Abstract: A method of preparing a cut length of slide fastener chain for operational use includes: providing a system that includes first and second machines; providing a cut length of slide fastener chain; introducing a notch to one end of the cut length of slide fastener chain, using the first machine; orienting a slider body onto a positioning device, using the second machine, so that the slider body is in a fixed position; inserting the notched end of the cut length of slide fastener chain into a mouth of the slider body; and pulling the cut length of slide fastener chain through the slider body by a distance, thereby mounting the slider body to the cut length of slide fastener chain.

Abstract: A method, system and corresponding apparatus are provided for determining a perforation location on a blister card comprising at least one unit dose blister of medication. In particular, a data extraction operation with respect to a surface of the blister card may be performed and perforation location information defining a location of at least one perforation adjoining two unit dose blisters on the blister card may be determined based on the data extracted.

Abstract: An apparatus for singulating unit dose blisters from a blister card including at least two perforations separating unit dose blisters positioned adjacent to each other and extending along a longitudinal length of the blister card is provided. The apparatus may include a perforation determiner and a blister card cutter. The perforation determiner may be configured to generate information indicative of a distance between a first perforation location and a second perforation location of the blister card with respect to perforations extending along a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the blister card and separating unit dose blisters to be singulated.

Abstract: Methods and systems to drive rotary presses are described. In one described example, a rotary press system includes a first rotary press and a second rotary press adjacent to the first rotary press. The first and the second rotary presses are to receive a strip of material. A drive member is operatively coupled to the first and the second rotary presses and a motor coupled to the drive member rotates the drive member to cause the first and second rotary presses to process the strip material.

Abstract: A purpose of the present invention is to provide a technology that allows corrugated tubes of various diameter sizes to be easily and reliably cut at a convex portion. In order to achieve the purpose, a cutting device is provided with a feeder feeding a corrugated tube such that an axial direction of the corrugated tube lies along a feeding path; a cutter cutting along a circumferential direction of the corrugated tube being fed along the feeding path; and an imager capturing an image of a planned cutting position of the corrugated tube. A controller performs image analysis of the captured image of the planned cutting position to determine whether the planned cutting position is a convex portion of the corrugated tube and, when a positive determination result is obtained, causes the cutter to cut the corrugated tube at the planned cutting position.

Abstract: In an assembly for filling medicine dispensers (11) with administering units (12/i) which are to be taken daily by patients, a deblistering apparatus (39) is provided for the separating, automatic removal of the medicines from the respective blister pack, the blister film (33) of which can be subjected to a notching or cutting pretreatment, only after which the medicine is removed. A transport device (18) is provided which supplies the medicine dispensers (11) to a feeding device, at which the individual medicines can be loaded into receiving compartments (14/1 to 14/4) of the medicine dispenser (11). The assembly comprises modules (17/i) which have in each case a blister shaft (62), a punching device and a feeding device and are arranged along the transport device (18) at spacings from one another which correspond to the spacing of the receiving compartments (14/i) of the dispensers (11/i) or to an integral multiple of said spacing.

Abstract: One of mark sensors is automatically selected in accordance with specifications of a thermal sheet. A cutting position on the thermal sheet is decided on the basis of an output of the selected one mark sensor.

Abstract: A method and programmed apparatus for cutting graphics from substantially-identical sheets with graphics and registration marks printed thereon using a plotter and controlled cutter and sensor movable over the sheets, including: (1) sensing work-surface positions of the marks of a sheet and calculating an expected work-surface position for each such mark based on the work-surface positions of other marks of the sheet; (2) classifying each mark as active or inactive based on a first error criterion and applying the classification to corresponding marks of a subsequent sheet, the active marks being fewer than the total number of printed marks; (3) sensing the work-surface positions of the active marks of the subsequent sheet; and (4) cutting the graphics from the subsequent sheet based on the sensed positions of the active marks, thereby reducing the time for accurate cut-processing of the subsequent sheet.

Abstract: A system for detecting and registering serrated bags includes a web including a plurality of bags connected in an end-to-end arrangement, each bag including a first and second side, a first and second longitudinal end, a transverse seal, a serration disposed transversely across the bag, and a tab integrally connected to the bag at a portion of but less than the entire extent of the tab; a device for projecting a stream of air on each bag as the web passes a predetermined location; and a first and a second pair of nip rolls, each disposed downstream of the device, and adapted to accommodate the web, and to drive at different speeds such that a lead bag is separated from the web.

Abstract: Saw mill for machine vision detection of undesirable features in the wood in shingles being cut from billets and automated optimized saw operation are disclosed. The saw mill includes a transport system that carries the billet through a butt-trimming saw, past a machine vision station, into an transition station for changing direction of travel of the billet and aligning the billet for travel into the subsequent gang rip saw station. The machine vision station determines any defects in the billet, grades the billet according to order-specific parameters, determines the optimal saw cut to maximize the value of the shingle, and sends control data to the gang rip saw controller, to position the saw blades for the optimal saw cut(s) for the shingle. A sorting system receives instructions from the visual imaging system and automatically shunts the product coming from the gang rip saw station into the appropriate container.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprises a first conveyer roller pair arranged at the upstream side of a sheet conveyance route and a second conveyer roller pair arranged at the downstream side of the sheet conveyance route so as to convey a sheet of paper from the upstream side to the downstream side. Additionally, a punching unit is arranged between the first conveyer roller pair and the second conveyer roller pair. The second conveyer roller pair is made to operate as a slipping roller after the time when the leading end of the sheet of paper being conveyed passes the first conveyer roller pair and a stopper is made to appear at a position downstream relative to the second conveyer roller pair so as to make the leading end of the sheet of paper abut the stopper in order correct the skew, if any, of the sheet of paper.

Abstract: A device for forming envelopes from a continuous flat strip of a sleeve-like foil material, comprising a supply member, a cutting member for making a cut over the full width of the material so as to provide individual envelopes, and a discharge member for discharging the envelopes. The cutting member comprises at least two cutting elements movable relative to the strip of material, each cutting element comprising at least one cutting blade extending parallel to the width of the strip, such that the individual cutting blades form several partial cuts contiguous to each other in the foil material over the width thereof in successive cutting operations.

Abstract: A process for sub-dividing a laminated flooring substrate into a plurality of laminated flooring planks and a system therefore are described. The process can include providing a laminated flooring substrate having a decorative pattern on a core wherein the decorative pattern can include a plurality of indicators, and independently detecting the indicators with a plurality of detecting devices, each assigned a respective indicator. The detecting devices can individually obtain the position of the detected indicators and a control unit can align a separate saw blade per each position detected. The system includes a cutting unit with individually adjustable saws or an alignment device configured to align the laminated flooring substrate with the saws, to cut the laminated flooring substrate along positions relative to the detected indicators, for example, in the center thereof or off-set therefrom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sizing window coverings slidably extendable from a bay into an aisle of a retail outlet. The method includes the steps of locating the center of the window covering relative to a cutting station utilizing a half scale for removing a portion of the window covering from each of its ends.

Abstract: A paper sheet processing device for processing paper sheets while carrying the paper sheets, includes a device body, a carrier for carrying the paper sheets one by one, a carrier driver for driving the carrier, processing device parts which are installed in a carrying route and which process the paper sheets, and a processing driver for driving the processing device parts. The processing device parts are installed detachably from the device body.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a quilted material web having a quilted patterns thereon into panels having a desired length and width with respective quilted patterns centered therein. A first detector detects a center of a quilted pattern on the quilted material web; and in response thereto, a cutting apparatus cuts the quilted material web to form edges of a panel equidistant from the quilted pattern center. The cutting apparatus includes a pair of trim blades that cut opposite side edges of the panel equidistant from the quilted pattern center and a cross cutting apparatus that cuts end edges of the panel equidistant from the quilted pattern center.

Abstract: An apparatus, a method and a system for cutting or trimming a portion of an article using a jet stream provided by a nozzle tip. The apparatus includes a drive unit configured to provide a rotational force and a cam assembly connectable to the drive unit and configured to move the nozzle tip to cut the portion of the article. The apparatus includes a conveyor belt that has a void area and a cutting area, and a cam that includes at least one track to drive a frame assembly.

Abstract: An article handling apparatus for a trim press includes a die and a cooperating punch configured to sever articles from a web, a treadle configured to move relative to the die, and a drive wheel assembly configured to move the web and the articles. The drive wheel assembly includes a pair of roller feed assemblies. Each of the roller feed assemblies include a knock-lever mechanism having a lever arm and a follower wheel, the lever arm being configured to contact the die as the treadle is moved towards the die. The the follower wheel is configured to retract from the respective drive wheel in response to contact of the lever arm with the die.

Abstract: A saw for cutting a cant by sensing the curvature of the cant and raising or lowering the saw blade in order to follow the curvature when cutting the cant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for forming sleeve-like foil envelopes from a continuous flat strip of a sleeve-like foil material, comprising a supply member for supplying the continuous flat strip of sleeve-like foil material, a cutting member for making a cut in the strip of sleeve-like foil material over the full width thereof so as to provide the individual sleeve-like foil envelopes, as well as a discharge member for discharging the individual sleeve-like foil envelopes from the device. The device is characterized in that the cutting member comprises at least two cutting elements that are movable relative to the flat strip of sleeve-like foil material, each cutting element comprising at least one cutting blade extending parallel to at least part of the width of the strip, in such a manner that the individual cutting blades of the cutting elements form several partial cuts contiguous to each other in the strip of sleeve-like foil material over the entire width thereof in successive cutting operations.

Abstract: The present invention relates running webs which have been printed in a high-speed printer. A method and a device are provided for longitudinal cuffing of a running, unseparated web in two web portions, wherein the unseparated web (2) is printed in a high-speed printer (1) and wherein the unseparated web (2) is cut longitudinally in two web portions (2a, 2b). The unseparated web (2) is brought to run between a first and a second edge support (8, 9) such that longitudinal outer edges (2d, 2e), extending in the running direction (T), of the unseparated web (2) can cooperate with the edge supports (8, 9). If the width (B) of the unseparated web (2) varies and/or changes, this is read and the second edge support (9) and the cuffing means (7) are continuously controlled to move in a lateral direction (S) relative to the running direction (T) such that the unseparated web (2) is cut in two web portions (2a, 2b) with widths (B2a, B2b) which are adapted to each other.

Abstract: A combination gang saw and edger system cuts both cants and flitches into boards. Cants and flitches are fed singly, lengthwise into the system on an infeed conveyor. On the conveyor, the cant or flitch is scanned to produce a lengthwise cross-sectional profile. An optimizer determines whether the profile is for a cant or flitch and determines how the piece will be cut. A controller responsive to the optimizer directs the positioning of a first and second set of saws on a pivotably mounted saw arbor to cut either a cant or flitch, respectively. The boards cut from the cant or flitch are fed outfed from the system. The system can cut cants with longitudinal curvature and can cut cants or flitches that are placed at an angle to the length of the infeed conveyor.

Abstract: A substrate to be cut and/or scored is pre-printed with graphics, at least first and second registration marks, and optional encoded-to-print instructions, bar-encoded data, as well as ordinary graphics. The registration marks are sensed as the substrate is automatically transported to a cutting table station that defines a cutting reference plane. Sensed detection of location of the registration marks relative to the reference plane enable the cutting plan for the substrate to be amended for precise location of the graphics on the substrate relative to the reference plane. Automated cutting according to the amended cutting plan occurs. As the registration marks were printed simultaneously with and in known relationship to the graphics, the cut line will be precise relative to the graphics. Machine readable encoded-to-print instructions optionally printed on the substrate can further amend the cutting plan.

Abstract: An article conveying, guiding, and locating device includes a treadle including a web guide plate, a knock lever mechanism having a knock lever arm configured to co-act with a stationary platen as the treadle is moved relative to the stationary platen during a severing operation so as to retract the follower wheel away from the drive wheel to release a web carried therebetween to enable lateral centering of articles carried in the web. The device also includes a web conveyor having a servo pick assembly and a servo helper assembly driven by a servo motor. The web conveyor is configured to move a web of articles. The servo pick assembly is carried by the treadle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for performing finishing operations on at least one graphics area on a graphics sheet, the graphics sheet having a graphics side, an opposite process side, and reference features, the graphics side bearing the graphics area(s) and registration marks in predetermined positions with respect to the graphics area(s). The method comprises positioning the graphics sheet on a sheet-receiving surface, sensing from the graphics side the positions of the registration marks, determining the coordinates of the graphics area(s) with respect to the sheet-receiving surface as if viewable from the process side, and performing finishing operations on the process side of the graphics sheet based on such determination, whereby such process-side finishing operations compensate for variations of the graphics area(s).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for punching out a plurality of parts from a tape-like member including the parts to be punched out and positioning holes. The method and apparatus execute the steps of: a capturing step for capturing one after another an image of at least one positioning hole and a corresponding part; a position detecting step for detecting a positional relation between the positioning hole and the part based on the captured image; an adjusting step for adjusting, based on the positional relation, a position of the die set relative to the positioning pin when the part is set on the die set, so that a cutting-plane line is arranged along a contour of the part; and a punching out step for punching out the part by the die set after placing the part on the die set with the positioning pin being inserted into the positioning hole.

Abstract: A combination gang saw and edger system cuts both cants and flitches into boards. Cants and flitches are fed singly, lengthwise into the system on an infeed conveyor. On the conveyor, the cant or flitch is scanned to produce a lengthwise cross-sectional profile. An optimizer determines whether the profile is for a cant or flitch and determines how the piece will be cut. A controller responsive to the optimizer directs the positioning of a first and second set of saws on a pivotably mounted saw arbor to cut either a cant or flitch, respectively. The boards cut from the cant or flitch are fed outfed from the system. The system can cut cants with longitudinal curvature and can cut cants or flitches that are placed at an angle to the length of the infeed conveyor.

Abstract: A process for providing feedforward control to control the feed rate of an elastic material. The process involves measuring the distance between registration marks on the elastic material prior to cut-off. These measurements are compared to a target cut length. The feed rate of a feed roll is adjusted, based on the target cut length and the distance between the registration marks, to maintain the cut length of the elastic material at the target cut length.

Abstract: A method for preparing a graphic on a sheet of material which also includes at least one registration mark at and about the graphic in predetermined positions. The method involves the steps of applying the graphic and at least one registration mark on a sheet of material in positions according to layout data, transferring the layout data to a processing controller, placing the sheet of material on a sheet-receiving surface, sensing the position of the registration mark on the sheet of material, and utilizing the layout data and the position of the registration mark to precisely narrow-path-process around the graphic on the sheet of material. Certain embodiments use either (a) a subset of marks which is applied on one side of graphic or certain reference features, such as edges and corners of the sheet and elements of the graphic, to ascertain the position and orientation of the sheet on the apparatus.

Abstract: In preferred embodiments the invention includes a transverse board conveyor, a board extrusion portion, a marking station, a sawing portion, and a plurality of board feeding portions, all of which are controlled by a process controller. In such preferred embodiments, a bunk feeder and magazines feed boards serially onto the transverse board conveyor and are conveyed in a direction transverse to the length of the boards. The boards are individually deposited into an elongate receiver of a board extrusion portion to be conveyed longitudinally. A carriage in the receiver transports the boards past an end detection station, past a marking station, and to a sawing station. The marking station prints desired indicia at selected positions on the board such as by an ink jet printer without physical contact of the printing mechanism with the board and while the board is moving.

Abstract: The protective tape applied to the front surface of a semiconductor wafer to protect the wafer during backgrinding must be trimmed so that excess tape, known as tape bur, does not extend beyond the perimeter of the wafer. Tape bur may interfere with backgrinding by causing improper grinding, which may lead to wafer breakage. The tape cutter that trims the protective tape to eliminate tape bur is provided with a sensor which detects whether tape bur has been trimmed from the wafer. If tape bur has not been removed from the wafer, corrective action is taken to prevent the wafer from being backgrinded.

Abstract: A log handling and cutting system which cuts logs into lengths, and allows for maximum use of fiber. The system includes equipment for singulating the logs, optimally removing the bark from the logs, scanning the true log image, cutting the logs to length, and sorting the cut logs arranged in a sequence of coupled operations. The logs are singulated using a dual quadrant singulation system to provide maximum singulation reliability, thereby allowing a single operator to attend to this process. Once singulated, the logs are fed automatically into a debarker where the diameter and volume are scanned and debarker-operating parameters are set for optimum bark removal. The log is then scanned, tree length, using a unique scanning system, which determines the true image of the log. This enables the determination by computer of the optimum bucking solution of the log as well as a proper sorting of the optimum random lengths.

Abstract: Known folded box gluing machines for producing folded boxes (1) from blanks comprise—a folding station (3), in which the parts of blanks provided with an adhesive strip are folded,—an adjoining transfer station (5) which is configured as a transport device and has at least two conveyer belt pairs, each consisting of an upper and a lower belt (7, 8) and a device for ejecting defective boxes (11) and—a collection and pressing device (6), in which the flat folded boxes are pressed together, in order for the adhesive to bind.

Abstract: A high-throughput, high-end-product-recovery, lineal log bucking device featuring continuous stem travel during the cutting process by using a simple and efficient machinery design for economy of equipment and monies. The apparatus includes: (1) a saw for cutting stem into logs; and (2) apparatus for accelerating the carrier up to the speed of the stem conveyor(s), maintaining the speed during the cut, decelerating the carrier, and then returning the carrier to its starting point.

Abstract: A cutting wheel assembly for cutting elongated articles having a cylindrical housing which defines a longitudinal cavity and a circular outer periphery. A plurality of cutting blade support rings are rotatably mounted about the outer periphery of the housing. A plurality of cutting blades are mounted for radial movement on each ring and disposed at angularly spaced increments about the housing, wherein each blade is moveable between a first, non-cutting position and a second, cutting position. A manifold and valve assembly is mounted in the cavity and proximate the blades for selectively directing a pulse of fluid against individual blades at preselected angular positions to urge the blades outwardly from the non-cutting position to the cutting position. A plurality of camming components are positioned about the periphery of the housing and secured against rotation adjacent the rings.

Abstract: The protective tape applied to the front surface of a semiconductor wafer to protect the wafer during backgrinding must be trimmed so that excess tape, known as tape bur, does not extend beyond the perimeter of the wafer. Tape bur may interfere with backgrinding by causing improper grinding, which may lead to wafer breakage. The tape cutter that trims the protective tape to eliminate tape bur is provided with a sensor which detects whether tape bur has been trimmed from the wafer. If tape bur has not been removed from the wafer, corrective action is taken to prevent the wafer from being backgrinded.

Abstract: An inserter input system including a web feeder providing a web of printed material to be split by a web slitting knife along the web's direction of travel. The split web is then cut transverse to the direction of travel by a web cutter, resulting in side-by-side individual sheets. Downstream of the rotary cutter, a right angle turn mechanism receives each of the side-by-side sheets and reorients them by ninety degrees. Further the right angle turn reorients the sheets into a serial shingled arrangement. The right angle turn transport operates at a velocity that is a function of the product of the web cutting rate and the width of the documents. A high speed separation nip pulls individual shingled sheets out from the shingled arrangement. The speed of the separation nip is such that a predetermined gap between the previously shingled sheets is formed. The separation nip speed is further controlled as a function of the product of the cutting rate and the sum of the document length plus the predetermined gap.

Abstract: An automatic device for cutting paper and other graphic and photographic substrates in reels or single sheets through optical reflection recognition of complex marks includes at least a pair of rollers (2) for feeding the substrate, a motor (3) for driving said pair of rollers (2), a pair of optical sensors (4, 4′) suitable to detect said marks and their angle with respect to the cutting line defined by a cutting assembly (7), a motor (5) for the relative alignment so as to cancel said angle, a motor (9) for driving the mobile blade of said cutting assembly (7), and a microprocessor suitable to process the signals from said optical sensors for controlling said motors (3, 5, 9).

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically trimming and cutting images on support sheets, which comprises two cutting devices (1, 2) arranged upstream and downstream, respectively, a conveying device (3) which is suitable for conveying to the second cutting device (2) the sheet portions cut by the first cutting device (1) and comprises one or more conveyor belts (12) tight between a pair of rollers (13), at least one being mechanically connected to a motor (14), a plurality of sensors (16, 17, 18) suitable for detecting the presence of a sheet portion on the conveyor belts (12), as well as one or more conveying rollers (25) suitable for taking a sheet portion placed on the conveyor belts (12) and conveying it to the second cutting device (2).

Abstract: A pouch making machine with a rotary die cutter, which sets a repeat distance between die outlines on a die roller greater than the repeat distance of printing on a web. An eyespot is placed adjacent to each pouch on the web. A die encoder monitors the position of the die outlines on the die roller. A photosensitive sensor reads the position of the eyespots on the web. A pair of nip rollers are driven by a variable speed motor and monitored by an encoder. A controller inputs location information from the rotary die cutter and the photosensitive sensor. The controller instantaneously slows the speed of the pair of nip rollers to retard the advance of the web, relative to the die outlines, such that printing on the web will be continually registered with the die outlines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting a graphics area from a sheet of material which includes such graphics area. The method involves applying a plurality of registration marks on the sheet at and about the graphics area in predetermined positions at the time the graphics are applied thereto, sensing the locations of the registration marks on the sheet of material at the time of cutting, and cutting the graphics area from the ready-to-cut sheet along a path determined in response to the sensed locations positions of the registration marks with respect to the graphics area at that time, whereby precise cutting occurs despite two-dimensional distortion of the sheet prior to cutting.

Abstract: A powered dispenser for dispensing individual paper towel segments from a continuous roll of paper provided with spaced lines of tearing comprises a housing, a support for the roll of paper, a feed mechanism, and a control device. The control device senses the presence of a user to activate the feed mechanism, controls the amount of material which is dispensed from the housing for any one cycle, and prevents further dispensing of the paper until the previous segment is separated from the roll. The control device detects the leading edge of the paper to initiate monitoring of the length of paper to be dispensed to prevent any cumulative error in dispensing the segments.

Abstract: A powered dispenser for dispensing individual paper towel segments from a continuous roll of paper provided with spaced lines of tearing comprises a housing, a support for the roll of paper, a feed mechanism, and a control device. The control device senses the presence of a user to activate the feed mechanism, controls the amount of material which is dispensed from the housing for any one cycle, and prevents further dispensing of the paper until the previous segment is separated from the roll. The control device detects the leading edge of the paper to initiate monitoring of the length of paper to be dispensed to prevent any cumulative error in dispensing the segments.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for cutting graphics areas from a sheet of material bearing a combination of graphics areas and a plurality of registration marks in predetermined positions with respect thereto, the combination being in a predetermined approximate position and orientation with respect to a set of reference features of the sheet. The method involves automatically determining whether the reference features are in an expected coordinate region on a sheet-receiving surface, and, if not, automatically determining the coordinate region of such features. Further steps then include sensing metrics of the reference features to determine the position and orientation of the sheet, inferring therefrom the approximate positions of the registration marks and then sensing the precise positions thereof with a main sensor, and cutting the graphics areas from the sheet in response to such precise positions.

Abstract: To shorten the processing time in modern plants for cutting away pieces or sections from a continously moving endless material, e.g. a glass strip, one after the other by flying cutting the cutting bridge carrying the cutting device (6) is accelerated until at a speed within a predetermined tolerance range of the feed speed of the continuously running endless material. Then the cutting bridge speed is synchronized for each piece or section to be cutaway and the cutting away of each piece or section takes place after the synchronization. To attain a very high precision cutting the spacing of the front cut edge formed when the previous piece or section is cut away from the cutting device is measured by means of an image-taking device (7) prior to cutting away of the next piece or section. Then the measured spacing is compared with a set value for the spacing and the speed of the cutting bridge is synchronized or fine tuned according to the comparison prior to cutting away the next piece or section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device that allows portions of similar slices to be obtained even if the product that is sliced is changed. To this end, the slice surface is monitored. Incomplete portions are transferred to a park position subject to the slice surface monitoring. The incomplete portions are transported in a positionally accurate manner from the park position back to the collecting zone if the slice surface monitoring element detects that slices are available that match the portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for marking and analyzing detects in a means for cutting-to-size boards of wood at least in part, in which defect detection is combined with marking by a marking means. By an assignment between the detected defects and marks, the steps in the process following cutting-to-size can be controlled as a function of the existence of defects.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for cutting a graphics area from a sheet of material which includes such graphics area. The method improved involves applying a plurality of registration marks on the sheet at and about the graphics area in predetermined positions at the time the graphics are applied thereto, the plurality of marks including a subset of marks (the subset preferably being a tandem pair of marks) which is applied on one side of the graphics area which are used to determine the position and orientation of the sheet, sensing the locations of the registration marks on the sheet of material at the time of cutting, and cutting the graphics area from the ready-to-cut sheet along a path determined in response to the sensed positions of the registration marks with respect to the graphics area at that time, whereby precise cutting occurs despite two-dimensional distortion of the sheet prior to cutting.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for automatic cutting of graphics area(s) from a sheet of material which includes such graphics area(s), the graphics areas having a plurality of registration marks in predetermined positions with respect thereto and including a subset of the marks on no more than one side of the graphics area which are initial-position/orientation-determining marks. The method involves placing the sheet on a sheet-receiving surface, attempting to sense the subset in the field of view of a main sensor, and, when the subset is not in an expected location, automatically determining the coordinate region of the subset on the sheet-receiving surface and automatically repositioning the main sensor to the coordinate region such that the subset is within the field of view of the main sensor.

Abstract: A shape sawing system for sawing lumber pieces from a curved cant. The cant is scanned by scanners and the scan data is input to a computer. The computer determines a curved path for the saw to follow in sawing the cant into lumber pieces. The saw is laterally and pivotally adjustable to follow the determined path established by the computer. The saw is a plurality of circular saw blades having a defined cutting edge portion that is inclined from a leading point at the bottom of the cant to a trailing point at the top of the cant. The point of pivot of the saws is between the leading point and the trailing point of the cutting edge portion. The saw assembly is mounted on pads having a low coefficient of friction. Pressurized air and lubricant are delivered to the pads to reduce the friction.