MX2009005657A - A machine for moving and cutting hides and the like. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a machine for moving and automatically cutting hides and the like, comprising: an aspirating plane (1); an overlying cutting unit (T); a first ring-wound conveyor (2) comprising a belt (20) made of a permeable material wound on relative rollers (22A, 22B), comprising a drive roller (22A) and a driven roller (22B), having an upper branch (21) which is superposed on the aspirating plane (1), and interested at edges thereof by broadenings (25, 26); the belt (20) being attracted during transit by the aspirating plane (1), dragging without constraint above the aspirating plane; a second conveyor (3), made of permeable material, an upper branch (31) of which restingly receives the hides P and is interposed between the cutting unit (T) and the upper branch (21) of the first conveyor (2).

Description

MACHINE TO MOVE AND CUT SKINS AND SIMILAR MATERIALS DESCRIPTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the particular technical sector of machines for the automatic work of flat articles, in particular to the movement, for example, intermittent, of skins and similar materials and to the cutting and / or incision thereof for get flat shapes from those cuts.

Background In the aforementioned technical sector, it is very important to keep the skins well extended and perfectly stretched during cutting and / or incision operations, performed by a special mobile cutting unit. For this purpose the present applicant is the owner of the PCT application: PCT / IB2006 / 001619, entitled "A Machine for Moving and Automatically Cutting Hides and the Like" (Machine for automatically moving and cutting skins and similar materials). This machine, partially illustrated in Figure 1, comprises a fixed plate 1, which presents a series of past holes, not illustrated, which are connected to a depressed source; a cutting unit arranged in T and operating above the suction plate 1; a first circular conveyor 2 (endless belt), constituted by a band 20 wound on relative rollers 22A, 22B, a driving roller and a driven roller respectively, an upper extension 21, which is arranged to overlap, in proximity, to the fixed suction plate 1, the band 20 is provided with a central region made of a permeable material, intended, as a consequence of the transit over the plate 1, to be attracted and dragged over without restrictions; a second conveyor 3 wound in a circle, constituted by a band 30 made of a permeable material, such as felt, which is wound on the idle rollers 32 and the extension 31 which is intended to smoothly receive the skins P in a stretched configuration. The second conveyor 3 comprises idler rollers 32 positioned externally of the rollers 22A, 22B of the first conveyor 2, and an upper extension 31, interposed between the cutting unit T and the upper extension 21 of the first conveyor 2, in proximity thereto. The upper extension 31 of the second conveyor 3 is intended, together with the skins P stretched therein, to be attracted by means of adhesion to and stretched by the upper extension 21 of the first conveyor 2, consequently to the suction action of the plate 1; it transits or passes thus under the cutting unit T, making it possible for the cutting unit T to perform the cutting operations on the skins P there stretched, and also represents a protective element of the central region of the upper extension 21 of the first conveyor 2 and the plate 1 of the cutting action of the cutting unit T. The width of the strip 20 is such that it does not project beyond the rollers 22A, 22B; it is constituted by a heterogeneous material, such as textile synthetic material, impregnated with synthetic resin, for example PVC, and is woven to identify a plurality of past holes. Due to the special characteristics of the material used for the conveyor, it can happen that during the operation of the machine the band does not remain aligned, for example, that tends to deviate from its axis. The use of rollers provided with guides does not solve the problem since the band tends to move to one side, with all the problems that this entails for its movement and for the automatic cutting of the skins and similar materials stretched on the band of the second conveyor 3. The fact that the band 20, during operation of the machine, does not maintain its orientation leads to an improper advance of the band 30 of the second conveyor 3 and thus of the skins placed on it, because the suction action of the plate is no longer homogeneous on the band 30 of the second conveyor and therefore of the skins, damaging the cut of the skins. The present application has conducted experiments with the help of new technical solutions that help to maintain a predetermined orientation of the belt of the first conveyor with respect to the driven and driven rollers to which the belt is wound, as well as to reduce both the costs of construction as of the band itself and the times required for its preparation for the work.

Brief description of the invention In this sense, one virtue of the invention is to provide a machine, of the type described above, which is shaped in such a way as to maintain the position spatially correct the band of the first conveyor over time, regardless of the transverse dimensions thereof. A further virtue of the present invention is to provide a machine, which meets the above virtue by means of an easy to assemble combination of elements requiring only limited maintenance. A further virtue of the invention is to provide a machine in which the assembly and disassembly of the belt of the first conveyor a and of the driven and driven rollers is simple and rapid. A further virtue of the present invention is to provide a machine whose cost is relatively contained with respect to the advantages they provide. The virtues mentioned above are achieved, as established in the content of the claim chapter.

Brief description of the figures The characteristics of the invention will be apparent from the following description, in which a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of the invention will be illustrated, with reference to the figures appended.

Figure 1 schematically illustrates, in a front view, a part of the machine for the movement and cutting of skins and similar materials of the international application PCT / IB2006 / 001619, already described in the introduction. Figure 2 is a detailed view of the section II-II of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a detailed view of the section III-III of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a schematic illustration, in front view, of a machine for automatically moving and cutting skins and similar materials, according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Figures 5A, 5B illustrate a detailed view of the section V-V of Figure 4, in a first embodiment of the machine of the invention, related respectively to the assembly operation of the first conveyor and during the normal operation of the first conveyor. Figures 5C, 5D illustrate the detailed view of section V-V of figure 4 in a second embodiment of the machine of the invention, related respectively to the assembly operation of the first conveyor and during the normal operation of the first conveyor.

Figure 6 is a detailed scale of section VI-VI of Figure 4. Figure 7 is a detailed schematic plan view of detail K of Figure 6. Figure 8 illustrates a partial perspective view, in a different scale with respect to the preceding figures, of an important detail of the machine, in a third embodiment of the machine.

Best way to implement the invention During the following description, a first embodiment (Figures 5A, 5B), a second embodiment (Figures 5C, 5D) and a third embodiment (Figures 4, 6, 7, 8) of the present machine will be described in order. invention. In particular, the first and second modalities will refer, for simplicity, to figure 4, in which although the stop elements 50 are appraised, they must be ignored, being provided and considered only for the third embodiment of the invention, as it will be evident from the following description. With reference to Figures 5A, 5B and Figure 4, the numeral 100 denotes a machine for automatic movement and cutting of skins and similar materials. The machine 100 comprises functional parts already considered in figures 1, 2 and 3, in relation to the state of the art, and are used here with the same identification numbers. The machine 100 comprises: a fixed plate 1, obtained by a series of past holes, not illustrated, which are connected to a source in depression (suction), also not illustrated; a cutting unit T arranged and operating on top of the suction plate 1, a first circular conveyor 2, constituted by a band 20 wound on relative rollers 22A, 22B, a driving roller and a driven roller respectively; an upper extension 21 whose strip 20 is configured to be superposed above, and in proximity with the suction plate 1, the strip 20 is provided with a central region made of permeable material, intended, consequently to the transit thereof over the plate and that will be attracted by plate 1 to be attracted and dragged without restriction above plate 1; a second circular conveyor 3, constituted by a band 30 made of a permeable material, for example, felt, which is wound on idle rollers 32 and an upper extension 31 which is intended to smoothly receive the skins P in a configuration stretched.

The second conveyor 3 comprises idler rollers 32 positioned externally of the rollers 22A, 22B of the first conveyor 2, and an upper extension 31, interposed between the cutting unit T and the upper extension 21 of the first conveyor 2, in proximity thereto. The upper extension 31 of the second conveyor 3 is intended, together with the skins P stretched over it, to be attracted and stretched by the upper extension 21 of the first conveyor 2, in consequence of the suction action of the plate 1; thus the upper extension 31 transits below the cutting unit T, allowing the cutting unit T to perform the cutting operations on the skins P, and moreover, it represents a protective element of the central region of the upper extension 21 of the first conveyor 2 and of the plate 1 of the cutting action of the unit T. The strip 20 has a sufficient width so as not to project edges out of the rollers 22A, 22B; the band 20 is constructed of a heterogeneous material, such as a synthetic textile, impregnated with a synthetic resin, for example PVC, and is woven to identify a plurality of holes passed at least in the relative central region thereof; with reference to Figure 5A, the band 20 is much more affected, at a relative edge thereof, by a widening 250 which develops along the edge and is constituted, for example: by a fold R of the edge, bent 180 ° outwards and blocked (for example, stuck) to the band 20, (see detail A); or by an annular strip S, of material more rigid than the band 20, blocked (for example, stuck) externally to the edge of the band (see detail B); or, in a different way, it can be obtained by forming an annular edge into which a cable that is more rigid than the band 20 can be inserted. Similar considerations are valid for the enlargements 25, 26 which will be introduced later in the description with reference to the second and third embodiments of the invention. Figure 5A illustrates a possible position of the band 20 consequently with the assembly thereof on the rollers 22A, 22B (in Figure 5A, the driving roller is illustrated); consequently for the operation of the first conveyor 2, it has been found during experiments that the upper extension 21 of the band 20 is subject to a transverse force T directed towards the broadening 250, which annuls only when the broadening 250 is in the position of the adjacent heads Xi of the rollers 22A, 22B, (see Figure 5B). The band 20 is self-placed with respect to the rollers 22A, 22B, reaching a stable orientation during the operation of the first conveyor 2. This advantage in the technical-functional aspect manifests both directions of rotation of the rollers 22A, 22B (and therefore the movement of the upper extension 21), and does not require that the axes of the rollers 22A and 22B are kept in a parallel position. The mode of the band 20 is also simple in the assembly and disassembly of the same envelope and the rollers 22A and 22B, does not require highly specialized personnel, all of which is a positive effect on the cost associated with the machine. A further advantage of the present invention consists in having designed a machine to automatically move and cut skins and similar materials, whose costs are relatively contained with respect to the obtained advantages, and which is a combination of elements that are easy to assemble and require Limited maintenance. In the second embodiment of the present invention, see Figures 4, 5C, 5D, both edges of the band 20 are obtained by enlargements 25, 26, which are shaped in the same manner as the broadening 250 of Figures 5A, 5B.

Figure 5C illustrates a possible position of the band 20 after its assembly on the rollers 22A and 22B (in this figure the impulse roller 22A is shown); after activation of the first conveyor 2, experiments have shown that two opposing forces Ti and T2, originating in the upper extension 21 of the band 20, such forces i and T2 are respectively directed towards the widens 250A, 250B, to transversely stretch the band It has also been found that one of these forces prevails slightly over the other, with the consequence that the band 20 is subjected to a resultant force that moves laterally until one of the widens 250A, 250B is placed against the head corresponding (in Figure 5D the widening 250A is placed on the head Xi); in this position, the forces Ti and T2, are compensated one to another, with the consequent cancellation of the resultant force, and in this way the band 20 reaches a stable equilibrium configuration, where it remains during the operation of the machine 100 and in which it stretches transversely. There is, therefore, a free-standing position of the band 20 with respect to the rollers 22A and 22B and at the same time a transverse permanent stretching of the upper extension 21 of the band 20; these aspects Functional technicians are independent of the direction of movement of the band 20 and are not subordinated to the maintenance of the parallel position of the axes of the rollers 22A, 22B. The second modality retains the advantages described above of the first modality. In a third embodiment of the invention, see figures 4, 6, 7, 8, the machine comprises stop elements 50, solidly confined to the frame 80 of the machine 100, for the meeting of the lateral internal surfaces 25h, 26h, of the widening 25, 26 of the band 20, and for guiding the band 20 and keeping it in position with respect to the driving roller 22A and the driven roller 22B of the first conveyor during its operation. In the illustrated example, the stop elements 50 are provided, for example, in the vicinity of the driven roller 22B (but can also be located, or only located on the driving roller 22A, see the part described in broken line in Figure 4 ) and are constituted by two identical units 51, 52 that are solidly confined to the frame 80 and arranged respectively at opposite sites and laterally with respect to the band 20 of the first circular conveyor 2, symmetrically with respect to the vertical plane of the longitudinal development of the band 20. Each unit 51, 52, includes two small plates, a first plate 53 and a second plate 54, facing each other and close to one another and confined to each other by means of attachment 56, between whose plates 53, 54, a peripheral gate of the band 20 is intended to run, comprising the widens 25, 26; the first plate 53 exhibits on a more external part thereof a stop 55 for contacting the internal lateral surface 25h, 26h, of the relative widening 25, 26. To facilitate the relative sliding of the band 20 with respect to the fixed units 51, 52, each stop 55 exhibits two guides 55h, 55j at the entrance and exit of the band 20 and inside and outside the unit 51, 52, and on the side in which the stop 55 is intended to meet the corresponding widening 25, 26. The complementary action of the units 51, 52 on the band 20 ensures the correct positioning of the band with respect to the rollers 22 ?, 22B on which the band is wound, the stops 55 of the units 51 , Respectively, make contact with the internal lateral surfaces 25h, 26h of the enlargements 25, 26, keeping the band 20 in position. As can be seen in Figure 6, the reciprocal arrangement of the units 51, 52 in relation to the lateral dimensions of the band 20 is such that it does not allow lateral displacements of the band 20 with respect to the winding rollers 22A, 22B during the operation of the machine 100. Generally speaking, however, the units 51, 52 can be arranged and / or dimensioned so as to allow limited variations in the position of the band 20 with respect to the rollers 22A, 22B; with reference still to Figure 6, this state could be obtained by bringing the units 51, 52 closer to one another (a solution that is not shown in the figures). The suitable and mutual arrangement of the units 51, 52 further guarantees the transversal stretching of the band 20, thanks to the stop action exerted by the relative stops 55 against the widens 25, 26 with all the positive implications that this entails for the correct operation of the cutting operations on the skins P. In view of the foregoing, the units 51, 52 can be integrated into the machine 100 to impose a definitive, for example, centered position of the band 20 with respect to the winding rolls 22A, 22B or to function substantially as guiding elements of the band 20 if the reciprocal arrangement thereof is such that allows the cancellation of the resulting force originating in band 20 (see above); in the first case the stops 55 of the units 51, 52, compensate for the transverse force resulting from the opposite forces i, T2, while in the second case the stops 55 will have merely a guide function. In both cases the band 20 maintains its stable spatial orientation, with respect to the rollers 22A, 22B, on which it is wound, and an optimal transverse stretch; These advantages in technical and functional aspects are the same for bands of any width, even greater than 150 cm. The advantage of the present invention is to have defined a machine that fully satisfies the predetermined objects, because it ensures a spatial stability of the first conveyor belt and the transverse stretch thereof with all the positive implications of this for an operation of Optimal and precise skin cutting P; The machine is also functional, reliable and consists of elements that are easy to assemble. Advantageously, the presence of the stop and guide elements of the band 20 of the first circular conveyor 2 improves the stability during operation thereof, even for bands with widths greater than 150 cm, thus ensuring a predetermined spatial position of the band 20 with respect to the rollers 22A, 22B, on which it is wound, as well as also an optimum transverse stretch of the band 20 itself. This objective has been achieved by providing stop and guide elements that have been simply conceived, of modest dimensions, easy to assemble and whose reciprocal distance, thanks to its simplicity of construction, can be easily adjusted according to the operational requirements (definition of a degree of play that allows limited transverse displacements of the band) and the format of the band used. It is emphasized that the elements 50, constituted in the example illustrated by a pair of units 51, 52, which are reciprocally complementary, can be provided either in addition or alternatively, in other regions of the first circular conveyor 2, for example, in the region central of the lower extension, in proximity of the driving roller 22A, or in the upper extension 21; it is further emphasized that elements 50 can alternatively be constituted by a single stop and guide unit attached to the band 20, which aids in the advantageous increase of the stability in the band 20. All the variants mentioned above have not been represented in the figures attached, already which are simple to deduce from the main illustration. The foregoing has been described by way of non-limiting example, so that any variant of a practical or application nature can be considered as falling within the scope of protection requested for the invention as described in the following claims

Claims (9)

1. A machine for automatically moving and cutting skins and similar materials, comprising: a suction plate (1) provided with a suction source; a cutting unit (T) arranged and operating above the suction plate (1); a first circular conveyor (2) comprising a band (20), made of a permeable material and wound on relative rollers (22A, 22B), comprising a driving roller (22A) and a driven roller (22B); having an upper extension (21), which is superimposed on and in proximity of the suction plate (1); the band (20) being attracted, during its transit, by the suction plate (1), and dragging it without restriction on the suction plate (1); a second circular conveyor (3), with a relative band (30) made of permeable material and wound on idle rollers (32), an upper extension (31) which is adapted to gently receive the skins (P) in an extended configuration and that stand between the unit of. cut (T) and the upper extension (21) of the first conveyor (2), the machine is characterized in that the band (20) is no longer wide that an axial development of the rollers (22A, 22B) and is contained, in at least one of its edges, by means of a corresponding widening (25, 26, 250A, 250B), which develop in a closed ring as along the edge. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that both edges of the band (20) are affected by relative enlargements (25, 26, 250A, 250B), which develop in a closed ring along the edge. The machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises elements (50), which are solidly confined to the frame (80) of the machine (100), whose elements (50) are stop elements for each widening ( 25, 26) of the band (20), whose stop elements guide the band (20), keeping the band (20) stable in position with respect to the driving roller (22A) and the driven roller (22B) of the first conveyor circular (2). The machine according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises elements (50), which are solidly confined to the frame (80) of the machine (100), the elements (50) are provided with stops (55) for find each widening (25, 26) on an internal lateral surface (25h, 26h) thereof, and whose elements (50) guide the band (20) keeping the band (20) stably in position with respect to the driving roller (22A) and the driven roller (22B) of the first circular conveyor (2). The machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the stop and guide elements (50) comprise at least two complementary units (51, 52), which are solidly confined to the frame (80) and which are respectively arranged on opposite sides and laterally with respect to the band (20), of the first circular conveyor (2), each unit (51, 52) comprises two confronting plates, a first plate (53) and a second plate (54), between which there is a peripheral portion of the belt (20) intended to run, the peripheral portion comprises at least one widening (25, 26), the first plate (53) is provided with a stop (55) for its encounter with the widening (25, 26), on its internal lateral surface (25h, 26h). The machine according to claim 4, characterized in that each stop (55) exhibits at least one guide (55h, 55j) 7. The machine according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each widening (25, 26, 250A, 250B), is constituted by a fold (R) of a corresponding edge of the band (20), bent 180 ° in an external direction and locked towards the band (20). The machine according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each widening (25, 26, 250A, 250B) is defined by an annular strip (S), externally locked towards the edge of the band (20), the rigidity of the annular strip is greater the rigidity of the band (20). The machine according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each widening (25, 26, 250A, 250B) is defined by a corresponding annular edge in which a cable is inserted, the cable being more rigid than the band (20).