FR2748330A1 - Transverse cutter for strip material, e.g. cine film - Google Patents

Abstract

The cutter, e.g. for cutting cine film precisely in line with or between perforations, consists of a body (1) with a passage for the film, and a cutter (16) and counter-cutter (15) on either side of the passage, with a cutter actuating button (19). - The instrument has a positioned for the film comprising a roller with one or more projections (9) to engage with the perforations in the film, the angular position of the roller being adjustable to vary the distance between the projections and cutter for setting the precise line of the cut. The roller has scale markings (12) which are set against a pointer (13), while a locking mechanism on the bottom of the body prevents any movement of the film while it is being cut.

Description

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR CROSS-CUTTING A PRODUCT INTO
BANDAGED
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the transverse cutting of a strip product. The invention finds its application in particular in the field of cinematographic films for cutting the end of the strip.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM (G) TO BE SOLVED:
In the film industry, for priming the film in a camera, for example for 16 mm cinematographic film, it is necessary that the end of the strip is located at a determined location relative to the perforations located on the edge (s) of the film. Thus, depending on the camera, it is necessary that the strip ends, either in the middle of a perforation, or between two perforations, at a given distance from the front edge of the perforation. In addition, for certain cameras, it is necessary that the front berd of the primer is perpendicular to the axis of the film. For others it may be desirable for the leading edge of the primer to form a given angle relative to the perpendicular to the axis of the film. Failure to comply with these conditions can cause damage to the film, or even parts of the camera, when priming the film in the camera, which is very short and efficient. penalizing.

 This end of strip cutting operation is generally carried out when the film is finished, one of the difficulties of this operation being that it must be carried out in inactinic light so as not to sensitize the emulsion present on the film.

 According to a first technique commonly used, the end of strip cutting is carried out manually using scissors or other equivalent means and requires a significant "helping hand", failing which, the end of strip cutting will not be positioned so satisfactory compared to the perforations. It may then be necessary to repeat cutting several times in order to obtain an acceptable result.

 There are also complex devices comprising electronic means making it possible to detect the position of the perforations, and in response to this detection, the position of the cutting means is modified so that the end of strip cutting is carried out at an appropriate location. relative to the end perforation. One of the drawbacks of these systems is mainly due to their complexity and cost.

 German patent DE-A-29 09 337 describes another approach according to which means are provided making it possible to adjust the position of a strip relative to cutting means. In addition to its complexity, the device described in this document does not allow sufficient precision in the positioning of the strip relative to the cutting means.

 It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide a device and a method for cutting the end of a strip, such as a cinematographic film, which does not have the drawbacks discussed above with reference to the known prior art.

 Other objects will appear in detail in the description which follows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
According to the present invention, these objects are achieved by means of a device for transversely cutting a strip product comprising perforations regularly spaced along at least one of its edges, said device comprising:
a) a chassis (1);
b) a passage (2) formed inside the chassis (1) and intended to receive the strip for cutting it, said passage (2) defining a path for said strip;
c) cutting means comprising a knife (16) and a counter knife (15) placed respectively on either side of the passage (2) and intended to cooperate with each other for the purpose of cutting the strip along d 'a cutting line transverse to said film; and
d) means for positioning the strip so that the cutting means are in a determined position with respect to a corresponding perforation of the strip;
said device being characterized in that the positioning means comprise a roller (7) comprising at least one member (9) intended to cooperate with at least one perforation of the strip, the angular position of said roller (7) being adjustable so as to modifying the distance between said member (9) and the cutting line, said distance determining the relative position of the cutting line with respect to said corresponding perforation.

The invention also relates to a method for transversely cutting a strip product comprising perforations spaced regularly along at least one of its edges, said method comprising the following steps:
a) introduce the strip into a passage (2) formed inside a frame (1) on which are mounted cutting means comprising a knife (16) and a counter knife (15) placed respectively on the side and other of the passage (2), the position of the strip being adjusted so that the cutting means are in a determined position relative to a corresponding perforation of the strip;
b) actuating the cutting means so as to cut the strip along a cutting line transverse to said film;
said method being characterized in that the position of the strip is adjusted by modifying the angular position of a roller (7) comprising at least one member (9) intended to be engaged with at least one perforation of the strip, so as to modify the distance between said member (9) and the cutting line, said distance determining the relative position of the cutting line with respect to said corresponding perforation.

Advantageously, the method according to the invention further comprises the following step:
c) actuating locking means (24) for, during the cutting of the strip, substantially preventing any transverse movement of the strip (3).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
In the description which follows, reference will be made to the drawings in which:
- Figure 1 shows an overview of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention;
- Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 seen from a different angle;
- Figure 3 is a sectional view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2;
- Figure 4 is a sectional view along line BB and shows in detail cutting means as used in a preferred mode of the device according to the invention;
- Figure 5 illustrates the locking means advantageously used according to the invention; and
- Figure 6 is a sectional view along line AA and illustrates the mounting of the positioning roller used according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
Figures 1 and 2 to which reference is now made represent two overall views of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention. The device essentially comprises a frame or body 1 inside which is a passage 2 intended to receive the strip 3 and on either side of which are arranged cutting means (discussed in more detail below) actuated by example, by means of a push-button mechanism 4. On one of the sides of the frame, the passage leads to locking means 5, which, as will be seen below, allow the film to be immobilized transversely during the strip cutting operation.

 On the opposite end of the chassis, the passage leads to a housing 6 inside which is mounted a positioning roller 7 whose axis is preferably substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the strip inside said passage and whose external surface forms a groove 8 intended to receive the film 3 inserted in the passage 2. the bottom of the groove 8 is provided with at least one lug 9 intended to come into engagement with a perforation 10 of the film 3. Advantageously , the groove has a plurality of such pins 9 spaced regularly so as to cooperate with a plurality of perforations on one edge of the film. According to another embodiment of the lugs are provided so as to cooperate with perforations provided on the two longitudinal edges of the film. On the lateral face of the frame, the passage has a chamfered opening so as to favor the insertion of the film into passage 2.

 According to the invention, the positioning roller 7 is mounted so as to be able to be selectively free to rotate during a phase of adjusting its angular position, and locked in rotation during the cutting of the end of the strip, the passage of one position to the other using a screw 11. Thus, in the free position, the angular position of the roller can be modified so as to modify the relative position of the cutting means with respect to a corresponding perforation of the film ( that is to say, for a given lug, the distance between the lug and the film cutting line) so as to selectively cut the film in the middle of a perforation, or between two perforations. When the angular position is adjusted correctly, the roller 7 is immobilized in rotation by means of the screw 11.

Advantageously, the device comprises a mark 12 provided on the roller 7 (or on the chassis 1) and whose position relative to angular graduations 13 provided on the chassis 1 (or on the roller 7) is representative of the position of the cutting line relative to a corresponding perforation. Thus, for a given pitch of perforations, the operator knows that for a first position of the marker with respect to the graduations, the cutting of the strip will be carried out in the middle of a perforation; for a second position of the mark relative to the graduations, the cutting line will be produced between two perforations, etc. In the embodiment shown, the graduations are arranged on a plate 14 screwed onto the frame, and which advantageously serves as a polarizing so as to correctly insert the film 3 in the passage, and thus, not to wind it only on the roller 7, thus making the cutting operation impossible. This last characteristic is particularly advantageous when the cutting of the strip is carried out in inactinic light.

 Thus, for any strip perforated according to a determined pitch and positioned in cooperation with the lugs 9 (whose angular position has been thus adjusted), the cutting will always be carried out in the same place relative to a perforation (or relative to a pair of perforations located opposite and arranged on the two edges of the film), that is to say, either in the middle of a perforation, or between two perforations), and this, independently of the perforations of the film put into engagement on the pins 9 of the roller 7.

 3 shows a sectional view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2 and illustrating in more detail the cutting means used according to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention. These cutting means mainly comprise a knife 16 fixedly mounted (screw 17) on one end of a rod 18, the other end of the rod projecting beyond the surface of the frame 1 and carrying a pusher 19 (screwed on 18 by means of a screw 21) allowing an operator to actuate the knife to put it in cutting engagement with the counter knife 15. Advantageously, the rod is mounted on the chassis by means of a spring mechanism 20 which , in the rest position, keeps the knife away from the counter knife 15, with the exception of an edge portion 22 which remains in abutment against the knife. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the cutting means can be actuated by means other than a pusher. In the embodiment shown, the counter knife is screwed onto the chassis 1. It is also obvious that other embodiments are possible for mounting the cutting means on the chassis, the embodiment explained being given as an illustration. As shown in FIG. 3, the knife 16 and the counter knife 15 are mounted so as to produce a cutting line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the film 3.

According to a variant of the present invention, the cutting means are arranged so as to make a cut along a line forming a determined angle which is not zero with respect to the perpendicular to the axis of the film.

 As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 4, the cutting of the film occurs by the effect of shearing between the knife 16 and the counter knife 15. Such cutting devices are well known in the art, and therefore do not require no further description.

 FIG. 5, to which reference is now made, illustrates another advantageous characteristic of the cutting device according to the invention. In fact, when cutting the film, it is desirable to hold the film so as to prevent any transverse movement of the latter in the passage 2. The locking device 24 is in the form of an L-shaped member pivotally mounted in a point 23 located substantially at the intersection of the two portions of rod forming the L. One end of one of the portions of the L is fixed by means of a spring 25 to the frame 1, said spring urging the other portion of L against an abutment 26. In abutment against 26, the corresponding portion of L substantially blocks the passage 2, with the exception of a clearance 27 formed in an appropriate manner to allow the passage of the strip 3, and the height of which prevents substantially all transverse movement of the strip in the passage 2. When the strip is inserted into the cutting device, the operator simply moves aside the locking member 24 so as to be able to clear the passage 2.

 Figure 6 shows in particular a sectional view of the positioning roller 7. In the illustrated embodiment, the roller has a peripheral part 30 screwed (screw 28) on the rest of the roller, thus allowing the pins 9 to be held in position in the bottom of the groove 8, and possibly modify its angular position in order to accommodate strips having different perforation pitches. Holes 29 are provided in the frame 1 for, according to a particular embodiment, fixing the device against a vertical surface.

 In operation, the operator releases the roller 7 in rotation by means of the screw 11, adjusts the angular position of the roller as a function of the desired cutting position, then locks the roller 7 in rotation by means of the screw 11.

He then introduces the strip into the passage 2 by engaging it on the lugs 9 and actuates the cutting means (16).

 The device, as well as the method according to the invention are particularly advantageous in that they allow in a simple manner, to precisely cut a strip at a predetermined location with respect to a given perforation of the strip. They also make it possible to accommodate different formats of strips, with different perforation pitches.

 the foregoing description has been made with reference to preferred embodiments of the invention. It is obvious that variants can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed below.

Claims (9)

1 - Apparatus for transversely cutting a strip product  (3) with regularly spaced perforations  along at least one of its edges, said apparatus  including:  a) a chassis (1);  b) a passage (2) formed inside the  chassis (1) and intended to receive the strip for the purpose of  its cutting, said passage (2) defining a  trajectory for said strip;  c) cutting means comprising a knife  (16) and a counter knife (15) placed respectively  on either side of the passage (2) and intended for  cooperate with one another in order to cut the strip on  along a cutting line transverse to said film;  and  d) means (7) for positioning the strip  so that the cutting means (15, 16) are in  a determined position relative to a perforation  correspondent of the band;  said device being characterized in that  the positioning means comprise a roller (7)  comprising at least one member (9) intended to cooperate  with at least one perforation (10) in the strip (3), the  angular position of said roller (7) being adjustable by  so as to modify the distance between said member (9)  and the cutting line, said distance determining the  relative position of the cutting line with respect to  said corresponding perforation. 2 - Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that  that it also includes a reference (12) provided on the  roller (7) (respectively on the chassis) and the  position relative to angular graduations (13)  provided on the chassis (respectively on the roller)  is representative of the position of the line of  cutting with respect to said perforation  corresponding. 3 - Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in  what it includes in addition to locking means  (24) allowing, when cutting the strip  substantially prevent any transverse movement of  the band (3). 4 - Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to  3 characterized in that the cutting means are  arranged so as to make a cutting line  perpendicular to the axis of the strip (3). 5 - Cutting device according to any one of  claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the means  cutting lines are arranged to make a line  cutting not perpendicular to the axis of the strip  (3). 6 - Cutting device according to any one of  claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the knife  (16) is manually operated by means of a  pusher device (18,19) mounted on a mechanism  spring (20). 7 - Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to  6 characterized in that said strip (3) is a film  cinematographic. 8 - Process for transverse cutting of a strip product  (3) with regularly spaced perforations  along at least one of its edges, said method  including the following steps:  a) introduce the strip into a passage (2)  formed inside a chassis (1) on which are  mounted cutting means comprising a knife (16)  and a counter knife (15) respectively placed  on either side of the passage (2), the position of the  strip being adjusted so that the cutting means  are in a determined position relative to a  corresponding perforation of the strip;  b) actuate the cutting means so as to  cut the strip along a cutting line  transverse to said film (3);  said process being characterized in that the  band position is adjusted by changing the  angular position of a roller (7) comprising at least  a member (9) intended to be engaged with the  minus a perforation of the strip, so that  modify the distance between said member (9) and the  cutting line, said distance determining the  relative position of the cutting line with respect to  said corresponding perforation. 9 - Method according to claim 8 characterized in that  that it also includes the following step:  c) actuate locking means (24)  to prevent, when cutting the strip,  substantially any transverse movement of the strip  (3).