Modular comb element for machines for automatic cutting of mats of material sheets

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a modular comb element (10) for a machine (2) for automatically cutting a mat of material sheets, the cutting machine comprising a plurality of cutting supports (4) each having a plurality of bristles (6) on which the mat (M) rests, the comb element comprising a plate forming a support (12), from which extend in the longitudinal direction a first and a second row of teeth, the teeth (14) of the first row alternating with the teeth (16) of the second row, the free ends of the teeth of the first row being further from the downstream edge of the support than the free ends of the teeth of the second row of teeth, a ramp (18) attached to the downstream edge of the support and inclined relative to it to limit the contact surface between the mat of sheets and the comb element, and air injection means at the downstream edge of the ramp over its entire width to facilitate the removal / intake of the mat of sheets.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of machines for automatically cutting mats of material, in particular textile material sheets, using an oscillating blade penetrating a suction cutting support driven by a conveyor. The present invention more particularly relates to an intake and take-off comb equipping such cutting machines. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, vibratory blade cutting machines include a cutting conveyor used to drive the mat of sheets to be cut during the cutting operation, the cutting conveyor being housed in a box within which a high vacuum is established to keep the sheets of material to be cut immobile during the cutting operation.

[0003] In this type of machine, the cutting conveyor also serves as a penetrating cutting support for the vibrating blade. It is known in practice to make the cutting support pierceable by the blade so that during the cutting operation the blade can not only pass completely through the material to be cut, but also extend below beyond the support surface and into the layer of material that provides such a surface.

[0004] For this purpose, the cutting support generally consists of an assembly of blocks driven by the belt of the conveyor, each block comprising a number of bristles attached to its sole in several parallel rows, through which transverse channels are formed to allow the passage of suction air, and which therefore allow the blocks to support the mat of sheets of material to be cut whilst allowing the cutting blade to penetrate.

[0005] The vibrating blade cutting machine also includes an intake and take-up comb located at each end of the conveyor. The intake comb functions to assist in the transfer of the mat of material sheet to be cut from the upstream spreading table at the upstream end of the cutting machine conveyor. Similarly, the take-up comb functions to assist in the transfer of the cut mat from the downstream end of the cutting machine conveyor to the take-up conveyor located downstream.

[0006] The take-off combs therefore constitute the transition between the area where the mat is kept under vacuum (i.e., on the suction cutting support) and the area without vacuum (i.e., on the take-off conveyor), and these take-off combs must ensure continuity in maintaining the mat while minimizing the surface of the bristles of the cutting support that are not in contact with the mat.

[0007] The take-off comb generally comprises several inclined parallel projections that penetrate the bristles of the cutting support to form a ramp that guides the cut mat from the cutting surface towards the take-off conveyor. These projections are arranged parallel to one another and span the entire width of the cutting surface at the downstream end of the conveyor. For example, reference may be made to US Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0156280, which describes an exemplary embodiment of a take-off comb having two rows of projections of different lengths that penetrate the bristles of the cutting support.

[0008] The removal combs known from the prior art have certain drawbacks. In particular, during the mat cutting operation, the bristles of the cutting support can be subjected to deformations that cause their distribution to be uneven. However, the removal combs known from the prior art do not allow the support bristles passing through the comb to be rearranged. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to propose a comb that does not have the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0010] This object is achieved by a modular comb element for a machine for automatically cutting mats of material sheets, the cutting machine comprising a plurality of cutting supports, each of which comprises a plurality of bristles mounted on a conveyor and on which the mat of material sheets to be cut rests, the comb element comprising a plate forming the support, from which first and second rows of teeth extend in the longitudinal direction, the teeth of the first row alternating with the teeth of the second row, the free ends of the teeth of the first row being further from the downstream edge of the support than the free ends of the teeth of the second row, and according to the invention this modular comb element further comprises an inclined portion attached to the downstream edge of the support and inclined relative to it to limit the contact surface between the mat of material sheets and the comb, and air injection means across its entire width at the downstream edge of the inclined portion to facilitate the removal / intake of the mat of material sheets.

[0011] The comb according to the invention is particularly notable in that it comprises an inclined section attached to the downstream edge of the support and inclined relative to the support. This inclined section and the associated air injection means make it possible to limit the contact surface between the mat of the sheet (to be removed or taken in) and the comb in order to facilitate the transition between the parts of the mat that are subject to suction and those that are not. This makes it very easy to remove (or take in) the mat of the sheet of material.

[0012] The comb according to the invention is also notable in that it consists of several independent modular elements assembled on the same plate to ensure continuity between the cutting conveyor and the take-out conveyor (for the take-out comb) and between the spreading table and the cutting conveyor (for the take-in comb). The comb is a highly stressed part, and being modular allows only those elements that may be damaged to be changed.

[0013] The comb according to the invention is further notable in that it comprises two rows of teeth: the first row of teeth allows the bristles of the cutting support of the machine to be straightened when they have been deformed to the point where they are no longer perpendicular to the mat of material sheets, while the second row of teeth allows the heads of the bristles of the cutting support to be clamped in order to limit the free space between them.

[0014] The air injection means may comprise at least one downstream row of air injection orifices emerging at the downstream edge of the ramp between two adjacent teeth and opening into an air supply channel extending across the entire width of the support.

[0015] In this case, the air injection means may further comprise a second downstream row of air injection orifices emerging at the downstream edge of the ramp between two adjacent teeth and opening into the air supply channel.

[0016] Similarly, the air injection means may further comprise an upstream row of air injection orifices emerging at the upstream edge of the ramp and opening into the air supply channel.

[0017] The air supply channel may be in communication with ambient air or in communication with a pressurized air circuit.

[0018] Preferably, the comb element further comprises a third row of teeth mounted below the support independent of and longitudinally recessed from the first and second rows of teeth, said third row of teeth ensuring repositioning of the bristles of the cutting support potentially deformed during their passage through the two other rows of teeth.

[0019] In this case, the teeth of the third tooth row can extend longitudinally from the upstream edge of the support opposite the downstream edge, and similarly, the free ends of the teeth of the third tooth row can be recessed longitudinally from the downstream edge of the support.

[0020] Again, the teeth of the third row of teeth are preferably laterally offset from the teeth of the first row of teeth and the teeth of the second row of teeth.

[0021] Preferably, the free ends of the teeth of the first row of teeth have a bulbous shape, which ensures guidance of the shafts of the bristles of the cutting support before the respective heads of the cutting support are fully engaged through the comb elements.

[0022] Also preferably in this case, the lateral distance separating two adjacent teeth of the first tooth row substantially corresponds to the lateral bulk of an even number of adjacent bristles on the cutting support, and the lateral distance separating two adjacent teeth of the first and second tooth rows substantially corresponds to half the lateral distance separating two adjacent teeth of the first tooth row, these distances ensuring clamping of the bristle heads therebetween.

[0023] The present invention also relates to a machine for automatically cutting mats of material sheets, said machine comprising a plurality of cutting supports, each comprising a plurality of bristles, mounted on a conveyor and adapted to rest on which the mat of material sheets to be cut is placed, said machine further comprising, at at least one of its ends, a comb consisting of a plurality of comb elements as defined above.

[0024] The ends can be extraction ends and / or uptake ends (in which case the combs are extraction combs and / or uptake combs, respectively).

[0025] Some comb elements may have different characteristics than other comb elements, where "characteristics" means in particular the number of teeth in the two rows, their length, their shape, their position, etc. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a partial side view of the take-off end of a cutting machine equipped with a take-off comb according to the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the extraction comb element of FIG. 1; [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a comb element according to a modified embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a top view of the comb element of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the comb element of FIG. 3. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a side view of the comb element of FIG. 3. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the comb element of FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] In a vibrating blade cutting machine, a mat of material sheets to be cut is driven by a cutting conveyor during the cutting operation, the upper part of which acts as a cutting support, and the lower part is generally housed in a box within which a high vacuum is established to keep the material to be cut stationary during the cutting operation.

[0028] Figure 1 partially represents the downstream end (called the unloading end) of such a cutting machine 2. As shown in this figure, the cutting support 4 consists of an assembly of blocks mounted on a belt for driving a cutting conveyor (not shown).

[0029] In a known manner, each block of cutting support comprises a plurality of bristles 6 arranged in parallel rows. Each bristles 6 has a foot 6a attached to the sole 8 and a head 8b opposite the foot and adapted to act as a support for the mat M of material sheets to be cut.

[0030] As described in French Patent Application Publication No. 2003043, filed on March 27, 2020, the block of cutting support can be formed by the assembly of a plurality of modular elements, each of which comprises bristles arranged in the same unique bristle row.

[0031] Furthermore, at the location of the downstream end of the cutting surface (with respect to the advance direction T of the cutting conveyor), the cutting machine is generally equipped with a take-off comb which is elevated relative to the cutting surface and extends over its entire width.

[0032] The primary function of the take-off comb is to assist in transporting the mats M to be taken from the downstream end of the cutting conveyor to the take-off conveyor (not shown).

[0033] According to the present invention, the extraction comb is modular, i.e., made up of a plurality of modular comb elements 10 arranged end to end to form the comb.

[0034] Further in accordance with the present invention, as shown in Figures 2-5, each comb element 10 comprises a generally horizontal plate 12 forming a support from which extend longitudinally a first row of teeth 14 and a second row of teeth 16, the teeth of the first row alternating with the teeth of the second row.

[0035] Furthermore, the free ends of the first row of teeth 14 are farther from the downstream edge of the support than the free ends of the second row of teeth 16. In other words, the first row of teeth 14 protrudes relative to the second row of teeth 16.

[0036] The teeth 14, 16 of these two tooth rows have a generally triangular shape with respective upper ridges 14a, 16a that are inclined downwardly relative to the substantially horizontal support 12 of the comb element.

[0037] Preferably, the slope of the upper ridges 16a of the second row of teeth 16 is greater than the slope of the upper ridges 14a of the first row of teeth 14.

[0038] Also preferably, the free ends of the teeth 14 of the first row of teeth have a bulbous, ie rounded, bulging shape, as can be seen particularly in FIGS.

[0039] This particular bulbous shape ensures guiding of the shafts of the bristles 6 of the cutting support before the head 6b of the cutting support is fully engaged through the removal comb. If the bristle shafts have a cross section smaller than that of the head, the bulbous free ends of the teeth 14 are located below the entire head so as not to interfere with the bristle shafts.

[0040] Further in accordance with the present invention, a ramp 18 is attached to the downstream edge of the support 12 of each comb element 10.

[0041] More specifically, this inclined portion 18 extends over the upstream succession of the teeth 14, 16 and is inclined downward relative to the generally horizontal support 12. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, the inclined portion 18 is inclined at an angle relative to the support 12 that is comprised between 0° and 45° and is substantially equal to the angle of inclination formed by the upper ridges 14a of each of the first row of teeth 14. α It has.

[0042] The inclined portions 18 arranged in this way make it possible to limit the contact surface between the mat M to be removed and the comb elements 10 .

[0043] Each comb element 10 according to the invention further comprises air injection means at the downstream edge of the ramp 18 over its entire width to facilitate removal of the mat M.

[0044] As shown in particular in Figures 2 to 4 and 7, these air injection means comprise at least one downstream row of air injection orifices 20 emerging at the downstream edge of the ramp 18 between two adjacent teeth 14, 16 and opening into an air supply channel 22 extending over the entire width of the support.

[0045] Preferably, the air injection means further comprise a second downstream row of air injection orifices 24 which also emerge at the downstream edge of the ramp 18 between two adjacent teeth 14, 16 and open into the same air supply channel 22.

[0046] In Figures 4 and 7, where these air injection orifices of the second row are particularly visible, it can be seen that these orifices 24 are aligned with the orifices 20 of the first downstream row by being located below these orifices, respectively.

[0047] Preferably, the air injection means also comprises an upstream row of air injection orifices 26 emerging from the upstream edge of the ramp 18 and opening into the air supply channel 22 .

[0048] As shown more particularly in Figures 3 and 4, the orifices 26 of the upstream row are located at the longitudinal end of the ramp 18 opposite to where the orifices 20, 24 of the downstream row are located.

[0049] Furthermore, the orifices 26 in the upstream row emerge along a substantially vertical direction, while the orifices 20, 24 in the downstream row emerge along a substantially horizontal direction.

[0050] An air supply channel 22 common to all the air injection orifices 20, 24, 26 can be supplied with ambient air or the air supply channel 22 can communicate with a pressurized air circuit (not shown).

[0051] All of the air injection orifices 20, 24, 26 allow the area of ​​the ramp 18 to be at atmospheric pressure or a slight overpressure (depending on the supply of the channels 22) in order to limit the portion of the mat to be removed that is exposed to the vacuum due to the suction in the cutting conveyor, making it much easier to transfer the mat M from the cutting conveyor to the removal conveyor.

[0052] According to one advantageous configuration of the invention, the comb element 10 further comprises a third row of teeth 28 which is independent of the first and second rows of teeth 14, 16 and which is mounted below the support 12 longitudinally recessed from the first and second rows of teeth.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 6, the teeth 28 of this third row of teeth extend longitudinally from the upstream edge of the support 12 opposite the downstream edge.

[0054] Additionally, the free ends of the teeth 28 of the third row of teeth may be longitudinally recessed from the downstream edge of the support 12 .

[0055] Additionally, as shown in FIG. 5, the teeth 28 of the third row of teeth are preferably laterally offset from the teeth 14 of the first row of teeth and the teeth 16 of the second row of teeth.

[0056] In other words, the teeth 28 of the third row are interposed laterally between two adjacent teeth 14, 16 belonging to the first and second rows.

[0057] The teeth 28 of this third row of teeth have the function of ensuring the repositioning of the bristles 6 of the cutting support 4 potentially deformed during their passage through the other two rows of teeth 14, 16.

[0058] According to another advantageous configuration, the lateral distance separating two adjacent teeth 14 from the teeth of the first row (see Figures 2 and 5) d corresponds substantially to the lateral bulk of an even number of adjacent bristles 6 of the cutting support 4.

[0059] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, this lateral distance between two adjacent teeth 14 corresponds to the lateral bulk of the four bristles 6 of the cutting support 4 .

[0060] Similarly, the lateral distance separating two adjacent teeth 14, 16 of the first and second rows of teeth d’ (see Figures 2 and 5) is the lateral distance separating two adjacent teeth 14 from the teeth of the first row d’ This is essentially half of the

[0061] Therefore, still in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, this lateral distance d’ corresponds to the lateral bulk of the two bristles 6 of the cutting support.

[0062] As previously mentioned, the take-up comb is modular, i.e., made up of a plurality of modular comb elements as previously described arranged end-to-end.

[0063] This modularity has the advantage, in particular, that some comb elements of the take-out comb can have different properties than other comb elements depending on the particular characteristics of the underlying cutting support.

[0064] By "characteristics" of the comb elements is meant the number of teeth in a row of two or three teeth, the length of the teeth, the shape of the teeth, the lateral spacing between two teeth, etc.

[0065] Furthermore, similar to the removal comb just described, the cutting machine is provided with an removal comb (not shown) at a position at the longitudinal end opposite the cutting surface that is generally raised relative to the cutting surface to enable the removal of the mat of material sheets from the spreading table onto the cutting surface.

[0066] The present invention also applies to this intake comb, which is preferably modular, with each comb element having the same properties as described for the extraction comb.

Claims

1. A modular comb element (10) for a machine (2) for automatically cutting a mat of material sheets (M), the cutting machine comprising a plurality of cutting supports (4) mounted on a conveyor, each of the cutting supports (4) comprising a plurality of bristles (6) on which the mat of material sheets is adapted to rest, the comb element comprising a plate forming a support (12) from which first and second rows of teeth extend in the longitudinal direction, the teeth (14) of the first row alternating with the teeth (16) of the second row, the first row a modular comb element (10) in which the free ends of the teeth of the first row of teeth are farther from the downstream edge of the support than the free ends of the teeth of the second row of teeth, the modular comb element (10) further comprising: a ramp (18) attached to the downstream edge of the support and inclined relative to it to limit the contact surface between the mat of sheets and the comb element; and air injection means (20, 24, 26) across the entire width of the downstream edge of the ramp to facilitate the removal / intake of the mat of sheets.

2. 2. An element according to claim 1, wherein the air injection means comprises at least one downstream row of air injection orifices (20) emerging at the downstream edge of the ramp between two adjacent teeth (14, 16) and opening into an air supply channel (22) extending over the entire width of the support.

3. 3. An element according to claim 2, wherein the air injection means further comprises a second downstream row of air injection orifices (24) emerging at the downstream edge of the ramp between two adjacent teeth and opening into the air supply channel (22).

4. 4. An element according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the air injection means further comprises an upstream row of air injection orifices (26) opening at the upstream edge of the ramp and opening into the air supply channel (22).

5. 5. An element according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the air supply channel (22) communicates with ambient air or with a pressurized air circuit.

6. 6. An element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a third row of teeth (28) mounted below the support (12) independent of and longitudinally recessed from the first and second rows of teeth.

7. 7. An element as set forth in claim 6, wherein the teeth (28) of said third row of teeth extend longitudinally from an upstream edge of said support opposite said downstream edge.

8. 8. An element according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the free ends of the teeth (28) of the third row of teeth are longitudinally recessed from the downstream edge of the support.

9. 9. An element according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the teeth (28) of the third row of teeth are laterally offset from the teeth (14) of the first row of teeth and the teeth (16) of the second row of teeth.

10. 10. An element according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the free ends of the teeth (14) of the first row of teeth have a bulbous shape.

11. 11. An element according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the lateral distance (d) separating two adjacent teeth (14) of the first tooth row substantially corresponds to the lateral bulk of an even number of adjacent bristles (6) of the cutting support, and the lateral distance (d') separating two adjacent teeth (14, 16) of the first and second tooth rows substantially corresponds to half the lateral distance (d) separating two adjacent teeth of the first tooth row.

12. 12. A machine (2) for automatically cutting a mat (M) of material sheets, comprising a plurality of cutting supports (4) mounted on a conveyor, each of said cutting supports (4) comprising a plurality of bristles (6) on which the mat of material sheets to be cut rests, said machine further comprising, at at least one of its ends, a comb consisting of a plurality of comb elements (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. 13. The machine of claim 12, wherein the end is a take-out end and / or an intake end.

14. 14. A machine according to any of claims 12 and 13, wherein some comb elements have different properties than other comb elements.

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