Rotary cutting device

[0008]Even in the case of high tensile materials, for example, aramide-fiber meshes which are highly resistant to stretching or steel meshes such as are employed for the manufacture of motor vehicle tires for example, a precise cut can thereby be effected wherein the cutting edge will only be subjected to a minimal degree of wear.

[0009]Since there is a danger that the cutting edge could break when employing hard metals for the cutting edge and the cutting support, provision is made, in accordance with the invention, for the cutting edge to have a smaller radial extent than the support surfaces of the support ring taken with respect to the rotational axis of the cutting tool. Thus, in the non-loaded state of the rotary cutting device, the cutting edge is set back relative to the support surface in the radial direction. Hereby, the radial spacing between the cutting edge and the support surface is formed in dependence on the modulus of elasticity of the support ring, i.e. in dependence on the elasticity of the material of the support ring that is being used. The underlying idea hereby is that the support ring, even if it is made of steel, is subjected to a radial deformation under the influence of a bias force between the cutting tool and the anvil roller so that the radial extent of the support ring taken with respect to the rotational axis of the cutting tool will become smaller in dependence on the particular modulus of elasticity. The relative spacing between the hard metal cutting edge and the hard metal cutting support in the non-loaded state of the rotary cutting device is now selected in such a manner that the cutting edge virtually touches the cutting support in the loaded state of the device i.e. under the influence of the bias force, whereby ‘virtually touches’ means that the cutting edge has the smallest possible spacing from the cutting support or is in light contact therewith. A ‘light contact’ of this type ensures reliable cutting of the material on the one hand, whilst breakage of the hard metal cutting edge as well as damage to the hard metal cutting support is thereby prevented on the other.

[0011]In a particularly preferred embodiment, provision is made for the cutting edge and / or the cutting support to be made substantially entirely out of a hard metal. Consequently, high tensile materials can also be reliably cut whereby considerably longer service lifetimes can be achieved with regard to conventional rotary cutting devices.

[0014]It is of particular advantage if the at least one support ring is made of a hard metal at least in the support surface region thereof. In an embodiment of this type, neither the cutting edge and the support surface associated therewith nor the support ring being used for supporting the cutting tool relative to the anvil roller will be subjected to any significant degree of wear so that the rotary cutting device will be characterized by a particularly long service lifetime even if high bias forces should be exerted.

[0018]It is of particular advantage if the cutting support comprises a support sleeve which peripherally surrounds a base body of the anvil roller. In an embodiment of this type, the cutting support is a snug fit on the base body of the anvil roller so that the cutting support can reliably withstand large mechanical loadings.

However, an arrangement of this type has the disadvantage that a precise cut cannot be produced in every case especially when using high tensile materials, for there is then a danger that, under the influence of high bias forces such as can arise when cutting high tensile materials, the cutting edge and or the cutting support will be damaged.