Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
320 words
A sheet material spreading machine comprising a carriage mounted for movement along a table surface and carrying a supply of continuous sheet material to be deposited in superimposed layers on said table surface, with a layer deposited in each operative run of said carriage along said table surface, a cutter box assembly mounted on said carriage and adapted to cut off the layer of sheet material deposited on the table surface at the end of each operative run of said carriage, and means for guiding and feeding said sheet material from said supply, through said cutter box assembly to the table surface, said cutter box assembly comprising an elongated support member mounted on said spreading machine carriage and extending transversely thereof, a cutter frame movably mounted on said support member, guide means on said support member for guiding movement of said cutter frame in opposite directions along said support member, a circular cutter member rotatably mounted on said cutter frame in a horizontal position and having a peripheral cutting edge portion, a pressure bar movably mounted on said cutter box housing and having a planar inner surface in engagement with the cutting edge portion of said cutter member, and a planar outer surface, said sheet material being fed between said cutter member and the planar inner surface of said pressure bar, a retaining member mounted on said cutter frame and engaging the planar outer surface of said pressure bar for retaining said pressure bar against movement away from said cutter member, and biasing means mounted on said cutter box support member and adapted to urge said pressure bar into firm engagement with said cutter member, thereby causing said cutter member to score sheet materials fed between said cutter member and said pressure bar under rolling action of said cutter member against said pressure bar as said cutter member is carried by said cutter frame and rolls along said support member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
320 words
A sheet material spreading machine comprising a carriage mounted for movement along a table surface and carrying a supply of continuous sheet material to be deposited in superimposed layers on said table surface, with a layer deposited in each operative run of said carriage along said table surface, a cutter box assembly mounted on said carriage and adapted to cut off the layer of sheet material deposited on the table surface at the end of each operative run of said carriage, and means for guiding and feeding said sheet material from said supply, through said cutter box assembly to the table surface, said cutter box assembly comprising an elongated support member mounted on said spreading machine carriage and extending transversely thereof, a cutter frame movably mounted on said support member, guide means on said support member for guiding movement of said cutter frame in opposite directions along said support member, a circular cutter member rotatably mounted on said cutter frame in a horizontal position and having a peripheral cutting edge portion, a pressure bar movably mounted on said cutter box housing and having a planar inner surface in engagement with the cutting edge portion of said cutter member, and a planar outer surface, said sheet material being fed between said cutter member and the planar inner surface of said pressure bar, a retaining member mounted on said cutter frame and engaging the planar outer surface of said pressure bar for retaining said pressure bar against movement away from said cutter member, and biasing means mounted on said cutter box support member and adapted to urge said pressure bar into firm engagement with said cutter member, thereby causing said cutter member to score sheet materials fed between said cutter member and said pressure bar under rolling action of said cutter member against said pressure bar as said cutter member is carried by said cutter frame and rolls along said support member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sheet material spreading machine according to claim 1 in which said circular cutter member comprises a disk having a convexly rounded peripheral edge surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A sheet material spreading machine according to claim 1 in which said circular cutter member includes a relatively thick central portion, a tapered intermediate portion and a relatively thin convexly rounded cutting edge portion with said tapered portion forming a transition between said relatively thick central portion and said relatively thin cutting edge portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sheet material spreading machine according to claim 1 in which said circular cutter member comprises a disk having a blunt outer edge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A sheet material spreading machine according to claim 1 in which said biasing means comprises a pair of helical compression springs mounted one each at opposite end portions of said pressure bar and disposed to urge said pressure bar to bear against said circular cutter member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A sheet material spreading machine according to claim 1 in which said drive means comprises a drive chain movably mounted on said elongated support member, a reversible electric motor for driving said drive chain alternately in opposite directions, and coupling means connecting said drive chain to said cutter frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
A sheet material spreading machine according to claim 1 in which said cutter frame includes an extension arm portion spaced from said cutter frame and extending parallel thereto, said extension arm portion projecting from said cutter frame to a location behind said pressure bar, and in which said retaining member comprises a roller mounted on said extension arm portion and disposed to engage and roll along the outer planar surface of the pressure bar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sheet material spreading machine according to claim 7 which also includes adjusting means for varying the bearing force of said roller against said pressure bar.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A sheet material spreading machine according to claim 8 in which said adjusting means comprises cam means mounting said roller on said extension arm portion, said cam means being selectively adjustable for varying the bearing force between said pressure bar and said roller, thereby facilitating operation of the cutter box assembly to cut materials to different thicknesses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A sheet material spreading machine according to claim 6 further comprising timing means disposed to create a time delay between motion of said chain in a first direction and motion of said chain in the opposite direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sheet material spreading machine according to claim 1 in which said pressure bar is made of hardened steel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
A sheet material spreading machine according to claim 1 in which said pressure bar is removably mounted on said support member asymmetrically with respect to the elevation of said circular cutter member, whereby said pressure bar may be removed from said support member, inverted, and remounted on said support member, thereby causing a new surface area of said pressure bar to bear against said circular cutter member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
A sheet material spreading machine according to claim 11 in which said pressure bar has a first surface bearing against said circular cutter member, and a second surface opposite said first surface, and in which said pressure bar is adapted to be removed from said cutter box housing and repositioned with said second surface bearing against said circular cutter member.