| JP02292199 | CUTTING DEVICE FOR ROLLED PAPER |
| JP2003311681 | LONG BAND SAW TYPE CUTTING MACHINE |
| WO/1993/022113 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SLITTING CORRUGATED PAPERBOARD BOXES |
BOTHA, Jacobus Fereira (7 Edward Place, Mondeor, 2091 Johannesburg, ZA)
| (7) CLAIMS (1) A substance cutter for cutting if not cutting up substance that is of stiffly flexible character to the extent of tending to exert a cutting action obstructing pinching effect during the performance of a cutting action thereon comprising cutting action performing equipment that at least comprises at least one cutting edge presenting member of which at least part is involved in the performance of a cutting action once the equipment is in use and which equipment is powerable by drive means to perform a uni-planar cutting action in response to the displacement of the cutting edge presenting member along its cutting edge, and holding means for holding such substance in way that effectively exposes it to the cutting edge presenting member in response to relative displacement between the cutting action performing equipment and the holding means both as thus mounted to enable their relative inter-displacement into and out of a cutting relationship; characterised in that at least the part of the cutting edge presenting member that is involved in the performance of a cutting action once the cutter is in use is arranged to operate within a progressively outwardly flaring facility as flaring trailingly as regards the direction of cutting action involving inter-displacement between the holding means and the cutting action performing equipment while flaring to a cutting action non-inhibiting extent and from the apex of which facility the cutting edge of the cutting edge presenting member protrudes to an adequate extent to enable the performance an effective cutting action with the flaring facility during the performance of a cutting action wedgingly opening a cut along such substance thereby limiting its pinchable closure onto the cutting edge presenting member. (2) A substance cutter as claimed in claim 1 in which the flaring facility is in the form of a wedge shaped layout from the apex of which the cutting edge of the cutting edge presenting member protrudes. (3) A substance cutter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the holding means is arranged to hold substance in a way that causes it to become exposed to the cutting edge presenting member in at least generally the direction of the central axis of the cutter as extending in parallel with if not along the cutting plane of the cutting edge presenting member. (4) A substance cutter as claimed in claim 3 in which the cutting action performing equipment is mounted to perform an at least substantially vertical cutting action once the cutter is in use. (5) A substance cutter as claimed in claim 4 in which the cutting action performing equipment is constituted to cause the cutting edge presenting member to run uni- directionally once the equipment is in operation. (6) A substance cutter as claimed in claim 5 in which the cutting action performing equipment is in the form of a endless flexible blade, as providing the cutting edge presenting member, running between spaced blade carrying pulleys with the part of the cutting edge presenting member that is involved in the performance of a cutting action being provided by at least one inter-pulley blade extending length. (7) A substance cutter as claimed in claim 5 in which the cutting action performing facility is in the form of at least one cutting disk, as providing the cutting edge presenting member, with the flaring facility extending along an arc forming at least part of the holding means facing semi circular cutting edge of the disk. (8) A substance cutter as claimed in claim 7 in which the cutting action performing facility is in the form of at least one pair of cutting discs mounted to run in inward counter rotating co- planar adjacent proximity while the flaring facility extends at least along the adjacent cutting disc arcuate lengths ending in a common cutting mouth. (9) A substance cutter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the holding means is in the form of an object holder for securely holding substance in the form of an object that is intended for appropriate cutting. (10) A substance cutter as claimed in claim 9 in which in at least the case of an object in the form of a tyre that is holdable to cause it to become exposed to the cutting edge presenting member in at least generally the direction of the central axis of the cutter, the object holder is in the form of a tyre holder for securely holding a tyre against free movement though permitting its readjustment to enable its cutting up into smaller pieces that are of a size that enables its appropriate further processing. (11) A substance cutter as claimed 10 in which the tyre holder is arranged to suitably hold a tyre to result in its becoming exposed to the cutting edge presenting member, once the cutter is in use, as from a location along its circumferential running tread owing to holding it in a way that results in the central plane there through extending at at least substantially right angles to the cutting plane of the cutting edge presenting member, the cutting action performing equipment and the tyre holder being mounted to a support that is tyre traversably formed to the effect of permitting their inter-displacement into achieving a tyre cut extending at least substantially through the full loop width of such tyre, in being rotatably adjustable a cutting up routine involving the forming of a series of tyre cuts. (12) A substance cutter as claimed in claim 11 in which the tyre holder is fitted with an expansion mechanism that fits expansibly contractable within the hub-accommodating opening of a tyre enabling its releasable locking for the inside against free rotation. |
TYRE CUTTER
(2) BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Massive amounts of used vehicle tyres accumulate all around the world creating an environmental problem. The recycling of such tyres often involves their melting or burning up in a furnace. Known furnaces can however not accommodate very large tyres as such requiring them to be cut up beforehand. Being of stiffly flexible character tending to exert a cutting action obstructing pinching effect on cutting equipment the cutting of tyres is a very tedious effort. While not so limited it is, amongst others, an object of this invention to address this problem.
(3) FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a substance cutter for cutting if not cutting up substance that is of stiffly flexible character to the extent of fending to exert a cutting action obstructing pinching effect during the performance of a cutting action thereon. While not so limited the invention find useful application in the cutting up of vehicle tyres.
(4) PRIOR ART DESCRIPTION
Tyre cutters and shredders are not a new concept on the market. In one application a guillotine type effect is used while another known process makes use of a grinding effect. In the case of the latter procedure a tyre is only halved though a central plane. Another process makes use of brute force in effect squashing a tyre being cut up by way of a blade. The process is repeated to obtain an overall cutting effect. A water jet method is also used in applying a high pressure water jet to obtain a cutting effect.
In those techniques where a blade or the like is used the stiffness of a tyre being cut up tends to exert a cutting action obstructing effect on the cutting equipment requiring
substantial energy input while also causing extensive equipment wear during the cutting process. While the other techniques all have their market applications their equipment is often very elaborate. (5) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings
Figure 1 shows one embodiment of a substance cutter, according to the invention, in the form of a tyre cutter, in three-dimensional view,
Figure 2 shows the tyre cutter of figure 1 in side elevation in the direction of arrow A in figure 1.
Figure 3 shows the tyre cutter in the direction of arrow B in figure 1 , Figure 4 shows the tyre cutter in end view in the direction of arrow C in figure 1 , Figure 5 shows a detail of the tyre cutter along section line D-D in figure 4, Figure 6 shows the tyre cutter of figures 1 to 5 in plan view,
Figure 7 shows holding means in the form of a tyre holder forming part of the tyre cutter along section line E-E in figure 4,
Figure 8 shows another embodiment of the tyre cutter in three dimensional view, Figure 9 shows the figure 8 embodiment in end view along arrow F in figure 8,
Figure 10 shows the figures 8 and 9 embodiment of the tyre cutter in side elevation,
Figure 11 diagrammatically shows the operation of the tyre cutter of the figures 1 to 7 embodiment, and
Figure 12 shows a typical tyre cut when done by way of the procedure of figure 11. (6) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to figures 1 to 6 and 8 to 11 of the drawings a substance cutter for cutting an object that is of stiffly flexible character, according to the invention, in the form of a tyre cutter, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.
The cutter 10 comprises cutting action performing equipment generally indicated by reference numeral 12 that includes at least one cutting edge presenting member 14, holding means for holding a tyre in the form of a contractably expansible tyre holder 16 and an outward flaring facility in the form of a wedge shaped layout as provided by at least one wedge shaped tyre stretching formation 18 flaring outward from a leading end and along which formation 18 part of the running path of the cutting edge presenting member 14 extends to the effect of the cutting edge of the member 14 protruding from the leading end of the formation 18.
In referring to figures 1 to 7 and 11 and the one embodiment the cutting action performing equipment 12 is in the form of a blade and pulley assembly 20 in which the cutting edge presenting member 14 is in the form of an endless blade 22 running between vertically aligned spaced blade carrying pulleys 24. The assembly 20 is driven by a motor 25 while both the assembly 20 and the motor 25 are mounted to an assembly support frame 26. The assembly 20 is fitted with two wedge shaped tyre stretching formations 18 each flaring outward from an apex forming leading end 28, as more clearly shown in figure 5, each of which is situated along the cutting action performing parts of the assembly 20 as found along the vertical parts of the path of displacement of the blade 22. As more clearly shown in figure 5 the running path of the blade 22 along the formations 18 is arranged to cause the cutting edge 22.1 of the blade 22 to protrude from the apexes 28.1 of the leading ends 28 of the formations 18 enabling the blade 22 to perform a cutting action once the cutter 10 is in use. The pulleys 24 are mounted to run within pulley covers 30 while a tyre cutting zone 32 is defined between upper and lower cutting zone boundary forming members 34.
The cutter 10 includes a base frame 36 onto which the assembly support frame 26
displaceably fits by way of runners 38 that run along guide paths extending within opposite guide path defining formations 40. The frame 26 is displaceably mounted to the base frame 36 by means of a piston and cylinder assembly 37 though any displacement mechanism will suffice. The assembly 37 is arranged to also cause a slow displacement of the frame 26 relative to the base frame 36.
The tyre holder 16 is fitted against linear displacement though permitting a lockable swivelling action relative to the base frame 36 (not shown). As more clearly shown in figure 7 the tyre holder 16 is constituted from a plurality of circumferentially arranged tyre securing members 42 that are inwardly and outwardly displaceable in contracting or expanding the effective cross sectional area of the holder 16 by way of a series of swivelably mounted displacer arms 44 for each member 42 that each extends swivelably between a cylinder type central support pillar 46 and the respective arms 42. The lower end regions of the members 42 fit along slots in a tyre support base 48. Contraction or expansion is achieved by way of a series of overhead adjustment arms 50 that extend between the respective members 42 and a reciprocator 52 that is reciprocatably mounted along the pillar 46. An upward action of the reciprocator 52 has the effect of causing the arms 42 to swivelably close in on the pillar 46 in conjunction also displacing the members 42 towards the pillar 46 thus reducing the effective cross sectional of the holder 16 and vice versa. Once a tyre is fitted onto the holder 16 as passing along its hub accommodating opening while the tyre rests onto the support base 48 it is locked against performing a swivelling action relative thereto on the members 42 urging against its inner rim in response to the activation of a downward action to the reciprocator 52. This has the effect of expanding the effective cross sectional area of the holder 16 in turn causing the exertion of a locking action on such tyre. While not shown in detail the
reciprocator 52 is naturally locked against release once in its desired cross sectional area expanding condition to maintain such locking effect. To ensure that a tyre is aligned with the tyre-cutting zone 32 once the cutter 10 is ready for use the holder 16 is mounted onto an elevating spacer 33.
As more clearly shown in figures 1 and 4 the assembly 20 and the tyre holder 16 are situated in a staggered relationship as regards the central axis 54 of the direction of displacement of the frame 26 that is parallel to the axes passing along the cutting planes of the blade 22 of which only the inner one is involved in performing a tyre cutting action. A typical tyre cutting routine is shown in figure 12 but not so limited. The advantage in staggering is naturally that a cut can be done fully through a tyre owing to the unobstructed movement of the tyre through the zone 32 during a cutting operation. The frame 26 is furthermore formed to accommodate the part of such tyre that does not pass along the zone 32 by way of upwardly and downwardly mounted frame elements 56 that form a tyre accommodating frame spacing 58 of adequate width to accommodate the part of a tyre that does not pass along the zone during the performance of a tyre cutting operation. But in performing the cutting routine of figure 12 the tyre is naturally not cut though its full loop extending width as this will cause the tyre holder 16 to become ineffective. The routine thus proceeds by cutting tyre segments while holding the tyre inner rim intact.
In referring to figures 8 to 10 and in another embodiment the cutting action performing equipment 12 is in the form of two disk assemblies 62 each constituted from a set of cutting discs 60 forming the cutting edge presenting members 14. The disks 60 of each cutting disk assembly 62 are arranged to run in an inward counter rotating direction along arcs 64 while they are mounted in co-planar adjacent proximity. The disk assemblies 62 are in symmetrical lateral spacing mounting as regards the central axis 66 of the cutter 10 of this embodiment. Each disk 60 is associated with a wedge shaped layout in the form of an arcuately extending wedge shaped stretching formation. In the case of each of the upper disks 60.1 the
formation extends along a lower segment 68 of its tyre holder facing sides while in the case of the lower disk 60.2 the formation extends along an upper segment 70 of its tyre holder facing a side. The stretching formations of each disk assembly 62 meet in a mouth 72 into forming an overall tyre stretching formation 18, 73. Except where the discs 60 run along and protrude from their tyre stretching formations they are housed in disc housings 74. The disc assembly mounting frame of this embodiment is stationarily mounted while the tyre holder 16, that is the same as that of the figures 1 to 7 embodiment, is displaceably mounted to a base frame. As the discs 60 are driven by stub shafts 75 an unobstructed intermediate tyre passage zone 77 is formed between the disk assemblies 62 permitting the extensive cutting of a tyre by the disk assemblies 62.
The cutter 10 of whichever embodiment is fitted with a tyre cut off section removal belt 76 onto which cut off sections are guide by means of a guide chute 78 (not shown in figures 8 to 10).
In referring in particular to figure 11 the performance of a tyre cutting routine commences with the positioning of a tyre 80 intended for cutting onto the tyre holder 16 as in its cross sectional area contracted condition and onto the support base 48 once the frame 26 has been moved to its pre-cutting action performing condition, as shown in figures 11(a) and 11(aa). Once properly positioned the cross sectional area of the tyre holder 16 is expanded, as described above with reference to figure 7, by appropriate retraction of the reciprocator 52 until the tyre 80 is properly locked to the holder 16 thus holding it against undesired rotation. As shown in the blade positioning detail to figures 11(a) and 11(aa) the blade 22 is in this condition still spaced from the tyre 80.
The cutting operation is commenced with by starting the assembly 20 causing the blade 22 to run along its pulleys 28. In referring to figures 11 (b) and 11(bb) and its blade positioning detail the frame 26 is caused to become slowly displaced in the direction of arrow 82 on the operation of piston and cylinder assembly 37 with the blade 22 reaching the edge of the tyre 80. As shown in figures 11 (c), 11 (cc) and its blade positioning detail, on the blade 22 penetrating the tyre 80, the cutting action there into forces the cut 84 so formed to remain opened up as brought about by the functioning of the tyre stretching formation 18. This opened up effect is retained on deeper penetration of the blade into the tyre 80, as shown in figures 11(d), 11(dd) and its blade positioning detail. While tyres are of a stiffly flexible character a penetration by an unmodified blade will cause the cut part of a tyre to again close up and exert a pinching effect on a blade thus severely curtailing its operation. But in the case of the cutter 10 of the invention the wedging effect of the formation 18 forces the cut 84 to remain opened up thus preventing a blade pinching effect. A deep cut even to the extent of cutting fully through the tyre 80 is accommodated for by part 86 of the tyre 80 beyond the cut 84 passing along the zone 32 while the other part 88 is passed along the frame spacing 58. Even if a trailing part of the cut 84 tends to close up again this does not affect the free running operation of the blade, which is maintained by the functioning of the tyre stretching formation 18.
Once a desired cut is attained the blade 22 is retracted from the tyre 80 by a reversal of the operation of the piston and cylinder assembly 37. The tyre 80 is subsequently rotated or indexed to a new cutting position by appropriately swivelling the tyre holder 16. Once so relocated a new tyre cutting action is done as described above with reference to figure 11. This procedure is repeated by an indexing routine until the tyre 80 is cut up to a desired extent, segmentedly shown in figure 11 , to enable further treatment of the cut up tyre. It is obvious that any cutting routine will stop short of fully cutting though the tyre loop as this will cause the holder 16 to become ineffective. While the cutting program is generally described to proceed by way of a manual operation it is obvious that it can be fully automated.
The operation of the figures 8 to 10 embodiment is in essence the same as that of the figures 1 to 7 embodiment discussed above except that the cutting action is achieved by the cutting discs 60 owing to their cutting edges again protruding from their tyre stretching formations 18. With a tyre 80 being aligned to be accommodated by the overall tyre stretching formations 73 once the tyre 80 is fitted to the tyre holder 16, the displacement of the holder 16 up to the disk assemblies 62 has the effect of causing the tyre 80 to become cut along opposite sides. Free passage of the part of the tyre situated between the assemblies 62 is accommodated by the tyre passage zone 77. An indexing routine again has the effect of desirably cutting up the tyre 80. It will be appreciated that the cutter 10 can be fitted with only a single disk assembly 62 or even a single disk 60 as replacing the blade and rotor assembly 20 of the figures 1 to 7 embodiment otherwise being of the same construction and operation. Similarly the disc assemblies 62 of the figures 6 to 10 embodiment can be replaced by blade and rotor assemblies 20.
It will also be appreciated that the tyre cutter 10 will be by way of a variety of models to accommodate various tyre sizes.
Next Patent: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTING DEVICE