Patent GB-903040-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to methods and apparatus for slicing honeycomb blocks
IPC: B31D3/02
Filed: 1960-06-03
Abstract: 903,040. Slicing honeycomb blocks. CONTINENTAL CAN CO. Inc. June 3, 1960 [June 3, 1959], No. 19730/60. Class 31 (1). [Also in Groups XXIII and XXVIII] A method of slicing a honeycomb block of the type including a plurality of adhered layers comprises positioning the block relative to a cutter with the plane of the layers of the block disposed normal to the cutting plane of the cutter, and feeding the block relative to the cutter. Apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a motor-driven circular saw 73, Figs. 1 and 2, for slicing a honeycomb block 38 supported on the platform 28 of a hoist 25, the saw being mounted on a carriage 63 which is traversable along a track 17 by means of a rack 69 engaged by a pinion 71 driven by a reversible electric motor 76 and the hoist being raised in timed relation to the slicing of the block, by means of a hydraulic motor 33. The hoist has a hollow perforated panel 39 to which vacuum is applied to retain the block in contact therewith, and the panel is moved horizontally relative to the saw to determine the thickness of the cut slice 110, by means of feed screws 40 engaged by nuts which are rotated in unison by means of a motor-driven endless chain passing round sprocket wheels. The carriage 63 is provided with push-rods 95, 96 engageable with switches 93, 94 on the track 17 so as to reverse the carriage at the ends of the cutting and return strokes. The motor 33 is operated by an hydraulic system which includes a motor-driven pump 97, a reservoir 98 and a valve 104 manual operation of which moves the piston-rod 36 of the motor 33 up or down, as desired. At the end of each cutting stroke, the valve 104 is operated to lower the block 38 slightly to clear the saw 73 from the block. At the end of the return stroke, the valve 104 is operated to raise the block 38 to produce the next cut to the desired depth. Sawdust is removed by means of intake tubes 86, 91 connected to motor-driven blowers 85, 90, respectively, the delivery tube 92 from the blower 90 being connected to the intake of the blower 85. In a modification, Fig. 7 (not shown), a reversible motor drives the saw as well as the pinion engaging the rack. In another modification, Fig. 9 (not shown), the cutter shaft is horizontally adjustable relative to the honeycomb block to determine the thickness of the cut slice. An automatic control system for the apparatus comprises valves 130, 131, Fig. 11, in addition to the manually-operable valve 104 while the switches 93, 94 of Fig. 1 are replaced by compound switches 147, 148. When the carriage 63 reaches the end of its cutting stroke, the switch 148 is actuated to reverse the motor 76 and lower the block 38 to clear the saw, through the operation of valve 130. When the carriage reaches the end of its return stroke, the switch 147 is actuated to reverse the motor 76 and operate the valve 131 to raise the block 38 a distance equal to the amount it was lowered by the valve 130 plus the desired depth of cut for the saw. The saw may be replaced by a circular knife, Fig. 8 (not shown), in which case the valve 130 is eliminated from the control system of Fig. 11 as the knife will cut on both strokes of the carriage 63. The motor 76 and associated gear for traversing the carriage may be replaced by a doubleacting hydraulic motor operation of which is controlled by a valve. The control system is otherwise as in Fig. 11. In a further modification, the cutter is in the form of a knife blade 217, Fig. 6, which is reciprocable lengthwse by means of an hydraulic motor 212. In this ease, the hoist is so operated as to move the block 38 upwardly at a constant rate equal to the cutting rate of the knife. Further, the means for removing sawdust are omitted.