Cutting apparatus and method

Abstract

In a cutting apparatus a rotating carousel conveys caps made of synthetic plastic material to a fixed blade having the shape of a circumferential arc. The caps are rotated about themselves by spindles. The blade cuts an annular weakening line to form the tamperproof ring of the cap. The carousel has an emitter and a laser receiver that cooperate to detect the presence or absence of the cutting edge of the fixed blade. The apparatus ensures good cutting quality.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus comprising:
 a cutting device configured for forming at least one weakening zone on at least one cap;   a conveying device for supplying said cutting device with said at least one cap, said conveying device comprising at least one movable supporting element which carries said at least one cap;   
       wherein the apparatus comprises at least one sensor which is able to detect at least one faulty operating condition of a cutting device, said at least one sensor being arranged for operating on said cutting device, at least a part of said sensor being carried by said movable supporting element, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a presence sensor that is able to detect the presence, or the absence, or the deviation from a desired position, of at least a part of a cutting edge with which said cutting device is provided. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least one sensor is configured for detecting a position of at least a part of said cutting device, whereby a deviation from a desired relative position of said at least a part of said cutting device with respect to said movable supporting element is determinable. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , comprising a reference element arranged in a preset position along an advancing path of said movable supporting element, said at least one sensor being configured for detecting a position of at least a part of said reference element, whereby a deviation from a desired relative position of said at least a part of said reference element with respect to said movable supporting element is determinable. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said sensor comprises at least an emitter of signals and at least a receiver of signals each cooperating with the other, said emitter and said receiver being carried by said movable supporting element. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said sensor is configured to assume at least an operating configuration in which at least a part of a blade of said cutting device operating on the cap is interposed between said emitter and said receiver. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said conveying device comprises at least one rotating carousel that has a plurality of spindles on a peripheral zone thereof, each spindle of said plurality of spindles rotating in turn with respect to the carousel and being configured for engaging with a cap such as to rotate the cap, said cutting device comprising a fixed blade having a cutting edge extending at least partially along a circumferential arc, said sensor being operationally associated with said cutting edge. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein at least a part of said sensor is movable with the possibility of performing a motion along a closed-loop path arranged such that said at least a part of said sensor is periodically operational with respect to, for example facing or near, at least a part of said cutting device. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein said sensor is connected to a control device configured for periodically activating said sensor when said movable part of said sensor is operational with respect to, for example facing or near, said at least a part of said cutting device. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least a sensor comprises a radiation emitting sensor that is able to emit radiation, said radiation emitting sensor being arranged such that said emitted radiation at least partially affects said cutting device. 
     
     
         23 . A method for cutting a cap, comprising the steps of:
 supplying at least a cap to a cutting device;   forming at least a weakening zone on said at least a cap by said cutting device;   detecting by a sensor whether said cutting device has a faulty operating condition or not, wherein said detecting step comprises detecting the presence, or absence, or the deviation from a desired position, of at least a part of a cutting edge with which is provided said cutting device; and   providing a movable supporting element that carries said at least a cap and at least a part of said sensor to said cutting device.   
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein said detecting step comprises emitting radiation that at least partially affects said cutting device. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein said movable supporting element carries said at least a cap and an emitter and a receiver each cooperating with the other to emit/receive a radiation beam, said supporting element being moved such that said radiation beam hits said cutting device. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 23 , and further comprising the step of moving at least a part of said sensor along a closed-loop path arranged such that said at least a part of said sensor periodically faces at least a part of said cutting device, said movable part of said sensor being periodically activated when it faces said at least a part of said cutting device.