EP0526358A1 - Device for the distribution and simultaneously cutting of rolled up web material - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus for dispensing and simultaneously cutting rolled-up strips of material comprises a roll (F) of material mounted so as to rotate freely on a wall support (A), applied under pressure on a drum (B). The drum, which is hollow internally, receives a plurality of toothed cutting devices (C) associated with the drum and interacting with means external to the drum, when the drum is driven in rotation by traction on the material. Each cutting device is associated with a guiding roller (3) capable of interacting with a profiled cam (4) mounted on the shaft of the drum, thus allowing displacement of the blade. The blade-holder devices and the drum are arranged with means enabling one of the blades to be retracted inside the drum in order to make it passive, and thus to define lengths of strips of material to be cut which are variable according to requirements. <IMAGE>

Description

The object of the invention relates to the technical sector of devices for distributing lengths of material wound on reels.

The invention applies to devices for dispensing paper, wadding and similar wiping materials.

The Applicant has created and developed various distributing and cutting devices which are widely used.

These devices are not limited to the type according to which the roll of material in service is mounted to rotate freely on a support, by being applied under pressure directly to a drum with non-slip surface, so that by simple manual traction on the strip of material overflowing under the device, a strip is distributed and automatically cut, the length of which is substantially equal to the circumference of the drum. This cutting is carried out by a serrated cutting device associated with the drum and protruding from the drum when it is rotated by traction on the material, so as to penetrate the material thus stretched on either side of the cutting device.

After cutting, the launched drum returns to its initial position through the action of different complementary members and a new strip of material overflows from the device. Such a device has been described in particular in French Patent 2,332,215 and its Certificate of Addition 2,340,887. Improvements have been described in European Patent 157,713 and in French Patent Applications 85.19447, 85.02873, 86.18497, 87.14068 in the name of the Applicant.

It will be recalled that this type of device, as illustrated, mainly comprises, from a casing (not shown), a base plate (A) for wall mounting with wings (A1 - A2) receiving a drum (B ) in which is articulated at the side walls, a cutting blade holder (C) which is connected to means external to the drum to be controlled for cutting during the rotation of the latter.

A roller (F) of wiping material is mounted on a support bracket (G) articulated on the base plate and held resiliently in contact with the drum, the periphery of which is arranged to prevent slipping during traction on the overflowing strip. (F1). Thus, when pulling on said strip wound on the drum and protruding from the rear, the drum (B) is rotated and the cutting blade holder (C) associated with the control means, describes a curved path which makes it pass from a retracted position in the drum to an exit position (by a radial slot (B1) of the drum) where the serrated blade which is inclined in two orthogonal directions, can progressively penetrate the material stretched on both sides 'other and thus detach a strip of length corresponding to the diameter and therefore the circumference of the drum by the combined action of penetration and rotation.

At the end of traction, when the strip is detached, the drum which is connected on one side to an eccentric and spring lever mechanism, must return to the initial or armed position with a new strip of material overflowing under the ready device to be drawn, and with no possibility of going back.

For this, various members combined with one another and already described in the aforementioned Patents are associated with the drum.

In particular, a part (J) called a parachute is freely articulated around a bearing secured to a wing of the base plate.

This parachute carries at its upper part and opposite the drum, a pawl (L) articulated elastically at (L1) to be constantly applied at its free end to a stop (J1) of the parachute. The wall of the drum carries, near its periphery, a projection (B2) which is positioned and profiled to pass above the stop (J1) and raise the pawl (L) when, after cutting the material, the drum is launched by the eccentric lever. As soon as the projection (B2) has escaped the pawl, the latter falls back into abutment on the stop (J1).

During this drum launching action, a stop (M) pivotally mounted inside said drum and having a part protruding from the wall by a large opening in an arc of a circle, has passed by gravity from a low position or close to the axis of the drum at a high position or away from said axis, in said opening. To stop the rotation of the drum as soon as the projection (B2) has escaped the pawl, provision has been made to keep this movable stopper in the high position, despite its natural tendency to fall back when the drum approaches the zone where it must stop. , so that said stop is pressed against the stop (J1) of the parachute which then oscillates against a spring (N) before returning by a projection (J2) in abutment against a stopper (A3) of the 'wing (A2).

For this, there is either a ramp (J3) judiciously oriented, dimensioned and associated with the parachute to force the movable stop to go up, or a lever freely articulated inside the drum in a point substantially diametrically opposite the point of articulation of the movable stop and suitably sized to be naturally under said movable stop, thereby retaining it in the high position so that it ensures the stop of the drum, when the drum is at the end stroke, while said lever retracts automatically under the effect of the movable stop rising when it comes into contact with the stop (J1), thereby allowing the movable stop (M) to return by gravity to the low position for reset the device.

This type of device gives users complete satisfaction, in particular by its simplicity of use and its reliability.

The design of this device takes these conditions of use into account and the various improvements and additions made result from the body of knowledge, experience and tests carried out by the Applicant for many years in order to obtain a device that is the most efficient. possible that can be adapted to all qualities of paper.

This device is suitable for dispensing lengths of predetermined cut material strips. The diameter and therefore the circumference of the drum is established to allow the development of a strip length.

Thus, the conditions of use of the device, taking into account the specific characteristics of the drum, only allow it to constantly distribute strips of material at predetermined lengths. With the device, there is no possibility of varying the dimensions of the cut lengths of tape as required.

More generally, all the types of wiping paper dispensing device known to date are in no way designed and adapted to allow variable and programmed distribution of different lengths of material strip and variable in length.

The aim sought after according to the invention was therefore to research and design a dispensing device which can be adapted as required for cutting strips of material of variable lengths. From this aim, it was therefore necessary to design an apparatus capable of implementing such a concept, under inexpensive manufacturing conditions, and of use and handling very simple to implement and reliable for the operator.

Thus, taking into account the problem posed, the Applicant turned to the study and the arrangement of the drum of the apparatus while seeking a solution and an arrangement adapted to respond satisfactorily to the problem posed.

The solution found is suitable for all types of dispensing devices.

Thus, according to a first characteristic of the invention, the apparatus for simultaneously distributing and cutting wound material bands is remarkable in that the drum is arranged with at least two slots for receiving and allowing the movement of at least two devices. closely associated cutting elements which can be actuated successively to allow the partial overflow of their associated cutting blade, said cutting devices being moved according to a predetermined cycle from the guidance of a profiled cam mounted on the axis of the drum, and in that the blade-holder devices and the drum being arranged with means allowing one of the blades to be retracted inside the drum to make it passive, and thus define lengths of strips of material to be cut variable as required, according to the number of cutting blades likely to intervene during rotation on one revolution of the drum.

These characteristics and others will emerge clearly from the following description.

To fix the subject of the invention illustrated without limitation in the figures of the drawings where:

Figure 1 is a side view of the material distribution and cutting apparatus according to the invention, seen from one side.

Figure 2 is a view of the apparatus according to Figure 1, seen from the other side.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the drum arranged according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a view with partial section of the drum along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a partial view showing the device for retracting the counterweight.

Figure 6 is a partial view showing the retracting device of one of the cutting blades.

Figures 7 and 8 are alternative views showing the use of a single control ensuring the retraction of the cutting blade and its guide means associated with the parachute.

In order to make the object of the invention more concrete, it is now described in a nonlimiting manner in the figures of the drawings.

The main known elements of the device having been set out in the preamble to the Application, we will limit ourselves below to describing the new means of the invention allowing the cutting of lengths of paper strips to variable dimensions.

According to the invention, the drum (B) of the device is thus arranged to receive several cutting devices capable of intervening successively during the rotation of the drum as a result of a pulling effect on the free end of the strip. of material drawn. According to the needs, the cutting devices can act successively during the same turn of the drum, thus making it possible, in a single rotation of the drum, to cut several lengths of strip of material at reduced lengths.

According to the invention, at least one cutting device is capable of being retracted inside the drum thanks to the use of specific means arranged and disposed both on the drum and on the corresponding blade holder of the cutting device. chopped off. Thus, the retraction action of one of the cutting devices makes it possible to suppress a cutting action, so that only the cutting device remaining active is capable of cutting, during the rotation of the drum, lengths of larger band and can thus correspond to the involute of the periphery of the aforementioned drum.

By way of example and in the case of the insertion into the drum of two cutting devices (C1 - C2) as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the latter being arranged in opposition inside the drum, it is possible to section two formats on the same distributor for a 46 cm drum circumference, it is thus possible to offer the cutting of strip lengths of 46 cm by the action of a single cutting device or two lengths of 23 cm strip by the action of two cutting devices. It is of course not excluded to provide for arranging the drum with three or more cutting devices according to the lengths of strip which it is desired to use.

An example of implementation of the invention should therefore be described in a non-limiting manner.

We first describe the mounting of the various cutting devices inside the drum, then the means used to retract one of the cutting devices.

Thus, the hollow drum (B) internally is arranged to receive two cutting devices (C1 and C2) closely associated with each other arranged in opposition inside the drum, and capable of being actuated successively to allow alternatively the partial overflow of their associated cutting blade.

Each cutting device comprises in known manner a blade holder (C) receiving a serrated blade (1), said blade holder having at its base a rod (2) or bar passing through the drum (B) being suitably guided, l 'one end of the articulation bar of the blade holders receives a guide roller (3) capable of cooperating with a profiled cam (4) mounted on the axis of the drum.

This fixed cam (4) is arranged with a specific profile adapted to allow the successive and continuous actuation of the two blade holders (C1 - C2), and in fact the production of two cuts. It must be considered beforehand that each roller associated with a blade holder is in continuous and regular contact with the cam, the two rollers being simply placed at different places on the cam, according to a continuous path, their position being established to correspond to the successive actuation of each blade and associated blade holder to penetrate the successively drawn strips of paper.

This cam (4) thus has a profile comprising the following zones: Around its fixing zone situated with respect to the axis of the drum is provided a first zone (4.1) of semi-circular intermediate form of rest and transport. This zone hinge extends in its upper part with a flared shape forming a hollow (4.2), oriented internally in the cam capable of forming a hollow and forming a seat for the reception of successive rollers (3). In this area, the cutting blade gradually enters the paper strip. This hollow shape (4.2) is then extended by a third zone having a broad curvilinear and flared profile (4.3) corresponding to the finish of the cut as it appears in the drawings, located opposite the zone (4.1). , then the cam has a rectilinear profile (4.4) making it possible to join the aforementioned zones (4.3 and 4.1).

The two rollers (3) associated with each cutting device (C1 - C2), thus traverse the cam path as defined in the direction given by the rotation of the drum.

Therefore, their respective roller (3.1 - 3.2) travels the cam path with a corresponding offset.

The insertion into the drum of the two aforementioned cutting devices thus makes it possible to generate, from the rotation of the drum on a single turn, the actuation of said cutting devices and thus the production of two sections of strips of material. The drum thus comprises two diametrically opposite slots for the passage of the cutting blades and, on the other hand, and advantageously, it is arranged on their peripheral periphery two zones rough (5) constituted by pieces of EMERI canvas or similar, likely to be in contact with the service roll for dispensing strips of paper ensuring perfect hold of the latter. Thus, each of the half-parts of the drum has an involute corresponding to the length of the strip of cut material of reduced dimensions such as for example 23 cm.

It is now necessary to describe the means of retraction of one of the cutting devices.

A first variant illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 describes the use of two separate controls capable of acting, on the one hand, on the cutting device itself and, on the other hand, for the purpose of separation of the latter relative to the stop members of the cutting device in the drum.

In this first implementation, one of the cutting devices (C1) for example comprises, on its blade-holding part (C) a support means (10) of a mobile element (11) whose end (11.1 ) is associated with the roller (3.1) capable of traversing the cam path (4) authorizing the displacement of the blade inside the drum and its exit to ensure the cutting of the strip of material. The mobile element (11) is arranged to receive a support (12) profiled forming a seat for receiving a member (13) mounted with controlled movement inside the drum.

More specifically, the drum receives internally near one of its sides, directly formed with the drum or in an attached manner, a plate (13.1) forming a cube, for example capable of receiving limited fixing and articulation, the end d '' a flexible member (13.2) of great length, and the end (13.3) of which is liable to partially overflow in a profiled notch (14) formed in the opposite peripheral part of the drum. The flexible member is mounted on an axis (15) on the aforementioned plate (13.1), a screw (15.1) ensuring the holding of the member on the plate. This flexible rod member can thus, by its flexibility, be moved substantially in a first plane, and by its mounting can be moved laterally in a second plane.

According to another feature of this flexible member, its inner part in the drum and near the end, is profiled to engage in the support forming a yoke (12) mounted on the cutting device. The support means (10) is established in the form of a profiled metal plate with two wings (10.1 - 10.2), arranged in the direction of the length of the cutting blade. Between the wings, the movable element (11) is introduced and guided. The support forming a yoke (12) is mounted and introduced on the movable element. As indicated previously, one of the ends (11.1) of the movable element receives the roller (3.1) which thus comes into external abutment against one of the wings (10.1) of the support (10). At its other end, the mobile element (11) receives a ring (16) capable of abutting from the outside against the other wing (10.2).

On the drum, the notch (14) thus allows the partial overflow of the member (12). This notch has an oblong profiled shape with, at its ends, two recesses (14.1 - 14.2) capable of receiving the end of the member (12). The orientation of the oblong lumen is arranged transversely to the drum. It is thus understood that any action of displacement of the member (12) and its positioning in one of the two projections (14.1 - 14.2) will simultaneously cause, by its displacement, the translation of the mobile element (11) associated with the blade holder. This action will therefore cause the displacement of the roller (3.1) and its positioning on the cam (4) or its disengagement from the latter. Depending on the positions, the blade holder can therefore be switched on or off. We can therefore obtain, depending on the action exerted on the member (12), the intervention of two cutting devices or one.

As a complement, the drum is arranged at its other end corresponding to the driving and stopping of the retractable cutting device with complementary means also making it possible to control the rotation of the drum over a half-turn or its complete rotation. This arrangement is illustrated in Figure 5 where we see that the drum is arranged at its end in the same plane with another profiled notch (18) arranged with two projections (18.1 - 18.2). The lateral flange of the drum receives a finger (19) on which an L-shaped arm (20) can slide, one end (20.1) of which penetrates and projects beyond the flange of the aforementioned drum, said arm forming a counterweight. The other branch of the arm receives a rod (21) capable of overflowing and penetrating into the aforementioned profiled notch (18). This rod is mounted with an elastic deformation capacity to allow it to slide inside the notch and its appropriate positioning.

The action of the members (12) and (21) is carried out successively as a function of the lengths of strip of material to be cut.

In an alternative implementation illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the various members and means capable of retracting the cutting device are controlled simultaneously. To this end, in a non-limiting implementation, the mobile element (11) associated with the roller (3.1) and the arm (20) are connected together by two rods (23 and 24), one end of which (23.1 - 24.1 ) is associated with said members, while the other end (23.2 - 24.2) is mounted on a shaft (25) disposed in the middle part of the periphery of the drum. Said ends (23.2 - 24.2) are fixed in any suitable manner on the shaft (25). This shaft (25) is rotatably mounted on a ring (26) disposed inside the drum and has a head (25.1) inserted in a recess formed in the wall of the drum. This head can be indexed in rotation with means (27) allowing it to snap into retracting or non-retracting positions of the cutting device. The shaft (25) can be rotated to actuate the rods and consequently the aforementioned members by a simple rotation of a quarter turn. To perform this operation, the head may have a recess allowing the insertion of the active part of a screwdriver or other means usable by the operator. Thus, a single simplified control of the mechanism is obtained.

Whether by a single command or a double command, the ends of the members ensuring the movement of the cutting blade device, protrude only very appreciably from the periphery of the drum so as not to hinder the positioning of the strips of paper during their winding. on the drum.

Thus, for the operator, a simplified command is obtained which is very quick to implement in order to select the formats of strip lengths to be cut.

The advantages emerge clearly from the invention. In particular, the simplicity of the device is emphasized.

As required, it is not excluded to introduce a third cutting device inside the drum with complementary means allowing or not their retraction according to the lengths of strip to be cut.

The invention also makes it possible to eliminate the eccentric and spring lever as used previously.

Claims (13)

-1- Apparatus for distributing and simultaneously cutting strips of wound material, of the type comprising a roller (F) of material mounted for free rotation on a wall support (A), applied under pressure to a drum (B), said drum internally hollow receiving a serrated cutting device (C) associated with the drum and cooperating with means external to the drum to protrude therefrom, when the drum is driven in rotation by traction on the material, penetrating into it which is stretched on either side of the cutting device, the apparatus being characterized in that the drum is arranged with at least two slots to receive and allow the movement of at least two cutting devices closely associated and capable of '' be actuated successively to allow the partial overflow of their associated cutting blade, said cutting devices being moved according to a pre-established cycle from the guidance of a cam profile mounted on the axis of the drum, and in that the blade-holder devices and the drum being fitted with means making it possible to retract one of the blades inside the drum to make it passive, and thus define lengths of strips of material to be cut variable as required, depending on the number of cutting blades likely to intervene during rotation on one revolution of the drum. -2- Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the cam (4) has a profile comprising the following areas: - around its fixing zone situated relative to the axis of the drum is provided a first zone (4.1) of semi-circular intermediate form of rest and transport of one of the blades; - Said first zone extending into the upper part with a flared shape forming a hollow (4.2) oriented internally in the cam, to form a seat for the successive reception of the rollers (3.1 - 3.2) associated with each blade holder, in these areas one of the cutting blades gradually penetrating into the paper strip; - Said second zone extending by a third zone having a broad curvilinear and flared profile (4.3) situated opposite the zone (4.1) corresponding to the finish of the cut; - Said cam having a rectilinear profile (4.4) making it possible to join the aforementioned zones (4.3 and 4.1). -3- Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the drum comprises two diametrically opposite slots and on its peripheral periphery, between the slots, two rough areas (5) capable of being in contact with the service delivery roller strips of paper. -4- Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for retracting the blade of one of the cutting devices inside the drum comprises first means disposed on the blade holder part of the cutting device and second means arranged inside the drum, and capable of cooperating with said first means. -5- Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first means disposed on the blade holder part of the cutting device are constituted by support means (10) fixed to the blade holder part (C), said means support (10) authorizing and controlling the movement of a mobile element (11), one end (11.1) of which is associated with the roller (3.1) of the blade-holder device, traversing the cam path (4) and authorizing the movement of the cutting blade inside the drum and its outlet, said movable element (11) being arranged to receive a support (12) profiled forming a seat receiving the second means (13) mounted with controlled movement inside the drum, the displacement of the mobile element (11) allowing the positioning of the roller (3.1) on the cam (4) or its release. -6- Apparatus according to claims 4 and 5 together, characterized in that the second means ensuring the retraction of the cutting device and fixed and formed in the drums, comprise a member (13) forming a rod of great length and having flexibility controlled and angularly adjustable, said rod being fixed to a support plate arranged in the bottom of the drum, said flexible rod coming to bear and centering in the support (12) disposed on the movable element fixed to the blade holder, and in that a profiled notch (14) is formed in the peripheral opposite part of the drum to the attachment zone of the aforementioned member, said notch having recesses allowing the alternate housing of the free end of said rod, according to displacement of the latter . -7- The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the flexible member (13) is mounted on an axis (15) of its support plate (13.1), a screwing means ensuring its holding, said flexible member forming a rod being able to be moved in a first plane and laterally in a second plane in a limited angular orientation given by the profiled shape of the notch (14) produced on the periphery of the drum, said rod extending substantially from the notch to allow it to be gripped. -8- Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the support means (10) disposed on the blade holder part is established in the form of a profiled plate with two wings (10.1 - 10.2) arranged in the direction of length of the cutting blade; between said wings being mounted the movable element (11) and the support (12) of the flexible member, and in that one of the ends (11.1) of the movable element receives the roller (3.1) associated with the device cutting cooperating with the cam (4), said roller coming into external abutment against the wing (10.1) opposite the support (10), and in that the movable element (11) receives at its other end a ring ( 16) abutting from the outside against the other wing (10.2) of the support means (10). -9- Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the drum is arranged at its other end corresponding to the drive and stopping of the cutting device with a profiled notch (18) having projections (18.1 - 18.2), the flange lateral of the drum receiving a finger (19) on which slides an arm (20) forming a counterweight, said arm receiving a rod (21) capable of overflowing and penetrating into the aforementioned profiled notch, said rod being mounted with an elastic deformation capacity to allow its sliding and its positioning inside the notch. -10- Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the various organs and means capable to retract the cutting device have a unique control. -11- Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that, on the blade holder part of the cutting device, is disposed a support means (10) fixed to the blade holder part (C), said support means (10) authorizing and controlling the movement of a mobile element (11) one end of which (11.1) is associated with the roller (3.1) of the blade-holder device, traversing the cam path (4) and authorizing the movement of the cutting blade to inside the drum and its outlet, the movement of the movable element (11) allowing the positioning of the roller (3.1) on the cam (4) or its release, and in that the drum is arranged on its opposite lateral flange corresponding to the driving and stopping of the cutting device, with a finger (19) on which slides an arm (20) forming a counterweight, and in that the movable element (11) and the arm (20) are interconnected by two rods (23 - 24) themselves mounted on a shaft (25) arranged in the middle part of the at the periphery of the drum, said shaft being arranged to allow the movement and positioning control of the aforementioned retracting means. -12- Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the shaft (25) is rotatably mounted on a ring (26) disposed internally to the drum and having a head (25.1) inserted into a recess formed in the wall of the drum , said head being indexed in rotation with means (27) allowing it to snap into the retracting or non-retracting positions of the cutting device. -13- Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drum is arranged to receive three cutting devices angularly arranged at 120 ° and cooperating with a profiled cam path, said cam path providing a zone called " active "ensuring the penetration of two cutting blades at different locations in the drawn strips of paper, and a so-called" passive "area where the third cutting blade does not intervene in the paper strip, the rotation of the drum successively in operation the various aforementioned blades, and in that it comprises retracting means making it possible to make one or more of the aforementioned cutting devices "passive".

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