US3780607A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for cutting sheet material
Assignee: Gerber Technology LLC
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Filing: 1972-01-03
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Granted: 1973-12-25
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Expires: 1992-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for cutting sheet material utilize a reciprocating cutting blade that is guided through a layup of sheet material along a cutting path defining the periphery of a pattern piece. The cutting blade is positioned generally perpendicular to the sheet material being cut and bears a cutting edge which is advanced through the sheet material as the blade is reciprocated. The stroking speed of the reciprocating cutting blade is regulated as the cutting blade advances to prevent excessive heat from being generated due to the frictional contact of the reciprocating cutting blade and the sheet material. Along sections of the cutting path which permit rapid advancement of the cutting blade, the stroking speed is increased to optimize the cutting operation without generating excessive heat and thereby fusing the sheet material. At other sections of the cutting path where the rate of advancement is decreased, the stroking speed is also decreased to reduce local heating and fusion.
Inventors
- 👤 H Gerber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:00
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26D; B26D5/00; B26D5/005; B26F; B26F1/00; B26F1/38; B26F1/3806; B26F1/3813; B26F1/382; B26D5/08; B26D5/14; B26D7/00; B26D7/01; B26D7/018; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/0524; Y10T83/0572; Y10T83/141; Y10T83/159; Y10T83/687; Y10T83/6875; Y10T83/6905; Y10T83/691; Y10T83/692; Y10T83/6925
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
Apparatus for cutting sheet material comprising: support means providing a work surface for holding sheet material to be cut in a spread condition; a reciprocating cutting tool in the form of a cutting blade having a sharpened cutting edge extending alonG one edge of the blade; controlled drive means connecting with the tool and the support means for advancing the tool and sheet material spread on the work surface relative to one another with the cutting edge of the blade generally perpendicular to and in cutting engagement with the sheet material; stroking means including an adjustable speed drive motor connected with the reciprocating cutting tool for drawing the cutting edge of the blade in cutting engagement with the sheet material cyclically in and out of the material at an adjustable speed as the tool and sheet material move relative to one another; and stroking control means including a motor driver connected to the adjustable speed drive motor of the stroking means and operatively associated with the controlled drive means for regulating the adjustable speed at which the cutting edge is cyclically drawn in and out of the sheet material as a function of the rate at which the controlled drive means advances the tool and the sheet material relative to one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
Apparatus for cutting sheet material comprising: support means providing a work surface for holding sheet material to be cut in a spread condition; a reciprocating cutting tool in the form of a cutting blade having a sharpened cutting edge extending alonG one edge of the blade; controlled drive means connecting with the tool and the support means for advancing the tool and sheet material spread on the work surface relative to one another with the cutting edge of the blade generally perpendicular to and in cutting engagement with the sheet material; stroking means including an adjustable speed drive motor connected with the reciprocating cutting tool for drawing the cutting edge of the blade in cutting engagement with the sheet material cyclically in and out of the material at an adjustable speed as the tool and sheet material move relative to one another; and stroking control means including a motor driver connected to the adjustable speed drive motor of the stroking means and operatively associated with the controlled drive means for regulating the adjustable speed at which the cutting edge is cyclically drawn in and out of the sheet material as a function of the rate at which the controlled drive means advances the tool and the sheet material relative to one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the stroking control means and the controlled drive means include a common program tape containing both feed rate information defining the rate at which the tool and the sheet material advance relative to one another and stroking speed information, the information providing increased stroking speeds at increased feed rates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the stroke control means includes rate sensing means for producing regulating signals in accordance with the rate of advancement of the tool and the sheet material relative to one another.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of cutting a layup of sheet material along a cutting path defining a pattern piece with a reciprocating cutting blade having a cutting edge extending in the direction of reciprocation comprising: moving the reciprocating cutting blade and the layup relative to one another at a controlled feed rate to guide the cutting edge of the blade along the cutting path in cutting engagement with the layup; rotating the reciprocating cutting blade about an axis extending in the same direction as the cutting edge to maintain the blade generally aligned with the direction of cut along the cutting path; and regulating the stroking speed of the reciprocating cutting blade as the blade is moved along the cutting path by increasing the stroking speed with increasing controlled feed rates in accordance with a predetermined schedule and decreasing the stroking speed with decreasing controlled feed rates also in accordance with a predetermined schedule.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of cutting a layup of sheet material along a cutting path defining a pattern piece with a reciprocating cutting blade having a cutting edge extending in the direction of reciprocation comprising: moving the reciprocating cutting blade and the layup relative to one another at a controlled feed rate to guide the cutting edge of the blade along the cutting path in cutting engagement with the layup; rotating the reciprocating cutting blade about an axis extending in the same direction as the cutting edge to maintain the blade generally aligned with the direction of cut along the cutting path; and regulating the stroking speed of the reciprocating cutting blade as the blade is moved along the cutting path by increasing the stroking speed with increasing controlled feed rates in accordance with a predetermined schedule and decreasing the stroking speed with decreasing controlled feed rates also in accordance with a predetermined schedule.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of cutting a layup of sheet material as defined by claim 4 including the additional step of maintaining the length of the reciprocation stroke constant at each point along the cutting path defining the pattern piece.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method of cutting a layup of sheet material as defined in claim 4 wherein the step of regulating includes establishing the same predetermined schedule of preselected stroking speeds varying in magnitude by finite amounts for both increasing and decreasing controlled feed rates, and changing the stroking speeds of the reciprocating cutting blade by finite amounts in accordance with said same schedule to achieve the preselected stroking speeds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method of cutting a layup of sheet material as defined in claim 4 wherein the step of regulating comprises establishing one infinitely variable schedule of stroking speeds for both increasing and decreasing controlled feed rates, and changing the stroking speed of the reciprocating cutting blade in a continuous manner in accordance with the one infinitely variable schedule to achieve various stroking speeds during the cutting operation.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of cutting pattern pieces from sheet material comprising: defining a desired line of cut in the sheet material in accordance with the pattern piece desired; providing a cutting blade having a cutting edge extending along an edge portion of the blade; plunging the cutting blade iNto and through the sheet material to position the cutting edge in generally perpendicular relationship to the sheet material; moving the cutting blade and the sheet material relative to one another in a controlled manner to advance the cutting edge forward of the blade along the desired line of cut; cyclically stroking the cutting blade relative to the sheet material in a direction parallel with the cutting edge as the cutting edge advances along the desired line of cut; and controlling the stroking speed of the cutting blade as the cutting edge advances along the line of cut to coordinate the stroking speed and speed of movement along the line of cut by increasing the stroking speed with increasing speed of movement and decreasing the stroking speed with decreasing speed of movement.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of cutting pattern pieces from sheet material comprising: defining a desired line of cut in the sheet material in accordance with the pattern piece desired; providing a cutting blade having a cutting edge extending along an edge portion of the blade; plunging the cutting blade iNto and through the sheet material to position the cutting edge in generally perpendicular relationship to the sheet material; moving the cutting blade and the sheet material relative to one another in a controlled manner to advance the cutting edge forward of the blade along the desired line of cut; cyclically stroking the cutting blade relative to the sheet material in a direction parallel with the cutting edge as the cutting edge advances along the desired line of cut; and controlling the stroking speed of the cutting blade as the cutting edge advances along the line of cut to coordinate the stroking speed and speed of movement along the line of cut by increasing the stroking speed with increasing speed of movement and decreasing the stroking speed with decreasing speed of movement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of cutting pattern pieces as defined in claim 8 including the step of maintaining the stroke of the blade constant as the stroking speed varies.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of cutting pattern pieces as defined in claim 8 wherein the step of controlling comprises changing the length of the stroke of the blade to achieve desired stroking speeds of the cutting edge.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of cutting pattern pieces as defined in claim 8 wherein the steps of moving and controlling comprise adjusting the speed of movement and the stroking speed of the cutting blade at different points along the line of cut in accordance with the line geometry.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the step of adjusting more particularly comprises reducing the speed of movement and the stroking speed of the blade at changes in direction of the line of cut.
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) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |