Cutting – Cutting motion of tool has component in direction of moving... – Orbital motion of cutting blade
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-11
2001-04-03
Rachuba, M. (Department: 3724)
Cutting
Cutting motion of tool has component in direction of moving...
Orbital motion of cutting blade
C083S349000, C083S356300, C083S566000, C083S950000, C241S242000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209432
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for cutting a wire (or such continuous elements) into short strips. Particularly, the wire is such one used for a wire electrode in an electric spark machine or an electric wire.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Referring to
FIGS. 9 and 10
, there is illustrated a known wire cutting apparatus for cutting such a wire as an electrode used in an electric spark machine, which has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H. 6-297230.
This wire cutting apparatus includes a motor M, a rotary cutter mounting base b and a fixed blade fitting plate c, which are disposed on frame a of the apparatus. The motor M rotates a rotary cutter d mounted on the base b. Thereby, a wire (continuous elements) W is cut by both a cutting edge e
1
of a fixed blade e mounted in the plate c and a plurality of cutting edges d
1
of the rotary cutter d.
However, it generates an undesirable vibration and a very annoying noise that the edges d
1
of the rotary cutter d makes contact with the edge e
1
of the fixed blade e when the wire W is cut. Moreover, this causes rapid wears in the edges d
1
and e
1
. In addition, the contact of the edges d
1
and e
1
makes a shaft bearing of the rotary cutter d wear away quickly, causing a gap in the shaft bearing to produce a bigger vibration and noise. Thus, the known apparatus has such disadvantages.
In such known cutting apparatus, the cutting edge e
1
of the fixed blade e contacts with the edge d
1
of the rotary cutter d in the cutting operation. Being mutually contacted, the wire W may not be cut completely but may be bent at the cutting edge e
1
of the fixed blade e. Thus, the operation may not accomplish smooth continuous cutting of the wire.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above-mentioned disadvantages, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for cutting a wire, which generates a reduced vibration and noise, improve cutting operation in productivity rate and in durability.
For achieving the object, in a first configuration of the invention,
a method for cutting wire includes the steps of:
mounting a fixed blade and a rotary cutter in a supporting frame; and rotating the rotary cutter to cut a wire conducted between the fixed blade and the rotary cutter,
wherein a clearance not larger than a half of a diameter of the wire is provided between a tip of the fixed blade and a tip of the rotary cutter.
In a second configuration of the invention, an apparatus for cutting a wire includes:
a fixed blade having a wire feeding passage and a cutting edge provided at an inner open end of said wire feeding passage;
a rotary cutter having a plurality of cutting edges at a periphery thereof, and
a supporting frame for mounting said fixed blade and said rotary cutter,
wherein a rotational shaft of the rotary cutter is substantially perpendicular to an axis of the wire feeding passage, and a clearance not larger than a half of a diameter of the wire is provided between a tip of the fixed blade and a tip of the rotary cutter.
Preferably, each of the cutting edges of the rotary cutter may extend in a spiral around the rotational shaft.
Advantageously, the cutting edge of the fixed blade is formed at a periphery of a reduced diameter through-hole provided in a leading end of the wire feeding passage.
Preferably, the rotary cutter may have a channel provided between each couple of cutting edges of the rotary cutter and inclined to the rotational shaft.
Advantageously, the wire feeding passages with the fixed blade may be disposed in each of opposing side walls of the supporting frame, the wire feeding passages being shifted from each other in an axial direction of the rotational shaft.
Preferably, the supporting frame may be a frame molded in a body by metal extrusion molding.
Advantageously, the supporting frame may be manufactured by cutting up a square cylindrical body formed by extrusion molding of an aluminum alloy.
In the present invention, the clearance between the opposed edges of the fixed blade and the rotary cutter is determined to be not more than a half of the diameter of the wire, thereby reducing vibration and noise of the apparatus and allowing normal continuous cutting of the wire without undesirable bending of the wire during the cutting operation.
When the minimum clearance of the opposed cutting edges becomes larger than a half of the wire diameter, the wire tends to be bent in cutting operation, interrupting the normal continuous cutting.
More advantageously, the minimum clearance between the opposed edges is determined to be within one-tenth to three-tenths of the wire diameter. That is, the minimum clearance of one-tenth to three-tenths of the wire diameter allows a reduced wear of the cutting edges, improving their durability to enable a more efficient cutting operation of the wire.
In addition, the supporting frame for mounting the fixed blade and the rotary cutter is manufactured by metal extrusion molding, preferably the metal being an aluminum alloy. Thus manufactured frame is useful for accomplishing a minute clearance between the opposing cutting edges easily and for keeping the clearance at the determined value.
Without mutual contact of the opposing cutting edges, the present invention can greatly decrease the vibration and noise generated by the edges, achieving a high speed cutting operation. Further, both the opposing edges can have a longer life-time, decreasing the interruption of the cutting operation for replacement of the fixed blade and the rotary blades, resulted in an improved operating rate of the cutting apparatus.
The cutting edge of the rotary cutter that is configured in a spiral around the rotation axis allows a smooth cutting operation to reduce vibration and noise and improves the operation in productivity. In addition, the cutting edge of the fixed blade is formed all over the end periphery of the reduced diameter through-hole, allowing to make use of the whole periphery of the cutting edge without replacement of the fixed blade, resulted in an increased life-time of the fixed blade.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3359843 (1967-12-01), Mead
patent: 3760673 (1973-09-01), Peterson, Jr.
patent: 4114491 (1978-09-01), Hashimoto et al.
patent: 4226372 (1980-10-01), Wigand
patent: 4422358 (1983-12-01), Hull et al.
patent: 4664006 (1987-05-01), Mitchell
patent: 4960020 (1990-10-01), Reinhard
patent: 4969605 (1990-11-01), Morin
patent: 5001952 (1991-03-01), Myogadani
patent: 5454523 (1995-10-01), Matsuda
patent: 5483729 (1996-01-01), Fayard
patent: 5523538 (1996-06-01), Matsuda
patent: 5690009 (1997-11-01), Nakao et al.
patent: 6-297230 (1994-10-01), None
Patent Abstract of Japan, M-262, 1983, vol. 7/No. 279,58-155116.
Patent Abstract of Japan, CD-ROM, JP 06297230 A.
Armstrong Westerman Hattori McLeland & Naughton LLP
Rachuba M.
Yazaki -Corporation
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for cutting wire does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for cutting wire, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for cutting wire will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2465279