EP4096885B1 - Modular element for suction cutting bed in an automatic machine for cutting sheet material - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a suction cutting support for an automatic cutting machine for sheet materials, in particular textile materials, using a vibrating blade penetrating into the cutting support. It concerns more precisely a modular element intended to form such a cutting support.

Prior art

One field of application of the invention is that of the automatic cutting of stacks or mats of sheets of materials, in particular textile materials, using a vibrating blade penetrating into a suction cutting support.

Typically, a vibrating blade cutting machine includes a cutting conveyor which serves to drive the stack of sheets during the cutting operation. This cutting conveyor is housed in a box inside which a strong depression is established in order to keep the sheets of material to be cut stationary during the cutting operation.

In this type of machine, the cutting conveyor also serves as a penetrating cutting support for the vibrating blade. It is in fact well known to make the cutting support penetrable by the blade so that during the cutting operation, the blade can not only completely pass through the material to be cut, but also extend downward beyond the support surface and in the bed of material providing such a surface.

To do this, the cutting support is generally made up of an assembly of blocks driven by a belt. More precisely, each block comprises a plurality of bristles mounted on a sole in several parallel rows, each bristle having a head forming the support for the sheet material to be cut. Transverse channels are made through the sole to allow the passage of suction air. These blocks thus make it possible to support the material to be cut under suction while being able to be penetrated by the cutting blade.

Cutting support blocks are most often obtained by molding plastic material. Molding makes it possible to obtain a paving stone in one piece with the sole and all of its bristles. To ensure the unmolding of such a part, it is necessary that the bristles, which generally have a conical or cylindrical shape, have a head diameter smaller than the base diameter. We can in particular refer to the document US 4,205,835 which describes an exemplary embodiment of such a cutting support block.

However, the tip of the cutting blades being beveled, the interference between the blade and the hairs is favored by the conicity of the hairs associated with their flexibility, which can result in partial or total cuts of hairs. The height position of this cut is directly linked to the conicity of the hairs and the blade or the position of the blade in relation to the generator of the hairs encountered by the blade.

Furthermore, the need to have bristles whose foot has a larger diameter than the head has the disadvantage of limiting the space on the sole to make the passage channels for the suction air, which reduces as much as the suction capacity of the cutting support.

The document US 2003/019342 A1 discloses a modular suction cutting support element of an automatic blade cutting machine for sheet materials, comprising a plurality of bristles arranged in the same and single line, at least certain bristles each having a foot secured to a sole intended to be mounted on a support, an end opposite the foot on which is intended to rest a sheet material to be cut, and a rod connecting the head to the foot, the sole comprising, at each of its lateral faces, a plurality transverse channels for the passage of suction air communicating an upper face of the sole from which the bristles extend with an inner face opposite the upper face.

Presentation of the invention The invention therefore aims to propose a cutting support which does not present the aforementioned drawbacks.

In accordance with the invention, this goal is achieved thanks to a modular suction cutting support element of an automatic blade cutting machine for sheet materials, comprising a plurality of bristles arranged along the same and single line, at least certain hairs each having a foot attached to a sole intended to be mounted on a support, a head opposite the foot on which is intended to rest a sheet material to be cut, and a rod connecting the head to the foot and the largest straight section of which is strictly included in the largest straight section of the head, the sole comprising, at each of its lateral faces, a plurality of transverse channels for the passage of suction air causing an upper face of the sole from which the bristles extend to communicate with an inner face opposite the upper face.

By “straight section” here we mean a section made perpendicular to the axis of the hair. Furthermore, by “strictly included” we mean here that all the points of the largest straight section of the shaft of each hair are included (or encompassed) in the largest straight section of the head of the hair but that at least a point of the largest cross section of the head is not included in the largest cross section of the rod. For example, when the head and the shaft of the hair each have a circular cross section, this condition is equivalent to the cross section of the head having a diameter strictly greater than that of the shaft.

The invention is remarkable in that it makes it possible to produce cutting supports by mounting a plurality of modular elements on at least one support. As each modular element comprises bristles arranged along the same and single line, it is possible to give at least certain bristles a head having a straight section encompassing a straight section of the rod, while retaining the ability to manufacture these modular elements by molded in one piece with their sole and their hairs. Such a geometric shape of the bristles has the advantage of limiting interactions between the tip of the cutting blade and the tangent bristles.

In addition, the support surface offered by these modular elements is better due to the fact that the head of the bristles has a larger cross section than that of the rods. In addition, by reducing the cross section of the rods and feet of the bristles, it is easier to increase the diameter of the transverse channels for the passage of suction air, and thus to improve the air porosity of the sole in order to maintain maximum suction and limit pressure losses.

Another advantage linked to the production of cutting supports by mounting a plurality of modular elements according to the invention lies in the possibility of being able to offer cutting supports differentiated by cutting blade, professions, etc.

Preferably, the sole further comprises, at each of its lateral faces, at least one longitudinal channel extending between the ends longitudinal of the sole and communicating with the transverse channels in order to distribute the suction air evenly in the transverse channels. This characteristic makes it possible to make the suction of the modular element more homogeneous over the entire surface of the sole.

Also preferably, the sole further comprises, at each of its lateral faces, at least one mechanical assembly member with another modular element.

In this case, each mechanical assembly member may comprise at least one lug projecting relative to a side face of the sole and intended to fit into a corresponding recess of an assembly member of a modular element adjacent, and a recess set back from the side face of the sole and intended to receive by nesting a corresponding lug of the assembly member of the adjacent modular element.

At least some hairs may include a head having a truncated cone shape and a shaft having a cylindrical shape. In this case, the head of these hairs may have the shape of a truncated cone having a circular cross section on the inner side which is greater than that on the outer side. Alternatively, the head of these hairs may have the shape of an inverted truncated cone having a circular cross section on the exterior side which is greater than that on the interior side.

Alternatively, at least certain hairs may have a rod and a head having a straight section of polygonal shape, for example a rod of straight section of hexagonal shape and a head of straight section of octagonal shape.

The sole may further comprise a fastener at each longitudinal end for assembling the modular element on a support, and two fingers projecting inwards and acting as centralizers on the support.

The transverse channels can have a cross section of semi-circular shape so as to form transverse passages of cylindrical shape when another modular element is mounted against said element.

The bristles of the same modular element can be arranged in a straight line forming a single row of bristles. Alternatively, the bristles can be arranged in a broken line forming two parallel rows of bristles.

The modular element may comprise at least two bristles whose respective heads have different shapes.

The invention also relates to a suction cutting support for an automatic cutting machine for sheet materials comprising a plurality of modular elements as defined above and mounted on at least one support.

The modular elements can be mounted on the support so as to obtain an orderly alignment of the bristles. Alternatively, modular elements can be mounted on the support so as to obtain a staggered alignment of the bristles. Still alternatively, certain modular elements are mounted on the support so as to obtain an orderly alignment of the bristles and certain other modular elements are mounted on the same support so as to obtain a staggered alignment of the bristles.

Preferably, the distance between two adjacent hairs is greater than the largest dimension of the cross section of the hair shaft. This characteristic prevents a cut hair coming from the bottom of the paving stone from separating the surrounding hairs.

Brief description of the drawings

• [ Fig. 1 ] There figure 1 is a perspective view of a cutting support block according to one embodiment of the invention (so-called “ordered” configuration).
• [ Fig. 2 ] There figure 2 is a perspective view of a modular element for obtaining the cutting support of the figure 1 .
• [ Fig. 3 ] There Figure 3 is a front view of the modular element of the figure 2 .
• [ Fig. 4 ] There Figure 4 is a side view of the modular element of the figure 2 .
• [ Fig. 5 ] There Figure 5 is a perspective view of a cutting support block according to another embodiment of the invention (so-called “staggered” configuration).
• [ Fig. 6 ] There Figure 6 is a partial top view of the cutting support pad of the figure 5 .
• [ Fig. 7 ] There Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modular element for obtaining the cutting support block of the figure 5 .
• [ Fig. 8 ] There figure 8 is a view of a modular element hair head according to an alternative embodiment.
• [ Fig. 9 ] There Figure 9 is a perspective view of a modular element according to yet another alternative embodiment of the invention.
• [ Fig. 10A ] There Figure 10A shows a variant of arrangement of the bristles of the same modular element according to the invention.
• [ Fig. 10B ] There Figure 10B shows another variant of arrangement of the bristles of the same modular element according to the invention.
• [ Fig. 11 ] There Figure 11 is a perspective view of a modular element according to the invention without a mechanical assembly member.
• [ Fig. 12 ] There Figure 12 is a partial view of a modular element according to yet another alternative embodiment of the invention.

Description of embodiments

The conveyor of a vibrating blade cutting machine allows the material to be cut to be carried during the cutting operation. The upper part of the conveyor serves as a cutting support and the lower part is generally housed in a box inside which a strong depression is established in order to keep the material to be cut stationary during the cutting operation.

The actual cutting support may typically consist of an assembly of a plurality of blocks mounted on a drive belt such as the cutting support block 2 shown on the figure 1 .

This cutting support block 2 consists of the assembly between them of a plurality of modular elements 4 (for example eleven in number in the embodiment represented by the figure 1 ). The modular elements are assembled together by interlocking their respective side faces as described below.

As shown more precisely on the figure 2 And 3 , each modular element 4 according to the invention comprises a plurality of bristles 6 which are aligned in the same and single row of bristles.

These bristles 6 each have a foot 8 which is secured to a sole 10 common to all of the bristles, a head 12 which is opposite the foot and which is intended to serve as a cutting support, and a rod 9 which connects the foot to head.

Furthermore, each hair 6 has the particularity of having a head 12 whose largest straight section (that is to say the largest section made perpendicular to the main axis of the hair) encompasses the largest straight section of its stem 9. In other words, the largest cross section of the head is strictly larger than the largest cross section of stem 9 (i.e. it surrounds it while being larger).

For example, as shown in the Figure 4 , when the head 12 and the rod 9 of the hair each have a straight section of circular shape, the largest straight section of the head has a diameter D which is strictly greater than the largest diameter d of the straight section of the rod.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the head 12 of each hair has the shape of an inverted truncated cone having a circular cross section on the outer side which is greater than that on the inner side (i.e. the large base B of the truncated cone is arranged towards the outside of the modular element and the small base b of the truncated cone is turned towards the inside).

Of course, the invention is not limited to these particular geometric shapes for the hair, its head and its foot. For example, it is possible to imagine that the foot has the shape of a truncated cone or pyramid with a polygonal base and the head has a straight section other than circular (square, hexagonal, etc.).

In order to allow the mechanical assembly of several modular elements 4 between them, the sole 10 of each of them can comprise, at each of its two lateral faces 10a, 10b, at least one mechanical assembly member 13 with another modular element.

For example, each of the lateral faces 10a, 10b of the sole of a modular element can be provided with four mechanical assembly members spaced from each other, namely: an end assembly member 13a at each of its longitudinal ends 10c, 10d and two central assembly members 13b positioned between its longitudinal ends.

Still by way of non-limiting example, the assembly members 13 of the two side faces of a modular element can be aligned opposite each other.

As shown more precisely in the example of the Figure 3 , the mechanical assembly members 13 can each comprise at least one lug 14 which projects relative to the side face of the sole and a recess 16 set back relative to the side face of the sole, the lug and the recess being for example positioned transversely one above the other.

During the mechanical assembly of two modular elements together, the lugs 14 of the mechanical assembly members of one of the modular elements fit inside the recesses 16 of the mechanical assembly members of the other modular element (and vice versa) with support that can be ensured by glue or by clipping for example. The assembly of several modular elements together ensures continuity of the upper face of the sole.

Alternatively, the modular elements could simply be positioned next to each other on a paving stone or directly on a support and held together by a suitable mechanism.

Still according to the invention, the two lateral faces 10a, 10b of the sole 10 of the modular element each comprise a plurality of transverse channels 18 which communicate the exterior face of the sole (that is to say the face to from which the hairs extend) with its interior face (that is to say the face opposite to the exterior face).

These transverse channels 18 which are advantageously regularly distributed over the entire length of the sole make it possible to give porosity to the sole by allowing the suction air to pass through the sole.

For example, the transverse channels 18 can each have a cross section of semi-circular shape so as to form transverse passages of cylindrical shape when two modular elements are mounted against each other.

Of course, it is possible to envisage a different shape for the straight section of the transverse channels, for example an elliptical, polygonal or other shape.

According to an advantageous arrangement, the sole 10 of the modular element further comprises, at each of its two lateral faces 10a, 10b, a longitudinal channel 20 which extends between its two longitudinal ends 10c, 10d and which communicates with the transverse channels 18 in order to distribute the suction air evenly in the latter.

For example, the longitudinal channel 20 may have a cross section of semi-circular shape so as to form a longitudinal passage of cylindrical shape when two modular elements are mounted against each other.

Of course, it is possible to envisage a different shape for the straight section of the longitudinal channel, for example an elliptical, polygonal or other shape.

According to another advantageous arrangement, the sole 10 of the modular element further comprises at least one hook-shaped fastener 22 at each of its longitudinal ends 10c, 10d, and two fingers 24 projecting towards the inside of the sole.

The hook-shaped fasteners 22 make it possible to mount the cutting support block formed by the assembly of several modular elements on a support (not shown) intended to be mounted directly on the drive belt of the cutting conveyor. As for the fingers 24, they play the role of centerers on the support.

Of course, it is possible to consider other forms of attachments to allow the modular elements to be mounted on a paving stone or directly on a cutting support. For example, these fasteners could have a T shape.

In the embodiment of figures 1 to 4 , the modular elements are assembled within the same block so as to obtain an ordered alignment of the blocks bristles, that is to say that the bristles 6 within the same block 2 are aligned in the longitudinal and transverse directions.

In another embodiment represented by the figures 5 to 7 , at least some of the modular elements of the same block can be assembled so as to obtain a staggered alignment of the bristles.

Thus, in block 2' represented on the figures 5 And 6 , the modular elements 4-1 to 4-4 are assembled so as to obtain an ordered alignment of the bristles, while the modular elements 4'-1 to 4'-4 are assembled so as to obtain a staggered alignment of the bristles. Of course, other configurations are possible depending on needs by mixing the two types of modular elements.

There Figure 7 represents in detail and in perspective a modular element 4' making it possible to obtain a staggered assembly of the bristles within the same support block.

In relation to the method of carrying out the figures 1 to 4 , this modular element 4' is distinguished by the shape of the transverse channels 18' for the passage of suction air between the interior face and the exterior face of the sole 10.

Indeed, in this embodiment, the transverse channels 18' of the modular element 4' each have a straight section in the shape of a double semi-circle so as to form transverse passages 26 in the shape of a bean when another element modular is assembled on said element (see the Figure 6 ).

Furthermore, a longitudinal channel 20' extending between the longitudinal ends of the sole communicates with the transverse channels 18' in order to distribute the suction air evenly in the latter.

There figure 8 represents a hair head of a modular element according to a variant embodiment, this hair shape being able to be applied equally well to the modular elements of the embodiment of the figures 1 to 4 than those of the mode of realization of the figures 5 to 7 .

In this variant embodiment, the head 12' of the bristles 6' has the shape of a truncated cone having a circular cross section on the inner side which is greater than that on the outer side (ie the small base b ' of the truncated cone is arranged towards the exterior of the modular element and the large base B 'of the truncated cone is turned inwards).

In this variant embodiment, the head 12' also has a circular cross section, the largest cross section of which (that is to say at the level of the large base B ') has a diameter D' which is strictly greater than the largest large diameter of the circular straight section of the hair shaft 9'.

Furthermore, whatever the alternative embodiment of the bristles of the modular elements 4, 4', the rod 9, 9' of each bristle 6, 6' can have a cylindrical shape between its head 12, 12' and its foot 8, 8'. Of course, any other shape is also possible (for example with a square, polygonal cross section, etc.).

Thus, the Figure 9 represents yet another alternative embodiment of a modular cutting support element 4" in which the rod 9" of the bristles 6" has a straight section of hexagonal shape between the head 12" and the foot 8". Furthermore, in this alternative embodiment, the 12" head has a straight section of octagonal shape.

Such a general shape of the bristles 6, 6', 6" and the production of modular elements comprising single rows of bristles makes it possible to manufacture the latter by molding in a single piece. In particular, such a configuration makes it possible to overcome the hair shape constraints required for demoulding.

Of course, it is possible to consider another method of manufacturing modular elements, for example by additive manufacturing or any other industrial manufacturing process.

It will also be noted that all the hairs of the same modular element do not necessarily have a head whose cross section includes the largest cross section of the rod. It is in fact possible to envisage that only certain bristles of the same modular element have such a characteristic, the other bristles of the modular element having a head of straight section identical to that of their stem.

Furthermore, the figures 10A And 10B show two possible arrangements for the bristles 6, 6', 6" of the same modular element 4, 4'.

On the example of arrangement of the Figure 10A , the bristles of the same modular element are arranged along a straight line L1 forming a single row of bristles. In other words, the respective longitudinal axes of the hairs are all aligned on the same straight line L1.

Alternatively, on the example of carrying out the Figure 10B , the bristles of the same modular element can be arranged along a broken (or sawtooth) line L2 so as to form two rows of bristles R1, R2 which are parallel.

Whatever the alternative embodiment, it will be noted that the modular element can be manufactured by molding in a single piece.

Likewise, as shown in the Figure 11 , the modular element 4 according to the invention can be devoid of mechanical assembly member. In this case, the modular elements of the same support are simply positioned against each other on the same support and held together by an appropriate mechanism.

There Figure 12 illustrates, partially, yet another alternative embodiment of a modular cutting support element 4"' in which the heads of the bristles have different shapes.

Thus, on the example of carrying out the Figure 12 , the modular element comprises an alternation of bristles 6a whose respective head 12a has a truncated cone shape whose large base faces outwards and bristles 6b whose respective head 12b has a truncated cone shape whose the large base faces inwards.

Such a “head-to-tail” alternation of the hair heads has the advantage of increasing the apparent density of the hairs, which makes it possible to increase the hold of the fabric.

Of course, it is possible to consider any other possible configuration (with several different shapes of bristle heads) depending on needs. Likewise, this alternative embodiment can be associated with the other alternative embodiments previously described.

Claims (20)

1. A modular element (4; 4'; 4"; 4"') of a cutting support (2; 2') with suction in a machine for automatic cutting of sheet material by means of blades, comprising a plurality of bristles (6; 6'; 6"; 6a-6b) arranged in the same single line (L1; L2), at least some bristles each having a base (8; 8'; 8") rigidly connected to a bearing plate (10) intended to be mounted on a support, a head (12; 12'; 12"; 12a-12b) opposite the base on which a sheet material to be cut is intended to rest, and a stem (9; 9'; 9") connecting the head to the base, the largest cross-section of which is strictly included in the largest cross-section of the head, the bearing plate comprising, on each of its side surfaces (10a, 10b), a plurality of transverse channels (18; 18') for the passage of suction air providing communication between an upper surface of the bearing plate from which the bristles extend and an inner surface opposite the upper surface.
2. The modular element according to claim 1, wherein the bearing plate (10) further comprises, at each of its side surfaces (10a, 10b), at least one longitudinal channel (20; 20') extending between the longitudinal ends (10c, 10d) of the bearing plate and communicating with the transverse channels (18; 18') in order to uniformly distribute suction air in said transverse channels.
3. The modular element according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the bearing plate further comprises, at each of its side surfaces, at least one member (13) for mechanical assembly with another modular element.
4. The modular element according to claim 3, wherein each assembly member (13) comprises at least one lug (14) protruding with respect to a side surface (10a, 10b) of the bearing plate and intended to interlock into a corresponding recess of an assembly member of an adjacent modular element, and a recess (16) set back with respect to the side surface of the bearing plate and intended to receive, by interlocking, a corresponding lug of the assembly member of the adjacent modular element.
5. The modular element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least some bristles (6; 6') comprise a head (12; 12') having a conical frustum shape and a stem (9; 9') having a cylindrical shape.
6. The modular element according to claim 5, wherein the head (12') of each bristle (6') has a conical frustum shape having a circular cross-section on the inner side which is greater than that on the outer side.
7. The modular element according to claim 5, wherein the head (12) of each bristle (6) has a reversed conical frustum shape having a circular cross-section on the outer side which is greater than that on the inner side.
8. The modular element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least some bristles (6") have a stem (9") and a head (12") with a polygonal cross-section.
9. The modular element according to claim 8, wherein the stem (9") of the bristles has a hexagonal cross-section and the head (12") of said bristles has an octagonal cross-section.
10. The modular element according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the bearing plate (10) further comprises an attachment (22) at each longitudinal end for assembling the modular element on a support and two fingers (24) projecting inwards and acting as centring elements on the support.
11. The modular element according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the transverse channels (18) have a semicircular cross-section so as to form cylindrical transverse passages when another modular element is mounted against said element.
12. The modular element according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said element is obtained by moulding.
13. The modular element according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the bristles (6; 6'; 6") are arranged in a straight line (L1) forming a single row of bristles.
14. The modular element according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the bristles (6; 6'; 6") are arranged in a broken line (L2) forming two parallel rows (R1, R2) of bristles.
15. The modular element (4‴) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising at least two bristles (6a, 6b) for which the respective heads (12a, 12b) have different shapes.
16. A cutting support (2; 2') with suction in a machine for automatic cutting of sheet material comprising a plurality of modular elements (4; 4') according to any one of claims 1 to 15 mounted on at least one support.
17. The cutting support (2) according to claim 16, wherein the modular elements (4) are mounted on the support so as to obtain an ordered alignment of the bristles.
18. The cutting support (2) according to claim 16, wherein the modular elements (4') are mounted on the support so as to obtain a staggered alignment of the bristles.
19. The cutting support according to claim 16, wherein some modular elements are mounted on the support so as to obtain an ordered alignment of the bristles and some other modular elements are mounted on the same support so as to obtain a staggered alignment of the bristles.
20. The cutting support according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the distance between two adjacent bristles is greater than the largest dimension of the cross-section of the stem of the bristles.

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