Web-slitter with electronic motor control

Abstract

An electronically controlled web-slitter includes dual electric motors whose functions may be controlled by an electronic controller accessed either on the chassis of the web-slitter or by way of a computer coupled to the electronic controller. Vertical and side-shift blade set-up and functions are thus accurately controlled.

1 . A web-slitter for cutting a web of material, the web-slitter having an upper blade engageable with a lower anvil and comprising:
 a) a carriage assembly adapted for connection to a transverse support bar;   b) a blade-holder assembly coupled to the carriage assembly and including a side-shift mechanism for moving said upper blade into engagement with said lower anvil;   c) a first electric motor mounted in said carriage assembly for raising and lowering said blade-holder assembly; and   d) a second electric motor coupled to said blade-holder assembly and having an output shaft coupled to a side-shift piston by a linkage mechanism for moving said blade in a lateral direction.   
   
   
       2 . The web-slitter of  claim 1  wherein said linkage mechanism comprises a wedge member having an inclined surface moveable against an inclined surface of said side-shift piston. 
   
   
       3 . The web-slitter of  claim 2  wherein the output shaft moves in a vertical direction. 
   
   
       4 . A web-slitter for cutting a web of material, the web-slitter having an upper blade engageable with a lower anvil and comprising:
 a) a carriage assembly adapted for connection to a transverse support bar;   b) a blade-holder assembly coupled to the carriage assembly and including a side-shift mechanism for moving said upper blade into engagement with said lower anvil;   c) a first electric motor mounted in said carriage assembly for raising and lowering said blade-holder assembly; and   d) a second electric motor having an output rod or shaft moveable in a vertical direction and a linkage for converting vertical movement of said rod or shaft into a lateral force to cause said side-shift mechanism to move said blade in a lateral direction toward said anvil.   
   
   
       5 . The web-slitter of  claim 4  wherein said first and second motors are stepper motors and further including an electronic controller coupled to said first and second motors wherein said first and second motors are responsive to digital control signals generated by said electronic controller. 
   
   
       6 . A web-slitter for cutting a web of material, the web-slitter having an upper blade engageable with a lower anvil and comprising:
 a) a carriage assembly adapted for connection to a transverse support bar;   b) a blade-holder assembly coupled to the carriage assembly and including a side-shift mechanism for moving said upper blade into engagement with said lower anvil;   c) first and second electric motors for controlling a vertical stroke of said blade-holder assembly and for controlling said side-shift mechanism respectively; and   d) an electrical sensor circuit for stopping said first motor when said blade holder reaches a predetermined vertical position and a second electrical sensor circuit for controlling the second electric motor for stopping the blade at a predetermined lateral position.   
   
   
       7 . The web-slitter of  claim 6  further including an electronic controller for setting control parameters for determining both the vertical position and lateral force of the blade in an engaged position prior to the initiation of a cutting operation. 
   
   
       8 . The web-slitter of  claim 7  wherein said first and second electrical sensor circuits each include a photocell detector. 
   
   
       9 . The web-slitter of  claim 6  wherein said second electric motor includes a vertically moveable rod and said side-shift mechanism includes a linkage mechanism responsive to said rod for laterally shifting said blade toward said anvil. 
   
   
       10 . The web-slitter of  claim 6  wherein said second electric motor includes an output shaft and said side-shift mechanism includes a linkage mechanism for converting vertical movement of said output shaft to lateral movement of said blade. 
   
   
       11 . The web-slitter of  claim 1  further including an electronic controller coupled to said first and second electric motors, said electronic control having coded program instructions for controlling the operation of said first and second motors to thereby engage the anvil and disengage the anvil. 
   
   
       12 . The web-slitter of  claim 11  wherein said electronic controller includes a calibration program for establishing movement parameters executable for positioning said blade against said lower anvil in preparation for a cutting operation. 
   
   
       13 . The web-slitter of  claim 12  wherein said calibration program includes coded instructions for determining and recording the distances from the respective zero points of said first and second electric motors to an engage position at which said blade is positioned against said lower anvil. 
   
   
       14 . A web-slitter for cutting a web of material, the web-slitter having an upper blade engageable with a lower anvil, comprising:
 (a) first and second electric motors for controlling vertical and side-shift blade movement, respectively;   (b) an electronic controller having first and second outputs for said first and second motors respectively;   (c) first and second sensors responsive to the zero positions of said blade in the vertical and horizontal directions of travel, respectively, for providing first control signals to said electronic controller; and   (d) an internal circuit coupling through said blade and said anvil to said electronic controller when said blade is in contact with said anvil whereby to provide second control signals to said electronic controller.   
   
   
       15 . The web-slitter of  claim 14  having a function control selector coupled to said electronic control for initiating a calibration mode whereby the electronic controller in response to said first and second control signals establishes control parameters for said first and second electric motors to cause engagement of the lower anvil with the upper blade. 
   
   
       16 . The web-slitter of  claim 4  wherein said rod or shaft is coupled to said linkage through a spring mechanism for providing a compression force to bias said blade against said anvil with a predetermined amount of force.