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US 7,798,042 B2Granted
Reciprocated knife having an integral tangent axis orientation drive
AssigneeGerber Scientific International, Inc.
InventorDarryl C. Stein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reciprocated knife cuts pattern work material pieces without rotating a housing tube for orientation of the cutting knife. An integrated tangent axis drive motor orients the cutting knife, eliminating any inertia caused by the cutting housing tube and preventing the slowing of the angular acceleration and increasing the speed of the knife orientation. Alternative motor types are provided by various embodiments of the invention.
Claims20
An apparatus for cutting a sheet-type work material having a power tool, the power tool comprising:
- a cutting knife disposed in a tool holder;
- a rod having a distal end and proximal end, and a spool;
- the proximal end being attached to the spool, and the distal end being attached to the tool holder;
- a tool housing enclosing at least a portion of the rod;
- a bushing disposed between the knife and the spool for permitting rotary and linear motion of the knife;
- means for providing reciprocating motion to the knife for cutting;
- and
- a tangential axis drive motor having a drive shaft, a longitudinal axis of said shaft coaxially attached to the spool for orientating the direction of the knife in response to commands issued from a controller by rotating the rod relative to the tool housing.
5 more elements
An apparatus for cutting for cutting a sheet-type work material, comprising:
- a support surface mounted on a frame for carrying at least one layer of sheet-type work material thereon;
- a carriage coupled to the frame for movement in various directions in response to commands issued from a controller;
- a tool head mounted to the carriage and having a power tool and a guided pneumatic cylinder cutting head, the tool head being movable in various directions in response to commands from the controller, the power tool being able to engage and disengage with the work material in response to commands from the controller;
- a cutting knife disposed in a tool holder;
- a rod having a distal end and proximal end, and a spool;
- the proximal end being attached to the spool, and the distal end being attached to the tool holder;
- a bushing disposed between the knife and the spool for permitting rotary and linear motion of the knife;
- means for providing reciprocating motion to the knife for cutting;
- and
- a tangential axis drive motor having a drive shaft, a longitudinal axis of said shaft coaxially attached to the spool for orientating the direction of the knife in response to commands issued from a controller.
7 more elements
An apparatus for cutting for cutting a sheet-type work material, comprising:
- a support surface mounted on a frame for carrying at least one layer of sheet-type work material thereon;
- a carriage coupled to the frame for movement in various directions in response to commands issued from a controller;
- a tool head mounted to the carriage and having a power tool and a guided pneumatic cylinder cutting head, the tool head being movable in various directions in response to commands from the controller, the power tool being able to engage and disengage with the work material in response to commands from the controller, the power tool comprising:
- a cutting knife disposed in a tool holder;
- a rod having a distal end and proximal end, and a spool;
- the proximal end being attached to the spool, and the distal end being attached to the tool holder;
- a bushing disposed between the knife and the spool for permitting rotary and linear motion of the knife;
- means for providing reciprocating motion to the knife for cutting;
- and
- a servomotor having a drive shaft, a longitudinal axis of said shaft coaxially attached to the spool for orientating the direction of the knife in response to commands issued from a controller.
7 more elements
An apparatus for cutting pattern pieces and creating apertures in sheet-type work material, comprising:
- a frame;
- a support surface mounted on said frame for carrying at least one layer of sheet-type work material thereon;
- a tool head mounted to the carriage and having a power tool and a guided pneumatic cylinder cutting head, the tool head being movable in various directions in response to commands from the controller, the power tool being able to engage and disengage with the work material in response to commands from the controller, the power tool comprising:
- a cutting knife disposed in a tool holder;
- a rod having a distal end and proximal end, and a spool;
- the proximal end being attached to the spool, and the distal end being attached to the tool holder;
- a bushing disposed between the knife and the spool for permitting rotary and linear motion of the knife;
- a mass spring system actuated by an electromagnetic actuator;
- and
- a servomotor having a drive shaft, a longitudinal axis of said shaft coaxially attached to the spool for orientating the direction of the knife in response to commands issued from a controller.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.