US4011779A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for cutting an elongate member of arbitrary length into shorter sections of predetermined lengths
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1976-04-30
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Granted: 1977-03-15
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Expires: 1996-04-30
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for cutting elongate members of arbitrary length, for example, cants or boards, into shorter sections of predetermined like or unlike lengths, so that each material length is utilized to the maximum with the least possible waste, is provided with a plurality of abutments which may be guided in and out of the direction of travel of the material to determine the length of the different shorter sections. The material to be cut is measured longitudinally while it is advanced towards the cutting element by means of an automatic measuring device which transmits pulses via a programming device which determines the lengths into which various material lengths are to be cut in order to give the least possible waste. The programming device controls the abutments which determine the length of feed of the material in the direction towards the cutting element.
Inventors
- 👤 Gudbrand Gunnarson Berg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:38
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26D; B26D5/00; B26D5/20; B26D5/30; B26D5/34; B23; B23Q; B23Q16/00; B23Q16/001; B26D5/38; B27; B27B; B27B1/00; B27B1/002; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/141; Y10T83/148; Y10T83/155; Y10T83/444; Y10T83/4463; Y10T83/4465; Y10T83/461; Y10T83/463; Y10T83/4635; Y10T83/525; Y10T83/531; Y10T83/533; Y10T83/536; Y10T83/566; Y10T83/5815; Y10T83/5833
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
An apparatus for cutting an elongate member of arbitrary length into shorter sections of predetermined respective lengths, comprising a cutting element, means for advancing the elongate member past the cutting element, a plurality of abutment members located at different positions forward of the cutting element, operating means whereby the abutment members are selectively brought into and removed from the path of movement of the elongate member, a plurality of sensor devices arranged at equally spaced intervals to the rear of the cutting element for sensing the length of the elongate member that is to the rear thereof, the programmable means connected between the sensor devices and said operating means to determine which of said abutment members is brought into the path of movement of said elongate member, and thereby the length of the elongate member that is forward of the cutting element, in dependence upon the length of the elongate member that is to the rear of the cutting element; and wherein the means for advancing the elongate member comprise a member engaging the rear end of the elongate member, and the apparatus further comprises an electrical conductor extending parallel to the path of movement of the elongate member at the rear of the cutting element and a contact member engaging the rear end of the elongate member and slidably connected to said electrical conductor and engaging the sensor devices as the elongate member is advanced thereby to indicate the position of the rear end of the elongate member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
249 words
An apparatus for cutting an elongate member of arbitrary length into shorter sections of predetermined respective lengths, comprising a cutting element, means for advancing the elongate member past the cutting element, a plurality of abutment members located at different positions forward of the cutting element, operating means whereby the abutment members are selectively brought into and removed from the path of movement of the elongate member, a plurality of sensor devices arranged at equally spaced intervals to the rear of the cutting element for sensing the length of the elongate member that is to the rear thereof, the programmable means connected between the sensor devices and said operating means to determine which of said abutment members is brought into the path of movement of said elongate member, and thereby the length of the elongate member that is forward of the cutting element, in dependence upon the length of the elongate member that is to the rear of the cutting element; and wherein the means for advancing the elongate member comprise a member engaging the rear end of the elongate member, and the apparatus further comprises an electrical conductor extending parallel to the path of movement of the elongate member at the rear of the cutting element and a contact member engaging the rear end of the elongate member and slidably connected to said electrical conductor and engaging the sensor devices as the elongate member is advanced thereby to indicate the position of the rear end of the elongate member.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
249 words
An apparatus for cutting an elongate member of arbitrary length into shorter sections of predetermined respective lengths, comprising a cutting element, means for advancing the elongate member past the cutting element, a plurality of abutment members located at different positions forward of the cutting element, operating means whereby the abutment members are selectively brought into and removed from the path of movement of the elongate member, a plurality of sensor devices arranged at equally spaced intervals to the rear of the cutting element for sensing the length of the elongate member that is to the rear thereof, and programmable means connected between the sensor devices and said operating means to determine which of said abutment members is brought into the path of movement of said elongate member, and thereby the length of the elongate member that is forward of the cutting element, in dependence upon the length of the elongate member that is to the rear of the cutting element; and wherein each sensor device comprises a light source having a narrow output light beam directed towards a surface of the elongate member to illuminate a small area thereof, and a light detector having a narrow collection cone arranged to receive light reflected from said surface of the elongate member, the collection cone and the light beam crossing one another so that light of the light beam is reflected from said surface and is detected by the light detector for only a limited range of positions of said surface.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
249 words
An apparatus for cutting an elongate member of arbitrary length into shorter sections of predetermined respective lengths, comprising a cutting element, means for advancing the elongate member past the cutting element, a plurality of abutment members located at different positions forward of the cutting element, operating means whereby the abutment members are selectively brought into and removed from the path of movement of the elongate member, a plurality of sensor devices arranged at equally spaced intervals to the rear of the cutting element for sensing the length of the elongate member that is to the rear thereof, and programmable means connected between the sensor devices and said operating means to determine which of said abutment members is brought into the path of movement of said elongate member, and thereby the length of the elongate member that is forward of the cutting element, in dependence upon the length of the elongate member that is to the rear of the cutting element; and wherein each sensor device comprises a light source having a narrow output light beam directed towards a surface of the elongate member to illuminate a small area thereof, and a light detector having a narrow collection cone arranged to receive light reflected from said surface of the elongate member, the collection cone and the light beam crossing one another so that light of the light beam is reflected from said surface and is detected by the light detector for only a limited range of positions of said surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, comprising comparison means arranged to compare the outputs of each two successive light detectors of said plurality of sensor devices, thereby to detect the position of the rear end of the elongate member by determining which pair of light detectors includes one detector which is receiving light and one detector which is not receiving light.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the comparison means comprises a counter whereby each sensor device is interrogated in turn, starting with the sensor device furthest from the cutting element, to determine whether the light detector of that sensor is receiving light and the light detector of the preceding sensor is not receiving light, and the counter determines the number of sensor devices which are interrogated before reaching the fist sensor device whose light detector is receiving light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said programmable means include a memory unit and a device for reading data from a data carrier and entering such data into the memory unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the data reading device is a punched card reader.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the abutment members, the sensor devices and the cutting element are interconnected in relatively fixed positions with respect to movement in the direction of advancement of the elongate member, so that when the elongate member engages a selected abutment member upon operation of the advancing means the abutment members, the sensor devices and the cutting element are advanced with the elongate member, and wherein the apparatus comprises means responsive to such advancing movement of the cutting element to actuate the cutting element to cut the elongate member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the abutment members, the sensor devices and the cutting element are interconnected in relatively fixed positions with respect to movement in the direction of advancement of the elongate member, so that when the elongate member engages a selected abutment member upon operation of the advancing means means responsive to such engagement will actuate the cutting element to cut the elongate member.
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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) | 1980-03-14 | 1980-09-13 | 1981-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-14 | 1984-09-13 | 1985-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-14 | 1988-09-13 | 1989-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |