Machine tool for continuously cutting sheet-like elements, particularly hides and the like

Abstract

 A machine tool (1) for continuously cutting sheet-like elements, particularly hides and the like, comprising a surface (2) for supporting the sheet-like element to be cut provided with means for retaining the sheet-like element, further comprising means (10) for detecting the useful contour of the sheet-like element, means (10) for projecting the patterns to be cut on the sheet-like element, and cutting means (20) driven by an actuation unit which is controlled by means for controlling the positioning of the projected patterns. The cutting means (20) comprise at least two cutting heads (21,22) which act simultaneously and independently of each other. Each one of the cutting heads is movable in two mutually substantially perpendicular directions.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a machine tool for continuously cutting sheet-like elements, particularly hides and the like.

[0002] It is known that in many industrial fields it is necessary to perform cuts, according to preset patterns, on sheet-like elements which are constituted for example by hides, synthetic material and the like.

[0003] Current solutions for continuous cutting entail, in the case of hides, an adjustment of the position of the patterns to be cut, which is perform by the operator with the aid of a projector and a manipulator, or an automatic placement performed offline by a computer on hides detected by optical systems.

[0004] In both cases, cutting (performed by means of a blade, a laser or a water jet) is performed in a subsequent step, using two different workstations or by using machines with a double worktable in order to work alternately (while on one side, on one portion of hide, the operator removes the previously cut pieces and places the patterns on a new hide, on the other side the cutting head cuts the previously placed patterns). In some cases, large belt-type machines have been provided which connect or constitute the different areas assigned to placement, cutting and removal.

[0005] Since it is necessary to process the hides over their entire extension or even two at a time (alternating cycle), the machines used so far are inconveniently bulky, making the hide processing system very onerous and preventing the operator from easily monitoring the regions that are not directly proximate to the edges of the machine.

[0006] Further, the optical detectors used in offline automatic placement are used exclusively for pattern placement work.

[0007] In some cases, but only for sheet-like elements such as synthetic materials and the like, solutions have already been provided in which a plurality of cutting heads are actuated simultaneously but move along identical paths and therefore can be used only in the case of uniform surfaces, such as for example synthetic materials, but cannot be used on hides owing to their observed lack of surface uniformity.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, by providing a machine tool for continuously cutting sheet-like elements, particularly hides and the like, which optimizes the use of resources, improves the monitoring capability of the operator and limits the dimensions and the cost of the system, by means of a configuration of the machine which concentrates all the activities in a single relatively compact area under the direct supervision of the operator.

[0009] Within the scope of this aim, a particular object of the present invention is to provide a machine tool which allows to provide high integration between man and machine together with an integration of operating steps such as placement, detection of the contour of the sheet-like element and cutting thereof.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine tool which by virtue of its particular constructive characteristics is capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine tool which can be easily obtained starting from commonly commercially available elements and materials and is also competitive from a purely economic point of view.

[0012] This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a machine tool for continuously cutting sheet-like elements, particularly hides and the like, comprising a surface for supporting the sheet-like element to be cut provided with means for retaining said sheet-like element, means for detecting the useful contour of said sheet-like element, means for projecting the patterns to be cut on said sheet-like element, and cutting means driven by an actuation unit which is controlled by means for controlling the positioning of the projected patterns, characterized in that said cutting means comprise at least two cutting heads which act simultaneously and independently of each other, each one of said cutting heads being movable in two mutually substantially perpendicular directions.

[0013] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a machine tool for continuously cutting sheet-like elements, particularly hides, synthetic material and the like, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of the machine tool according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the machine tool;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the machine tool;

Figure 4 is a view of the machine tool with a different unit for accumulating the cut material.

[0014] With reference to the above figures, the machine tool for continuously cutting sheet-like elements, particularly hides and the like, according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a supporting surface which, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, is constituted by a perforated plate 2 or by an air-permeable surface which is connected between an unwinding roller 3, provided on the front of the machine, and a takeup roller 4 which is provided in the rear part of the machine. At the belt 2 there are provided suction means which in practice provide the means for retaining the sheet-like element to be cut, which can be constituted by a hide or by other sheet-like elements.

[0015] In the initial portion of the belt 2 there is in practice the region for loading or positioning the sheet-like element to be cut, and a head, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, operates in said region and is meant to both detect the useful contour of the sheet-like element by means of a TV camera and project the patterns by means of laser projectors or the like, allowing the operator to confirm the provided positioning of the patterns or to modify it.

[0016] The TV camera is also meant to identify the regions covered by the hide, so as to activate suction at the sectors required to retain the hide, automating an operation which is currently performed manually by the operator.

[0017] The positioning of the patterns is then transmitted to a cutting unit, generally designated by the reference numeral 20, where cutting means are provided which are advantageously constituted by a first cutting head 21 and by a second cutting head 22, which can move on guides, generally designated by the reference numeral 30, which allow to perform a movement along two mutually perpendicular directions and are constituted by longitudinal bars 30a and by transverse bars 30b.

[0018] The cutting heads 21 and 22 have the particularity that the movement of the tool along the longitudinal axis is provided by the movement of each longitudinal bar 30a to which each head is connected.

[0019] The movement occurs with respect to the transverse bars 30b, so as to avoid constituting a fixed bulk in a longitudinal direction and so as to allow the operator to also access part of the work area of the head when it is not occupied by said head.

[0020] An important particularity of the invention is constituted by the fact that the actuation means can drive the two cutting heads so that said heads act simultaneously and independently of each other, accordingly allowing to drastically reduce cutting times.

[0021] Moreover, the cutting heads are actuated simultaneously with pattern detection.

[0022] The transfer of the detected patterns is gradual and the belt is moved practically pattern by pattern in order to safeguard both the visibility of the successive positionings and the promptness of the intervention of the cutting heads.

[0023] In practice, once the hide has been positioned, the patterns are detected and simultaneously, as soon as the positioning of the first patterns has been performed, it is possible to begin the cutting operations, thus avoiding downtimes, since the cutting heads can work simultaneously with respect to the pattern detection means and pattern positioning means.

[0024] An important characteristic is further constituted by the fact that the conveyor 2 is connected to motor means which allow to perform bidirectional actuation, offering two advantages: first of all, it is possible to utilize the movement in both directions during cutting, and secondly, it is possible to accumulate the cut material as the cutting step advances and then provide for the return of the cut material, which is accordingly removed from the same end of the machine where loading occurs.

[0025] According to what is shown in Figures 1 to 3, the perforated belt on which the sheet-like element to be cut is applied winds onto the takeup roller 4, accommodating the cut sheet-like element until the hide, for example, has been cut completely.

[0026] Once the hide has been cut, the advancement direction of the belt is reversed and therefore the cut parts are gradually removed.

[0027] Advantageously, the TV camera, by detecting the part just removed, gives the projector a clearance to indicate the next part to be removed.

[0028] According to what is shown in Figure 4, it is possible to provide a conveyor belt, designated by the reference numeral 40, which runs continuously around rollers 41 and 42 and which, at the lower portion, is flanked by a contrast belt 43 which is connected at 44 to the portion of the belt 40 and unwinds from an auxiliary unit 45 which in practice allows to lock the cut sheet-like element between the two belts until the complete cut has been performed, after which it is possible to reverse the direction of rotation of the belt 40 so as to be able to extract the cut patterns.

[0029] This arrangement therefore provides a unit for accumulating the already-cut material which does not require an extension of said surface, so that the machine has compact dimensions although allowing to cut large hides.

[0030] From the above description it is thus evident that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, and in particular the fact is stressed that a numeric-control machine tool is provided which allows to continuously cut surfaces of hides and the like, achieving an optimization of all parameters thanks to the high integration between man and machine and to the considerable integration that occurs among the various operating steps, also in relation to the fact that cutting can be performed simultaneously with the placement and detection steps on the same region of the sheet-like element being processed.

[0031] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.

[0032] All the details may also be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0033] In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.

[0034] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A machine tool for continuously cutting sheet-like elements, particularly hides and the like, comprising a surface for supporting the sheet-like element to be cut provided with means for retaining said sheet-like element, means for detecting the useful contour of said sheet-like element, means for projecting the patterns to be cut on said sheet-like element, and cutting means driven by an actuation unit which is controlled by means for controlling the positioning of the projected patterns, characterized in that said cutting means act simultaneously and on the same region with said projected pattern positioning means.

2. A machine tool for continuously cutting sheet-like elements, particularly hides and the like, comprising a surface for supporting the sheet-like element to be cut which is provided with means for retaining said sheet-like element, means for detecting the useful contour of said sheet-like element, means for projecting the patterns to be cut on said sheet-like element, and cutting means driven by an actuation unit which is controlled by means for controlling the positioning of the projected patterns, characterized in that said cutting means comprise at least two cutting heads which act simultaneously and independently of each other, each one of said cutting heads being movable in two mutually substantially perpendicular directions.

3. The machine tool according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said supporting surface comprises an air-permeable belt which can move in mutually opposite directions in order to coordinate the movement along the longitudinal axis with said cutting means and to return the cut material into the initial position.

4. The machine tool according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said useful contour acquisition means are suitable to drive the activation of suction means on said air-permeable belt at the sectors affected by the sheet-like element being processed.

5. The machine tool according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for accumulating said sheet-like element with cut patterns.

6. The machine tool according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said accumulation means comprise an unwinding roller for said air-permeable belt which is arranged upstream of the sheet-like element loading region and a takeup roller which is provided downstream of said cutting means.

7. The machine tool according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said accumulation unit comprises a contrast belt which is connected to said supporting surface constituted by an air-permeable belt which unwinds continuously, said contrast belt unwinding from an auxiliary unit during the accumulation of the cut sheet-like element and rewinding itself on said auxiliary unit during the unloading of the cut sheet-like element.

8. The machine tool according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said detection means, during the unloading of the cut patterns, are suitable to detect the progressively cut patterns removed for the driving of said projection means for identifying the removal sequence of the cut patterns.

Drawing