US 4,285,258 A · Device for translating and rotating a cutting platen with respect to a reciprocal cutter

Abstract

A device for cutting a piece of a flat workpiece at a selected location identifiable by two or more binary coded numbers which device includes a cutter, a cutting platen having an upper workpiece supporting surface and a lower portion, a plurality of upstanding, shiftable members, a guiding arrangement on the platen adjacent the lower portion for loosely receiving the members, an arrangement for moving the members in accordance with the coded numbers and a structure for forcing the cutter against the cutting surface. In accordance with another aspect, the shiftable members are movable by binary fluid motors each including a series of axially aligned fluid actuating units having strokes corresponding to binary numbers and an arrangement for actuating certain of these units in the fluid motor to move the shiftable members in accordance with the extended condition of the binary motors.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A device for translating and rotating a cutting platen for a flat workpiece with respect to a reciprocable cutter, said device comprising first, second and third guide ways on said platen, said first and second guide ways extending generally in a first direction and said third guide way extending in a second direction at a known angle to said first direction;

first, second and third drive elements are slidably received in said first, second and third guide ways respectively;
first drive means for shifting said first drive element in a drive direction generally transverse to said first guide way;
second drive means for shifting said second drive element in a drive direction generally transverse to said second guide way;
third drive means for shifting said third drive element in a drive direction generally transverse to said third guide way;
and control means for shifting said first, second and third drive means a selected distance in said drive directions to cause corresponding movement of said platen with respect to said cutter.

2 more elements

In an apparatus for cutting cigar wrappers from a natural tobacco leaf, said apparatus comprising:

vacuum means for supporting said leaf in a spread condition and in a random position on a leaf receiving member;
means for selecting at least one cut position on said leaf and oriented with respect to said leaf receiving member;
a cutting platen including a leaf support surface and means for creating a vacuum at said leaf support surface;
means for positioning said platen in a known leaf receiving position with respect to said leaf receiving surface;
transfer means for transferring said leaf from said leaf receiving surface to said leaf support surface when said cutting platen is in said leaf receiving position;
means for shifting said platen from a leaf receiving position to a leaf cutting position with said surface of said platen spaced from a wrapper cutter;
means for orienting said platen with respect to said cutter to a position with said cutter aligned with said selected cut position;
means for forcing said cutter against said platen whereby a wrapper is cut and separated from said leaf;
and means for then transferring said cut and separated wrapper to a selected location, the improvement comprising:
said platen orienting means includes a guide mechanism for said platen, said guide mechanism comprising first, second and third guide ways on said platen, said first and second guide ways extending generally in a first direction and said third guide way extending in a second direction at a known angle to said first direction;
first, second and third drive elements slidably received in said first, second and third guide ways respectively;
first drive means for shifting said first drive element in a drive direction generally transverse to said first guide way;
second drive means for shifting said second drive element in a drive direction generally transverse to said second guide way;
third drive means for shifting said third drive element in a drive direction generally transverse to said third guide way;
and control means for shifting said first, second and third drive means a selected distance in said drive directions to cause corresponding movement of said platen with respect to said cutter.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device for translating and rotating a cutting platen with respect to a reciprocal cutter

Life of this patent

Device for translating and rotating a cutting platen with respect to a reciprocal cutter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12