Actuation Of Tool Controlled In Response To Work-sensing Means Patents (Class 83/370)
  • Patent number: 6769336
    Abstract: A clutchless wire cutting apparatus for successively cutting off leading end portions of a predetermined length of wire from a wire stock. The wire is advanced through a cutting station which includes the cutting apparatus. The cutting apparatus includes an electrical motor whose output is coupled to the cutter mechanism which performs the successive wire cuts. A proximity switch or sensor located downstream of the cutting station signals a controller each time the wire reaches the desired length to periodically generate an electrical current to the electrical motor for selectively intermittently driving the motor at a relatively high frequency corresponding to the frequency at which wire cuts are made. The motor may also be continuously driven for cutting shorter wire lengths. The motor has an output on an motor shaft which is coupled to a cutter shaft via a belt drive. The cutter shaft includes an eccentric cam which acts directly on the wire cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Rockford Manufacturing Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kern, Irvin Burns
  • Patent number: 6766720
    Abstract: A system configured for forming precision cuts in an elongate object comprising a base member and a movable member carried by the base member and movable toward and away from the elongate member, and a cutting blade carried by the movable member; and a clamping device coupled to the base member, and configured to engage the elongate object while the cutting blade makes an incision therein; and a contact detection system configured for detecting contact between the cutting blade and the elongate object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Sarcos LC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Jacobsen, Clark C. Davis
  • Patent number: 6708591
    Abstract: A clutchless wire cutting apparatus for successively cutting off leading end portions of a predetermined length of wire from a wire stock. The wire is advanced through a cutting station which includes the cutting apparatus. The cutting apparatus includes an electrical motor whose output is coupled to the cutter mechanism which performs the successive wire cuts. A proximity switch or sensor located downstream of the cutting station signals a controller each time the wire reaches the desired length to periodically generate an electrical current to the electrical motor for selectively intermittently driving the motor at a relatively high frequency corresponding to the frequency at which wire cuts are made. The motor may also be continuously driven for cutting shorter wire lengths. The motor has an output on an motor shaft which is coupled to a cutter shaft via a belt drive. The cutter shaft includes an eccentric cam which acts directly on the wire cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Rockford Manufacturing Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kern, Irvin Burns
  • Patent number: 6705190
    Abstract: A lumber trimming device for trimming elongate workpieces conveyed on an infeed conveyor in a laterally disposed orientation relative to an infeed direction. The lumber trimming device includes a gang of laterally spaced apart drop saws wherein the drop saws are independently actuable according to generally optimized trimming instructions from an optimizer. At least on end-trimming saw is mounted adjacent the gang. The end-trimming saw or saws is or are selectively laterally translatable according to optimized end-trimming instructions from the optimizer so as to cooperate with the gang. The end-trimming saw or saws cooperate with the optimizer and the drop saws so that a first drop saw of the drop saws is actuated simultaneously with optimized lateral positioning of a first end-trimming saw so as to trim a first workpiece of the workpieces on the infeed conveyor simultaneously by both the first drop saw in a first trim cut and the first end-trimming saw in a second trim cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Coe Newnes McGehee ULC
    Inventors: William R. Newnes, Deane R. Henderson, Paul L. Halper
  • Publication number: 20040045421
    Abstract: A sheet punching device that cuts holes in a sheet while punches are entering die holes, in which a plurality of punch trains along each of which a plurality of punches are aligned on a rotating shaft in parallel with the rotating shaft are disposed in the rotation direction of the rotating shaft, and the die holes are disposed in correspondence with the punches of the punch trains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Ueda, Nobutaka Uto
  • Patent number: 6698266
    Abstract: A method for controlling a bar processing mill having an exit and a cooling bed to produce bars of a predetermined cold length. The method includes, for a first bar in a processing order, calculating a long hot cut length based, at least in part upon a predetermined cold length. In addition, the method includes adjusting the long hot cut length based on a total length of bar exiting the exit, if the long hot cut length is greater than a minimum cooling bed length, and if a number of layers of bars to be processed on the cooling bed is less than a predetermined number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mervin W. Brower
  • Patent number: 6684748
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting optimally sized fruit and vegetable pieces comprised of a dump chute, a trough, a conveyor, a drive means, at least one sensor, a programmable logic controller (PLC), and a cutter assembly. The apparatus is configured to receive materials from a source, load these materials onto a conveyor move these items by means of the conveyor to a cutting portion where the materials are cut into appropriate sized pieces, as determined by a programmed logic sensor based upon the input from a plurality of sensors and pre-selected criteria from a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: George A. Mendenhall
  • Patent number: 6681478
    Abstract: When any of facilities of a film producing and packaging system suffers a failure, a film processing controller shuts off the film producing and packaging system. The operator repairs a failing facility and manually discharges a length of an elongate film which may possibly be defective. After the failing facility is repaired, the film processing controller is restarted to operate the film producing and packaging system, which then automatically discharges a length of the elongate film corresponding to a preset number of sized films. It is possible to easily and quickly discard a portion of the elongate film which has been made defective by the facility failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Karaki, Chiaki Suzuki, Yoshinobu Misumi, Takayuki Kambara, Susumu Sato
  • Patent number: 6662072
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and control device to grind a knife shaft used in a machine intended for cutting sheets of materials into strips, for example, sheets of paper, plastic, plates of photosensitive film or any other material having the form of thin sheets. The process includes determining the actual differences of position of the knives of the knife shaft in relation to a theoretical position and then dividing these differences to cut the film strips by widths practically equal to one another, and determining the quantities of material to be eliminated by grinding for each knife. This process especially finds its principal application in the photographic industry, in particular on grinding machines for the knives of knife shafts equipping the film slitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Olivier L. Berne, Frederic J. Gaudiller
  • Patent number: 6634268
    Abstract: A method for cutting sections from a specimen using a microtome wherein a cutting knife or specimen is advanced by an advancing carriage into a sectioning plane of a disk microtome. The advancing carriage is moved by a motor drive in order to bring the specimen into contact with an area sensor. When the specimen comes into contact with the area sensor, the position of the motor drive is determined and is compared with a stored position of the sectioning plane. The stored position is previously determined by manually locating the position drive motor when the specimen contacts the area sensor. Control signals for the motor drive are calculated from the two position values, and the advancing carriage is advanced into the sectioning plane by the motor drive taking these control signals into account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Guenther, Siegbert Holtermueller, Andreas Laudat, Rolf Metzner, Roland Walter
  • Publication number: 20030177880
    Abstract: A cutter system for cutting a larger sheet into individual photographic images includes a cutter for severing a transverse strip containing one or more printed images from a larger sheet. A transport table positioned to receive the strip from the cutter includes two sets of drivers, one set for moving the strip longitudinally and a second set for moving the strip laterally to a second cutter that in turn separates the strip into individual photographs. Sensors in both cutters acting in response to fiducial marks on the larger sheet cooperate with the drivers for positioning the larger sheet and the severed strip at the proper cutting locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: Phogenix Imaging, LLC
    Inventor: David M. Petersen
  • Patent number: 6612215
    Abstract: A cutting machine for cutting a belt-shaped sheet into a given shape includes a sheet feeder, a Y-axis shaft, a carriage, a sub-shaft, two connecting frames, and an elevating device. The sheet feeder moves the belt-shaped sheet in the X-axis direction. The Y-axis shaft is disposed in the Y-axis direction above the cutting sheet. The carriage mounts a cutter on a leading end thereof and is slidably disposed on the Y-axis shaft. The sub-shaft is disposed parallel to the Y-axis shaft and penetrates the carriage on the leading end side of the carriage. The connecting frames connects and fixes the Y-axis shaft and the sub-shaft to each other. The elevating device moves up and down the sub-shaft to move the cutter up and down in the Z-axis direction with respect to the cutting sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Max Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6606928
    Abstract: A punching mechanism has a plurality of predetermined standby positions where the punching mechanism is previously moved by move means and stands by based on size information in the width direction of a sheet material and punching execution information as to whether or not the sheet material is to be punched. The standby position corresponding to a sheet material of the maximum width that can be punched by the punching mechanism and the standby position applied when punching is not executed are set to substantially the same position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Takaishi, Ryuichi Satou
  • Publication number: 20030121392
    Abstract: An automatic iron core air gap cutting apparatus includes an electronic control box and a transmission system to receive signals and control from the electronic control box for receiving finished iron cores to perform air gaps cutting operations. The completed iron cores with the air gaps formed thereon are pushed to an exit chute for packaging and proceeding the follow on processes, thereby to form an automatic iron core fabrication processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventor: Albert Cho
  • Patent number: 6573974
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus provided with a function for binding a set of recording sheets by interposing said set of recording sheets between a folded cover sheet. When cover mode is set, the cover sheet is transported in a folding unit. The folding unit is controlled so as to fold said cover sheet into three sections of a front cover, spine and back cover. Content copy sheets are inserted in the folded cover sheet. The image forming apparatus is capable of cleanly binding documents even when the set of recording sheets is thick because the cover sheet can be folded in three.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ikeda, Akinori Yoshida, Motomi Takemoto, Koji Naito, Hiroshi Sumiyama, Masami Toyama
  • Publication number: 20030097916
    Abstract: A cutter system for cutting a larger sheet into individual photographic images includes a cutter for severing a transverse strip containing one or more printed images from a larger sheet. A transport table positioned to receive the strip from the cutter includes two sets of drivers, one set for moving the strip longitudinally and a second set for moving the strip laterally to a second cutter that in turn separates the strip into individual photographs. Sensors in both cutters acting in response to fiducial marks on the larger sheet cooperate with the drivers for positioning the larger sheet and the severed strip at the proper cutting locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventor: David M. Petersen
  • Patent number: 6553880
    Abstract: A micro-machining system configured for cutting an elongate object, including a clamp configured to enable repeatedly releasing and then holding the elongate object in a position suitable for cutting the elongate object transversely relative to its lengthwise axis, and a manipulating means, which can include a pinch roller feed configured to advance the elongate element and to rotate it about a lengthwise axis of the elongate object, thereby moving the elongate object so that it can be disposed in the position suitable for cutting, and a cutter configured for forming the at least one precision cut in the elongate object to a desired depth, under the control of a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Sarcos, LC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Jacobsen, Clark Davis
  • Patent number: 6550362
    Abstract: An apparatus (25) for transporting pre-measured quantities of fibers in a plurality of containers (13), separated by a plurality of webs (14), joining the containers together at spaced intervals, to a mixer (22) for cementitious materials, the apparatus comprising a conveying assembly (26), the containers therethrough; a counter assembly (28); a web slitting assembly (29); and a process controller (30), which activates the web slitting assembly in response to input from the counter assembly, in order to sever a determined number of the containers from the webs for conveyance into the mixer. A method for conveying pre-measured quantities of fibers suitable for the reinforcement of cementitious materials to a mixing apparatus is also provided as well as a train for providing pre-measured quantities of fiber comprising a plurality of containers containing the fibers; and a plurality of webs, joining the containers together at spaced intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: SI Corporation
    Inventors: Melvyn A. Galinat, James M. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 6543498
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a log sawing system comprising multiple cutting blades. The multiple cutting blades are positioned to cut laterally or perpendicular to the centerline of the log which is to be cut. The logs are transported into cutting position using some type of log positioner. The multiple cutting blades are rotatably mounted on an arm which is pivotally mounted on a shaft in groups, being driven by an electrical or like motor, all of which are mounted onto a platform positioned adjacent to the log to be cut. Hydraulic lifters are used to partially rotate the saw blades into the cutting position adjacent the log. Means utilizing a computer and lasers are provided to develop a log cutting solution to best utilize the logs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: PSI Sales, Inc.
    Inventor: Van Woodham
  • Patent number: 6544105
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control device to grind a knife shaft used in a machine intended for cutting sheets of materials into strips, for example sheets of paper, plastic, plates of photosensitive film or any other material having the form of thin sheets. The control device according to the invention enables the grinding of the knives of knife shafts of a slitter by checking and controlling the drift of the dimensional differences of position of the knives on the knife shaft and by controlling the variability of the pitches between the knives. This with the goal of obtaining the precision and the quality of cutting required for cut photographic film strips. This device especially finds its principal application in the photographic industry, in particular on grinding machines for the knives of knife shafts equipping the film slitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Olivier L. Berne, Frederic J. Gaudiller
  • Patent number: 6526793
    Abstract: A permanent invisible magnetic marking and positioning system of cylindrical metal steel rods. To accurately locate the physical midpoint of the rod-to-be-cut, a novel head centering and positioning mechanism automatically sets the midpoint distance for each setup as the length of the finished rod stock is changed. The steel rod that is used to manufacture the U-bolts is inserted lengthwise into a cutoff saw station or machine until it comes in contact with a stop that is set to the desired predetermined length. An automatic centering device positions the magnetizing heads located at the longitudinal center, on each side, of the steel rod. A high-energy rectangular pulse imparts a permanent invisible magnetic mark at the longitudinal center of the steel rod before being formed into a U-bolt. The rod is then suitably cut to the desired predetermined length, and each of the opposite ends threaded with the desired thread size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Inventors: Donald M. Danko, Joseph H. Taddeo
  • Patent number: 6520228
    Abstract: A method of position-based integrated motion controlled curve sawing includes the steps of: transporting a curved workpiece in a downstream direction on a transfer, and monitoring position of the workpiece on the transfer, scanning the workpiece through an upstream scanner to measure workpiece profiles in spaced apart array, along a surface of the workpiece and communicating the workpiece profiles to a digital processor, computing by the digital processor, a high order polynomial smoothing curve fitted to the array of workpiece profiles of the curved workpiece, and adjusting the smoothing curve for cutting machine constraints of downstream motion controlled cutting devices to generate an adjusted curve generating unique position cams unique to the workpiece from the adjusted curve for optimized cutting by the cutting devices along a tool path corresponding to the position cams, sequencing the transfer and the workpiece with the cutting devices, and sequencing the unique position cams corresponding to the work
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: CAE Inc.
    Inventors: Joe B. Kennedy, Roland Davyduke, James G. Jackson, James B. Hannebauer, William R. Newnes, Brian Stroud, John Sergeant
  • Patent number: 6508152
    Abstract: A clutchless wire cutting apparatus for successively cutting off leading end portions of a predetermined length of wire from a wire stock. The wire is advanced through a cutting station which includes the cutting apparatus. The cutting apparatus includes an electrical motor whose output is coupled to the cutter mechanism which performs the successive wire cuts. A proximity switch or sensor located downstream of the cutting station signals a controller each time the wire reaches the desired length to periodically generate an electrical current to the electrical motor for selectively intermittently driving the motor at a relatively high frequency corresponding to the frequency at which wire cuts are made. The motor may also be continuously driven for cutting shorter wire lengths. The motor has an output on an motor shaft which is coupled to a cutter shaft via a belt drive. The cutter shaft includes an eccentric cam which acts directly on the wire cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Rockford Manufacturing Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kern, Irvin Burns
  • Publication number: 20030010169
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device of the present invention includes a cutter capable of being moved back and forth by hand between two reference positions outside of a sheet conveyance range. When the cutter is held in a halt at a position other than the reference positions, the sheet feeding device returns a sheet toward the upstream side by a preselected amount and then returns the cutter to one of the reference positions. Even when the cutter moved by hand for the replacement or the replenishment of a sheet is left in the sheet conveyance range, the cutter is prevented from again cutting the leading edge of the sheet when returning to the reference position. This protects the leading edge of the sheet from defective cutting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventor: Minoru Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 6470796
    Abstract: A plurality of detecting means 37, 38, 39, 40 are installed to detect a plurality of type specifying factors of work sheets W. A work sheet type identifying means 41 is installed to identify the types of the work sheets based on the factors detected by the detecting means 37˜40. A parameter selection means 42 is installed to select control parameters in accordance with the work sheet type identified by the work sheet type identifying means 41. A process control means 32 controls a processing means 3 based on the control parameters thus selected. The parameter selection means 42 is composed of a parameter memory means 44 and a parameter selection section 43. Said control parameters include a speed pattern of the ram, a hover height of the ram, a press torque in form-processing, and a number of tons for punching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takao Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20020139230
    Abstract: The cutting machine includes a sheet-driving unit, a detection sensor, and a cutter. The machine operates the sheet-driving unit and the cutter based on given input data to cut the sheet. The cutting machine calculates a length of sheet necessary to perform a cutting operation based on the input data, feeds out the sheet by the sheet-driving unit, and then performs a given cutting operation based on the input data without fully returning the sheet fed out by the driving unit after the cutting machine detects whether the sheet of the necessary length as calculated above is placed with using the detection sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: Max Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Kojima, Mitsugi Shimoda
  • Patent number: 6386080
    Abstract: A sheet processor has a sheet transportation path, a punching unit for performing a punching operation on the sheets, the punching unit including a punch slide having a punch mechanism thereon, a moving device for moving the punch slide between a sheet punching operation position and a punch slide home position, the movement occurring in a direction transverse to the sheet transportation direction, and a detector for detecting completion of the punching operation by the punching unit. When the detector detects the completion of the punching operation, the moving device moves the punching unit to the punch slide home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Okamoto, Chikara Sato, Norifumi Miyake, Yasuo Fukazu, Mitsushige Murata, Masatoshi Yaginuma, Tsuyoshi Moriyama
  • Patent number: 6361036
    Abstract: A sheet finisher for an image forming apparatus that executes a precise and continuous punching at a specific position on a sheet while maintaining the conveyance speed of the sheet ejected from the image forming apparatus. The puncher is provided with the first and second conveyance rollers disposed along the conveyance direction of the sheet, in which the drive speed of the second conveyance roller disposed upstream in the conveyance direction is temporarily increased to form a loop of the sheet, and the punching device is driven so as to synchronize with the timing that the trailing edge of the sheet is detached from the second conveyance roller and brought into a temporal halt, thereby executing a punching precisely at the specific position on the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiki Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 6357330
    Abstract: A wafer cutting apparatus which includes a wafer saw, a detector, and a control unit. The detector detects a variable of a wafer being sawed. The control unit utilizes the variable to control the saw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: M. Lawrence A. Dass, Isaura S. Gaeta, Krishna Seshan
  • Publication number: 20010054342
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a paper sheet cutting apparatus which cuts the front end portion opposite to the fold, where both the leading edge and trailing edge get together by center folding, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the paper sheet cutting apparatus. The sheet cutting apparatus includes a conveying device for conveying a booklet; a stopping device for stopping the booklet at a predetermined position; a cutting device for cutting the front end portion of the booklet; and a controlling section to control each of the conveying device, the stopping device and the cutting device. The controlling section controls the stopping device so as to variably determine a stopping position of the booklet stopped by the stopping device, based on a number of sheets included in the booklet conveyed to the cutting device by the conveying device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Applicant: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Norishige Kato, Tetsuo Hirata, Shinji Yashiro
  • Publication number: 20010049989
    Abstract: A cutting machine for cutting a belt-shaped sheet into a given shape includes a sheet feeder, a Y-axis shaft, a carriage, a sub-shaft, two connecting frames, and an elevating device. The sheet feeder moves the belt-shaped sheet in the X-axis direction. The Y-axis shaft is disposed in the Y-axis direction above the cutting sheet. The carriage mounts a cutter on a leading end thereof and is slidably disposed on the Y-axis shaft. The sub-shaft is disposed parallel to the Y-axis shaft and penetrates the carriage on the leading end side of the carriage. The connecting frames connects and fixes the Y-axis shaft and the sub-shaft to each other. The elevating device moves up and down the sub-shaft to move the cutter up and down in the Z-axis direction with respect to the cutting sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Applicant: Max Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6324953
    Abstract: A device for forming a cutting blade for prints is disclosed. The device of this invention forms cutting blades by appropriately bending and cutting a metal strip into desired blades through integrated work regardless of a difference in the size of metal strips. The device is also provided with changeable jigs, thus being capable of forming bridge notches having different intervals, widths and configurations. The device has one vertically movable bending pin and one swing cutter. The bending pin is capable of quickly bending a metal strip into a desired configuration, while the swing cutter finely and precisely cuts the metal strip into cutting blades. The device also quickly produces high precision cutting blades, thus improving productivity and reducing the cost of the cutting blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Inventor: Hong Soon Park
  • Patent number: 6305224
    Abstract: A method for determining warp potential of wood. One embodiment comprises nondestructively obtaining lengthwise shrinkage rates and grain angles of wood—such as trees, logs, or lumber—then determining warp potential of the wood based on the lengthwise shrinkage rates and grain angles. The method typically comprises measuring plural lengthwise shrinkage rates and plural grain angles to determine warp potential. Where the wood comprises lumber, lengthwise shrinkage rate and grain angle measurements typically are made on at least one major planar surface of the lumber at at least two measuring points separated by a predetermined distance, such as at substantially one-foot intervals along the lumber. Particular embodiments of the present invention determine lengthwise shrinkage rates using electromagnetic energy, acoustic energy, and combinations thereof. Working embodiments of the method use ultrasound energy to determine lengthwise shrinkage rates and grain angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Stanish, Stan L. Floyd, Steven M. Cramer
  • Publication number: 20010025555
    Abstract: From an extruded panel manufactured continuously by means of a twin-belt conveyor, shorter sections may be profitably removed by a cutting device equipped with an adjustable program controller which fixes optimum start-of-cut positions related to a reference point and lying immediately in front of the edges of the extruded panel. The cutting blade is brought into the optimum start-of-cut position in good time before each cut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventor: Hans-Michael Sulzbach
  • Patent number: 6295906
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for advancing and cutting tube blanks into desired lengths and ejecting the unusable piece of tubing remaining after all of the usable cuts have been made. The machine for cutting the tubes of the present invention is preferably a standard supported shear type cutting machine and the ejection of the tube is accomplished via a pusher that is mounted for reciprocation on a carriage such that when the last piece of usable tubing has been cut from the tube blank the pusher may be activated to eject the tubing from the cutting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Production Tube Cutting, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry Kiger
  • Patent number: 6295908
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a number of holes in a medium includes a selector, a hole forming device and a controller. The selector selects the number of holes to be formed in the medium, with the number of holes being selected from at least two predetermined numbers such as two and three. The hole forming device forms the holes in the medium. The controller controls the hole forming device to form in the medium the number of holes selected by the selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Virginia, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald C. Holzhauser, Charles A. Moore
  • Patent number: 6283001
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting fabric includes at least one fabric wind-off device (1, 1′) for one fabric bolt (7), a conveyor belt (5) for conveying the unwound fabric, and a cutting device (3) which cuts a piece of fabric to a given shape from the length of fabric deposited on the conveyor belt (5). Said conveyor belt (5) extends without interruption from at least that point where the fabric is deposited by the wind-off device (1, 1′) to the working area of the said cutting device (3). The wind-off device (1, 1′) places the length of fabric directly onto the conveyor belt (5) or onto one of more lengths of fabric already deposited on the said conveyor belt. An apparatus control automatically feeds the unwound fabric to the cutting device and directs the cutting of the unwound fabric by the cutting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Gpv mbH
    Inventor: Robert Schultes
  • Patent number: 6263773
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for processing an Engine Wood Product member. The member is moved to a home position in a driving unit and the length of the EWP member is automatically measured by moving the EWP member from the home position while engaging the EWP member with a measuring assembly including a measuring wheel having a smooth hard facing, the facing contacting the EWP member. The member is moved to a first cutting position and cut to a predetermined length. Activating one or more position sensor devices, at least one of the position sensor devices positioned such that the EWP member engages the position sensor device while the member is in the home position, the length of the member is determined as it is moved from the home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventors: David L. McAdoo, George Blaine
  • Publication number: 20010001373
    Abstract: In a cutting apparatus for cutting a printed metal sheet (1) into a number of individual sheet metal blanks (A1-A6, B1-B6, C1-C6), a conveyor-path switch (9) for removing blanks with defective printing from the conveyor path is provided for separating each blank chosen at the blank discharge point. The conveyor-path switches are selectively activated by a control unit (6). This enables individual blanks to be discarded, thus reducing machine down time and waste of material due to sheets with defective printing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: May 24, 2001
    Inventors: Peter Schreiber, Felix Van Der Schaar
  • Patent number: 6202524
    Abstract: A rectangular glass workpiece positioning system and method of use for a cutting table is disclosed. A conveyor transports a rectangular glass workpiece in a transporting direction. A stop mechanism is adapted to abut an edge of the glass workpiece which is positioned substantially perpendicular to the transporting direction of the conveyor. A movable edge sensor is adapted to sense an edge of the glass workpiece extending substantially parallel to the transporting direction with the movable edge sensor movable at least perpendicular to the transporting direction. A movable cutting head is provided for cutting the glass workpiece according to a predetermined pattern. The present invention additionally includes a method of retrofitting existing cutting tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Billco Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis J. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 6164174
    Abstract: The invention involves a method and apparatus for automatic portioning of objects. More specifically, the invention utilizes both weighing and imaging data in order to calculate an estimated weight distribution of objects being processed. One or more weighing units, which weigh one or more parts of the objects, are installed before and/or after a cutting unit to obtain the weighing data. A computer system controls cutting based on the imaging data and the weighing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: H. F. Marel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Arni Sigurdsson, Arni G. Sigurdsson, Helgi Hjalmarsson, Hordur Arnarson
  • Patent number: 6145427
    Abstract: An apparatus for slicing a food product includes a housing having a food product inlet and a food product outlet and a food product path defined therebetween. A reciprocating cutter is positioned within the housing along the food product path between the food product inlet and the food product outlet. A pusher element is provided for pushing a food product along the food product path against the reciprocating cutter whereby the cutter slices the food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventor: Daniel C. Smith
  • Patent number: 6112132
    Abstract: A data-driven electrochemical grinding apparatus and method produces series of finished-cut, burr-free tube sections of precisely defined lengths. The data-driven process automatically inputs desired tube lengths, tracks the cut tube sections during the process, and produces recorded output of tube and process parameters. Such tube sections are particularly suitable for use in ultrahigh purity gas cabinets used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Ultra Clean Technology Systems & Service, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen L. Grube
  • Patent number: 6070509
    Abstract: A conveyor moves food product, such as pies or cakes, within a cutting range of a knife positioning assembly. The knife positioning assembly supports an ultrasonic knife assembly which has a blade adapted for cutting the food product. The knife assembly is disposed above the conveyor and is moved to the food product in a cutting position therewith when the conveyor has the food product within the cutting range. The knife assembly is movable through at least two axes by the positioning assembly for positioning and cutting with the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Colbourne Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Lonn, Thomas J. Rakowski
  • Patent number: 6065383
    Abstract: A punching mechanism has a plurality of predetermined standby positions where the punching mechanism is previously moved by move means and stands by based on size information in the width direction of a sheet material and punching execution information as to whether the sheet material is to be punched. The standby position corresponding to a sheet material of the maximum width that can be punched by the punching mechanism and the standby position applied when punching is not executed are set to substantially the same position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Takaishi, Ryuichi Satou
  • Patent number: 6062280
    Abstract: An active edger includes an actively positionable gangsaw or a first end saw mounted on an arbor mounted within a stationary saw box. The gangsaw or first end saw is actively positionable relative to the saw box. In a second embodiment, the gangsaw or first end saw is mounted on an arbor in fixed translational and skewing relation relative to, and within, an actively positionable saw box. The actively positionable gangsaw is selectively actively laterally translatable and selectively actively rotatable so as to skew the gangsaw relative to the saw box. In both embodiments, the saw box receives a workpiece, longitudinally conveyed in a downstream direction, longitudinally into the gangsaw or first end saw from an upstream position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: CAE Electronics Ltd. CAE Electronique Ltee
    Inventors: William R. Newnes, Steven W. Michell, Brian T. Stroud
  • Patent number: 6050166
    Abstract: A non-contact measurement and cutting device for cutting sheets of predetermined length from a roll of material comprises a frame having feed rollers journalled thereon and a feed roll drive for actuating the feed rollers. Cooperating cutting blades are carried on the frame for cutting the material. Also supported on the same frame or a separate adjacent frame is a conveyor and an optical sensor for sensing the lead edge of material to be cut. The optical sensor can be adjustably positioned between a minimum reference position to enable cutting of a relatively short length of material and a maximum reference position to enable cutting of a relatively long length of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Strilich Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Gauler, David Jeff Strilich
  • Patent number: 6039098
    Abstract: A method of position-based integrated motion controlled curve sawing includes the steps of: transporting a curved workpiece in a downstream direction on a transfer, and monitoring position of the workpiece on the transfer, scanning the workpiece through an upstream scanner to measure workpiece profiles in spaced apart array, along a surface of the workpiece and communicating the workpiece profiles to a digital processor, computing by the digital processor, a high order polynomial smoothing curve fitted to the array of workpiece profiles of the curved workpiece, and adjusting the smoothing curve for cutting machine constraints of downstream motion controlled cutting devices to generate an adjusted curve generating unique position cams unique to the workpiece from the adjusted curve for optimized cutting by the cutting devices along a tool path corresponding to the position cams, sequencing the transfer and the workpiece with the cutting devices, and sequencing the unique position cams corresponding to the work
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Cae Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Joe B. Kennedy, Roland Davyduke, James G. Jackson, James B. Hannebauer, William R. Newnes, Brian Stroud, John Sergeant
  • Patent number: 6039097
    Abstract: A method of position-based integrated motion controlled curve sawing includes the steps of: transporting a curved workpiece in a downstream direction on a transfer, and monitoring position of the workpiece on the transfer, scanning the workpiece through an upstream scanner to measure workpiece profiles in spaced apart array, along a surface of the workpiece and communicating the workpiece profiles to a digital processor, computing by the digital processor, a high order polynomial smoothing curve fitted to the array of workpiece profiles of the curved workpiece, and adjusting the smoothing curve for cutting machine constraints of downstream motion controlled cutting devices to generate an adjusted curve generating unique position cams unique to the workpiece from the adjusted curve for optimized cutting by the cutting devices along a tool path corresponding to the position cams, sequencing the transfer and the workpiece with the cutting devices, and sequencing the unique position cams corresponding to the work
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: CAE Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Joe B. Kennedy, Roland Davyduke, James G. Jackson, James B. Hannebauer, William R. Newnes, Brian Stroud, John Sergeant
  • Patent number: 5974923
    Abstract: A composer clipper apparatus that includes a composer for producing a composed ribbon of veneer from veneer pieces disposed edge-to-edge. A conveyor system transports the ribbon of veneer downstream from the composer. The ribbon of veneer is cut into sheets of predetermined length at a clipping station downstream from the composer. A sensor sensing a cut lead edge in the ribbon of veneer, and a coordinated tracking device, controls operation of the clipping station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Panel Equipment Sales, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald M. Rigby, Jr., William J. Wall, Lawrence L. Payne, Scott M. Rigby, Michael R. Peterson