Rotary tools for in-line perforation of profiled products

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device comprising rotary cutting tools for combining cutting and shaping operations on metal sheets, the density of the cuts preferably being very high, said cutting operations preferably being integrated into an automated shaping line, characterised in that it comprises a first pair of rotary cutting tools ( 1, 2 ) producing a first set of cuts ( 7, 7′, 7″ ) and a second pair of rotary cutting tools ( 3, 4 ) completing and finishing off the first cuts by a second set of cuts or by a fold ( 8 ) in order to obtain a final closed cut with the drop of cut waste or a puncture, respectively

1 . Device comprising rotary cutting tools for combining cutting and shaping operations on metal sheets, the density of the cuts preferably being very high, said cutting operations preferably being integrated into an automated shaping line, characterised in that it comprises a first pair of rotary cutting tools ( 1 ,  2 ) producing a first set of cuts ( 7 ,  7 ′,  7 ″) and a second pair of rotary cutting tools ( 3 ,  4 ) completing and finishing off the first cuts by a second set of cuts or by a fold ( 8 ) in order to obtain a final closed cut with the drop of cut waste or a puncture, respectively.  
     
     
         2 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that, with the final cut being essentially rectangular, the first pair of rotary tools ( 1 ,  2 ) cuts in the transverse direction relative to the travel direction of the metal sheet (A) in order to produce notches ( 7 ) and in that the second pair of rotary tools ( 3 ,  4 ) cuts in the longitudinal direction relative to the travel direction of the metal sheet (A).  
     
     
         3 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that, with the final cut being essentially rectangular and of the puncture type, said first pair of tools ( 1 ,  2 ) cuts on three adjacent sides of said rectangle ( 7 ′,  7 ″) and said second pair of tools ( 3 ,  4 ) makes a fold relative to the axis formed by the fourth side of said rectangle ( 8 ).  
     
     
         4 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said rotary tools ( 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ) are mounted on shafts ( 6 ,  6 ′,  6 ″,  6 ′″) supported by bearings, the axes of which are perpendicular to the travel direction of the metal sheet (A).  
     
     
         5 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the rotation direction of the upper tools ( 1 ,  3 ) and lower tools ( 2 ,  4 ) is such that the tangential speed of said tools at the point of contact with the metal sheet is in the same direction and essentially of the same magnitude as the speed at which the metal sheet passes.  
     
     
         6 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises a means for ensuring the relative positioning depending on the circumference of the teeth ( 111 ,  111 ′,  211 ,  211 ′) of the upper tool ( 1 ) and lower tool ( 2 ) of said first pair of circular tools, said means preferably being a gearbox that takes up the play in order to synchronise the shafts ( 6 ,  6 ′).  
     
     
         7 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the first pair of tools ( 1 ,  2 ) comprises an upper tool ( 1 ) comprising an alternating series of simple, circular knives ( 11 ) and spacers ( 12 ), and a lower tool ( 2 ) comprising an alternating series of simple circular knives ( 21 ) and elements acting as lateral knives ( 22 ).  
     
     
         8 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the second pair of tools ( 3 ,  4 ) comprises an upper tool ( 3 ) and a lower tool ( 4 ), each comprising an alternating series of simple circular knives ( 31 ,  41 ) and spacers ( 32 ,  42 ).  
     
     
         9 . Device according to  claim 8 , characterised in that each upper simple, circular knife ( 31 ) comprises teeth ( 311 ) on its periphery, the arc of which having a length that is equivalent, apart from the sets of cuts, to the distance between the two notches ( 7 ) associated to the same final cut and produced by the first pair of tools ( 1 ,  2 ).  
     
     
         10 . Device according to  claim 7 , characterised in that the simple, circular knives ( 11 ,  21 ,  31 ) and the spacers ( 42 ) of the second pair of tools have equivalent widths, apart from the sets of cuts.  
     
     
         11 . Device according to  claim 8 , characterised in that it is provided with a means for favouring the discharge of the cut waste, preferably combs, the teeth of which fit between the simple circular knives ( 41 ) of the second pair of tools.  
     
     
         12 . Device according to  claim 3 , characterised in that the upper tool ( 3 ) of the second pair of tools is provided with teeth ( 311 ) which are rounded or smoothed at the level of the fold line and have sets that are compatible with the fold.  
     
     
         13 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that, with the final cut being essentially rectangular, the first pair of rotary tools ( 1 ,  2 ) cuts in the longitudinal direction relative to the travel direction of the metal sheet (A) and in that the second pair of rotary tools ( 3 ,  4 ) cuts in the transverse direction relative to the travel direction of the metal sheet (A).  
     
     
         14 . Method for combining operations of drilling-type cutting and shaping of metal sheets, the density of the cuts preferably being very high, said cutting operations preferably being integrated within a automated shaping line, implementing a device according to  claim 2 , characterised by the following successive stages: 
 a first pair of rotary cutting tools ( 1 ,  2 ) produces a first set of transverse cuts ( 7 ) relative to the travel direction of the metal sheet (A);    a second pair of rotary cutting tools ( 3 ,  4 ) produces a second set of longitudinal cuts relative to the travel direction of the metal sheet (A), the combined result of both operations being a set of closed cuts, preferably rectangular;    the cut waste is discharged by the movement of the tools, preferably by means of combs that are incorporated into the second pair of tools and/or transversally discharged by a transport belt.    
     
     
         15 . Method for combining puncturing and shaping operations on metal sheets, said cutting operations preferably being integrated into an automated shaping line, implementing a device according to  claim 3 , characterised by the following successive stages: 
 a first pair of rotary cutting tools ( 1 ,  2 ) produces a first set of U-shaped cuts ( 7 ′,  7 ″) forming a rectangle;    a second pair of rotary cutting tools ( 3 ,  4 ) produces a fold ( 8 ), the axis of which is intended on the remaining side for forming a set of rectangular cuts of the puncture type.    
     
     
         16 . Method according to  claim 14 , characterised in that it combines on a single machine cutting and puncturing operations distributed along strips of metal sheet that are parallel to the travel direction of the metal sheet, said punctures being produced in areas that do not come into contact with the shaping tools.  
     
     
         17 . Method according to  claim 14 , characterised in that said rectangular drilled or punctured cuts are shifted, the shift between two adjacent cuts being equal to the longitudinal pitch (Plg) divided by a shift parameter X, X being non-zero.  
     
     
         18 . Use of the device according to  claim 1  for producing partitions with acoustic sound-absorbing properties.  
     
     
         19 . Use of the device according to  claim 1  for producing cable conduits.  
     
     
         20 . Use of the device according to  claim 1  for producing metal shelves.