Double Cut Folder With Relocatable Knife Mounting Locations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cutting folder technologies face challenges in efficiently producing products with variable cut lengths without causing performance issues or product damage, particularly due to the limitations of cutting cylinder speed and the complexity of replacing cutting cylinders with different circumferences.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a double cut folder system with relocatable knife and cutting rubber sub-assemblies on cutting cylinders, allowing for discrete cut length changes by rearranging knife boxes and anvil rubbers across multiple positions on the cylinders, enabling production of various product sizes without altering rotational speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the rotational speed of cutting cylinders is increased or decreased to change cut length, then variable product lengths can be produced, but performance issues and product damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the cutting cylinder configuration changeable through relocatable knife and cutting rubber sub-assemblies. Instead of changing rotational speed to achieve variable cut lengths, the system dynamically reconfigures which cutting elements are active on the cylinder, allowing cut length variation without speed changes that would compromise product integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial parameter of cutting elements rather than the rotational speed parameter. By relocating knife and cutting rubber sub-assemblies to different positions around the cylinder circumference, the system achieves variable cut lengths while maintaining constant rotational speed, thus avoiding performance issues and product damage
2Adaptability or versatility
If cutting cylinders with different circumferences are used to change cut length, then discrete cut length changes are possible, but device complexity and setup difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single cutting cylinder universal by providing multiple mounting locations for knife and cutting rubber sub-assemblies around its circumference. This single cylinder can produce various cut lengths by repositioning the cutting elements, eliminating the need for multiple cylinders with different circumferences and reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static cylinder configuration requiring physical replacement to a dynamic reconfigurable system where cutting elements can be relocated along the cylinder. This dynamic capability allows cut length adjustment without replacing entire cylinders, simplifying setup and reducing complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If electronic cam profile is used to control cutting cylinder speed, then cut length variation is possible, but folder speed is limited due to inertia and sampling frequency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the speed control function from the cutting cylinder system. Instead of using electronic cam profiles to modulate cylinder speed, the system removes the need for speed variation entirely by using fixed-speed cutting with repositionable cutting elements, thereby eliminating the speed limitations imposed by inertia and sampling frequency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex electronic control system (electronic cam profile) with a simpler mechanical reconfiguration approach. By physically relocating cutting elements rather than electronically controlling speed variations, the system achieves cut length adjustment without the speed limitations of electronic control systems
Data Source
AI summary
A double cut folder is provided for a printing press. The folder has a first cutting cylinder pair including a first knife cylinder and a first anvil cylinder for perforating a web, and a second cutting cylinder pair including a second knife cylinder and a second anvil cylinder for cutting the web into signatures. Each cutting cylinder pair includes a plurality of knife mounting locations and a plurality of cutting rubber locations. Each knife mounting location is configured to hold a knife box. A first subset of the plurality of knife mounting locations each have a knife box secured therein, and a second subset of the plurality of knife mounting locations do not have a knife box secured therein.