GB2137135A

GB2137135A - Device for Notching Clay Strands

Info

Publication number: GB2137135A
Application number: GB08408077A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Josef Schwarz
Original assignee: Hans Lingl Anlagenbau und Verfahrenstechnik GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Hans Lingl Anlagenbau und Verfahrenstechnik GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1983-03-30
Filing date: 1984-03-29
Publication date: 1984-10-03
Also published as: GB8408077D0; DE3311541C1

Abstract

A notching means (4) which simultaneously acts on both sides of the clay strand portion (1), is disposed in the vicinity of a pusher or slider (3) and comprises fork-like arms (6) extending on either side of a first belt conveyor (2) and bearing rows of notching rollers at their top ends. The notching means (4) can be raised and lowered so that in the starting position (Fig. 1) the notching rollers are above the clay strand portion (1), whereas after notching (Fig. 3) the rollers are below the plane of the conveyor (2). The slider (3) then pushes the clay strand portion (1) between further notching rollers, (10) which notch its top and bottom, onto a second belt conveyor (8) having a multi-wire cutter (9). The arms (6) are laterally separable for raising of the rollers above the portion (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Notching Device This invention relates to a notching device for forming transverse notches in a clay strand portion.

Clay strand portions are notched at intervals prior to cutting, so that clean, bevelled edges will be obtained when the blanks are subsequently cut therefrom. During cutting, the cutting wire descends into the notches.

US Patent Specification No. 3,461,196 describes a notching device in which a strand portion is cut from the strand after moulding and conveyed by means of a first belt conveyor away from the strand. On the conveyor, the clay strand portion is held in a first position in the vicinity of pressure bars disposed on each side of the conveyor and provided with notching strips at intervals equal to the width of the blanks to be cut. Whilst the clay strand portion is thus held, the pressure bars are moved towards one another so as to form vertical notches in the sides of the clay strand portion. After the clay strand portion has been notched, the belt conveyor carries it to a second position and a slider pushes it transversely of its initial direction of travel through cutting wires, disposed at intervals equal to the blank width, onto a second belt conveyor.Notching rollers are mounted in front of and aligned with the cutting wires and notch the top of the clay strand portion.

A disadvantage of this device is that the pressure bars for notching the sides of the clay strand portion are upstream of the slider so that the wires cannot be reliably positioned relative to the notches in the cutting position. Furthermore, notching occurs only on three sides of the clay strand portion, and two notching means are required.

West German Auslegeschrift No. 28 32 1 67 describes and illustrates a notching device having two rows of notching rollers which extend transversely of the direction of motion of the clay strand portion at the cutter, the rollers being movable vertically between first and second positions and notching one side of the clay strand portion as they move from the first to the second position, whilst in the second position they notch the top and bottom of the clay strand portion as it moves between the rows and during their motion from the second back to the first position they notch the other side of the clay strand portion.

A disadvantage of this device is that it is impossible to obtain clean notches (usually only 2 to 3 mm deep) on the sides of the clay strand portion because the friction between the strand portion and the conveyor must always be greater than the horizontal force exerted during notching.

It is an object of the present invention to enable the provision of a notching device whereby the above disadvantages may be overcome or at least mitigated.

According to the invention, there is provided a notching device for forming transverse notches in a clay strand portion, which device comprises means for supporting a clay strand portion and means for simultaneously notching both sides of the clay strand portion, the notching means being vertically movable with respect to the support means.

The present invention enables the provision of a notching device whereby the notches can be reliably positioned relative to the cutter wires and notches of uniformly good quality, in particular of uniform depth, can be obtained. The means for notching the sides of the clay strand portion are arranged for relative vertical movement and it is not necessary for the clay strand portion to be conveyed out of the way thereof before notching its top and bottom, so that the notches and the cutter wires can remain aligned at all times. Also, because both sides of the clay strand portion are notched simultaneously, the portion is effectively gripped between the notching means and a large notching force can be applied thereto. Preferably the notching device comprises means for notching the top and bottom of the clay strand portion which are formed separately from the side-notching means.Advantageously ali the notching means comprise rollers.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an end view of a notching and cutting device in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is an end view of the device of Figure 1 after notching the sides of a clay strand portion, Figure 3 is an end view of the device of Figure 1 whilst notching the top and bottom of the clay strand portion, Figure 4 is an end view of the device of Figure 1 after cutting the clay strand portion, Figure 5 is an end view of the device of Figure 1 as a new clay strand portion is being conveyed into position for notching, Figure 6 is an end view of the device of Figure 1 shortly before notching the sides of the new clay strand portion, and Figure 7 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, a clay strand portion 1 cut from a clay strand is conveyed by a belt conveyor 2 into a position where it can be acted on by a slider or pusher 3 which is in the vicinity of a vertically acting notching means 4 raised by means of a lifting device 5 into the starting position. The notching means 4 comprises rows of notching rollers 7 disposed on arms 6, the arms 6 being bifurcate and extending on either side of the conveyor 2 so that in the starting position the rollers 7 are above the clay strand portion 1 moving into position. The arms 6, which are initially open (see Figure 6), are moved towards one another into the starting position (see Figure 1) and, after the portion 1 has been conveyed into position, they are pulled downwards so that the sides of the portion 1 are simultneously notched. Then the slider 3 pushes the portion onto a further conveyor 8 associated with a multi-wire cutter 9 and preceded by a further notching means having rollers 10 (see Figure 3) so that the top and bottom of the portion 1 are notched during transfer from the conveyor 2 to the further conveyor 8. Then the slider 3 is returned to its starting position, the notching means 4 is raised and a double acting cylinder 11 moves the arms 6 towards one another into the starting position for sidenotching.

The device has a high output, because the notching means 4, when lowered, is below the conveying plane of the portion 1, which does not enter the space between the arms 6 of the notching means 4 until the slider 3 has been withdrawn.

Claims

1. A notching device for forming transverse notches in a clay strand portion, which device comprises means for supporting a clay strand portion and means for simultaneously notching both sides of the clay strand portion, the notching means being vertically movable with respect to the support means.

2. A notching device according to Claim 1, which device further comprises means for effecting movement, relative to, and transversely of, a clay strand portion supported by the support means, of upper and/or lower notching rollers for notching the top and/or bottom, respectively, of the clay strand portion.

3. A notching device according to Claim 2, wherein the support means comprises first and second support means between which the upper and/or lower notching rollers are disposed, and wherein the means for effecting relative movement comprises means for moving a clay strand portion off the first support means and onto the second support means.

4. A notching device according to Claim 3, wherein the first support means comprises a conveyor for conveying a clay strand portion longitudinally and the second support means comprise a conveyor for conveying a clay strand portion transversely.

5. A notching device according to Claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the means for effecting relative movement comprises a pusher for pushing the clay strand portion transversely.

6. A notching device according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the notching rollers do not comprise, or form part of, the vertically movable notching means.

7. A notching device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vertically movable notching means comprises first and second rows of notching elements.

8. A notching device according to Claim 7, wherein the first and second rows are movable towards and away from each other transversely of a clay strand portion supported by the support means.

9. A notching device according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein each notching element comprises a notching roller.

10. A notching device according to Claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the first and second rows are movable vertically, and/or towards and away from each other, by means of an hydraulic or pneumatic piston and cylinder arrangement.

11. A notching and cutting device comprising a notching device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims in combination with a multi-wire cutter.

12. A notching device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

13. A notching and cutting device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

14. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.