Cutting apparatus and cutting method

Abstract

A cutting device for cutting a flat workpiece includes a nibbler that continuously punches the workpiece, and a fluid spraying device that sprays a fluid onto the surface of the workpiece. The nibbler includes a cylindrical case, a punch that has a punch blade for punching the workpiece and that is accommodated in the case to have reciprocating motion in the vertical direction, and a die provided below the case. The cutting device is configured to move the workpiece interposed between the case and die in a prescribed direction while continuously punching the workpiece with the punch. The fluid spraying device has a spray port from which the fluid is discharged and is configured so the fluid is discharged from the spray port in the direction in which the punch approaches the die. The spray port of the fluid spraying device is disposed near the punch blade of the punch.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.