Patents by Inventor Andrew Z. Reif

Andrew Z. Reif has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7154530
    Abstract: Method and apparatus enable cutting out shapes (S) preset in moving sheet material (10) by locating coordinates of one or more fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) in the sheet material (10) with a vision system (12). The fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) correspond to a pattern (P) for the preset shape (S). A cutting system (11) superimposes the pattern (P) relative to the located one or more fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) for cutting out the preset shape (S) while the vision system (12) is concurrently locating subsequent one or more fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) in the moving sheet material (10). The concurrent processes of cutting and locating subsequent fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) are repeated substantially continuously. Preferably, using two or more fiducials (F,F2 . . . ), distortion is detected and the pattern (P) can be remapped before cutting for accurate superposition of the pattern (P) and distorted preset shape (S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Lacent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Randall G. Andrews, Mary M. Bourke, Brian D. Sawatzky, Andrew Z. Reif, Brad Johnston, Cedar Mah
  • Publication number: 20030118229
    Abstract: Method and apparatus enable cutting out shapes (S) preset in moving sheet material (10) by locating coordinates of one or more fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) in the sheet material (10) with a vision system (12). The fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) correspond to a pattern (P) for the preset shape (S). A cutting system (11) superimposes the pattern (P) relative to the located one or more fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) for cutting out the preset shape (S) while the vision system (12) is concurrently locating subsequent one or more fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) in the moving sheet material (10). The concurrent processes of cutting and locating subsequent fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) are repeated substantially continuously. Preferably, using two or more fiducials (F,F2 . . . ), distortion is detected and the pattern (P) can be remapped before cutting for accurate superposition of the pattern (P) and distorted preset shape (S).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Randall G. Andrews, Mary M. Bourke, Brian D. Sawatzky, Andrew Z. Reif, Brad Johnston, Cedar Mah