US3734153A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic cabinet making tool
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-12-17
•
Granted: 1973-05-22
•
Expires: 1991-12-17
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus are disclosed for cutting one or more apertures in a cabinet front blank. The cutting operation is performed by a router selectively extending into and out of the cabinet front blank. The movement of the router in the X and Y axes is controlled by air operated mechanisms. A plurality of mechanical switches responsive to movement and position of the router provide feedback signals to a pneumatic control system. The control system also processes command signals from manual controls, which command signals provide direct control over the cutting operation of the router. The number, size and spatial relationship of the apertures may be programmed by the manual controls.
Inventors
- 👤 J Reed
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:56
CPC Classifications
B; B27; B27M; B27M3/00; B27M3/0093; B23; B23Q; B23Q1/00; B23Q1/25; B23Q1/44; B23Q1/56; B23Q1/60; B23Q1/62; B23Q1/621; B27B; B27B5/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S83/00; Y10S83/929; Y10S83/936; Y10S83/939; Y10S83/94; Y10T; Y10T409/00; Y10T409/30; Y10T409/30084; Y10T409/301176; Y10T409/302912
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A system for automatically forming apertures in sheet material while recovering the cutout portions removed from said apertures, said system comprising in combination: a. cutting means for forming said apertures, said cutting means having a rotatable bit selectively positioned within the plane of said sheet material and translatable into and out of the plane of said sheet material; b. translation means for positioning the bit of said cutting means within the plane of said sheet material; c. first drive means for controllably actuating said translation means; d. second drive means for controllably translating the bit of said cutting means into and out of the plane of said sheet material; e. detection means for generating feedback signals indicative of the location of said cutting means; f. a plurality of input controls for selectively determining the number and shape of said apertures; g. control means responsive to said plurality of input controls and to said feedback signals generated by said detection means for actuating said first and second drive means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
168 words
A system for automatically forming apertures in sheet material while recovering the cutout portions removed from said apertures, said system comprising in combination: a. cutting means for forming said apertures, said cutting means having a rotatable bit selectively positioned within the plane of said sheet material and translatable into and out of the plane of said sheet material; b. translation means for positioning the bit of said cutting means within the plane of said sheet material; c. first drive means for controllably actuating said translation means; d. second drive means for controllably translating the bit of said cutting means into and out of the plane of said sheet material; e. detection means for generating feedback signals indicative of the location of said cutting means; f. a plurality of input controls for selectively determining the number and shape of said apertures; g. control means responsive to said plurality of input controls and to said feedback signals generated by said detection means for actuating said first and second drive means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said translation means comprises a mechanical X-Y coordinate system for translating said cutting means in the X and Y axes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cutting means comprises a router.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said detection means comprises a first plurality of switches responsive to the location of the bit within the plane of said sheet material, and a second plurality of switches responsive to the location of the bit within and without the plane of said sheet material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first and second drive means comprise pneumatically operated plungers for operating said mechanical X-Y coordinate system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said detection means comprises a plurality of mechanical switches responsive to the location of said cutting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said control means comprises a plurality of pneumatically operated flip flops, valves and actuators.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said input controls comprise a plurality of manually operated switches for introducing pneumatic inputs to said control means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said plurality of input controls include means for altering the maximum movement of said router in the X axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said plurality of input controls include means for altering the maximum movement of said router in the Y axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system as set forth in claim 10, including: a receiving platform for receiving said sheet material prior to forming said apertures; a central portion for retaining said sheet material while forming said apertures; and a discharge platform for receiving said sheet material subsequent to forming said apertures.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for automatically forming apertures in sheet material while recovering the cutout portions removed from said apertures, said method comprising the steps of: a. forming said apertures with cutting means, said cutting means having a rotatable bit selectively positioned within the plane of said sheet material and translatable into and out of the plane of said sheet material; b. positioning the bit of said cutting means with translation means within the plane of said sheet material; c. actuating said translation means with a first drive means; d. translating the bit of said cutting means into and out of the plane of said sheet material with a second drive means; e. generating feedback signals with detection means indicative of the location of the bit of said cutting means; f. determining the number and shape of said apertures with a plurality of input controls; and g. actuating said first and second drive means with control means responsive to said plurality of input controls and said feedback signals generated by said detection means.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for automatically forming apertures in sheet material while recovering the cutout portions removed from said apertures, said method comprising the steps of: a. forming said apertures with cutting means, said cutting means having a rotatable bit selectively positioned within the plane of said sheet material and translatable into and out of the plane of said sheet material; b. positioning the bit of said cutting means with translation means within the plane of said sheet material; c. actuating said translation means with a first drive means; d. translating the bit of said cutting means into and out of the plane of said sheet material with a second drive means; e. generating feedback signals with detection means indicative of the location of the bit of said cutting means; f. determining the number and shape of said apertures with a plurality of input controls; and g. actuating said first and second drive means with control means responsive to said plurality of input controls and said feedback signals generated by said detection means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |