EP1705145A1

EP1705145A1 - Apparatus for cutting to size sheets of material

Info

Publication number: EP1705145A1
Application number: EP06075631A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Biagio La Mantia
Original assignee: Tangoblu Sas Di Gazzola Roberta & C
Current assignee: TANGOBLU S.A.S. DI GAZZOLA ROBERTA & C.
Priority date: 2005-03-23
Filing date: 2006-03-20
Publication date: 2006-09-27
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-20
Also published as: ATE400524T1; EP1705145B1; ES2310388T3; DE602006001671D1; ITMI20050484A1

Abstract

Apparatus for cutting to size sheets of material (1), which comprises a support frame formed by a first front part (110;1110) and a second rear part (120;1120) connected together in the longitudinal direction (X-X) by a pair of longitudinal members (201), at least one of which is able to slide in the transverse direction (Y-Y) on a cross-piece (202), means (400;1400) for cutting the sheet (1) being associated with said cross-piece (202).

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for cutting to size sheets of material.
It is known in the technical sector relating to the lining of flat surfaces such as, for example, the walls and the bottom of swimming pools that there exists the need to line the openings especially provided by means of sheets of plastic material which must be fixed to the top edge of the swimming pool and to the bottom thereof using suitable securing and/or welding means.
It is also known that, in order to be able to carry out this covering operation, it is necessary for the operator to cut to size strips of material of suitable length normally provided in the form of a continuous roll and apply along the edges intended to remain fastened to the edge of the swimming pool a strip of material of greater thickness for fixing to said edges, allowing the sheet which falls as a result of gravity to remain in the hung condition adhering to the walls of the swimming pool.
The internal edge of said sheet moreover has a length such as to allow folding over in the horizontal direction such that it may rest and be fastened to the bottom of the swimming pool
The sheets thus arranged are spread out alongside each other so as to cover the walls and the bottom with slight relative overlapping so as to allow the said welding together to achieve a seal.
The horizontal sheets for covering the bottom, which in turn have been cut to size beforehand, are then welded onto the horizontal folded flap of the various sheets; said sheets are arranged with slight overlapping so as to allow the sealed weld to be performed.
In order to complete the operating steps described above the operator is required to perform unrolling of the roll, cutting to size, welding of the longitudinal strip of greater thickness and application thereof on the sheets, in very uncomfortable conditions owing to the constricted nature of the space available, which does not allow spreading out of the sheets over the whole required length, the unsalubrious conditions of the working location, the high temperatures which are typical in the summer season and the difficulty of handling and performing the measuring and cutting operations to be carried out on the sheets before they are laid.
The technical problem which is posed, therefore, is to provide an apparatus able to allow the operations of cutting to size sheets of material to be performed in a repeatable and reliable manner as well as allow the work to be carried out in ergonomically correct conditions, particularly in the case of material supplied in the form of a roll to be unwound before cutting.
In connection with this problem it is also required that this apparatus should have small dimensions, be easy and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble/disassemble so as to reduce the volume occupied during storage and transportation and should be able to be easily installed at any user's premises using normal standardized tools.
These results are achieved according to the present invention by an apparatus for cutting to size sheets of material, which comprises a support frame formed by a first front part and a second rear part connected together in the longitudinal direction by a pair of longitudinal members, at least one of which is able to slide in the transverse direction on a cross-piece, means for cutting the sheet being associated with said cross-piece.
Further details may be obtained from the following description of a non-limiting example of embodiment of the subject of the present invention provided with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the apparatus according to the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a view similar to that of Fig. 1 with the sheet arranged ready for cutting;
Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-section along the plane indicated by III-III in Fig. 2; and
Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 1 and with reference to a pair of axes, i.e. longitudinal axis X-X and transverse axis Y-Y, conventionally assumed solely for the sake convenience of the description, the apparatus according to the present invention is substantially composed of a support structure which in the direction of feeding A of a sheet 1 comprises two parts, i.e. a front part 110 and rear part 120, which are formed by respective pairs of uprights 111,121 fixed to respective feet 112,122 for resting on the ground.
The first pair of uprights 111 is connected in the transverse direction by members 113 telescopically slidable on a central bar 113a for allowing variation of the relative distance of the two uprights in the transverse direction Y-Y.
The pair of rear uprights 121 has feet 122 for resting on the ground, provided with respective seats 122a for receiving the rotating spindle 123a of pairs of idle rollers 123 able to support the roller 1a having, wound thereon, the sheet 1 to be unwound for cutting to size. In a preferred embodiment, said foot 122 is hinged with the respective upright 121 by means of a pin 124 able to allow folding up of the foot against the upright.
The two pairs of uprights 111 and 121 are joined together in the longitudinal direction X-X by means of respective longitudinal members 201 provided with a seat 201a suitable for engagement with a cross-piece 202 on which the said longitudinal members 201 can slide in the transverse direction Y-Y so as to allow variation of the width in the transverse direction of the apparatus, corresponding to different heights of the sheet.
As an alternative, it is envisaged that only one of the two longitudinal members 201 is fixed and only the other one is able to slide on the cross-piece 202.
Flanges 203a for supporting transverse rollers 203 for guiding the sheet to be unwound are also connected to the opposite ends of said longitudinal members 201, said rollers, rotationally idle, being able to be displaced in the transverse direction Y-Y with respect to the flanges in order to allow the said adjustment of the width of the apparatus.
It is envisaged, moreover, that means 400 for cutting in the transverse direction are arranged parallel to the said cross-piece 202, said means substantially comprising a transverse plate 401 provided with a slit 402 which extends over the entire length of the plate and inside which a cutting blade 403 is displaceable.
A graduated scale 404 is also provided parallel to the said slit 402, said scale being able to allow precise relative positioning of the longitudinal members 201.
A device 300 or metre counter for measuring the feeding movement of the sheet, able to provide an indication of the length of the unwound sheet 1, is also provided in the vicinity of the cross-piece 202.
It is envisaged, moreover, that the apparatus according to the invention comprises a device 500 for applying a braid 2 of considerable thickness, to be affixed along one of the longitudinal edges of the sheet 1 cut to size.
Said device comprises a bar 501 hinged on a first column 115 of a pair of columns, arranged downstream of the apparatus in the direction of feeding of the sheet 1, and conveniently fixed to one of the two feet 112. A pivot pin 502 which can be operated by means of an associated crank 502a and is able to support a pulley 503 on which the braid 2 may be wound is fixed to the said bar 501, said braid, during the subsequent application step, being unwound so as to pass through two guide rollers 504a, 504b; the second roller 504b of said rollers also has the function of a member for pressing the braid in order to facilitate welding thereof to the sheet 1, said welding being performed by means of associated heating means 600, for example of the hot air type.
The bar 501 is conveniently movable rotationally in both directions from a first rest and maintenance position angularly spaced from the surface of the sheet 1 into a second working position where the roller 504b is positioned so as to press the braid 2 against the sheet 1.
Advantageously, said heating means 600 are pivotably mounted on a flange 601 fixed to the longitudinal member 201 so as to be able to be suitably oriented towards the zone of relative contact between braid 2 and sheet 1.
A transverse roller 700 is also arranged between the two said columns 115 of the front part 110 of the apparatus and is able to be rotationally operated by means of a corresponding crank 701 and has a radial seat 702 which is open outwards over the entire length of the roller 700 and inside which the front free edge of the sheet 1 may be inserted so as to allow feeding thereof in the longitudinal direction and rewinding onto the said roller 700 which thus forms the driving member of the apparatus for drawing the sheet to be unwound.
The roller 700 is envisaged as being interchangeable and with different transverse measurements so as to form also the member for rigidly locking the entire structure in the transverse direction; rigid locking may be performed using means which are conventional per se and therefore neither illustrated nor described in detail.
The column 115 opposite to that which carries the device 500 for application of the braid 2 is also provided with means 800 for cutting the sheet 1 in the longitudinal direction, said means being mounted on a front support 801 and being able to allow the formation of two sheets of different width in the transverse direction (=height) by means of the said feeding action in the longitudinal direction.
In a further embodiment (not shown in detail) it is envisaged that the cutting blade 1403 (Fig. 4) is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the sheet and can be inserted inside special recesses 1405 extending in the longitudinal direction on the plate 1401 and communicating with the transverse slit 1402; in this way the blade 1403 can be brought into the position corresponding to the desired height of the sheet 1, rotated in the longitudinal direction and fixed in the associated seat so as to ensure a precise cut in the longitudinal direction of the sheet which is divided into two parts during its travel movement in the longitudinal direction.
Fig. 4 also shows a welding device 900 mounted on the front support 801; this device is able to allow welding in the longitudinal direction of two sheets of different height, previously cut by a single roller as described above for the formation of a sheet with a non-standard size.
Fig. 4 again shows a further embodiment of the structure of the apparatus which envisages in this case a rear part 1120 formed by an upright 1121 with a height lower than the plane of the longitudinal members 201 and fixed to a first upright 1111a of the front part 1110, which is inclined relative to the vertical towards the rear part and with opposite ends respectively fixed to the foot 1112 and to the surface 201; in this configuration, the foot 1112 of the front part 1110 is fixed to the foot 1122 of the rear part 1120.
The upright 1111a also has, fastened thereto, the first end of a second upright 1111b, the other end of which is fixed to the longitudinal member 201.
The first upright 1111a also has, fastened thereto, a flange 1115 supporting the device 500 for applying the edging material and the winding roller 700.
In this configuration, the support structure has a reduced number of components since the two parts, i.e. front part 1110 and rear part 1120, are substantially joined together as one piece.
The basic operating principle of the apparatus is as follows:

once the pair of uprights, i.e. front upright 110 and rear upright 120, have been arranged with respective feet 112,122 resting on the ground;
and connected by means of the longitudinal members 201 and the cross-piece 202;
and once the idle rollers 203 have been mounted on the respective flanges 203a;
after adjusting the width in the transverse direction Y-Y of the apparatus corresponding to the predefined height of the sheet 1 and the whole assembly stably locked;
the roller 1a of the sheet 1 is arranged on the idle rollers 123 of the feet 122;
the sheet 1 is manually unwound in the longitudinal direction and made to pass over the idle roller 203 and the longitudinal members 201 as well as;
underneath the metre counter 300 and the transverse cutting device 400, until the front free edge is positioned inside the seat 702 of the front rewinding roller 700;
the device 500 storing and feeding the braid 2 is rotated towards the working position so as to bring the pressing roller 504b above the corresponding longitudinal edge of the sheet 1 against which the braid 2 itself is pressed;
the heating means 600 are activated and the sheet 1 is fed in the longitudinal direction by operating the crank 701 of the roller 700;
when the metre counter 300 indicates the programmed cutting size;
the blade 403 is slid in the transverse direction, causing cutting-to-size of the sheet;
continuing to operate the crank 701 causes winding of the cut sheet with unwinding and welding of the tape 2 onto the side edge of the sheet, until the cut sheet has been completely rewound onto the roller 700;
the roller 700 is replaced, ready for transportation, with another free roller;
at this point the apparatus is ready to resume the sequence described above in order to cut a second sheet.

Depending on the operations to be performed (longitudinal cut/longitudinal weld/variation in size) it will be possible to preset and/or activate the various devices of the apparatus described above.
It can therefore be seen how, with the apparatus according to the invention, it is possible to produce sheets cut to a desired size in a simple, precise and repeatable manner, allowing the operator to work in ergonomically correct conditions.
If a sheet with a width less than that available on the roller should be required, it will be sufficient to lower the position of the longitudinal cutting means 800 or position the blade 1402 in a corresponding seat 1405, rotating it in the longitudinal direction, so as to obtain two sheets of different height.
In addition to this, because of the simplicity of assembly/disassembly of the apparatus, it may be installed in any working site and/or all the cutting and welding of the braid of the various sheets cut to size may be performed in a location different from that where the said sheets are applied to the surface to be covered, such as for example the walls and the bottom of a swimming pool.
It is clear, moreover, how the apparatus described may be equally suitable for cutting different materials, provided in roll form, such as wall paper and/or sheets of bituminous material.
It is envisaged moreover that the operations described in the manual embodiment may instead be performed by means of motors associated with servo, control and programming means so as to automate the working sequence.

Claims

Apparatus for cutting to size sheets of material (1), characterized in that it comprises a support frame formed by a first front part (110;1110) and a second rear part (120;1120) connected together in the longitudinal direction (X-X) by a pair of longitudinal members (201), at least one of which is able to slide in the transverse direction (Y-Y) on a cross-piece (202), means (400;1400) for cutting the sheet (1) being associated with said cross-piece (202).
Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that said two parts, i.e. front part (110;1110) and rear part (120;1120), are formed by respective pairs of uprights (111,121;1111,1121) fixed to respective feet (112,122;1112,1122) resting on the ground.
Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that the pair (111) of uprights of the front part (110) is connected in the transverse direction (Y-Y) by members (113) telescopically slidable on a central bar (113a) .
Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that the rear part (1120) has an upright (1121) with a lower height than the plane of travel of the sheet (1) and fixed to a first upright (1111a) of the front part (1110) inclined with respect to the vertical towards the rear part and with opposite ends respectively fixed to a foot (1112) and to the longitudinal member (201).
Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that the foot (1112) of the front part (1110) is fixed to the foot (1122) of the rear part (1120).
Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that the first end of a second upright (1111b) is fixed to the upright (1111a), its other end being fixed to the longitudinal member (201).
Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that the pair (1111) of uprights of the front part (1100) is connected in the transverse direction (Y-Y) by a roller (700).
Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that the pair of rear uprights (121;1121) has feet (122;1122) for resting on the ground provided with respective seats (122a) for receiving the rotating spindle (123a) of pairs of idle rollers (123) able to support a roller (1a) on which the sheet (1) is wound.
Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that the pair of rear uprights (121;1121) has a foot (122;1122) for resting on the ground, hinged with the respective upright (121;1121) by means of a pin (124) able to allow folding up of the foot against the said upright.
Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the two parts, i.e. the front part (110) and rear part (120), are joined together in the long direction by means of respective longitudinal members (201) provided with a seat (201a) suitable for engagement with a cross-piece (202) relative to which said longitudinal members (201) may be displaced in the transverse direction (Y-Y).
Apparatus according to Claim 10, characterized in that flanges (203a) supporting transverse rollers (203) which are rotationally idle are fastened to the opposite ends of said cross-pieces (201).
Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that said cutting means (400) comprise a blade (403) displaceable parallel to the transverse direction (Y-Y) inside a slit (402) extending over the entire length of a transverse plate (401).
Apparatus according to Claim 12, characterized in that said transverse plate (401) has a measurement scale (404) extending parallel to the said transverse direction (Y-Y).
Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that said cutting means (1400) comprise a blade (1403) displaceable parallel to the transverse direction (Y-Y) inside a slit (1402) extending over the entire length of a transverse plate (1401), said blade being able to be oriented in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction (X-X).
Apparatus according to Claim 14, characterized in that said transverse plate (1401) has recesses (1405) extending in the longitudinal direction on the plate (1401) and communicating with the transverse slit (1402) for receiving the blade (1403).
Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a device (500) for applying a braid (2) of considerable thickness to be affixed along one of the longitudinal edges of the sheet (1) cut to size.
Apparatus according to Claim 16, characterized in that said device comprises a bar (501) which has, fixed thereto, a pivot pin (502) able to be rotationally operated and able to support a pulley (503) on which the braid (2) may be wound, two guide rollers (504a,504b) being fixed to said bar.
Apparatus according to Claim 17, characterized in that said bar (501) is movable rotationally in both directions from a first position angularly spaced from the sheet (1) into a second working position where the braid (2) is brought into contact with the sheet (1).
Apparatus according to Claim 17, characterized in that one of the two rollers (504b) is a roller for pressing the braid (2) against the sheet (1).
Apparatus according to Claim 17, characterized in that said support bar (501) of the device (500) for applying the braid (2) is hinged on a first column (115;1115) of a pair arranged downstream of the apparatus in the direction of feeding of the sheet (1) and conveniently fixed to the front part (120,1120).
Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises heating means (600) for welding the braid (2) to the sheet (1).
Apparatus according to Claim 21, characterized in that said heating means (600) are pivotably mounted on a flange (601) fixed to the corresponding longitudinal member (201) for orientation towards the zone of relative contact between braid (2) and sheet (1).
Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a transverse roller (700) which can be rotationally operated by means of a corresponding crank (701) and is provided with a radial seat (702) open outwards over the entire length of the roller (700) for insertion of the front free edge of the sheet (1) .
Apparatus according to Claim 24, characterized in that said roller (700) is arranged between two columns (115;1115) of the front part (110;1110) of the apparatus.
Apparatus according to Claim 24, characterized in that said roller (700) is interchangeable.
Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (800) for cutting the sheet (1) in the longitudinal direction.
Apparatus according to Claim 26, characterized in that said longitudinal cutting means (800) are fixed to the column (115;1115) opposite to the column which supports the device (500) for applying the braid (2).
Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises motors arranged in the vicinity of the rotationally movable parts and associated with servo, control and programming means able to automate the work sequence.