Machine for cutting soap bars into portions of preset length, with flexible operation

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a machine for cutting soap bars into portions of preset length with highly flexible operation.

[0002] As is known, in the manufacture of soap, soap is extruded in continuous bars, which are cut into portions of preset length, which are then molded in order to obtain pieces of soap with sizes and shapes suitable for sale.

[0003] In order to achieve high productivity, the soap bars are generally cut continuously, i.e., without stopping the bar of soap during its advancement along the production line.

[0004] Specifically-made machines are currently used to perform this operation and can be grouped into mechanically-driven machines and electronically-driven machines.

[0005] Mechanically-driven machines generally comprise a supporting structure, which forms a support and advancement surface for the soap bar to be cut, and a plurality of blades, which are mounted on a chain and are mutually spaced with a pitch which corresponds to the length of the portions of bar to be cut. The chain faces, with one of its portions, the soap bar arranged on the support and advancement surface and moves gradually closer, with said portion, to the support and advancement surface so as to gradually make the blades interfere with the soap bar in order to cut it. The actuation of the chain is synchronized with the advancement of the soap bar so as to obtain, for the blades that interfere with the soap bar, an advancement speed, in the direction of advancement of the soap bar, which is equal to the advancement speed of the soap bar.

[0006] These kinds of machines allow to vary the length of the portions of the bar to be cut, i.e., the cutting length, since the blades are connected to the chain by means of kinematic mechanisms on which it is possible to act manually in order to vary the spacing between the blades.

[0007] A first problem which can be observed in these machines is structural complexity, which arises mainly from the presence of the kinematic mechanisms required to change the cutting length, which affects significantly the production costs of these machines.

[0008] Another problem is constituted by low flexibility, since although it is possible to vary the cutting length, said length in any case is constrained within a rather narrow range, which is not always capable of meeting production requirements.

[0009] Moreover, the operation for varying the cutting length is time-consuming and laborious, requires halting the production line, with consequent production losses, and requires the intervention of specialized personnel.

[0010] Another problem of these machines is poor cutting precision.

[0011] Electronically-driven machines (see iT Mi 941 002643) also comprise a supporting structure which forms a support and advancement surface for the soap bar to be cut. Such machines are provided with a blade which faces said support and advancement surface and can move on command, with a reciprocating motion, along a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the support and advancement surface. The blade, in some machines, is mounted on an arm which can oscillate about an axis which is parallel to the support and advancement surface and is oriented transversely to the advancement direction of the soap bar along said surface. The oscillation of the arm allows the blade to follow the soap bar during cutting and to move backward with respect to the bar in order to reposition itself before performing a subsequent cut. In other machines, the blade is mounted on an articulated quadrilateral or other kinematic mechanism which allows it likewise to follow the soap bar during cutting and to move backward between one cut and the next. Generally, the motion of the blade along the direction of advancement of the soap bar is achieved by means of the direct traction performed by the soap bar when the blade begins to interfere with the soap bar, while the motion of the blade in the opposite direction, after the blade has ended its cutting action and has been disengaged from the soap bar, is obtained by means of elastic elements which are loaded by the advancement of the blade together with the soap bar.

[0012] Electronically-driven machines are generally provided with means for sensing the advancement speed of the soap bar, and the actuation of the blade at right angles to the support and advancement surface is adjusted as a function of the preset cutting length.

[0013] In practice, the operating cycle of such machines comprises a cutting step, during which the blade cuts the soap bar, advancing together with the soap bar, and a repositioning step, in which the blade is disengaged from the soap bar and moves in the opposite direction with respect to the soap bar in order to be returned to the initial position to perform a new cut. To meet the requirement of being able to produce different cutting lengths and of working with relatively high soap bar advancement speeds, the second step must be very short. This entails high accelerations and decelerations in the reciprocating motion of the blade at right angles to the support and advancement surface, which cause excessive stresses in the machine.

[0014] The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above by providing a machine for cutting soap bars into portions of preset length which is highly flexible in operation and is capable of meeting the most disparate requirements as regards the cutting length without generating excessive stresses of the elements that compose it.

[0015] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a machine which can be fitted without problems on modem production lines with high extrusion rates.

[0016] Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which allows to vary the cutting length in an extremely short time and optionally even during its operation.

[0017] Another object of the invention is to provide a structurally simple machine which can be produced at competitive costs and requires limited maintenance interventions.

[0018] Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which has high cutting precision.

[0019] This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a machine for cutting soap bars into portions of preset length, which comprises:

• a supporting structure, which forms a surface for the support and advancement of the soap bar along a longitudinal advancement direction;
• means for detecting the advancement speed of said bar along said advancement direction;
• cutting means, which comprise at least one blade which can move toward and away with respect to said support and advancement surface in order to interfere with the soap bar, a control and actuation element of the electronic type which is functionally connected to said means for sensing the advancement speed of the soap bar along said advancement direction and to said cutting means in order to actuate said cutting means as a function of the advancement speed of the soap bar and of a preset length for the portions of bar to be cut;

characterized in that said cutting means comprise:

• at least one arm which can rotate about a rotation axis which is substantially parallel to said support and advancement surface and is oriented transversely to said advancement direction;
• a motor for actuating said at least one arm with a rotary motion about said rotation axis and with a variable rotation rate, actuated by said actuation and control element; and
• at least one blade which is mounted on said at least one arm in a region which is spaced from said rotation axis;

said blade being movable, as a consequence of the rotation of said arm about said rotation axis, along a path which is substantially tangent to said support and advancement surface; means for orienting the blade being provided in order to keep said blade on a plane which is substantially perpendicular to said support and advancement surface and to said advancement direction at least within an interval of distance of said blade from said support surface which is equal to the thickness of said soap bar meant to be crossed by said blade and synchronization means being provided in order to keep the component of the speed of said blade along said advancement direction substantially equal to the advancement speed of the bar at least within said distance interval.

[0020] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the machine according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation view of the machine according to the invention at the beginning of the cutting step;

Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the machine according to the invention during the cutting step;

Figure 3 is a front elevation view of the machine according to the invention at the end of the cutting step;

Figure 4 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of Figure 2, with the soap bar removed for the sake of greater clarity;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of Figure 4, taken along the line V-V;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the machine according to the invention.

[0021] With reference to the figures, the machine according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a supporting structure 2, which forms a surface 3 for the support and advancement of a soap bar 4 to be cut, which advances along a longitudinal direction indicated by the arrow 5.

[0022] The machine is provided with means 6 for sensing the advancement speed of the soap bar 4 along the advancement direction 5 and with cutting means 7 which can be actuated so as to interfere cyclically with the soap bar 4 during its advancement along the direction 5 so as to cut it into portions of preset length.

[0023] The support and advancement surface 3 is preferably arranged horizontally, and along such surface there are guiding means for the soap bar 4. The guiding means comprise for example two pairs of rollers 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, the axes of which are oriented substantially at right angles to the support and advancement surface 3. These rollers 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b are supported so that they can rotate about their respective axes by the supporting structure 2 and are arranged upstream of the cutting means 7 along the advancement direction 5.

[0024] Moreover, the guiding means comprise two side walls 10a, 10b, which are arranged along planes which are substantially perpendicular to the support and advancement surface 3 downstream of the cutting means 7 along the advancement direction 5. The rollers 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, as well as the walls 10a, 10b, are designed to limit the possibility of movement of the soap bar 4 on the support and advancement surface 3 at right angles to the advancement direction 5.

[0025] The advancement of the soap bar 4 on the support and advancement surface 3 can be achieved by simple sliding of the soap bar 4 as a consequence of the thrust produced by the extrusion process which occurs upstream of the machine according to the invention or, as an alternative or in combination, can be obtained by providing the support and advancement surface 3 as a belt 40 which is supported by a pair of pulleys 41 a, 41b, which are arranged so that their axes lie at right angles to the advancement direction 5.

[0026] The cutting means comprise at least one blade 11, 12, which can move toward and away from the support and advancement surface 3 in order to interfere with the soap bar 4. The cutting means 7 are actuated by an actuation and control element 13, of the programmable electronic type, which is functionally connected to the means 6 for sensing the advancement speed of the soap bar 4 along the advancement direction 5 and to the cutting means 7 so as to actuate the cutting means 7 as a function of the advancement speed of the soap bar 4 along the advancement direction 5 and of a preset length, or cutting length, for the portions of bar to be cut.

[0027] According to the invention, the cutting means 7 comprise at least one arm 14, which can rotate about a rotation axis 15 which is substantially parallel to the support and advancement surface 3 and is oriented transversely to the advancement direction 5. The arm 14 is connected to an actuation motor 16 of the variable-speed type, which can be actuated in order to produce the rotation of the arm 14 about the rotation axis 15.

[0028] At least one blade 11, 12 is mounted on the arm 14 in a region which is spaced from the rotation axis 15.

[0029] As a consequence of the rotation of the arm 14 about the rotation axis 15, the blade 11, 12 follows a path which is substantially tangent, in one point, to the support and advancement surface 3, and means for orienting the blade 11, 12 are provided in order to keep said blade 11, 12 on a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the support and advancement surface 3 and to the advancement direction 5 at least within an interval of distance of the blade 11, 12 from the support and advancement surface 3 which is equal to the thickness of the soap bar 4 to be crossed by the blade 11, 12. The machine further comprises synchronization means in order to keep the component of the speed of the blade 11, 12 along the advancement direction 5 substantially equal to the advancement speed of the soap bar 4 at least within said distance interval, i.e., when the blade 11, 12 is engaged with the soap bar 4 during cutting.

[0030] Preferably, the orientation means of the blade 11, 12 are of the kinematic type and link the blade 11, 12 to the rotation of the arm 14 about the rotation axis 15.

[0031] More particularly, the arm 14 is pivoted, at an intermediate region, to the supporting structure 2 about the rotation axis 15. The arm 14 supports, in two mutually opposite regions which are equidistant with respect to the rotation axis 15, two blades 11, 12, which can engage alternately the soap bar 4 as a consequence of the rotation of the arm 14 about the rotation axis 15.

[0032] With particular reference to Figure 5, the arm 14 is fixed, so as to rotate rigidly about the rotation axis 15, to a hollow shaft 18, the axis of which coincides with the rotation axis 15 and is supported by the supporting structure 2 so that it can rotate about said axis by means of a pair of bearings 19a and 19b. A pulley 20 is fixed to the hollow shaft 18 and connects said hollow shaft 18 to the output shaft of the variable-speed motor 16.

[0033] With particular reference to Figures 4 and 5, the orientation means of the blade, or rather of the two blades 11 and 12, comprise a gear system which is composed of a central gear 21, whose axis coincides with the rotation axis 15, and of two planetary gears 22 and 23, which mesh with two diametrically mutually opposite regions of the central gear 21 and are arranged so that their axes are parallel to the rotation axis 15. An end gear 24 and 25 meshes with each of these planetary gears 22 and 23, and its axis likewise is oriented parallel to the rotation axis 15.

[0034] The central gear 21 is fixed to a shaft 26 which passes coaxially through the hollow shaft 18 and is rigidly fixed to the supporting structure 2. A pair of bearings 27a, 27b is arranged between the hollow shaft 18 and the shaft 26.

[0035] The planetary gears 22 and 23 are supported so that they can rotate about their respective axes, by means of pairs of bearings 28a, 28b, 29a, 29b, by the arm 14. Likewise, the end gears 24 and 25 also are supported so that they can rotate about their respective axes by means of pairs of bearings 30a, 30b, 31a, 31b by the arm 14.

[0036] Moreover, the rotation axis 15 and the axes of the planetary gears 22 and 23 and of the end gears 24 and 25 are arranged on a same plane.

[0037] The end gears 24 and 25 have the same number of teeth as the central gear 21.

[0038] The blades 11 and 12 are rigidly fixed to the end gears 24 and 25. In greater detail, the blades 11 and 12 are mounted on respective bows 33 and 34, which are fixed to blocks 35 and 36 which in turn are fixed to the end gears 24 and 25.

[0039] The blades 11 and 12 are arranged on planes which are perpendicular to the support and advancement surface 3 and the kinematic connection provided by means of the central gear 21, the planetary gears 22 and 23 and the end gears 24 and 25 maintains this orientation of the blades 11 and 12 during the rotation of the arm 14 about the rotation axis 15.

[0040] The synchronization means comprise a program which is preset in the actuation and control element 13 and is adapted to obtain, for the arm 14, an actuation with a rotary motion about the rotation axis 15 with a speed which can vary as a function of the advancement speed of the soap bar 4 along the advancement direction 5, so as to maintain the component of the speed of the blade 11 or 12 in engagement with the soap bar 4, along the advancement direction 5, substantially equal to the advancement speed of the soap bar 4, while the blade 11 or 12 is engaged with the soap bar 4, and in a manner adapted to obtain an advancement of the soap bar 4 along the support and advancement surface 3, between the disengagement of one blade 11 or 12 from the soap bar 4 after cutting it and the subsequent engagement of the other blade 12 or 11 with the soap bar 4, which is equal to the preset length, or cutting length, for the portion of bar to be cut.

[0041] The means 6 for sensing the advancement speed of the bar of soap 4 along the support and advancement surface 3 comprise a contact roller 37, which is arranged so that its axis lies parallel to the support and advancement surface 3 and at right angles to the advancement direction 5.

[0042] The contact roller 37 is spaced from the support and advancement surface 3 so as to make contact with the face of the soap bar 4 that lies opposite the face that rests on the support and advancement surface 3.

[0043] The contact roller 37 is connected to an encoder which detects the rotation rate of the contact roller 37 and therefore the advancement speed of the soap bar 4 along the advancement direction 5 and transmits it to the control and actuation element 13.

[0044] Operation of the machine according to the invention is as follows.

[0045] The intended length for the portions to be cut from the bar of soap 4, i.e., the chosen cutting length, is set in the control and actuation element 13.

[0046] The control and actuation element 13, by knowing the advancement speed of the soap bar 4 along the advancement direction 5 transmitted by the encoder connected to the contact roller 37, actuates, according to the program that is preset in the control and actuation element 13, the actuation motor 16, which in turn produces the rotation of the arm 14 about the rotation axis 15.

[0047] The rotation of the arm 14 about the rotation axis 15 cyclically causes the blades 11 and 12 to interfere with the soap bar 4 during its advancement along the advancement direction 5, cutting the soap bar 4 into portions whose length is preset in the control and actuation element 13.

[0048] More particularly, the control and actuation element 13 turns, by means of the actuation motor 16, the arm 14 about the rotation axis 15 with a rotation rate which is variable during a cutting cycle, so as to adapt the action of the blades 11 and 12 on the soap bar 4 to the advancement speed of the soap bar 4 along the direction 5 and to the preset cutting length.

[0049] More particularly, the rotation rate of the arm 14, while one blade 11 or 12 is cutting the soap bar 4, is such as to obtain a movement of said blade along the advancement direction 5 at a speed which is equal to the advancement speed of the soap bar 4 along the same direction. After such blade has been disengaged from the soap bar 4 and before the other blade engages the soap bar 4, the rotation speed of the arm 14 about the rotation axis 15 is changed so that the next blade engages the soap bar at a distance from the previous cut which is equal to the preset cutting length as a function of the advancement speed of the soap bar 4 along the direction 5.

[0050] It should be noted that during the operation of the machine the cutting length can be changed simply by setting a new cutting length in the control and actuation element 13.

[0051] In practice it has been found that the machine according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim, since it provides a high operating flexibility which is capable of meeting the most disparate requirements as regards the cutting length and, thanks to the particular actuation of the blade or blades, does not cause excessive stresses for the elements that compose it.

[0052] Another advantage of the machine according to the invention is that it allows to vary the cutting length even during the operation of the machine.

[0053] The machine thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0054] In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0055] 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 for cutting soap bars into portions of preset length, comprising:

- a supporting structure (2), which forms a surface (3) for the support and advancement of the soap bar (4) along a longitudinal advancement direction (5);

- means (6) for sending the advancement speed of said bar (4) along said advancement direction (5);

- cutting means (7), which comprise at least one blade (11, 12) which can move toward and away with respect to said support and advancement surface (3) in order to interfere with the soap bar (4), a control and actuation element (13) of the electronic type which is functionally connected to said means (6) for sensing the advancement speed of the soap bar (4) along said advancement direction (5) and to said cutting means (7) in order to actuate said cutting means (7) as a function of the advancement speed of the soap bar (4) and of a preset length for the portions of bar to be cut;

characterized in that said cutting means (7) comprise:

- at least one arm (14) which can rotate about a rotation axis (15) which is substantially parallel to said support and advancement surface (3) and is oriented transversely to said advancement direction (5);

- a motor (16) for actuating said at least one arm (14) with a rotary emotion about said rotation axis (15) and with a variable rotation rate, actuated by said actuation and control element (13);

- said at least one blade (11, 12) which is mounted on said at least one ann (14) in a region which is spaced from said rotation axis (15);

said at least one blade (11, 12) being movable, as a consequence of the rotation of said arm (14) about said rotation axis (15), along a path which is substantially tangent to said support and advancement surface (3); means (21, 22, 23) for orienting the blade being provided in order to keep said at least one blade (11, 12) on a plane which is substantially perpendicular to said support and advancement surface (3) and to said advancement direction (5) at least within an interval of distance of said at least one blade (11, 12) from said support and advancement surface (3) which is equal to the thickness of said soap bar (4) intended to be crossed by said at least one blade (11,12) and synchronization means being provided in order to keep the component of the speed of said at least one blade (11, 12) along said advancement direction (5) substantially equal to the advancement speed of the bar (4) at least within said distance interval.

2. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for orienting said at least one blade (11, 12) are of the kinematic type and link said at least one blade (11, 12) to the rotation of said arm (14) about said rotation axis (15).

3. The machine according to claim 2, characterized in that said arm (14) is pivoted, at an intermediate region thereof, to said supporting structure (2) about said rotation axis (15), and supports, in mutually opposite regions which are equidistant from said rotation axis (15), two blades (11,12) which can engage alternately the soap bar (4) as a consequence of the rotation of said arm (14) about said rotation axis (15).

4. The machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said blade orientation means comprise a gear system composed of a central gear, (21) whose axis coincides with said rotation axis (15) and which is fixed to said supporting structure (2), two planetary gears (22, 23) which mesh with two diametrically mutually opposite regions of said central gear (21) and are supported by said arm (14) so that they can rotate about the respective axes, which are parallel to said rotation axis (15); end gears (24, 25) each meshing with a respective one of said planetary gears (22, 23) and being supported so that it can rotate about its own axis by said arm (14) and rigidly supporting one of said two blades (11, 12).

5. The machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rotation axis (15), the axes of said planetary gears (22, 23) and the axes of said end gears (24, 25) are mutually coplanar.

6. The machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said synchronization means comprise a program which is preset in said actuation and control element (13) and is adapted to obtain, for said arm (14), an actuation with a rotary motion about said rotation axis (15) with a speed which can vary as a function of the advancement speed of said bar (4) along said advancement direction (5) in order to keep the component of the speed of said blades (11, 12) along said advancement direction (5) substantially equal to the advancement speed of the bar (4) within said distance interval and in order to obtain an advancement of the soap bar (4) along said support and advancement surface (3), between the disengagement of one blade (11, 12) from the soap bar (4) after cutting it and the subsequent engagement of the other blade (12, 11) with the soap bar (4), which is equal to the preset length for the bar portion to be cut.

7. The machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means (6) for sensing the advancement speed of the soap bar (4) along said support and advancement surface (3) comprise an encoder which is connected to a contact roller (37) which makes contact with the soap bar (4), said contact roller (37) being arranged so that its axis lies transversely to said advancement direction (5).

Ansprüche

1. Maschine zum Schneiden von Seifenblöcken in Stücke mit vorgegebener Länge mit

- einer Stützstruktur (2), die eine Fläche (3) zum Stützen und Vorschieben des Seifenblocks (4) entlang einer Längsvorschubrichtung (5) bildet,

- Mitteln (6) zum Erfassen der Vorschubgeschwindigkeit des Blocks (4) entlang der Vorschubrichtung (5),

- Schneidmitteln (7), die mindestens eine Klinge (11, 12), die sich zur Stütz- und Vorschubfläche (3) hin- und davon weg bewegen kann, um mit dem Seifenblock (4) in Eingriff zu kommen, und ein elektronisches Steuer- und Betätigungselement (13) umfassen, das funktional mit den Mitteln (6) zum Erfassen der Vorschubgeschwindigkeit des Seifenblocks (4) entlang der Vorschubrichtung (5) und mit den Schneidmitteln (7) verbunden ist, um die Schneidmittel (7) in Abhängigkeit von der Vorschubgeschwindigkeit des Seifenblocks (4) und von einer vorgegebenen Länge für die abzuschneidenden Blockstücke zu betätigen,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Schneidmittel (7) Folgendes umfassen:

- mindestens einen Arm (14), der sich um eine Drehachse (15) drehen kann, die im Wesentlichen parallel zu der Stütz- und Vorschubfläche (3) verläuft und quer zur Vorschubrichtung (5) ausgerichtet ist,

- einen Motor (16) zum Betätigen des mindestens einen Arms (14) mit einer Drehbewegung um die Drehachse (15) und mit einer variablen Drehzahl, wobei der Motor von dem Betätigungs- und Steuerelement (13) betätigt wird, und

- die mindestens eine Klinge (11, 12), die in einem von der Drehachse (15) beabstandeten Bereich an dem mindestens einen Arm (14) montiert ist,

wobei die mindestens eine Klinge (11, 12) infolge der Drehung des Arms (14) um die Drehachse (15) entlang einer Bahn bewegt werden kann, die im Wesentlichen tangential zu der Stütz- und Vorschubfläche (3) verläuft, Mittel (21, 22, 23) zum Ausrichten der Klinge vorgesehen sind, um die mindestens eine Klinge (11, 12) auf einer Ebene zu halten, die im Wesentlichen senkrecht zu der Stütz- und Vorschubfläche (3) und zu der Vorschubrichtung (5) verläuft, und zwar mindestens in einem Abstandsintervall der mindestens einen Klinge (11, 12) von der Stütz- und Vorschubfläche (3), das der Dicke des Seifenblocks (4) entspricht, der von der mindestens einen Klinge (11,12) überquert werden soll, und Synchronisierungsmittel vorgesehen sind, um die Komponente der Geschwindigkeit der mindestens einen Klinge (11, 12) entlang der Vorschubrichtung (5) mindestens innerhalb des Abstandsintervalls im Wesentlichen gleich der Vorschubgeschwindigkeit des Blocks (4) zu halten.

2. Maschine nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Mittel zur Ausrichtung der mindestens einen Klinge (11, 12) der kinematischen Art sind und die mindestens eine Klinge (11, 12) mit der Drehung des Arms (14) um die Drehachse (15) verbinden.

3. Maschine nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Arm (14) an einem Zwischenbereich davon um die Drehachse (15) zur Stützstruktur (2) geschwenkt wird und in sich gegenseitig gegenüberliegenden Bereichen, die in gleichem Abstand zu der Drehachse (15) liegen, zwei Klingen (11, 12) stützt, die infolge der Drehung des Arms (14) um die Drehachse (15) den Seifenblock (4) abwechselnd in Eingriff nehmen können.

4. Maschine nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Klingenausrichtungsmittel ein Getriebe umfassen, das aus einem mittleren Zahnrad (21), dessen Achse mit der Drehachse (15) zusammenfällt und das an der Stützstruktur (2) befestigt ist, zwei Planetenrädern (22, 23), die mit zwei sich gegenseitig diametral gegenüberliegenden Bereichen des mittleren Zahnrads (21) kämmen und so von dem Arm (14) gestützt werden, dass sie sich um die jeweiligen Achsen drehen können, die parallel zu der Drehachse (15) verlaufen, und Endzahnrädern (24, 25) besteht, die jeweils mit einem jeweiligen der Planetenräder (22, 23) kämmen und so vom Arm (14) gestützt werden, dass sich jedes um seine eigene Achse drehen kann und eine der beiden Klingen (11, 12) starr stützt.

5. Maschine nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Drehachse (15), die Achsen der Planetenräder (22, 23) und die Achsen der Endzahnräder (24, 25) gegenseitig koplanar sind.

6. Maschine nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Synchronisierungsmittel ein Programm umfassen, das in dem Betätigungs- und Steuerelement (13) vorgegeben und dazu geeignet ist, dass der Arm (14) mit einer Drehbewegung um die Drehachse (15) mit einer Geschwindigkeit betätigt wird, die in Abhängigkeit von der Vorschubgeschwindigkeit des Blocks (4) entlang der Vorschubrichtung (5) variieren kann, um die Komponente der Geschwindigkeit der Klingen (11, 12) entlang der Vorschubrichtung (5) innerhalb des Abstandsintervalls im Wesentlichen gleich der Vorschubgeschwindigkeit des Blocks (4) zu halten und um einen Vorschub des Seifenblocks (4) entlang der Stütz- und Vorschubfläche (3) zwischen dem Ausrücken einer Klinge (11, 12) aus dem Seifenblock (4) nach dessen Abschneiden und dem nachfolgenden Eingriff der anderen Klinge (12, 11) in den Seifenblock (4) zu erzielen, der der vorgegebenen Länge für das abzuschneidende Blockstück entspricht.

7. Maschine nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Mittel (6) zum Erfassen der Vorschubgeschwindigkeit des Seifenblocks (4) entlang der Stütz- und Vorschubfläche (3) einen Kodierer umfassen, der mit einer Kontaktrolle (37) verbunden ist, die den Seifenblock (4) kontaktiert, wobei die Kontaktrolle (37) so angeordnet ist, dass ihre Achse quer zur Vorschubrichtung (5) liegt.

Revendications

1. Machine pour découper des barres de savon en portions d'une longueur prédéfinie, comprenant :

- une structure de support (2) formant une surface (3) pour le soutien et l'avancée de la barre de savon (4) dans un sens de progression longitudinal (5) ;

- un moyen (6) de détection de la vitesse d'avancement de ladite barre (4) dans le sens de progression longitudinal (5) ;

- un moyen de découpe (7), comprenant au moins une lame (11, 12) pouvant s'avancer et se rétracter par rapport au dit support et à la surface d'avancement (3), afin d'interférer avec la barre de savon (4), un élément de commande et d'actionnement (13) de type électronique, raccordé de façon à fonctionner avec ledit moyen (6) de détection de la vitesse d'avancement de la barre de savon (4) dans le sens de progression longitudinal (5) et avec ledit moyen de coupe (7), afin d'actionner ledit moyen de coupe (7) en fonction de la vitesse d'avancement de la barre de savon (4) et de la longueur prédéfinie pour les portions de barre à découper ;

caractérisée par le fait que ledit moyen de découpe (7) comprend :

- au moins un bras (14) pouvant tourner autour d'un axe de rotation (15) parallèle à ladite surface de support et d'avancée (3) et qui est orienté transversalement par rapport au dit sens de progression (5) ;

- un moteur (16) pour actionner ledit au moins un bras (14) par un mouvement rotatif autour dudit axe de rotation (15) et avec une vitesse de rotation variable, actionné par ledit élément de commande et d'actionnement (13) ;

- ladite au moins une lame (11, 12), montée sur ledit au moins un bras (14) dans une zone située à proximité de l'axe de rotation (15) ;

- ladite au moins une lame (11, 12) étant mobile du fait de la rotation dudit bras (14) autour dudit axe de rotation (15), en suivant un trajet sensiblement tangent à ladite surface de support et d'avancée (3) ; des moyens (21, 22, 23) pour orienter la lame fournie afin de maintenir ladite au moins une lame (11, 12) sur un plan sensiblement perpendiculaire par rapport à ladite surface de support et d'avancée (3) et au dit sens de progression (5), au moins à un intervalle de distance d'au moins une lame (11, 12) par rapport à ladite surface de support et d'avancée (3), égale à l'épaisseur de ladite barre de savon (4) devant être traversée par ladite au moins une lame (11, 12); et un moyen de synchronisation prévu afin de maintenir le composant de la vitesse de ladite au moins une lame (11, 12) dans ledit sens de progression (5) sensiblement égale à la vitesse d'avancement de la barre (4) au moins dans ledit intervalle de distance.

2. Machine selon la revendication 1, caractérisée par le fait que lesdits moyens d'orientation de ladite au moins une lame (11, 12) sont de type cinématique et lient ladite au moins une lame (11, 12) à la rotation dudit bras (14) autour dudit axe de rotation (15).

3. Machine selon la revendication 2, caractérisée par le fait que ledit bras (14) pivote, au niveau d'une zone intermédiaire, vers ladite structure de support (2) autour dudit axe de rotation (15), et supporte, dans des zones réciproquement opposées équidistantes par rapport à l'axe de rotation (15) deux lames (11, 12) qui peuvent engager alternativement la barre de savon (4) sous l'action de la rotation dudit bras (14) autour dudit axe de rotation (15).

4. Machine selon l'une de revendications précédentes, caractérisée par le fait que lesdits moyens d'orientation de la lame comprennent un système d'engrenage composé d'un engrenage central (21) dont l'axe coïncide avec ledit axe de rotation (15) et qui est fixé à ladite structure de support (2), deux engrenages planétaires (22, 23) qui s'engrènent avec deux zones réciproquement diamétralement opposées dudit engrenage central (21) et sont supportés par ledit bras (14) de façon à pouvoir tourner autour de leurs axes respectifs, qui sont parallèles au dit axe de rotation (15) ; des engrenages d'extrémité (24, 25) chacun s'engrenant avec un engrenage planétaire respectif (22, 23) et étant supporté de façon à pouvoir tourner autour de son propre axe par ledit bras (14) et supportant de façon rigide l'une desdites deux lames (11, 12).

5. Machine selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée par le fait que ledit axe de rotation (15), les axes des engrenages planétaires (22, 23) et les axes des engrenages d'extrémité (24, 25) sont réciproquement coplanaires.

6. Machine selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée par le fait que lesdits moyens de synchronisation comprennent un programme préréglé dans ledit élément de commande et d'actionnement (13) et qui est adapté pour obtenir, pour ledit bras (14) un actionnement avec un mouvement rotatif autour dudit axe de rotation (15), avec une vitesse pouvant varier en fonction de la vitesse d'avancement de ladite barre (4) le long dudit sens de progression (5) afin de maintenir le composant de la vitesse desdites lames (11, 12) dans ledit sens de progression (5), sensiblemen égale à la vitesse d'avancement de la barre (4) dans ledit intervalle de distance et afin d'obtenir une progression de la barre de savon (4) sur ladite surface de support et d'avancement (3), entre le désengagement d'une lame (11, 12) de la barre de savon (4) après l'avoir découpée et l'engagement succesif de l'autre lame (12, 11) dans la barre de savon (4), qui est égale à la longueur préréglée de la portion de barre à découper.

7. Machine selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisée par le fait que lesdits moyens (6) utilisés pour la détection de la vitesse d'avancement de la barre de savon (4) sur la surface de support et d'avancement (3) comprennent un codeur qui est raccordé à un rouleau contacteur (37) en contact avec la barre de savon (4), ledit rouleau contacteur (37) étant disposé de façon à ce que son axe se trouve dans le sens transversal par rapport au dit sens de progression (5).

Drawing