Responsive To Work Patents (Class 83/76.8)
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Patent number: 7100484Abstract: 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).Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2004Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: Fotoba International S.r.l.Inventor: Valter Maddalon
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Patent number: 7086626Abstract: Tape cutting-out equipment to wind and cut out tape supplied from a pancake in plural kinds of winding lengths on a reel, the equipment is equipped with a tape supplying device supplying tape from the pancake P, a tape winding device winding the supplied tape from the tape supplying device, a memory unit memorizing position data of defect portions of the tape in the pancake, a winding length deciding unit deciding a winding length of the tape based on the position data read out from the memory unit, a cutting device cutting the tape, and a cutting control unit controlling making the cutting device cut the tape at a timing when the tape winding device winds tape of the winding length decided by the winding length deciding unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2003Date of Patent: August 8, 2006Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hirokazu Komai
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Patent number: 7077039Abstract: A machine is disclosed having a detection subsystem adapted to detect contact between a person and a specified portion of the machine, and to distinguish that contact from contact with other materials. The detection subsystem imparts an electrical signal to a specified portion of the machine, and distinguishes that contact based on a predetermined frequency response of the electrical signal. A reaction subsystem then causes a predetermined action to take place. The machine may be a power saw designed to minimize injury in the event a person accidentally contacts the blade.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2002Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: SD3, LLCInventors: Stephen F. Gass, J. David Fulmer
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Patent number: 7047852Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2001Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Kent Allan Franklin, Aaron Dee Schilpp, Douglas N. Duehring
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Patent number: 7040207Abstract: A log merchandising apparatus includes feeding and staging feeders and a plurality of pivoting overhead truss-mounted saws. The saws are travelling saws, reversibly and independently movable along the longitudinal axis of the log by means of a rack and pinion drive and lineal bearings.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2002Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Assignee: Linden Fabricating & Engineering (Prince George) Ltd.Inventor: Bruno Lindenblatt
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Patent number: 7040204Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2002Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Assignee: Mikkelsen Graphic EngineeringInventors: Steen Mikkelsen, Peter Alsten, Geo Andersen, David G. Jansson
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Patent number: 7028384Abstract: A device is suggested for processing cable-shaped conductors, particularly multicore cables, having at least one transport means (126) having a drive means (132) for transport supply and/or for lengthwise transport of cable-shaped conductor material (200), a cutting means (170) for cutting through cable-shaped conductor material, at least one first means (170) for processing the cut, cable-shaped conductor material, at least one guide means (130) for lengthwise guiding of the cable-shaped conductor material, the guide means (130) being implemented so that the free end of the cable-shaped conductor material may be pivoted out of its lengthwise direction, and at least one plate (110), implemented essentially perpendicularly to the cable direction, on which at least some of the means (126, 128, 130) of the device are positioned on one side.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2003Date of Patent: April 18, 2006Assignee: Komax Holding AGInventors: Urs Mehri, Alois Lustenberger
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Patent number: 7017632Abstract: 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 workType: GrantFiled: January 15, 2003Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: Coe Newnes/McGehee, Inc.Inventors: Joe B. Kennedy, Roland Davyduke, James G. Jackson, James B. Hannebauer, William R. Newnes, Brian Stroud, John Sergeant
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Patent number: 7011006Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2003Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: Mitek Holdings, Inc.Inventor: Jerome E. Koskovich
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Patent number: 7007577Abstract: To maintain high productivity and performing high-grade processes while minimizing deviation of a sheet process position in a direction at a right angle to a sheet conveying direction whatever types of sheets are to be processed, timing for starting detection of an end position of each of the sheets is controlled so as to execute the detection of the end position of each of the sheets at a vicinity of a sheet processing position on the sheet at which a sheet process is executed.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2005Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kiyoshi Okamoto, Norifumi Miyake, Mitsushige Murata
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Patent number: 7004054Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2001Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Neo Chee Peng
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Patent number: 6997089Abstract: A method of classifying slices or a portion cut from a food product according to an optical image of the slice. After a slice is removed from a food product loaf the slice is passed into an image field of a digital image receiving device. A control generates a pixel-by-pixel image data of the slice using input from the digital image receiving device. The control calculates a surface area of the slice from the data, and a fat content of the slice on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The fat content data is compared to at least one predetermined limit and the slice is classified accordingly.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2002Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Formax, Inc.Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, Thomas C. Wolcott
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Patent number: 6994003Abstract: A load cell deflasher for the punch and die deflash processing of product from an extrusion includes a load cell pressure transducer interconnected with a punch to sense pressure measurements of the punch against the extrusion at the die and communicate the measurements to a programmable logic controller that controls the extension and retraction of the punch to the die and the structure accommodating pre-punch alignment of the extrusion to the die. The pressure measurements are logged in a trending database of the programmable logic controller. If a pressure measurement exceeds a threshold value, to programmable logic controller can command instruct a positioning actuator of the punch to abort its punch stroke prior to completion.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2003Date of Patent: February 7, 2006Assignee: Diamond Machine Werks, Inc.Inventors: Brad Farrell, Walter R. Krevald, Peter D. Urasky
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Patent number: 6978925Abstract: A method for creating multiple punch holes during a finishing process of paper sheets and other sheet materials. A highlight of the present invention is the ability to select between at least two configurations of punch holes automatically, without manual adjustment, and “on-the-fly” without interruption of the sheet or paper flow. The perforation method utilizes two rotatable punches set at different angles such that when one intersects the sheet path, the other clears the sheet path. The speed of rotation is controlled such that the non-selected punch intersects the sheet path in a space between pitches.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2004Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Dino M. Morson
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Patent number: 6923101Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2002Date of Patent: August 2, 2005Assignee: Mid-South Engineering Co., IncInventors: T. Mark Culpepper, Wayne A. Horman, John M. Hunnicutt
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Patent number: 6923098Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2001Date of Patent: August 2, 2005Assignee: Key Technology, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth James McGarvey, Robert Earl Jones, Maurice Jarold Hunking
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Patent number: 6907806Abstract: To maintain high productivity and performing high-grade processes while minimizing deviation of a sheet process position in a direction at a right angle to a sheet conveying direction whatever types of sheets are to be processed, timing for starting detection of an end position of each of the sheets is controlled so as to execute the detection of the end position of each of the sheets at a vicinity of a sheet processing position on the sheet at which a sheet process is executed.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2000Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kiyoshi Okamoto, Mitsushige Murata, Norifumi Miyake
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Patent number: 6895844Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying a place where a saw may be performed. An oscillating laser beam is provided to a target according to a user preference. The user selects at least one characteristic of the oscillating laser beam in order to identify the target in an outdoor environment. The selected at least one characteristic is then provided to a motor which executes the oscillating.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2002Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: Cemar Electro Inc.Inventors: Walter Spirig, Young Chul Shin
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Patent number: 6886438Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the length of a cable for obtaining a reference measurement wherein a belt drive advances the cable through a first gripper until the cable is under separating/stripping cutters which cut the cable. The cable is advanced by a length measured by the belt drive, a leading cable-end being passed under a cable-end detector, and the cable is held tightly by the first gripper and with a linear backward movement, the cable is withdrawn until the leading cable-end leaves the cable-end detector. A correction factor is calculated by a control from the distance between the separating/stripping cutters and the cable-end detector and from the travel of the first gripper during the backward movement.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2003Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignee: Komax Holding HGInventors: Stefan Viviroli, Daniel Fischer
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Patent number: 6874395Abstract: A punching device of the present invention is proposed which can perform positional alignment with high accuracy without generating positional deviation or vibration by shifting a workpiece, and which does not deteriorate the accuracy of determining the position of an image by shifting a photographic device. In this punching device, a CCD camera, which can photograph the position of the die hole upon the lower die and the position of the pattern upon the workpiece which shows the position thereon where punching is to be performed, is fixedly provided at a position removed from the raising and lowering track of the punch plate. Furthermore, a mirror may be provided between the CCD camera and the die hole upon the lower die.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2002Date of Patent: April 5, 2005Inventors: Toru Ishii, Hiromichi Matsui, Yasuaki Mizuno, Makoto Teraoka
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Patent number: 6871571Abstract: Web processing apparatus (30, 300) is provided for high speed, extremely accurate die cutting or lamination operations. Processing station (32, 300) includes a Vacuum hold down plate (32, 308) which receives and holds an image bearing incremental segment of the web. In feed and out feed tension on the web is released while a segment of the web is held by the hold down plate. The hold down plate with a segment of the web thereon is selectively shifted about X, Y and ? axis as required to bring the image on the web segment into alignment with a web processing component at the processing station.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2001Date of Patent: March 29, 2005Assignee: Preco Industries, Inc.Inventors: Charles C. Raney, Hongli Du, John T. Pierson, Jr.
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Patent number: 6869010Abstract: A device and method for creating multiple punch holes during a finishing process of paper sheets and other sheet materials. The improved sheet punch including two rotatable punches set at different angles such that when one intersects the sheet path, the other clears the sheet path. The speed of rotation is controlled such that the non-selected punch intersects the sheet path in a space between pitches.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2001Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Dino M. Morson
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Patent number: 6865973Abstract: A workpiece conveying and feeding unit for conveying a long workpiece in the lengthwise direction to feed the workpiece to a cutting machine is disposed in the rear of the cutting machine. A workpiece conveying unit conveys the workpiece in the lengthwise direction of the workpiece into a workpiece conveying passage of the workpiece conveying and feeding unit. When a plurality of workpieces placed on the workpiece conveying unit are sequentially conveyed to the workpiece conveying passage of the workpiece conveying and feeding unit to convey the workpieces to the cutting machine, the side surface of the workpiece which is conveyed to the workpiece conveying passage of the workpiece conveying and feeding unit by the workpiece conveying unit is detected by a side-surface detector.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1997Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Amada Company, LimitedInventor: Takayoshi Hasegawa
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Patent number: 6845695Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2003Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Neo Chee Peng
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Publication number: 20040237739Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Applicant: Pitney Bowes IncorporatedInventors: John W. Sussmeier, John R. Masotta, Boris Rozenfeld
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Patent number: 6820526Abstract: 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).Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1999Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: Fotoba International S.r.l.Inventor: Valter Maddalon
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Publication number: 20040154151Abstract: An automated de-banding machine which can perform by scanning the surface of the pallet to determine the number and position of bands to be removed. The machine also is capable of analyzing to determine the overlay bands from underlay bands. The overlay bands are removed first and typically fed individually to a chopper which chops the bands into pieces for recycling. The band information may be recorded and used to facilitate handling of a similar type of pallet in future operations to eliminate any stoppage for determination of retooling or adjustment.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2003Publication date: August 12, 2004Applicant: R. A, Pearson CompanyInventors: Richard R. Lile, Daniel V. Brown
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Patent number: 6772661Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2000Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: Mikkelsen Graphic EngineeringInventors: Steen Mikkelsen, Geo Andersen
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Patent number: 6763748Abstract: A slicing and conveying system forms a three or more flavor-combined draft. A first slicing machine slices a succession of first and third slices in first and third shingled drafts. A second slicing machine slices a succession of second slices in second shingled drafts. A pass-through conveyor transfers the first draft to an output conveyor of the second slicing machine, wherein the second draft is added to the first draft to form a first combined draft. An overlap conveyor receives the first combined draft and merges the first combined draft with the third draft on the overlap conveyor to form an elongated combined draft. Optical sensors determine lengths of the first draft, the second draft, the third draft, and/or the elongated combined draft.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2002Date of Patent: July 20, 2004Assignee: Formax, Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Wolcott, Glenn Sandberg
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Patent number: 6739228Abstract: A process is provided for minimizing waste during processing of a length of stock into one or more shorter usable segments, where in connection with the processing station upon which the length of stock is processed, the length of stock has a minimum handling length. The waste is minimized by mapping the remnant segment at a position other than the last segment at the trailing end of the length of stock. The last segment at a trailing end of the length of stock is alternatively defined as one of the usable segments having a length greater than the minimum handling length.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2000Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Assignee: Peddinghaus CorporationInventor: James M. Magnuson
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Publication number: 20040079210Abstract: The present invention relates to a log-processing machine that includes a frame and at least one cutting head that is movable in relation to the frame along a path of travel. The path of travel includes a horizontal displacement component and a vertical displacement component and defines a plurality of log engaging positions. For example, the at least one cutting heads are movably mounted to the frame via at least one pivot, whereby the path of travel is defined by the cutting head's movement about the pivot. The log-processing machine is adapted to receive end loaded logs, such that when the at least one cutting head is in engagement with a log, a relative movement between the log and the cutting heads in a longitudinal direction of the log causes the cutting heads to cut away a side of the log.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2002Publication date: April 29, 2004Inventors: Joseph Andre Pascal Robitaille, Robert Martin Rousseau
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Patent number: 6672187Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2002Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Mikkelsen Graphic Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Peter Alsten, Geo Andersen, David G. Jansson
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Patent number: 6644164Abstract: A rotatable saw unit for optimized log breakdown includes a saw unit immediately downstream of an infeed conveyor and cooperating with the infeed conveyor for sawing a workpiece as the workpiece is translated by the infeed conveyor into the saw unit. The saw unit includes at least one saw aligned for sawing of the workpiece parallel to a longitudinal infeed axis. An optimizing processor determines an optimized sawing orientation relative to the longitudinal infeed axis. A saw unit positioner'selectively rotates the saw unit about a saw unit rotation axis so as to rotate the at least one saw into the optimized sawing orientation prior to sawing of the workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2000Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Inventor: Brian T. Stroud
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Publication number: 20030205120Abstract: A device for separating disc-shaped bodies from an original body includes a separating device, a feeding device, an optical recognition device for determining the front face contour of the original body and lamps for illuminating the surroundings of the cutting surface. The recognition device detects the front face using the contrast between the surroundings of the front face and the original body in relation to the determined front face. The lamps are mounted in a tunnel and arranged in a planar manner along the longitudinal direction of the original body. The method includes the steps of guiding the source body in a tunnel, mounting a plurality of lamps in a planar fashion along the longitudinal direction of the source body in the tunnel, and illuminating the source body and the environment of the face of the source body with said plurality of lamps.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2001Publication date: November 6, 2003Inventors: Ullrich Thiedig, Holger Wente, Bernd Koster
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Patent number: 6634268Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 1, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Bernd Guenther, Siegbert Holtermueller, Andreas Laudat, Rolf Metzner, Roland Walter
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Patent number: 6619167Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2001Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Inventors: Steen Mikkelsen, Geo Anderson
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Patent number: 6619168Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2001Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: Mikkelsen Graphic EngineeringInventors: Peter Alsten, Geo Andersen
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Patent number: 6612210Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2000Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: U.S. Natural Resources, Inc.Inventors: Mike Dockter, Michael P. Knerr, Glen O. Chambers
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Patent number: 6606928Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 2, 2000Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiyuki Takaishi, Ryuichi Satou
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Patent number: 6560849Abstract: An apparatus (10) is provided for automatically cutting strip materials (22) into slats (20) for a venetian blind. The apparatus (10) has a feeding station (12), a cutting station (14), a punching station (16) and a laddering station (18). Strip materials (22) for the slats (20) are stored in a magazine (24) of the station (12) and they are fed one at a time to the cutting station (14) for cutting into slats (20) of preset length after slots (46) have been punched. The slats (20) are then fed to the laddering station (18) for assembling into blinds. A sensor (56,58) is positioned to sense remnants of the strip material (22) and the remnants are automatically moved back to the feeding station (12) where they are lifted off the feeding path for ejection by a following strip (12).Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2000Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Inventor: Christopher Max Modra
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Publication number: 20030079586Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for recycling demolition brick for reuse in new construction. The bricks are recycled by having mortar removed from the demolition bricks, then stacking the recycled bricks for shipment. An automated process having seven stations is utilized from removing mortar from the demolition brick and stacking the brick. The first station includes a sorting area where the demolition brick is introduced into the automated process. The second station is a first cutting area where mortar is removed from the back surface of the brick. In the third station, the demolition brick is secured in a clamp and an image is taken of the front surface of the brick. The imaging data is used by the fourth station where cutting devices remove mortar from opposing ends of the demolition brick. Similarly, imaging data is utilized by the fifth station where a third cutting device removes mortar from the top and bottom of the demolition brick.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2001Publication date: May 1, 2003Inventor: John Zukley
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Publication number: 20030079583Abstract: By performing an accurate cutting when a substrate is cut, a gap between the substrates when a plurality of substrates are arranged is made constant or is reduced or eliminated, thereby improving electric characteristics of the gap portion between the substrates. For this purpose, a slice line and a guide line are provided on the substrate, the substrate is cut along the slice line, and the guide line is detected upon cutting, thereby detecting a misalignment and cutting the substrate while correcting the misalignment.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 1997Publication date: May 1, 2003Inventors: AKIRA FUNAKOSHI, CHIORI MOCHIZUKI
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Publication number: 20030066400Abstract: Sensors of the longitudinal edges and/or the width of hot roll metal strip are located immediately ahead of the trimming blades and are used to transversely adjust the trimming heads and/or the centerline position for the strip so that in subsequent trimming operations, the trim widths are identical at both sides. The cutting heads can be positioned in indentations at junctions between the successive segments of the strip.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2002Publication date: April 10, 2003Applicant: BWG Bergwerk- und Walzwerk-Maschinenbau GmbHInventors: Andreas Noe, Rolf Noe, Dieter Baukloh
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Patent number: 6539830Abstract: In preferred embodiments the invention includes a transverse board conveyor, a board extrusion portion, a marking station a sawing portion, and one or more board feeding portions, all of which are controlled by a process controller. In such, preferred embodiments, one or more stacks of boards are serially fed 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 carriage has a moveable clamping member which pinches the board between a wall of the receiver and the clamping member. The carriage moves down the receiver with the board clamped thereto conveying the board in a longitudinal direction to position the board in a desired position for sawing the board.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1999Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: The Koskovich CompanyInventor: Jerome E. Koskovich
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Patent number: 6520228Abstract: 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 workType: GrantFiled: February 15, 2000Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: CAE Inc.Inventors: Joe B. Kennedy, Roland Davyduke, James G. Jackson, James B. Hannebauer, William R. Newnes, Brian Stroud, John Sergeant
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Patent number: 6520057Abstract: A system and method for performing operations such as cutting on sheet material such as cloth wherein the sheet material is scanned at an inspection station to determine the existence and location of flaws in the material, the material is transferred to a conveyor where operations such as cutting are performed on the sheet material as it is moved by the conveyor, and the speed of the conveyor and the speed, direction and mode of the operations are controlled all according to a predetermined pattern of operation for the sheet material and the pattern can be re-nested or adjusted in accordance with the existence and location of flaws in the material as determined by the scanning. The operations are performed by controlled gantry-style cutters, and preferably two such cutters are employed wherein a control determines the conveyor speed and determines the portions of the cutting operation to be performed by the respective cutters.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1997Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Eastman Machine CompanyInventor: Erich F. Steadman
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Patent number: 6520056Abstract: A system and method for fabricating a polarizer for use in an LCD, which includes cutting said polarizer so that an absorption axis of the polarizer is aligned with an edge of the polarizer by using an optical sensor, coupled to a cutting machine, where the optical sensor uses a rotating reference polarizer to determine a null point of transmission through the polarizer and thereby determine any offset of the absorption axis with respect to an edge of the polarizer.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1999Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventors: Paul R. Nemeth, James D. Sampica
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Patent number: 6494240Abstract: In combination with a cant sawing or cutting unit, a system for guiding two-faced cants through the cut along the line of their natural curvature which includes at the infeed and outfeed ends of the unit, laterally moveable rollers for clamping upon parallel planar faces of the cant and imparting to it a pivotal movement in the horizontal plane while it is moving forward through the cut, so that the saws or cutters follow along a controlled curve in relation to the natural curvature of the cant.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1997Date of Patent: December 17, 2002Assignee: Denis Comact Inc.Inventor: Maurice Brisson
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Patent number: 6467352Abstract: Ultrasonic techniques are applied to the measurement of wooden members to detect splitting during sawing operations and thereby allow modification of a sawing technique or change in saw cut placement.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2001Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignees: Percepton, Inc., The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of AgricultureInventors: Mark E. Schafer, Robert J. Ross
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Publication number: 20020144581Abstract: A cutting machine for automatically trimming edges of folded printed products has a first cutting station with a cutting element for performing a front cut at a front cut location on an open side of the printed products. A feeding device transports the printed products to the first cutting station. A transport device transports the printed products received from the feeding device in a transport direction through the first cutting station. A measuring device measures a position of each of the printed products in the first cutting station before reaching a cutting position. A control device controls the transport device based on the position measured by the measuring device such that a deviation of the position measured by the measuring device from a nominal position is corrected during further transport of the printed products.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2001Publication date: October 10, 2002Applicant: GRAPHA-Holding AGInventor: Heinz Boss