SLITTING APPARATUS FOR CORRUGATED PAPERBOARD AND THE LIKE

• Main Authors: ROSS, KENT L, DIX, DAVID W, PROCHNOW, TIMOTHY C, PAULSON, RICHARD F, STOUT, LUKE A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 08.08.2000
• Edition: 5
• Subjects: CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING,CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING; DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS; GRINDING; HAND CUTTING TOOLS; MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; POLISHING; SEVERING; TRANSPORTING

An apparatus for providing, longitudinal, laterally spaced slits in a continuously moving sheet or web of corrugated paperboard (13) or the like includes a plurality of upper tool heads (12) each supporting a thin, circular rotary slitting blade (25). The blades (25) are coaxially mounted and driven by a common drive shaft (23) and each blade-carrying tool head (12) is independently positionable across the width of the paperboard sheet (13). Each slitting assembly includes a lower tool head or counterhead (28) carrying a toiler assembly (32) which supports the underside (27) of the moving board(13) and provides a firm surface to support the board (13) against the upper rotary slitting blade (25). The roller assembly (32) includes a circumferential radially extending slot (44) in its outer surface through which an edge-portion of the upper cutting blade (25) travels with the sheet firmly supported by the roller surfaces on each side of the slot (44). A blade lubricator (61) is attached to the upper head (12) and applies a thin film of lubricant to the blade edge (67) by direct engagement by a lubricating wick (65) while the blade (25) is rotating. The thin blade (25) is maintained in a sharpened condition by periodic engagement with a rotary sharpening tool (73) pivotally attached to the upper tool head (12) for periodic light sharpening contact with one face of the beveled blade cutting edge (67). Both the blade lubricator (61) and the blade sharpener (73) are retractable to inoperative positions to facilitate blade changing or blade reversal to provide extended blade life through periodic sharpening of the opposite blade edge bevel. The overlapping contact between the portion of the slitting blade (25) extending into the slot (44) in the lower supporting roller assembly (32) allows the lower tool head (28) and roller assembly (32) to be translated across the width of the sheet (13), as far repositioning, with a single positioning motor assembly (87) on the upper tool heart (12).