Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
  • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
  • B26D7/00—Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
  • B26D7/22—Safety devices specially adapted for cutting machines
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
  • B26F—PERFORATING; PUNCHING; CUTTING-OUT; STAMPING-OUT; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING
  • B26F1/00—Perforating; Punching; Cutting-out; Stamping-out; Apparatus therefor
  • B26F1/38—Cutting-out; Stamping-out
  • B26F1/3806—Cutting-out; Stamping-out wherein relative movements of tool head and work during cutting have a component tangential to the work surface
  • B26F1/3813—Cutting-out; Stamping-out wherein relative movements of tool head and work during cutting have a component tangential to the work surface wherein the tool head is moved in a plane parallel to the work in a coordinate system fixed with respect to the work

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a cutting machine, for instance for cutting hides, leather, synthetic materials and the like, and the following description is made with reference to this application field with the only purpose of simplifying the exposition thereof.
• the material to be cut being for instance hide, a fabric, a non-woven fabric, a synthetic material and the like.
• the types of sheet material to be cut are indeed the most varied, even in the same technical field.
• the clothing, accessory and footwear industries all use for instance multiple materials such as hide, non-woven fabrics, synthetic materials. These materials, while having evident differences in their manufacture and consistency, nevertheless have the common denominator of being in sheets and of being subjected to cutting operations.
• machines equipped with a conveyor belt capable of moving the sheet to be cut inside a cutting chamber, which is generally closed at the top and laterally on at least two sides, said cutting chamber being equipped with at least one movable cutting unit for cutting the sheet, whereas the cut portions are conveyed by the conveyor belt out of the cutting chamber towards an unloading area.
• the aforementioned machines are very flexible and easily allow cutting samples and small productions of hides, synthetic materials and fabrics of all kinds.
• a first problem of the above machines is linked to the arrangement of the material to be cut on the worktable, said material generally having dimensions that are greater than the worktable, so that there is always exceeding material that initially cannot be arranged on said worktable.
• the overall dimensions of the guides and of the carriages for moving the arm do not allow an easy arrangement of the exceeding material.
• only one guide system is used, which supports the arm at the second major side of the worktable that is opposite the first side at which the operator acts; however, in this solution there is the need to create, at said second side, a cradle that forms the suitable seat for receiving the material to be cut that is wound in a roll, which the operator may unwind from time to time.
• the technical problem of the present invention is to provide a cutting machine having structural and functional features so as to allow overcoming the above-mentioned limitations and drawbacks which still affect the known solutions, in particular capable of offering an increased safety for the operator.
• the solution idea at the basis of the present invention is to make a cutting machine equipped with a protective screen close to the ends of the movable arm, said screen being shaped so as to avoid the operator’s direct contact with the cutting units.
• the protective screen is capable of translating integrally with the arm and is tilting with respect thereto, so that, when it hits against an obstacle, in particular when its lower portion that is farthest from the arm hits an obstacle, it may rotate about the hinging axis, thus absorbing the collision and allowing a control unit to stop the operation of the machine on time and in total safety.
• a collision against the upper end of the screen, i.e. closer to the hinging point is instead absorbed by an additional protection element that is for instance hinged at the lower end of the screen and is capable of performing a pivoting movement towards the edge of the screen, also said movement activating the safety stop.
• the machine of the present invention is also equipped with other safety systems, such as photocells, making the cutting machine herein described extremely safe.
• a machine for cutting sheet material comprising a worktable adapted to provide a support plane for a sheet of material to be cut, at least one cutting unit adapted to cut the sheet arranged on the worktable, at least one arm that is arranged at least partially above the worktable and is adapted to support the cutting unit, supporting means of the arm, which is supported so as to be movable along a sliding direction, and at least one protective screen connected to a support, in particular connected to the arm at an end portion of said arm, said protective screen being adapted to translate in the sliding direction due to the movement of the arm, the machine being characterized in that the protective screen is hinged to its support structure (i.e., preferably, to the arm) at a hinging point, so as to be tilting with respect to the arm, said protective screen being adapted to perform an at least partial rotation with respect to said hinging point, in particular when it hits an obstacle along the sliding direction.
• the protective screen is hinged to its support structure (i.e., preferably, to the arm) at a hinging
• the invention comprises the following additional and optional features, taken individually or in combination if needed.
• the machine may comprise a control unit configured to stop the movement of the arm based on the rotational movement of the protective screen.
• the protective screen may have a body configured to cover at least partially the cutting unit, at least when it is observed from a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the sliding direction.
• the protective screen may be directly connected to the arm.
• Other embodiments in which said screen is connected to the arm through a support are also possible, even if it is preferable to connect said screen directly to the arm.
• the protective screen may be arranged at an end of the arm.
• the end of the arm may comprise a connection projecting portion which the protective screen is hinged to.
• the machine of the present invention may preferably comprise two protective screens arranged at opposite sides of the worktable, i.e. opposite along a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the sliding direction.
• the machine of the present invention may comprise at last one pair of arrays of photocells configured to move integrally with the arm, said photocells being arranged at least along a vertical direction that is substantially orthogonal to the worktable and being configured to detect the presence of an object therebetween.
• At least one of the arrays of photocells may be arranged on the protective screen and may be adapted to move integrally with the protective screen.
• control unit may be configured to stop the operation of the machine when there is no alignment between opposite arrays of photocells due to the rotation of the protective screen about the hinging point, for instance as a consequence of the collision with an operator.
• the machine may comprise a sensor that is operatively connected to the control unit and configured to detect the rotation of the protective screen, wherein the control unit is configured to stop the operation of the machine when the sensor detects the rotation of the protective screen.
• the machine may comprise an additional protection element connected to the protective screen, the additional protection element having a body connected to said protective screen and being configured to perform a relative movement towards/ away from the protective screen.
• the additional protection element Preferably, there is at least one free end of said additional protection element that is capable of performing a pivoting movement.
• the body of the additional protection element may be hinged to the protective screen and configured to perform a pivoting movement towards/ away from said protective screen.
• the additional protection element may be translating with respect to the protective screen.
• the body of the additional protection element may be configured so as to extend along an edge side portion of the protective screen, in particular an edge portion extending (in the rest position) in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the sliding direction, the protective screen and the additional protection element being connected to each other and configured so that the rotational movement of one of the protective screen and the additional protection element is triggered based on the position in which a collision occurs.
• the additional protection elements are arranged along the sides of the protective screen that are opposite with respect to the sliding direction.
• the arrays of photocells may be arranged on additional protection elements that are connected to screens opposite along the longitudinal axis of the arm and are adapted to move integrally with said additional protection elements, the control unit being configured to stop the operation of the machine when there is no alignment between the opposite arrays of photocells due to the relative movement of one of the additional protection elements with respect to the screen (for instance a rotation about the hinging point), for instance due to a collision with an operator.
• the machine may comprise a protection elastomeric element configured to cover, at least partially, the arm.
• the protective screen may be connected to the arm through a pin element that is housed in a suitable seat at said arm.
• the support means of the arm may be in the form of a crosspiece support structure that is kept hanging over the worktable by at least one support upright that extends from the worktable, the worktable may be a fixed plane and free of encumbrances along at least two parallel sides of greater extension, and the arm may be cantilevered supported on the worktable through said crosspiece.
• FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a cutting machine according to the present invention
• FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the cutting machine according to the present invention
• FIG. 3 shows a detail of the cutting machine of the present invention, in particular a detail the safety elements thereof;
• FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the cutting machine according to the present invention, with highlighted the optical light signals of the photocells associated therewith;
• FIG. 5A-5B show a front protective screen of the safety system of the present invention in two different rotation configurations
• FIG. 6A-6B show a rear protective screen of the safety system of the present invention in two different rotation configurations
• FIG. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of the cutting machine according to the present invention, with the protective screen in a rotated configuration due to a collision with an operator;
• FIG. 8A-8B show the protective screen of the present invention connected to an additional protection element that performs a pivoting movement
• FIG. 9 shows a top view of a portion of the machine according to the present invention, with the protective screen visible;
• FIG. 10 shows sectional details of the protective screen and of the connections thereof to an arm of the machine according to the present invention.
• a cutting machine according to the present invention is globally and schematically indicated with the reference number 1.
• two orthogonal directions corresponding to orthogonal movements of a cutting unit of the machine 1 are identified by way of example: a Y direction and a X direction.
• the X direction is also indicated as sliding direction of an arm of the machine 1.
• the machine 1 is adapted to process, and in particular is adapted to automatically cut, hides, leather, synthetic materials and the like. Still more particularly, the machine 1 is adapted to automatically cut sheets of foldable or flexible material, for instance fabrics for clothing and hide goods, footwear items, automotive and furnishing articles, or non-woven fabrics, hides, synthetic materials and the like.
• sheet indicates any element of any shape and material, having a substantially two- dimensional size and a certain thickness (generally reduced), which is to be cut through the machine 1.
• the machine 1 is a numerical control machine comprising a control unit C, for instance including suitable memory units, suitably programmed and arranged for the management and automatic control thereof.
• the control unit C may be for instance a computerized unit that is integrated in or external to the machine 1 and operatively connected thereto. Furthermore, the control unit may be a single control unit or may comprise a plurality of local units. The control unit C is thus capable of controlling the machine 1 to obtain the automated cutting of sheet material.
• the machine 1 of the present invention is a so-called cutting bench and comprises a worktable 2 adapted to provide a support plane or work surface a for a sheet of material to be cut.
• the worktable 2 preferably has a quadrangular plan (still more preferably substantially rectangular) and at least one cutting unit or cutting head 3 carried by at least one arm or crosspiece 4 acts thereon.
• the worktable 2 is a fixed plane, even if, in other embodiments, said worktable may be equipped with a conveyor belt (not illustrated in the figures) for moving the material arranged thereon.
• the Y direction (transversal direction of the worktable) is parallel to its minor sides and the X direction is parallel to its major sides.
• the X direction is also called sliding direction of the arm 4, which therefore, in an embodiment of the present invention, slides along the major sides of the worktable 2.
• the arm 4 does not prevents the arm 4 from sliding along the minor sides of the worktable 2, and therefore the sliding direction from being the Y direction, the present invention not being limited by a particular sliding direction of the arm 4.
• worktable 2 indicates the structure supporting the sheet of material to be cut, said worktable being provided with at least two opposite sides of greater extension and with at least two opposite sides of minor extension (preferably rectangular or at least defining a rectangular work surface), and being a plane having a certain thickness, the term side thus indicating a side edge portion of the worktable.
• the machine 1 is equipped with a base 5, for instance box-shaped, which is the support for the worktable 2 and possibly encloses mechanical and electronic elements to assist the operation of the machine 1.
• the machine 1 comprises at least one cutting unit 3 specifically arranged for cutting the sheet arranged on the worktable 2, said cutting unit 3 not being limited to a particular type.
• the cutting may occur through blade, laser, water jet, milling cutter or in any other suitable way, preferably through a blade.
• the machine 1 comprises a single cutting unit 3, even if the present invention is not limited thereto, and the number of the cutting units may vary according to the needs and/or circumstances.
• the machine 1 comprises at least one arm 4 that is at least partially arranged above (on the top of) the worktable 2 and is adapted to support the cutting unit 3, which is movable on said arm 4, in particular sliding along the longitudinal axis of said arm 4, said longitudinal axis being parallel to the Y axis of figures 1 and 2.
• the movement of the cutting unit 3 is allowed thanks to the presence of a carriage 6, which is translatable along the longitudinal extension of the arm 4, i.e. along the Y axis, by means of first guides G1 arranged on a face of said arm 4, for instance arranged on a lower face thereof facing the worktable 2.
• the cutting unit 3 is supported by the carriage 6, which acts as a support shelf for said cutting unit 3.
• the movement system of the cutting unit 3 comprises the arm 4 and the carriage 6, which define a kinematic structure for moving said cutting unit 3.
• the carriage 6 is preferably mounted below the arm 4 (which is why it is also referred to as “lower carriage”, although other configurations are possible) and is translatable with respect thereto along the Y direction.
• the arm 4 has a substantially parallelepiped shape with prevalent extension along the Y direction. As above indicated, it comprises the first guides G1 that are adapted to allow the relative movement of the carriage 6 that is mounted on sliding blocks 7.
• the first guides G1 are two (even if the present invention is not limited thereto) and two sliding blocks 7 aligned to each other are inserted on the guides. The movements are obtained through a recirculating ball screw/ nut screw system.
• Power and signal cables connecting the various elements of the kinematic structure are also provided, said cables being housed in a drag chain 8 that runs parallel to the arm 4 and forms, at the two opposite ends, a loop, as visible for instance in figure 2.
• support means 9 adapted to support the arm 4 over the worktable 2 are provided.
• the arm 4 is cantilevered supported on the worktable 2 by means of the support means 9 and is movable along the sliding direction X.
• the support means 9 of the arm 4 are in the form of a crosspiece (or lintel) support structure, still indicated with the reference number 9, which is kept hanging over the worktable 2 by at least one support element or upright 9a.
• the support upright 9a extends vertically from the worktable 2, in particular at an edge peripheral portion of said worktable 2.
• the support upright 9a is arranged at one of the minor sides of the worktable 2, as it will be described in detail below.
• the crosspiece 9 is an extruded aluminum, even if other configurations are obviously possible and are within the scope of the present invention.
• the support uprights 9a allow the support crosspiece 9 to remain hanging over the worktable 2 and connect it to said worktable 2.
• the shape of the uprights 9a represented with a vertical axis and projecting from the worktable 2, as well as the specific shape of the crosspiece 9, is only indicative and other suitable shapes may be used.
• the worktable 2 is substantially rectangular- shaped (or at least defines a work area having two major sides and two minor sides) and the support uprights 9a are arranged at the minor sides of said worktable, so that the two major sides are totally free of encumbrances, i.e. no component for the support of the arm 4 is arranged at said sides, which are the sides which the exceeding material is projected from, said material being subsequently dragged onto the worktable 2.
• the support uprights 9a thus allow keeping the crosspiece 9 hanging over the worktable 2, so that it is possible to form thereon the guides that allow the connection and the support of the arm 4, which is cantilever supported. In this way, it is no longer necessary to support the arm 4 by means of guides integrated on the worktable 2 (in particular arranged at the major sides of the table, as instead occurs in the known solutions). Thanks to this hanging-crosspiece configuration, the worktable 2 is thus free of encumbrances along at least two parallel sides, in particular along the major sides thereof, which the exceeding material to be cut may freely project from, without the need to use the expedients described in connection to the prior art, such as for instance the formation of housing cradles.
• the structure of the machine 1 has many advantages, in particular for rectangular worktables, due to the fact that the major sides are totally free of encumbrances, so that the exceeding material may freely hang from said sides and can be easily dragged onto the plane when it is to be cut. It is further noted that said sides free of encumbrances are the sides at which the operator acts, greatly simplifying the latter’s work. Furthermore, thanks to the presence of the hanging crosspiece 9, the operator may easily work on both free sides of the table.
• the support uprights 9a are arranged closer to one end of the minor sides (i.e. the rear end according to the local reference system of the figures) with respect to the opposite end, so as to leave the major side connected to said opposite end even more free of encumbrances.
• the support uprights 9a are moved more towards one of the two ends of the minor sides (without necessarily reaching this end), which is advantageous in case the crosspiece 9 also supports other components, such as for instance display screens and projectors, as it will be described below, leaving in this way more space for the operator.
• the arm 4 is constrained to a carriage 10 that is sliding along at least one guide, preferably two guides (not illustrated in the figures), formed on the crosspiece 9, said guides allowing the sliding in the sliding direction X of the carriage 10 and thus of the arm 4 constrained thereto.
• the arm 4 is thus connected to the support means 9 through the carriage 10, which allows the movement of the arm 4 in the X direction.
• the carriage 10 as well comprises sliding blocks 11 and is associated with the guide through said sliding blocks.
• sliding blocks 11 aligned to each other are inserted on the guides.
• the carriage 10 is arranged below the crosspiece 9, i.e. it is constrained to a face thereof facing the worktable 2 and thus is arranged between said crosspiece 9 and the arm 4.
• the carriages 6 and 10 are moved through suitable means controlled by the control unit C.
• the management of the apparatus 1 by the user may occur, for instance, through a control panel 12, equipped with screen and buttons, arranged for instance at the periphery of the worktable and operatively connected to the control unit C.
• the machine 1 in particular the worktable 2, is ideally divided into two work areas.
• the operator may collect material portions already cut, said areas being alternated during the operation of the machine 1. It is thus possible to work in time masking, i.e. cutting and unloading take place in masked time, with greater efficiency and productivity; machines of this type are also called “commuters”.
• This operation may be performed by a single cutting unit that is suitably controlled by the control unit C and moved from an area to the contiguous area, as well as by two cutting units that are suitably controlled by the control unit C.
• a first safety measure is the adoption of photocells 13 adapted to detect the presence of a user and thus to stop the machine 1 in case a dangerous situation is detected.
• the machine 1 comprises a plurality of photocells 13 at both opposite ends 4a and 4b of the arm 4 and arranged so as to move integrally therewith, said photocells 13 being configured to detect the presence of an object therebetween.
• the photocells 13 are arranged on proper supports (for instance proper sticks) whereon they define an array of photocells, in particular a pair of arrays arranged on opposite sides of the worktable 2, i.e. opposite along the longitudinal direction Y of the arm 4, and are connected (directly or indirectly) to said arm 4 so as to move along therewith.
• each photocell arranged at a side of the worktable 2 has a corresponding photocell arranged at the opposite side and is aligned therewith, so as to suitably receive/ send the light signal 13’ for detecting objects, as illustrated in figure 3 and in figure 4.
• the array of photocells extends vertically (i.e. the photocells are arranged at least along the vertical direction that is substantially orthogonal to the worktable 2 and thus substantially orthogonal to the Y and X directions), so as to cover at least the entire vertical overall dimensions of the system made of the cutting unit 3 and the arm 4, unlike what happens in the known solutions in which a single photocell per side is used.
• the photocells extend on a vertical plane that is orthogonal to the worktable 2, thus defining, through the light signals, a predetermined vertical area within which objects can be detected.
• the photocells 13 are operatively connected to the control unit C, which is programmed to automatically control the movement of the arm 4 and the actuation of the cutting unit 3 according to the signal coming from said photocells.
• the control unit C which is programmed to automatically control the movement of the arm 4 and the actuation of the cutting unit 3 according to the signal coming from said photocells.
• the photocells send a signal to the control unit C, which is suitably configured to stop the operation of the machine 1.
• a cutting machine which comprises a worktable 2, a cutting unit 3 adapted to cut the sheet arranged on the worktable 2, an arm 4 that is arranged at least partially above the worktable 2 and support means 9 of the arm, said machine being equipped with the above described photocells 13, so as to provide safety to the operator.
• the presence of the sole photocells is not always capable of ensuring total safety for the operator, as well as there is also the need to reduce the risks due to a collision with the supports of the photocells themselves.
• a protective screen 18 that is associated with the machine 1 close to at least one end 4a and/or 4b of the arm 4.
• This safety system may have an own dedicated support or, preferably, it is directly connected to the arm 4, in particular at an end of said arm 4, which thus acts as a support.
• each protective screen 18 there are two protective screens 18, each arranged at a respective end of the arm 4, i.e. opposite along the Y direction at opposite sides of the worktable 2.
• the following description will refer hereinafter to the preferred, but not limiting, case of two opposite protective screens 18.
• the protective screen 18 is substantially rectangular-shaped, even if other shapes may obviously be used.
• the protective screen 18 comprises a lower side, an upper side and at least two sides that are opposite each other with respect to the sliding direction.
• the protective screen 18 may be made of any suitable material, including metal materials and plastic materials.
• the protective screen 18 has a body 18’ that is cantilevered extended, in particular it projects downwards, with respect to its support, and is configured to cover at least partially the cutting unit 3 when observed along the Y direction, i.e. when observed frontally, so as to avoid a direct contact between the cutting unit and the operator.
• the protective screen 18, more specifically the body 18’ extends in a vertical plane at a frontal portion of the machine 1 for the protection of an operator who operates at the major sides of the worktable 2, i.e. it is connected to the frontal portion of the arm 4. Still more particularly, the protective screen 18 extends substantially orthogonally to the worktable 2 at the major sides thereof.
• the protective screen 18 is associated with the machine 1 so as to leave an empty space G’ between itself and an edge of the worktable 2, as illustrated in figure 2. Furthermore, the protective screen 18 extends below the work surface a of the worktable 2, so as to prevent dangerous situations for the user. In other words, the protective screen 18 extends from the arm 4 beyond the work surface a of the worktable 2. As it will be noted hereinafter, the protective screen 18 also acts as a housing for the photocells 13, its extension with respect to the work surface a allowing a suitable covering by said photocells 13.
• the protective screen 18 is directly associated (in particular connected) to an end of the arm 4.
• the arm 4 comprises, at the ends thereof, a connection projecting portion 4p, which the protective screen 18 is connected to.
• the arm 4 may also not comprise the connection projecting portion 4p, what matters for the purposes of the present invention is that the longitudinal extension (i.e. along the Y axis) of said arm 4 is as a whole such as to be greater than the corresponding extension of the worktable 2, so as to project and to leave an empty space between the protective screen 18 and the worktable 2 (as previously illustrated) and prevent said protective screen 18 from hitting said worktable 2.
• the actual longitudinal extension of the arm 4 is not a limiting feature of the present invention.
• the protective screen 18 is hinged to the arm 4 at a hinging point P, so as to be tilting with respect to said arm 4 about said hinging point P.
• the hinging point P is at an end of the protective screen 18 (in particular the upper end of the screen), the opposite end extending beyond (below) the work surface a as previously described, even if the particular position of the hinging point is not a limiting feature of the present invention.
• the protective screen 18 is adapted to be translated along the sliding direction X due to the movement of the arm 4 when obstacles are not hit.
• the protective screen 18 is also capable of performing a rotational motion with respect to the hinging point P when, during the sliding along the X direction, it hits an obstacle to the movement, for instance when a user is hit.
• the protective screen 18 is thus capable of performing a relative movement with respect to the arm 4, said movement being in this case a partial rotational movement, as illustrated in figures 5A-5B, 6A-6B and in figure 7, wherein the rotation axis is substantially parallel to the Y axis and thus parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arm 4; in other words, the hinging point P lies on an axis that is coincident, or at least parallel, to the Y axis and about which the protective screen 18 performs the above-mentioned pivoting movement.
• the protective screen 18 is not fixedly constrained to the arm 4 but is tilting, when it hits an obstacle (for instance an operator), it is apt to rotate with respect to the hinging point P, said rotation reducing the collision effect and further causing the stop of the operation of the machine 1 , as it will be illustrated herein below.
• the protective screen 18 provides protection from collisions against the lower portion of said screen, i.e. the portion that is closest to the worktable 2 and thus the furthest from the arm 4, said collisions causing the pivoting movement of the screen as above illustrated.
• the protective screen 18 is equipped with an additional protection element 23 connected thereto.
• the operation of this additional protection element 23 is illustrated in figures 8A and 8B.
• the additional protection element 23 comprises an elongated body 23’ (not limited to a particular shape) connected to the protective screen 18.
• two additional protection elements 23 are connected to the protective screen 18, so as to be arranged along two opposite sides of said protective screen 18 (i.e., looking in a frontal position at the protective screen 18, on both left and right sides).
• the additional protection element 23 extends at least by the whole length of the vertical side of the protective screen 18 and is constrained to said screen, in particular to the lower portion the screen, at an end of the additional protection element, whereas an opposite end of said additional protection element is kept free.
• this embodiment must not be intended as limiting of the present invention and other configurations are also possible.
• connection point between the protective screen 18 and the additional protection element 23 may be for instance at the lower end of the protective screen 18, i.e. the portion that is furthest from the arm 4, allowing a relative rotation as below detailed.
• the particular shape, as well as the particular connection mode and position of the additional protection element 23 must not be intended as limiting of the scope of the present invention and other suitable configurations are also possible.
• the additional protection element 23 is not fixedly constrained but hinged to the protective screen 18 and may perform a partial rotation towards/ away from the protective screen 18, until it touches it.
• the additional protection element 23 is capable of performing a pivoting movement in which the free end thereof (i.e. the non-hinged end) moves at the upper portion of the protective screen 18.
• a collision against the upper portion of the protective screen 18 is absorbed by the additional protection element 23, which is apt to perform a pivoting movement towards the protective screen 18, in particular a pivoting movement in the upper portion thereof that is opposite the hinging point with said protective screen 18.
• the protective screen 18 acts as a support for the arrays of photocells 13, which thus move integrally with said protective screen 18.
• the operation of the machine 1 is thus stopped based on the rotational movement of the protective screen 18, since said rotational movement causes a loss of alignment between the photocells 13 that are opposite with respect to the longitudinal axis of the arm and arranged on opposite screens, with the consequent generation of the stop signal from the control unit C.
• a sensor S that is operatively connected to the control unit C, which is configured to detect the relative rotation of the protective screen 18 with respect to the arm 4 and to generate a signal towards the control unit as soon as said relative movement has been detected, said signal stopping the operation of the machine.
• additional protection elements 23 are provided (two for each opposite screen) and the photocells 13 are housed on said additional protection elements 23, which, performing the pivoting movement further to the collision, cause a misalignment between the photocells arranged on the opposite sides of the worktable 2 (or they cause the triggering of the sensor S as above described).
• the stop of the operation of the machine 1 is caused by the pressure, by the additional protection element 23 during the rotation, of a safety switch, said switch being pressed between the body of the additional protection element 23 and the body of the protective screen 18.
• the particular stop mode of the operation of the machine 1 is not limiting of the scope of the present invention and other modes are also possible, what matters is that said stop occurs as a consequence of the collision, and thus as a consequence of the rotation of the protective screen 18 and/or the movement of the additional protection element 23.
• the protection is offered by the additional protection element 23 (that is apt to perform a pivoting movement since it is hinged at the lower portion of the screen), which, by rotating, sets the machine in emergency.
• the protection is given by the photocells 13.
• said photocells are supported by the protective screen 18, the arm 4 being arranged in a position that is substantially central with respect to the body of said protective screen 18, so that, when the photocells are covered, the machine 1 stops before the arm 4 can touch the operator.
• the protective screen 18 is connected to the arm 4 through a pin element 19 (for instance projecting from a face of the body 18’ of the screen) housed in a suitable seat 19’ (for instance formed on the portion 4p that is projecting from the end of the arm 4 or directly in the body of the arm 4 and having a shape that is complementary to the pin), said connections being enough to ensure the desired effect.
• a pin element 19 for instance projecting from a face of the body 18’ of the screen housed in a suitable seat 19’ (for instance formed on the portion 4p that is projecting from the end of the arm 4 or directly in the body of the arm 4 and having a shape that is complementary to the pin), said connections being enough to ensure the desired effect.
• a safety system which comprises the protective screen 18 hinged to the arm, the additional protection element 23, which in turn supports the photocells 13, thus forming substantially a unique safety element having multiple functions.
• the single elements could be separated from each other; for instance, as above mentioned, the photocells could be equipped with an own support that is directly fastened to the arm 4 (what matters is that said photocells 13 are arranged vertically to cover an area corresponding at least to the overall dimensions of the arm 4, of the cutting unit 3 and of the carriage 10), as well as the protective screen 18 could be associated with the machine 1 in other ways.
• the additional protection element 23 may be connected to the protective screen 18 so as to be capable of translating with respect to said screen (for instance it may have an elongated body mounted on guides connecting it to the screen), the collision with the user causing in this case the translation of the additional protection element 23.
• the pivoting movement also exactly apply to the translating movement.
• return elements are provided, which are connected to the protective screen 18 and to the additional protection element 23 (such as springs or pistons), configured to return said additional protection element 23 to the rest position after the collision, and thus after the translating or rotational movement.
• additional protection element 23 such as springs or pistons
• an elastomeric protection element 20 is provided, which is also known in the field with the term “bumper” (it is substantially a compressible rubber protection), and which covers the arm 4 at the top.
• the elastomeric protection element 20 that is arranged above the arm 4 acts as covering element, thus preventing the operator from coming into contact with the cutting means also at the upper portion of the arm 4, for instance slipping the hands from above, and also absorbs any collision.
• the elastomeric protection element 20 is in the form of a covering extending along the sliding direction by an extension that is substantially equal to that of the protective screen 18 (for instance so as to be in line with the photocells), as well as it extends in the transversal direction so as to cover the space between the two opposite protective screens.
• the elastomeric protection element 20 is arranged on the arm 4 (for instance in direct contact with its upper face), so as to wrap the carriage 10. In any case, any suitable association mode is comprised in the scope of the present invention.
• the operator’s body is arranged so as not to hit the protective screen 18, when the arm of the machine approaches, then as a first thing a ray of the photocell 13 intervenes, and then in the upper part the operator comes into contact with the bumper, absorbing the collision. In any case, prior to the maximum compression of the bumper, the machine will be completely stopped.
• the covering of the arm 4 is not entirely formed by the elastomeric protection element 20, but for instance by a simple covering (for instance a metal one) fixed to the arm 4, the elastomeric protection element 20 being arranged on the edges of said covering.
• the elastomeric protection element 20 is kept distanced apart from the arm 4 by said covering (which is connected to the upper face of the arm 4) and represents a partial covering element, still capable of absorbing a collision with the operator.
• the elastomeric protection element 20 is also arranged on the edges of the additional protection element 23, thus ensuring further protection for the operator.
• the machine 1 is equipped with control monitors 21, projectors 22, cameras and lights, said components being advantageously supported by the hanging crosspiece 9, without the need of using other supports.
• the present invention provides a cutting machine equipped with a protective screen close to the ends of the movable arm, said screen being shaped in order to avoid a direct contact of the operator with the cutting units.
• the protective screen is capable of integrally translating with the arm and is tilting with respect thereto, so that, when it hits against an obstacle, in particular when its lower portion that is the furthest from the arm hits an obstacle, it may rotate about the hinging axis, thus absorbing the collision and allowing the control unit to stop the operation of the machine on time and in total safety.
• a collision against the upper end of the screen i.e.
• the machine of the present invention is also equipped with other safety systems, such as photocells, thus making the cutting machine herein described extremely safe.
• the above safety system which comprises the tilting screen (therefore providing additional safety with respect to the sole photocells), preventing a contact with the supports of the photocells themselves from causing an accident to the operator, said supports being installed on the tilting screen, in particular on the additional protection element, and being subjected to said relative movement once the collision has occurred.
• the photocells may prevent, at least to some degree, a contact with the cutting head, only the safety system herein described is capable of reducing the effects of a collision with the photocells themselves, in addition to increase the safety provided by the sole photocells.
• the relative rotation of the protective screen during a collision is combined with the pivoting additional protection element, thus preventing a contact with said screen from causing accidents for operators.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Forests & Forestry (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
• Auxiliary Devices For Machine Tools (AREA)

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• 2020
  • 2020-02-18 BR BR112022016334A patent/BR112022016334A2/pt unknown
  • 2020-02-18 WO PCT/IB2020/051337 patent/WO2021165719A1/en unknown
  • 2020-02-18 EP EP20716914.5A patent/EP4106964A1/en active Pending
  • 2020-02-18 CN CN202080097248.8A patent/CN115175794A/zh active Pending

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