11]) to evacuate them.

[0069] It will be noted that once the presser foot 118-1 is raised ([Fig.10]), the cutting device 100 can be moved to a new area of ​​the mattress 12 in which other pieces are to be cut. Once all the material scraps evacuated, a new cut can begin.

Claims

Claims

1. Device (100) for automatically cutting pieces from a mattress (12) formed from a plurality of superimposed layers of flexible material, comprising: - a rotating barrel (102) forming a support for cutting tools; - at least two rotating cutting tools (104-1 to 104-4) which are mounted inside the barrel while being eccentric relative to a rotary axis (Z-0) thereof; - a cutting tool drive motor (114) which is fixed relative to the barrel and positioned eccentrically relative to the rotary axis thereof; and - a barrel pivoting motor (116) which is capable of pivoting the barrel about its rotary axis to allow a chosen cutting tool to engage with the cutting tool drive motor, the barrel pivoting motor being positioned eccentrically relative to the rotary axis of the barrel;- each cutting tool (104-1 to 104-4) comprising: • a cylindrical punch (106-1 to 106-4) which is capable of being rotated by the drive motor (114) and which is coupled to a tool holder (108-1 to 108-4) which can be moved vertically relative to the barrel between a lowered drilling position and a raised rest position, and • an annular support forming a presser foot (118-1 to 118-4) which is mounted under the tool holder.;

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein each cutting tool (106-1 to 106-4) further comprises at least one common rod (126-1 to 126-4) for guiding the presser foot (118-1 to 118-4) and the tool holder (108-1 to 108-4) of said cutting tool, said rod being able to slide vertically inside at least one socket mounted inside the barrel.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein each rod (126-1 to 126-4) is capable of sliding vertically inside two ball bushings spaced vertically inside the barrel.

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a suction tube (130) for the scraps (P) of material mounted inside the barrel (102) by means of a sliding pivot connection (132) and being positioned along the rotary axis thereof, said suction tube being blocked in rotation.

5. Device according to claim 4, in which the suction tube (130) has, at a lower end, a suction mouth (134) capable of being positioned opposite the presser foot (118-1 to 118-4) of the selected cutting tool.

6. Device according to one of claims 4 and 5, in which the suction tube (130) has an external stop (138) capable of coming into contact with a cam (140) integral with each tool holder (108-1 to 108-4) in order to raise the suction tube when the tool holder passes from its lowered drilling position to its raised rest position.

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising, for each cutting tool, an indexing slide (142) fixed at one end to the presser foot and comprising a groove (144) in which a fastener (146) secured to the tool holder is capable of sliding.

8. Device according to claim 7, in which the groove of each indexing slide (142) has an enlarged section (142a) allowing the passage of the attachment (146) of the tool holder in order to release the indexing slide.

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the punch (106-1 to 106-4) of each cutting tool is provided at an upper end with a pinion (110-1 to 110-4) capable of being meshed with a drive pinion (112) of the drive motor (114), the pinion of the selected cutting tool being capable of translating vertically along the drive pinion during vertical movement of the cutting tool.

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising four rotary cutting tools (104-1 to 104-4) of different diameters which are mounted inside the barrel while being angularly spaced from each other by 90°.

11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the presser foot (118-1 to 118-4) of each cutting tool comprises, at a free end, a guide barrel (122-1 to 122-4) mounted on springs (124).

12. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the punch (106-1 to 106-4) of each cutting tool receives an ejector rod (109) which is fixed vertically relative to the punch.

13. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a raising and lowering cylinder (111) which is adapted to be coupled to the tool holder of the selected cutting tool to move it vertically between its lowered drilling position and its raised rest position.

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