Abstract: A cutting knife assembly has a baseboard with a generally planar surface. A cutting knife is detachably connected to the baseboard. The cutting knife extends in a perpendicular direction to the baseboard. The cutting knife circumscribes a knife cavity on the baseboard. At least one elongated cross member is affixed to the cutting knife and extends across the knife cavity. The cross member is mounted to the baseboard by a removable fastener. The cutting knife may then be easily removed from the baseboard and resecured.

Abstract: A method for forming structural injection molded parts includes the steps of positioning a closed-loop cutting blade in surrounding relation to one of a male and female mold which together define a mold cavity corresponding to the shape of a part to be molded, positioning reinforcing material over the female mold, moving the male mold into the female mold to position the reinforcing material in the mold cavity, thereafter moving the cutting blade independently of the mold which it surrounds to trim the reinforcing material, and injecting resin into the mold cavity to produce a structural injection molded part. The cutting blade and the mold which it surrounds are part of and movable with a common die set assembly having a lost motion drive connection between the mold and the cutting blade, such that the trimming step is accomplished by lost motion movement between the mold and the cutting blade after the male and female molds have been mated.

Abstract: A method of cutting stacked layers of compressible material utilizing a steel rule cutting die. An open cell foam member is placed in the area between spaced portions of the cutting die to define a flat upper surface substantially flush with the sharpened upper edge of the cutting die. The stacked layers of compressible material are placed on top of the foam member and on top of the sharpened upper edge of the die and the upper platen of the associated press is lowered to precompress the stacked compressible layers prior to the cutting operation by the die. The foam member is an open cell member and has a compressibility such that it maintains a flat upper face flush with the upper cutting edge of the die during the precompression of the layers and thereafter moves downwardly in a smooth translatory manner to allow the layer to be moved downwardly through the cutting die.

Abstract: A steel rule die assembly for cutting a fixed pattern in each of a plurality of stacked compressible material layers according to the shape of the steel rule including a plate member defining a support surface, a steel rule die adapted to be positioned on the support surface, and a continuous rigid frame adapted to be removably positioned on the support surface in surrounding relation to the steel rule die and pivotally secured to the plate member along one side edge of the frame so as to allow the frame to be pivoted upwardly about that side edge to allow removable and replacement of the steel rule die.

Abstract: A stationary steel rule cutting die for cutting a fixed pattern in each of a plurality of stacked compressible material layers according to the shape of the rule die, including a vacuum system for vertically reducing the stack height of the compressible material layers without lateral distortion prior to cutting and retaining the compress condition during the progressive or incremental cutting operations.

Abstract: A stationary steel rule cutting die for cutting a fixed pattern in each of a plurality of stacked compressible material layers according to the shape of the rule die including a vacuum system for reducing the stack height of the compressible material layers prior to cutting.