EP0236275B1 - Apparatus and process for cutting rectangular pieces from a web - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for cutting different rectangular formats from a paper or film web, which is provided for controlling longitudinal and cross-sections at its edge with codes assigned to each format, the longitudinal cuts by optional use of at least one of several across the width longitudinal cutting organs distributed across the web.

In the case of paper webs, which are printed with drawings, graphics or the like, in particular by a plotter, there is a need to machine-cut the formats contained on the web, randomly occurring in different sizes, to the correct size. Depending on the drawing format, this requires longitudinal and cross-sections at different points on the paper web.

From EP-A-0085773 is a method and an apparatus for cutting photoset films or the like. Known, longitudinal cuts and then cross sections are initially made in the film band in the direction of flow. The longitudinal and cross cutters are controlled according to the positions of the intended cuts by markings on the film tape by control elements. Since it is a continuous belt in which only cuts, but not individual formats, are cut out and separated from one another, there is no waste.

The object to be achieved by the invention is to provide a method and a device to or from a relatively long paper or film web corresponding to that of, for example, a plotter. output drawings, different rectangular formats are cut out mechanically by longitudinal and cross-sections and the waste generated after each cutting process is removed.

The solution to this problem in the method mentioned at the outset is characterized in that sections of the desired length are first cut off from the paper or film web by cuts transverse to the longitudinal direction of the web and these cut off sections are subsequently trimmed by cuts in the longitudinal direction, with a deflection after each of the cutting processes of waste, which is also controlled by the codes.

The device according to the invention is characterized in that several longitudinal cutting units are provided, the longitudinal cutting units are arranged downstream of the cross-cutting unit in the web transport direction, a first switch is arranged downstream of the cross-cutting unit - in the web running direction - and a set of second, individually movable switches is arranged downstream of the longitudinal cutters for separation the waste from the trimmed format sheets, and that in addition to the codes for the control of the longitudinal and cross-cutting units, codes are provided for controlling the switches for deflecting the waste.

As a result, the drawings made by a plotter, for example, which can have different formats in an arbitrary sequence, can be cut out from a continuous web of paper or film, avoiding manual labor, and the waste is removed after each cutting process, so that in the end only the cut out Rectangle formats are available.

• Fig. 1 eine Draufsicht auf den Ausschnitt einer Papierbahn, aus welcher unterschiedliche Zeichnungsformate ausgeschnitten werden sollen
• Fig. 2 einen Vertikalschnitt durch die Vorrichtung, in schematischer Darstellung
• Fig. 3 eine Seitenansicht einer Längsschneideinheit
• Fig. 4 eine Draufsicht auf die Längsschneideinheit gemäß Fig. 3
• Fig. 5 einen Schnitt durch die Längsschneideinheit nach der Linie V-V in Fig. 3
• Fig. 6 eine am Rand der Bahn anzubringende Kodierung
• Fig. 7 eine Papier- oder Folienbahn auf welcher die Kodierungen aufgetragen sind
• Fig. 8 einen Vertikalschnitt durch eine den Längsschneidern nachgeordnete Weiche
• Fig. 9 ein Vertikalschnitt durch eine Ausführungsvariante einer den Längsschneidem nachgeordneten Weiche
• Fig.10 eine Draufsicht auf die Längsschneideinrichtung in schematischer Darstellung.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing. Show it:

• Fig. 1 is a plan view of the section of a paper web from which different drawing formats are to be cut
• Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the device, in a schematic representation
• Fig. 3 is a side view of a longitudinal cutting unit
• 4 shows a top view of the longitudinal cutting unit according to FIG. 3
• 5 shows a section through the longitudinal cutting unit along the line VV in FIG. 3
• Fig. 6 is a coding to be attached to the edge of the web
• Fig. 7 is a paper or film web on which the codes are applied
• Fig. 8 is a vertical section through a switch downstream of the slitter
• Fig. 9 is a vertical section through an embodiment of a switch downstream of the slitter
• 10 is a plan view of the longitudinal cutting device in a schematic representation.

The device serves to cut out different rectangular drawing formats from an "endless" paper web 1 by means of longitudinal and cross-sections. Such drawings or the like. are continuously or the like by a plotter. drawn on paper web 1. The individual different drawing formats are incurred in random order, as is indicated in FIG. 1 by the standard drawing formats A3, A2, A0, A4. On the one hand, cross-sections are cross-sections so that the drawing formats are cut out of paper web 1 in the correct size 22 and on the other hand to make longitudinal cuts 24a, 24b, 24c. The control of the cutting device for the implementation of these longitudinal and cross-sections is carried out by codes 20 which are attached to the edge of the paper web 1 by the plotter for each format.

The device with which these longitudinal and cross sections can be carried out is shown schematically in FIG. 2. The paper web 1 coming from the plotter is inserted into an insertion slot 2 and detected by two opposing pressure rollers 3, 4. The paper web 1 is guided for transport in the direction of arrow D in a horizontal channel 6 and passes a sensor 5 which reads the codes 20 attached to the edge of the web 1 by the plotter. With one of the pressure rollers 7 or 8, an electrical clock generator 21 is connected, which outputs signals to a control device, depending on the rotational movement of these pressure grooves 7, 8 and thus in accordance with the advancing movement of the paper web 1. The paper web 1 then arrives at a cross cutter 9, which is formed from a knife shaft 10 with a cross-cutting knife 11 rigidly fastened thereon and a counter knife 12 rigidly held on a stationary holder 18. Knife shaft 10 rotates in the direction of arrow B as soon as a corresponding control command from a control device is issued. If a cross section 22 is to be carried out, a clutch which is known per se and can be engaged and disengaged is engaged. This cross cutter 9 extends over the entire width of the paper web 1 and thus causes the execution of the cross sections 22 shown in FIG. 1 when the knife shaft 10 rotates. Immediately following this cross cutter 9 there is an optionally operable switch 13 which is used to effect can that the cut from the cross cutter 9, strip-shaped intermediate pieces 23 - the wastes - are not fed to the subsequent longitudinal cutting devices, but are removed in the direction of arrow K.

An electromagnet 43 with a tie rod 45 is provided for pivoting the cross-sectionally wedge-shaped switch 13, which extends over the entire width of the paper web 1. This interacts with a connector 47 which is pivotable about a shaft 51. When the electromagnet 43 picks up, the tie rod 45 moves downward against the force of a return spring 53, as a result of which the pointed nose of the switch 13 moves upward and thereby deflects the intermediate piece 23, which is separated from the cross cutter 9, downward in the direction of the arrow K. The cut pieces, which contain the drawings, then arrive at longitudinal cutting units 26, which are described in more detail below in connection with FIGS. 3 to 5. There are several of these slitting units 26 optionally used distributed over the width of the web 1. These are only used if a longitudinal cut corresponding to the format, e.g. 24a or 24b or 24c, is to be carried out. Of course, these three longitudinal sections 24a-c shown in FIG. 1 are only to be understood as an example and can be increased or decreased and their mutual distances can be adapted to the desired formats.

3-5, these longitudinal cutting devices 26 each contain an upper circular knife 36 and a lower circular knife 56, which interact with one another in a cutting gap 49. The rectangular format, which is trimmed on all four sides, then passes between further pressure rollers 14, 15, and to a second set of switches, which causes the waste 25 that is produced to be deflected and thus a drawing sheet tailored to the correct format, which is then, for example, a folding device can be supplied.

The cross cutter 9 is driven by a drive belt 19, which is preferably designed as a toothed belt and is connected to a drive motor (not shown in FIG. 2). The drive belt 19 is also guided over the shaft 60 of the cutting knife, of which the rotary movement is via a another toothed belt 16 is transferred to the pressure rollers 4, 8 and 15. The various shafts are supported on both ends of the side walls

The design and mode of operation of an individual longitudinal cutting unit 26 according to FIGS. 3-5 are explained in more detail below. Several such longitudinal cutting units 26 are distributed over the width of the paper web 1. The distances are preferably chosen such that DIN standard formats are cut out. These units sit on a cross rail 28 at such mutual distances that longitudinal cuts 24a-c can be carried out at the intended locations. An electromagnet 27 is fastened by screws to a cross rail 28 which engage in a longitudinal groove 40.

Thus, these longitudinal cutting units 26 can be moved along the cross rail 28 as desired and locked in the desired position. A plunger 29 immersed in the electromagnet 27 is moved in the direction of arrow C when the current is switched on. The resetting is carried out by a spring 30 arranged at the other end of the coil, the pretensioning force of which can be adjusted by means of the adjusting nut 31. The connection between the electromagnet 27 and a rocker 33 is made by a Z-shaped holder 55. The plunger 29 is connected in an articulated manner to a bolt 32 which extends transversely thereto and which is in turn screwed to a rocker shaft 34 and projects radially from this rocker shaft 34 is carried by a U-shaped holder 39 and serves to pivotally accommodate the rocker 33, which carries an upper circular knife 36 and support rollers 38 arranged on the same on both sides. The support rollers 38 and the circular knife 36 are - according to FIG. 5 - rotatably supported by a shaft 41 via ball bearings 50. The shaft 41 is held by screws 52, which penetrate a support bracket 37 on both sides. The other end of this support bracket 37 is rotatably attached to a sleeve 42 attached, which can rotate relative to the rocker axis 34. The rocker 33 is pressed upwards by a laterally attached wire spring 35. Furthermore, a helical spring 44 is arranged in an interior of the sleeve 42 surrounding the rocker axis 34 and causes a force in on the sleeve 42 and thus on the entire rocker 33 together with the circular knife 36 Direction of arrow E (Fig.4) is exercised. As a result, a pin 46 protruding radially at one end from the rocker axis 34 comes to rest against a cam disk 48 which is laterally attached to the holder 39.

When the electromagnet 27 receives power, the plunger 29 moves in the direction of arrow C and thereby pushes the bolt 32 forward, as a result of which the rocker 33 executes a downward pivoting movement. As a result, the support rollers 38 come to bear against the counter-pressure rollers 54 located on the driven shaft 60. A lower circular knife 56 is seated on the shaft 60 and is rotatable together with the shaft 60. The upper circular knife 36 located on the rocker 33 dips slightly below and next to the circular knife 56 when the rocker is lowered - as can be seen from FIG. 5.

So that the two cooperating circular knives 36, 56 are not damaged when the rocker 33 is lowered, an axial movement of the upper circular knife 36 against the lower circular knife 56 in the direction of arrow E is provided after the rocker 33 has been lowered. After the support rollers 38 have come to rest on the counter-pressure rollers 54, the further pivoting movement of the rocker axis 34 causes the pin 46 connected to it to move along the cam plate 48 (FIG. 4) and thereby causes the rocker axis 34 to move axially in the direction of the arrow E executes, whereby the cutting knife 36 comes to rest against the adjacent end face of the circular knife 56 under the slight pressure of the spring 44. In this way, damage to the two circular knives 36, 56 when the rocker 33 is pivoted in is avoided.

The slitting units used are controlled by the codes 20 applied by the plotter to the edge of the paper web 1. These codes 20 are preferably designed as bar or bar codes known per se and are read by the sensor 5 and converted in the control unit into corresponding control signals . The codes 20 thus effect both a control of the cross cutter 9 and the selection of at least one longitudinal cutting unit 26. Instead of two codes 20 assigned to each drawing format at its beginning and end, only a single code containing all the necessary information could be provided.

The codings 20 present on the sheet edge contain black and white lines, fields or bars at regular intervals, as can be seen from FIG. 6. These fields are scanned by the sensor 5 during the transport movement and the corresponding signals are fed to the control device. The first field 29 is always black and causes the clutch for the cross cutter 9 to be switched on, so that a first cut is made which extends over the entire width of the web 1. The next field 30 of the coding is assigned to the first switch 13. If this field 30 is white, the electromagnet 43 is not energized and this switch 13 remains in the rest position, as shown in FIG. 1, so that a section transported in the direction of arrow D is fed to the longitudinal cutters 26. If, however, this field 30 is made black, this causes the electromagnet 43 to be excited via the control device and, as a result, the intermediate piece 23 is deflected downwards in the direction of the arrow K and is guided into a container. The directly adjoining fields 29, 30 are assigned to the individual slitters 26, with a total of seven possible control commands for seven slitters 26. However, any other number of such fields or longitudinal cutters 26 is also possible.

As can be seen from FIG. 7, the first dark field 29 assigned to the cross cutter is in a coincident position with the front edge 22 of the piece to be cut. The cut at the rear edge is made in that a coding in the form of a black field 29 is present at the end of the sheet. The leading edge 22 of the next sheet is produced at a short distance, for example approximately 5-6 mm, by executing a next cross section 22. Subsequently, the coding 20 mentioned is again applied on the edge, as can be seen from FIG. 7.

The width of a coding field 29 or 30 - measured in the longitudinal direction of the web - is preferably dimensioned at approximately 1.8 mm, so that a total length of the bar coding of 16.2 mm is produced with a total of nine fields

If the trailing edge of one sheet and the leading edge of the next sheet are formed by the cut of the cross cutter 9, the waste strip 23 is omitted and the switch 13 remains in the lowered, inactive position.

The - based on the direction of movement D of the paper web 1 - the second switches 62 downstream of the slitter 26 serve to discharge the waste, so that only the cut-out rectangular formats 65 remain with the drawings in order to avoid sorting out the waste by hand.

As can be seen from FIG. 8, the second switches 62 arranged downstream of the longitudinal cutters 26 can each be pivoted about a fixed, horizontal axis 64 in the form of a set of switches. Spatially between The two adjacent longitudinal cutters 26 each have a switch 62 which can be pivoted independently of one another independently. The pivoting movement of each switch 62 is effected by an electromagnet 66 arranged inside a profile body 71. The plunger 68 of the electromagnet 66 bears against a tab 70 rigidly connected to the axis 64 and is articulated to the latter via a cross pin 72. The foot of the electromagnet 66 opposite the plunger 68 is supported against a tab 74. When the electromagnet 66 is energized, the plunger 68 is ejected. Since the plunger 68 is supported in an articulated manner on the immovable tab 72, the foot of the electromagnet 66 presses the switch 62 upwards into the position shown in broken lines. In this position, the wedge-shaped nose 78 protrudes into the horizontal movement path of the paper web 1 and causes the waste 25 to be deflected into the channel F. When the electromagnet 66 drops, a tension spring 82 ensures the return of the switch 62 to that shown in full lines, inactive location.

As a variant, the switches 62 could also be pivoted by direct mechanical coupling with the pivotable cutting knives 36.

9 shows a variant of the switch activation. The electromagnets 66 of the second set of switches sit here on a common continuous, stationary, horizontal profile rail 67, which is rigidly fastened in the machine frame. With the switch 62, two tabs 73 are rigidly connected and are penetrated by the rigid, horizontal axis 64 with little play, so that each switch 62 is pivotable about this axis 64. The plunger 68 of the electromagnet 66 articulates with a pin 75 below the shaft 64 in a slot in the tab 73. The electromagnet 66 is designed to be pulling, i.e. when the current is switched on, the plunger 68 moves in the direction of the arrow G. As a result, the nose 78 is pivoted into the position shown in full lines against the direction of the arrow N.

A return spring 82 causes the switch 62 to remain open when the electromagnet 66 is de-energized, i.e. takes up the gifted position shown in broken lines in Fig. 9. In this swiveled-up position, the waste 25 is directed downward in the direction of the arrow F and arrives in a waste container. If the electromagnet 66 contains current, the switch 62 assumes its position shown in full lines in FIG. 9 and a supplied rectangular drawing sheet which has been trimmed on all sides reaches a table 79 and can subsequently be further processed, for example fed to a folding machine.

The electromagnets 66 are preferably connected in parallel with the electromagnet 27 of the respective slitter 26, so that additional control elements are omitted, since a switch 62 must be assigned to each of the pivoted-in rockers 33.

10 shows schematically and as an example seven longitudinal cutters 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 26e, 26f, 26g. These correspond to the longitudinal cutters in FIGS. 3-5, in which the upper circular knife 36 can optionally be brought into a lowered position by actuating the associated electromagnet 27 if a longitudinal cutting process is to take place. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 10, only the longitudinal cutters 26a and 26f and 26g are in their lowered, active cutting position, while the others assume a non-cutting position. Since the drawing format 65 to be cut out here is to have the width B, waste strips 86 and 25 are separated from the paper web 1 on the left and right and are diverted through the swung-out switches 62 in the direction of the arrow F. As a result, the drawing format 65, which is trimmed on all four sides, reaches the deposit fish 79 alone.

If a narrower drawing format 65 is to be cut out, the width is determined by one of the other longitudinal cutters 26, the correspondingly wider or narrower drop being derived by other upward-shifting points 62. The actuation of the second points .68 can thus be carried out in direct dependence simultaneously and parallel to the slitter 26 brought into the cutting position take place, so that no additional coding or control means for the operation of these switches 62 are required.

Since a narrow edge strip 86 must always be separated from the web 1 at least on the side provided with codes 20, this outermost switch can be designed to be stationary and always be in the swung-up position.

Since the slitter 26 is designed to be displaceable in the horizontal direction, drawing formats of any desired width can be cut out, but this is usually limited to standard formats.

By cleverly combining different formats, it is possible to keep the waste relatively small, for example by adding a format A4 lying transversely to the format A3.

Instead of sheets of paper, foils made of rigid plastic can also be used.

Claims (11)

1. A process for cutting various rectangular formats from a web of paper or sheet (1), which is provided at its edge with codes (20) associated with each format for controlling longitudinal (24a - c) and cross cuts (22), with the longitudinal cuts being performed by the selective application of at least one of several longitudinal cutting members (35, 56) distributed over the width of the web (1), characterised in that parts of desired length are separated from the web of paper or sheet (1) firstly by cuts (22) at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the web, and these separated parts are then cut by cuts (24a - c) in the longitudinal direction of the web, with a deflection of the waste (23) occurring after each of the cutting operations, which is also controlled by the codes (20).

2. A process according to Claim 1, characterised in that the codes (20) are designed as line or bar codes (20), with a cross-cutter (9) being controlled with the first mark, a following mark being responsible for controlling a first deflector ( 13) to deflect waste and subsequent marks (23) serving to control longitudinal cutters (26) and second waste deflectors (62).

3. A device for cutting various rectangularformats from a web of paper or sheet, having a cross-cutting unit (9) extending over the entire width of the web (1) to perform crows cuts, having longitudinal cutting units (26) distributed over the width of the web (1) for performing longitudinal cuts (24a, 24b, 24c), which can be selectively moved between a cutting position and a non-cutting position, a control appliance having a sensor (5) scanning the codes (20) on the web (1), which effects both the application of the cross-cutting unit (9) and also the selection of at least one longitudinal cutting unit (26) to be used, characterised in that several longitudinal cutting units (26) are provided which are connected after the cross-cutting unit (9) in the direction of transport of the web (D), in that a first deflector (13) is connected after the cross-cutting unit (9) - in the direction of movement of the web (D) -and a set of second deflectors (62), which can be moved individually, is connected after the longitudinal cutters (26), to separate the waste (23, 25, 86) from the cutformatsheets (65), and in that in addition to the codes (20) for controlling the longitudinal and cross-cutting units (26, 9) there are also provided codes (20) for controlling the deflectors (13, 62) to deflect the waste (23, 25, 86).

4. A device according to Claim 3, characterised in that each longitudinal cutting unit (26) contains a rocker (33) bearing a circular knife (36), with which the circular knife (36) can be swivelled into a cutting position, and mechanical adjustment members (34, 46, 48) are provided, with which an axial displacement (E) of one circular knife (36) can be achieved so as to abut the counter-knife (56).

5. A device according to Claim 4, characterised in that a first circular knife (56) is supported on a driven shaft (60) so that it can not rotate, the second circular knife (36) supported on the rocker (33) and having a parallel axis of rotation interacts with an electromagnet (27), in the swivel position of the rocker (33) the two circular knives (36, 56) overlap to form a cutting slot (49), and the axial adjustment means (46, 48) are located on the rocker (33).

6. A device according to Claim 5, characterised in that to the side of the upper circular knife (36) supported on the rocker (33) there is located at least one backing roller (38), which is intended to interact with at least one counter-backing roller (54) on the shaft (60) of the lower circular knife (56), an arm (32) in driven connection with the electromagnet (27) and radially projecting from a rocker axle (34) is provided, the rocker axle (34) abuts against a cam disc (48), which after abutting the backing roller (38) on the counter-backing roller (54) performs an axial movement (E) of the rocker axle (34) and consequently of the circular knife (36) supported on the rocker (33).

7. A device according to Claim 6, characterised in that a first spring (35) endeavours to force the rocker (33) into the non-cutting position, a second spring (44) presses the axial moveable rocker axle (34) against the cam disc (48), the cam disc (48) is pierced by the rocker axle (34) and a pin (46) which radially projects from the rocker axle (34) and is effectively connected to the electromagnet (27) abuts the cam disc (48).

8. A device according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterised in that the electromagnets (66) of at least some of the second deflectors (62) are controlled parallel to the electromagnets (27), with which the longitudinal cutters (26) can be moved into their cutting position.

9. A device according to Claim 8, characterised in that several second deflectors (62) are provided, which are respectively disposed between and behind adjacent longitudinal cutters (26) and each of these second deflectors (62) has a nose (78), which can be actuated by an electromagnet (66) and can be swung into the path of movement of the web (1) or of the waste (25, 86).

10. A device according to Claim 9, characterised in that the second deflectors (62) connected after the longitudinal cutters (26) are open when the electromagnets (66) are not excited for the purpose of deflecting the waste (25) downward.

11. A device according to one of Claims 3 to 10, characterised in that the sensor (5) is disposed on the underside of the web.

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