Cutting device for cutting flat metal products and cutting shear for cutting said flat metal products equipped with said device

Abstract

For example, a drum cutting device 100 for a shear adapted to cut flat metal products 300 advancing along a direction substantially parallel to its longitudinal extension direction, said device 100 adapted to cut said flat metal products 200 transversely to their advancement direction, said device 100 comprising at least one drum 101 adapted to be rotated, bounded diametrically by a cylindrical surface 102 and including a blade or knife 103 partially projecting from said cylindrical surface 102, said blade or knife 103 being partially housed in a seat 104 of said drum 101 and extending longitudinally along a direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis X of said drum 101, said device 100 comprising an adjusting wedge 105 for adjusting the position of the knife, said device 100 comprising movement means for the movement of said wedge 105 in said two opposite movement directions.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of the steel industry, in particular to the field of cutting flat metal products, for example produced by rolling and / or advanced by unwinding previously rolled coils. In particular, the present invention relates to a cutting device for cutting said flat metal products during their advancement along a direction substantially parallel to their longitudinal extension, said device comprising a rotating drum bounded by a cylindrical surface and equipped with cutting blades or knives protruding from said cylindrical surface, the rotation of the drum resulting in the impact of said blades or knives against the flat metal product and thus ultimately in the cutting of said flat metal product transverse to its advancement direction. The present invention particularly relates to said cutting device with an innovative solution for adjusting the position of the blades or knives transverse to its extension direction and therefore tangential to the drum.

[0002] A further object of the invention is a shear comprising at least one cutting device of the aforementioned kind, and a further object of the invention is a method for cutting flat metal products transversely to their direction of advancement. [Background technology]

[0003] The use of rotary drum shears for cutting flat metal products advancing along a direction of advancement substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of the products is known in the prior art, with the shears adapted to cut the flat metal products transversely to the direction of advancement. An example of a known type of shear is shown in Figures 1a and 1b, which comprise a first rotating drum 1101 and a second rotating drum 1101', each adapted to be rotated in opposite directions, in particular about their own longitudinal axes of symmetry X and X', respectively. Again, as shown, the first drum 1101 and the second drum 1101' are equipped with blades or knives 1103 and 1103', respectively, each of which protrudes from a cylindrical surface radially delimiting the drum to which it belongs, while the blades 1103 thus protrude radially from the drum 1101, and the blades 1103' protrude radially from the drum 1101'.

[0004] The first drum 1101 and / or the second drum 1101′ are movable along a direction Y perpendicular to the axes of rotation X and X′ between a first “open” position (FIG. 1a), in which the distance between the axes of rotation X and X′ is maximum, and a “closed” position (FIG. 1b), in which the distance between the axes of rotation X and X′ is minimum.

[0005] In Figures 1a and 1b, the reference numeral 300 identifies a flat metal product, for example a steel strip of a given thickness (along axis Y) and width (along axes X and X', thus perpendicular to the plane of the drawing), said steel strip being fed, for example, from a rolling mill stand (not shown) or from an unwinding coil (not shown) and advanced along direction Z, thus parallel to its longitudinal extension (perpendicular to its width).

[0006] To cut the steel strip 300 into portions of a predetermined length, the end of the steel strip 300 is introduced into the space between the drums 1101 and 1101' in the open position, the drums 1101 and 1101' are then rotated and moved closer to each other and placed in the closed position (FIG. 1b), and the steel strip 300 is finally advanced along the direction Z. The steel strip 300 advances between the drums 1101 and 1101' at a linear speed synchronized with the peripheral speeds of the knives 1103 and 1103' of the drums 1101 and 1101', respectively, which are moved closer to each other by eccentric means, thereby allowing the steel strip 300 to be cut from the passing product 300 before again moving the two drums 1101 and 1101' and their respective knives 1103 and 1103' away from each other.

[0007] Obviously, the rotation of the drums 1101 and 1101' results in the impact of the blades 1103 and 1103' from above and below, respectively, against the steel strip 300 and thus the cutting of the steel strip 300 into portions.

[0008] In a shear of the type described herein with reference to Figures 1a and 1b, if a steel strip 300 of a different thickness needs to be cut, the gap or distance 400 (in the Z direction) between blade 1103 and blade 1103' needs to be adjusted, with gap 400 being increased or decreased to cut a thicker or thinner steel strip 300, respectively.

[0009] To this end, various solutions have been proposed and are currently used in the prior art, but said known solutions, however, exhibit problems and / or drawbacks which the owner of the present patent application intends to overcome or at least minimize by means of the present invention as described and claimed below.

[0010] Indeed, prior art solutions for adjusting the gap between the blades are primarily mechanical and therefore difficult to implement and prone to failure and damage.

[0011] Furthermore, known types of solutions for adjusting the gap 400 require the shear to be stopped, and the gap adjustment times (and therefore shear downtime) are often not commensurate with production demands, as they usually require manual intervention.

[0012] Finally, drawbacks of known types of solutions include the fact that they do not allow the gap 400 to be adjusted with the necessary precision, the adjustment range is limited, there is no guarantee that the set gap 400 will be maintained (not changed unintentionally) in all planned production cycles, and on the contrary, desired and / or required gap adjustments are often required during the process. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to overcome or at least minimize the problems summarized above and encountered in the prior art by using automatic or at least semi-automatic gap adjustment, in particular by bringing the shears in-line and thus avoiding manual intervention.

[0014] In particular, a first object of the present invention is to make available a solution for adjusting the gap between the blades of opposing rotary drum shears, which is low cost and can be implemented with simple and quick operation on shear drums of various types and sizes.

[0015] A second object or goal of the present invention is also to make available a solution of the above kind that allows the gap to be adjusted in a time that is commensurate with the production demands.

[0016] Finally, a further non-secondary object of the present invention is to make available a solution for adjusting the gap between opposing rotary drum shear blades which ensures precise and long-lasting adjustment of said gap and therefore does not require in-process readjustment of a previously set and adjusted gap. [Means for solving the problem]

[0017] The present invention is based on a concept according to which the drawbacks found in the prior art and summarized above can be effectively overcome or at least minimized by hydraulic, rather than mechanical, means of gap adjustment.

[0018] As will be explained below, the general concept described above provides a very simple form of lash adjustment means, and the implementation of said hydraulic adjustment means is therefore particularly simplified and simple.

[0019] In view of the above and of the problems and / or shortcomings encountered with opposed rotary drum shears according to the prior art, the present invention relates to a cutting device according to claim 1, a cutting method according to claim 10 and an opposed rotary drum shear according to claim 12, further embodiments of the device, method and shear according to the invention being defined by the dependent claims.

[0020] According to a first embodiment of the invention, there is provided a drum cutting device, for example for a shear adapted to cut flat metal products advancing along a direction substantially parallel to its longitudinal extension, said device being adapted to cut said flat metal products transversely to their direction of advancement, said drum cutting device comprising at least one drum adapted to be rotated, diametrically delimited by a cylindrical surface and including a blade or knife partially projecting from said cylindrical surface, said blade or knife being partially housed in a seat of said drum and extending longitudinally along a direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis X of said drum, said device comprising an adjusting wedge also at least partially housed in said seat of said drum, said wedge having a direction of extension substantially parallel to the rotation axis X of said drum and a thickness of said wedge transverse to its direction of extension ranging from a minimum thickness to a maximum thickness. , which varies continuously along the extension direction, and the wedge is positioned relative to the blade or knife so that movement of the wedge parallel to its extension direction in a first movement direction results in a peripheral tangential movement, in particular a peripheral circumferential movement, of the blade or knife in a first direction of peripheral tangential movement TP1, in particular a first direction of peripheral circumferential movement, while movement of the wedge in a second movement direction opposite the first movement direction results in a peripheral tangential movement, in particular a peripheral circumferential movement, of the blade or knife in a second direction of peripheral tangential movement TP2, in particular a second direction of peripheral circumferential movement, opposite the first direction, and the device comprises movement means for moving the wedge in the two opposite movement directions, the movement means being arranged on the drum and hydraulically operated, and adapted so that opposite ends of the wedge are subjected to hydraulic fluid pressure.

[0021] Preferably, said hydraulically operated moving means is located inside, preferably completely inside, the drum.

[0022] In a variant, the movement means comprises a hydraulic circuit comprising a first chamber and a second chamber, which in turn are positioned at a first end and a second end of the adjusting wedge, respectively, and introduction of pressurized hydraulic fluid into the first chamber or the second chamber thus results in movement of the wedge in the first movement direction or the second movement direction, respectively.

[0023] In a further variant, the device comprises a first thrust element and a second thrust element housed in the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively, so that introduction of the pressurized hydraulic fluid into the first chamber or the second chamber causes movement of the first thrust element or the second thrust element, respectively, and thus a thrust force by the first thrust element against the first end of the wedge in the first direction of movement, or a thrust force by the second thrust element against the second end of the wedge in the second direction of movement, respectively.

[0024] In a variant, the first and second chambers are placed in communication with the outside of the device by first and second hydraulic ducts, respectively, which are at least partially provided inside the drum and which therefore lead to first and second hydraulic ports, respectively, accessible from the outside of the drum for the introduction of pressurized hydraulic fluid into the first and second chambers, respectively, and for the discharge of said hydraulic fluid from the first and second chambers, respectively.

[0025] In a further variation, the first and second hydraulic ports are located at a rotary joint adapted to support a rotating component of the device.

[0026] In a variant, the first and second chambers are placed in communication with the outside of the device by third and fourth hydraulic ducts, respectively, which are also at least partially provided inside the drum and which therefore lead to third and fourth hydraulic ports, respectively, accessible from the outside of the drum for the introduction of pressurized hydraulic fluid into the first and second chambers, respectively, and for the discharge of said hydraulic fluid from the first and second chambers, respectively.

[0027] In a further variation, the third and fourth hydraulic ports are located on a rotating portion of the device hub different from the rotary joint.

[0028] Preferably, the apparatus includes an indicator of the position of the wedge inside the drum.

[0029] According to a first embodiment, a method for cutting flat metal products advancing along a direction substantially parallel to their longitudinal extension is carried out by an apparatus by which the flat metal products are cut transversely to their direction of advancement, the apparatus being an apparatus according to any one of the embodiments of the present invention, wherein the rotation of the at least one drum thus results in the impact of the blade or knife against the flat metal product and thus ultimately in the cutting of the flat metal product transversely to its direction of advancement, and the movement of the wedges in the two opposite directions of movement is achieved by the hydraulic movement means arranged on the drum.

[0030] In a variant, the movement of the wedge in the two opposite directions of movement is achieved by introducing pressurized hydraulic fluid into the first chamber and / or the second chamber, respectively.

[0031] According to a first embodiment, there is provided a drum shear for cutting flat metal products advancing along a direction substantially parallel to their longitudinal extension, the shear being adapted to cut the products transversely to their direction of advancement; the drum shear comprises a first drum and a second drum, respectively, diametrically separated by a first cylindrical surface and a second cylindrical surface, a first cutting device and a second cutting device, and a first blade or knife and a second blade or knife fixed to the first drum and the second drum, respectively, and protruding from the first drum and the second drum, the first device and the second device being positioned relative to each other so as to define a space for the flat metal products to pass through during their advancement; when the first device and the second device are appropriately positioned, rotation of the first drum and the second drum results in cutting of the flat metal products by substantially simultaneous action of the first blade and the second blade; the first device being an apparatus according to any one of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0032] In a variant of the shear, at least one of the first device and the second device is movable along a movement direction Y perpendicular to the rotation axis X of the respective first drum, or away from and towards the second device.

[0033] In a further variant of the shear, the gap between the first and second knives is adjustable to be 0.00 mm or more, so that even very thin steel strips (e.g. 0.8 mm) can be cut.

[0034] Hereinafter, the present invention will be further clarified by the following detailed description of possible embodiments depicted in the drawings, in which corresponding or equivalent features and / or components of the present invention are identified by the same reference numerals. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below and shown in the accompanying drawings, but rather, all variations and / or modifications to the embodiments described below and shown in the accompanying drawings that are deemed obvious and intuitive to those skilled in the art are included within the scope of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1a] FIG. 1 is a side view of a prior art opposing rotary drum shear. [Figure 1b] FIG. 1 is a side view of a prior art opposing rotary drum shear. [Figure 1c] FIG. 2 is a side view of a shear according to an embodiment. [Figure 2a] 1 is a side view of a cutting device for each rotary drum according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 2b] 1 is a perspective view of a rotary drum cutting device according to an embodiment; [Figure 3a] 1 is a perspective view of a rotary drum cutting device according to an embodiment; [Figure 3b] 1 is a perspective view of a rotary drum cutting device according to an embodiment; [Figure 4a] FIG. 2 is a side view of the cutting device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4b] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a cutting device according to an embodiment. [Figure 5a] FIG. 2 is a side view of the cutting device according to the embodiment. [Figure 5b] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a cutting device according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] The invention finds particular application in the field of cutting flat metal products, for example metal strips of various thicknesses, and for this reason the invention will be described hereinafter with particular reference to its application in the field of systems of the aforementioned type.

[0037] However, it should be stated that the possible applications of the invention are not limited to those described below: on the contrary, the invention is preferably applied in all cases where it is necessary to cut an elongated metal (and possibly also plastic) element into portions shorter than its entire length.

[0038] 1c and 2a, the shear 200 of the invention comprises a first drum 101 and a second drum 101' respectively equipped with a first knife 103 and a second knife 103', which project from the cylindrical surface 102 of the first drum 101 and from the cylindrical surface 102' of the second drum 101', respectively, in a manner that is known and therefore, for the sake of brevity, will not be described in detail. However, for the sake of completeness, it is made clear that for the purposes of the invention, it is sufficient for the cutting edges of the first knife 103 and the second knife 103' to project radially from the surfaces 102 and 102', respectively.

[0039] The mutual positions of the drums 101 and 101' are adjustable along direction Y between an open position (FIG. 1c) and a closed position (not shown) in substantially the manner described above, and the drums 101 and 101' are adapted to be rotated about their respective longitudinal axes X and X', respectively.

[0040] The cutting device 100 according to the embodiment of FIG. 2a comprises a first drum 101 and, as shown, a blade or knife 103 which radially protrudes partially from a cylindrical surface 102 radially delimiting the drum 101, in particular with its cutting edge partially protruding, said blade or knife 103 being partially housed in a seat 104 of said drum 101 and extending longitudinally along a direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis X of the drum 101.

[0041] The seat 104 extends in a first direction radially from the face 102 towards the interior of the drum 101, in a second direction parallel to the axis X, and in a third direction (Figure 2a), and in the third direction has a width L such that in the third direction it contains not only the blade 103 but also the wedge 105 and the locking element 130, the locking element 130 being arranged opposite the wedge 105 in the direction of the width L, both the wedge 105 and the locking element 130 extending longitudinally, parallel to the axis X and thus to the longitudinal extension of the seat 104.

[0042] The locking element 130 has an inclined surface 1301, which is provided relative to an inclined surface 1031 of the knife 103 parallel to the surface 1301; by means not shown and not within the scope of the invention (and therefore not described in detail for the sake of brevity), the locking element 130 is movable along a direction Lt transverse to the direction of the width L of the seat 104, the element 130 being movable in two opposite directions of movement, as indicated by the double arrow in Fig. 2a. From the description and from a simple observation of Fig. 2a, it can be seen that an upward movement of the element 130 relative to the figure and thus towards the outside of the seat 104 results in a decrease in the thrust of the surface 1301 against the surface 1031 and therefore a decrease in the pressure of the blade 103 against the wedge 105 and therefore ultimately in the unlocking of the blade 103, making it possible to adjust the position of the blade in the seat 104 in a manner that will be described below. Conversely, downward movement of element 130 relative to the drawing and thus towards the interior of seat 104 results in an increase in the thrust of surface 1301 against surface 1031 and therefore an increase in the pressure of blade 103 against wedge 105 and thus ultimately in the locking of blade 103 in its predetermined position.

[0043] The manner in which the tangential or circumferential position of the blade 103 within the seat 104 is adjusted will now be described with reference to Figures 2b, 3a and 3b.

[0044] It should first be noted that the thickness of the adjusting wedge 105 transverse to its extension direction varies continuously along said extension direction from a minimum thickness to a maximum thickness (for this purpose, see for example FIG. 3b, which shows the wedge 105 with a greater thickness on the left side of the figure and a smaller thickness on the right side of the figure). Thus, with the element 130 in the unlocked position and with the knife 103 thus free to move, a movement of said wedge 105 parallel to its extension direction in a first direction of movement from right to left (see FIG. 2b) brings about a peripheral tangential movement, in particular a peripheral circumferential movement, of the blade or knife 103, or at least allows the blade or knife 103 to be moved (for example by retracting the element 130 into the locked position) in the first direction of peripheral tangential movement TP1, in particular in the first direction of peripheral circumferential movement, and thus brings about a reduction of the gap G, for which It is inferred that the movement of the wedge 105 in a second direction of movement opposite to the first direction of movement, from left to right (see Figure 3b), results in a peripheral tangential movement, in particular a peripheral circumferential movement, of the blade or knife 103 in a second direction of peripheral tangential movement TP2, in particular in a second direction of peripheral circumferential movement, opposite to the first direction, and therefore an increase in the gap G, and that a re-entry of the block 130 towards the interior of the seat 104 and a rise to determine a new locking position (surface 1301 versus surface 1031) results in the locking of the blade 103 in the position determined by the wedge 105.

[0045] The device 100 according to the embodiment shown comprises moving means for moving the wedge 105 in the two opposite moving directions, the first important uniqueness of the device 100 being that the moving means are arranged on the drum 101.

[0046] Furthermore, a second uniqueness of the device 100 relates to the fact that said moving means are hydraulically operated, with opposite ends of said wedge 105 adapted to be subjected to the pressure of hydraulic fluid.

[0047] Preferably, said hydraulic moving means are located inside, preferably completely inside, the drum 101 .

[0048] In a variant, the moving means comprises a hydraulic circuit (not shown in its entirety as it is partly formed inside the drum 101) which in turn comprises a first chamber 106 and a second chamber 107 which are in communication with the hydraulic circuit and which are positioned at a first end 1050 and a second end 1051, respectively, of the adjusting wedge 105, so that the introduction of pressurized hydraulic fluid into the first chamber 106 or the second chamber 107 results in the movement of the wedge 105 in the first movement direction or the second movement direction, respectively.

[0049] As clearly shown in FIGS. 2 b and 3 b, the first chamber 106 and the second chamber 107 are arranged inside the drum 101 .

[0050] Furthermore, in order to improve the thrust by the oil or hydraulic fluid against the ends 1050 and 1051 of the wedge 105, the first movable thrust element 108 and the second movable thrust element 109, which are, for example, both substantially cylindrical, are preferably housed in chambers or cavities 106 and 107, respectively, and introduction of the pressurized hydraulic fluid into the first chamber 106 or the second chamber 107 (also, for example, substantially cylindrical) results in movement of the first thrust element 108 or the second thrust element 109, respectively, and thus in a thrust force by the first thrust element 108 against the first end 1050 of the wedge 105 in the first direction of movement, or in a thrust force by the second thrust element 109 against the second end 1051 of the wedge 105 in the second direction of movement.

[0051] According to the embodiment shown in Figures 4a and 4b, the first and second chambers 106, 107 are placed in communication with the outside of the device 100 by first and second hydraulic ducts, respectively, which are provided at least partially inside the drum 101 (and therefore not shown), and which lead to first and second hydraulic ports 110, 111, respectively, accessible from the outside of the drum 101, for the introduction of pressurized hydraulic fluid into the first chamber 106 and the second chamber 107, respectively, and for the discharge of the hydraulic fluid from the first chamber 106 and the second chamber 107, respectively.

[0052] According to an embodiment, the first hydraulic port 110 and the second hydraulic port 111 are located at a rotary joint 112 adapted to support a rotating portion of the device 100 .

[0053] According to a further embodiment, the first and second chambers 106, 107 are likewise placed in communication with the outside of the device by means of third and fourth hydraulic ducts, respectively, which are provided at least partially inside the drum 101 (and therefore not shown), and which lead to third and fourth hydraulic ports 113, 114, respectively, accessible from the outside of the drum 101, for the introduction of pressurized hydraulic fluid into the first chamber 106 and the second chamber 107, respectively, and for the discharge of the hydraulic fluid from the first chamber 106 and the second chamber 107, respectively. The third hydraulic port 113 and fourth hydraulic port 114 may be provided as an alternative to or in addition to the first hydraulic port 110 and second hydraulic port 111, in which case hydraulic fluid can be supplied to chambers 106 and 107 using ports 110 and 111 or alternatively ports 113 and 114 as needed.

[0054] According to a further variant, the third 113 and fourth hydraulic ports are located in a rotating part of the hub of the drum 101 different from the rotary joint 112 .

[0055] Preferably, the device 100 comprises an indicator of the longitudinal position of the wedge 105 housed inside the drum 101. In particular, the indicator comprises a bar 115 (FIGS. 5a-5b) connected at its first end to the end 1050 of the wedge 105, the second end of the bar 115 opposite the first end being graduated, visible from the outside and positioned at a reference mark 116 which is also visible from outside the drum 101. Alternatively, an electromechanical indicator of the position of the wedge 105 may be provided, for example comprising a transducer.

[0056] The cutting of the steel strip 300 advancing along direction Z (FIG. 1c) by the shear 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention is substantially similar to that of prior art shears having opposing rotating drums and can be summarized as follows:

[0057] After introducing the end of the steel strip 300 into the gap between the drums 101 and 101' in their open position, the first drum 101 and the second drum 101' are rotated to the open position, then moved closer to each other (by moving one or both of them along direction Y) and placed in the closed position, and finally the steel strip 300 is advanced along direction Z, the rotation of the drums 101 and 101' and the simultaneous advancement of the steel strip 300 resulting in the cutting of the steel strip 300 into portions, the length of which depends, among other things, on the advancement speed of the steel strip 300 which is synchronized with the peripheral speed of the knives 103 and 103', respectively, and the drums 101 and 101' are brought closer to each other by eccentric means, thereby allowing the cutting to take place before the drums 101 and 101' (and the knives 103 and 103', respectively) are again moved away from each other and from the passing product 300.

[0058] Instead, the adjustment mode of the gap G can be summarized as follows:

[0059] The first step involves releasing the blade 103 by moving the locking element 130 towards the outside of the seat 104. Then, pressurized hydraulic fluid is introduced into the first chamber 106 or the second chamber 107, depending on whether the gap G between the blades 103, 103' needs to be increased or decreased, respectively.

[0060] Finally, the locking element 130 is replaced and reinserted into the seat 104 , thereby locking the blade 103 in the position predetermined by the movement of the adjusting wedge 105 .

[0061] Finally, it is worth noting that, according to an embodiment of the device 100 and / or the respective shear 200, the gap G between the first knife 103 and the second knife 103' can be adjusted to be equal to or greater than 0.00 mm.

[0062] Preferably, the gap G is adjustable so that it is greater than or equal to 0.00 mm and less than 2.50 mm.

[0063] The range of motion of the blade 103 in the TP1-TP2 direction (and therefore in the forward direction Z of the steel strip 300) may be, for example, 0.65 mm (said value is in no way limiting), and in a shear 200 having a first drum 101 and a second drum 101', both of which have adjusting wedges 105 and 105', respectively, the gap G may reach, for example, 1.3 mm (said value is in no way limiting).

[0064] Preferably, the gap can be adjusted for thinner thicknesses by a shear according to the invention in which only one of the opposing first and second drums 101, 101' is equipped with an adjusting wedge 105 for adjusting the tangential or circumferential position of the blade 103 and thus the gap G between the blades 103 and 103'.

[0065] The inventors have therefore demonstrated, by the detailed description of the embodiments given above and shown in the drawings, that the present invention makes it possible to achieve the desired results and to overcome or at least limit the disadvantages found in the prior art.

[0066] In particular, the present invention provides - can be implemented at low cost and with simple and fast operation on shear drums of different types and sizes, - Allows for the adjustment of the gap between the opposing drum blades of the shear in a time that is commensurate with the production volume required, - ensures precise and long-lasting adjustment of said gap, thus avoiding in-process readjustment of a previously set and adjusted gap; To make available a rotary drum cutting device with an innovative solution.

[0067] Although the present invention has been described above by a detailed description of embodiments thereof as shown in the drawings, the present invention is obviously not limited to the embodiments as described above and as shown in the drawings, but on the contrary, the object of the present invention also includes all variations and / or modifications to the embodiments as described and as shown in the accompanying drawings that would be obvious and intuitive to a person skilled in the art.

[0068] The scope of protection of the present invention is therefore defined by the claims.

Claims

1. 1. A drum cutting device (100) for a shear adapted to cut flat metal products (300) advancing along a direction substantially parallel to their longitudinal extension, said drum cutting device (100) adapted to cut said flat metal products (300) transversely to their direction of advancement, said drum cutting device (100) comprising at least one drum (101) adapted to be rotated, diametrically bounded by a cylindrical surface (102) and including a blade or knife (103) partially projecting from said cylindrical surface (102), said blade or knife (103) being partially housed in a seat (104) of said drum (101) and extending longitudinally along a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation (X) of said drum (101), said drum cutting device (100) comprising an adjusting wedge (105) at least partially housed in said seat (104) of said drum (101), said adjusting wedge (105) being at least partially housed in said seat (104) of said drum (101), said adjusting wedge (105) having an extension that is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation (X) of said drum (101). a first direction of peripheral tangential movement (TP1) of the adjusting wedge (105) parallel to its extension direction; a second direction of peripheral tangential movement (TP2) of the adjusting wedge (105) parallel to its extension direction; a third direction of peripheral tangential movement (TP3) of the adjusting wedge (105) parallel to its extension direction; a fourth direction of peripheral tangential movement (TP4) of the adjusting wedge (105) parallel to its extension direction; a fifth direction of peripheral tangential movement (TP5) of the adjusting wedge (105) parallel to its extension direction; a fifth direction of peripheral tangential movement (TP6) of the adjusting wedge (105) parallel to its extension direction; a fifth direction of peripheral tangential movement (TP7) of the adjusting wedge (105) parallel to its extension direction; a sixth direction of peripheral tangential movement (TP8) of the adjusting wedge (105) parallel to its extension direction; a sixth direction of peripheral tangential movement (TP9) of the adjusting wedge (105) parallel to its extension direction; a sixth direction of peripheral tangential movement (TP1 ... a movement of the adjusting wedge (105) in a second direction of movement (TP2) opposite to the first direction of movement results in a peripheral tangential movement of the blade or knife (103) in a second direction of peripheral tangential movement (TP2) opposite to the first direction, the drum cutting device (100) comprising movement means for the movement of the adjusting wedge (105) in the two opposite movement directions, the movement means being arranged on the drum (101); the moving means is hydraulically operated, a first chamber (106) positioned inside the drum (101) at a first end (1050) of the adjusting wedge (105) from the first end (1050) in the second direction of movement, and a second chamber (107) positioned inside the drum (101) at a second end (1051) of the adjusting wedge (105) from the second end (1051) in the first direction of movement, and wherein introduction of pressurized hydraulic fluid into the first chamber (106) or the second chamber (107) by a hydraulic circuit comprising the first and second chambers results in the movement of the adjusting wedge in the first direction of movement or the second direction of movement, respectively.

2. 2. The drum cutting device (100) of claim 1, comprising a first thrust element (108) and a second thrust element (109) housed in the first chamber (106) and the second chamber (107), respectively, wherein the introduction of the pressurized hydraulic fluid into the first chamber (106) causes movement of the first thrust element (108) and a thrust force by the first thrust element (108) against the first end (1050) of the adjusting wedge (105) in the first direction of movement, and the introduction of the pressurized hydraulic fluid into the second chamber (107) causes movement of the second thrust element (109) and a thrust force by the second thrust element (109) against the second end (1051) of the adjusting wedge (105).

3. 2. The drum cutting device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second chambers (106, 107) are placed in communication with the outside of the drum cutting device (100) by first and second hydraulic ducts, respectively, which are provided at least partially inside the drum (101), and which lead to first and second hydraulic ports (110) and (111), respectively, accessible from the outside of the drum (101), for the introduction of pressurized hydraulic fluid into the first and second chambers (106) and (107), respectively, and for the discharge of pressurized hydraulic fluid from the first and second chambers (106) and (107), respectively.

4. 4. The drum cutting device of claim 3, wherein the first hydraulic port (110) and the second hydraulic port (111) are located at a rotary joint (112) adapted to support a rotating component of the drum cutting device (100).

5. 4. The drum cutting device (100) according to claim 3, wherein the first and second chambers (106, 107) are placed in communication with the outside of the drum cutting device by third and fourth hydraulic ducts, respectively, which are provided at least partially inside the drum (101), and which lead to third and fourth hydraulic ports (113) and (114), respectively, accessible from the outside of the drum (101), for the introduction of pressurized hydraulic fluid into the first and second chambers (106) and (107), respectively, and for the discharge of the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the first and second chambers (106) and (107), respectively.

6. 6. The drum cutting device (100) of claim 5, wherein the first and second hydraulic ports are positioned at a rotary joint adapted to support a rotating part of the drum cutting device, and the third and fourth hydraulic ports (113) and (114) are positioned at a rotating portion of a hub of the drum cutting device (100) different from the rotary joint (112).

7. 2. The drum cutting device (100) of claim 1, wherein the drum cutting device (100) comprises an indicator of the position of the adjusting wedge (105) positioned at least partially within the drum (101).

8. 1. A method for cutting flat metal products (300) advancing along a direction substantially parallel to their longitudinal extension, the method being carried out by a drum cutting device (100) by means of which the flat metal products (300) are cut transversely to their direction of advancement, the drum cutting device being the drum cutting device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotation of the at least one drum (101) brings about the impact of the blades or knives (103) against the flat metal products (300) and ultimately the cutting of the flat metal products (300) transversely to their direction of advancement, and the resulting movement of the adjusting wedges (105) in the two opposite directions of movement accompanied by a peripheral tangential movement of the blades or knives (103) is achieved by the hydraulically operated movement means arranged on the drum (101).

9. A drum shear (200) for cutting flat metal products (300) advancing along a direction substantially parallel to their longitudinal extension, said drum shear (200) being adapted to cut said flat metal products (300) transversely to their direction of advancement, said drum shear (200) comprising a first drum (101) and a second drum (101'), respectively, diametrically bounded by a first cylindrical surface (112) and a second cylindrical surface (112'), and a first blade or a second blade fixed to said first drum (101) and said second drum (101'), respectively, and projecting from said first drum (101) and said second drum (101'), 10. A drum shear (200) comprising a knife (103) and a second blade or knife (103'), wherein the first drum cutting device (100) and the second drum cutting device (100') are positioned relative to each other so as to define a space for the flat metal product (300) to pass through during their advance, and with the first drum cutting device (100) and the second drum cutting device (100') properly positioned, rotation of the first drum (101) and the second drum (101') results in the cutting of the flat metal product (300) by substantially simultaneous action of the first blade or knife (103) and the second blade or knife (103'), and wherein at least the first drum cutting device (100) is the drum cutting device according to claim 1.

10. 10. The drum shear (200) of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first drum cutting device (100) and the second drum cutting device (100') is movable along a movement direction (Y) perpendicular to the rotation axis (X) of the respective first drum (101) away from or towards the second drum cutting device (100').

11. 10. The drum shear (200) of claim 9, wherein the gap between the first blade or knife (103) and the second blade or knife (103') is adjustable to be 0.00 mm or greater.

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