KNIFE HOLDER

• US 20130152750A1
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arthur George Chilcott, Lee Fenney
• Original Assignee: Arthur George Chilcott, Lee Fenney
• Inventors: Chilcott, Arthur George, Fenney, Lee
• Application Number:
  US12/672,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20130152750A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/56
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/14 with a circular cutting member, e.g. disc cutter
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/02 Means for moving the cutting member into its operative position for cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/2635 for circular cutters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0605 Cut advances across work surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7793 Means to rotate or oscillate tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7872 Tool element mounted for adjustment

Abstract

A web slitting machine knife holder configured to be mounted on a rail for linear movement of the knife holder along a first axis, the knife holder comprising: a frame; a knife carrier connected to the frame by a movement mechanism; and a plurality of electric motors connected to the movement mechanism, wherein the knife carrier is moveable relative to the frame through three independent degrees of freedom by operation of the movement mechanism through actuation of a respective one of the plurality of electric motors.

Claims

1. A web slitting machine knife holder configured to be mounted on a rail for linear movement of the knife holder along a first axis, the knife holder comprising:

a frame;

a knife carrier connected to the frame by a movement mechanism; and

a plurality of electric motors connected to the movement mechanism,

wherein the knife carrier is moveable relative to the frame through three independent degrees of freedom by operation of the movement mechanism through actuation of a respective one of the plurality of electric motors.

2. The knife holder according to claim 1 wherein the movement mechanism allows for linear movement of the knife carrier relative to the frame along a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis by actuation of a first one of the plurality of electric motors.

3. The knife holder according to claim 1 wherein the movement mechanism allows for rotation of the knife carrier relative to the frame about a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis by actuation of a second one of the plurality of electric motors.

4. The knife holder according to claim 3 wherein the movement mechanism allows for linear movement of the knife carrier relative to the frame along the second axis by actuation of a first one of the plurality of electric motors.

5. The knife holder according to claim 1 wherein the movement mechanism allows for linear movement of the knife carrier relative to the frame in a direction substantially parallel to the first axis by actuation of a third one of the plurality of electric motors.

6. The knife holder according to claim 1 comprising an additional electric motor configured to drive the knife holder along the first axis.

7. The knife holder according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of electric motors are servo-controllable electric motors.

8. The knife holder according to claim 2 wherein the movement mechanism comprises a screw defining the second axis, wherein rotation of the screw through actuation of the first one of the plurality of electric motors causes linear movement of the knife carrier relative to the frame.

9. The knife holder according to claim 3 wherein the movement mechanism comprises a rotatable cam, wherein rotation of the cam through actuation of the second one of the plurality of electric motors causes rotation of the knife carrier relative to the frame.

10. The knife holder according to claim 5 wherein the movement mechanism comprises a pair of rotatable links connected to the third one of the plurality of electric motors such that actuation of the third one of the plurality of electric motors causes the knife carrier to move along the direction substantially parallel to the first axis through synchronous rotation of the pair of rotatable links.

11. The knife holder according to claim 10 wherein the pair of rotatable links are arranged in a substantially parallel formation.

12. The knife holder according to claim 1 comprising an outer housing enclosing the frame, movement mechanism and the plurality of electric motors.

13. The knife holder according to claim 12 comprising a display configured to indicate operating parameters of the knife holder.

27. The knife holder according to claim 2 wherein the movement mechanism allows for linear movement of the knife carrier relative to the frame in a direction substantially parallel to the first axis by actuation of a third one of the plurality of electric motors.

28. The knife holder according to claim 3 wherein the movement mechanism allows for linear movement of the knife carrier relative to the frame in a direction substantially parallel to the first axis by actuation of a third one of the plurality of electric motors.

29. The knife holder according to claim 4 wherein the movement mechanism allows for linear movement of the knife carrier relative to the frame in a direction substantially parallel to the first axis by actuation of a third one of the plurality of electric motors.

30. The knife holder according to claim 1 wherein the knife carrier comprises a first part connected to the frame by the movement mechanism and a second part connected to the first part, the second part having a knife blade rotatably mounted thereon.

14. A web slitting machine knife holder configured to be mounted on a rail for linear movement of the knife holder along a first axis, the knife holder comprising:

a frame;

a knife carrier connected to the frame by a movement mechanism; and

a plurality of electric motors connected to the movement mechanism,

wherein the knife carrier is rotatable via the movement mechanism about a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis by actuation of one of the plurality of electric motors.

15. The knife holder according to claim 14 wherein the knife carrier comprises a first part connected to the frame by the movement mechanism and a second part connected to the first part, the second part having a knife blade rotatably mounted thereon.

16. The knife holder according to claim 15 wherein the second part of the knife carrier comprises a sensor configured to sense rotation of the knife blade for determining a rotational speed of the knife blade.

17. The knife holder according to claim 16 wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic proximity sensor mounted on the second part of the knife carrier and a magnet mounted on the knife blade.

18. The knife holder according to claim 15 comprising a strain gauge mounted on the knife carrier and configured to detect a lateral force exerted on the knife carrier.

19. A method of operating a web slitting machine comprising:

electrically controlling a plurality of electric motors in each of a plurality of knife holders, the knife holders being attached to a mounting rail of the web slitting machine for linear movement along a first axis,

wherein each knife holder comprises a frame and a knife carrier connected to the frame by a movement mechanism, the plurality of electric motors being connected to the movement mechanism to move the knife carrier relative to the frame through three independent degrees of freedom by operation of the movement mechanism through electrically controlling the plurality of electric motors.

20. The method of claim 19 comprising detecting a force exerted on a knife carrier from one or more of the plurality of electric motors.

21. The method of claim 19 comprising automatically adjusting operating parameters of the web slitting machine in response to feedback provided from one or more of the plurality of electric motors.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein automatically adjusting operating parameters comprises adjusting a tension in a web passing through the web slitting machine.

23. The method of claim 20 comprising automatically adjusting the force exerted on the knife carrier by controlling movement of the knife carrier relative to the frame.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the force is detected by a strain gauge mounted on the knife carrier.

31. The method of claim 20 comprising automatically adjusting operating parameters of the web slitting machine in response to feedback provided from one or more of the plurality of electric motors.

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)