# US 2014/0196586 A1 · Device and Method for Cutting Insulation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196586 A1 - Document ID: US20140196586A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/152,239 - Filed: 2014-01-10 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Assignees: Vicon Machinery LLC - Applicants: Vicon Machinery, LLC - Inventors: Dale Foster; Mike Fischer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196586A1 ## CPC - B26D 7/32: for conveying or stacking cut product (means for removing cut-out material or waste B26D7/18) - B26D 1/18: mounted on a movable carriage - B26D 5/00: Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting - B26D 7/0625: {by endless conveyors, e.g. belts} - Y10T 83/0448: With subsequent handling [i.e., of product] - Y10T 83/162: With control means responsive to replaceable or selectable information program - B26D: CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING (for growing crops or plants A01D, A01G; for fodder or straw A01F; for bulk butter A01J; for dough A21C; slaughtering A22B; for tobacco, cigars or cigarettes A24; marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; manufacturing footwear A43D; brushmaking A46D; surgery A61B; disintegrating, mincing or shredding in general B02C; cutting wire, making pins or nails B21F, B21G; of the kind used formetal B23; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; hand-held cutting tools B26B; perforating, cutting-out, stamping-out or punching, or severing by means other than cutting B26F; for wood B27; for stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices B65H35/00; for leather or upholstery B68, C14B; for glass C03B; making matches C06F; for peat C10F; for sugar C13B45/00; for textile materials D06H; civil engineering, building, mining, see Section E; for light guides G02B6/25; cutting processed photographic material G03D15/04) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An insulation cutter for a liner application machine in an assembly line and method of operation that cuts an insulative thermal blanket by stopping the liner application machine momentarily to allow for a rotary cutter to traverse the width of the belt (and the width of the thermal insulation blanket) and potentially return back to its original position. The machine is then restarted and allowed to continue to feed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liner application machine for attaching an insulative thermal blanket to a piece of metal ductwork, the machine comprising: a frame; a conveyor belt carrying an insulative thermal blanket; a shear assembly located on said frame, said shear assembly including; a cutting mechanism including a motorized rotary blade which is configured to traverse a path across said conveyor belt; and a stopping mechanism, located at a terminal end of said path, said stopping mechanism detecting if said cutting mechanism is present at said terminal end; and a computer controller configured to control a cutting event and configured to control said conveyor belt; wherein, when a cutting event occurs: said controller first stops said conveyor belt; secondly, said cutting mechanism traverses said path until said stopping mechanism detects said cutting mechanism; and thirdly, said controller restarts said conveyor belt. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein said shear assembly further comprises a second stopping mechanism located at a second terminal end of said path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein said path comprises said cutting mechanism crossing said conveyor belt only a single time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein said path comprises said cutting mechanism crossing said conveyor belt multiple times. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The machine of claim 4, wherein said multiple times comprises crossing once in a first direction and once in a reverse direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, further comprising a drive roller for said conveyor belt and said cutting event occurs prior to said drive roller. ### Claim 7 A method for cutting an insulative thermal blanket during assembly of lined ductwork, the method comprising: providing a liner application machine for joining an insulative thermal blanket to a piece of metal ductwork, the machine including: a shear assembly located on said frame, said shear assembly including; a cutting mechanism including a motorized rotary blade which is configured to traverse a path across said conveyor belt; a stopping mechanism, located at a terminal end of said path, said stopping mechanism detecting if said cutting mechanism is present at said terminal end; and a computer controller; said computer controller stopping motion of said insulative thermal blanket through said liner application machine; after said motion is stopped, cutting said insulative thermal blanket with said cutting mechanism; and after said insulative thermal blanket is cut, said computer controller restarting motion of said insulative thermal blanket through said liner application machine. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein: when said computer controller stops motion of said insulative thermal blanket through said liner application machine, said computer controller also stops motion of said piece of metal ductwork through said liner application machine; and when said computer controller restarts motion of said insulative thermal blanket through said liner application machine, said computer controller also restarts motion of said piece of metal ductwork through said liner application machine. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein said cutting said insulative thermal blanket with said cutting mechanism comprises: said cutting mechanism crossing said conveyor belt only a single time. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein said cutting said insulative thermal blanket with said cutting mechanism comprises: said cutting mechanism crossing said conveyor belt multiple times. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein said multiple times comprises crossing once in a first direction and once in a reverse direction. ### Claim 12 A shear assembly for a liner application machine, the assembly comprising: a cutting mechanism including a motorized rotary blade which is configured to traverse a path across a conveyor belt of said liner application machine; a stopping mechanism, located at a terminal end of said path, said stopping mechanism detecting if said cutting mechanism is present at said terminal end; and a computer controller configured to control said liner application machine; wherein, when a cutting event occurs: said controller first stops motion of an insulative thermal blanket through said liner application machine; secondly, said cutting mechanism traverses said path until said stopping mechanism detects said cutting mechanism; and thirdly, said controller restarts motion of said insulative thermal blanket through said liner application machine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The assembly of claim 12 further comprising a second stopping mechanism located at a second terminal end of said path. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The assembly of claim 12, wherein said path comprises said cutting mechanism crossing said conveyor belt only a single time. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The assembly of claim 12, wherein said path comprises said cutting mechanism crossing said conveyor belt multiple times. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, wherein said multiple times comprises crossing once in a first direction and once in a reverse direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The assembly of claim 12, wherein said assembly is positioned after a drive roller for said conveyor belt.