U.S. patent number 3,926,084 [Application Number 05/525,723] was granted by the patent office on 1975-12-16 for knife holding apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Zenith Cutter Company. Invention is credited to Cedric W. Blazer.
United States Patent |
3,926,084 |
Blazer |
December 16, 1975 |
Knife holding apparatus
Abstract
An improved knife holding apparatus for use with a rotating
cutting roll and cooperating anvil roll of the type used to cut
elongated sheet is disclosed. The apparatus is attached to the
cutting roll and is particularly useful in making transverse cuts
relative to the movement of the sheet as it passes between the
cutting and anvil rolls. The apparatus has a block with a curved
bottom surface conforming with the curvature of a slitting or
slotting head to which it is attached. The apparatus also has a
holding bar pivotally attached to the block and movable through a
limited arc. A threaded bolt tightens a clamp member against a
contact surface for holding an elongated cutting knife therebetween
and a pair of set screws are operable to adjust the elevation of
the cutting knife relative to the holding bar. A resilient shock
pad is located between the holding bar and block generally beneath
the cutting knife for reducing shock that occurs during a cutting
operation.
Inventors: |
Blazer; Cedric W. (Rockford,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Zenith Cutter Company
(Rockford, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
24094366 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/525,723 |
Filed: |
November 21, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
83/698.41;
83/348; 83/356.3; 493/60 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B23D
35/002 (20130101); Y10T 83/501 (20150401); Y10T
83/9464 (20150401); Y10T 83/4844 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
B23D
35/00 (20060101); B23D 025/12 (); B26D 001/56 ();
B26D 001/36 () |
Field of
Search: |
;83/698,343,345,348,355,356.3 ;93/58.2R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Abercrombie; Willie G.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fitch, Even, Tabin &
Luedeka
Claims
I claim:
1. A knife holding apparatus for use with a slotting head mounted
on a rotating shaft and cooperating anvil surface, said apparatus
comprising:
a block having means for attachment to said cutting head;
a holding bar pivotally attached to said block and movable through
a limited arc, said bar having generally vertical and horizontal
contact surfaces at one end thereof, said vertical contact surface
being adapted to cooperate in holding an elongated cutting knife,
the cutting edge of which extends upwardly beyond the general
surface of the bar and block;
said bar having a clamp means with a front face for holding the
cutting knife against said vertical contact surface in secure
engagement, said clamp means having a shoulder along the lower
portion of said front face for engaging the bottom of said cutting
knife, first means for adjusting the height of said clamp means
relative to said horizontal contact surface of said holding bar,
second means for selectively moving said clamp means toward and
away from said vertical contact surface;
a resilient member positioned generally beneath the cutting knife
between adjacent surfaces of said block and said holding bar for
reducing shock to the cutting knife during a cutting operation.
2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said holding bar
includes a tongue means located at the end opposite said contact
surfaces, said tongue means having an aperture therein for
receiving pin means pivotally attaching said bar to said block,
said aperture being located a predetermined distance from the end
of said tongue means so that said tongue means engages said block
in response to limited upward movement of said one end having said
contact surfaces.
3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said block has a recess
in the upper surface thereof adapted to receive said tongue of said
holding bar, and apertures located in the sidewall portions
adjacent said recess for receiving pin means for pivotally
attaching said holding bar to said block.
4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said holding bar
and block adjacent surfaces have a recess therein in which said
resilient member is positioned, the thickness of said member being
sufficient to prohibit said member from escaping from said recess
when said holding bar is pivoted through the entirety of said
limited arc.
5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said resilient member is
fabricated from neoprene.
6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said resilient member
comprises a generally flat circular shape and said recess is
circular and has an inside diameter greater than the outer diameter
of said circularly shaped member.
7. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said recess is located
within the adjacent surface of said block and said thickness of
said member is greater than the maximum upward travel of said
pivotal holding bar relative to said block.
8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first adjusting
means comprises a pair of spaced apart screw means positioned in
respective apertures in said clamp means and adapted to vary the
height of said clamp means relative to said horizontal contact
surface in response to rotation thereof.
9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second means
comprises an elongated screw means passing through an aperture in
said clamp means and engaging a threaded aperture located within
the generally vertical contact surface of said holding bar so that
said clamp means is moved toward and away from said generally
vertical contact surface, respectively, in response to rotation of
said screw means in first and second directions.
10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said shoulder is of a
width less than the thickness of said cutting knife and is located
a distance from the top of said clamp means that is less than the
height of said knife said device is intended to hold.
11. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said block has a curved
lower surface for cooperatively contacting the curved
circumferential surface of the slotting head, and said means for
attachment comprises a slot entending transversely therethrough
adapted to receive a bolt for holding the same to the slotting
head.
Description
The present invention generally relates to apparatus for making
cuts in a series of separate places or in a continuous sheet
material at a production line or the like, and more particularly,
to apparatus for holding a cutting knife in a cutting head and
cooperating anvil head apparatus.
The cutting of rolling paper stock or other sheet material by using
a pair of cooperating rolls with a knife or sharp edge on one head
mounted on a shaft and an anvil or striking surface on another
shaft is well known and extensively used in the packaging industry
as well as many other industries. Knife holding apparatus for the
cutting heads have undergone changes which permit some resilient
movement of the knife edge relative to the anvil to reduce the
shock or impact that occurs during operation and thereby prolong
the effective life of the cutting edge of the knife and also
prevent scoring of the anvil surface. While the incorporation of a
resilient shock pad may effectively extend the life of the cutting
edge and minimize scoring of the anvil, it may be only marginally
worthwhile in its total effect, particularly if the resilient
member or pad quickly wears out. Down time, maintenance and repair
are usually costly and inconvenient regardless of the source of the
problem.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved cutting knife holding apparatus which incorporates a
resilient shock reducing member, permits efficient and easy
adjustment of the cutting knife and experiences a minimum of down
time and operational maintenance.
Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading the
following detailed description, in conjunction with the attached
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the knife holding
apparatus embodying the present invention in the environment of
cutting and anvil heads and shafts with sheet stock passing
therebetween;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the apparatus embodying the
present invention;
FIG. 3 is a front view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken generally along the line 4--4 in
FIG. 2.
Turning now to the drawings and particularly the perspective view
of FIG. 1, the invention will be broadly described in conjunction
with the environment or apparatus with which it is used. Sheet
stock such as corrugated cardboard 10 or the like is shown moving
in the direction illustrated by the arrow and between an upper
slotting head 11 on a shaft 12 and lower anvil head 13 on a shaft
14. The slotting head 11 on the shaft 12 is shown to carry a
slotting knife 16 for making a longitudinal cut in the sheet, as
well as apparatus indicated generally at 18 embodying the present
invention, which holds a cutting knife 20 that is adapted to make
transverse cuts in the sheet stock 10 such as is illustrated at 22.
It should be readily understood that both the upper and lower
shafts rotate in the directions indicated thereon and the knives 16
and 20 perform the cutting operation as the sheet moves to left as
shown in the drawings. It should also be understood that adjustment
of the elevation or height of the knife 20 may be required
depending upon the thickness of the stock being cut or for altering
the cutting depths for different flute thicknesses of corrugated
cardboard or the like or for merely aligning the apparatus in the
event it becomes out of line. The slotting head 11 is laterally
adjustable along the shaft 12.
In accordance with the present invention, and referring to the
knife holding apparatus 18 shown in FIGS. 2-4, it includes a block,
indicated generally at 26, which is attached to the slotting head
11, typically through the use of a T-bolt (not shown) that extends
through an elongated slot 28 that is oversized to permit adjustment
of the cutting knife along the circumference of the slotting head.
The block 26 has a lower or bottom surface 30 that is preferably of
a curvature substantially similar to the surface of the head 11 for
accurate positioning. The apparatus 18 also has a holding bar,
indicated generally at 32, which is attached to the block 26 and
which is adapted to hold the elongated cutting knife 20, the
cutting edge of which is shown at 36. The holding bar 32 has a
tongue portion 38 with an aperture 40 therein adapted to receive a
socket head shoulder screw 42 or the like for pivotally connecting
the holding bar 32 to the block 26. In this regard, the block 26
has a central recess 44 for receiving the tongue 38, the sidewall
extensions 46 of the block 26 having similar apertures 48 and 50
for receiving the screw 42, the aperture 50 being tapped for
receiving the threaded end portion of the socket head shoulder
screw 42. Thus, the holding bar is attached to the block 26 at this
singular location and is thereby allowed a limited arc of movement
around the pivot defined by the set screw 42.
To limit the movement to a relative small arc, the aperture 40 in
the tongue 38 is positioned a predetermined distance d.sub.1 from
the end surface of the tongue and, by virtue of the small distance
d.sub.2 between the bottom surface of the tongue 38 and the
horizontal surface of the recess 44, the holding bar 32 will only
be capable of moving a short distance upwardly before the tongue
makes contact with the horizontal surface of the recess 44.
To hold the cutting knife 20, the holding bar 32 is provided with
generally horizontal and vertical contact surfaces 52 and 54,
respectively, against which either the cutting blade 20 or a clamp
member 56 bears. In this regard, the clamp 56 has a front face 58
that is generally vertical and parallel to the generally vertically
aligned contact surface 54 so that rotation of a socket head cap
screw 60 in the proper direction moves the clamp 56 toward the
right as shown in the drawings, and will securely hold the knife 20
therebetween. More specifically, the cap screw 60 passes through an
oversized aperture 62 in the clamp 56 and engages a tapped aperture
64 within the holding bar 32. The inside diameter of the aperture
62 is preferably oversized compared to the diameter of the shaft of
the socket head cap screw 60 to permit horizontal as well as
vertical movement of the clamp 56 relative to the cap screw 60, the
position of which is percisely determined by virtue of its threaded
engagement with the tapped aperture 64.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the
elevation or height of the cutting knife 20 can be easily and
precisely adjusted for proper alignment and cooperative operation
with the anvil head 13. The clamp 56 is provided with a relatively
narrow shoulder 66 located below the front face 58 and is adapted
to hold the bottom surface of the knife 20. The shoulder is
narrower than the thickness of the knife so that the front face 58
of the clamp will force the knife toward and in contact with
contact surface 54 of the bar to securely hold the knife when the
screw 60 is tightened. It should be understood that the height of
the cutting edge 36 of the knife 20 is therefore determined by the
adjustment of the clamp 56 since the lower surface of the knife 20
rests upon the shoulder 66 of the clamp.
To adjust the elevation of the knife, the clamp 56 is provided with
a pair of spaced apart socket head set screws 68 that engage tapped
apertures 70 which extend completely through the height of the
clamp as best shown in FIG. 4. By rotating the set screws 68, the
elevation or height of the clamp and therefore the knife 20 can be
varied as desired for proper operation. Since the aperture 62 in
the clamp is oversized as previously mentioned, the clamp 56 may be
moved vertically within reasonable limits. Moreover, the use of two
set screws 68 located on opposite sides of the aperture 62, provide
the additional adjustment of raising or lowering one end relative
to the other which may be necessary to laterally align the knife
edge.
Turning now to yet another important aspect of the present
invention, the apparatus 18 is adapted to reduce shock to the knife
edge during operation by cushioning the impact of the knife 20 if
it strikes the anvil head 13. To provide the shock reducing
capability, the adjacent surfaces 71 and 72 of the holding bar 32
and the block 26, respectively, which are immediately beneath the
knife 20 have a resilient member 74 therebetween that is adapted to
provide a cushioning effect and permit the downward deflection of
the holding bar 32 which pivots around the set screw 42. The
resilient member is shown to be of relatively flat circular shape
which is located within a similarly configured recess 76 within the
surface 72 of the block 26, although the recess could be located
within the adjacent surface 71 of the holding bar if desired. The
resilient member 74 is preferably fabricated of neoprane although
other rubber or rubberlike materials may be used. The thickness of
the member 74 is preferably such that it cannot escape the recess
76 with even maximum upward movement of the holding bar around the
pivot 42. It is preferred that the resilient member 74 be generally
centered beneath the entire length of the knife 20 and of a
relatively large cross-sectional area. It is also preferred that it
bears only against flat planar surfaces having no indentations or
protrusions which would significantly increase wear upon the member
and shorten its life expectancy through abrasion, uneven stressing,
rubbing or the like.
From the foregoing it should be understood that an improved knife
holding apparatus has been shown and described which employs a
relatively few number of components, all of which can be
inexpensively and easily manufactured.
Although various embodiments of the invention have been illustrated
and described, they will suggest a number of variations and
modifications to persons skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope
of the protection afforded this invention should not be limited by
the particular embodiments shown and described, but should be
determined by the terms of the definitions of the invention as are
set forth in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following
claims.
* * * * *