FR2560239A1 - Installation making it possible simultaneously to cut out a plurality of strips in the width of a stretchable material and to wind them on themselves without tension. - Google Patents

Abstract

Installation making it possible simultaneously to cut out a plurality of strips in the width of a stretchable material and to wind them on themselves without tension. It comprises, in combination, two main assemblies 1, 2 displaceable relative to one another and consisting: - of a first assembly 1 serving for keeping flat in the weaving width, without longitudinal tension, the material 8 from which the strips are to be cut out; - a second assembly 2 comprising an actual winding spindle 9 which bears on the cloth 8 to be cut out and cutting-out means 10 which act on the cloth during the winding of the latter around said spindle 9.

Description

INSTALLATION FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY CUTTING A
PLURALITY OF STRIPS IN THE WIDTH OF AN EXTEN MATERIAL
SIBLE AND WIND THEM ON THEMSELVES WITHOUT TENSION.

 the present invention relates to an improved installation which makes it possible to simultaneously cut a plurality of strips across the width of an extensible material and to wind on itself the strips thus obtained without exerting traction on the material.

 It relates more particularly to an installation making it possible to cut crepe fabrics, stretchy, of the type of those used in the medical field and which can lengthen up to almost three times relative to their length by the 'crepe state, these fabrics may be based on various textile materials, such as cotton, cotton and wool blend, synthetics, etc.

 Of course, this is not limiting and the installation according to the invention could be used for any other application posing similar problems.

 To date, the crepe bands used in the medical field are obtained by cutting woven coupons, of a determined length corresponding to the desired length for the band.

 The starting fabric has in its width a plurality of bands, each band having in its length two parallel marking lines constituted by colored warp threads (blue, red ...), and two false selvedges, called "English" , on each side to facilitate cutting and avoid fraying.

 Cutting the elementary strips across the width of the crepe fabric is very delicate to carry out due to the fact that it must be carried out without exerting traction which could deteriorate the extensibility characteristics of the article. Indeed, such bands must meet very specific technical specifications required by the "Interministerial Tariff of Health Benefits".

 Consequently, to date, the cutting of elementary strips across the width of the fabric as well as their winding is still carried out by hand.

 It is easy to see that such a solution is not economical.

 Now, we have found, and this is what is the subject of the present invention, an installation which makes it possible to carry out automatically, in a precise manner, the cutting and winding without tension of such stretch bands.

In general, the installation according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises, in combination, two main assemblies which can be displaced relative to one another and which are constituted
- a first assembly serving to hold flat, across the width of the weaving, without longitudinal tension, the material from which the strips are to be cut,
- a second set comprising
an actual winding axis which
is supported on the fabric to be cut,
cutting means which act on
the stuff when winding this
last around said axis.

 Such an installation can be used either to cut strips from a coupon of a determined length corresponding to the desired length for the strip or, to obtain such strips from a very long fabric, continuously, with a manufacturing step of this fabric for example following a passage on an oar.

 When this installation is used to process coupons of determined length, the assembly serving to hold the fabric coupon flat consists of a table formed by a plurality of elements capable of being more or less distant and close together. each other and the second assembly is constituted by a carriage, movable longitudinally above the table, this carriage supporting the winding axis proper as well as the cutting means consisting, for example, of rotary knives.

 According to this embodiment, the mobile carriage is movable in both directions relative to the table and, in addition to the winding axis and the cutting knives, it also includes means for detecting marking lines between two strips, these detection means supplying information to means making it possible to modify the position of the strips so that the marking lines between which the cutting is to be carried out are always arranged on either side of the corresponding knives.

 When the installation is used to work continuously on very long fabrics, the assembly serving to keep the fabric flat is also constituted by a table formed by a plurality of elements likely to be more or less distant and closer to each other, these elements also being displaceable longitudinally to advance the fabric.

In this case, the second assembly comprising the winding axis and the cutting means is fixed relative to the table, this assembly also comprising members for transversely cutting the fabric when the chosen length of the strips has been wound.

Other characteristics of the invention as well as the numerous advantages which it brings will however be better understood thanks to the exemplary embodiments of installations in accordance with the invention given below by way of indication but not limitation, and which are illustrated by the attached diagrams in which
- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the assembly of an installation according to the invention
- Figures 2 and 3 are schematic perspective views showing in more detail an embodiment of a support table used for the implementation of the invention, Figure 2 showing the placement of the coupon to be cut and Figure 3 the transverse tensioning of this coupon to bring it back to the weaving width;
- Figures 4 and 5 are block diagrams showing the manner in which the winding and cutting of the strips are carried out
- Figures 6 and 7 are schematic perspective views showing the structure and operation of the winding axis itself, Figure 6 showing said axis in the withdrawn position during the evacuation of the wound strips, Figure 7 axis in working position
- Figure 8 is a schematic side view showing an installation according to the invention for cutting strips continuously in a very long fabric
- Figures 9 and 10 are detail views showing the structure of a table used in the case of a continuous working installation.

 In the two embodiments given below, the same references will be used to designate the same bodies or bodies fulfilling similar functions.

 Figures 1 to 7 illustrate an installation according to the invention for cutting strips in a coupon of determined length.

 The structure and operation of this facility are as follows.

 As can be seen from FIG. 1, this installation comprises two main assemblies, namely a table (1) (or equivalent system) making it possible to maintain the cut of fabric to be cut across the weaving width without exerting traction in the longitudinal direction on this fabric and, designated under the general reference (2), a carriage movable longitudinally with respect to the table. Of course, it could be envisaged to produce an installation in which the cutting members would be kept stationary relative to the fabric, the assembly now lying flat, said fabric then being displaced relative to the cutting members.

 According to this embodiment, the mobile carriage serves as a support element for the actual winding axis, for the cutting members and for the means for detecting marking lines provided on the fabric.

 According to this embodiment, the installation is designed so that the cutting and winding can be done both when the carriage moves from right to left as when it moves from left to right. To obtain such a result, not only the winding axis and the knives are judiciously arranged on the head (2) and controlled by motors and / or jacks making it possible to reverse their direction of rotation, but, moreover , the table (1) is designed so as to be able to pivot about a transverse axis XX so (see FIG. 4) that the distance D between the winding axis and the plane of said table gradually increases as and as the winding forms.

 Consequently, the table (1) is pivotally mounted on a support frame (3), the control of the pivoting being obtained for example by means of jacks (4) controlled automatically.

 In order to facilitate the positioning of the material to be cut as well as to ensure that the said material is properly maintained during the cutting operation, said table (1) is made up of a plurality of elements (5) which can be separated and brought closer to each other.

These elements (5) are essentially formed of strips of. card (6) and pivoting plates 17) in plexiglass for example.

 When placing the fabric (8) (see Figure 2> the elements (5) (card strips 6 and plates 7) are brought together so that at least some plates (7) are lifted It is therefore possible to put the fabric (8) in place on the side card strips (6).

 This being done, the elements (5) are spaced from each other so as to stretch the fabric wide (Figure 3). The fabric is therefore perfectly positioned on the table and held by the different carding bands. The carding strips (5) are positioned so as to keep the fabric substantially in the central part of some of the strips to be cut.

 This fabric being thus perfectly kept flat, in the width of weaving and without longitudinal tension, the cutting and the winding are carried out according to the invention in the following manner.

 The winding shaft (9) and the cutting assembly (10) are actuated. The axis (9) (which has peripheral grooves (11) arranged so as to be positioned between two marking lines (12, 13) of two strips to be formed) is brought against the end (14) of the fabric. In order to facilitate the separation of the end (14) of the fabric, blowing nozzles (15) are provided under the table (I), at each end. In addition, the winding axis (9) advantageously comprises at its periphery-studs (16) facilitating the grip of the fabric. The edge (14) of the fabric being brought onto the winding axis (9), it is gradually wound around the latter during the advance of the cart (2).

When practically a layer of fabric is placed around the axis (9), the knives (10) are lowered and then cut the strips. Consequently, this cutting is carried out while maintaining the fabric very effectively. Of course, the movement of the knives (10) is limited in amplitude, so as to come practically tangent with the bottom of the grooves (21). The cutting and winding are therefore carried out simultaneously over the entire length of the fabric coupon.

 According to this preferred embodiment illus tré, additional means are provided to facilitate this winding and cutting. In the present case, these additional means consist of pressure rollers (17), provided in front of the winding axis (9) and which come to press on the fabric.

Finally, in the case of an extensible fabric, the marking lines (12, 13) may not be perfectly positioned with respect to the knives (10). To overcome this drawback, the mobile carriage is equipped with a reading system of known type which follows these marking lines. This reading system controls means (jacks) making it possible to modify the position of the various holding elements (5), for example cards, forming the table (1).

 When the entire length of the coupon has been cut and the carriage has reached the end of the table (1), on the right for example, the knives (10) are raised and, as is more clearly shown in FIG. 6 , the winding axis (9) is moved transversely to allow automatic evacuation of the wound strips.

The transverse displacement of the axis (9) is obtained by providing on the side of the mobile carriage a sliding control assembly. This sliding control assembly (18) is supported by two lateral slides (19,20) and is actuated by a chain system. The rolled up bands being evacuated, the axis (9) is put back in place (see figure 7) and the cutting and winding operation can start again in the other direction. During this new movement, the table (1) is inclined on the other side with respect to its axis XX and, of course, the direction of rotation of the winding axis (9) and cutting <10) is in - overturned.

 Such an installation of simple design makes it possible to carry out quickly, practically without manual intervention, precisely the cutting and winding without tension of stretchy strips from a material of large width.

 In addition, such an installation can be used to produce strips of variable length (3 meters, 4 meters, 5 meters), as well as for more or less wide coupons and to obtain strips of different width.

 FIGS. 8, 9, 10 schematically illustrate a variant in accordance with the invention making it possible to cut strips continuously from a material of great length, for example following a ream for finishing the material.

Compared to the embodiment allowing to cut strips in coupons of determined length, in this variant, the assembly allowing to hand
hold flat, without longitudinal tension, the material from which the strips are to be cut, consists of a plurality of carding strips (6) (or any other equivalent element) in the form of endless strips. These cards are, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, mounted in a divergent manner between the grip of the fabric and the cutting / winding area. They are trained in synchronism with the advance of the fabric.

 The cutting / winding member (9,10) is similar to that of the previous example and will therefore not be described again. In this variant, this assembly is mounted on a fixed support taking into account the fact that it is the material to be cut which is displaced relative to it. I1 also includes a set of knives (21, 22) movable vertically and which act when the desired length has been wound.

 Furthermore, the rollers (23) and (24) supporting the carding strips (6) are associated with means, a jack system (25) for example, making it possible to pivot the assembly as the increase in the diameter of wound strips. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8, the support shaft (-23) gradually decreases as the diameter of the winding increases.

 When the winding is evacuated after transverse cutting, the jack (25) brings the table into contact with the actual winding axis (9) for a new operation.

 The facilities described above can be used not only to cut crepe fabrics but also to cut any other similar item.

 Finally, the invention is not limited to these examples but it covers all the variants produced in the same spirit. Thus, for example, it could be envisaged to use as cutting members means other than rotary knives, for example laser systems.

Claims (10)

 1 / Installation making it possible to simultaneously cut a plurality of strips across the width of an extensible material and to wind them on themselves without tension, characterized in that it comprises, in combination, two, main assemblies (1,2 ) movable relative to each other and made up  - a first assembly (1) serving to hold flat, in the weaving width, without longitudinal tension, the material (8) from which the strips are to be cut  - a second set (2) comprising  a winding shaft (9) proper which  is supported on the fabric (8) to be cut,  cutting means (10) which act on  the stuff when winding this  last around said axis (9).  2 / Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the assembly (1) ensuring the maintenance of the material (8) to be cut consists of a table formed of a plurality of elements (5) capable of being more or less distant and close to each other, the maintenance of the material being ensured by the carding paths (6) extending over the entire length of said table, spaced from each other, arranged under the material, substantially in the central part of at least some of the bands.  3 / Installation according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the cutting means are constituted by rotary knives (10) disposed above the winding axis (9).  4 / Installation according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the assembly (1) is associated with means making it possible to tilt it relative to the assembly (2), so that the distance between the axis (9) of the winding relative to the surface of said assembly (1) increases with the diameter of the winding.  5 / Installation according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the assembly (2) also comprises means for detecting marking lines between two bands, these detection means providing information to means making it possible to modify the position of the strips so that the marking lines between which the cutting is to be carried out are always arranged on either side of the corresponding knife (10).  6 / Installation according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the winding axis (9) has along its length peripheral grooves (11) located between the locating lines separating two elementary bands.  7 / Installation according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the winding axis (9) is retractable at the end of travel to allow automatic evacuation of the wound strips  8 / Installation according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the pressure rollers (17) are provided to press on the material as and when cutting.  9 / Installation according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the knives (10) are mounted on a support allowing them to take two positions, one bearing against the wound material during the operation of cut, the other discarded to allow the evacuation of the wound strips.  10 / Installation according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that additional means for taking the end of the material (8) by the winding axis at the start of the cutting operation are provided, these means being constituted for example by blowing nozzles acting under the panel and lifting it when the cutting operation begins.