WO2000061313A1

WO2000061313A1 - Apparatus for folding a cutting blade

Info

Publication number: WO2000061313A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/009458
Authority: WO
Inventors: Byung-Jun Song
Original assignee: Sds Usa, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-04-09
Filing date: 2000-04-07
Publication date: 2000-10-19
Also published as: AU4220500A

Abstract

An apparatus for folding a cutting blade that comprises a frame (10) comprising a first supporting plate (11) connected to a first guide support (20a) having a groove (21a), and a second supporting plate (12) connected to a second guide support (20b) having a groove (21b). A guide plate (40) and a guide nozzle (50) having a passage (52) that corresponds to the dimension of the cutting blade, are disposed within the grooves (21a, 21b). The guide nozzle (50) is disposed independently of the components of the folding apparatus so that the guide nozzle (50) can be readily replaced to correspond to the specifications of the cutting blade being used.

Description

APPARATUS FOR FOLDING A CUTTING BLADE

This application is based on provisional application U.S. Serial Number 60/128,637, filed on April 9, 1999.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field:

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for folding a cutting blade (such as steel rule) into a predetermined shape and, in particular, to an apparatus for folding a cutting blade having a guiding nozzle which is disposed independently of a folding unit so that the guiding nozzle may be readily replaced for use with steel rule stock of various dimensions.

2. Description of Related Art;

Typically, a cutting blade is constructed by bending steel rule stock (which is a type of metal that is flexible and comprises a sharpened edge) into a desired shape (in which case the cutting blade may be referred to as "steel rule die") . The steel rule die is then used to construct an dieboard by installing the steel rule die on a die body (using techniques known to those skilled in the art) . With the steel rule die being installed and held in place in the die body, the die board can then be pressed against an object with the appropriate force to cut an object into the predetermined shape of the steel rule die and/or generate folding lines in the object in the predetermined shape.

By way of example, a cardboard box may be made from a flat piece of cardboard by pressing, for example, a planar die board against the piece of cardboard with sufficient force so that the sharpened edge of the steel rule die cuts the cardboard into the predetermined shape of the steel rule die. Thereafter, the cut cardboard piece may be folded to form a cardboard box. In general, there are various systems and machines currently available and known to those skilled in the art, which may be used for bending steel rule stock into a predetermined shapes. Typically, these systems and machines are used with steel rule stock having a certain size that corresponds to the dimensions of certain components of such systems/machines. To utilize steel rule stock having a different dimensions, it may be necessary to replace one or more components of such systems/machines, which may be a burdensome and time consuming task, especially when multiple components are involved and/or different size steel rule stock is used on a regular basis.

Accordingly, a folding apparatus having a mechanism that allows a user to readily utilize steel rule stock of varying dimensions, without having to change multiple components of the apparatus, is highly desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for folding steel rule stock. In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for folding a cutting blade, comprises a frame; a guide plate, disposed within the frame, having a first passage for transferring a cutting blade therethrough; a folding unit connected to the frame; and a guide nozzle, detachably disposed within the frame, for guiding the cutting blade, which transferred through the guide plate, to the folding unit, wherein the guide nozzle is disposed independently of the folding unit and guide plate so that the guide nozzle can be readily detached from the frame. The guiding nozzle is disposed independently of any components of the apparatus so that it may be readily replaced to correspond to the specifications of the cutting blades.

In another aspect of the present invention, the frame comprises a first supporting plate connected to a first guide support, and a second supporting plate connected to a second guide support. The first guide support comprises a first longitudinal groove and the second guide support comprises a second longitudinal groove, and the guide plate and guide nozzle are disposed within the first and second longitudinal grooves .

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the folding unit comprises a first rotary body and a second rotary body spaced to receive the cutting blade therebetween; a plurality of elongate folding members wherein at least two of the elongate members are configured for folding cutting blades of different specifications. Each of the elongate folding members are mounted for movement between a retracted position where the elongate folding member is disengaged from at least one of the rotary bodies and an extended position where the elongate folding member engages both the first and second rotary bodies. The first and second rotary bodies are configured for arcuate motion relative to the guide nozzle from a first position to at least one second position to fold a portion of the cutting blade extending from the guide nozzle by a selected one of the elongate folding members. The first and second rotary bodies each comprise a plurality of slots, wherein each of the slots are dimensioned for insertably receiving an elongate member of a corresponding dimension. These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be described and become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a detailed perspective view of a folding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the folding apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the folding apparatus of Fig. 1 ; and

Fig. 4 is a detailed view illustrating insertion slots of a folding rotating component of the folding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are diagrams illustrating a folding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The folding apparatus comprises a supporting frame 10 including an upper plate 11 and a lower plate 12. An upper guide support 20a, which comprises a supporting groove 21a, and a lower guide support 20b, which comprises a supporting groove 21b, are fixed such that they face each other between the supporting frame 10. In particular, the upper and lower guide supports 20a and 20b are fixed with bolts 30 to the upper and lower plates 11 and 12, respectively, and the supporting grooves 21a and 21b are formed such that they face each other inside the upper and lower guide supports 20a and 20b. The folding apparatus further comprises a guiding plate 40 and a guiding nozzle 50, which extends from one end of the guiding plate 40. A guiding passage 42 is formed in the guiding plate 40 and a guiding passage 52 is formed in the guide nozzle 50. The guiding passages 42 and 52 are disposed in line with each other and are linked together, and transport a cutting blade X (e.g., steel rule stock) via the guiding nozzle 50 to a folding unit of the folding apparatus . The guiding plate 40 and guiding nozzle are disposed within the upper and lower supporting grooves 21a and 21b. More specifically, predetermined portions of the upper and lower ends of both the guiding plate 40 and the guiding nozzle 50 are disposed in the upper and lower supporting grooves 21a and 21b. The guiding plate 40 and the guiding nozzle 50 are fixed to the guiding plate 40 and guiding nozzle 50 with bolts 31a, 31b and 32, which bolts are tightened in bolt holes 41 and 51 of the guiding plate 40 and the guiding nozzle 50, respectively, through piercing holes 22a and 22b respectively formed in the upper and lower guide supports 20a and 20b.

Advantageously, the guiding nozzle 50 can be readily installed in the folding apparatus by first sliding the guiding nozzle 50 into the supporting grooves 21a and 21b of the guide supports 20a and 20b while they are fixed in the supporting frames 10, and then tightening the bolts 32 in bolt holes 51 through the corresponding piercing holes 22a in the upper and lower guide supports 20a and 20b after the guiding nozzle 50 slides. Conversely, to replace the guiding nozzle 50, the guiding nozzle 50 can be separated from the guide supports 20a and 20b by first loosening bolts 32, and then sliding the guiding nozzle 50 out of the supporting grooves 21a and 21b. In general, a folding unit of the apparatus (for bending steel rule stock output from the guiding nozzle) comprises upper and lower support rings 60a and 60b, first and second rotary bodies 80a and 80b, and one or more elongate folding members 70 that are extendable/retractable from/to corresponding cylinders 71. The upper and lower support rings 60a and 60b are installed in upper and lower installation holes 13a and 13b, respectively (which are formed in the upper and lower plates 11 and 12) . It is to be understood that the upper and lower support rings 60a and 60b can be fixed in the installation holes 13a and 13b by, e.g., forced pressure, bolting, or welding. The upper and lower support rings 60a and 60b respectively comprise upper and lower guiding grooves 61a and 61b (which are bored therein) , as well as rotating support holes 62a and 62b that are formed in connection with the upper and lower guiding grooves 61a and 61b. As explained below, the guiding grooves 61a and 61b guide the movement of a folding member 70 as it is rotated by, e.g., the first and second rotary bodies 80a, 80b to a predetermined angle to bend the steel rule stock X at a certain location.

The first rotary body 80a comprises a first rotating portion 81a and a first toothed portion 82a. Similarly, the second rotary body 80b comprises a second rotating portion 81b and a second toothed portion 82b. The first and second rotary bodies 80a and 80b are rotatably housed in the upper and lower support rings 60a and 60b, respectively. More specifically, the rotating portion 81a of the first rotary body 80a is inserted in the rotating support hole 62a of the upper support ring 60a. Similarly, the rotating portion 81b of the second rotary body 80b is inserted in the rotating support hole 62b of the lower support ring 60b. To facilitate the rotational movement of the first and second rotary bodies 80a and 80b in the upper and lower support rings (during a bending operation as explained below) , bearings 90a and 90b are preferably interposed between the walls of the rotating support holes 62a and 62b and the rotating portions 81a and 81b.

The first rotary body 80 comprises one or more guide holes 83a that are bored in a columnar direction through the rotating portion 81a. Similarly, the second rotary body 80b comprises one or more guide holes 83b (corresponding in size/shape to respective guide holes 83a) that are bored in a columnar direction through the rotating portion 81b. As explained below, prior to a bending operation, a selected folding member 70 (of a desired size/dimension) is extended from its cylinder 71 and inserted through inserting slots 83a and 83b that corresponding to the size/dimension of the folding member 70. It is to be appreciated that the inserting slots 83a and 83b may comprise a variety of different sizes/dimensions so to accommodate one or more folding members 70 having such sizes/dimensions. A desired folding member 70 may be selectively inserted into the corresponding inserting slots 83a and 83b to bend steel rule stock of various specifications, especially in thickness.

For instance, in Fig. 2, the rotating portions 81a and 81b are shown as having five insertion slots 83a and 83b. Each of these five insertion slots may be a different size/dimension to insertably receive a folding part 70 having a corresponding size/dimension. Alternatively, each rotating portion 81a and 81b may each comprise two symmetric insertion slots which each receive one of a corresponding pair of folding parts (of the same size) , wherein each folding part 70 is utilized for folding a given rule in a left or right direction. In addition, as shown in Fig. 4, three inserting slots 83a may be included each having a different size to accommodate a folding part 70 of a corresponding size. It is to be understood that the folding apparatus may be configured to concurrently employ any number of different size folding parts 70 depending on the application.

Each corresponding pair (i.e., same size) of inserting slots 83a and 83b of the rotary bodies 80a and 80b are disposed opposite to one another, and one or more folding members 70 are selectively inserted into the corresponding pair of inserting slots 83a and 83b. Each folding member 70 is vertically moved by its corresponding cylinder 71. When a selected folding member 70 is extended from its cylinder 71, the folding member 70 will pass through the guiding groove 61a of the upper support ring 60a disposed under the first rotary body 80a. The folding member 70 is extended pass a region adjacent to the guiding nozzle 50, and then inserted into the corresponding inserting slot 83b in the second rotary body 80b after passing through the guiding groove 61b of the lower support ring 60b. After being extended to the desired position wherein the folding member 70 insertably engages both the first and second rotary bodies 80a and 80b (as shown for example in Figs. 1 and 3), the rotary bodies 80a and 80b are concurrently rotated to cause the folding member 70 to bend, at a desired location, a portion of the steel rule stock extended from the guiding passage 52 of the guiding nozzle 50.

To perform the rotation operation, the first toothed portion 82a disposed on the rotating portions 81a of the first rotary body 80a is meshed with a third toothed portion 100 that is connected with a rotating shaft 101 fixed in the supporting frame 10. Hence, the rotating shaft 101 rotates the third toothed portion 100; the third toothed portion 100 then rotates the first toothed portion 82a (and consequently the rotary body 80a) ; the first toothed portion 82a then rotates the folding part 70 inserted therein to cause the the folding member 70 to apply force against and fold the steel rule stock X at a desired location. The second toothed portion 82b is meshed with a metal gear (not shown) for rotating the second rotary 80b concurrently with the rotation of the first rotary body 80a.

To perform a folding operation, the steel rule stock X is transported through the guiding passage 42 of the guiding plate 40 and guiding passage of the guiding nozzle 50 to extend the steel rule stock from the guiding nozzle 50 at a desired distance. Any suitable mechanism known to those skilled in the art may be employed for transporting the steel rule stock through the passages and out from the guiding nozzle 50. The rotating shaft 101 will rotate the third toothed portion 100. Then, the first toothed portion 82a, which is meshed with and rotated by the third toothed portion 100, caused the rotation of the folding member 70 (which is insertably engaged in the corresponding inserting slots 83a and 83b) . The inserted folding member 70 then folds a steel rule stock X at a desired location by applying rotating pressure against the steel rule stock at that location. In particular, the folding member 70 (which was previously extended from its cylinder 71 to engage both the first and second rotary bodies) , is rotated by the rotation of the rotating portions 81a and 81b within the upper and lower support rings 60a and 60b. After the steel rule stock is rotated (bent) to a desired angle, the folding member 70 is retracted by the cylinder 71. The steel rule stock X is then advanced to the next desired folding location and the steel rule stock x is folded in accordance with the method described above . To process steel rule stock having a different specification, the guiding nozzle 50 may be readily changed by loosening the bolts 32 and sliding it out of the upper and lower guide supports 20a and 20b. A new guiding nozzle 50 may then be installed having a guiding passage 52 corresponding to the specifications of the new steel rule stock X to be utilized. The new guiding nozzle 50 slides into the supporting grooves 21a and 21b from right side to left side, and is fixed in the upper and lower guide supports 20a and 20b by tightening the bolts 32 in the bolt holes 51 through the piercing holes 22a of the upper supporting plate 20a.

In addition to be able to readily replace the guiding nozzle 50 with a new nozzle having different specifications, any one of the folding members 70 may also be readily replaced with a new folding member 70 having a specification that corresponds to the specifications of the new guiding nozzle and steel rule stock. To replace a folding member 70, the cylinder 71 and the folding part 70 are first disengaged from the inserting slots 83a of the first toothed portion 82a, and a new folding member 70 is fixed in the cylinder 71 and inserted in the corresponding inserting slot 83a. After the folding member (s) 70 and guiding nozzle 50 are replaced to correspond to the specifications of the new steel rule stock, the new steel rule stock may be processed as described above .

Advantageously, the present invention allows a user to easily replace the guiding nozzle 50 with a new one by simply sliding it in and out of the upper and lower guide supports 20a and 20b. Indeed, since the guiding nozzle 50 is disposed independently of the rotating-guiding ring, the guiding nozzle can be readily replaced to meet the specifications of the steel rule stock being processed. As a result, the folding system of the present invention affords improved productivity and convenience. It is to be further appreciated that the guiding nozzle 50 can be readily replaced without having to remove, disengage, or otherwise replace other system components. Moreover, the present invention advantageously minimizes the number of parts that must be replaced for different sizes of steel rule stock. Consequently, the present invention allows a user to readily process steel rule stock of varying specifications.

Although illustrative embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS;

1. An apparatus for folding a cutting blade, comprising: a frame; a guide plate, disposed within the frame, having a first passage for transferring a cutting blade therethrough; a folding unit connected to the frame; and a guide nozzle, detachably disposed within the frame, for guiding the cutting blade, which transferred through the guide plate, to the folding unit, wherein the guide nozzle is disposed independently of the folding unit and guide plate so that the guide nozzle can be readily detached from the frame .

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a first supporting plate connected to a first guide support, and a second supporting plate connected to a second guide support .

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first guide support comprises a first longitudinal groove and the second guide support comprises a second longitudinal groove, wherein the guide plate and guide nozzle are disposed within the first and second longitudinal grooves.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide nozzle comprises a second passage, wherein at least a portion of the second passage has a dimension substantially similar to the dimension of the cutting blade.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the folding unit comprises : a first rotary body and a second rotary body spaced to receive the cutting blade therebetween; an elongate folding member that is mounted for movement between a retracted position where the elongate folding member is disengaged from at least one of the rotary bodies and an extended position where the elongate folding member engages both the first and second rotary bodies, wherein the first and second rotary bodies are configured for arcuate motion relative to the guide nozzle from a first position to at least one second position to fold a portion of the cutting blade extending from the guide nozzle by the elongate folding member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the folding unit comprises first and second support rings connected to the frame, wherein the first rotary body is rotatably fixed to the first support ring and the second rotary body is rotatably fixed to the second support ring.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of elongate folding members wherein at least two of the elongate members are configured for folding cutting blades of different specifications.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first and second rotary bodies each comprise a plurality of slots, wherein each of the slots are dimensioned for insertably receiving an elongate member of a corresponding dimension.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the elongate member is connected to one of the first and second rotary body.

10. An apparatus for folding a cutting blade, comprising: a frame; a guide plate, disposed within the frame, having a first passage for transferring a cutting blade therethrough; a folding unit connected to the frame, wherein the folding unit comprises a first rotary body and a second rotary body spaced to receive the cutting blade therebetween; a plurality of elongate folding members, wherein at least two of the elongate members are configured for folding cutting blades of different specifications, wherein each elongate folding member is mounted for movement between a retracted position where the elongate folding member is disengaged from at least one of the rotary bodies and an extended position where the elongate folding member engages both the first and second rotary bodies, wherein the first and second rotary bodies are configured for arcuate motion relative to the guide nozzle from a first position to at least one second position to fold a portion of the cutting blade extending from the guide nozzle by the elongate folding member.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first and second rotary bodies each comprise a plurality of slots, wherein each of the slots are dimensioned for insertably receiving an elongate folding member of a corresponding dimension.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the elongate folding members are connected to one of the first and second rotary body.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the folding unit comprises first and second support rings connected to the frame, wherein the first rotary body is rotatably fixed to the first support ring and the second rotary body is rotatably fixed to the second support ring.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a guide nozzle, detachably disposed within the frame, for guiding the cutting blade, which transferred through the guide plate, to the folding unit, wherein the guide nozzle is disposed independently of the folding unit and guide plate so that the guide nozzle can be readily detached from the frame .

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the frame comprises a first supporting plate connected to a first guide support, and a second supporting plate connected to a second guide support .

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first guide support comprises a first longitudinal groove and the second guide support comprises a second longitudinal groove, wherein the guide plate and guide nozzle are disposed within the first and second longitudinal grooves.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the guide nozzle comprises a second passage, wherein at least a portion of the second passage has a dimension substantially similar to the dimension of the cutting blade.