DK179872B1

DK179872B1 - Workbench for cutting sheets of an expanded thermoplastic material

Info

Publication number: DK179872B1
Application number: DKPA201800133A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Rødkjær Sørensen Mikael
Original assignee: Rødkjær Smede og Montage v/Mikael Rødkjær Sørensen
Priority date: 2018-03-25
Filing date: 2018-03-25
Publication date: 2019-08-08
Also published as: DK201800133A1; WO2019185483A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a workbench for cutting sheets of an expanded thermoplastic material. The workbench comprises a) a table plate comprising a planar upper work surface for supporting a sheet of an expanded thermoplastic material; and b) a cutting device comprising a cutting bracket adapted forreceiving an electrically heated cutting wire. The cutting bracket is adapted for holding an electrically heated cutting wire parallel to the planar upper work surface; and the planar upper work surface includes an elongate cutting slot through which the part of the cutting bracket holding the electrically heated cutting wire can pass.

Description

Workbench for cutting sheets of an expanded thermoplastic material

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of expanded polystyrene insulating sheathing.

Background of the Invention

Sheathing is one of the most basic and widely used applications for expanded polystyrene insulation in residential and commercial construction. It helps create an envelope around the structure, covering wall cavities and studs to increase their resistance to heat transfer and moisture penetration. With its versatility, ease of installation, and consistent performance benefits, expanded polystyrene insulating sheathing has become an industry standard. Expanded polystyrene sheathing is used in renovations as well as new constructions because of its compatibility with wood and steel framing, and masonry. Expanded polystyrene is delivered to a construction site in sheets that are sized to some purposes. Hence, many hours are still spent by the construction workers adjusting the size of some of the sheets, and there is a need for a tool that can be used for cutting the sheets at the construction site.

EP0124001 discloses a cutting machine with a cutting wire and a support, which are movable relative to one another. The cutting wire can be heated electrically for the purpose of cutting. The movement of the support from the rest position illustrated takes place counter to the force of a spring. The inclination of the support is adjustable by the adjusting device, so that mitre cuts can also be performed. The insulating plate to be cut can, in each of the two end positions of the support, be laid on the latter, aligned with respect to the cutting wire and then moved together with the support towards the wire.

Object of the Invention

The objective of the present invention is to provide a tool suitable for cutting the expanded polystyrene sheets at the construction site.

Description of the Invention

A first aspect relates to a workbench for cutting sheets of an expanded thermoplastic material comprising:

- a table plate comprising a planar upper work surface for supporting a sheet of an expanded thermoplastic material; and

- a cutting device comprising a cutting bracket adapted for receiving an electrically heated cutting wire; wherein the cutting bracket is adapted for holding an electrically heated cutting wire parallel to the planar upper work surface; and wherein the planar upper work surface includes an elongate cutting slot through which the part of the cutting bracket holding the electrically heated cutting wire can pass.

The thermal cutting of the sheets of expanded thermoplastic material, such as polystyrene, involves local melting of the material with an electrically heated cutting wire conducting electrical current. The cutting wire is held by the cutting bracket, which ensures constant wire tension regardless of its temperature. In one or more embodiments, the cutting wire is connected to the cutting bracket via a spring attached to each end of the cutting wire.

In one or more embodiments, the cutting bracket is connected to a lifting means adapted for lifting the part of the cutting bracket holding the electrically heated cutting wire from a first position below the planar upper work surface through the elongate cutting slot to a second position above the planar upper work surface, and restraining it in this position.

In one or more embodiments, the lifting means is adapted to release its restraint of the cutting bracket, such that the part of the cutting bracket holding the electrically heated cutting wire is moved from the second position to the first position by the weight of the cutting bracket.

In one or more embodiments, the lifting means comprises a handle connected to a lift rod via a wire.

In one or more embodiments, the workbench further comprises lowering means for controlled lowering of the part of the cutting bracket holding the electrically heated cutting wire from the second position to the first position.

In one or more embodiments, the lowering means comprises a wire wheel attached to the bottom face of the table plate, a wire rollably connected to the wire wheel, and with a first end attached to the cutting bracket and a second end attached to a counterweight.

In one or more embodiments, the table plate further comprises an elongate steering element extending vertically downward from its bottom face; and wherein the cutting bracket comprises one or more wheels rollably engaged with said elongate steering element as the cutting bracket is moving up and down.

In one or more embodiments, the workbench further comprises guiding means adapted for preventing the cutting bracket from horizontal movements during the movement from the second position to the first position or vice versa.

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms a, an, and the include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from about or approximately one particular value and/or to about or approximately another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent about, it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.

It should be noted that embodiments and features described in the context of one of the aspects of the present invention also apply to the other aspects of the invention.

The invention is described in more detail in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the figures.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 is a left-side view of a workbench in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

Figure 2 is a right-side view of a workbench in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a workbench in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

References

100 Workbench

110 Chassis

200 Table plate

210 Upper work surface

220 Cutting slot

230 Steering element

240 Pivotable support

300 Cutting bracket

310	Wheel
400	Cutting wire
500	Lifting means
510	Handle
520	Wire
530	Lifting means
600	Lowering means
610	Wire wheel
620	Wire
630	Counterweight

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 is a left-side view of a workbench 100 for cutting sheets of an expanded thermoplastic material in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. The workbench 100 comprises a chassis 110 with a table plate 200, and a cutting device with a cutting bracket 300 adapted for receiving an electrically heated cutting wire 400. The cutting bracket 300 is U-shaped, and the two free ends 300A,300B are configured for receiving the electrically heated cutting wire 400. The table plate 200 comprises a planar upper work surface 210 for supporting a sheet of an expanded thermoplastic material (not shown); and an elongate cutting slot 220 through which the part of the cutting bracket 300 holding the electrically heated cutting wire 400 can pass. Here, it is the two free ends 300A,300B holding the electrically heated cutting wire 400 that are passing through the cutting slot 220 as the cutting bracket 300 is moved up and down. The position of the U-shaped cutting bracket 300 makes it adapted for holding the electrically heated cutting wire 400 parallel to the planar upper work surface 210, and to the cutting slot 220.

The cutting bracket 300 is connected to a lifting means 500 adapted for lifting the part of the cutting bracket 300 holding the electrically heated cutting wire 400 from a first position below the planar upper work surface 210 through the elongate cutting slot 220 to a second position above the planar upper work surface 210, and restraining it in this position. Figure 1 shows the second position, and Figure 2 shows the first position. As can be seen from Figure 2, the lifting means 500 comprises a handle 510 connected to a lift rod 530 via a wire 520. Wherein the lifting means 500 releases its restraint of the cutting bracket 300, i.e. the lift rod 530 is removed from the horizontal bar of the cutting bracket 300, the two free ends 300A,300B holding the electrically heated cutting wire 400 is moved from the second position, through the cutting slot 220, to the first position by the weight of the cutting bracket 300. A lowering means 600 allows for controlled lowering of the part of the cutting bracket 300 holding the electrically heated cutting wire 400 from the second position to the first position. The lowering means 600 (Figure 2) comprises a wire wheel 610 attached to the bottom face of the table plate 200, a wire 620 rollably connected to the wire wheel 610, and with a first end attached to the cutting bracket 300 and a second end attached to a counterweight 630. When the cutting bracket 300 is in a lowered position, and the cutting wire 400 is in the first position, the counterweight 630 is raised to a first position; and when the cutting bracket 300 is in a raised position, and the cutting wire 400 is in the second position, the counterweight 630 is lowered to a second position. This configuration allows for controlled lowering of the cutting bracket 300, as the weight of the cutting bracket 300 is at the same time lifting the counterweight 630.

The table plate 200 (Figure 1) further comprises an elongate steering element 230 extending vertically downward from its bottom face. The cutting bracket 300 comprises four wheels 310 (two pairs of wheels) rollably engaged with said elongate steering element 230 as the cutting bracket 300 is moving up and down. This configuration avoids looseness in the cutting bracket 300.

The table plate 200 is also shown with a pivotable support 240, i.e. an extension plate, for use when cutting large sheets of an expanded thermoplastic material.

Claims

A workbench (100) for cutting sheets of an expanded thermoplastic material, comprising:

a table top (200) comprising a planar upper work surface (210) in support of a top of an expanded thermoplastic material; and

a cutting device comprising a cutting holder (300) adapted to receive an electrically heated cutting wire (400); wherein the cutting holder (300) is adapted to hold an electrically heated cutting wire (400) parallel to the planar upper working surface (210); and wherein the planar upper work surface (210) comprises an elongate cutting slot (220) through which the portion of the cutting holder (300) which holds the electrically heated cutting wire (400) can pass; wherein the cutting holder (300) is connected to a lifting device (500) adapted to lift the part of the cutting holder (300) which holds the electrically heated cutting wire (400) from a first position below the planar upper working surface (210) through the elongate cutting slot ( 220) to a second position above the planar upper work surface (210), and to hold it in that position; wherein the lifting device (500) is arranged to release its holding of the cutting holder (300) so that the part of the cutting holder (300) which holds the electrically heated cutting wire (400) is moved from the second position to the first position by the weight of the cutting holder (300) characterized in that the lifting device (500) comprises a handle (510) connected to a lifting rod (530) via a wire (520).

The workbench (100) of claim 1, further comprising a lowering device (600) for a controlled lowering of the portion of the cutting holder (300) which holds the electrically heated cutting wire (400) from the second position to the first position.

The workbench (100) of claim 2, wherein the lowering device (600) comprises a wire wheel (610) attached to the underside of the table top (200), a wire (620) rotatably connected to the wire wheel (610), and having a first end attached to the cutting holder (300) and one end attached to a counterweight (630).

A workbench (100) according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the table top (200) further comprises an elongate guide member (230) extending vertically downwardly from its underside; and wherein the cutting holder (300) comprises one or more wheels (310) rotatably in engagement with said elongate guide member (230) as the cutting holder (300) moves up and down.

A workbench (100) according to any one of claims 1-4, further comprising control means adapted to prevent the cutting holder from making horizontal movements during the movement from the second position to the first position or vice versa.