GB2387138A

GB2387138A - Sheet slitting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2387138A
Application number: GB0207794A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Robert Francis King
Original assignee: ALPHA CONVERTING EQUIPMENT Ltd
Current assignee: ALPHA CONVERTING EQUIPMENT Ltd
Priority date: 2002-04-04
Filing date: 2002-04-04
Publication date: 2003-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 2022-04-04
Also published as: GB2387138B8; GB2387138B; GB0207794D0

Abstract

Sheet slitting apparatus comprising a plurality of slitting blades 4 mounted for transverse movement across the width of a sheet to be slit thereby and securable in respective predetermined positions across the sheet width and means 30 moveable transversely of the sheet width and arranged to release each slitting blade 4 from its secured position across the sheet width and to set each blade 4 individually in its slitting or non-slitting position.

Description

- 1 SHEET SLITTING APPARATUS

DESCRIPTION

s This invention relates to apparatus for slitting continuous sheets, such as paper or plastics sheets, and is especially, but not exclusively, related to such apparatus for positioning and securing slitting blades laterally of a sheet to be slit, in order to 10 set the required slitting widths for the sheets, for setting the blades in their slitting or nonslitting positions and/or for releasing the blades from their positions across the sheet width for repositioning.

1: With known sheet slitting apparatii, it is common practice to employ an arrangement for positioning slitting blades, wherein it is necessary to secure by, say, clamping, blade holders, and thus the associated blades, in predetermined positions across the width of 20 a sheet to be slit, which involves the automatic release of the blade holder clamps during positioning operations. Control of the securement and release of the blade holders in and from their predetermined positions is normally effected by either engaging a 25 clamp operated by an air cylinder associated with each blade holder or by using a full length clamping strip which acts against the holders to retain them in their predetermined positions across the width of the sheet to be slit.

Also, it may be necessary to set some of the blades in respective slitting positions and some in

respective non-slitting positions, which is usually carried out by an air cylinder and control system associated with each blade holder.

5 Thus, with these known forms of sheet slitting apparatus, each blade holder is provided with its own means, such as the air cylinder and control system discussed above, for securing the holder, and hence its associated slitting blade, in a predetermined 10 position across the width of the sheet to be slit and for locating the blade in its slitting or non-slitting position. It is an object of the present invention to 15 eliminate, or at least substantially reduce, the disadvantages associated with the known types of sheet slitting apparatus discussed above, whereby the necessity to provide individual control cylinders and associated electrical and/or pneumatic/hydraulic means 20 for securing and for setting the slitting or non-

slitting position of each blade holder is eliminated, thereby reducing manufacturing and maintenance costs.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the invention 25 resides in sheet slitting apparatus comprising a plurality of slitting blades mounted for transverse movement across the width of a sheet to be slit thereby and means movable transversely of the width of a sheet to be slit and arranged to set each blade 0 individually in its slitting or non-slitting position.

- - A second aspect of the invention provides sheet slitting apparatus comprising a plurality of slitting blades mounted for transverse movement across the width of a sheet to be slit thereby and securable in respective predetermined positions across the sheet width and means moveable transversely of the sheet width and arranged to release the slitting blades from said respective predetermined positions for repositioning transversely of the sheet width.

À - -.

1) À A third aspect of the invention resides in sheet À, slitting apparatus comprising: À:. a plurality of slitting blades mounted for À.

transverse movement across the width of a sheet,.

. to be slit thereby and securable in respective In...DTD: predetermined positions across the sheet width; means moveable transversely of the sheet 2( width and arranged to release each slitting blade from its secured position across the sheet width and to set each blade individually in its slitting or non-slitting position.

2: In the first, second and/or third aspects of the invention defined above, as the case may be, each slitting blade is preferably mounted for transverse movement across the width of a sheet to be slit by means of a holder to which the blade is mounted, for 0 example, pivotally or slidably, for movement of the blade between its slitting and non-slitting positions.

The holder may be slidably mounted upon an elongate

member, such as a bar or linear bearing rail extending across the width of a sheet to be slit.

Each slitting blade may be pivotally mounted to s its holder by means of a carrier upon which the blade is mounted, preferably rotatably if the blade is in the form of a slitting wheel.

The blade-setting and/or blade-release means is e..e 10 preferably mounted for transverse movement with..

respect to the sheet width parallel to the elongate À.: member upon which any blade holder is slidably.

mounted... 15 Also, the blade-setting and/or blade-release 6665.' means may comprise a first actuator arranged to engage.'...DTD: each blade, for example, via any blade holder, and for moving such holder, and its associated slitting blade, transversely of the sheet width to a predetermined 20 position.

Such an actuator may be shaped to engage a correspondingly-shaped part of any blade holder and may also be moveable between respective extended 2s holder-engaging and retracted positions by means of, say, a hydraulic/pneumatic cylinder.

The blade-setting and/or blade-release means may also comprise a second actuator for releasing each 30 slitting blade from its predetermined position transverse of the sheet, which second actuator may also be used to set individual blades in their

alternative slitting or non-slitting positions. In an embodiment to be described in more detail hereinbelow, the first and second actuators can act together to set individual blades in their slitting or non-slitting 5 positions.

A third actuator may be provided for setting individual blades in their slitting or non-slitting positions, in which case, the second actuator is used 10 only for releasing the blades form their respective ' ' predetermined positions across the sheet., When a slitting blade holder is employed, the I second actuator may be arranged to act upon a carrier. ' 15 for the slitting blade, the carrier preferably being mounted pivotally to the holder. Also, that second:, actuator may be employed to secure, for example, by clamping means, each slitting blade individually in its predetermined position across the width of a sheet 20 to be slit. Such a release and securing arrangement may comprise one or more levers, preferably mounted, for example pivotally or slidably, to the associated blade holder, with a clamp arranged to engage releasably any elongate member upon which the blades 25 are, say, slidably mounted.

A component of the apparatus, for example, the blade holder, may include a latch member which, in a first position, is capable of retaining its slitting 30 blade in its operative slitting position, whilst also being engagable by the first actuator for positioning each slitting blade, preferably via an associated

blade holder, at its predetermined position transversely of the sheet width.

The latch member may be moveable between its first position and a second position in which the corresponding slitting blade is placed in its inoperative non-slitting position.

The first and second actuators are preferably 0 mounted for movement in unison transversely of the width of a sheet to be slit.

Operation of the various components of the apparatii, such as the positioning means, may be l: controlled by any suitable means, for example, a computer. In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred embodiment of continuous sheet 20 slitting apparatus will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the general 2: layout of apparatus for slitting continuous sheet; and Figure 2 is a side elevation of a blade holder of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

() Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, apparatus for slitting continuous sheets, such as paper or plastics sheets, comprises a

- 7 plurality (only one shown) of slitting blade holders, indicated generally at 1, and a device, indicated generally at 30, for positioning each slitting blade holder 1 at a predetermined position along the length 5 of a dovetailed bar 2 upon which the holder 1 is slidably mounted and which extends across the width of a sheet to be slit.

As shown in Figure 2, the dovetailed mounting to bar 2 is secured to a circularly-cross sectioned beam 3 by any suitable means, which beam 3 is rotatable between working and non-working positions of the blade holders 1.

15 A circular slitting blade 4 is rotatably mounted on an axis 5 to a blade carrier 6 which is pivotally mounted at 7 to a boss 9 projecting from a main body 8 of the slitting blade holder 1.

20 An upwardly-projecting arm 10 of the blade carrier 6 has one end of a tension spring 11 secured thereto, with the other end of the spring being secured to the holder body 8. Thus, the arm 10 is biased towards the holder body 8 about the pivot 7.

2: Adjacent the upper end of the arm 10, is an adjusting screw 12 which is threadedly engaged in a threaded bore 13 passing generally horizontally through the arm 10.

-8 The right-hand free end of the adjusting screw 12 bears against a doglegged arm 14 which, at 15, is pivotally mounted to the holder body 8.

5 The upper end of the pivot arm 14 is provided with a rotatable wheel 16, whilst the lower end of the pivot arm 14 is shown bearing against the upper end of another arm 17 which, at 18, is also pivotally mounted to the holder body 8. The lower end region 19 of the . JO pivot arm 17 constitutes a clamp for detachably '.

,, securing the blade holder 1 to the mounting bar 2 at a predetermined position along the length thereof.

A latch member 21 is mounted pivotally at 22 to 15 the holder body 8 and, also, is located partially within a channel 23 in the upper surface of the holder body 8.

The latch member 21 is biased upwardly, in this 20 case by a spring (not shown), and has, at its left-

hand end, a nose 24 which, in Figures 1 and 2, is shown as being engaged within a corresponding-shaped but slightly over-sized recess 25 in the pivot arm 14.

25 The positioning device 30 comprises a carrier 31 which is mounted for driven movement along a linear actuator 32 lying parallel to the mounting bar 2 upon which each slitting blade holder 1 is slidably mounted. Connected to the main unit 31 of the positioning device 30, by means of an angle bracket 33, are two

operators, indicated generally at 34 and 35, each comprising a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 36, 37 for operating respective actuators 38, 39.

j The actuator 38 is arranged to engage the wheel 16 mounted rotatably at the upper end of the pivot arm 14, whilst the other actuator 39 is arranged to engage the latch member 21, such engagement being effected by the square cross-section of the member 21 being 10 received within a correspondingly-shaped slot 40 in i .. the lower face of the actuator 39. '.

In use of the sheet slitting apparatus described ' above, with the beam 3 in its non-working position and asps 15 with a plurality of slitting blade holders 1 mounted slidably upon the dovetailed mounting bar 2, the.

slitting blade holders 1 and positioning device 30 are in respective positions shown in Figures 1 and 2.

20 In order to position the slitting blade holders 1 at predetermined intervals along the mounting bar 2, to determine the slitting widths of a continuous sheet to be slit by the apparatus, the device 30 is positioned above a desired one of the slitting blade 25 holders 1, with the actuator 39 lying in-register with the latch member 21 and, similarly, with the actuator 38 located directly above the wheel at the upper end of the pivot arm 14.

30 Next, the actuator 39 is extended downwardly by its hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 35, until it

-10 engages the latch member 21, with that member 21 being received snugly within the groove 40.

The actuator 38 is then, or simultaneously extended downwardly, to engage the wheel 16 and further downward extension of that actuator 38 causes the arm 14 to pivot anti-clockwise about the pivot 15, such that the lug 24 of the latch member 21 is disengaged from the recess 25 of the pivot arm 14.

10......

As can be seen from Figure 2, anti-clockwise,, pivotal movement of the arm 14 about the pivot 15 urges the blade carrier 6 to pivot about its pivot 7 Cal against the bias of the tension spring ll.: ' c.. Simultaneously, the lower end of the pivot arm 14, which engages the upper end of the pivot arm 17, urges that arm 17 to pivot in a clockwise direction about the pivot 18, thereby releasing the clamp 19 20 from the mounting bar 2, so that the slitting blade holder 1 is released and can be slid along that bar 2 to be repositioned therealong. This repositioning of the slitting blade holder 1 along the mounting bar 2 is effected by movement of the positioning device 30 25 along the linear actuator 32.

When the slitting blade holder 1 has been repositioned in a new predetermined position along the length of the mounting bar 2, the actuator 39 is 30 maintained in engagement with the latch member 21, whilst the actuator 38 is retracted upwardly, such that the arm 14 is pivoted in a clockwise direction

- 11 about the pivot 15 and, as a consequence, the plVOt arm 17 is pivoted in an anti-clockwise direction about the pivot 18, thereby engaging the clamp 19 firmly with the mounting bar 2.

-At this stage, the slitting blade holder l is retained firmly in its new predetermined position along the length of the mounting bar 2, so that when the actuator 39 is retracted upwardly Lo disengage lO from the latch member 21, there is no disturbance of the slitting blade holder 1 from that position.

., Also, the clockwise pivotal movement of the arm..

14 about the pivot 15 prior to the upward retraction À.' 15 of the actuator 39, causes the nose 24 of the latch member 21 to engage in the recess 25 of the pivot arm ' 14, thereby setting the blade carrier 6, and as. 2 ' consequence the slitting blade 4, in its slitting position. If, however, the slitting blade 4 is not required to carry out a slitting operation at this particular predetermined position, namely when the slitting blade holder 1 is in its new predetermined position along 2: the length of the bar 2 and with both actuators 38, 39 in their fully extended positions, the actuator 39 is first retracted upwardly to disengage from the latch member 21, so that that member 21 is biased, for example, by its compression spring, in a clockwise 30 direction about the pivot 22 clear of the arm 14, such that, when the other actuator 38 is retracted upwardly, the nose 24 of the latch member 21 is

-12 located above and clear of the pivot arm 14. In this condition, and when the actuator 38 is moved upwardly to disengage the wheel 16 at the upper end of the pivot arm 14, that arm 14 is caused to pivot in a clockwise direction about the pivot 15 by the urging action of the arm 10, and hence the adjusting screw 12, of the blade carrier 6 under the biasing force of the tension spring 11, to move the blade holder 6, and hence the blade 4 itself, into its non-slitting 10 position.

The beam 3 is now rotated into its working + position, such that selected blades 4 in their.;.= slitting positions, engage respective lower blades e.C.

15 (not shown).

s or The apparatus may also comprise control means, such as computeroperable control means, for controlling operation of the slitting blades 4 in 20 positioning them in their respective predetermined positions across the width of a sheet to be slit, for controlling operation of the positioning means 30 and, also, for controlling the operation of the actuators 38, 39 whereby each slitting blade 4 can be set in its 2: slitting position or non-operative position, and of the securing clamp 2 by which each blade 4 is, via its holder 1, secured releasably to the transverse mounting bar 2.

30 Whilst each blade holder 1 is in its respective predetermined position along the length of the bar 2 and secured thereto by the clamp 19, another knob 41

-13 can be actuated, in this case by a linear downward movement, to release and remove readily the whole blade holder assembly, including the blade carrier 6 and blade 4, from the mounting bar 2.

- In this manner, individual blade holder assemblies can be removed from the bar 2 without disturbing the remaining blade holder assemblies.

10 Thus, it can be seen that the invention provides sheet slitting apparatus which employs a single positioning device 30 for positioning individual ones of a plurality of blades 4 across the width of a sheet to be slit, in predetermined positions, for securing 1: the blades in these positions to perform a slitting operation, for releasing the blades from those positions for repositioning and for setting the so-

positioned blades 4 in slitting or non-slitting positions with respect to a sheet to be slit. In this 20 way, the need for an actuating cylinder associated with each blade holder, as well as any associated control system, is eliminated.

Claims

Sheet slitting apparatus comprising: 5 a plurality of slitting blades mounted for transverse movement across the width of a sheet to be slit thereby and securable in respective predetermined positions across the sheet width; 10 means moveable transversely of the sheet width and arranged to release each slitting blade I' from its secured position across the sheet width s,7, and to set each blade individually in its c slitting or non-slitting position..'
2. Apparatus according to claim l, wherein each c,; slitting blade is mounted for transverse movement..,,.

across the width of a sheet to be slit by means of a holder to which the blade is mounted, for example, 20 pivotally or slidably, for movement between its slitting and non-slitting positions.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each blade is mounted pivotally or slidably to its holder.
4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the holder is slidably mounted upon an elongate member, such as a bar or linear bearing rail, extending across the width of a sheet to be slit.

- l) -
5. Apparatus according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein each slitting blade is mounted pivotally to its holder by means of a carrier upon which the blade is mounted.
6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said blade-setting and/or blade-release means is mounted for transverse movement with respect to the sheet width parallel to the elongate member upon which the blade holder is slidably mounted.
7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said blade-setting and/or blade-release means comprises a first actuator arranged to engage each blade, for example, via any blade holder, and to move the blade, for example, via any blade holder, transversely of the sheet width to a predetermined position thereacross.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, when dependent 20 upon any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the first actuator is shaped to engage a correspondinglyshaped part of the blade holder.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, when dependent 25 upon any of claims 2 to 7, wherein the first actuator is moveable between respective extended holder-

engaging and retracted positions by means of, say, a hydraulic/pneumatic cylinder.

30
10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said bladesetting and/or blade-release means comprises a second actuator arranged to release each

-16 slitting blade from its predetermined position transverse of the sheet.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the 5 second actuator is also arranged to set individual blades in their alternative slitting or non-slitting positions.
12. Apparatus according to claim lO or 11, when 10 dependent upon any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the first I'm.

. and second actuators act together, to set individual. v.

blades in their slitting or non-slitting positions.
13. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 10,..

15 wherein a third actuator is provided for setting Is individual blades in their slitting or non-slitting '', positions. -
14. Apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 13, 20 when dependent upon any of claims 5 to 9, wherein the second actuator is arranged to act upon the carrier for the slitting blade.
15. Apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 14, 25 when dependent upon any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the second actuator is arranged to secure, for example, by clamping means, each slitting blade individually in its predetermined position across the width of a sheet to be slit.
16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said release and securing arrangement comprises one or more

levers, preferably mounted, for example, pivotally or slidably, to an associated blade holder, with a clamp arranged to engage releasably any elongate member upon which the blades are slidably mounted.
17. Apparatus according to claim 2 or any of claims 3 to 16 when dependent thereon, wherein the blade holder includes a latch member which, in a first position, is capable of retaining its slitting blade in its IO operative slitting position, whilst also being engagable by the first actuator for positioning each slitting blade, preferably via an associated blade À.. holder, at its predetermined position transversely of the sheet width.....

eras
18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the,.

latch member is moveable between its first position and a second position in which the corresponding slitting blade is placed in its inoperative non 20 slitting position...CLME:
19. Apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 17 when dependent upon any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the first and second actuators are mounted for movement in 25 unison transversely of the width of a sheet to be slit.
20. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein operation of the apparatus is controllable by 0 a computer.