EP2442951B1

EP2442951B1 - Table for blade cutting of materials, for example leather, hide and synthetic materials

Info

Publication number: EP2442951B1
Application number: EP10702998.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ernesto Mirabello
Original assignee: Atom SpA
Current assignee: Atom SpA
Priority date: 2009-06-17
Filing date: 2010-01-20
Publication date: 2013-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2030-01-20
Also published as: CN102481696B; CN102481696A; BRPI1010100B1; WO2010145724A1; EP2442951A1; BRPI1010100A2; ITMI20090206U1

Description

The present invention relates to a table especially usable for the blade cutting of leather, hide and synthetic materials.
More in particular, the present invention relates to a table or bench for the blade cutting of materials suitable for making, typically and not critically, basic semi-finished parts for making leather shoes and articles in general. The table of the present invention is especially suitable for shearing tanned hide used to make shoe vamps and parts thereof.
It is known that in the industrial production of leather and hide articles, typically shoes but also bags, belts and the like, the multiple operating steps are carried out with the aid of specific machines and relevant equipment. With special and non-exclusive reference to shoes, a basic operating step consists in cutting leather and/or hide, optionally synthetic and flexible materials, for obtaining shaped semi-finished parts with which the shoe vamps and the sole are later made. Shearing such natural materials, the shape and size whereof varies according to the type of animal they are obtained from, is mainly obtained with two different types of processes and on as many different machines.
A first much widespread type of shearing of the material is carried out by dinking dies, on machines called die cutting machines; such machines may be, according to the smaller type, provided with travelling arm, angularly adjustable along a parallel plane and overlying that whereon the material to be sheared is placed. Larger types of die cutting machines are defined with movable carriage or bridge and are provided with a working or cutting surface significantly larger than the die cutting machines with travelling arm. In any case, shearing the material requires the use of dinking dies, which consist of metal shaped frames, with cutting edge on the front intended for abutting the material itself. Considering the countless shapes and sizes of shoes it is therefore necessary to set up as many dinking dies, for covering all the requirements and having them at hand so as to reuse them as needed, according to the market requirements. This solution therefore implies the need of making countless dinking dies, causing a considerable lock-up of capital; the same dinking dies, moreover, require a selective storage that requires large spaces.
An alternative embodiment as regards the shearing of leather, hide and synthetic materials is obtained on the so-called cutting tables or benches, the size whereof generally is even larger and reaches many metres both in length and width. On the opposite sides defined by the larger sides of the cutting table there are arranged respective rails for the sliding of carriages that move at least one beam extended crosswise; the beam supports at least one cutting unit or blade, the movement whereof is managed by an electronic control. Before the cut, the material placed on the cutting table is selected in its parts to optimise the process and minimise the waste; this takes place thanks to the projection of the various patterns, mapped beforehand by the electronic system, on the material itself.
This type of shearing is obtained on large machines only, therefore suitable for large productions; while having the advantage of excluding the resort to dinking dies, since the various patterns are stored to the operating system and, among the other things, they may be subject to quick update by the dedicated software, these cutting tables or machines require a considerable investment of capital, as well as large spaces for the installation thereof, in the production factories.
On the contrary, the need currently felt is that of combining the advantages of blade cutting with those of a limited size of the machinery; the desirable solution, in other words, is to eliminate the dinking dies with all the relevant costs and drawbacks, while keeping on the machine a cutting size similar or a little larger than that of the traditional die cutting machines with travelling arm. WO 2005/102 628 A1 discloses a table for blade cutting of materials according to the preamble of claim1.
The object of the present invention is to provide such solution by making a cutting table or bench having limited size and operation corresponding to that of large sized and expensive tables.
More in particular, the object of the invention is to provide a table as defined above wherein the working surface consists of a single element or single block whereto the arm carrying the cutting unit is fixed, globally making a very simple structure.
Last but not least, another object of the invention is to provide a cutting table wherein said arm is developed projecting on the working surface for ensuring the optimum position of the material to be sheared.
A further object of the invention is to provide the users with a table for blade cutting of leather, hide and synthetic materials suitable for ensuring a high level of resistance and reliability over time, also such as to be easily and inexpensively constructed.
These and yet other objects are achieved by the table for blade cutting of materials as claimed in claim 1. Additional advantageous features of the invention are recited in the dependent claims.
These as well as further features of the table for blade cutting of the present invention shall be better understood from the following detailed description, wherein reference is made to the annexed drawing tables showing a preferred and non-limiting embodiment thereof, wherein:

figure 1 shows a schematic perspective front view of the table for blade cutting of leather, hide and synthetic materials of this invention;
figure 2 shows a schematic perspective side-back view of the same cutting table;
figure 3 shows a schematic perspective top view of the block constituting the working surface and at the same time, the support for the arm carrying the cutting unit;
figure 4 shows a schematic side and partial view of the same cutting table;
figure 5 shows a schematic perspective side view of the same cutting table;
figure 6 show, schematic views of an alternative embodiment referred to the connection of the arm carrying the cutting unit to the relevant sliding support.
figure 7 shows a table which is not according to the invention, as the beam 24 does not develop in a vertical direction and the rectilinear are not fixed to the front of the beam

With reference to said figures, the table for blade cutting of the present invention, globally indicated with reference numeral 10 in figures 1 and 2, comprises a box shaped base 12 that constitutes the support for a working surface 14, illustrated in detail in figure 3.
Base 10 seats the moving means, per se known, of an arm 16 and of the cutting unit 18 moved along the arm itself.
According to the invention, the structure constituting the working surface 14 consists of an assembled and self-bearing metal single block, with quadrangular plan, made up of sheets preferably oriented orthogonally to one another, welded and/or bolted or it is made by casting. The upper front of working surface 14 is advantageously defined by a plate 20 provided with parallel openings with horizontal and vertical development; said working surface is surmounted by a sheet 22 of synthetic material such as nylon, in one or more pieces, that makes up the support surface for the material to be processed. Said sheet 22 is constrained in a known manner to the underlying structure forming the working surface 14.
Along one of the larger sides of the latter there is fixed a beam 24, arranged orthogonally relative to the surface itself and to the overlying sheet 22; beam 24, the height whereof is by way of an example similar to that of the structure forming the working surface 14, may be directly fixed to the latter by welding or equivalent retaining means, or constrained in the same way to an intermediate element 26 with substantially semi-circular profile, extending longitudinally by an extent equal to or slightly less than, that of the beam itself. In the exemplary embodiment of the figures, beam 24 protrudes from at least one front of the structure forming the working surface 14 and the intermediate element 26 substantially aligns with the opposite ends of the beam itself. As a whole, both the longitudinal extension of beam 24 and that of the intermediate element 26 are preferably larger than the length of the larger side of the working surface 14, relative whereto they protrude from both ends. The intermediate element 26 defines a cradle seat, arranged at the bottom relative to sheet 22.
The outer front, indicated with reference numeral 24' of beam 24, is slidingly coupled to a carriage 28, whereto arm 16 is connected; the latter extends crosswise and parallel above sheet 22 and extends yup to protrude from the opposite larger side of the structure forming the working surface 14. Carriage 28 that carries arm, 16 slides horizontally on conventional guides 30 constrained to the outer front 24' of beam 24 by the effect of an electrical motor 32. Arm 16 comprises a first vertical portion 16' of connection with the horizontal portion thereof, developed above sheet 22; said arm, for example with quadrangular section, comprises at least one face 34 that defines a plane oriented vertically relative to the working surface 14 and to the overlying sheet 22; along face 34 of arm 16 there are arranged linear guides 36, per se known, wherealong a cutting unit 18, equally known, is moved. The free end of arm 16, which protrudes on the front the operator has access to, is protected by a conventional transparent screen 40 or the like.
The length dimensions of the working surface 14, in particular of sheet 22 overlying it, are preferably comprised between 800 and 3500 mm; the width or depth ones are indicatively comprised between 500 and 1200 mm.
The table for blade cutting of the present invention further comprises programming, displaying and projection means of known type, schematised with reference numeral 42 in figures 1 and 2, correlated to the cutting unit 38, through which the patterns to be obtained by shearing of the material placed on sheet 22 are determined; the latter is advantageously provided with through holes suitably positioned, wherethrough air is sucked starting from a vacuum pump placed at the bottom or in contact with the structure forming the working surface 14. The back side of the table of the present invention, in the portion comprising beam 24 and the intermediate element 26, is also suitably protected by a screen 44; said intermediate element 26, according to its cradle shape, advantageously makes the suitable seat for seating the material to be sheared wound in a roll, that the operator can each time unwind.
On the opposite front side of the machine, the material the semi-finished parts are obtained from can be oriented downwards, since arm 16 does not rest in any point or zone as it is protecting.
The interpolation of the two horizontal and vertical axes managed electronically, the first defined by beam 24 wherealong arm 16 slides, the second defined by said arm wherealong the cutting unit 18 slides, allows all the necessary movements for the cutting unit itself for making rectilinear and mixed-linear shears.
The particular embodiment that envisages a single block and self-bearing structure for the working surface (14) also allows a modular use of the same; in fact, it is advantageously possible to constrain, along one of the respective smaller sides, two or more of said single block structures to one another, including the relevant beams (24) and any intermediate elements (26), for extending the length of the working surface (14) at low cost. Such constraint, which may be made by welds, bolts and/or other suitable means, does not require other substantial structural modifications of the cutting table, except for the extension of the base or the set up of suitable supports for the added portion of the working surface (14). The arm (16) is unchanged too, but its possibility of longitudinal movement increases as it takes place along two or more beams (24) aligned and constrained to each other. If the length of the working surface (14) is increased as desired, the installation of two or more arms (16) provided with as many cutting units (18) should be provided as well. Figures 6 and 7 schematically show views of as many possible alternative embodiments of the table for blade cutting of the present invention, referred to the connecting position of the arm carrying the cutting unit to the relevant sliding support.
In said figures, the same reference numerals of the embodiment described above are used for common parts or components.
According to the embodiment of figure 6, the structure that defines the working surface 14 and that comprises the intermediate element 26 forming the cradle seat is extended upwards, at the back end and adjacent to said cradle seat. Such extension is indicated with 48 and develops without interruption from the structure that forms the working surface 14; said extension, the height whereof is considerably shorter than the level of sheet 22 of synthetic material, defines a vertical wall 50 on the front facing the sheet itself, whereto beam 24 is fixed in a known manner. The rectilinear guides 30 wherealong carriage 28 carrying arm 16 slides, are constrained on the exposed front 24' of said beam 24.
According to the table of figure 7, which is not according to the invention, the structure that defines the working surface 14 and that comprises the intermediate element 26 forming the cradle seat is provided, adjacent said seat, with an extension 48' oriented upwards and of limited height, such as to align with or be slightly lower than the level of sheet 22.
The top end of such extension 48' forms a planar surface 52 whereto beam 24 is fixed in a known manner. As in the embodiments described above, the rectilinear guides 30 where along carriage 28 carrying arm 16 slides, are constrained to the top exposed front of said beam.
As can be noticed from the above, the advantages achieved by the invention are clear.
The table for blade cutting of the present invention allows shearing leather, hide and synthetic materials without the need of resorting to dinking dies, but using the technology of blade cutting with electronic mapping of the material and pattern projection; the whole correlated to a cutting unit with electronic management and handling but without the typical costs and overall dimensions of many cutting tables.
Particularly advantageous is the solution that provides for containing surface 14 and the beam for supporting and moving the projecting arm 16 carrying the cutting unit 18 in a single block and self-bearing structure, with optional interposition of the intermediate element 26. This innovative combination of parts makes the cutting table of the present invention very simple under the construction profile and in any case reliable and sturdy.
Even if the invention has been described with particular reference to an embodiment thereof, made by way of a non-limiting example, several changes and variations will appear clearly to a man skilled in the art in the light of the above description.

Claims

A table (10) for blade cutting of materials, especially suitable for shearing leather, hide and synthetic materials for obtaining, for example, semi-finished parts constituting parts of shoes, comprising a support base (12) for a working surface (14) with quadrangular plan whereon at least one cutting unit (18) works, carried by one or more arms (16), characterised in that the structure forming said working surface (14) consists of at least one self-bearing single block of metal or other suitable material that comprises a beam (24) supporting said arm, and in that said beam (24) is integrated in the self-bearing structure of the working surface (14) and develops in vertical direction along one of the larger sides of said structure, the exposed front (24') of said beam (24) being fixed to rectilinear guides (30) wherealong a carriage (28) that supports the arm (16) slides.
The table according to claim 1, characterised in that said structure constituting the working surface (14) is defined by sheets welded and/or bolted to one another, or it is made by casting, and is surmounted by an integral plate (20), in one or more parts, provided with a plurality of openings parallel to one another.
The cutting table according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that said sheets forming the structure defining the working surface (14) are oriented orthogonally to one another and are surmounted by a sheet (22), made of one or more parts, constituting the support surface of the material to be sheared.
The table according to claim 3, characterised in that the arm (16) comprises at least one face (34) with planar development, where along linear guides (36) are arranged for the sliding of the cutting unit (18).
The table according to claim 1, characterised in that the single block bearing structure constituting the working surface (14) comprises an intermediate element (26), that defines a cradle seat, arranged between the beam (24) and the surface itself.
The table according to claim 4, characterised in that the beam (24) protrudes from at least one front of the single block bearing structure forming the working surface (14).
The table according to claims 1, 5 and 6, characterised in that the structure constituting the working surface (14) and comprising the intermediate element (26) that defines the cradle seat is provided, at the back end and adjacent said seat, with an integral extension (48) oriented upwards that forms a vertical wall (50) whereto the beam (24) whereto the rectilinear guides (30) are constrained, is fixed.
The table according to claims 1, 3, 5 and 6, characterised in that the structure constituting the working surface (14) and comprising the intermediate element (26) that defines the cradle seat is provided, in a position adjacent said seat, with an extension oriented upwards and of equal or smaller height than the level of the sheet (22), the top end of said extension forming a planar surface (52) whereto the beam (24) carrying the rectilinear guides (30) is fixed.
The table according to claim 1, characterised in that the length size of the sheet (22) is comprised between 800 and 2500 mm and the width size of the same is comprised between 500 and 1200 mm.
The table according to claim 1, characterised in that the working surface (14) consists of two or more self-bearing single block structures, with beams (24) and optional intermediate elements (26), constrained to one another by welds or other suitable retaining means along one of the respective shorted sides and coupled with at least one arm (16) carrying the cutting unit (18).
The table according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises means (42) for programming, displaying and projecting the patterns to be sheared on the material.