Apparatus for automatically cutting and discharging a web of material, and associated method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for automatically cutting a material web (2) with a longitudinal cutting device (60) using a material web (2) in a longitudinal direction (L) separable in at least a partial web (3) and/or at least a remaining web (4), a discharging device (10) for automatically discharging the produced remaining web (4), a transverse cutting device (70) downstream of a longitudinal cutting device (60) for cutting the remaining web (4) transversely to the longitudinal direction (L).

Claims

1. A device for cutting a material web, the device comprising: a longitudinal cutting device for cutting a material web in a longitudinal direction at least separable in at least a partial web and at least a remaining web; a discharging device for discharging the produced remaining web; and a transverse cutting device downstream of the longitudinal cutting device for cutting the remaining web transversely to the longitudinal direction, wherein the discharging device comprises at least one funnel which is configured with an inlet in order to discharge the remaining web, the discharging device can be positioned at a first roller which serves for a transport of the material web, the geometry of the funnel in the area of the inlet is at least adjusted to the geometry of the first roller, the geometry of the funnel within the area of the inlet is configured as a segment of a circle, and the device further comprises a closing element which is configurable between a closing position and an opening position, wherein in the closing position an opening of the funnel is closed and in the opening position the opening of the funnel is opened, and wherein the opening is arranged on an adjacent side of the funnel where the inlet is located.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a separation of the remaining web from the partial web occurs previous to the transverse cutting device.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the discharging device comprises multiple discharging channels in order to suction multiple remaining webs.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the discharging device comprises a suction space in which the discharging channels end.

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the discharging channels are alterable in their position to the material web.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein within the funnel a preferential roller is assembled in order to improvably discharge the remaining web.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the preferential roller is pivotably mounted within the funnel in a way that a first air stream is established which streams underneath the preferential roller and a second air stream is established which streams above the preferential roller.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein in the area of the inlet downstream to the first roller the transverse cutting device is assembled.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the discharging device comprises at least one auxiliary roller which is configurable between two positions wherein in the first position the auxiliary roller acts at the first roller and in the second position the auxiliary roller is spaced apart to the first roller.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary roller is at least pivotably or moveably mounted at the funnel.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary roller is pivotably mounted at a housing element.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the housing element comprises the closing element.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inlet of the funnel comprises an enlarged area in the direction of the transverse cutting device which is clear from the first roller.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the preferential roller extends at least partially from the funnel.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein within the funnel a stream occurs which streams underneath the preferential roller.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the preferential roller extends through a plurality of funnels assembled next to one another.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein each funnel comprises a break through.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least the funnel or the preferential roller are assembled to the longitudinal cutting device in a way that the remaining web is separated from the partial web-starting from the longitudinal cutting device.

19. A method comprising: cutting a material web with a device comprising a discharging device which is positioned at a first roller transporting the material web, wherein the device further comprises: a longitudinal cutting device upstream of the first roller via which the material web is cut in longitudinal direction in at least a partial web and at least a remaining web, a transverse cutting device downstream of the longitudinal cutting device which separates the remaining web transversely to the longitudinal direction, wherein the discharging device comprises a funnel with an inlet facing a first roller, respectively, through which the remaining web reaches the discharging device, wherein: the inlet of the funnel comprises an enlarged area which is clear from the first roller such that within the funnel a pressure situation occurs wherein after a transverse separation of the remaining web by the transverse cutting device an automatic discharging of the remaining web is affected into the discharging device, the geometry of the funnel within the area of the inlet is configured as a segment of a circle, the device further comprises a closing element which is configurable between a closing position and an opening position, wherein in the closing position an opening of the funnel is closed and in the opening position the opening of the funnel is opened, and the opening is arranged on an adjacent side of the funnel where the inlet is located.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the transverse cutting of the remaining web occurs timely delayed to a longitudinal cutting of the longitudinal cutting device.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the pressure within the funnel is adjusted by the closing element.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein previous to the transverse cutting of the remaining web the closing element takes the closing position.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the discharging device reliably discharges the remaining web the closing element is transferred to the opening position.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein an auxiliary roller abuts at the first roller when the transverse cutting occurs in order to avoid an interruption of tension in the material web.

25. The method according to claim 19, wherein within the funnel a preferential roller is assembled which reliably discharges the remaining web.

26. The method according to claim 19, wherein at least the funnel or the preferential roller are assembled to the longitudinal cutting device in a way that after the transverse cutting started from the longitudinal cutting device the remaining web is separated from the partial web.

27. The method according to claim 19, wherein a separation of the remaining we from the partial web occurs previous to the transverse cutting device, particularly the separation of the remaining web from the partial web occurs previous to the discharging device.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the separation of the remaining web from the partial web occurs previous to the discharging device.

Description

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

(2) FIG. 1 a lateral view for automatic cutting of a material web according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2a, b a possible embodiment of the device according to the invention according to FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 a further embodiment of the device according to FIG. 1,

(5) FIG. 4 a further embodiment of the device according to the invention according to FIG. 1, and

(6) FIG. 5 a further embodiment of the device according to the invention according to FIG. 1.

(7) In FIG. 1 a possible embodiment of a device 1 for automatic cutting of the material web 2 is shown. The material web 2 is shown simplified in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5 which is cut via a longitudinal cutting device 60 and a transverse cutting device 70 which is described subsequently. The device 1 comprises a discharging device 10 which comprises multiple discharging channels 11 wherein each discharging channel 11 ends in a suction space 26. At the edge on the opposite side of the suction space 26 of the suction channel 11 a funnel 12 is intended, respectively, which comprises an inlet 13 as an opening.

(8) Further, a first roller 31 is shown which is assembled spaced apart from the second roller 32. The material web 2 is guided and moved in longitudinal direction L via the second roller 32 in the direction of the first roller 31. Between both rollers 31, 32 a longitudinal cutting device 60 is assembled which cuts continuously in longitudinal direction L the material web 2 in at least a partial web 3 and a remaining web 4. In the present embodiment a cutting of the material web 1 occurs at multiple positions such that a plurality of partial webs 3 and remaining webs 4 results. The material web 2 can, for example, be a plastic film web which, for example, is continuously produced as blow or flat film and is introduced in the longitudinal direction L of the device 1 according to the invention.

(9) For example the longitudinal cutting device 60 can comprise knife elements in order to effect the described longitudinal separation at the material web 2.

(10) In order to reliably discharge the remaining web 4 and separate it from the partial web 3 downstream of the longitudinal cutting device 60 a transverse cutting device 70 is intended which penetrates with a not explicitly shown cutting element in the area of the remaining web 4. Hereby, a cut at the remaining web 4 occurs transversely to the longitudinal direction L. The blower 50 produces a corresponding negative pressure in the discharging device 10, particularly in the funnel 12, such that after transverse cutting automatically the air stream 5 acting from the outside leads the remaining web 4 into the funnel 12. The funnel 12 is positioned possibly near to the first roller 31 in order to reliably suck in the remaining web 4 into the funnel 12. It is particularly advantageous that in all embodiments the geometry of the funnel 12 in the area of the inlet 13 through which the remaining web before it is sucked into the funnel 12 is at least partially adjusted to the geometry of the first roller 31. Hereby, beneficial pressure relations within the funnel 12 can be achieved wherein at the same time it is ensured that reliably the transversely separated remaining web 4 reaches the funnel 12.

(11) Like it is shown in all embodiments, the device 1 comprises a schematically shown closing element 14 which is moveable between a closing position 21 and an opening position 22. The opening position 22 is only shown in FIGS. 2b and 5 wherein the closing element 14 is transferable in such positions 21, 22 according to all figures. Particularly, in FIGS. 2 to 4 the closing element 14 is shown in the closing position 21. The funnel 12 comprises an opening 19 which can be closed or opened by the closing element 14.

(12) The discharging device 10 comprises an auxiliary roller 15 according to FIG. 4 which is moveable or pivotable between two positions 23, 24 wherein in the first position 23 the auxiliary roller 15 abuts at the first roller 31 and in the second position 24 the auxiliary roller 15 is spaced apart to the first roller 31. Before the transverse cutting via the transverse cutting device 70 occurs, initially a longitudinal cut via the longitudinal cutting direction 60 occurs wherein the auxiliary roller 15 acts at the first roller 31 which is shown in FIG. 2a. The advantage is that with an abutting of the auxiliary roller 15 at the first roller 31 a draw interruption in the material web 2, particularly in the area of the longitudinal cutting device 60, is avoided. The discharging device 10 provides after transverse cutting that the remaining web 4 is reliably sucked into the funnel 12. In case a reliable discharge of the remaining web 4 occurs in the discharging device 10 the auxiliary roller 15 traverses from the first position 23 (FIG. 2a) in the second position 24 (FIG. 2b).

(13) According to FIGS. 2 to 4 the device 1 according to the invention comprises a preferential roller 16 which is assembled within the respective funnel 12. Like shown in FIG. 1, the preferential roller 16 penetrates all funnels 12 assembled next to one another wherein the preferential roller 16 rotates about the axis 80 wherein the device 1 is in operation. The preferential roller 16 rotates clockwise and effects an improved discharge of the remaining web 4 in the direction of the discharging channel 11, particularly in the direction of the suction space 26. Hereby, a first air stream 17 is established which streams underneath the preferential roller 16 and a second air stream 18 which streams above the preferential roller 16. The first air stream 17 facilitates that the remaining web 4 is guided reliably at the preferential roller 16 and subsequently the remaining web 4 is transported reliably in the direction of the discharging channel 11. A continuous draw demand to the material web 2 results wherein a reliable separation of the remaining web 4 from the partial web 3 occurs in the area of the longitudinal cut device 60 in case the auxiliary roller 15 is at its second position 24 according to FIG. 2b and the closing element 14 is in the opening position 22 which is only shown in FIG. 5.

(14) The second air stream 18 which streams above the preferential roller 16 effects that the remaining web 4 reliably resolves itself from the preferential roller 16 and therewith no adherence effects of the remaining web 4 result at the preferential roller 16.

(15) In a possible embodiment of the invention which is shown schematically in FIG. 2 the auxiliary roller 15 is pivotably mounted at the funnel 12. Hereby, the auxiliary roller 15 is assembled at the housing element 20 which is pivotable about an axis 81. The auxiliary roller 15 is at the same time rotatable about the axis 84. The movement of the housing element 20 can occur via a gear, particularly, an electric or pneumatic gear which is not explicitly shown. Likewise it is possible that the auxiliary roller 15 can be moved linearly between both positions 23, 24.

(16) Further, according to FIGS. 2a and 2b it can be included that the closing element 14 is assembled at the auxiliary roller 15, particularly at the housing element 20, and is integrated. Thus, when the auxiliary roller 15 is moved between both positions 23, 24, at the same time a movement of the closing element 14 in its closing position 21 or in the opening position 22 occurs. Preferably, the auxiliary roller 15 is in operative connection with the closing element 14.

(17) In case via a discharging device 10 the remaining web 4 or the remaining webs 4 are reliably discharged an opening process of the closing element 14 occurs wherein additionally ambient air can penetrate through the opening 19 into the funnel 12 which applies for the embodiment according to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5.

(18) In order to reliably suck the remaining web 4 into the funnel 12 after transverse cutting the inlet 13 of the funnel 12 comprises an enlarged area 25 in the direction of the transverse cutting device 70 which is clear from the first roller 31. The enlarged area 25 promotes that from the surroundings a great air stream 5 can penetrate into the funnel housing 27 which at the same time can push the transversely separated remaining web 4 into the funnel 12.

(19) The embodiment according to FIG. 3 shows that it is sufficient without the auxiliary roller 15 from FIG. 2 wherein all features from FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b are also shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3. Like FIG. 3, FIG. 4 corresponds mainly to the embodiment according to FIG. 2 wherein the funnel housing 27 is differently configured such that at least partially the preferential roller 16 extends through the funnel 12. According to FIG. 4 only a first air stream 17 results which streams underneath the preferential roller 16. The embodiment according to FIG. 4 comprises like FIG. 3 no preferential roller 16 wherein it is possible to combine the embodiment according to FIG. 4 with the preferential roller 16 according to FIGS. 2a and 2b.

(20) The embodiment according to FIG. 5 mainly corresponds to the embodiment according to FIGS. 2a and 2b wherein the embodiment according to FIG. 5 is sufficient without preferential roller 16 and without auxiliary roller 15. The other features of the embodiment according to FIG. 5 correspond to the descriptions from the previous described FIG. 2 to FIG. 4.

(21) In all embodiments the transverse cutting of the remaining web 4 occurs time delayed to a longitudinal cutting of the longitudinal cutting device 60. The pressure within the funnel 12 can be adjusted among others via the closing element 14 which is moveable between the closing position 21 and the opening position 22. Previous to transverse cutting of the remaining web 4 a closing element 15 takes over the closing position 21. In case after a defined time a reliable discharging of the remaining web 4 occurs via the discharging device 10 the closing element 14 is transferred to the opening position 22 wherein a supporting compensatory air stream streams into the funnel 12 via the opening 19. This compensatory air stream can effect among others that this is transferred into the second air stream 18 or triggers an improved streaming effect within the funnel 12.

(22) According to FIG. 1 which is combinable with all embodiments according to FIG. 2 to FIG. 5 the discharging channels 11 are displaceable among one another in longitudinal direction of the rotational axis of the first roller 31 such that the distance between the discharging channels 11 is adjustable. The material web 2 which is transported via the rollers 31, 32 can be cut diversely wherein at the edge of the material web 2 remaining webs 4 result which can be named edge strips. Like shown in FIG. 1, the funnels 12 are configured broadened left and right in order to suction wider remaining webs 4. Centrally to the broadened funnels 12 narrowed funnels 12 are intended in order to suction remaining webs 4 which are smaller. These more narrow remaining webs 4 can be named as central strips.

(23) It is further possible that the suction space 26 can receive all edge strips and central strips in order to introduce them into the whole process or to convey these remaining webs for disposal. Likewise it can be intended within the scope of the invention according to FIG. 1 that the suction space 26 comprises multiple cavities separated from one another, for example, the broadened discharging channels 11 which are assembled left and right and end into a first cavity and a narrower discharging channel 11 and in a separate second cavity. Therewith, the user of the device 1 according to the invention is free to further process the remaining webs 4 within the separated cavities of the suction space 21 according to a corresponding request. This means that certain remaining webs are, for example, transferred to the whole process and certain remaining webs are to be disposed. According to FIG. 1 each funnel 12 comprises a breakthrough 28 through which the preferable roller 16 extends wherein the geometry of the break through 28 corresponds mainly to the geometry of the preferential roller 16.

REFERENCE LIST

(24) 1 Apparatus 2 Material web 3 Partial web 4 Remaining web 5 Air stream 10 discharging device 11 discharging channel 12 Funnel 13 Inlet 14 Closing element 15 Auxiliary roller 16 Preferential roller 17 First air stream 18 Second air stream 19 Opening 20 Housing element 21 Closing position 22 Opening position 23 First position 24 Second position 25 Enlarged area 26 Suction space 27 Funnel housing 28 Break through 31 First roller 32 Second roller 50 Pressure means, blower 60 Longitudinal cutting device 70 Transverse cutting device 80 Axis 81 Axis 82-84 Axis