Automatic mat cutting apparatus

An automatic mat cutting apparatus for simultaneously cutting a rectangular opening in a rectangular mat, the mat having mutually perpendicular X and Y reference axes which bisect the opening, the opening being defined by peripheral lines X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 with lines X1 and X2 parallel to the X axis and with lines Y1 and Y2 parallel to the Y axis, said mat cutting apparatus comprising:

• a planar base upon which the mat rests;
• an X0 guide means for positioning one outer side of the mat relative to said base, said X0 guide means defining a line parallel to the X axis and raised above said base and upon which one outer side of the mat rests;
• a Y0 guide means for positioning an adjacent outer side of the mat relative to said base, said Y0 guide means defining a line parallel to the Y axis and raised above said base and upon which the adjacent side of the mat rests, the lines of said X0 and Y0 guide means having adjacent ends forming a corner;
• X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 mat cutters;
• X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 cutter mounting means for mounting respective X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 mat cutters for movement along respective lines X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 and above said base;
• X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 cutter moving means for reciprocally moving respective said X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 cutters along respective said X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 mounting means;
• and
• a control means for controlling the actuation of said X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 moving means so as to prevent said X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 cutters from contacting an adjacent cutter and for controlling the travel of said X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 cutters so that a desired length of cut is made along each line X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 by respective said X1, X2, Y1 and Y2 cutters and so that the adjacent ends of the cuts intersect one another.