Patent DE703304C successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3776072A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3776072A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for cutting sheet material
Assignee: Gerber Technology LLC
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Filing: 1971-02-26
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1991-02-26
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for cutting parts, patterns, or the like from fabrics, paper or other thin sheet material employing a rotary cutting tool which is supported for movement above a work surface of a penetrable supporting bed. The rotary cutting tool is carried by a numerically controlled translating mechanism which moves it over the work surface in two orthogonal coordinate directions. The tool is rotated at a peripheral speed substantially greater than the translation speed and has a peripheral cutting edge which performs the cutting operation while the tool is translated with a segment of the peripheral cutting edge penetrating through the sheet material supported on the work surface and into the penetrable supporting bed. The rotation of the tool is coordinated with the translation of the tool so that the leading edge of the tool rotates downwardly into the sheet material during the cutting operation. The cutting tool is suspended from the translating mechanism by an adjustable mount and a follower guide or foot that travels over the sheet material with the tool is connected to the adjustable mount and positions the mount so that the segment of the peripheral cutting edge penetrating through the sheet material into the penetrable supporting bed maintains a substantially constant penetration depth regardless of uneveness or variation in height of the penetrable bed.
Inventors
- 👤 R Oswell
- 👤 H Gerber
- 👤 D Pearl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:42
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26D; B26D7/00; B26D7/01; B26D7/018; B26F; B26F1/00; B26F1/38; B26F1/3806; B26F1/3813; B26F1/3826; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/05; Y10T83/0605; Y10T83/162; Y10T83/566; Y10T83/768; Y10T83/7684; Y10T83/7709; Y10T83/7713; Y10T83/7718; Y10T83/7755; Y10T83/929; Y10T83/9309; Y10T83/9319
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
Apparatus for cutting sheet material having a support bed defining a work surface for supporting the sheet material in a spread condition, a tool mount, a carriage mechanism for transporting the tool mount and the support bed relative to one another in directions parallel to the work surface, a journal member between the carriage mechanism and the tool mount to permit pivoting of the mount about an axis perpendicular to the work surface, a controlled drive mechanism for regulating the transporting movements of the carriage mechanism and the pivoting movements of the tool mount, wherein the improvement comprises: a rotary cutting tool having an axis of rotation and a peripheral cutting portion circumscribing the axis of rotation; drive means connected to the rotary cutting tool for rotating the peripheral cutting portion of the tool about the axis of rotation; adjustable means connecting the tool with its axis of rotation substantially parallel to the work surface to the tool mount for rotation with the mount and adjustment relative to the mount along the axis perpendicular to the work surface; and follower means mounted in fixed relationship with the tool adjacent the tool and connecting with the adjustable means for sensing the level of the sheet material immediately surrounding the tool and maintaining the tool at a fixed position along the axis perpendicular to the work surface relative to the sheet material surrounding the tool.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
Apparatus for cutting sheet material having a support bed defining a work surface for supporting the sheet material in a spread condition, a tool mount, a carriage mechanism for transporting the tool mount and the support bed relative to one another in directions parallel to the work surface, a journal member between the carriage mechanism and the tool mount to permit pivoting of the mount about an axis perpendicular to the work surface, a controlled drive mechanism for regulating the transporting movements of the carriage mechanism and the pivoting movements of the tool mount, wherein the improvement comprises: a rotary cutting tool having an axis of rotation and a peripheral cutting portion circumscribing the axis of rotation; drive means connected to the rotary cutting tool for rotating the peripheral cutting portion of the tool about the axis of rotation; adjustable means connecting the tool with its axis of rotation substantially parallel to the work surface to the tool mount for rotation with the mount and adjustment relative to the mount along the axis perpendicular to the work surface; and follower means mounted in fixed relationship with the tool adjacent the tool and connecting with the adjustable means for sensing the level of the sheet material immediately surrounding the tool and maintaining the tool at a fixed position along the axis perpendicular to the work surface relative to the sheet material surrounding the tool.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus for cutting sheet material as defined in claim 1 wherein the adjustable means mounted adjacent the rotary cutting tool comprises a foot having a cutout.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus for cutting sheet material as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive means comprises a motor having a drive shaft connected to the rotary cutting tool coaxially of the axis of rotation of the tool.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus for cutting sheet material as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive means comprises a motor and a flexible, torque-transmitting drive cable connected between the motor and the rotary cutting tool.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus for cutting sheet material as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotary cutting tool comprises a disc having a peripheral cutting edge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus for cutting sheet material as defined in claim 5 wherein said disc has a sharp peripheral knife edge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus for cutting sheet material as defined in claim 5 wherein said disc has an abrasive peripheral cutting edge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus for cutting sheet material as defined in claim 5 wherein said disc has a serrated peripheral cutting eDge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus for cutting sheet material as defined in claim 5 wherein said disc has a peripheral cutting edge lying within a circle having a diameter no less than one-half inch and no greater than 1 1/2 inches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
247 words
Apparatus for cutting sheet material comprising: a support bed defining a work surface for supporting sheet material in a spread condition; a rotary cutting disc having an axis of rotation about the work surface and a peripheral cutting edge; means for translating the cutting disc and the support bed relative to one another along a cutting path with the disc substantially perpendicular to the work surface and the leading peripheral cutting edge of the disc in cutting engagement with the sheet material supported on the work surface; drive means connected to the disc for rotating the disc in a given direction about the axis of rotation and independent of the translation of the disc and support bed relative to one another; means for orienting the cutting disc about an axis perpendicular to the work surface and the sheet material on the surface; and program means for coordinating the orientation of the cutting disc about the perpendicular axis and the direction of rotation of the cutting disc about the axis of rotation relative to the advancing movement of the cutting disc along the cutting path through the sheet material to rotate the leading peripheral cutting edge of the disc in a downward direction toward the bed and into and through the sheet material supported thereon whereby the cutting disc exerts downward pressure on the sheet material at the point of cutting engagement therewith to urge the sheet material toward the support surface at the point of cutting engagement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
247 words
Apparatus for cutting sheet material comprising: a support bed defining a work surface for supporting sheet material in a spread condition; a rotary cutting disc having an axis of rotation about the work surface and a peripheral cutting edge; means for translating the cutting disc and the support bed relative to one another along a cutting path with the disc substantially perpendicular to the work surface and the leading peripheral cutting edge of the disc in cutting engagement with the sheet material supported on the work surface; drive means connected to the disc for rotating the disc in a given direction about the axis of rotation and independent of the translation of the disc and support bed relative to one another; means for orienting the cutting disc about an axis perpendicular to the work surface and the sheet material on the surface; and program means for coordinating the orientation of the cutting disc about the perpendicular axis and the direction of rotation of the cutting disc about the axis of rotation relative to the advancing movement of the cutting disc along the cutting path through the sheet material to rotate the leading peripheral cutting edge of the disc in a downward direction toward the bed and into and through the sheet material supported thereon whereby the cutting disc exerts downward pressure on the sheet material at the point of cutting engagement therewith to urge the sheet material toward the support surface at the point of cutting engagement.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus for cutting sheet material as defined in claim 10 wherein the support bed is a penetrable bed; and means for controlling the positioning of the cutting disc along the axis perpendicular to the work surface are provided to cause a segment of the peripheral cutting edge to extend below the work surface into the penetrable bed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus for cutting sheet material as defined in claim 11 wherein said penetrable bed is composed of a bristled mat.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus for cutting sheet material as defined in claim 11 wherein said penetrable bed is composed of a foamed plastic material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus for cutting sheet material as defined in claim 11 wherein said penetrable bed is an air-pervious bed.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
201 words
A method of cutting sheet material in which the material is spread on the work surface of a supporting bed and a cutting tool and the sheet material are controllably translated relative to one another in cutting relationship and oriented relative to one another about an axis perpendicular to the work surface so that a line of cut in the material is followed tangentially by the tool, wherein the improvement comprises: providing a cutting tool in the form of a rotary cutting disc having an axis of rotation and peripheral cutting edge; driving the cutting disc rotatably in a given direction about the axis of rotation to generate relative movement between the peripheral cutting edge and the sheet material, while the tool and sheet material are translated and oriented relative to one another to advance the tool tangentially along the line of cut; sensing the level of the sheet material in the area immediately surrounding the cutting disc; and adjusting the height of the cutting disc along the axis perpendicular to the work surface in response to the sensed level of the sheet material to maintain a predetermined segment of the peripheral cutting edge on the disc in the sheet material.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
201 words
A method of cutting sheet material in which the material is spread on the work surface of a supporting bed and a cutting tool and the sheet material are controllably translated relative to one another in cutting relationship and oriented relative to one another about an axis perpendicular to the work surface so that a line of cut in the material is followed tangentially by the tool, wherein the improvement comprises: providing a cutting tool in the form of a rotary cutting disc having an axis of rotation and peripheral cutting edge; driving the cutting disc rotatably in a given direction about the axis of rotation to generate relative movement between the peripheral cutting edge and the sheet material, while the tool and sheet material are translated and oriented relative to one another to advance the tool tangentially along the line of cut; sensing the level of the sheet material in the area immediately surrounding the cutting disc; and adjusting the height of the cutting disc along the axis perpendicular to the work surface in response to the sensed level of the sheet material to maintain a predetermined segment of the peripheral cutting edge on the disc in the sheet material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of cutting sheet material as defined in claim 15 including the additional step of coordinating the direction of the driving of the disc about the axis of rotation with the orientation and translation of the tool along the cutting path to cause the disc at the leading cutting edge to rotate downwardly toward the sheet material and the work surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of cutting sheet material on a penetrable supporting bed as defined in claim 15 wherein the step of adjusting further comprises causing the predetermined segment of the peripheral cutting edge on the disc to pass through both the sheet material and work surface into the penetrable bed during the cutting operation.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
234 words
A method of cutting sheet material comprising: providing a support bed defining a work surface for supporting the sheet material in a spread condition; positioning the sheet material to be cut on the work surface of the bed; providing a rotary cutting disc having an axis of rotation above the bed and a peripheral cutting edge circumscribing the axis; translating the rotary cutting disc and the sheet material on the work surface relative to one another along a cutting path while the cutting tool is simultaneously oriented in the direction of translation with the leading peripheral cutting edge thereof in cutting engagement with the sheet material; driving the cutting disc rotatably in a given direction about the axis of rotation independently of the translation of the disc and sheet material relative to one another; and coordinating the orienting of the cutting disc and the direction of rotation of the cutting disc about the axis of rotation relative to the advancing movement of the cutting disc along the cutting path in accordance with a predetermined program to rotate the leading peripheral cutting edge of the disc in a downward direction toward the bed and into and through the sheet material supported thereon whereby the cutting disc exerts downward pressure on the sheet material at the point of cutting engagment therewith to urge the sheet material toward the support surface at the point of cutting engagement.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
234 words
A method of cutting sheet material comprising: providing a support bed defining a work surface for supporting the sheet material in a spread condition; positioning the sheet material to be cut on the work surface of the bed; providing a rotary cutting disc having an axis of rotation above the bed and a peripheral cutting edge circumscribing the axis; translating the rotary cutting disc and the sheet material on the work surface relative to one another along a cutting path while the cutting tool is simultaneously oriented in the direction of translation with the leading peripheral cutting edge thereof in cutting engagement with the sheet material; driving the cutting disc rotatably in a given direction about the axis of rotation independently of the translation of the disc and sheet material relative to one another; and coordinating the orienting of the cutting disc and the direction of rotation of the cutting disc about the axis of rotation relative to the advancing movement of the cutting disc along the cutting path in accordance with a predetermined program to rotate the leading peripheral cutting edge of the disc in a downward direction toward the bed and into and through the sheet material supported thereon whereby the cutting disc exerts downward pressure on the sheet material at the point of cutting engagment therewith to urge the sheet material toward the support surface at the point of cutting engagement.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method of cutting sheet material as defined in claim 18 wherein the step of providing a support bed comprises providing a bed having a penetrable work surface; and wherein an additional step comprises causing the rotating cutting tool to penetrate through the sheet material and the work surface to a regulated depth below the work surface as the tool and sheet material translate in cutting engagement relative to one another.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |