Patent US5320369A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4850579A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4850579A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Supporting bed for sheet material cutting machine and method of manufacture
Assignee: Crest Foam Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1986-12-16
•
Granted: 1989-07-25
•
Expires: 2006-12-16
Abstract
Abstract A supporting bed for supporting a stack of sheet material in a cutting machine of the type retaining the material by means of a vacuum applied from below the supporting bed is manufactured from a composite structure of starting material including individual layers of reticulated foam material separated by at least one layer of a hot melt adhesive web. The composite structure is compressed under heat and pressure so as to be permanently reduced to approximately 10-35% of its initial thickness. The degree of compression, the temperature and compression time, and the porosity of the retriculated polyurethane foam starting material are selected to provide particular airflow and firmness characteristics for the finished supporting bed.
Inventors
- 👤 Leo Fisher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:11
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26D; B26D7/00; B26D7/01; B26D7/018; B26F; B26F2210/00; B26F2210/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S83/00; Y10S83/929; Y10S83/936; Y10S83/939; Y10S83/94; Y10S83/941; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/748; Y10T83/929; Y10T83/9309
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for using a composite structure of starting material including individual layers of reticulated form material separated by at least one layer of a hot melt adhesive web, which composite structure having been compressed under heat and pressure so as to be permanently reduced to no greater than approximately 35% of its initial thickness, as a supporting bed for supporting a stack of sheet material in a cutting machine of the type pertaining the material by means of a vacuum applied from below the supporting bed, said method comprising the steps of placing said composite structure on said cutting machine as a supporting bed, placing said stack of sheet material thereon and coupling a source of a vacuum to a point underneath said supporting bed and said stack.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for using a composite structure of starting material including individual layers of reticulated form material separated by at least one layer of a hot melt adhesive web, which composite structure having been compressed under heat and pressure so as to be permanently reduced to no greater than approximately 35% of its initial thickness, as a supporting bed for supporting a stack of sheet material in a cutting machine of the type pertaining the material by means of a vacuum applied from below the supporting bed, said method comprising the steps of placing said composite structure on said cutting machine as a supporting bed, placing said stack of sheet material thereon and coupling a source of a vacuum to a point underneath said supporting bed and said stack.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
156 words
A supporting bed for supporting a stack of sheet material in a cutting machine of the type retaining the material by means of a vacuum applied from below the supporting bed, said supporting bed comprising a composite structure of starting material including individual layers of reticulated foam material separated by at least one layer of a hot melt adhesive web, which composite structure has been compressed under heat and pressure so as to be permanently reduced to no greater than approximately 35% of its initial thickness, the degree of compression, the temperature, the compression time and the porosity of the reticulated foam starting material being selected so that sufficient air flow is obtained through said supporting bed to retain said stack of sheet material in position by means of said vacuum during a cutting operation, and so as to impart sufficient firmness to said supporting bed to avoid substantial vertical compression thereof during said cutting operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
156 words
A supporting bed for supporting a stack of sheet material in a cutting machine of the type retaining the material by means of a vacuum applied from below the supporting bed, said supporting bed comprising a composite structure of starting material including individual layers of reticulated foam material separated by at least one layer of a hot melt adhesive web, which composite structure has been compressed under heat and pressure so as to be permanently reduced to no greater than approximately 35% of its initial thickness, the degree of compression, the temperature, the compression time and the porosity of the reticulated foam starting material being selected so that sufficient air flow is obtained through said supporting bed to retain said stack of sheet material in position by means of said vacuum during a cutting operation, and so as to impart sufficient firmness to said supporting bed to avoid substantial vertical compression thereof during said cutting operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
A supporting bed in accordance with claim 2, wherein the degree of compression, the temperature, the compression time, and the porosity of the reticulated foam starting material are selected so that a 1-inch ,thick sheet of the supporting bed permits an airflow of at least 1.5 cfm through a four square inch area with a pressure drop between the surfaces of the sheet material corresponding to 1/2 inch of water, and so that compressing a 1-inch thick sheet by one quarter of an inch requires a pressure of at least 1.5 psi.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A supporting bed in accordance with claim 3 wherein the composite structure is a sheet approximately seven inches thick and the starting material has a density of about 1.4 pounds per cubic foot and a porosity of about 15 pores per inch, the composite structure being compressed to a thickness of approximately one inch and maintained at a temperature of about 400° F. for about 25 minutes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A supporting bed in accordance with claim 2, wherein the starting material is a reticulated polyester foam and is compressed for a period of time between 8 minutes and 2 hours at a temperature between 300° F. and 450° F.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A supporting bed in accordance with claim 5 wherein the starting material has a plurality of layers having a combined thickness of approximately seven inches, a density of about 1.4 pounds per cubic foot and a porosity of about 15 pores per inch, the composite structure being compressed to a thickness of approximately one inch and maintained at a temperature of about 400° F. for about 25 minutes.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for manufacturing a supporting bed for supporting a stack of sheet material in a cutting machine of the type retaining the stack of material by means of a vacuum applied from below the supporting bed, said method comprising the steps of: compressing a composite structure of starting material including individual layers of reticulated foam material separated by at least one layer of a hot melt adhesive web, and simultaneously applying heat thereto so as to permanently reduce said sheet to no greater than approximately 35% of this initial thickness, the degree of compression, the temperature, the compression time and the porosity of the reticulated foam starting material being selected on that sufficient air flow is obtained through said supporting bed to retain said stack of sheet material in position by means of said vacuum during a cutting operation, and so as to impart sufficient firmness to said supporting bed to avoid substantial vertical compression thereof during said cutting operation.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for manufacturing a supporting bed for supporting a stack of sheet material in a cutting machine of the type retaining the stack of material by means of a vacuum applied from below the supporting bed, said method comprising the steps of: compressing a composite structure of starting material including individual layers of reticulated foam material separated by at least one layer of a hot melt adhesive web, and simultaneously applying heat thereto so as to permanently reduce said sheet to no greater than approximately 35% of this initial thickness, the degree of compression, the temperature, the compression time and the porosity of the reticulated foam starting material being selected on that sufficient air flow is obtained through said supporting bed to retain said stack of sheet material in position by means of said vacuum during a cutting operation, and so as to impart sufficient firmness to said supporting bed to avoid substantial vertical compression thereof during said cutting operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein the degree of compression, the temperature, the compression time, and the porosity of the reticulated foam starting material are selected so that a 1-inch thick sheet of the completed support bed permits an airflow of at least 1.5 cfm through a four square inch area with a pressure drop between the surfaces of the sheet material corresponding to 1/2 inch of water, and so that compressing a 1-inch thick supporting bed by one quarter of an inch requires a pressure of at least 1.5 psi.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the starting material is made of a plurality of layers having a combined thickness of approximately seven inches, a density of about 1.4 pounds per cubic foot and a porosity of about 15 pores per inch, said method comprising compressing said sheet to a thickness of approximately one inch and maintaining it at a temperature of about 400° F. for about 20 minutes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the starting material is a composite structure made of layers of reticulated polyester foam and is compressed for a period of time between 8 minutes and 2 hours at a temperature between 300° F. and 450° F.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the starting material is made of a plurality of layers having a combined thickness of approximately seven inches, a density of about 1.4 pounds per cubic foot and a porosity of about 15 pores per inch, said method comprising compressing said sheet to a thickness of approximately one inch and maintaining it at a temperature of about 400° F. for about 20 minutes.
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) | 1992-07-24 | 1993-01-23 | 1993-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-24 | 1997-01-23 | 1997-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-24 | 2001-01-23 | 2001-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |