US3719113A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Penetrable bed used for cutting sheet material and method for treating same
Assignee: Gerber Technology LLC
•
Filing: 1970-12-03
•
Granted: 1973-03-06
•
Expires: 1990-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A bed of material provides a supporting surface for supporting sheet material during a cutting process. The bed is used in combination with a cutting apparatus having a cutter and a means for moving the cutter and the bed with respect to each other. The supporting surface is penetrated and cut during the sheet material cutting operation. At least the top layer of the bed material is of such a nature that it may be restored to a substantially uncut or healed condition after having been penetrated and cut to the point where its capacity for properly supporting sheet material is impaired. This restoration may be accomplished by subjecting the bed material to a restoring influence such as heat, ultrasonic waves, or a solvent, or by bonding a thin sheet of plastic or other sheet material to the supporting surface. Particular apparatus combinations are disclosed which will apply the desired restoring mediums at the desired time.
Inventors
- 👤 H Gerber
- 👤 D Pearl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:44
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26D; B26D7/00; B26D7/20; B29; B29C; B29C71/00; B29C71/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S83/00; Y10S83/929; Y10S83/936; Y10S83/939; Y10S83/94; Y10S83/941; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/0605; Y10T83/263; Y10T83/283; Y10T83/303; Y10T83/929; Y10T83/9309; Y10T83/97
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
In a sheet material cutting apparatus the combination comprising means providing a supporting surface for supporting in a spread condition sheet material to be cut, a cutter having a cutting tool, and means for supporting and moving said cutter and said supporting surface relative to one another in such a manner that during a cutting operation said cutting tool passes through and cuts the material on said supporting surface and penetrates said supporting surface and so that said cutting tool is movable relative to said supporting surface along a desired line of cut, such that said cutter is translated on a locus of points lying in a plane substantially parallel to said sheet material during said cutting operation, said means providing a supporting surface comprising a bed of material including a body portion made of material readily penetrable by said cutting tool, and a skinlike top layer of material superimposed on said portion and directly forming said supporting surface, said cutting tool during a cutting operation passing through said top layer and penetrating said body portion of said bed, said top layer being made of a material which is restorable through the action of a restoring medium to heal cuts therein after having been penetrated and cut by said cutting tool during a cutting operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
In a sheet material cutting apparatus the combination comprising means providing a supporting surface for supporting in a spread condition sheet material to be cut, a cutter having a cutting tool, and means for supporting and moving said cutter and said supporting surface relative to one another in such a manner that during a cutting operation said cutting tool passes through and cuts the material on said supporting surface and penetrates said supporting surface and so that said cutting tool is movable relative to said supporting surface along a desired line of cut, such that said cutter is translated on a locus of points lying in a plane substantially parallel to said sheet material during said cutting operation, said means providing a supporting surface comprising a bed of material including a body portion made of material readily penetrable by said cutting tool, and a skinlike top layer of material superimposed on said portion and directly forming said supporting surface, said cutting tool during a cutting operation passing through said top layer and penetrating said body portion of said bed, said top layer being made of a material which is restorable through the action of a restoring medium to heal cuts therein after having been penetrated and cut by said cutting tool during a cutting operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
215 words
In a sheet material cutting apparatus the combination comprising means providing a supporting surface for supporting in a spread condition sheet material to be cut, a cutter having a cutting tool, and means for supporting and moving said cutter and said supporting surface relative to one another in such a manner that during a cutting operation said cutting tool passes through and cuts the material on said supporting surface and penetrates said supporting surface and so that said cutting tool is movable relative to said supporting surface along a desired line of cut, such that said cutter is translated on a locus of points lying in a plane substantially parallel to said sheet material during said cutting operation, said means providing a supporting surface comprising a bed of material including a body portion made of material readily penetrable by said cutting tool, and a skinlike top layer of material superimposed on said portion and directly forming said supporting surface, said cutting tool during a cutting operation passing through said top layer and penetrating said body portion of said bed, said top layer being made of a material which is restorable through the action of a restoring medium to heal cuts therein after having been penetrated and cut by said cutting tool during a cutting operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
215 words
In a sheet material cutting apparatus the combination comprising means providing a supporting surface for supporting in a spread condition sheet material to be cut, a cutter having a cutting tool, and means for supporting and moving said cutter and said supporting surface relative to one another in such a manner that during a cutting operation said cutting tool passes through and cuts the material on said supporting surface and penetrates said supporting surface and so that said cutting tool is movable relative to said supporting surface along a desired line of cut, such that said cutter is translated on a locus of points lying in a plane substantially parallel to said sheet material during said cutting operation, said means providing a supporting surface comprising a bed of material including a body portion made of material readily penetrable by said cutting tool, and a skinlike top layer of material superimposed on said portion and directly forming said supporting surface, said cutting tool during a cutting operation passing through said top layer and penetrating said body portion of said bed, said top layer being made of a material which is restorable through the action of a restoring medium to heal cuts therein after having been penetrated and cut by said cutting tool during a cutting operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by said top layer of said bed including a thermoplastic material, and means for periodically heating said top layer to restore said supporting surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination defined in claim 2 further characterized by said body portion of said bed being made of a fibrous material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by said top layer of said bed including a solvent soluble material which is restorable by the application of a solvent material, and means for periodically applYing a solvent to said top layer to restore said supporting surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a sheet material cutting apparatus the combination comprising means providing a supporting surface for supporting in a spread condition sheet material to be cut, a cutter having a cutting tool, means for supporting and moving said cutter and said supporting surface relative to one another in such a manner that during a cutting operation said cutting tool passes through and cuts the material on said supporting surface and penetrates said supporting surface and so that said cutting tool is movable relative to said supporting surface along a desired line of cut, said means providing a supporting surface comprising a bed of material including a body portion made of a material readily penetrable by said cutting tool, and a top layer of material superimposed on said body portion and directly forming said supporting surface, said top layer of said bed including a material which is restorable by the application of ultrasonic wave energy thereto to heal cuts therein after having been penetrated and cut by said cutting tool during a cutting operation, and means for periodically applying ultrasonic wave energy to said layer to effect a restoration of said supporting surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a sheet material cutting apparatus the combination comprising means providing a supporting surface for supporting in a spread condition sheet material to be cut, a cutter having a cutting tool, means for supporting and moving said cutter and said supporting surface relative to one another in such a manner that during a cutting operation said cutting tool passes through and cuts the material on said supporting surface and penetrates said supporting surface and so that said cutting tool is movable relative to said supporting surface along a desired line of cut, said means providing a supporting surface comprising a bed of material including a body portion made of a material readily penetrable by said cutting tool, and a top layer of material superimposed on said body portion and directly forming said supporting surface, said top layer of said bed including a material which is restorable by the application of ultrasonic wave energy thereto to heal cuts therein after having been penetrated and cut by said cutting tool during a cutting operation, and means for periodically applying ultrasonic wave energy to said layer to effect a restoration of said supporting surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
186 words
A supporting surface defining a bed of material for use in a sheet material cutting apparatus of the type which utilizes a reciprocating blade or similar cutting tool which is translated substantially normal to the direction of reciprocation of said blade and which cuts the supporting surface and penetrates the bed by a given distance during a cutting operation, said bed comprising: a body portion made of a material readily penetrable by a cutting tool, and a relatively thin skin-like top surface layer portion overlying said body portion and directly defining said supporting surface and made of material capable of being restored to a continuous state through the application of a restoring medium after it has been cut during a cutting operation, said top surface layer portion having a thickness substantially less than said given distance by which said cutting tool penetrates said bed whereby said cutting tool in penetrating said bed passes completely through said top surface layer portion and penetrates said body portion while cutting along a locus of points lying in a plane substantially normal to the direction of reciprocation of said blade.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
186 words
A supporting surface defining a bed of material for use in a sheet material cutting apparatus of the type which utilizes a reciprocating blade or similar cutting tool which is translated substantially normal to the direction of reciprocation of said blade and which cuts the supporting surface and penetrates the bed by a given distance during a cutting operation, said bed comprising: a body portion made of a material readily penetrable by a cutting tool, and a relatively thin skin-like top surface layer portion overlying said body portion and directly defining said supporting surface and made of material capable of being restored to a continuous state through the application of a restoring medium after it has been cut during a cutting operation, said top surface layer portion having a thickness substantially less than said given distance by which said cutting tool penetrates said bed whereby said cutting tool in penetrating said bed passes completely through said top surface layer portion and penetrates said body portion while cutting along a locus of points lying in a plane substantially normal to the direction of reciprocation of said blade.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A bed as defined in claim 6 further characterized by said top surface layer portion being made of a thermoplastic material which may be restored by the application of heat thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A bed as defined in claim 7 further characterized by said body portion thereof being made of felt, and said top surface layer portion including a thermoplastic material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A bed as defined in claim 6 further characterized by said top surface layer portion comprising a solvent soluble material which is restorable by the application of a solvent thereto after a cutting operation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
A supporting surface defining bed of material for use in a sheet material cutting apparatus of the type which utilizes a reciprocating blade or similar cutting tool which penetrates and cuts the supporting surface during a cutting operation, said bed comprising: a relatively thick body portion made of a material readily penetrable by a cutting tool, and a relatively thin top surface layer portion directly defining said supporting surface and made of a material which is restorable to a continuous state by the application of ultrasonic wave energy thereto after it has been cut during a cutting operation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
98 words
A supporting surface defining bed of material for use in a sheet material cutting apparatus of the type which utilizes a reciprocating blade or similar cutting tool which penetrates and cuts the supporting surface during a cutting operation, said bed comprising: a relatively thick body portion made of a material readily penetrable by a cutting tool, and a relatively thin top surface layer portion directly defining said supporting surface and made of a material which is restorable to a continuous state by the application of ultrasonic wave energy thereto after it has been cut during a cutting operation.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for cutting sheet material by means of a reciprocating cutting tool which method comprises the steps of providing a bed having a body portion made from a material readily penetrable by a cutting tool and a skinlike surface layer portion overlying said body portion, translating said reciprocating cutting tool substantially normal to the direction of reciprocation of said cutting tool in the region adjacent to said cutting tool during each of said strokes, said skinlike surface layer portion defining a supporting surface and being made from a material which is restorable through the action of a restoring medium to heal cuts therein after having been penetrated and cut by a cutting tool during a cutting operation, placing sheet material to be cut on said supporting surface, cutting said sheet material with a reciprocating cutting tool cutter which during each stroke passes through and cuts booth said sheet material and said skin-like surface layer portion and which penetrates and cuts said supporting surface said body portion, and thereafter restoring said skinlike surface layer portion supporting surface to heal the cuts made in said supporting surface therein by said cutting tool and to render it substantially continuous for use in a subsequent cutting operation.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for cutting sheet material by means of a reciprocating cutting tool which method comprises the steps of providing a bed having a body portion made from a material readily penetrable by a cutting tool and a skinlike surface layer portion overlying said body portion, translating said reciprocating cutting tool substantially normal to the direction of reciprocation of said cutting tool in the region adjacent to said cutting tool during each of said strokes, said skinlike surface layer portion defining a supporting surface and being made from a material which is restorable through the action of a restoring medium to heal cuts therein after having been penetrated and cut by a cutting tool during a cutting operation, placing sheet material to be cut on said supporting surface, cutting said sheet material with a reciprocating cutting tool cutter which during each stroke passes through and cuts booth said sheet material and said skin-like surface layer portion and which penetrates and cuts said supporting surface said body portion, and thereafter restoring said skinlike surface layer portion supporting surface to heal the cuts made in said supporting surface therein by said cutting tool and to render it substantially continuous for use in a subsequent cutting operation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method defined in claim 11 further characterized by said step of providing a bed involving the provision of a bed having a skin-like surface layer portion made of a thermoplastic material, and said step of restoring said supporting surface being accomplished by heating said surface layer portion of said bed to soften the material thereof to the point where the material on opposite sides of cuts therein is united and then removing the heat to allow said material to resolidify to a continuous state.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method defined in claim 11 further characterized by said step of providing a bed involving the provision of a bed having a skinlike surface layer portion made of a solvent soluble material, and said step of restoring said surface being accomplished by applying a solvent to said surface layer portion of said bed.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for cutting sheet material which method comprises the steps of providing a bed of material having a supporting surface, placing sheet material to be cut on said supporting surface, cutting said sheet material with a cutter which passes through said sheet material and penetrates and cuts said supporting surface, and thereafter restoring said supporting surface to heal the cuts made therein by said cutting tool and to render it substantially continuous for use in a subsequent cutting operation, said step of providing a bed involving the provision of a bed having a surface layer portion defining said supporting surface which surface layer portion is made of a material which changes state from substantially a solid to substantially a liquid in the presence of ultrasonic wave energy, and said step of restoring said surface being accomplished by exposing said surface layer portion of said bed to ultrasonic wave energy.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for cutting sheet material which method comprises the steps of providing a bed of material having a supporting surface, placing sheet material to be cut on said supporting surface, cutting said sheet material with a cutter which passes through said sheet material and penetrates and cuts said supporting surface, and thereafter restoring said supporting surface to heal the cuts made therein by said cutting tool and to render it substantially continuous for use in a subsequent cutting operation, said step of providing a bed involving the provision of a bed having a surface layer portion defining said supporting surface which surface layer portion is made of a material which changes state from substantially a solid to substantially a liquid in the presence of ultrasonic wave energy, and said step of restoring said surface being accomplished by exposing said surface layer portion of said bed to ultrasonic wave energy.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for cutting sheet material which method comprises the steps of providing a bed of material having a supporting surface, placing sheet material to be cut on said supporting surface, cutting said sheet material with a cutter which passes through said sheet material and penetrates and cuts said supporting surface, and thereafter restoring said supporting surface to heal the cuts made therein by said cutting tool and to render it substantially continuous for use in a subsequent cutting operation, said step of restoring said supporting surface being accomplished by spreading a sheet of thermoplastic material over said surface and thereafter heating said sheet to bond it to said supporting surface.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for cutting sheet material which method comprises the steps of providing a bed of material having a supporting surface, placing sheet material to be cut on said supporting surface, cutting said sheet material with a cutter which passes through said sheet material and penetrates and cuts said supporting surface, and thereafter restoring said supporting surface to heal the cuts made therein by said cutting tool and to render it substantially continuous for use in a subsequent cutting operation, said step of restoring said supporting surface being accomplished by spreading a sheet of thermoplastic material over said surface and thereafter heating said sheet to bond it to said supporting surface.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for cutting sheet material which method comprises the steps of providing a bed of material having a supporting surface, placing sheet material to be cut on said supporting surface, cutting said sheet material with a cutter which passes through said sheet material and penetrates and cuts said supporting surface, and thereafter restoring said supporting surface to heal the cuts made therein by said cutting tool and to render it substantially continuous for use in a subsequent cutting operation, said step of restoring said supporting surface being accomplished by applying an adhesive to said supporting surface and thereafter applying a thin sheet of material over said supportIng surface so as to be bonded thereto by said adhesive.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for cutting sheet material which method comprises the steps of providing a bed of material having a supporting surface, placing sheet material to be cut on said supporting surface, cutting said sheet material with a cutter which passes through said sheet material and penetrates and cuts said supporting surface, and thereafter restoring said supporting surface to heal the cuts made therein by said cutting tool and to render it substantially continuous for use in a subsequent cutting operation, said step of restoring said supporting surface being accomplished by applying an adhesive to said supporting surface and thereafter applying a thin sheet of material over said supportIng surface so as to be bonded thereto by said adhesive.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-05 | 1976-09-04 | 1977-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-05 | 1980-09-04 | 1981-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-05 | 1984-09-04 | 1985-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |