automatic cutting device for parts in a mattress formed of a plurality of superimposed layers of flexible material

Abstract

Automatic cutting device for parts in a mattress formed of a plurality of superimposed layers of flexible material The invention relates to an automatic cutting device (100) for parts in a mattress (12) formed of 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 by being eccentric with respect to a rotating axis (Z-0) thereof, a drive 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 selected cutting tool to engage with the cutting tool drive motor.Each cutting tool comprises a cylindrical punch (106-1) coupled to a tool holder that can be moved vertically relative to the barrel between a lowered drilling position and a raised resting position, and a pressure foot (118-4) mounted under the tool holder. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 2.

Description

Title of the invention: Automatic cutting device for pieces in a mattress formed of a plurality of superimposed layers of flexible material technical field

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

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

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

[0004] The cutting tool's punch is, for example, formed from a hollow cylindrical tube with a cutting edge. This tube is mounted on a tool holder chuck that transmits the torque and drilling force to the punch. The punch is moved vertically relative to the cutting table in a back-and-forth motion to pierce the mattress. Depending on the thickness of the mattress to be cut, a support forming a pry bar and resting on the mattress can also be used to facilitate drilling.

[0005] After drilling a hole in the mat and before drilling another, it is necessary to remove the cut material scraps, which are trapped inside the die. A known method for removing these scraps is to suction them out, either from the top by passing them directly through the die, or from the bottom by passing them through a support that acts as a crowbar. Reference may be made, for example, to US patent 7,591,615, which describes a cutting device equipped with such material scrap removal systems.

[0006] It is also known to use cutting devices that 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 cutting tool is selected by rotating the barrel to position the tool cut chosen opposite the selector to drive it in translation and generate a pressure force during drilling.

[0007] A pneumatic motor centered on the rotation axis of the turret drives, via a pinion, the simultaneous rotation of all the different tools of the cutting device. Furthermore, a material extraction tube is mounted around the periphery of the turret to collect, by suction, the material scraps at the free end of the selected cutting tool.

[0008] Such a multi-tool cutting device is particularly advantageous because of its versatility. On the other hand, its design makes it particularly bulky. Description of the invention

[0009] The main purpose of the present invention is therefore to overcome such drawbacks by proposing a multi-tool cutting device with a small footprint.

[0010] In accordance with the invention, this goal is achieved by means of an automatic cutting device for pieces in a mattress formed of a plurality of superimposed layers of flexible material, comprising: - a rotating barrel forming a support for cutting tools; - at least two rotary cutting tools which are mounted inside the barrel, being offset from a rotating axis of the barrel; - a cutting tool drive motor that is fixed relative to the barrel and positioned eccentrically relative to its rotating axis; and - a barrel pivoting motor which is capable of pivoting the barrel around its rotating axis to allow a selected cutting tool to engage with the cutting tool drive motor, the barrel pivoting motor being positioned eccentrically relative to the rotating axis of the barrel; - each cutting tool comprising: a cylindrical punch that is capable of being rotated by the drive motor and that is coupled to a tool holder that can be moved vertically relative to the barrel between a lowered drilling position and a raised position, and an annular 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 relocating the drive motor Using cutting tools outside the barrel allows for a reduction in its overall diameter (compared to the prior art solution in which the drive motor is centered on the barrel's axis of rotation).

[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 bushing mounted inside the barrel. Using guide rods that are common to the presser feet and tool holders allows for a further reduction in the barrel diameter, and therefore the overall size of the device.

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

[0014] Preferably, the device also includes a material suction tube mounted inside the drum by means of a sliding pivot joint and positioned along its rotating axis, the suction tube being prevented from rotating. Positioning the suction tube in the center of the drum further reduces the overall size of the device.

[0015] In this case, the suction tube may have, at a lower end, a suction mouth suitable for positioning itself opposite the presser foot of the selected cutting tool.

[0016] In addition, the suction tube may have an external stop suitable for contacting a cam attached to each tool holder in order to raise the suction tube when the tool holder moves from its lowered drilling position to its raised resting position.

[0017] Preferably, the device further comprises, for each cutting tool, an indexing slide fixed at one end to the presser foot and including a groove in which a fastener attached to the tool holder is able to slide. The presence of the slide allows the cutting tool to pass through the flexible material mat while the presser foot stops on its surface.

[0018] The groove in each indexing slide may have an enlarged section allowing the tool holder attachment to pass through in order to disengage the indexing slide. This facilitates changing cutting tools by allowing the pressure feet to be disengaged.

[0019] Preferably, the cutting tool of each cutting tool is provided at one upper end with a pinion suitable for meshing with a drive pinion of the drive motor, the pinion of the selected cutting tool being able to translate vertically along the drive pinion during the vertical movement of the cutting tool. This feature allows only one cutting tool (the one chosen) to be driven by the motor's drive pinion, thus optimizing the inertia of the assembly. (particularly in relation to the prior art solution in which the drive motor simultaneously engages all the cutting tools).

[0020] The device may include four rotating cutting tools of different diameters which are mounted inside the barrel at an angle of 90° to each other.

[0021] The presser foot of each cutting tool may include, at a free end, a spring-mounted guide barrel to ensure holding pressure on the mat of soft material to be cut.

[0022] The die of each cutting tool can receive an ejection rod which is fixed vertically with respect to the die.

[0023] The device may further include a lifting and lowering cylinder which is suitable for 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. 1 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 cross-sectional view of the cutting device [Fig.2],

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

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

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

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

[0031] Such a cutting operation is generally carried out using a cutting table 10 (such as the one illustrated in [Fig.1]) 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 consisting of a main cutting tool 18 (for example, a vibrating blade), and an automatic part cutting device 100 conforming to 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 schematically in [Fig.2]. It includes in particular a fixed frame 101 which is mounted on the gantry of the cutting table.

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

[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 with their respective rotary axes Z1, Z-2, Z-3, Z-4 being eccentric with respect to the rotary axis Z-0 of the barrel and parallel to it (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 example of an embodiment with four cutting tools, these are advantageously mounted inside the barrel, angularly spaced 90° apart. Of course, the number of cutting tools could be different, for example six (in which case the cutting tools would advantageously be angularly spaced 60° apart).

[0037] As is known, each cutting tool 104-1 to 104-4 includes, in particular, a cylindrical punch 106-1 to 106-4 which is capable of being rotated about the respective rotating 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 resting position.

[0038] For this purpose, the cutting device according to the invention includes a lifting 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], it is the cutting tool 104-3) to move it vertically between its lowered drilling position and its raised resting position.

[0039] The punches 106-1 to 106-4 have diameters that differ from one cutting tool to another. Typically, these punches are hollow cylindrical drills, each equipped with a cutting edge at its free end. In addition, the punch 106-1 to 106-4 of each cutting tool has an ejector rod 109 that 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 one upper end with a short pinion 110-1 to 110-4 which is suitable for being engaged by a long drive pinion 112 of a drive motor 114.

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

[0042] More specifically, the drive motor 114 includes a drive pinion 112 which is elongated along the rotating 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 rotating axis Z-5, the short pinion 110-3 of the selected 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 further includes a barrel pivoting motor 116 (for example an electric motor) to pivot the barrel 102 around its rotating axis Z-0 in order to allow the cutting tool 104-1 to 104-4 chosen by the operator to engage with the cutting tool drive motor 114.

[0045] For this purpose, the turret pivoting motor 116 is positioned outside the turret 102 and eccentrically with respect to its rotating axis Z-0. The motor 116 is actuated by the operator to rotate the turret 102 around its rotating 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 should 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 apply pressure to the flexible material mat during its cutting.

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

[0048] Furthermore, each cutting tool 104-1 to 104-4 comprises two common rods 126-1 to 126-4 for 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 bushings (for example, bushings of the type with balls) which are mounted inside the barrel, spaced vertically apart 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 previously stated, the cutting device according to the invention further comprises a material scrap suction tube 130 mounted inside the barrel 102 and positioned along its rotating axis Z-0 (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 mounting of the suction tube 130 is achieved via a sliding pivot joint 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 includes 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 allowing the suction tube to be locked 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 attached to each tool holder 108-1 to 108-4 in order to raise the suction tube when the tool holder moves from its lowered drilling position to its raised resting position.

[0055] As shown in [Fig.5], advantageously, for each cutting tool 104-1 to 104-4, an indexing slide 142 is fixed at a lower end on the presser foot 118-1 to 118-4 and includes a groove 144 in which a fastener 146 attached to the tool holder 108-1 to 108-4 slides 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 soft material mat while allowing the presser foot to stop on the surface of it.

[0057] Preferably, each indexing slide 142 has an enlarged section 142a which allows the passage of the attachment 146 of the tool holder in order to free the indexing slide and the presser foot, in particular when working on the cutting tool.

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

[0059] The cutting device 100 is brought above the flexible material mat 12 at an area where parts are to be cut. The cutting tools of all the 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 workstation so that the motor 116 pivots the barrel 102 around its rotating axis Z-0 until the short pinion of the chosen cutting tool engages the drive pinion 112 of the drive motor 114.

[0061] The die 106-1 of the selected cutting tool 104-1 is then rotated around its rotating axis by activation of the drive motor 114. The cylinder 111 is then actuated to lower the die 106-1 of the selected cutting tool to its lowered drilling position so that it pierces the mattress 12 through and 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 it.

[0063] In addition, the tool holder 108-1 of the selected cutting tool pushes down the associated presser foot 118-1 so that it rests against the upper surface of the mat 12 to ensure guidance of the punch and thus obtain greater drilling accuracy.

[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 should 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 die 106-1 of the cutting tool 104-1 is filled with scraps of material P cut through the mat 12. The cylinder 111 is then actuated to raise the die 106-1 of the chosen cutting tool to its raised rest position ([Fig.7] and [Fig.8]).

[0067] During this upward cycle, the material falls P trapped inside the punch 106-1 rise with it 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 sucks up the material scraps P trapped inside the die 106-1 as the die is raised ([Fig.10] and [Fig.11]) in order to remove them.

[0069] It should 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 need to be cut. Once all the material scraps have been removed Once the debris has been removed, a new cutting operation can begin.

Claims

Demands

1. Device (100) for automatically cutting parts in a mat (12) formed of 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, being eccentric with respect to a rotating axis (Z-0) thereof; - a cutting tool drive motor (114) which is fixed with respect to the barrel and positioned eccentrically with respect to the rotating axis thereof; and - a barrel pivoting motor (116) which is capable of pivoting the barrel about its rotating axis to allow a selected cutting tool to engage with the cutting tool drive motor, the barrel pivoting motor being positioned eccentrically with respect to the rotating 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 resting position, and • an annular support forming a pressure 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 bushing mounted inside the barrel.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein each rod (126-1 to 126-4) is able to slide 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 material scrap (P) mounted inside the barrel (102) by means of a sliding pivot joint (132) and positioned along the rotational axis thereof, said suction tube being blocked in rotation.

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

6. Device according to any one of claims 4 and 5, wherein the suction tube (130) has an external stop (138) adapted to come 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 moves from its lowered drilling position to its raised resting 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 an attachment (146) integral with the tool holder is able to slide.

8. Device according to claim 7, wherein 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, wherein the cutter (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 the vertical movement of the cutting tool.

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising four rotating cutting tools (104-1 to 104-4) of different diameters which are mounted inside the barrel at an angular distance of 90° from each other.

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

12. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the punch (106-1 to 106-4) of each cutting tool receives an ejection rod (109) which is fixed vertically with respect to the punch.

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

Images