GB2155400A - Apparatus for cutting elongate members - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for cutting an elongate member into at least two parts with mitred ends includes a frame 10-12 supporting two pairs of jig plates 15, 16. The plates extend parallel to one another across the frame and each pair 15, 16 is separated by a gap 17. The plates have recesses 18 perpendicular to the gaps 17, and in use a plurality of elongate members are accommodated in the recesses, each member extending transversely across the gaps 17 and being accommodated in a respective recess in each plate 15, 16 of each pair of plates. The frame 10-12 is reciprocable on a base frame 3 in a direction perpendicular to the recesses 18, i.e. parallel to the gaps 17. A cutting wheel 41 is aligned with each gap 17 and has teeth which form a right-angled groove fully through each elongate member when the frame 10-12 is moved across the base frame 3. In this manner each elongate member is separated into three parts with the facing ends of adjacent parts being mitred. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for cutting elongate members This invention relates to an apparatus for cutting elongate members into at least two parts with mitred ends.

In the manufacture of many articles, for example doors, windows, weather excluders and picture frames, it is necessary to cut and form mitred end faces in elongate members of metal, plastics or wood so that the abutting end faces of adjacent members can be neatly fitted together.

For the purpose of simplicity the following description will relate to cutting and forming mitred ends in rigid elongate weather excluder members formed by extrusion; however, it will be understood that the invention can be advantageously employed where it is desired to cut and form mitred ends in any relatively rigid elongate member.

It is well known to use extruded lengths of a metal or plastics material as weather excluders in door or window frames. However, extruded weather excluder members are usually manufactured in standard lengths which are too long for immediate use in a door or window frame. Thus, it is usually necessary to cut the weather excluder members into lengths suitable for use in a door or window frame.

Furthermore, at the corners of a door or window frame, it is desirable to have the abutting end faces of adjacent lengths of weather excluder mitred, so that the abutting end faces can be fitted closely together to provide enhanced weather exclusion and a more aesthetic appearance.

Mitring the end faces of a length of weather excluder is usually carried out manually, for example, using a hacksaw. However, manually mitring the end faces of a length of weather excluder is both tedious and difficult to perform accurately.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for cutting elongate members into at least two parts with mitred ends.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for cutting an elongate member, comprising jig means for securely holding an elongate member, rotary cutting means, and means to effect relative movement between the cutting means and the elongate member in a direction transverse to the latter, the cutting means being adapted to separate the elongate member into at least two parts during such movement by cutting at least one substantially right-angled groove which extends fully through the member.

Preferably, the jig means is adapted to securely hold a plurality of elongate members in side-byside parallel relationship whereby the said members are cut in succession by the cutting means during the said movement.

Further, preferably, the rotary cutting means includes at least one generally circular cutting tool with peripheral teeth, each tooth having outer cutting edges which are at right-angles to one another.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 is a front perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the jigs of the apparatus of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 along the line I-I and viewed in the direction of the arrows, Figure 4 is an example of an extruded elongate weather excluder member for cutting in the apparatus of Figure 1, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a plurality of the elongate members of Figure 4 located in an in use position in the apparatus of Figure 1, Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus and elongate members of Figure 5 along the lines ll- II and showing in dotted outline the position of the jigs when the elongate members have been cut, Figure 7 is a perspective view of a part of a cutting tool for use in the apparatus of Figure 1, Figure 8 is a diagrammatic representation of the cutting tool of Figure 7 engaged with an elongate member in the gap between a pair of jig plates, Figure 9 is a front elevation of an elongate member cut into three parts and showing the right angled grooves defined between adjacent end faces of adjacent parts, Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the construction of a rail in the apparatus of Figure 1 and also showing the rollers on the rail, and Figure 11 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 10 of the drawings wherein similar numerals have been used to indicate like parts, there is shown therein an apparatus generally indicated at 1 for cutting a plurality of elongate members, for example, members 60 as shown in Figure 4.

The apparatus 1 comprises an elongate base frame 2 constructed from a plurality of square section tubular steel members 3 welded together. The base frame 2 has a pair of spaced apart transverse parallel rails 4 constructed as shown in Figure 10 by welding on to the top surface 5 of a square section tubular steel member 3 an inverted V' shaped member 6. The inverted V' shaped member 6 is formed by cutting another square section tubular steel member 3 (not shown) diagonally along its length. The base frame 2 has mounted thereon an elongate jig frame 7, constructed from square section tubular steel members 8.The elongate jig frame 7 has a central sub-frame 9 having square section tubular steel members 10, 11 parallel to the jig axis Y-Y of the elongate jig frame 7 and a plurality of square section tubular steel members 12 mounted between the members 10, 11 and transverse to the axis Y-Y of the elongate jig frame 7.

A pair of jigs 13, 14 are spaced apart along the jig axis Y-Y and are securely mounted in conventional manner on the square section tubular steel members 12. Each jig 13, 14 comprises a pair of rectangular jig plates 15, 16. Each pair of rectangu lar jig plates 15, 16 are spaced apart along the jig axis Y-Y to define a gap 17 therebetween perpendicular to the jig axis Y- Y. Each rectangular jig plate 15, 16 of the jigs 13, 14 has a plurality of recesses 18 joining the longer sides 19 of the jig plates 15, 16 such that the recesses 18 are parallel to the jig axis Y-Y.

The square section tubular steel member 10 has a pair of clamping plates 20, 21 pivotally mounted thereon by means of brackets 22, 23 respectively in conventional manner. Each clamping plate 20, 21 has an elongate recess 24 which in use of the ap paratus 1 (figures 5 and 6) is aligned with a respective gap 17 between the jig plates 15, 16 of the jigs 13 and 14 respectively.

The square section tubular steel member 11 has mounted thereon a pair of pivotal clamps 25, 26 for, in use, securing the clamping plates 20, 21 on the jigs 13, 14 respectively. Each of the outer pair 12a, 12b of the square section tubular steel mem bers 12 has fixed thereon a pair of brackets 25.

Each bracket 25 carries an upper roller 26 and a lower roller 27. Each of the upper rollers 26 has a circumferential V' groove 28 (figure 10) and each of the lower rollers 27 has a planar circumference.

The rollers 26, 27 on each bracket 25 are engaged and securely held on a respective transverse rail 4 of the base frame 2 as shown in figure 10, the rails 4 being perpendicular to the jig axis Y-Y.

Mounted on the base frame 2 adjacent one end of one of the transverse rails 4 is an electric motor 29 driving an axle 30 having sprocket wheels 31 at each end. Each of the sprocket wheels 31 has an engaging chain 32 which is mounted on a second sprocket wheel 33 adjacent the opposite end of the transverse rails 4 so that the chains 32 lie parallel to the rails 4. The sprocket wheels 33 are located in housings 34. The base frame 2 has secured thereon an electric motor 35 which drives a spindle 36 by means of a chain 37 in conventional manner, the spindle 36 being parallel to the jig axis Y-Y.

Each end 38, 39 of the spindle 36 is rotatably mounted in bearings 40 located in the base frame 2. Adjacent each end 38, 39 of the spindle 36 is a generally circular toothed cutting tool 41 (figure 7).

Each cutting tool 41 is located in alignment with a respective gap 17 between a pair of jig plates 15, 16, and rotates in a plane perpendicular to the jig axis Y-Y.

The cutting tools 41 are covered by a guard 42 (figure 2) have apertures 43 through which the cutting teeth 44 of the cutting tools 41 project. Each of the cutting tools 41 comprises a plurality of equispaced cutting teeth 44 each having a cutting face 45 (figure 7) whose outer cutting edges 45'are at right angles to one another.

The elongate jig frame 7 has mounted on each end 46, 47 support members 48, 49 respectively.

The support member 49 has an end wall 50. Furthermore, each of the ends 46, 47 of the elongate jig frame 7 has mounted thereon a bracket 51 carrying a roller 52 which engages on one of the square section tubular steel members 3 of the base frame 2. Also mounted on the elongate jig frame 7 is a further support member 53.

The distance between the end wall 50 of the sup port member 49 and the nearest cutting tool 41 is seven feet and the distance between the pair of cutting tools 41 is three feet.

One of the rails 4 has a mechanically actuated switch 54 which is actuated by one of the brackets 25 to switch off the electric motor 29. The electric motors 29 and 35 may be switched on and off by controls mounted on one of the housings 34.

Each of the outer pair a, 1 2b of the square section tubular steel members 12 is fixedly connected to one of the chains 32 by means of a bracket 55.

In use of the apparatus 1, a plurality of elongate members 60, as shown for example in figure 4, are located in the recesses 18 of the jig plates 15, 16 of each of the jigs 13, 14 as illustrated in figures 5 and 6, the members 60 thus extending in side-byside relationship across each gap 17 parallel to the jig axis Y-Y. The ends 61 of the members 60 abut the end wall 50 of the support member 49. The pair of clamping plates 20, 21 are rotated down on top of the plurality of members 60 and secured thereon by the clamps 25, 26 respectively. The electric motor 29 and the electric motor 35 are now switched on and consequently the chains 32 are driven so that the elongate jig frame 7 is pulled as shown in figure 6 across the cutting tools 41 to the position shown in dotted outline in figure 6, the direction of motion of the jig frame 7 being perpendicular to the jig axis Y-Y.As the elongate jig frame 7 is pulled across the cutting tools 41 the cutting teeth 44 of respective cutting tools 41 engage in the respective gaps 17 between the jig plates 15, 16 of the jigs 13, 14 respectively, as shown in figure 8. The members 60 are thus cut in succession, each seventeen foot length of elongate member 60 on the frame 7 being cut into two seven foot end lengths 62 and an intermediate three foot length 63 as shown in figure 9. The adjacent end faces 64, 65 of adjacent lengths 62, 63 are mitred by the cutting edges 45' of the teeth 44 which form substantially right angled grooves 66 extending fully through the original member 60, the opposite sides of the grooves 66 forming the mitred end faces 64, 65.

When the elongate jig frame 7 has completely traversed the cutting tools 41, the bracket 25 actuates the switch 54 to stop the electric motor 29.

The electric motor 29 may then be driven in the reverse direction to return the elongate jig frame 7 to its starting position.

It will be understood that the cutting tools 41 rotate in the direction of the arrows A in the drawings. This rotational direction of the cutting tools 41 is advantageous for two reasons. Firstly, the swarf from cutting the elongate members 60 is pushed away from the jigs 13, 14 towards the ground, rather than into the recesses 24 in the clamping plates 20, 21. Secondly, the members 60 tend to be forced into the jig plates 15, 16 rather than out of the jig plates 15, 16 towards the clamping plates 20, 21.

It will be understood that a variety of jig plates 13, 14 may be constructed which are suitable for accommodating various types and cross-sections of elongate members which may be cut and mitred by the apparatus of the present invention, for example, elongate members for forming door or window frames or picture frames.

Furthermore, it will be understood that the invention may incorporate a single one or any desired number of rotary cutting tools 41 and jigs 13, 14 so that elongate members may be cut into only two or into any desired number of lengths having mitred ends according to the number of cutting tools used. This facility wil be important where an elongate member is being reduced to relatively small lengths for example in the manufacture of picture frames.

It is also to be understood that the distance between the cutting tools 41 can be varied if it is desired to cut different lengths from an elongate member, provided that the jig plates are also approximately positioned.

Referring now to figure 11, the apparatus there shown in perspective form is a continuous feed machine compared with the embodiment of figures 1 to 10 which is a reciprocating machine with batch loading and unloading.

In this case two pairs of endless feed conveyors 115, 116 replace the pairs of jig plates 15, 16 of figures 1 to 10. The conveyors are arranged in parallel and driven in the same direction in synchronism by a motor 129 connected by a chain drive 132 to a sprocket 133 which in turn drives all four conveyors by a horizontal connecting spindle 130. The upper surface of the conveyors 115,116 is driven in the direction of the arrow B. The conveyors 115, 116 and motor 129 are mounted on a base frame 104 via brackets 125.

Also mounted on the base frame 104, in a manner not shown but similar to that of the first embodiment, are a pair of rotary cutting tools 141 (only one indicated) similar to the tools 41 of figures 7 and 8. The tools 141 are disposed one between each pair of adjacent conveyors 115, 116 and are driven in common by a drive spindle 136 driven in turn by a chain drive 137 from a motor (not shown).

Each conveyor has a plurality of recesses 118 similar to the recesses 18 of figures 1 to 10. The recesses 118 are adapated to accommodate a plurality of elongate members, each such member extending across the four conveyors perpendicular to their direction of motion and being accommodated in a respective recess in each conveyor.

In use the conveyor 115, 116 are set in motion in the direction B and elongate members 60 to be cut are inserted successively into the recesses 118 for carriage to and past the rotary cutting tools 141.

Each of the latter operates as described hereinbefore to cut a right-angled groove in the members 60 and thus the two tools 141 separate each member 60 into three parts with mitred adjacent end faces. It is to be understood that the tools 141 rotate in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the recesses 118 and hence of the elongate members 60, the latter being transported by the conveyors perpendicular to their length across the cutting tools 141.

In order to hold the members 60 securely in the recesses 118 while they are being cut, endless pressure tracks 121 are mounted above the conveyors to press downwardly on the members 60.

These tracks 121 are supported from above by means not shown to permit the members 60 to pass through the apparatus without obstruction.

The cut members 60 may be collected in boxes or bins provided at the output side of the machine in this continuous feed embodiment.

It is to be recognised that in both this and the previous embodiment, the movement of the jigs (i.e. the reciprocating frame 10-12 in the first embodiment and the conveyors 115, 116 in the second embodiment) may be effected manually rather than by motor.

Claims (8)

1. Apparatus for cutting an elongate member, comprising jig means for securely holding an elongate member, rotary cutting means, and means to effect relative movement betwen the cutting means and the elongate member in a direction transverse to the latter, the cutting means being adapted to separate the elongate member into at least two parts during such movement by cutting at least one substantially right-angled groove which extends fully through the member.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jig means is adapted to securely hold a plurality of elongate members in side-by-side parallel relationship whereby the said members are cut in succession by the cutting means during the said movement.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the jig means comprises a frame for supporting the said plurality of elongate members, the said members in the frame being reciprocable transversely across the rotary cutting means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the jig means comprises at least two endless conveyors arranged in parallel and driven in synchronism in the same direction, and recesses in the conveyors adapted to accommodate a plurality of elongate members each such member extending transversely across the conveyors and being accommodated in a respective recess in each conveyor, the rotary cutting means being disposed between adjacent conveyors.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the rotary cutting means includes a plurality of individual rotary cutters spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the elongate member(s) and each adapted to cut a respective right-angled groove in the member(s).

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each rotary cutter is a generally circular cutting tool with peripheral teeth, each tooth having outer cutting edges which are at right-angles to one another.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 3 or 4, wherein the rotary cutting means includes at least one generally circular cutting tool with peripheral teeth, each tooth having outer cutting edges which are at right-angles to one another.

8. Apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1-10 or Figure 11 of the accompanying drawings.