Device for separating a tubular web

Abstract

The invention relates to a Device (10) for separating a tubular web (11) in two flat webs (12, 13) with an adjustable blade (20) for cutting the tubular web (11) and with a pulling device (30) which impinges the blade (20) with a tensile force (K) on a folding edge (14) of the tubular web (11) wherein the pulling device (30) is configured in a way that the tensile force (K) is adjustable depending on the tubular properties of the tubular web (11) and that the tensile force (K) can be mainly kept constant with constant tubular properties independent from the tubular web (11).

Claims

1. A device for cutting a tubular web comprising: an adjustable blade for cutting the tubular web; and a pulling device, comprising: a pneumatic cylinder, which pulls the blade to impinge a tensile force on a folding edge of the tubular web, a transmission mechanism, a first drag rope mechanically connecting a piston rod of said pneumatic cylinder to said transmission mechanism, and a second drag rope mechanically connecting said transmission mechanism to the blade; wherein the tensile force is automatically adjusted by the pneumatic cylinder by a movement of said adjustable blade caused by a change of a tubular width of the tubular web, wherein said movement is propagated to said piston rod through said second drag rope, said transmission mechanism and said first drag rope.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission mechanism is a rotary disc having a first belt idler on which the first drag rope is coiled and a second belt idler on which the second drag rope is coiled.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the first belt idler comprises a diameter which is smaller than a diameter of the second belt idler.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising sensors which monitor the tubular width and are operatively connected to the pneumatic cylinder, wherein the pulling device is automatically controlled by adjusting the pressure in the pneumatic cylinder, according to the tubular width alterations of the tubular web.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pulling device pulls the blade to impinge a tensile force on the folding edge of the tubular web if the tubular width of the tubular web is increasing.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a first deflection roller having a groove that receives the first drag rope, wherein the first drag rope received in the groove of the first deflection roller is aligned with the pneumatic cylinder, and a second deflection roller having a groove that receives the second drag rope, wherein the second drag rope received in the groove of the second deflection roller is aligned perpendicularly to the blade and parallel to a guidance rail that guides the blade.

7. A device for cutting a tubular web comprising: an adjustable blade for cutting the tubular web; a pulling device, comprising: a pneumatic cylinder and a pressure regulator which regulates a pressure in the pneumatic cylinder, said pulling device pulls the blade to impinge a tensile force on a folding edge of the tubular web, a transmission mechanism, a first drag rope mechanically connecting a piston rod of said pneumatic cylinder to said transmission mechanism, and a second drag rope mechanically connecting said transmission mechanism to the blade; and at least one sensor which monitors a tubular width of the tubular web and is operatively connected to the pneumatic cylinder; wherein the tensile force is automatically adjusted by the pneumatic cylinder by a movement of said adjustable blade caused by a change of the tubular width of the tubular web, wherein said movement is propagated to said piston rod through said second drag rope, said transmission mechanism and said first drag rope.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the subsequent description in which multiple embodiments are described in detail in relation to the drawings. Thereby, the described features in the claims and in the drawings can be essential for the invention each single for themselves or in any combination. It is shown:

(2) FIG. 1 a schematic drawing of a common device, and

(3) FIG. 2 a schematic drawing of the device according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(4) FIG. 1 shows a device for separating a tubular web 11 in two flat webs 12, 13 like they are known from the state of the art. This device is configured with an adjustable blade 20 which is directed to a folding edge 14 of the tubular web 11. The blade 20 can be shifted along a guidance rail 23 which extends perpendicularly to the running direction of the tubular web 11. When the tubular web 11 is broadened the blade 20 shall be shifted to the left. If the tubular web 11 is getting smaller, the blade 20 shall be shifted to the right in order to meet the folding edge 14. The device from FIG. 1 intends therefor only that the blade 20 according to the tubular web 11 in the direction towards the outside, in the picture towards the left, is impinged. The device thereby comprises a pulling device 30 with a rope drum 31 and a drag rope I which is guided to the blade 20 via a deflection roller 41. The drag rope I remains always stretched and pulls the blade 20 towards the left. However, thereby the disadvantage occurs, that the tensile force is subject to alterations and a hysteresis by the rope drum 31 during coiling or uncoiling of the drag rope I from the rope drum 31. The tension force can further not be specifically adjusted and also the tensile force does not alter due to the properties of the rope drum 31. Further it is disadvantageous that from order to order a storage of the data is not possible with which tensile force by which tubular web properties the optimal cut can be achieved.

(5) FIG. 2 shows the device 10 according to the invention for separating a tubular web 11 into flat webs 12, 13 which comprises an adjustable blade 20 for cutting the tubular web 11 and a pulling device 30 which impinges the blade 20 with an adjustable tensile force K toward a folding edge 14 of the tubular web 11 wherein the tensile force K can be adjusted according to the tubular properties. The pulling device 30 according to the invention is configured in a way that the tensile force K remains mainly constant independently from the tubular width of the tubular web 11 with constant tubular properties. Thereby, it is essential for the invention that the blade 20 is positioned exactly with an accurately adjusted tensile force K regarding the folding edge 14 of the tube 11 in order to achieve an even line between the flat webs 12, 13 and to avoid a production error when the tubular web 11 is not accurately separated or even ruptured.

(6) The pulling device 30 comprises a pneumatic cylinder 33 according to the invention which serves for adjusting and/or holding of the tensile force K at the blade 20. Using the pneumatic cylinder 33 the tensile force K can be continuously adjusted or kept at the blade 20 in dependence of the tubular properties. Likewise, the force which the tubular web 11 performs to the blade 20 itself can be retained optimally by the pneumatic cylinder 33. Thereby, the blade 20 can be adjusted until the tensile force K comprises an optimal strength for cutting the film or web 11. By a refilling or release of the compressed air in the pneumatic cylinder 33 the tensile force K can be kept almost constant at the blade 20 with constant tubular properties. If the broadening tubular web 11 acts on the blade 20 with a decreasing force the compressed air can be led into the pneumatic cylinder 33 in order to increase the tension at the blade 20 towards the force of the tubular web 11 until the blade 20 reaches the position by which the tensile force K is in accordance with the desired value. The tubular web 11 can thereby be cut even independently from its width with a suitable almost constant tensile force K. The material of the tubular web 11 is thereby preferably saved and the flat webs 12, 13 achieve a possibly even separation line. The pneumatic cylinder 33 can be used for different orders. For each new order or when alterations of the tubular web properties occur within one order the pressure level in the pneumatic cylinder 33 can be adapted by a supply or a release of the compressed air, which corresponds to the optimal tensile force K at the blade 20 which leads to a preferably even cut. The pneumatic cylinder 33 can thereby be controlled quickly so that alterations of the tubular thickness and the tubular stiffness and the tubular width can be compensated also during one order. The pneumatic cylinder 33 according to the invention comprises small friction losses, requires less energy for controlling and further requires no keeping of the blade 20 with a constant tensile force K, tubular width and tubular properties. Instead of the pneumatic cylinder 33 alternatively a hydraulic drive or an electric drive can be used.

(7) The pulling device 30 according to the invention further comprises a transmission mechanism 31, 32 which transmits the effect of the pneumatic cylinder 33 to the blade 20 with a transmission factor D/d. The transmission mechanism 31, 32 is configured in form of a rotary disc 31, 32 with a first cable drum 31 on which a first drag rope I is coiled and with a second cable drum 31 on which a second drag rope II is coiled. The first cable drum 31 thereby comprises a diameter d which is smaller than a diameter D of the second cable drum 32. Advantageously, therewith a transmission ratio D/d can be achieved which increases the possible adjusting range of the blade 20 compared to the stroke of the pneumatic cylinder 33 about the factor D/d.

(8) The pneumatic cylinder 33 is thereby connected with the first cable drum 31 using the first drag rope I wherein the second cable drum 32 is connected with the blade 20 via the second drag rope II. The first I and the second drag rope II can be produced from solid, not flexible material so that the hysteresis effects can be avoided. The tensile force K at the second drag rope II can be decreased about the ratio d/D by the transmission mechanism 31, 32 as a force at the first drag rope I. Therefore, relatively small accurate tensile forces can be achieved at the blade 20 while the adjusting range of the blade 20 can be increased at the guidance rail 23. Therefore, the blade 20 can comprise a not shown sliding element in order to be shifted along the guidance rail 23 perpendicular to the running direction L of the tubular web 11. Advantageously, a very accurate tensile force K can be adjusted at the blade 20 wherein the blade 20 can be adjusted relatively far at the guidance rail 23. Therewith, the forces can be absorbed even faster and more accurately which the tubular webs 11 with different widths perform to the blade 20. The transmission mechanism 31, 32 enables a flexible keeping of the tensile force K together with the pneumatic cylinder 33 in reaction to alterations of the tubular width so that the tubular web 11 is not damaged.

(9) The pulling device 30 according to the invention further enables that the optimal tensile force K can be determined and saved for the different tubular probabilities. This optimal tensile force K can be further reproduced exactly by adjusting of the appropriate pressure in the pneumatic cylinder 33. Thus, for different orders the optimal tensile force K can be registered in order to be saved according to tubular properties like tubular thickness and/or hardness as a recipe. Further, the tensile force K can be kept possibly constant according to the width of the tubular web 11 within the scope of one order by controlling the pressure in the pneumatic cylinder 33. Therefore, alterations of the tubular properties and tubular widths can be absorbed quickly, selectivity and elastically from order to order and also during one order. Advantageously, the tensile force K has a linear characteristic line in dependence from the pressure in the pneumatic cylinder 33 so that the tensile force K can be adjusted precisely and easily.

(10) The transmission mechanism 31, 32 is according to the invention moveably mounted at a housing 40 of the device 10. The device 10 further comprises a first deflection roller 41 which serves for adjusting the first drag rope I in alignment with the pneumatic cylinder 33 and a second deflection roller 42 which serves for aligning the second drag rope II perpendicularly to the blade 20 and parallelly to the guidance rail 23. Advantageously, the first drag rope I is assembled directly at the piston of the pneumatic cylinder 33. The transmission mechanism 31, 32 can therewith transmit the tensile forces between the pneumatic cylinder 33 and the blade 20 by the deflection rollers 41, 42 and the drag ropes I, II. According to the invention, the tubular web 11 is guided to the blade 20 via a deflection roller 15 which is adjusted perpendicularly to the running direction L of the tubular web 11 and parallelly to the guidance rail 23. The tubular web 11 can for example be guided to the device 10 according to the invention for cutting for example after the production via the deflection roller 15. Further it is possible that the two flat webs 12, 13 are guided to two separated wrapping devices after separation of the layers of the tubular web 11.

(11) The blade 20 comprises two blade elements 21, 22 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Two blade elements 21, 22 preferably serve for availability at all times for cutting of the tubular web 11 during a running web of a blade element 21, 22, also when the other blade element 21, 22 has to be exchanged or repaired. The blade elements 21, 22 according to the invention are configured as round plate shear plates. Each round plate shear plate 21, 22 comprises a rotating round plate 24, 25 for guiding of the tubular web 11 and a cutting edge 26, 27 for cutting of the tubular web 11. The round plates 24, 25 are positioned in a way that the tubular web 11 surrounds them from the outside before cutting wherein the cutting edges 26, 27 remain outside of the tubular web 11. The cutting edges 26, 27, which represent a wearing part, can be positioned freely accessible outside of the tubular web 11 and can be exchanged, if necessary, with a running web. The other blade element 21, 22 with the remaining cutting edges 26, 27 can be used further for cutting of the tubular web 11, also while the other cutting edge 26, 27 is exchanged. The material of the tubular web 11 is inserted between the rotating round plates 24, 25 and the cutting edges 26, 27 for cutting. Thereby, the round plates 24, 25 roll from the cutting edges 26, 27 wherein the tubular web 11 pushes the round plates 24, 25 at the sharp cutting edges 26, 27 and they are cut like within a scissor.

(12) Advantageously, the pulling device 30 according to the invention can be automatically controlled in dependence from the tubular properties and the tubular width. If the tubular properties remain constant, the alteration of the pressure in the pneumatic cylinder 33 can be a sign that the tubular width alters. For controlling the pulling device 30 the pressure in the pneumatic cylinder 33 can be monitored. When the tubular width is increasing and the piston is pulled out of the pneumatic cylinder 33 with a decreasing force, the pressure in the pneumatic cylinder decreases. This is a sign that the tubular width increases and that the pulling device 30 or the pneumatic cylinder 33 have to be switched on. The pneumatic cylinder 33 comprises a compressed air connection 34 on the piston side through which compressed air is led into the pneumatic cylinder 33. The piston rod 36 is then pulled into the pneumatic cylinder 33 and the first drag rope I stretches again. The first drag rope I is coiled from the smaller belt idler 31 and the smaller belt idler 31 is turned to the right together with the rotary disc 31, 32. Thereby, the tension at the second drag rope II is increased and the second drag rope II is coiled to the large belt idler 32 and the blade 20 is pulled to the left. The compressed air supply is then again turned off when the desired pressure is reached in the pneumatic cylinder 33 which corresponds to the optimal tensile force K for the tubular web 11 with the special properties from the present order. Therewith, the tensile force K can be kept almost constant at the blade 20 also while the tubular web 11 is broadened. If the tubular width is decreasing during the production, the blade 20 is moved to the right by the tubular web 11 itself. Thereby, the second drag rope II is uncoiled from the large belt idler 32 and the rotary disc 31, 32 is turned to the left. Thereby, the first drag rope I is coiled on the small belt idler 31 and the piston rod 36 is pulled out of the pneumatic cylinder 33. The pressure in the pneumatic cylinder 33 increases. Then the compressed air is led out of the pneumatic cylinder 33 by the compressed air connection 34 until the desired pressure is again reached in the pneumatic cylinder 33 which corresponds to an optimal tensile force K at the blade 20 for this order. Therefore, the device 10 can comprise a not shown control device in order to counteract alterations of the tubular width by maintaining the pressure within the pneumatic cylinder 33 within the scope of one order. The control device can be in connection with a pressure regulator 35 which is schematically shown in FIG. 2.

(13) For another order by which the tubular web 11 is produced with other properties like the tubular thickness and tubular hardness another pressure in the pneumatic cylinder 33 and another tensile force K at the blade 20 can provide the optimal cutting result. For different orders and different tensile webs 11 the device 10 can save a so called recipe for example in a storage of the control device. The recipe can include which pressure in the pneumatic cylinder 33 and which tensile force K at the blade 20 are optimal for which order or for which tubular webs 11. Further, the invention can intend that during an order the tubular thickness and/or hardness is monitored by conventional sensors 37 in order to adjust the pressure in the pneumatic cylinder 33 and therewith the tensile force K at the blade 20 likewise depending from the properties of the tubular web 11.

(14) In summary the pulling device 30 according to the invention enables an automatic adjustment of the tensile force K at the blade 20 in dependence from the given properties of the tubular web 11. Thereby, it can be possible that the differences in tubular properties are recognized by variations so that the pressure in the pneumatic cylinder 33 and the tensile force K at the blade 20 are adjusted with the running web. The invention further proposes that with constant tubular properties the pressure in the pneumatic cylinder 33 can be kept constant by supply or release of the compressed air independently from the tubular width. Then, according to the tubular width a suitable position of the blade 20 can be adjusted on the guidance rail 23 by which the blade 20 has an effect on the tubular web 11 with an optimal tensile force K for cutting of the tubular web 11. The device 10 according to the invention thereby comprises the pressure regulator 35 in order to regulate the pressure in the pneumatic cylinder 33. When with constant tubular properties the pressure in the pneumatic cylinder 33 is kept constant the tensile force K at the blade 20 remains likewise mainly constant. Advantageously, therewith an improved cutting result can be achieved.

(15) The invention thereby assumes that the pulling device 30 adjusts the blade 20 to the left when the tubular width at the tubular web 11 is increased. If however the tubular width of the tubular web 11 decreases, the blade 20 is adjusted to the right simply by the tubular web 11. The pneumatic cylinder 33 enables further in dependence of the tubular properties a very exact adjustment of the tensile force K with which the blade 20 can influence the tubular web 11 in order not to rupture the tubular web 11. The transmission mechanism 31, 32 serves for the fact that at the same time the blade 20 can be adjusted relatively far to the left and right on the guidance rail 23 in order to be able to cut the tubular webs 11 in different widths. Advantageously, the device 10 according to the invention comprises simple components which are cost efficient and uncomplicated in assembly.

REFERENCE LIST

(16) 10 Device 11 Tubular web 12 Flat web 13 Flat web 14 Folding edge of the tubular web 15 Deflection roller 20 Blade 21 First blade element 22 Second blade element 23 Guide rail 24 First round plate 25 Second round plate 26 First cutting edge 27 Second cutting edge 30 Pulling device 31 Transmission mechanism/rotary disc 32 Transmission mechanism/rotary disc 31 First belt idler 32 Second belt idler 33 Pneumatic cylinder 34 Compressed air connection 35 Pressure regulator 36 Piston rod 37 Sensors 40 Housing 41 First deflection roller 42 Second deflection roller I First drag rope II Second drag rope L Running direction of the tubular web K Tensile force