Abstract: An apparatus for cutting cigar wrappers with a selected profile from a natural tobacco leaf, the apparatus comprises a vacuum supporting structure on a leaf receiving member. An arrangement is provided for selecting a cut position on the leaf and oriented with respect to the leaf receiving member and a cutting platen is provided including a leaf supporting surface and an arrangement for creating a vacuum on the surface to support a leaf. The platen is positioned in a known leaf receiving location and a transfer means is provided for transferring the leaf from the leaf receiving member to the leaf supporting surface of the cutting platen. The cutter having the desired profile is provided for cutting the profile from the leaf. The platen is then shifted from its leaf receiving position to a leaf cutting position with the support surface of the platen spaced from the wrapper cutter.

Abstract: There is provided an improvement in an apparatus for cutting a profile of a selected shape from a natural sheet material at a given location, which apparatus comprises a cutting platen having an upper generally flat cutting surface and a lower generally flat support surface. The platen is movable to the desired position relative to a cutter which moves along an axis downwardly against the cutting surface to cut the preselected shape from the natural material. In accordance with the improvement, there is provided a fixed anvil having a flat force reaction surface parallel to and facing the supporting surface of the platen so that the cutting action is against the anvil. The anvil can also form the structure for supporting the platen as it is moved into the cutting position.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting cigar wrappers with a selected profile from a natural tobacco leaf, the apparatus comprises a vacuum supporting structure on a leaf receiving member. An arrangement is provided for selecting a cut position on the leaf and oriented with respect to the leaf receiving member and a cutting platen is provided including a leaf supporting surface and an arrangement for creating a vacuum on the surface to support a leaf. The platen is positioned in a known leaf receiving location and a transfer means is provided for transferring the leaf from the leaf receiving member to the leaf supporting surface of the cutting platen. The cutter having the desired profile is provided for cutting the profile from the leaf. The platen is then shifted from its leaf receiving position to a leaf cutting position with the support surface of the platen spaced from the wrapper cutter.

Abstract: A drum plotter having an optical light head which projects a beam of light onto a light sensitive film as the head and film are moved relative to one another includes an aperture plate that is shifted relative to the beam in order to adjust the image produced by the beam on the film. The aperture plate is selectively shifted within the plotting head relative to the beam by means of an abutment pin that is engaged with the aperture plate at a travel limit of the plotting head. Movement of the plotting head toward the abutment after engagement of the pin and plate moves the late within the head and shifts one of a plurality of apertures into registration with the beam axis to change or control the image produced by the beam on the light sensitive film.

Abstract: A method of selecting the cutting position of a cigar wrapper having a given shape with respect to a natural tobacco leaf using a remotely created leaf image of a given tobacco leaf, which image includes the outline of the given leaf, the position of the leaf stem and the areas with holes in the leaf. This method comprises the steps of providing an outline image of a given cutter shape, shifting the outline image with respect to the leaf image until the outline image is in a selected position avoiding the outline, the stem and any hole areas of the leaf image, and then creating cutting coordinates indicative of said selected position for use in controlling a cutting position of the cigar wrapper cutter on a given leaf.

Abstract: A work locating system having temperature and other compensation capabilities wherein the work member is mounted for controlled movement with respect to the work tool. Two sets of two laser interferometers are utilized to generate distance measuring light beams such that the beams of each set are coaxial and the beams of the respective sets are orthogonal and intersect at the work tool reference axis to thereby instantaneously and continuously determine the location of four reference points on the work member and compensate for all expansions or contractions of the work member or changes in the laser measuring system during the programmed work operation.