Abstract:
A metallic ribbon stock folding apparatus. The apparatus comprises: a transferring unit to transfer ribbon stock through a passage formed by a guide, the passage defining a longitudinal axis; a rotary assembly having first and second rotary bodies spaced to receive ribbon stock therebetween; at least one retractable elongate member, the elongate member mounted for movement between a retracted position where the elongate member is disengaged from at least one of the rotary bodies and an extended position where the elongate member engages both the first and second rotary bodies; and the rotary assembly configured for arcuate motion centered about the longitudinal axis from a first position on a first side of the longitudinal axis toward at least one second position on a second side opposite the first side relative to the longitudinal axis to fold a first portion of the ribbon stock by engaging the ribbon stock against the guide with the elongate member, and from a third position on the second side of the longitudinal axis toward a fourth position on the first side of the longitudinal axis to fold a second portion of the ribbon stock.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/445,467 filed on May 27, 2003 which is a continuation of 09/575,095 filed on May 19, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,574, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/247,408 filed on Feb. 20, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No., 6,128,940, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/049,391 filed on Mar. 27, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No., 5,870,919, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08,668,379 filed on Jun. 21, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No.: 5,787,750, which claims priority benefit to Korean Application No. 1995-16975, filed 22 Jun. 1995. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a folding system of a cutting blade used in forming a folding line on a sheet matter so that the sheet matter, such as paper or plastic, etc., may be made into a predetermined shape, and more particularly to a folding system of the cutting blade being used so that cutting and folding functions associated with the cutting blade can be performed in one process.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Generally, the cutting blade is attached to a pattern for use in pressing a folding or a cutting line on plate matters such as paper, canvas, leather, plastic, etc. The plate matters with such pressed lines can be used in a folded shape like a box. Accordingly, in order to assemble and process the plate matter into a predetermined box shape with the cutting blade, it is necessary that the cutting blade is folded in a shape suitable to forming the processing line in the box shape.  
         [0006]     Conventional art for the folding device of a cutting blade is disclosed, for example, in Japan Patent No. 1988-309328 and No. 1990-20619. In the conventional art, however, a folded member used as a cutting blade is constructed by a rotary body that converts only a straight line movement into an orthogonal direction against the folded member on an end part of the folded member, or performs only a revolving movement centered about one point. Therefore, a disadvantage along with the use of the prior art cutting blade assemblies is that the folded angle of a processed member is limited to a single range of motion. Also, since two discrete functions are required, namely after a cutting work in separated places, then moving it into a folding device individually, and then the folding work is performed, or after the folding work, then moving it into a cutting device one by one, and then the cutting work is performed, additional time and labor are required, and the overall efficiency of the process decreases.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     Therefore, to address the above problem, embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus, method, and system for folding a cutting blade to improve work efficiency and productivity by continuously performing all work elements needed in the cutting and folding works of the cutting blade provided in a sheet matter molding.  
         [0008]     In one embodiment, the metallic ribbon stock folding apparatus comprises: a transferring unit to transfer ribbon stock through a passage formed by a guide, the passage defining a longitudinal axis; a rotary assembly having first and second rotary bodies spaced to receive ribbon stock therebetween; at least one retractable elongate member, the elongate member mounted for movement between a retracted position where the elongate member is disengaged from at least one of the rotary bodies and an extended position where the elongate member engages both the first and second rotary bodies; and the rotary assembly configured for arcuate motion centered about the longitudinal axis from a first position on a first side of the longitudinal axis toward at least one second position on a second side opposite the first side relative to the longitudinal axis to fold a first portion of the ribbon stock by engaging the ribbon stock against the guide with the elongate member, and from a third position on the second side of the longitudinal axis toward a fourth position on the first side of the longitudinal axis to fold a second portion of the ribbon stock.  
         [0009]     In another embodiment, the method of folding metallic ribbon stock comprises: transferring ribbon stock through a passage formed by a guide, the passage defining a longitudinal axis; providing at least one retractable elongate member; providing at least one rotary assembly having first and second rotary bodies spaced to receive ribbon stock therebetween; moving the elongate member between a retracted position where the elongate member is disengaged from at least one of the rotary bodies to an extended position to engage both first and second rotary bodies with the elongate member; and rotating the rotary assembly in an arcuate motion centered about the longitudinal axis from a first position on a first side of the longitudinal axis toward at least one second position on a second side opposite the first side relative to the longitudinal axis to fold a first portion of the ribbon stock by engaging the ribbon stock against the guide with the elongate member, and from a third position on the second side of the longitudinal axis toward a fourth position on the first side of the longitudinal axis to fold a second portion of the ribbon stock.  
         [0010]     In another embodiment, a system of folding metallic ribbon stock comprises; a supply of ribbon stock; a frame; a guide mounted in the frame, the guide having a passage therein, the passage defining a longitudinal axis; a transferring unit for controlled transfer of the ribbon stock through the passage in the guide; a cutter for cutting the ribbon stock at a predetermined location; at least one rotary assembly having first and second rotary bodies spaced to receive ribbon stock therebetween; at least one retractable elongate member, the elongate member mounted for movement between a retracted position where the elongate member is disengaged from at least one of the rotary bodies, and an extended position where the elongate member engages both the first and second rotary bodies; and the rotary assembly configured for arcuate motion centered about the longitudinal axis to move the elongate member integrally with both first and second rotary bodies from a first position on a first side of the longitudinal axis toward at least one second position on a second side opposite the first side relative to the longitudinal axis to fold a first portion of the ribbon stock by engaging the ribbon stock against the guide with the elongate member, and from a third position on the second side of the longitudinal axis toward a fourth position on the first side of the longitudinal axis to fold a second portion of the ribbon stock. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The preferred embodiments are described with reference to the drawings wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram for a folding system of a cutting blade according to the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a detailed perspective view showing a guiding unit and a folding unit of the cutting blade shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a separated perspective view showing a unit “A” separated from  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side view shown from a direction “B” of an arrow marking of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I of  FIG. 2 ; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a longitudinal sectional view taken along a line II-II of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]     A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a folding system according to the present invention. In  FIG. 1 , the folding system of the cutting blade comprises a transferring unit  10  for transferring the cutting blade of a roll shape, a cutting molding unit  100  for cutting and processing the transferred cutting blade in a length suitable to a sheet material molding (not shown), a guiding unit  200 , positioned between the cutting molding unit  100  and a folding unit  300  for the cutting blade so as to be connected mutually, for stably guiding the cutting blade which is passed through cutting molding unit  100  to folding unit  300 , the folding unit  300  positioned adjacent to the guiding unit  200 , for folding the cutting blade transferred through the guiding unit  200  with a predetermined angle, and a driving unit  400  for driving the folding unit  300 , and thus a process work of the cutting blade provided to a sheet material molding is performed in succession. The detailed construction and operation of the above embodiment are explained below. The above cutting molding unit  100  is applied from Korean Patent No. 80607 entitled “Multi-purpose Cutter of a Cutting Blade for Die Cutter” filed by the present applicant on Dec. 11, 1991 and incorporated by reference herein. A detailed explanation for the cutting molding unit is therefore omitted below.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a detailed perspective view showing only a portion of the guiding unit associated with the cutting blade and the folding unit, shown schematically in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing only a unit “A” separated from  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  is a side view shown from a direction “B” of an arrow marking of  FIG. 2 . The guiding unit  200  is constructed by a guide nozzle  201  of a hollow structure configured and dimensioned to stably transfer a cutting blade  500  passed through the cutting molding unit to the folding unit  300 .  
         [0021]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , guide nozzle  201  has a guiding passage  203  of a size such that cutting blade  500  can pass through freely, and two openings situated near the cutting molding unit  100  and the folding unit  300 , respectively. The guide nozzle  201  is configured so that the cutting blade  500  may be moved together with a cutting tip  503  of a cutting portion  501 .  
         [0022]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , folding unit  300  includes a fixing body  310  connected to folding and rotary bodies  320   a  and  320   b  for the folding, which are set on substantially rectangular shaped supporting frames  301   a  and  301   b . The supporting frames  301   a  and  301   b  are situated spaced apart with an interval therebetween wherein the guide nozzle  201  can be situated. The fixing body  310  for the folding function is constructed by a folding body  313  having a guiding entrance  311  of a size through which the cutting blade  500  can be passed, and by annular support portions  315   a  and  315   b  formed on both ends of the folding body  313 . The guiding entrance  311  of the folding body  313  is connected with the guiding passage  203  of the guide nozzle  201  such that the cutting blade  500  may enter inside the guiding entrance  311  freely. An end side portion of the guiding entrance  311  is preferably a slant side  312  to enhance the folding of the cutting blade  500 .  
         [0023]     The annular support portions  315   a  and  315   b  are provided to fixedly attach the folding body  313  to supporting frames  301   a  and  301   b . As described later in  FIG. 6  in detail, the annular support portions  315   a  and  315   b  include guiding slots  316   a  and  316   b  of a round shape, and round housing units  318   a  and  318   b  for housing rotary bodies  320   a  and  320   b  which may be rotated to facilitate the folding function. The rotary bodies  320   a  and  320   b  are configured to be rotatably housed within the round housing units  318   a  and  318   b  arranged on both sides of the fixing body  310 . For a smooth revolving operation of the rotary bodies  320   a  and  320   b , it is preferable to set bearings  340   a  and  340   b  on the inside circumference portion of the housing units  318   a  and  318   b , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The rotary bodies  320   a  and  320   b  have guide holes  323   a  and  323   b  pierced therein and are configured to contact with the guide slots  316   a  and  316   b.    
         [0024]     The guide holes  323   a  and  323   b  are provided to insertably receive a folding member  330  to facilitate movement thereof, and are configured and dimensioned corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of the folding member  330 . Although an example of the guide holes  323   a  and  323   b  is shown in the figures wherein each guide hole has a folding member set therein, it is preferable that only one folding member is set at a given time during operation. Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the folding member  330  is dimensioned to connect the rotary bodies  320   a  and  320   b  to each other while being positioned on the outer sides of supporting frames  301   a  and  301   b . Accordingly, the folding member  330  is inserted through guide hole  323   a  of rotary body  320   a , passes through a lateral side of the fixing body  310 , and is inserted into guide hole  323   b  inside of rotary body  320   b  and is capable of being moved upwards and downwards. The folding member  330  inserted for mutual connection of rotary bodies  320   a  and  320   b  is provided for the folding work of the cutting blade  500 , revolving together with the rotary bodies  320   a  and  320   b . When the folding work is not being performed, the folding member  330  is completely apart from folding body  313  and is moved towards an upper side. These operations are performed by the driving unit  400  mentioned later.  
         [0025]     Although two folding members  330  are shown in the drawings, for exemplary purposes, only one can be set.  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , driving unit  400  includes a first driving unit  410  provided to revolve the rotary bodies  320   a  and  320   b  and a second driving unit  420  provided to move folding member  330  upwards and downwards from the folding body  313 . The first driving unit  410  includes first toothed portions  411   a  and  411   b  which are fixed at both ends of a rotating shaft  418  which is rotatably within the supporting frames  301   a  and  301   b . Second toothed portions  413   a  and  413   b  which are set on the outer circumference surface of the revolving bodies  320   a  and  320   b  are configured to mesh with the first toothed portions  411   a  and  411   b . A servo motor M is operatively connected to the rotating shaft  418 . The second driving unit  420  is a cylinder  421  connected to one end of the folding member  330  to be moved upwards and downwards for the purpose of performing an expansion operation. As an operating source of the cylinder  421  any one of either oil-hydraulic pressure or air pressure can be used.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 6  is a longitudinal sectional view taken along a line II-II of  FIG. 5 . Folding member  330  has a substantially triangular shape, which enables the cutting blade  500  to be folded easily even without applying an immoderate force. To fold the cutting blade  500  easily, an application of any other shape excepting the triangulate shape doesn&#39;t matter. On any one side of the guiding entrance  311  of the fixing body  313 , which is supported to enable passing of the cutting blade  500 , a fixation hole  340  is set. In the inside of the fixation hole  340 , a steel wire spring  350  is set with one portion jutting out to a center position of the guiding entrance  311  through which the cutting blade  500  passes.  
         [0028]     The steel wire spring  350  elastically supports the cutting blade  500  as it passes through the guiding entrance  311 , and moves the cutting blade  500  within a predetermined channel, thereby heightening a precision of the folding work. Also, by setting a magnetic substance instead of the steel wire spring  350 , the same effect as the steel wire spring can be achieved.  
         [0029]     Though  FIG. 5  shows, as an example, a structure in which the steel wire spring  350  is set on any one side of the guiding entrance  311 , it is contemplated that it may be positioned on both sides. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the folding member  330  is extended when the cylinder  421  is driven, and is inserted into the guide holes  323   a  and  323   b  inside rotary bodies  320   a  and  320   b , which are formed in the housing units  318   a  and  318   b  of the round shape of the fixing body  310  for rotational movement therein. When the rotary bodies  320   a  and  320   b  are rotated, the folding member  330  is integrally rotated along the guide slots  316   a  and  316   b  together with the folding member  330 .  
         [0030]     An operation embodiment of the folding system and an effect according to the present invention with the construction as above-mentioned are re-explained in detail referring to FIGS.  1  to  6 .  
         [0031]     The cutting blade  500  wound in a roll shape is transferred to the folding unit  300 , which performs the folding work, by the transferring unit  10 , having a transfer roller, through the cutting molding unit  100  and the guide nozzle  201 . At this time, the cutting molding unit  100  performs a cutting work for cutting the cutting blade  500 , passing through the cutting molding unit  100 , in the length necessary for the sheet matter molding. Herewith, the cutting tip  503  is kept and maintained on the cutting blade  500  without detachment from the cutting portion  501  of the cutting blade  500 . This is to prevent damage to blade unit  505  which may be caused by a collision during a transfer of the cutting blade  500  through the guide nozzle  201 . The cutting molding unit  100  is applied from Korean Patent No. 80607 issued to the present applicant, and, therefore, the detailed operating description thereof is omitted.  
         [0032]     Even if the cutting tip  503 , formed on the cutting blade  500 , is detached from the cutting molding unit  100 , the cutting tip  503  passes through the guide nozzle  201  continuously and thereby there is no cause for its detachment. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the cutting blade  500  passed through the guide nozzle  201  pierces through the guiding entrance  311  of the fixing body  313 , and then goes out to the outer side of the supporting frames  301   a  and  301   b.    
         [0033]     The cutting blade  500  passing through the guiding entrance  311  contacts with the steel wire spring  350  as shown in  FIG. 5 , but the steel wire spring  350  has an elastic force, so it doesn&#39;t become an obstacle to pass the cutting blade  500  at all. The steel wire spring  350  is provided to support the cutting blade  500  with the elastic force to dampen or prevent a fluctuation in the cutting blade  500  which may be caused by a sudden stop of the transfer roller  10 . The cutting blade  500  passed through the guiding entrance  311  is then folded in the shape suitable to a molding of the sheet material. In folding the cutting blade  500 , the transfer roller  10  stops and the transferring work of the cutting blade  500  is temporarily in a stopped state. At the same time as the stop of the transfer roller  10 , the second driving unit  420  between the driving units  400  operates first.  
         [0034]     If only one cylinder  421  out of the second driving unit  420  falls in the operation, the second driving unit  420  remains situated in a position as shown in  FIG. 2 . The folding member  330  of one body with the cylinder  421  is inserted into the guide holes  323   a  and  323   b  inside of the rotary bodies  320   a  and  320   b  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , and is also situated on any one side of the fixing body  313  adjacent to the cutting blade  500 . The guide holes  323   a  and  323   b  are formed on the same position, therefore the folding member  330  is inserted naturally when the cylinder  421  performs the falling operation. When the folding member  330  moved and is completed in moving to the position adjacent the cutting blade  500 , the first driving unit  410  operates. The first driving unit  410  is rotated by driving the servo motor M. By driving the servo motor M, the first toothed portions  411   a  and  411   b  are simultaneously rotated by means of the rotating shaft  418 . By a meshing operation between the first toothed portions  411   a  and  411   b  and the second toothed portions  413   a  and  413   b , the revolving bodies  320   a  and  320   b  are rotated about a supporting point of the fixing body  310 . When the revolving bodies  320   a  and  320   b  are rotated, the folding member  330  is also rotated. That is, the folding member  330  is rotated and moved around a periphery of the fixing body  313  along the guide slot  316   b  from any one side of the fixing body  313  for the folding operation as shown in  FIG. 5 . At this time, the moved folding member  330  contacts with the cutting blade  500  which extends through the guiding entrance  311 , thereby the cutting blade  500  is naturally folded by a rotating force of the folding member  330  along a slant face  312  of the fixing body  313 . Meanwhile, the cutting tip  503  put on the cutting blade  500  is automatically separated by a tare and is collected when the cutting blade  500  extends through the outside of the guiding entrance  311 .  
         [0035]     Since the servo motor M stops the operation when the cutting blade  500  completes the folding, an immoderate rotation force of the rotary bodies  320   a  and  320   b  connected with the folding member  330  is not required. When the folding work of the cutting blade  500  is completed, the folding member  330  returns to an original position by an operation of the cylinder  421  of the second driving unit  420  as shown in  FIG. 2 . When the transfer roller  10  begins to operate again, the cutting blade  500  moves to the outer side of the guiding entrance  311  of the fixing body  313 . While in that position, if a need exists to fold a predetermined unit of the cutting blade  500  in a direction opposite that which was described above, an operation of the transfer roller  10  stops, and at the same time the other folding member  330  falls and moves, and then the same steps as discussed above are repeated. As long as the cutting blade  500  is supplied, it may continuously be formed into any desired configuration. In the above-mentioned embodiment, though each step is explained separately for the understanding of the step for the folding work of the cutting blade, all processes such as a supply, a cutting, a folding work of the cutting blade, etc. can be performed by an automation controlled by a computer, etc.  
         [0036]     As afore-mentioned, according to the present invention, all works necessary for the cutting and the folding of the cutting blade in the shape corresponding to the sheet material molding are performed in succession by one process with a unified construction, thereby resulting in an improvement of the cutting and folding works of the cutting blade and a productivity increase.  
         [0037]     While only certain embodiments of the invention have been specifically described herein, it will apparent that numerous modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.