US3831480A - Rotary cutter-slitter for high speed bursting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a demountably replaceable rotary cutter-slitter provided with a demountable, circular blade of the so-called throw-away, disposable type permitting a dull blade to be quickly and easily replaced with a sharp blade. The cutterslitter device can be positioned to accommodate varying widths items and the location of the cutter relative to the edges of the item may be adjusted according to the desired dimensions by the simple expedient of sliding the cutter normal to the path of movement of the item web avoiding unnececcary downtime of the associated apparatus, e.g., burster.

Description

United States Patent [191 Aug. 27, 1974 Phillips ROTARY CUTTER-SLIT'I'ER FOR HIGH SPEED BURSTING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: James Curt Phillips, 35 Coach St.,

Canandaigua, NY. 14424 [22] Filed: May 1, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 249,341

[52] US. Cl 83/481, 83/665, 83/676 {51] Int. Cl. 323d 19/06 [58] Field of Search 83/481, 491, 492, 493,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 546,532 9/1895 Hemphill 83/492 X 3,332,326 7/1967 Haas 83/433 X Primary ExaminerJ. M. Meister Attorney, Agent, or Firm Carl Fissell, Jr.; Edward G. Fiorito; Paul W. Fish [57] ABSTRACT The invention relates to a demountably replaceable rotary cutter-slitter provided with a demountable, circular blade of the so-called throw-away, disposable type permitting a dull blade to be quickly and easily replaced with a sharp blade. The cutter-slitter device can be positioned to accommodate varying widths items and the location of the cutter relative to the edges of the item may be adjusted according to the desired dimensions by the simple expedient of sliding the cutter normal to the path of movement of the item web avoiding unnececcary downtime of the associated apparatus, e.g., burster.

4 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDAUBZYW 3.831.480

llllll! PAIENIEM Z smersur ROTARY CUTTER-SLI'ITER FOR HIGH SPEED BURSTING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION a web that includes portions carrying pin feed holes for advancing the web through its apparatus.

More often than not such apparatus involves the use of circular cutter blades which are mounted for rotation against a metal backup anvil or which permit the peripheral portions of the cutter blade to move within a circular groove disposed in the backup member or anvil depressing and thereby cutting the item therebetween.

In many if not most instances such cutter blades are fixedly mounted for rotation on opposite sides of the apparatus frame supporting the same or in a fixed, intermediate location midway between the side frames of the machine. Changing the blades is a considerable chore and requires, generally speaking, a longer than need be downtime or time when the machine is completely stopped to permit dismounting and remounting of the old, dull blade for the new, sharp blade. Wrenches or other special tools are usually required and a more than modest amount of skill and finger dexterity may be needed to accomplish the changeover without injury to the operator or to the blade assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The prime object of the present invention is to obviate the aforementioned disadvantages and to provide certain desirable features which will presently become apparent.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a slitter-cutter mechanism having a removable throwaway blade which is easily changed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary cutter-slitter mechanism for use with a high speed burster which can easily be adjusted to accommodate varying document size requirements.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a plastic cutter mechanism removable from the cutter drive by a simple tab-lock device so that the dull blade may be thrown away and replaced by a fresh, sharp blade.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide as an assembly, a cutter-slitter wherein the slitter blade is integrally cast into the plastic hub and wherein the blade and hub are plastic with the blade metal plated, ground and honed sharp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of apparatus incorporating the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in diagrammatic form illustrating the environment of the-invention as it might be incorporated into a continuous form burster mechanism;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the cutter-slitter mechanism illustrating the drive and mounting arrangement therefore;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the slitter-cutter as mounted in a burster apparatus with portions cut away to reveal certain details of the drive and mounting arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line 44 of FIG.

-3 illustrating further details of the construction of the apparatus;

FIG. 4A is a sectional view of the cutter-slitter apparatus of FIG. 4 fabricated as a one-piece unitary assemy;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the apparatus similar to FIG. 4 illustrating other and additional structural -details of the invention;

FIG. 5A is a view along the line SA-SA of FlG. 5;

FIG. 5B is a sectional view of the cutter-slitter apparatus of FIG. 5A fabricated as a one-piece unitary assembly;

FIG. 6 is a detail view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 7 is a detail view of the apparatus of FIG. 5A partially dismounted; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded isometric view of. the complete cutter-slitter assembly of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring first to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it is assumed for the sake of the initial description that it is desired to burst continuous item forms along preweakened portions'therein, and also to remove thereafter the edge portions of the form which carries the tractor holes which are employed to advance the forms-through the burster, etc. The burster 10 may be part of a modularized signer-protector-burster apparatus, which apparatus is designed to include a number of features not herein described in detail but which enables the apparatus to perform other and additional functions to that of paper separating and bursting as set forth in more detail and particularity in copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 210,737, filed Dec. 22, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,228, entitled Bursting and Separating Apparatus for Continuous Forms." A bursting mechanism 12 as described in the aforementioned application is or may be disposed centrally of the main machine assembly 10, as shown. An item moving device such as a pin feed tractor mechanism 14 is driven by electric motor 16 through a belt 18 and pin wheel pulleys 20. As seen more clearly in FIG. 2, the pin feed tractor includes a movable pin carrying belt mechanism 22 provided with projecting conically shaped pins 24. Pins24 are engageable with line holes or perforations 26 located on opposite, parallel edges of continuous item forms 28. Item forms 28 are generally, although not necessarily, manifolded as shown at 30, FIG. 1, and may be fed vertically, upwardly from supply bin 32 by the pins of feed tractor .14. Inthe'present arrangement, as a result of the novel construction to be described presently, items varying in width from 2 5/6 inchesto 24 inches may be accommodated'without alteration of the bursting mechanism 12.

As seen in FIG. 1 of the drawing, the continuous forms 28 are adapted to be fed slantingly, vertically, upwardly over smoothing and retarding means suchas the arcuately curved guiding member 34 under a smoothing brush assembly 36 into feed area 38. Individual pin feed tractors 14 are arranged on opposite sides of the apparatus, and each tractor is adapted for horizontal, slidable movement toward and away from the other such mechanism along a helically threaded member (not shown), permitting the tractors 14 to be operator-adjusted for varying size and width documents. The continuous form item 28 is then fed by the tractors 14 into the bursting mechanism 12, and therebeyond into the bight of upper and lower ejection rollers and 42, respectively. The individually burst item hereinafter identified at 44 once separated from the continuous form 28 is moved at high speed leftwardly in FIG. 1 into a stacker hopper 46 where such items are stacked one on top of the other for further handling and processing.

Drive motor 16 carries an elongated, driving shaft 48, FIGS. 1 and 2, extending outboard of the side frame of the machine as shown in broken line form in FIG. 2. Carried on the exposed outboard end of motor shaft 48 is a timing belt type pulley wheel 50 fixed to the shaft and rotatable therewith. Slitter-cutter assembly 52 is demountably disposed between the side frames of the apparatus and arrangedto be slidably movable along a splined or fluted shaft 54 rotatably mounted between the side frames for purposes now to be described. Shaft 54 projects through the side frame and carries on its exposed end timing belt type pulley wheel 56 fixedly attached thereto as shown. A notched timing type drive belt 58 is arranged to transmit rotary power from shaft 48 via pulley 50 to shaft 54 via pulley 56.

The slitter-cutter mechanism 52 includes a rigid subframe 60 and is capable as will be hereinafter described of being pivotally, rockably moved arcuately, upwardly as viewed in FIG. 2 away from the plane of the paper item or continuous form 28. The cutter-slitter subassembly 62 as seen most clearly in FIG. 4 of the drawings comprises a hollow, elongated, cylindrical bushing 64 threaded as at 66 and secured to the subframe 60 by means of a bolt 68 and nut 70 at one end and a C -ring 72 at the opposite end. A grooved timing belt drive pulley 74, including a belt retaining washer 76, is mounted on bushing 66 so that washer 76 abuts the integral flange 78 of member 64. A spacer 80 locates the bushing 64 relative to subframe 60. A demountably removable cutter blade 82 of circular cross section is mounted between the confronting faces of hub member 84 and finger lock nut 86. These three latter members 82, 84 and 86 are retained in place on bushing 64 by means of a hex nut 88 threaded onto member 64 pressing the assembly tightly against the pulley 74. C-ring 70 disposed in groove 90 of member 64 retains the bolt 68 within the bushing 64 and on the frame 60.

Adjacent the outboard end of the cutter assembly 62 is an item parting guide member 92, the elongated, pointed end portion 94 of which is adapted to press against the upper surface of the item 28 as it is being slit or cut. The pointed end of member 92 forces the cut away portion of each item to be guided downwardly out of the path of movement of the incoming items. Member 92 is secured as by thread mounted supporting shafts 96 to the subframe 60 by means of washers 98 and nuts 100 in conventional fashion.

Located directly above the pulley 74 is an input drive pulley 102 mounted adjacent the subframe 60 on a ho]- low, plastic, cylindrical supporting member 104. The inner surface portion of member 104 is provided with grooves or flutes 106 seen most clearly in FIG. 3 (and also in FIG. 2). Member 104 is adapted to be received in mating driving engagement with the grooved drive shaft 54. Pulley 102 is cup shaped and is secured to an upstanding circular ridge 108 on bushing 104 by means of bolts 110. Member 112 which together with ridge 108 forms a bearing surface, as at 114, for pulley 102, is mounted to subframe 60 by bolts I16. Bushing 104 is retained within opening 118 in subframe 60 by means of a C-ring 120 located in groove 122 in the leftward end thereof (as viewed in FIG. 4). Input driving motion from shaft 48 transmitted to shaft 54 via belt 58 thus causes pulley 102 to rotate. This rotative motion is transmitted to pulley 74 via drive belt 107, causing the rotary cutter to rotate at high speed.

The rightwardly extending portion 124 of member 104 is provided with a series of tensioning slots 126 as seen most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3. A crank shaped lever arm 128 carried by support 130 secured to the side of frame 60 by the bolts 116 is pivoted thereto by means of pivot pin 132 and carries a circular, ring-like spring member 134 surrounding the end thereof. Member 134 is slidably, rockably movable along the tapered portion 136 of member 104. As viewed in FIG. 4, movement of the lever 128 by moving the handle 138, FIG. 3, rightwardly will cause the lower extending portion carrying the member 130 to move leftwardly along the inclined tapered portion 136 of member 104 which, due to release of the circular tension on the slots 126 therein, will release member 104 from engagement with the splines of shaft 54. Thereafter the complete subframe 60 and the cutter-slitter assembly carried thereby can be slidably moved leftwardly or rightwardly between the side frames of the machine enabling width of cut adjustment as desired.

As seen in FIG. 4, the edge of cutter blade 84 rides against a deformable backup member 104 carried by bushing 142 secured by set screw 144 to shaft 146. Member provides slightly resilient backup anvil for the cutter wheel. The continuous item forms are arranged to ride over this member being driven by the tractor pins 24 of the tractor assembly 14. Member 140 is arranged to be demountable from shaft 146 so that it can be renewed and/or replaced as occasion demands due to wear and use.

The item web 28 may vary both in Width as well as in thickness. For example, where multiple plies of items are to be handled by the apparatus, the cutter-slitter assembly may be obliged to cut through as many as 10 plies of paper and associated carbon paper or carbon films. In order to adapt the mechanism to this latter variable, a depth of cut adjustment is provided. As seen most clearly in FIG. 3 and also in the isometric view of FIG. 2, this adjustment is provided by means of an elongated, threaded shaft 148 threaded into and through the subframe 60 and extending rearwardly thereof into abutting engagement with rear frame cross member 150. Rotative adjustment of the knurled screw head 152 arcuately raises and lowers the assembly carrying the cutter blade, thereby varying the depth of cut as desired or required. A hex-lock nut 154 secures the ad justment against accidental dislodgmcnt. Member 156 pivotably mounted at 158 to frame 60 provided with depending nose portion 160 is adapted to seat behind the cross frame member 162 so as to latch the assembly in place against the tension of spring 164 once the adjustments for width and depth of cut have been made.

In order to provide for extreme ease in mounting and dismounting the cutter-slitter assembly from the subframe 60 and arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 5-8 inclusive of the invention is utilized. In this construction, as will become readily apparent as the description proceeds, the main portions of the assembly are disposable and may be cast, formed or molded as a uniting assembly from plastic such as DELRIN or other similar material. As seen most clearly in the exploded isometric view of FIG. 8, the disposable, plastic cutter-slitter includes a bushing 166 of cast plastic provided with an enlarged boss 168 and an undercut elongate shank portion 170. Bushing 166 is mounted on bolt 68 (on frame 60) with the boss 168 against the spacer 80. A plastic cast or formed timing belt pulley gear 172 having timing belt engaging teeth or flutes 174 thereon is provided with a series of arcuate, spaced, inclined segments 176 arranged circularly around the internal open bore thereof as seen in FIG. 6. The segments 176 are separated by equi-distant slots 178 providing an entry guideway as will be described for engagement with associated elements of the combination. A stop pin 180 for purposes to be explained presently is arranged to project outwardly perpendicularly away from one of the inclined segments 176 (FIG. 6). This timing belt pulley gear 172 is press fitted over the portion 168 of the member 166.

A hub member 182 of circular cross section includes a threaded projecting portion 184 extending from one side thereof while the opposite side of member 182 is undercut slightly as at 186 and is provided with three equi-angularly disposed L-shaped tangs 188 which project outwardly away from the side thereof. Members 188 are arranged for mating engagement with the slots 178 in a manner which will become clear shortly.

A cutting element 190 of circular cross section provided with an enlarged central opening 192 and a peripheral sharpened edge portion 194 is adapted to be mounted on and to be dismounted from the threaded portion 184 of the hub 182. A thumb lock nut 196 also of circular cross section provided with an internally threaded bore 198 and a finger and thumb engaging projecting portion 200, ribbed or notched as at 202, is threadedly engagable over threads 198 so as to secure the cutting element 190 to the hub 182.

As shown in FIGS. 5-8 inclusive, the slitter-cutter subassembly is assembled by mounting the cutter blade 190 onto the threaded extension 184 of hub 182 and thereafter tightening the thumb lock nut 196 thereon to secure the blade 190 in place in the position shown in FIG. 5. The pulley gear 172 is mounted to the subframe 60 by means of the supporting bushing 166 on which it rotates, the latter member being retained against accidental dislodgement or removal by means of the hex nut 70 at one end adjacent the lower depending portion of subframe 60 and at opposite projecting end by the C-ring 72.

The assembled disposable cutter-slitter is mounted on the bushing 166, FIG. 7, and thereafter moved leftwardly so as to introduce the tangs 188 into mating slots 178 in the internal bore of gear 172. Thereafter, rotating the entire slitter assembly a slight amount causes the L-shaped ends of the tangs 188 to ride up on the inclined surfaces of arcuate members 176 until one of the tangs 188 abuts. This pin may be cast in as part of a unitary assembly, as hereinafter described. The clearances involved between the inclined surfaces 176 and the ends of the tangs 188 are such that the assembly as shown in FIG. 5 is tightly press fitted together but still demountably removable by means of finger pressure.

All of the previously described parts of the slittercutter assembly of the present invention can be fabricated from metal. However, as pointed out earlier herein, it is an important object of the present invention to reduce the cost of producing and fabricating parts and to lower the cost of suitable replacements for worn or broken parts as well as dull cutter blades. To this end, as seen with reference to FIG. 4A the blade 82, hub member 84, finger locknut 86 and hex nut 88 all may be fabricated as a one-piece cast or molded unitary plastic assembly 89. The blade edge 91 can be coated with or molded or cast with a hardened metallized portion which is capable of being sharpened or honed to provide a fine cutting edge. Internal threads 93 permit the assembly 89 to be quickly and easily replaced as the cutting edge wears or dulls in use. The cutter-slitter subassembly FIG. 8 including the hub 182, the blade and the thumb lock nut 196 are fabricated of plastic, e.g., cast or formed of DELRIN or hard polyurethane. These parts may be cast or extruded, whichever process lends itself more efficiently to the shapes shown. The hub 182, cutter blade 190 and thumb lock nut 196 can be a one-piece encapsulated or extruded plastic assembly 197, FIG. 58 after which the blade edge 198 can be metallized with chromium, etc., and ground sharp, e.g., by honing and polishing. If the disposable one-piece assembly is employed, then the threads 184 are not used for obvious reasons. Where cost is of major or paramount importance, fabricating all three parts 182, 190 and 196 from one piece of plastic material enables the production of the true throw-away cutter-slitter subassembly. The throw-away aspect of the subassembly coupled with the simplified mounting and demounting arrangement afford an ease of use not heretofore available. In addition, the ultra simple mechanical coupling construction permits the assembly to be attended by a relatively unskilled or untrained operator avoiding the necessity or requirement for trained service personnel to change blades or adjust the depth and/or width of cut of the mechanism.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown, it will be understood, of course, that it is not desired that the invention be limited thereto since modifications may be made, and it is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: l. A cutter-slitter apparatus comprising a plastic bearing member, a plastic gear member rotatably mounted on said bearing member,

said gear member having a hollow internal bore and a plurality of inclined grooves therein, and

a plastic metal coated cutting member including means receivable in said grooves for detachably coupling said cutting member to said gear member for conjoint rotation therewith.

cutter member, and

drive means for said cutter member for rotating said member at a desired cutting speed relative to said anvil.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein said last named means includes a threaded portion operably engageable with a threaded portion on said bearing member, permitting said cutter member to be replaced at will.

Claims (4)

1. A cutter-slitter apparatus comprising a plastic bearing member, a plastic gear member rotatably mounted on said bearing member, said gear member having a hollow internal bore and a plurality of inclined grooves therein, and a plastic metal coated cutting member including means receivable in said grooves for detachably coupling said cutting member to said gear member for conjoint rotation therewith.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said gear member is press fitted to said bearing member and rotatable conjointly therewith.

3. Cutter-slitter apparatus comprising a one-piece molded plastic cutter member, the peripheral surface of said member being coated with a material capable of being provided with a sharp cutting edge thereon, means mounting said cutter member for rotation adjacent a surface providing a back up anvil for said cutter member, and drive means for said cutter member for rotating said member at a desired cutting speed relative to said anvil.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein said last named means includes a threaded portion operably engageable with a threaded portion on said bearing member, permitting said cutter member to be replaced at will.

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