Slotter wheel mechanism having dynamically retractable slotter blades

• US 5,351,589 A
• Filed: 09/27/1993
• Issued: 10/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Paper Company
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Paper Company
• Inventors: Creaden, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): JONES, EUGENIA A
• Application Number:
  US08/126,877
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 83/305, 83/304, 83/332, 83/345, 83/346, 83/482, 83/508.1, 83/528, 83/563, 83/677, 83/678, 83/698, 83/699, 493/365, 493/367, 493/370, 493/471, 493/475
• US Class Current: 83/678
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/626 for thin material, e.g. for sheets, strips or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 3/14 Forming notches in marginal portion of work by cutting by punching B26F1/12
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/2642 for slotting cutters
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/20 Cutting sheets or blanks
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/22 Notching; Trimming edges of flaps
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/254 using tools mounted on belts or chains
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/4711 With means to produce "mis-cut"
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/4798 Segmented disc slitting or slotting tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/4836 With radial overlap of the cutting members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7868 Tool element selectively operative
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8748 Tool displaceable to inactive position [e.g., for work loading]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9408 Spaced cut forming tool

Abstract

An improved slotter wheel mechanism (30) designed for use in the formation of box blanks is provided which includes a rotatable wheel assembly (32) supporting one or more slotter blades (34); the blades (34) are coupled to the wheel by means (36) permitting shifting of the blades (34) during rotation of the wheel assembly (32) between an extended slotting position and a retracted blank-clearing position. A cam assembly (406) presents a shiftable cam portion (424) that can be shifted to select a blade extended or retracted position for blade sections (304, 306, and 326) which are interconnected by a respective pivot couplings (332 and 334). The assembly (406) further includes a locking link assembly (448) for locking the blade holder (438) and thereby the blades (442 and 448a, 440b) in the selected position during rotation through the bottom portion of the arc of travel.

Claims

1. Slotter wheel apparatus for slotting of box blanks, comprising:

a rotatable body presenting a peripheral margin;

at least one slotter blade comprising a first blade section having a first end, and a second blade section having a second end adjacent said first end, each of said first and second blade sections having a cutting edge, and a pivot coupling said first end with said second end to permit shifting of said first and second blade sections between a retracted blank-clearing position and an extended slotting position; and

means operably coupling said blade to said body including structure for shifting of said blade between said extended slotting position wherein the blade cutting edges of said blade sections are located outboard of said body peripheral margin for slotting of said blank, and said retracted blank-clearing position wherein said cutting edges of said blade sections will pass said blank without slotting thereof.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said blade sections, in the extended position thereof, cooperatively extending through an arc of greater than 180°

.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said cutting edges of said sections being inboard of said peripheral margin in the retracted position of the blade sections.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means for releasably locking said slotter blade in said extended and retracted positions, respectively.

5. Slotter wheel apparatus for slotting of box blanks, comprising:

a rotatable body presenting a peripheral margin;

at least one slotter blade comprising a pair of blade sections each having a cutting edge, and means pivotally interconnecting said sections, said blade section interconnecting means comprising an intermediate blade section presenting a pair of opposed ends, one of said intermediate section ends being pivotally secured to a first one of said blade sections, with the opposed end of the intermediate section being bifurcated, the end of a second one of said blade sections proximal to the bifurcated end of said intermediate section also being bifurcated, and a link pivotally interconnecting said bifurcated ends of said second blade section and said intermediate section; and

means operably coupling said blade to said body including structure for shifting of said blade between an extended slotting position wherein the blade cutting edges of said blade sections are located outboard of said body peripheral margin for slotting of said blank, and a retracted blank-clearing position wherein said cutting edges of said blade sections will pass said blank without slotting thereof,

said blade section interconnecting means permitting retraction of said blade sections when the blade sections are in said extended position.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, said link being slotted to accommodate pivoting movement thereof.

7. Slotter wheel apparatus for slotting of box blanks, comprising:

a rotatable body presenting a peripheral margin;

at least one slotter blade comprising a pair of blade sections each having a cutting edge, and means pivotally interconnecting said sections; and

means operably coupling said blade to said body including structure for shifting of said blade between an extended slotting position wherein the blade cutting edges of said blade sections are located outboard of said body peripheral margin for slotting of said blank, and a retracted blank-clearing position wherein said cutting edges of said blade sections will pass said blank without slotting thereof,

said blade section interconnecting means permitting retraction of said blade sections when the blade sections are in said extended position,

said slotter blade comprising a central blade section presenting a pair of opposed ends, and said pair of blade sections respectively adjacent the opposed ends of said central blade section, said blade section interconnecting means coupling each of said pair of blade sections to the adjacent end of the central blade section.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, said means operably coupling said blade to said body further including pivotal link means operably coupling the ends of each of said pair of blade sections remote from said central blade section to said body.