Cutting – Processes – Plural cutting steps
Reexamination Certificate
1997-05-13
2001-07-03
Peterson, Kenneth E. (Department: 3724)
Cutting
Processes
Plural cutting steps
C083S054000, C083S171000, C083S594000, C083S675000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253651
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention.
This invention relates to a cutter mechanism which may be used for cutting plastic extrudate such as pipe, molding, or other shapes as well as rubber, ceramics, and food stuffs into discrete lengths as the material is delivered to the cutter mechanism.
2. Description of the Prior Art.
Various types of cutters and saws have been utilized to cut plastic extrudate to a desired length after the extrudate is formed in a continuous manner. Prior cutters have used rotating knives that are controlled by clutches that intermittently transmit power from a motor to the cutter knives so that the cutter knives will operate when required to cut the extrudate. Other cutters have been developed which have an electric servo-motor connected directly to the cutting blades which are relatively light weight and travel at very high speeds. These lightweight blades are not sufficient to cut heavy duty extrudate and do not accurately cut some of the lighter weight extrudate.
The cutters that have a clutch mechanism between the electric motor and the cutter blade are not practical because the clutch mechanisms wear rapidly and require a high degree of maintenance and replacement.
The cutters in which the blades are directly connected to the electrical servo-motor do not provide sufficient momentum of the blade to cut heavy extrudate or other material.
I have found that by connecting a servo-motor to a weighted flywheel that carries the cutter blades, the cutter blades can move more slowly and yet have sufficient momentum to cut heavy extrudate accurately. The present invention is directed to such an arrangement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a rotary knife cutter. The rotary knife cutter includes a knife blade secured to the outer circumference of a flywheel. The flywheel is fixed to a rotatable horizontal shaft for rotation within a cutter housing. An electrical servo-motor is connected to the shaft to rotate the shaft to drive the flywheel and the knife blade. A cutter bushing mounted in a bushing guide on the cutter housing above the flywheel guides material into a zone where the knife cuts the material upon rotation of the flywheel. The knife blade moves upwardly and across the material as the knife blade cuts the material.
Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a rotary knife cutter which includes a cutter housing and a rotatable horizontal shaft positioned for rotation in the cutter housing. A flywheel is fixed to the horizontal shaft for rotation with the horizontal shaft and a knife blade is secured to the circumference of the flywheel. A planetary gear reducer that has an input connection and an output connection is fixed to the cutter housing with the output connection connected to the horizontal shaft to drive the horizontal shaft. An electrical servo-motor is fixed to the cutter housing and has an output drive shaft that is connected to the planetary gear reducer input connection to drive the reducer when the electrical servo-motor output drive shaft rotates. A bushing guide is mounted on the cutter housing above the flywheel and has an opening to receive cutter bushings of varying internal sizes and shapes so that a cutter bushing that conforms to the size and cross-section of the material being cut is positionable within the bushing guide above the flywheel. The cutter bushings include two longitudinally spaced parts so that the knife blade passes between the longitudinally spaced parts as the knife blade cuts the material. The bushing guide is mounted on the cutter housing so that the center of the cutter bushing is vertically above the axis of the rotatable horizontal shaft whereby the knife blade moves upwardly and across the material as the knife blade cuts the material.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a rotary knife cutter which efficiently cuts material in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary knife cutter that has a heavy flywheel to which the knife blade or blades are attached.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary knife cutter that has an electrical servo-motor driven planetary gear reducer that is directly connected to a flywheel carrying the knife blade to eliminate the use of clutches.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent as this invention is described in the following specification, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1664050 (1928-03-01), Sheehan
patent: 2217766 (1940-10-01), Neff
patent: 3104579 (1963-09-01), Blankenship
patent: 3374698 (1968-03-01), Sleeper
patent: 3476002 (1969-11-01), Bardenhagen
patent: 3646894 (1972-03-01), Hasten et al.
patent: 3685560 (1972-08-01), Siegmann
patent: 3747456 (1973-07-01), Kochinashvili et al.
patent: 3815460 (1974-06-01), Bardenhagen
patent: 3830126 (1974-08-01), Ringe
patent: 3831482 (1974-08-01), Eichler et al.
patent: 4095751 (1978-06-01), Artin
patent: 4277995 (1981-07-01), Sontheimer
patent: 4319505 (1982-03-01), Otake et al.
patent: 4398438 (1983-08-01), Seragnoli
patent: 4398439 (1983-08-01), Bryan et al.
patent: 4459887 (1984-07-01), Ingham
patent: 4653362 (1987-03-01), Gerber
patent: 4848723 (1989-07-01), Borzym
patent: 5000812 (1991-03-01), Murphy
patent: 5265506 (1993-11-01), Aihara et al.
patent: 5327803 (1994-07-01), DeMey
patent: 5588344 (1996-12-01), Chun
patent: 5628237 (1997-05-01), Lindee et al.
patent: 967716 (1964-08-01), None
patent: 1480983 (1989-05-01), None
Buchanan Ingersoll P.C.
Peterson Kenneth E.
The Conair Group, Inc.
LandOfFree
Rotary knife cutter does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Rotary knife cutter, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Rotary knife cutter will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2506791