Apparatus and methods for sculpting carpet

A method for cutting carpet pile, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a cutting fixture comprising a driver, a reciprocating blade attached to said driver for movement thereby and a fixed blade attached to said cutting fixture and fixed relative to the movement of said reciprocating blade;
• providing a bore in said fixed blade wherein said bore communicates with a chamber defined between said fixed blade and said reciprocating blade;
• providing a manifold, attached to said fixed blade, wherein said manifold comprises a passage in fluid communication with said bore;
• and
• supplying fluid to the other end of said passage, wherein fluid passes through said fixed blade and into said area.

Apparatus for cutting carpet pile, wherein the cutting of said carpet pile is to begin at a point on said carpet pile, said apparatus comprising:

• a positioning carriage for positioning a carrier platform at desired locations in response to a control signal;
• a carpet trimmer, attached to said carrier platform, wherein said carpet trimmer has a clipper head, wherein said clipper head is moved by said carrier platform onto said carpet pile so that said clipper head can be moved in a desired direction;
• and
• a computer for generating said control signal for moving said carrier platform, wherein said control signal initially causes said clipper head to be moved a distance away from said point in a direction other than said direction of movement.

Apparatus for cutting carpet pile, wherein the cutting of said carpet pile occurs along a cutting plane, said apparatus comprising:

• a positioning carriage for positioning a carrier platform at desired locations in response to a control signal;
• a carpet trimmer, attached to said carrier platform, wherein said carpet trimmer has a clipper head, wherein when said clipper head is moved in a direction by said carrier platform along said carpet pile whereby said carpet pile is cut along a cutting plane;
• and
• a pile orientation member for orienting pile in the path of said clipper head so that said pile is oriented in a plane substantially perpendicular to said cutting plane, wherein said pile orientation member comprises a friction engaging member for frictionally engaging and orienting said pile.