Apparatus for producing a line of separation in a plastic work surface

Apparatus for producing a line of separation in a work surface of plastic and the like, comprising:

• a work support-surface for supporting a work surface of plastic and the like;
• a head movably mounted above said work support-surface for movement in orthogonal directions across said work support-surface;
• a mounting arrangement mounted on and dependent from said head;
• a tool for forming a line of separation in a work surface, said tool being releasably supported in said mounting arrangement and including a tool member having a separating point for effecting a line of separation, a tool body having a holder for said tool member, said holder being made of a heat-conductive material, and a heating element associated with said tool body, said heating element and said holder being positioned such that heat is conducted from said heating element to said holder and said tool member, and from said holder to said tool member, said holder releasably receiving a portion of said tool member remote from said separating point, said tool member being positioned relative to said tool body such that a portion thereof projects from said tool body and said holder to said separating point, said projecting portion extending in freely-exposed manner from said body and said holder such that a work surface may be engaged solely by said point, said point including a tip and a surrounding surface extending therefrom in divergently inclined manner;
• and
• said mounting arrangement including a pivot and a pivotable lever spaced above said work support-surface and extending on opposite sides of said pivot, said pivot forming a pivot axis for said pivotable lever extending transversly of said work support-surface, a portion of said lever at one side of said pivot forming a clamp arm releasably securing said tool with said separating point extending below and remotely from said clamp arm towards said work support-surface, and a portion of said lever on an opposite side of said pivot forming an actuating arm, actuator means engaging said actuating arm for moving said actuating arm in at least one sense about said pivot to bring said separating point into and out of contact with work on said work support-surface.