Sharpening system for cutter blades for cutting flexible materials in automatic cutting machines

Abstract

The sharpening system for cutter blades for cutting flexible materials in automatic cutting machines comprises at least one sharpening element, and it also comprises a first sharpening module that includes at least one first sharpening element, and a second sharpening module that includes at least one second sharpening element. It provides a sharpening system that offers an integral and simple solution to current sharpening systems by incorporating an active sharpening system in the guide plate, either in the rotary area or on the outside, or symmetrically in the upper part of the lower body of the cutting head, interchangeably.

Claims

1. A modular sharpening system for a cutter blade for cutting flexible materials mounted in an automatic cutting machine, comprising a blade and at least one sharpening element that can move toward the blade, a pressure and a position being modified depending on wear and type of sharpening, comprising a first sharpening module that includes at least one first sharpening element, and a second sharpening module that includes at least one second sharpening element, characterized in that the sharpening system comprises a guide plate consisting of an outer disc and an inner disc that are mounted around the blade, said first and second sharpening modules being on the inner disc, being integral to the rotary motion of the blade, rotating at the same time as the blade.

2. The sharpening system according to claim 1, wherein said first sharpening module comprises two first sharpening elements placed facing each other on both sides of the blade.

3. The sharpening system according to claim 2, wherein said first sharpening element(s) and said second sharpening element(s) are chosen from the group of friction members, rotary disc, rotary drum and abrasive belt.

4. The sharpening system according to claim 1, wherein said first sharpening module also comprises at least one lubricant applicator, which applies a layer of lubricant to the blade.

5. The sharpening system according to claim 4, wherein said first sharpening module comprises two lubricant applicators, situated facing each other on both sides of the blade.

6. The sharpening system according to claim 1, wherein said first sharpening element(s) is(are) movable and move toward and away from said blade.

7. The sharpening system according to claim 6, comprising a position control to move the first and second sharpening elements forward.

8. The sharpening system according to claim 1, wherein said second sharpening module comprises two second sharpening elements placed facing each other on both sides of the blade.

9. The sharpening system according to claim 1, wherein said second sharpening element(s) is(are) rotary around the central axis thereof.

10. The sharpening system according to claim 1, wherein said second sharpening element(s) is(are) movable and move toward and away from said blade.

11. The sharpening system according to claim 1, wherein said inner disc is mobile with respect to said outer disc.

12. The sharpening system according to claim 1, wherein said outer disc comprises electrical contacts complemented with conductive tracks of said inner disc, for actuating said sharpening elements.

13. The sharpening system according to claim 12, wherein said electrical contacts power actuators of the at least one first sharpening element and/or of the at least one second sharpening element.

14. The sharpening system according to claim 1, wherein the outer and inner discs comprise complementary sealing protrusions and recessions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) To aid a better understanding of the above, drawings have been attached, in which a practical embodiment has been schematically represented and only by way of a non-limiting example.

(2) FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of the sharpening system according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the sharpening system according to the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sharpening system according to the present invention, showing a second embodiment of the second sharpening module; and

(5) FIG. 4 is a sectional view between the inner and outer discs, showing the electrical contacts, the conductive tracks, the sealing protrusions and the sealing recessions.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(6) The sharpening system according to the present invention is used to sharpen the blades of cutting machines for cutting flexible materials, such as fabric or the like.

(7) Said cutting machine comprises a blade 1 that cuts the flexible materials and a guide plate 2, which presses against the flexible material to be cut at the time of cutting.

(8) Said guide plate 2 consists of an outer disc 6 and an inner disc 7, said inner disc being 7 mobile with respect to said outer disc 6. The inner disc 7 is integral to the blade, rotating at the same time as the blade, while the outer disc 6 is static and integral to the guide plate 2.

(9) The sharpening system according to the present invention comprises two separate sharpening modules: a first passive sharpening module that operates by friction on the cutting edge of the blade 1, and a second sharpening module that performs high-precision motorised active sharpening or grinding.

(10) The first sharpening module shaves the cutting edge at the tip of the blade 1 to provide high-quality sharpening without causing wear on the blade 1. It requires little time since it is done when the blade 1 exits the guide plate 2 and the cut material.

(11) This first sharpening module comprises at least one first sharpening element 3, two first sharpening elements 3 in the case of the embodiment representing the same facing each other on each side of the blade 1, and works by friction between the cutting edge of the blade 1 and this passive sharpening element 3, which is harder than the blade 1.

(12) Said sharpening elements 3 can move toward and away from the blade 1. Thus, in a single movement of the blade 1 into and out of the cutting material, the sharpening element(s) renew(s) the cutting edge of the blade 1.

(13) In addition, the first sharpening module can comprise lubricant applicators 4 to apply lubricant to the blade 1, impregnating it with a very thin layer of lubricant, to enhance cutting. Said layer of lubricant should not be too thick, since in this case it could stain the cut material.

(14) The first sharpening elements 3 and the lubricant applicators 4 are actuated by first actuators 12, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(15) On the other hand, the second sharpening module provides high-speed modular active sharpening, comprising at least one second sharpening element 5, two second sharpening elements 5 in the case of the represented embodiment which makes it possible to exchange the second sharpening element 5 as appropriate for the application, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In addition, it comprises a separate approach system for each second sharpening element 5 with dynamic position control, consisting of second actuators 13.

(16) In addition, this second sharpening module also comprises third actuators 14 to actuate the rotation of said second sharpening elements 5 around the central axis thereof.

(17) As shown in FIG. 4, the inner disc 7 has circular conductive tracks 9 complemented with electrical contacts 8 on the outer disc 6, which make it possible to electrically activate and control the actuators 12, 13, 14 or others, preferably situated on the inner disc 7, resulting in the activation of the different actuators and the transmission of the signal. It also makes it possible to transmit power and signal to other sensors that are situated on the inner disc 7.

(18) In addition, to ensure insulation, the outer disc 6 and the inner disc 7 comprise complementary sealing protrusions and recessions 10, 11, as shown in FIG. 4.

(19) The operation of the first and/or second sharpening modules is performed when the cutting head of the cutting machine stops the cut, that is, when the circular, rotary motion of the blade 1 is stopped, usually but not necessarily, for the purpose of sharpening the blade. Since said first and second sharpening modules are on the inner disc 7, they are integral to the rotary motion of the blade 1, such that they are always positioned in the direction of the blade 1 while exiting the cutting area.

(20) Thus, when the blade 1 starts to exit the material being cut, the conductive tracks 9 of the inner disc 7 come into contact with the electrical contacts 8 of the outer disc 6, which activates the actuators 12, 13, 14 automatically, preventing unnecessary movements and non-productive periods.

(21) Although reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the sharpening system described is subject to numerous variations and modifications, and that all the details mentioned can be replaced by other technically equivalent ones, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the claims attached hereto.