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
  • B26D3/00—Cutting work characterised by the nature of the cut made; Apparatus therefor
  • B26D3/08—Making a superficial cut in the surface of the work without removal of material, e.g. scoring, incising
• • 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
  • B26D5/00—Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
• • 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
  • B26D7/26—Means for mounting or adjusting the cutting member; Means for adjusting the stroke of the cutting member
• • 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
  • B26D7/26—Means for mounting or adjusting the cutting member; Means for adjusting the stroke of the cutting member
  • B26D7/2614—Means for mounting the cutting member
• • 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
  • B26D7/26—Means for mounting or adjusting the cutting member; Means for adjusting the stroke of the cutting member
  • B26D7/2628—Means for adjusting the position of the cutting member
  • B26D7/2642—Means for adjusting the position of the cutting member for slotting cutters
• • 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
  • B26D7/27—Means for performing other operations combined with cutting
  • B26D7/32—Means for performing other operations combined with cutting for conveying or stacking cut product
• • 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
  • B26D9/00—Cutting apparatus combined with punching or perforating apparatus or with dissimilar cutting apparatus
• • 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
  • B26D1/00—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor
  • B26D1/01—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work
  • B26D1/04—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a linearly-movable cutting member
  • B26D1/06—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a linearly-movable cutting member wherein the cutting member reciprocates
  • B26D1/08—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a linearly-movable cutting member wherein the cutting member reciprocates of the guillotine type
  • B26D1/085—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a linearly-movable cutting member wherein the cutting member reciprocates of the guillotine type for thin material, e.g. for sheets, strips or the like
• • 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
  • B26D1/00—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor
  • B26D1/01—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work
  • B26D1/12—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis
  • B26D1/25—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member
  • B26D1/34—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member moving about an axis parallel to the line of cut
  • B26D1/40—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member moving about an axis parallel to the line of cut and coacting with a rotary member
  • B26D1/405—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member moving about an axis parallel to the line of cut and coacting with a rotary member for thin material, e.g. for sheets, strips or the like
• • 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
  • B26D7/26—Means for mounting or adjusting the cutting member; Means for adjusting the stroke of the cutting member
  • B26D2007/2607—Means for mounting or adjusting the cutting member; Means for adjusting the stroke of the cutting member for mounting die cutters
• • 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
  • B26D11/00—Combinations of several similar cutting apparatus
  • B26D2011/005—Combinations of several similar cutting apparatus in combination with different kind of cutters, e.g. two serial slitters in combination with a transversal cutter
• • 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
  • B26D7/06—Arrangements for feeding or delivering work of other than sheet, web, or filamentary form
  • B26D7/0625—Arrangements for feeding or delivering work of other than sheet, web, or filamentary form by endless conveyors, e.g. belts
  • B26D7/0633—Arrangements for feeding or delivering work of other than sheet, web, or filamentary form by endless conveyors, e.g. belts by grippers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B50/00—Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
  • B31B50/14—Cutting, e.g. perforating, punching, slitting or trimming
  • B31B50/146—Cutting, e.g. perforating, punching, slitting or trimming using tools mounted on a drum
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31B50/00—Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
  • B31B50/25—Surface scoring
  • B31B50/254—Surface scoring using tools mounted on belts or chains

Definitions

• the invention concerns an apparatus and method to make blanks, in particular of cardboard.
• Apparatuses to make cardboard blanks, starting from a sheet of cardboard unwound from a reel, are known. These known apparatuses can be the continuous or intermittent type: in the first case the sheet is made to move continuously and in the second with an intermittent step-wise motion.
• the blanks achieved by the apparatus once they have been folded by means of a folding apparatus, are intended to be internal wrappers for a packet of smoking articles.
• An internal wrapper or so-called “collar” is characterized by a predefined length (L), measured longitudinally and depending on the packet to which the internal wrapper will be associated.
• L the length of the internal wrappers made by the above apparatuses with intermittent functioning assumes only two values, that is, it can only be equal to 32 mm or 36 mm. It should be noted that such apparatuses allow to make blanks of a length equal to the predefined length of the internal wrapper.
• Known apparatuses with continuous functioning comprise unwinding rolls, etching rolls and a cropper, disposed in succession along a direction of feed of the sheet.
• the unwinding rolls are two mutually contra-rotating rolls, having axes of rotation substantially orthogonal to the direction of feed, which feed the sheet toward the etching rolls.
• the latter are also two contra-rotating rolls, having axes of rotation substantially orthogonal to the direction of feed.
• the etching rolls are not the same as each other, since only one of the rolls comprises cutter elements, on one of its external surfaces, to make the etchings and/or cuts on the sheet, intended in particular to form lines of folding and closing fins in the blanks.
• the other roll, without cutter elements guarantees the correct feed of the sheet, acting as an abutment and contrast to the shearing force which the cutter elements exert on the sheet while making the etchings and/or cuts.
• the etching roll, provided with the cutter elements is divided into a number of pre-established angular portions, each of which extends circumferentially for a length equal to L.
• each angular portion etches and/or cuts a single blank, therefore, during the complete rotation of the etching rolls, a number of blanks equal to the number of angular portions of the etching roll provided by the cutter elements, are etched and/or cut successively and continuously.
• the cropper which comprises blades which shear the sheet almost orthogonally to the direction of feed so as to obtain the blank.
• the cropper is generally conformed as a pair of other contra-rotating rolls on which suitable cutters are provided.
• the cutter elements with which the etching roll is provided are disposed and conformed depending on the desired length (L) of the blank. For this reason, during use, it is necessary to replace the etching roll every time that, with the above-mentioned known apparatus, blanks of a different length (L) from the previous ones are made.
• a further disadvantage of known apparatuses is that they are not very flexible. This entails another disadvantage which characterizes known apparatuses which, as they are subject to long downtimes to allow the replacement of the etching rolls, are subject to a reduction in productivity.
• Known apparatuses with intermittent functioning comprise unwinding rolls structurally similar to those of known apparatuses with continuous functioning as described above, and downstream of the latter, in succession, an etching device and a cropping device.
• the latter are both provided with mobile blades with alternate motion between a lowered position in which they do not interact with the sheet and a raised position in which they cut the sheet when it is stationary.
• These apparatuses compared to the above described continuous functioning apparatuses, have the further disadvantage of having lower productivity and also have the same disadvantages, inasmuch as the etching device must be replaced each time that a blank of a different length L is to be produced.
• the blades of the cutter elements wear much more rapidly and therefore have to be replaced more often, thus increasing the costs of the apparatus and further reducing the productivity due to the machine downtimes for maintenance.
• One purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which is more flexible than known apparatuses.
• a further purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which has high productivity and does not require long and frequent downtimes of the machine to allow the operator to equip the apparatus for different production.
• a derived purpose of the invention is to keep constant the diameter of the etching rolls, replacing only the cutter means which will cover different angles in relation to the different measurements.
• Another purpose of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is both more economical than known apparatuses and can be controlled and managed even from remote.
• an apparatus is provided as defined in claim 1.
• a method is provided as defined in claim 1 1.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention to make blanks
• FIG. 1 is a front view of the apparatus in fig. 1 in which some details have been removed to better illustrate others;
• FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of a first version of a roll comprised in the apparatus of fig. 1 and provided with etching and cutting means;
• - Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view of a second version of the roll in fig. 3;
• - Fig. 5 is a lateral view of etching rolls comprising the roll in fig. 3;
• FIG. 6 shows blanks made using the apparatus in fig. 1 provided with the roll in fig. 3;
• Fig. 7 shows blanks made using the apparatus in fig. l provided with the roll in fig. 4;
• FIG. 8 to 1 1 are front views of the etching means of the apparatus according to the invention shown in subsequent functioning steps;
• FIG. 12 shows three time-movement Cartesian diagrams associated to different components of the apparatus in fig. 1.
• an apparatus 20 to make blanks 30, 130 (visible in figs. 6 and 7) is shown, starting from a sheet 5 of material, for example a sheet of cardboard.
• the sheet 5 is unwound from a reel 1 1 (fig. 2) and made to move forward through the apparatus 20 according to a direction of feed A (shown with an arrow in figs. 1 and 2).
• the apparatus 1 comprises feed means 1, 2 in particular conformed as rolls, so-called “unwinding rolls” since they contact the sheet 5 and allow it to unwind from the reel 1 1 and to make it advance in the direction of feed A.
• the unwinding rolls 1, 2 are mutually contra-rotating, parallel and tangent with respect to each other, with an axis of rotation substantially orthogonal to the direction of feed A, and provided with respective contact surfaces la, 2a, intended to contact, during rotation, opposite sides of the sheet 5 so as to cause a drawing by friction of the latter.
• the unwinding rolls comprise four rolls.
• the latter comprise two rolls 1 supported in rotation by a drive shaft driven by first drive means 14, advantageously step- wise rotary motors, and two rolls 2 supported in rotation by a driven shaft, which is made to rotate by means of a motor transmission system, for example of the mechanical type with gears, which allows to transmit the motion of the drive shaft to the driven shaft, and consequently to the two rolls 2.
• the unwinding rolls may comprise only two rolls, mutually contra-rotating around respective parallel axes of rotation, each roll being supported in rotation by a respective shaft.
• the position of the two rolls 2 is adjustable, also automatically, in an initial set-up step of the apparatus 20, along a substantially vertical direction, depending on the thickness of the sheet 5 being worked, thus always guaranteeing contact between the rolls and the sheet.
• the position of the two rolls 1 is fixed in the apparatus 20. Therefore the possibility of adjusting the vertical position of the two rolls 2 allows the apparatus 20 to work sheets 5 with different thicknesses, and as a consequence to make blanks of different thicknesses.
• the reciprocal position of the rolls 1 and 2 is adjusted automatically depending on the thickness of the sheet 5.
• This automatic positioning can be obtained with means which move one roll-bearing shaft with respect to the other, or by providing controlled pressure means which act on one or other of the roll-bearing shafts.
• the strength of contact between the unwinding rolls 1, 2 and the sheet 5 can also be adjusted, acting opportunely on an elastic element, not shown.
• the apparatus 20 also comprises etching and cutting means 3, 4, disposed downstream of the feed means 1 , 2 in the direction of feed A.
• the etching and cutting means 3, 4 are mutually contra-rotating rolls, parallel to each other, having axes of rotation substantially orthogonal to the direction of feed A.
• the etching and cutting means 3, 4 comprise two first rolls 3 (figs. 1, 2 and 5), equal and coaxial with respect to each other, both having their own determinate external diameter Dl (figs. 3 and 4).
• the first two rolls 3 are rotatably supported by the same drive shaft made to rotate by drive means 17, advantageously step motors.
• the second two rolls 4 are rotatably supported by a single driven shaft, parallel to the drive shaft and made to rotate by means of a motion transmission system, for example of the mechanical type with gears, which allows to transmit the motion from the drive shaft to the driven shaft, and consequently to the second rolls 4 themselves.
• a motion transmission system for example of the mechanical type with gears, which allows to transmit the motion from the drive shaft to the driven shaft, and consequently to the second rolls 4 themselves.
• the etching and cutting means may only comprise two rolls, mutually contra-rotating around respective parallel axes of rotation, each roll being supported in rotation by a respective shaft.
• the rolls 1, 2, 3 and 4 are mounted on a plate 7, interposed between them and the drive means 14, 17.
• the drive means 14, 17, and possibly also other drive means 26, described hereafter, are governed by a control and command unit 36 (fig. 1) which can be associated to more complex programming and control means 37.
• a sensor mean 38 can be provided suitable both to detect the presence of the sheet 5 and to possibly read its thickness, in order to control both the elastic pressure means (not shown) and the possible adjustment means of the interaxes of the rolls 1, 2, 3 and 4.
• Each first roll 3 comprises a first portion 3a and a second portion 3b.
• the latter is conformed as an internal bar, which can be either solid or tubular and has a smaller diameter d than the external diameter Dl of the roll 3.
• the portion 3b of each first roll 3 is rotatably supported by the drive shaft.
• the first portion 3a is conformed substantially as a hollow body, substantially cylindrical for example, which at least partly wraps and surrounds the second portion 3b. In other words, the first portion 3a is substantially coaxial to the second portion 3b and extends longitudinally around the latter.
• the first portion 3a is removably attached to the second portion 3b by means of suitable attachment means, of the known type and not shown, and therefore it is made to rotate by the drive shaft through the second portion 3b.
• each first roll 3 is provided with cutter means 9 disposed on an angular portion 18 of an external surface 19 of the same first roll 3 in order to make cuts and/or etches on the sheet 5.
• the two first rolls 3 and the two second rolls 4 are disposed so as to define, in correspondence to a zone of substantial tangency, a cutting zone in which the cutter means 9 etch and/or cut the sheet 5.
• the first portion 3a is removably attached to the second portion 3b and comprises a very wide angular portion 18, for example 1 10°, on which the cutter means 9 are made, which comprise, in correspondence to a central part, a first substantially C- shaped cutter 21.
• the cutter means 9 also comprise second cutters 22 extending, mutually parallel, on the external surface 19, for a determinate circumferential length or extension L 1 and interrupted in correspondence to the central part of the angular portion 18 where the first cutter 21 is made. This is better seen in the lateral view 15 in fig. 5, while the function of the first cutter 21 and of the second cutters 22 will be explained in more detail hereafter.
• the first portion 3a is removably attached to the second portion 3b and comprises a very narrow angular portion 18, for example 45°, on which the cutter means 9 are made which comprise the first C-shaped cutter 21 , and a plurality of third cutters 23, aligned and parallel with respect to each other, which extend on the external surface 19 for a determinate circumferential length or extension L2, less than the circumferential length LI of the first and second cutters 21 and 22.
• the cutter means 9 (that is, the first cutter 21, the second cutters 22 and the third cutters 23) project radially by a determinate height H beyond the external diameter Dl of the external surface 19 so as to be able to interact with the sheet 5 to be worked without the remaining parts of the external surface 19 interfering thus with the etching and cutting operations.
• circumferential lengths or extensions LI and L2 of the angular portion 18, that is, the part of the surface provided with the cutters 21 ; 22 or 23 is less than or at most equal to a length L of the blanks 30, 130 (figs. 6 and 7).
• first portion 3a (figs. 3 and 4) of each first roll 3 can be easily removed from the corresponding second portion 3b and replaced by another, for example provided with different cutters 21, 22 and/or 23, having circumferential lengths equal to or different from LI or L2, although the external diameter Dl remains the same, so that it is not necessary to vary, merely because of the replacement, the interaxis between the first rolls 3 and the second rolls 4.
• each of the cutters 21, 22 and/or 23 can instead be varied, depending on the etching and/or cutting operations to be carried out on sheet 5.
• the position of the second roll 4 is adjustable in a substantially vertical direction approaching or moving away from the first roll 3.
• the adjustment allows on the one hand to work sheets 5 having different thicknesses, and on the other, once the thickness of the sheets and the height of the cutter means 9 are known, to define a desired amount of penetration of the latter into the sheets 5, so as to make etchings (if the cutter of the cutter means 9 does not pass through the sheet 5 for the whole of its thickness), or cuts (if the cutter of the cutter means 9 passes through the sheet 5 for the whole of its thickness).
• Fig. 5 shows a lateral view of the etching means 3, 4 comprising the first roll shown in fig. 3, by which it is possible to make one blank 30, shown in fig. 6.
• the blank 30 is provided with four lines prepared for folding 31, hereafter defined as lines of intended folding, in correspondence to which the blank 30 will be folded to make an internal wrapper.
• the lines of intended folding 31 comprise two external lines of intended folding 31a and two lines of intended folding 31b.
• Each internal line of intended folding 31b comprises a pre-creasing and a closing fin 32 with which a lid of a packet for smoking articles to which the internal wrapper is associated will engage.
• the closing fin 32 is made using the cutter 21, and the pre-creasing of the internal lines of intended folding 31b is made using the other cutters 22.
• the external lines of intended folding 31a are defined by a continuous pre-creasing, longitudinal and substantially parallel to that of the internal lines of intended folding 31b.
• the pre- creasings of the external lines of intended folding 31a are made, for example, using an alternative version of the feed means 1, 2 of the apparatus 20, not shown.
• etching elements are made on the contact surfaces la, 2a, for example in correspondence to a median portion thereof.
• the etching elements can be complementary in shape, that is, they are disposed so that, in correspondence to protrusions of the etching elements, they face recesses of the other etching elements, and vice-versa. In this way, during use, as well as moving the sheet 5 by drawing, the feed means 1, 2 also allow to carry out the continuous pre-creasing of the external lines of intended folding 31a.
• the blank 30, and consequently the internal wrapper that can be obtained from it have a length L, measured longitudinally and equal to 80 mm for example.
• the internal wrapper wraps the smoking articles on four sides, since the internal wrapper is obtained by folding the blank 30 along the four lines of intended folding 31.
• a blank 130 is shown made with etching means 3, 4 comprising the first roll 3 shown in fig. 4.
• the blank 130 is provided with two longitudinal lines of intended folding 131, in correspondence to which the blank
• Each line of intended folding 131 in a portion without the cuts 135 separated by the join points, comprises a closing fin 132 with which a lid of a packet for smoking articles to which the internal wrapper will be associated will engage.
• the closing fin 132 is made using the cutter 21 and the cuts 135 are made using the plurality of other cutters 23.
• the blank 130 and consequently the internal wrapper 133 that can be obtained from it, have a length L, measured longitudinally and equal to 32 mm for example.
• the internal wrapper surrounds the smoking articles on three sides.
• the apparatus 20 also comprises a cropper 8, disposed downstream of the etching and cutting means 3, 4 in the direction of feed A and shown in figs. 1 and 2.
• the cropper means 8 comprise blade means 8a mobile according to an alternate motion, and a fixed support 6 supporting a fixed blade 6a, disposed to cut the blank 30. 130 in cooperation with the blade means 8a.
• the blade means 8a are driven between a lowered position in which they do not interact with the blank 30, 130 (shown in fig. 2) and a raised position in which they interact with the blank 30, 130 in order to separate each blank 30, 130 from the sheet 5 from which they have been obtained.
• the blade means 8a are driven by other drive means 26 which drive a connecting rod-handle mechanism 27 to which the blade means 8a are connected.
• the latter define the profile and the length of the cut, features which it is possible to modify by replacing the blade means 8a.
• the cropping means 8 make a cut which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of feed A along the cutting lines 34, 134 (shown in figs. 6 and 7) which separate two adjacent blanks.
• the cropping means 8 also comprise gripping means, of a known type and therefore not shown, such as suckers, which pick up the blank 30, 130 once it has been cut and separated from the sheet 5 in order to deliver it to a pick-up device located downstream of the apparatus 20.
• the cropping means 8 In order to make the cut correctly along the cutting lines 34, 134, the cropping means 8 must be positioned at a distance from the etching and cutting means 3, 4 (in particular from the tangency zone defined between the first rolls 3 and the second rolls 4) equal to the length L of the blank 30, 130 being worked, or to integer multiples of the length L.
• the functioning method of the apparatus 20 allows to obtain blanks 30, 130 starting from a sheet 5 of material, in particular cardboard.
• the method comprises a feed step during which the sheet 5 is fed forward, with an intermittent step-wise motion, by the feed means 1, 2 (that is, the unwinding rolls) and an etching and/or cutting step, simultaneous with the feed step, to obtain on the sheet 5 etchings 3 1, 131 and/or longitudinal cuts 32, 132, 135 by the etching and/or cutting means 3, 4.
• the method also comprises a separation step to separate a blank 30, 130 from the sheet 5 from which it is obtained, by means of the cropping means 8.
• the cutter means 3, 4 comprise at least a first roll 3 and at least a second roll 4 which, for the entire range of measurements provided, remain the same, that is, they keep the same external diameter Dl, and only the cutter means 9 (cutters 21, 21 and/or 23) are replaced, which, depending on the sizes of the cut, will cover different angles in the rolls 3 and/or 4.
• the first rolls 3 are made to rotate as indicated by arrow Rl, while the second rolls 4 are made to rotate as indicated by arrow R2, rotation Rl being opposite to the rotation R2.
• the method according to the present invention provides an assembly step, before the above steps, in order to removably connect the first portion 3 a of the first rolls 3 to the second portion 3 b, the first portion 3 a being first provided with cutter means 9 to make the etchings 31 ; 131 and/or the longitudinal cuts 32; 132, 135.
• the first rolls 3 and the second rolls 4 assume in succession the configurations shown in figs. 8 to 10, that is, they rotate between an initial angular position B (fig. 8) and a final angular position D (fig. 10).
• the first rolls 3 are in the initial angular position B, where an initial end of their angular portion 18 contacts the lower face of the sheet 5 substantially in correspondence with the tangency zone between the first rolls 3 and the second rolls 4.
• the cutter means 9, protruding radially outside the external diameter of the external surface 19, are positioned so as to start to engage with the sheet 5.
• a terminal end of the angular portion 18 is almost aligned with the tangency zone, in correspondence with which the points of the sheet 5 are positioned which will define the cutting lines 34, 134, that is, the edge points of the blank 30, 130.
• the cutter means 9 have finished making the cuts, the pre-creases and the closing fins on the sheet 5, even if they are still engaged with the sheet, at least partly penetrating it.
• the method comprises another sub-step in which the first rolls 3 and the second rolls 4 rotate from the final angular position D to a position of disengagement E, in which the cutter means 9 no longer engage with the sheet 5 and therefore do not etch and/or cut the sheet 5.
• the unwinding rolls 1, 2 have to move with the same law of motion as the first rolls 3 and the second rolls 4 to avoid ripping or lacerating the sheet 5. In this way, however, the unwinding rolls 1 , 2 unwind from the reel 1 1 a greater quantity of material than the length L of the blank, in particular a quantity L' equal to the quantity unwound during the rotation of the first rolls 3 and the second rolls 4 from the final angular position D to the disengagement position E.
• the unwinding rolls 1, 2 invert their respective rotations (segment Z visible in the diagram in fig. 12) by a quantity equal to that by which they rotated during the rotation of the first and second rolls 3, 4 from the final angular position D to the disengagement position E, so as to retract the sheet 5 by a quantity L'.
• the cropping means 8, in particular the blade means 8a carry out their outward travel X from their lowered position to the raised position during which they penetrate through the sheet 5 in correspondence with the cutting line 34, 134.
• the blade means 8a after a short stop with a duration T, carry out their return travel Y from their raised position to their lowered position during which they again pass through the sheet 5.
• the work cycle of the apparatus 20 has been completed, and has obtained a blank 30, 130.
• the apparatus 20 also comprises a control and management unit 36, 37, which allows to adjust the functioning of the apparatus 20, that is, in particular, to drive, advantageously step-wise, the drive means 14, 17, 26 so as to coordinate the movement of the unwinding rolls 1, 2 with that of the first and second rolls 3, 4 and that of the cropping means 8 according to the functioning of the apparatus 20 described above.
• a control and management unit 36, 37 which allows to adjust the functioning of the apparatus 20, that is, in particular, to drive, advantageously step-wise, the drive means 14, 17, 26 so as to coordinate the movement of the unwinding rolls 1, 2 with that of the first and second rolls 3, 4 and that of the cropping means 8 according to the functioning of the apparatus 20 described above.
• an apparatus 20 it is possible to obtain an apparatus 20 to achieve blanks 30, 130, in particular to form an internal casing (or "collar") for a packet for smoking articles, which is very flexible.
• the apparatus 20 can obtain blanks 30, 130 having any desired length L, simply by replacing the first portion 3a, the so-called "format part", of the first rolls 3 with another first portion suitable for the blank to be made.
• the first portion 3a will be replaced in such a way that the cutter means 9 which it is provided with extend circumferentially for an arc having a length substantially equal to length L of the blank to be produced, keeping the external diameter Dl constant.
• the apparatus 20 does not oblige the operator to entirely replace the etching and/or cutting means 3, 4 for every different length of the blank, because it is enough to replace the first portion 3a, without this causing a variation in the diameter of the first rolls 3. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to replace the second rolls 4 as well.
• This entails a considerable reduction in costs, because it is not necessary to have available a large number of first and second rolls 3, 4, in particular equal to the number of different types of blanks to be made with the apparatus.
• the first and second rolls 3, 4 are replaced by a punch and counter-punch, the punch being provided with the cutter elements that etch and/or cut the sheet.
• the punch is mobile between an operating position in which the cutter elements with which it is provided interact with the sheet, and an inactive position in which they do not interact with the sheet.
• the punch acts in the same way as the first rolls 3 of the apparatus 20 shown, and comprises a first portion, called “format part", removably attached to a second portion by attachment means of a known type.
• the cutter elements are made on the first portion, which faces the sheet and the counter-punch.
• the cutter elements have a shape and sizes that are a function of the blank to be obtained.
• the cutter elements will extend longitudinally for a length substantially equal to the length L of the blank. This variant of the apparatus operates with intermittent functioning.
• the unwinding rolls rotate, they feed the sheet forward by a quantity equal to the length L at every step, and afterward, while they are in the pause step, the punch moves from the inactive position to the operating position, in which the cutter elements with which it is provided etch and/or cut the sheet. Furthermore, again while the unwinding rolls are stationary, after etching and/or cutting the sheet the punch returns to the inactive position, and the cropping means crop the sheet in correspondence with cutting lines that separate two adjacent blanks, so as to achieve a blank separate from the sheet from which it was obtained.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Forests & Forestry (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Making Paper Articles (AREA)
• Perforating, Stamping-Out Or Severing By Means Other Than Cutting (AREA)
• Nonmetal Cutting Devices (AREA)

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• 2011
  • 2011-01-26 IT ITMI2011A000091A patent/IT1403906B1/it active
• 2012
  • 2012-01-24 EP EP16163409.2A patent/EP3061579B1/de active Active
  • 2012-01-24 PL PL16163409T patent/PL3061579T3/pl unknown
  • 2012-01-24 EP EP12707897.0A patent/EP2668009B1/de not_active Revoked
  • 2012-01-24 WO PCT/IB2012/000093 patent/WO2012101498A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2012-01-24 CN CN201280015434.8A patent/CN103534069B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2012-01-24 EP EP16163432.4A patent/EP3061580A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2012-01-24 PL PL12707897.0T patent/PL2668009T3/pl unknown
  • 2012-01-24 EP EP15157043.9A patent/EP2913167A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2012-01-24 CN CN201510592650.4A patent/CN105128071B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

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