Slitting apparatus

Abstract

Abstract Apparatus is disclosed for slitting a web of material such as paperboard utilizing at least two rotatable turrets disposed one above the other. Each turret has a pair of shafts adapted to have blades selectively positionable thereon by way of a master shifter which adjusts the blades for the next production run on one of the shafts which is in an inoperative position while the other shaft on each turret is in an operative position. BACKGROUND Slitting apparatus particularly of the type known as an automatic slitter-scorer which includes either a computer or a mini-processor have been proposed heretofore. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,651,723; 3,961,547; 3,646,418; 3,831,502, 3,587,374; 4,010,677; 4,033,217. In the apparatus disclosed in said patents, blades are moved along a shaft to a predetermined position and then secured to the shaft for rotation therewith. There is a need for a slitting apparatus such as a paper-board slitter-scorer which facilitates automatic adjustment of blades disposed in an inoperative position while other blades are in an operative position with respect to the moving web. There is a need for such apparatus which is structurally interrelated in a manner so that the device is short in the direction of movement of the web so that it may be readily substituted for existing equipment in the field. There is a need for such apparatus which facilitates passing the web through the apparatus without any slitting action. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of the present includes a frame which rotatably supports at least two turrents disposed one above the other. The turrets are horizontally disposed. Each turret has a pair of parallel shafts. Each shaft has an operative position and an inoperative position. A plurality of blades are provided on each shaft. A first motor is coupled such to each shaft for rotatably driving each shaft. A clutch associated with each shaft is provided for interrupting said driving connection when a shaft is in its inoperative position. A second motor means is coupled to each turret for simultaneously rotating each turret through an arc of 180° to thereby move a shaft from an operative position to an inoperative positive and vice versa. A pair of master shifters are provided. Each shifter is supported for movement parallel to the axis of rotation of the turrets. Each shifter is adjacent the inoperative position of the shafts. Each shifter is provided with means for selectively moving one or more blades along their respective shafts while the shafts are in their inoperative position. It is an object of the present invention to provide slitting apparatus which is simpler and less expensive than those provided heretofore while overcoming disadvantages of the prior art. Other objects will appear hereinafter. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. FIG. 1 is an end elevation view of apparatus in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2--2 in FIG. 1 showing one end of the apparatus. FIG. 3 is an end view as seen from the end opposite that shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4--4 in FIG. 3 and showing the end opposite to that shown in FIG. 2.

Inventors

• 👤 Robert E. Coburn

Bibliographic Details