Separating device for the chipless cutting to length of plastic workpieces, in particular plastic pipes

Abstract

A separating device for the chipless cutting to length of plastic workpieces, in particular plastic pipes, has a support part as support for the plastic workpiece and a blade which is movable relative to the support part. The separating device is configured to supply a wetting liquid to the blade at its contact point with the plastic workpiece to be machined. A method for the chipless cutting to length of a plastic workpiece uses a water-containing gel as an application lubricant for the contact points on the workpiece side during the chipless cutting to length of a plastic or plastic composite workpiece.

Claims

1.-22. (canceled)

23. A separating device for the chipless cutting of plastic workpieces, comprising: a support part as support for the plastic workpiece; and a blade that can be moved relative to the support part, wherein the separating device is configured to supply a wetting liquid to the blade at a contact point with the plastic workpiece to be machined.

24. The separating device according to claim 23, wherein a surface of the blade has a hydrophilic coating or etching and/or is provided with a structuring using capillary action.

25. The separating device according to claim 23, wherein the wetting liquid is oil-free and grease-free.

26. The separating device according to claim 23, wherein the wetting liquid is water-containing or water-based and includes a wetting agent.

27. The separating device according to claim 23, wherein the wetting liquid is bound in a gel that is applied to the blade.

28. The separating device according to claim 23, wherein the wetting liquid is supplied to the blade by an adjacent sponge or wick using capillary action.

29. The separating device according to claim 28, wherein the sponge or wick is arranged in an area of the support part or in an area of a base body holding the blade in a movable manner.

30. The separating device according to claim 23, wherein the wetting liquid is brought to the blade by a conveying device.

31. The separating device according to claim 30, wherein the conveying device has a flexible container for receiving the wetting liquid, which, by compressing or pressing in, sets at least a partial quantity of the received wetting liquid into a conveying movement.

32. The separating device according to claim 30, wherein the conveying device is movement-coupled with a drive mechanism for the blade, and wherein the drive mechanism is additionally used as a drive for the conveying device.

33. The separating device according to claim 23, wherein the separating device further comprises a collecting device for collecting a quantity of the wetting liquid flowing off the blade.

34. The separating device according to claim 33, wherein the collecting device has an absorbent structure.

35. The separating device according to claim 23, wherein the separating device has a storage container for the wetting liquid.

36. The separating device according to claim 35, wherein the storage container is arranged in a cavity of one component of the separating device.

37. The separating device according to claim 23, wherein the separating device is configured for the chipless cutting of the plastic workpieces by knife action and wherein the blade is a knife blade.

38. The separating device according to claim 23, wherein the blade has a cutting tip that is formed by two inclined planes converging towards each other at an acute angle of less than 5 degrees.

39. The separating device according to claim 23, wherein the blade has at least one cutting edge that runs in a straight line at least over a length section.

40. The separating device according to claim 23, wherein the blade is arranged so that it can move in a swiveling manner relative to the support part.

41. The separating device according to claim 23, wherein the separating device comprises two handle parts that are movable relative to each other to manually operate the separating device when cutting the plastic workpiece to length.

42. A method for the chipless cutting of a plastic pipe, comprising: providing the separating device as in claim 23; applying the wetting liquid to a surface of the blade; and pushing the blade through the plastic pipe.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein the wetting liquid is a water-containing gel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a possible embodiment of a separating device for the chipless cutting to length of plastic workpieces in a perspective illustration.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows an additional possible embodiment of a separating device for the chipless cutting to length of plastic workpieces in a perspective illustration.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows an additional possible embodiment of a separating device for the chipless cutting to length of plastic workpieces in a perspective illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] FIG. 1 showsin schematic representationa separating device 1 for the chipless cutting to length of plastic workpieces, such as plastic pipes, or other deformable workpieces. The separating device 1 is used, for example, for constructing heating and/or sanitary areas of buildings and serves, among other things, to cut pipes that are installed or to be installed to a predetermined length. The separating device 1 can be used to cut through pipes made of plastic or pipes that comprise plastic. Likewise, pipes made of multilayer composite material, so-called multilayer pipes, can be cut through by means of the separating device 1. FIG. 1 shows an example of a workpiece 100 to be cut through, which is a plastic pipe therein.

[0035] The separating device 1, for example, has a support part 4 as support for the workpiece 100 to be machined and a blade 3 that is movable relative to the support part 4 for cutting to length the workpiece 100. The blade 3 is preferably a part of a cutting part 2 or forms a cutting part 2. The separating device 1 is in particular configured to supply a wetting liquid to the blade 3 at at least one contact point or contact area 25 thereof with the workpiece 100 to be machined. The wetting liquid reduces the cutting force required to cut through the workpiece to 100, thus reducing possible deformation caused by the effective cutting force. Thus, plastic deformations of the workpiece due to the effective cutting force can be largely or completely avoided. In this respect, the wetting liquid has a lubricant function.

[0036] In order to promote the ability to wet the blade 3, the surface of blade 3 and/or cutting part 2 preferably has a hydrophilic coating or etching. In addition or alternatively, the surface of the blade 3 and/or the cutting part 2 can be provided with a structure using capillary action. For example, the structure using capillary action is formed by pores, grooves, scoring and/or a defined statistical roughness of the surface of the blade 3 and/or the cutting part 2.

[0037] The wetting liquid is preferably oil-free and grease-free or essentially oil-free and grease-free. For example, the wetting liquid is water-containing or water-based, and has in particular a small proportion of a wetting agent, such as a surfactant or an alcohol. If the separating device 1 is used to construct a water line, such as a drinking water line, the water from the water line can then be used to produce the wetting liquid or can be used directly as the wetting liquid for the separating device 1.

[0038] Preferably, the separating device 1 is manually operable in order to cut to length the workpiece 100. For example, the separating device 1 is designed as a manually operable pipe cutter. For manual operation, the separating device 1 can have two handle parts 20, 21, which can be moved against each other. Furthermore, the separating device 1 may have a base body 9 on which one of the handle parts 21, 22, in particular the handle part 21, is mounted in a manner pivotable around a pivot axis 22. Preferably, the other handle part 20 is fastened to the base body 9 in a fixed connection; in particular, it is molded onto it. The handle parts 20, 21 are preferably designed as hand levers, which can be swiveled against each other around the pivot axis 22.

[0039] The blade 3 or the cutting part 2 is preferably mounted on the base body 9 so that it can pivot around an axis of rotation 23. Preferably, the pivot axis 23 is arranged parallel or essentially parallel to the pivot axis 22. Preferably, the support part 4 is fixed to the base body 9 in such a manner that it cannot move; in particular, it is molded onto it. This structure of the separating device 1, when the handle parts 20 and 21 are actuated, in particular when the handle part 21 is pivoted in the direction of the handle part 20, exerts an actuating movement on the blade 3 or the cutting part 2 via a drive mechanism, by means of which the blade 3 or the cutting part 2 is pivoted in the direction of the support part 4. The drive mechanism may have a ratchet drive. In such a case, for example, the handle parts 20 and 21 must be pressed on relative to each other several times in order to move the blade 2 or the cutting part 2 in several stages in the direction of the support part 4 and, for example, to bring them into a cutting position on the workpiece 100.

[0040] In order to feed the wetting liquid to the blade 3 or the cutting part 2, a structure using capillary action 7 can be provided, with which the blade 3 or the cutting part 2 comes into contact, for example in the course of the cutting movement. The structure using capillary action 7 can be arranged in the area of the support part 4. The blade 3 or the cutting part 2 can brush past the structure using capillary action 7 during a movement to cut through the workpiece 100, and in this manner the blade 3 at its contact point or its contact area 25 with the workpiece 100 can be wetted with the wetting liquid.

[0041] Preferably, the structure using capillary action 7 has a material that can absorb and/or release the wetting liquid. For example, the structure using capillary action 7 has a sponge-like material or consists of a sponge-like material or sponge. Alternatively, the structure using capillary action 7 can also be a wick. According to another design, the wetting liquid can be bound in a gel, which is applied to the blade 3 or cutting part 2 in the area of the contact point or contact area 25, for example.

[0042] In FIG. 1, for example, the support part 4 is formed by two support jaws 10 and 11, which are arranged at a distance from each other, such that, upon a movement to cut through the workpiece 100, the blade 3 or the cutting part 2 dips between the support jaws 10 and 11. For example, the structure using capillary action 7 of the support jaw 10 is allocated there.

[0043] In an additional arrangement, two structures using capillary action can also be provided, such that, upon a movement to cut through the workpiece 100, the blade 3 or the cutting part 2 dips between the support jaws 10 and 11 while brushing past the two structures using capillary action. In this manner, the two cutting sides of cutting part 2 and the blade 3 are each wetted by one of the structures using capillary action.

[0044] The structure using capillary action 7 can be connected to a feed 6, such that a quantity of the wetting liquid can be fed to the structure using capillary action 7 via the feed 6. The feed 6 can have a supply line 24 that extends, for example, along one of the handle parts 20, 21, and is connected to a port 14 at the front end of one handle part 20 or 21. Through the port 14, it is possible to connect, for example, an external filling device, in order to fill the structure using capillary action 7 with the wetting liquid.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows an additional possible embodiment of a separating device 1 for the chipless cutting to length of plastic workpieces, such as plastic pipes. Components of the separating device 1 according to FIG. 2 that are identical or functionally identical to components of the separating device 1 according to FIG. 1 are marked with the same reference signs; in this respect, reference is made to the description of the separating device 1 according to FIG. 1.

[0046] The separating device 1 differs from the separating device 1 according to FIG. 1 in that, among other things, the structure using capillary action 7 is arranged on the base body 9 in the area of the cutting part 2. For example, the base body 9 has two walls 12, 13 spaced apart from each other, between which the cutting part 2 is accommodated in a movable manner. Upon a movement for cutting through the workpiece 100, the cutting part 2 skims the structure using capillary action 7 and in this manner wets the cutting part 2 or the blade 3 at its contact point or contact area 25 with the workpiece 100. In FIG. 2, the separating device 1 on the wall 12 has the structure using capillary action 7.

[0047] In principle, two structures using capillary action can also be provided, wherein one structure using capillary action is then arranged on the wall 12 and the other structure using capillary action is arranged on the wall 13. Upon a movement for cutting through the workpiece 100, the structures using capillary action then skim against the cutting part 2 or the blade 3 on both sides, such that wetting by the wetting liquid takes place on both sides of the cutting part 2 or the blade 3.

[0048] As an example, the port 14 and the supply line (not made visible in FIG. 2) are located in the handle part 20 of the disconnecting device 1, which is arranged on the base body 9 in such a manner that it cannot move.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows an additional embodiment of a separating device 1. Components of the separating device 1 that are identical or functionally identical to components of the separating device 1 according to FIG. 1 are marked with the same reference signs; in this respect, reference is made to the description of the separating device 1 according to FIG. 1.

[0050] The separating device 1 differs from the separating device 1 of FIG. 1 and the separating device 1 of FIG. 2 in that, among other things, a storage container 15 is provided for storing the wetting liquid. Preferably, the storage container 15 is integrated into a cavity 16 of the separating device 1. For example, the cavity 16 is a cavity of one of the handle parts 20, 21. A port 14 is provided on the handle 20 or 21 for filling the storage container 15, to which port a filling line can be coupled in order to fill or refill the storage container 15 with a quantity of the wetting liquid.

[0051] In this description, a reference to a particular aspect or embodiment or arrangement means that a particular feature or characteristic described in connection with that aspect or embodiment or arrangement is at least contained therein, but need not necessarily be contained in all aspects or embodiments or arrangements of the invention. It is expressly stated that any combination of the various characteristics and/or structures and/or properties described in relation to the invention are covered by the invention, unless this is expressly or unambiguously disproved by the context.

[0052] The use of individual or all examples or an exemplary manner of expression in the text is provided only to illuminate the invention and does not constitute a limitation on the scope of the invention, unless otherwise stated. Nor is any expression or wording of the description to be understood as meaning that it is an element that is not claimed but that is essential to the practice of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0053] 1 Device [0054] 1 Device [0055] 1 Device [0056] 2 Cutting part [0057] 3 Blade [0058] 4 Support part [0059] 6 Feed [0060] 7 Structure using capillary action [0061] 9 Base body [0062] 10 Supportjaw [0063] 11 Supportjaw [0064] 12 Wall [0065] 13 Wall [0066] 14 Port [0067] 14 Port [0068] 15 Storage container [0069] 16 Cavity [0070] 20 Handle part [0071] 21 Handle part [0072] 22 Pivot axis [0073] 23 Pivot axis [0074] 24 Supply line [0075] 25 Contact area [0076] 100 Workpiece