Device and Method for Cutting Insulation
AssigneeVicon Machinery LLC
InventorsDale Foster, Mike Fischer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An insulation cutter for a liner application machine in an assembly line and method of operation that cuts an insulative thermal blanket by stopping the liner application machine momentarily to allow for a rotary cutter to traverse the width of the belt (and the width of the thermal insulation blanket) and potentially return back to its original position. The machine is then restarted and allowed to continue to feed.
Claims17
A liner application machine for attaching an insulative thermal blanket to a piece of metal ductwork, the machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a conveyor belt carrying an insulative thermal blanket;
- a shear assembly located on said frame, said shear assembly including;
- a cutting mechanism including a motorized rotary blade which is configured to traverse a path across said conveyor belt;
- and
- a stopping mechanism, located at a terminal end of said path, said stopping mechanism detecting if said cutting mechanism is present at said terminal end;
- and
- a computer controller configured to control a cutting event and configured to control said conveyor belt;
- wherein, when a cutting event occurs:
- said controller first stops said conveyor belt;
- secondly, said cutting mechanism traverses said path until said stopping mechanism detects said cutting mechanism;
- and
- thirdly, said controller restarts said conveyor belt.
A method for cutting an insulative thermal blanket during assembly of lined ductwork, the method comprising:
- providing a liner application machine for joining an insulative thermal blanket to a piece of metal ductwork, the machine including:
- a shear assembly located on said frame, said shear assembly including;
- a cutting mechanism including a motorized rotary blade which is configured to traverse a path across said conveyor belt;
- a stopping mechanism, located at a terminal end of said path, said stopping mechanism detecting if said cutting mechanism is present at said terminal end;
- and
- a computer controller;
- said computer controller stopping motion of said insulative thermal blanket through said liner application machine;
- after said motion is stopped, cutting said insulative thermal blanket with said cutting mechanism;
- and
- after said insulative thermal blanket is cut, said computer controller restarting motion of said insulative thermal blanket through said liner application machine.
A shear assembly for a liner application machine, the assembly comprising:
- a cutting mechanism including a motorized rotary blade which is configured to traverse a path across a conveyor belt of said liner application machine;
- a stopping mechanism, located at a terminal end of said path, said stopping mechanism detecting if said cutting mechanism is present at said terminal end;
- and
- a computer controller configured to control said liner application machine;
- wherein, when a cutting event occurs:
- said controller first stops motion of an insulative thermal blanket through said liner application machine;
- secondly, said cutting mechanism traverses said path until said stopping mechanism detects said cutting mechanism;
- and
- thirdly, said controller restarts motion of said insulative thermal blanket through said liner application machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.