Patent US3864997A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3864997A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for cutting pattern pieces from sheet material
Assignee: Gerber Technology LLC
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Filing: 1974-02-06
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Granted: 1975-02-11
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Expires: 1994-02-06
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for cutting multiple pattern pieces from a layup of sheet material employing two-stage digitizing to produce a cutting program in which contour segments of individual pieces are cut by a cutting blade in different directions about the pattern pieces. The direction in which a particular segment of a pattern piece contour is cut and the order in which the segments are cut are selected to most easily facilitate the cutting operation. The point on any given pattern piece toward which a cutting blade is advanced from different directions is generally the point of closest approach to an adjacent or contiguous pattern piece in the marker cut in the sheet material. The feed rate and tangency of the cutting blade are also regulated at sensitive cutting points such as the points of closest approach to an adjacent pattern piece.
Inventors
- 👤 David R Pearl
- 👤 Samuel Clifford Robison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:24
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26F; B26F1/00; B26F1/38; B26D; B26D5/00; B26D5/005; B26D7/00; B26D7/01; B26D7/018; B26F2001/388; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S83/00; Y10S83/929; Y10S83/936; Y10S83/939; Y10S83/94; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/0524; Y10T83/0572; Y10T83/0605; Y10T83/162; Y10T83/166; Y10T83/169; Y10T83/173; Y10T83/175; Y10T83/178; Y10T83/687; Y10T83/6875; Y10T83/6905; Y10T83/691; Y10T83/692; Y10T83/869; Y10T83/8696; Y10T83/8697
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of cutting closely spaced pattern pieces from sheet material comprising the steps of: advancing a cutting tool in cutting engagement with the sheet material along one portion of a pattern piece contour in a given direction about the pattern piece until the cutting tool reaches a point closest to a previously cut contour of an adjacent piece; advancing the cutting tool in cutting engagement with the sheet material along another portion of the pattern piece contour toward said point in the opposite direction about the pattern piece until the cutting tool reaches said point; and reducing the rate of advancement of the cutting tool as the tool approaches said point in at least one of said directions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of cutting closely spaced pattern pieces from sheet material comprising the steps of: advancing a cutting tool in cutting engagement with the sheet material along one portion of a pattern piece contour in a given direction about the pattern piece until the cutting tool reaches a point closest to a previously cut contour of an adjacent piece; advancing the cutting tool in cutting engagement with the sheet material along another portion of the pattern piece contour toward said point in the opposite direction about the pattern piece until the cutting tool reaches said point; and reducing the rate of advancement of the cutting tool as the tool approaches said point in at least one of said directions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of cutting in accordance with claim 1 including the additional step of removing the cutting tool from cutting engagement with the sheet material after the tool reaches said point in the given direction; then translating the cutting tool out of contact with the sheet material to the other portion of the contour; and reengaging the cutting tool in cutting engagement with the sheet material at the other portion before advancing the tool in the opposite direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of cutting in accordance with claim 1 wherein the steps of advancing comprise advancing a cutting blade along the contour in substantially perpendicular relationship to the sheet material and additional steps include rotating the cutting blade about an axis perpendicular to the sheet material to maintain the blade generally tangent to the contour and biasing the rotation of the blade as the blade approaches said point closest the contour of the adjacent piece to rotate the blade slightly away from the adjacent piece.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of cutting spaced pattern pieces in sheet material comprising the steps of: advancing a cutting tool and the sheet material relative to one another to cause the leading edge of the cutting tool to follow a cutting path defined by the contour of a pattern piece; and reducing the feed rate of the tool and the material relative to one another along all segments of the cutting path passing in close proximity to adjacent, previously cut contours and in a predefined manner unrelated to the cutting path geometry by itself.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of cutting spaced pattern pieces in sheet material comprising the steps of: advancing a cutting tool and the sheet material relative to one another to cause the leading edge of the cutting tool to follow a cutting path defined by the contour of a pattern piece; and reducing the feed rate of the tool and the material relative to one another along all segments of the cutting path passing in close proximity to adjacent, previously cut contours and in a predefined manner unrelated to the cutting path geometry by itself.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
A method of cutting closely spaced pattern pieces as defined in claim 4 wherein the step of advancing comprises advancing a cutting tool in the form of a cutting blade having a leading cutting edge along the cutting path; and additional steps include maintaining the cutting blade generally tangent to the cutting path at each point, and turning the blade slightly away from tangency along the segments of the cutting path adjacent previously cut contours to urge the leading edge of the blade away from the previously cut contour.
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) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |