FR2528348A1 - Slate cutter with height adjustable disc - has disc on carriage on rails with width adjustable table slot with edging members in folding parallelogram. - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine uses a height adjustable rotary disc (14) mounted on a carriage (12) to cut roofing slates mounted on a table (10) with an adjustable slot (11). The carriage is guided by rails parallel to the slot. The slot width adjustment is accommodated by incorporating one or both straight slot-forming members (23) in a pin-jointed parallelogram frame. Pin-jointed (25) straps (24) connect the ends of the members, with one strap incorporated in a rocking lever (26-28) operated by a hand lever (30). Disc height adjustment may be contrived by offsetting the disc axle (53) in a parallel length of shaft (52) controlled by a radius arm (62).

Description

 The present invention relates generally to shears, commonly called slate cutters, of the type usually used for example for roofers for cutting natural or artificial slates.

 It relates more particularly to those of these shears which comprise, on the one hand a work table, which, forming cutting support, has a slot longitudinally, and, on the other hand, a carriage, which is mounted movably on a path of bearing parallel to the working table slot, and on which a cutting disc is rotatably mounted.

Such a shear is notably described in the French patent filed on February 1, 1979 under the
No 79 02657 and published under No 2,447,792.

 For the size, or cut, of a slate, it is placed on the work table, overlapping the slot of this work table along the cutting line to be ensured, and we move by pulling the carriage carrying the cutting disc.

 During the movement of this carriage, the cutting disc attacks the slate in question by one of its ends, and causes it to be cut along the desired cutting line.

 In practice, as is known, the cutting of a slate occurs by bursting, or fractionation, and not by sawing.

 In the case of a natural slate, this splitting is done by scales from the cutting line, so that, along the length of the scales thus formed, the slate concerned has a "chamfer", more or less extensive, on the corresponding slice.

 Such a chamfer, which is sought for natural slates, is to be avoided for artificial slates, and more particularly for those made of asbestos cement, this chamfer necessarily having, due to the dust formed, a whitish coloring contrasting in an unsightly manner with the remains of such a slate, the cut of which must therefore, on the contrary, be clean, without chamfer.

 However, it turns out that the extension of the chamfer formed when cutting a slate is linked to the width of the slot in the work table.

 In the shears described in the French patent mentioned above, the width of this slot has, by construction, a determined value, rigidly fixed once and for all.

 If this value is suitable for cutting artificial slates for example, it is not necessarily suitable for cutting natural slates.

 If, on the other hand, it is suitable for cutting natural slates, for a given thickness of such slates, it is not necessarily suitable for cutting artificial slates.

 In addition, it is not necessarily suitable for cutting natural slates of any thickness; for example, if, having regard to such a thickness, the width of the slit of the work table is too large, the slate to be cut breaks in an uncontrolled manner, because it is not sufficiently buttressed laterally.

 Furthermore, in the shears described in the patent mentioned above, the height of the cutting disc vis-à-vis the work table is immutable.

 If such a height is well suited to the cutting of a slate of given thickness, corresponding to a determined penetration of the cutting tool therein, it is not necessarily the same for all possible thicknesses for such a slate.

 If the height of the cutting tool is too high with respect to such a thickness, the treated slate may not be cut.

 If it is too low, the tensile force to be exerted on the carriage carrying the cutting disc may be too high.

 The present invention generally relates to provisions allowing at will the adaptation of a shear of the kind concerned to the cutting of natural or artificial slates of different thicknesses.

 More specifically, it relates to a shear, commonly known as slate cutter, of the kind comprising a work table, which, forming cutting support, has a slot longitudinally, and a carriage, which is mounted movably on a path bearing parallel to the slot of the work table, and on which a cutting disc is rotatably mounted, this shears being, according to a first aspect, characterized in that at least one of the lips delimiting the slot of the work table is mounted transversely movable relative to the other.

 In practice, one and the other of the two lips of the slot of the work table are, according to the invention, mounted transversely movable relative to each other.

 Anyway, it is thus possible, according to the invention, to ensure a width adjustment of the slot of the work table, and therefore to perfectly adapt this width to the nature of the slate to be cut and / or the thickness thereof.

 Jointly, and in combination, the shears according to the invention is, according to a second aspect, characterized in that the cutting disc is mounted adjustable in height relative to the work table.

 For example, it is rotatably mounted on a nut which, itself rotatably mounted on an axis carried transversely by the carriage, is eccentric with respect to said axis, being wedged on an angularly adjustable control handle in position around the latter.

 It is thus advantageously possible to adapt to the thickness of the slate to be cut the height of the cutting disc relative to the work table.

 Whatever the nature and / or thickness of such a slate, the shears according to the invention therefore allow controlled penetration of the cutting disc into this slate and better progression of the latter for a moderate tensile force on the carriage which carries it, while leading, for the cut slate, to an easier bursting of the latter and to obtaining on it an advantageously regular chamfer and desired extension, such a chamfer being for example able to be 450, if desired, for a natural slate, or be nonexistent, for an artificial slate.

your characteristics and advantages of the invention will also emerge from the description which follows, by way of example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shears according to the invention;
Figure 2 is, with cutaway, a longitudinal elevational view in section, generally along the line II-II of Figures 1 and 3
Figure 3 is a longitudinal view in sectional plan, generally along the broken line III-III of Figure 2
Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are partial views in cross section, respectively along the lines IV-IV, VV, VI-VI and Vil-Vil of Figure 2;
Figure 8 partly reproduces Figure 3 for another configuration of the slot of the work table that includes the shears according to the invention.

 In general, and as shown in Figure 1, the shears according to the invention comprises, in a manner known per se, a work table 10, which, forming a cutting support, as will appear below , has a slot 11 longitudinally, and a carriage 12 which is movably mounted on a raceway 13, parallel to the slot 11 of the work table 10, and on which a cutting disc 14 is rotatably mounted.

 In practice, the work table 10 is carried by a base 16.

 This is not part of the present application, and falling within the skill of the art, it will not be described in detail here.

 In the embodiment shown, the work table 10 comprises, parallel to one another, at a distance from each other, two beams 17, which, at their ends, are carried by crosspieces 18 belonging at the base 16.

 In the embodiment shown, these side members 17 are sections of section of quadrangular cross section.

 As shown in solid lines in Figure 1, and as shown schematically in broken lines in Figure 4, each of these beams 17 can be flanked, on its edge opposite to the other, and level with its upper face, by a plate 20, which either is suitably secured to it, for example by welding or bolting, or is directly carried by the base 16.

 Anyway, according to one aspect of the invention, at least one of the lips 22 delimiting the slot 11 of the work table 10 is mounted movable transversely relative to the other, for adjustment in width of said slot 11.

 Preferably, as shown, the two lips 22 of the slot 11 of the work table 10 are thus mounted movable transversely relative to one another.

 In practice, in the embodiment shown, each of the lips 22 of the slot 11 of the working table 10 is formed by the edge of a flat ruler 23, which, by its ends, is articulated to parallel rods 24, around axes perpendicular to its plane.

 In the embodiment shown, there are therefore two flat rules 23, which, each respectively, rest on the upper face of the corresponding spar 17, by being slidably mounted thereon, and these flat rules 23 are articulated to the same rods 24, so that they constitute with them a deformable parallelogram.

 In practice, the rods 24, which extend above the flat rules 23, and which are articulated thereto by studs 25 perpendicular to the upper face of the side members 17, are, in their median zone, pivotally mounted, perpendicular to the plane of all.

 To this end, an axis 26 pivotally crosses the median zone of each of the links 24 and a nut 27 which, arranged below the latter extends in a spacer between the side members 17, being suitably secured to them, by welding or bolting.

 In the embodiment shown, such an axis 26 is constituted by a threaded tie rod on which, beyond the corresponding nut 27, is engaged in screwing a retaining nut 28.

 On one of the links 24 is coupled a grip handle 30.

 In the embodiment shown, such a gripping handle 30 is attached by welding to one of the rods 24, and it extends obliquely horizontally relative to the latter.

 Anyway, and as it is easy to understand, by action on this grip handle 30, it is possible to adjust the width of the slot 11 of the work table 10 to any value between a maximum value L1, for which, as shown in FIG. 3, the links 24 extend in practice substantially perpendicular to the flat rules 23 forming the lips of this slot, and a minimum value L2, possibly zero, for which said links 24 extend obliquely with respect to said flat rules 23.

 As a corollary, as a corollary, the flat rules move longitudinally relative to each other, in opposite directions, and, to leave them this capacity for movement, their length is in practice made less than that of the side members 17 which carry them .

 According to one aspect of the invention, the raceway 13 on which the carriage 12 carrying the cutting disc 14 is mounted mobile comprises two parallel bars 32, 33 which, between two gantries 34 integral with the base 16, extend au- above the work table 10, parallel to the slot 11 thereof.

 In the embodiment shown, each of the gantries 34 has an overall configuration in H, with legs each formed of an angle, and it has projecting, on its outer face, a handle 35 suitable for facilitating the handling of the 'together.

 It is by the lower notch 36 of the corresponding gantry 34 that the gripping handle 30 suitable for adjusting the width of the slot 11 of the work table 10 projects outwards, to be at the disposal of the user. .

 Preferably, each of the bars 32, 33 is flanked laterally, on the outside, of a cover 38, which extends from one of the gantries 34 to the other.

 At least on their upper side, the bars 32, 33 have, longitudinally, according to the invention, for cooperation with at least one roller rotatably mounted for this purpose on the carriage 12, as described in more detail below, the one, two active faces 40, which, oblique to the work table 10, form a dihedral between them, the other, a single active face 41, parallel to said work table 10.

 Preferably, and as shown, the bars 32, 33 have such active faces 40, 41 both on their upper side and on their lower side.

 In practice, the bar 32 a, transversely a hexagonal section, of which four sides, which correspond to its active faces 40, are oblique on the horizontal, while the other two sides are vertical, and, jointly the bar 33 a, transversely, a square section, two sides of which, which correspond to its active faces 41, are horizontal, while the other sides are vertical.

 By active faces of the bars 32, 33 is meant here, in a conventional manner, a face of such a bar with which a roller of the carriage 12 cooperates.

 In the embodiment shown, this carriage 12 comprises a box 43 of generally semicircular configuration, being diametrically open in the direction of the work table 10.

 Externally, it is attached to this housing 43, for example by welding, as shown, or by bolting, a pull handle 44 adapted to facilitate handling.

 Anyway, the housing 43 extends between the bars 32, 33.

 On its face facing the bar 32 are rotatably mounted, on two different levels, on the one hand a roller 45, for cooperation with the active faces 40 of this bar 32 arranged on the upper side thereof, and on the other hand two rollers 45, for cooperation with the active faces 40 of said bar 32 arranged on the lower side thereof.

 These rollers 45 have a groove of angular cross section complementary to the dihedral which the corresponding active faces 40 of the bar 32 form between them.

 Similarly, on the face of the housing 43 of the carriage 12 facing the bar 33 of the raceway 13 are rotatably mounted, on two different levels, on the one hand a roller 46, for cooperation with the active face 41 of this bar 33 disposed on the upper side thereof, and on the other hand two rollers 46, for cooperation with the active face 41 of this bar 33 located on the lower side thereof.

 These are of course rollers with a straight cross section.

 In practice, the single rollers 45, 46 located on the upper side of the bars 32 33, which are preferably each protected by a cover 47, are arranged in line with one another, but they are mounted to rotate about axes. 48, 49 separate.

 Likewise, the rollers 45, 46 located on the lower side of the bars 32, 33 are arranged two by two in line with one another, but, from one bar to the other, they are rotatably mounted on axes common 50 which pass right through the housing 43, on either side of the cutting disc 14.

 As is easy to understand, the bar 32 constitutes, for the carriage 12, a support and guide bar, while the bar 33 constitutes, for this carriage 12, only a support bar.

 However, being of rectangular section with horizontal active faces, this support bar 33 advantageously avoids any transverse draw for the carriage 12.

 According to one aspect of the invention, the cutting disc 14 is mounted adjustable in height relative to the work table 10.

 In the embodiment shown, an eccentric is used for this purpose: the cutting disc 14 is rotatably mounted on a nut 52, which, itself rotatably mounted on an axis 53 carried transversely by the housing 43 of the carriage 12 , is eccentric with respect to said axis 53, being wedged on a control handle 55 angularly adjustable in position around it.

 In the embodiment shown, the hub 56 of the cutting disc 14 is formed by two half-hubs 56A, 560 which are attached to each other by screwing, and which enclose the cutting disc 14 between them.

 Between the hub 56 thus formed and the nut 52 is preferably, as shown, interposed a bearing 57, which, as shown, may also consist of two half-bearings 57A, 57B arranged end to end.

 Similarly, between the nut 52 and the axis 53 is preferably interposed a pad 58, which, in the embodiment shown, is simply constituted by a socket.

 Finally, between the ends of such a socket and the corresponding walls of the housing 43, washers 60 are preferably provided.

 Anyway, in the embodiment shown, on the nut 52 is laterally wedged, for example by welding or screwing, an arm 62, which extends substantially radially, and which carries the corresponding control handle 55 .

 In this embodiment, the arm 52 ends, in the housing 43, by a square return 63, and, on the latter, it carries radially projecting, a rod 64, which passes through the housing 43 in favor of 'A slot 65 provided for this purpose circularly on the edge thereof, and on which the control handle 55 is, by a sleeve 67 which carries it, slidably mounted.

 To lock the control handle 55 in position, notches 68 are provided from place to place on the housing 43 of the carriage 12.

 In the embodiment shown, the notches 68 are formed by circular contour notches provided for this purpose on the lips of the slot 65 of the housing 43, and, in correspondence, the socket 67 carrying the control handle 55 has, at its base, a bloom 69, the diameter of which, greater than the width of said slot 65, is complementary to that of the notches constituting the notches 68.

 At the same time, a spring 70, which, disposed around the rod 54 carried by the arm 62, bears on the angled return 63 of the latter, permanently urges the control handle 55 outward, while bringing to this effect on a shoulder 72 of the socket 67 carrying the latter.

 As is easy to understand, for a modification of the angular position of the control handle 55 around the axis 53, it suffices to exert a depressing action on this control handle 55, along the arrow F1 of FIG. 6, so that the opening 69 of the socket 67 which carries it escapes from the corresponding notches 68 of the housing 43 of the carriage 12, then, by rotation about the axis 53, along arrow F2 of Figure 2, to bring this control handle 55 to the right of the notch 68 of said housing 43 corresponding to the new angular position desired for it, and finally to release it: under the stress of the spring 70, the development 69 of the sleeve 67 which the door then enters the notch 68 thus previously chosen from the housing 43 of the carriage 12, and thus strengthens as previously its position with respect thereto.

 Due to the eccentricity of the nut 52 on which the control handle 55 is wedged, it results from an angular modification of the position thereof around the axis 53 a variation in the height of the cutting disc 14 with respect to the work table 10, and more precisely with respect to the flat rules 23 which the latter includes for defining its slot 11.

 It is thus possible to give this height one or other of the predetermined values comprised between a maximum value H1, for which, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, the cutting disc 14 is moved away from the flat rules 23, and a minimum value H2, possibly zero, for which, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, it is close to these flat rules 23, and possibly level with them.

 According to the invention, the height of the cutting disc 14 can thus be advantageously adapted to the thickness of the slates to be cut.

 Preferably, and as shown, on at least one of the plates 20 of the cutting table 10, there is provided a bracket 75 adjustable in position on such a plate 20, using screws 76, which, in engagement with the branches of such a square 75, pass through the plate 20 by means of slots 77 provided for this purpose therein.

 Such a square allows, during the first cut to be made on a slate for the size thereof, a more precise adjustment of the position of this slate.

 In the embodiment shown, such a bracket 75 is provided on only one of the plates 20, and it is in practice the plate located to the left of the raceway 13, the other of the plates of the work table 10 being able to usually be equipped with a simple straight guide.

 But it goes without saying that such a square 75 could on the contrary just as well equip the plate 20 disposed on the right side with respect to the raceway 13, and / or that such a square 75 could be provided on one and the other of the plates 20.

 Anyway, after positioning the slate to be cut on the work table 10, and proper adjustment of the width of the slot 11 of this work table 10 and / or the height of the cutting disc 14 by relative to the latter, depending on the nature and / or the thickness of this slate, it suffices to pull the carriage 12 toward you, for passage of the cutting disc 14 on the slate previously put in place.

 In practice, when the cutting disc 14 is brought closer to the work table 10, the slot 11 of the latter is jointly tightened.

 For an artificial slate, the cutting disc 14 is as close as possible to the work table 10, and the width of the slot 11 thereof is minimal.

 In the embodiment shown, the carriage 12 carries projecting, parallel to the slot il of the work table 10, on the side opposite to its pull handle 44, a punch 80 intended to allow, if desired, the drilling of a slate.

 Jointly, the corresponding gantry 34 has, in correspondence, with this punch 80, a passage 81 and, on its outer face, it carries a protruding rule 82, which, at its base, is brought to it by welding, via of two spacer blocks 83.

 At its upper part, this rule 82, which, on the side opposite to the gantry 34, has a U-shaped profile, has a hole 84 in correspondence with the punch 80, and, at its lower part, it has a buttonhole 86 in favor from which a support block 87 can, under the control of a tightening button 88, be adjusted in position over its height.

 After adjusting the position of the support block 87 according to the location of the hole to be secured, place on this support block 87, by its edge, the slate to be drilled, and, by moving the carriage 12, I constrain I punch 80 to cross it.

 Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown, but encompasses any variant, in particular as regards the practical realization of the means used for adjusting the width of the slot of the work table, and / or that of the means used to adjust the height of the cutting disc relative to the latter.

Claims (12)

 1. Shears, commonly known as slate cutters, in particular  for a roofer, of the type comprising a work table (10),  which, forming a cutting support, has longitudinally a  slot (11), and a carriage (12), which is movably mounted on a  raceway (13) parallel to the slot (11) of the  work table (10), and on which is rotatably mounted  cutting disc (14), characterized in that at least one  lips (22) delimiting the slot (11) of the work table  (10) is mounted transversely movable relative to the other,  for adjusting the width of said slot (11).  2. Shears according to claim 1, characterized  in that the two lips (22) of the slot (11) of the table  working (10) are mounted transversely movable one by one  compared to each other.  3. Shear according to any one of the claims  1, 2 characterized in that a lip (22) of the slot (11)  of the work table (10) is formed by the edge of a  flat ruler (23) which, by its ends, is articulated to parallel rods (24) around axes perpendicular to  his plan.  4. Shears according to claims 2,3 taken together, characterized in that the two flat rules (23) whose edge forms the lips (22) of the slot (11) of the work table (10) are articulated to the same rods (24) so that they constitute with them a deformable parallelogram and, in their median zone, said links (24) are pivotally mounted, perpendicular to the plane of the line.  5. Shears according to any one of claims 3, 4, characterized in that a control handle (30) is coupled to one of the rods (24) for controlling the en-  seems.  6. Shears according to any one of claims A to 5, characterized in that the cutting disc (14) is mounted adjustable in height relative to the work table (10), for example by an eccentric.  7. Shear according to claim 6, characterized in that the cutting disc (14) is rotatably mounted on a nut (52) which, itself rotatably mounted on an axis (53) carried transversely by the carriage (12) is eccentric with respect to said axis (53), being wedged on a control handle (55) angularly adjustable in position around it.  8. Shears according to claim 7, characterized in that, for locking in position of the control handle (55) notches (68) are provided from place to place on the carriage (12).  9. Shears according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the raceway (13) on which the carriage (12) is movably mounted has two bars (32, 33) parallel which on their upper side to the less have, longitudinally, for cooperation with at least one roller (45, 46) rotatably mounted on the carriage (12), one, two active faces (40) which, oblique to the work table tao), form one dihedral between them, the other, a single active face (41) parallel to the work table (in),  10. Shear according to claim 9, in which the bars (32, 33) on which the carriage (12) is movably mounted have active faces (40, 41) both on their upper side and on their lower side, characterized in that that on the carriage (12), and for each of the bars, a single -galet (45, 46) is provided for one of the sides thereof and two for the other of said sides.  11. Shears according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, at least on one side of its slot (11) the work table (10) carries a bracket (75) mounted adjustable in position.  12. Shears according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that, parallel to the slot (11) of the work table (10), the carriage (12) projecting a punch (80).