GB1603709A - Device for making rectangular cuts - Google Patents

Description

(54) DEVICE FOR MAKING RECTANGULAR CUTS (71) I, HANS HERMAN WEIL, of German nationality, of 8 Tullgatan, S--211 28 Malt5, Sweden, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a device for making rectangular cuts in sheet material such as paper, cardboard, plastic or metal foil, and fabric.

Various arrangements to achieve windowshaped cuttings from cardboard or other plane materials have previously been described. They are to make possible the production of so-called passepartouts for framing of artistic and/or graphic works of art. However, the cutting process together with the preparative measurement is timeconsuming and requires great attention, unless errors and inaccuracies might occur, which in these cases destroy important aesthetical impressions of the framed work of art.

However, as we are concerned here with the manufacture of products most of which seldom have the same dimensions, great difficulties are involved with a completely mechanical manufacturing process, especially when precision within certain price limits is to be maintained, particularly when beveled borders are required. An embarrassing error that is difficult to avoid is that a cut is often extended beyond the frame into the field of the remaining material.

The present invention provides a device for cutting out a rectangle in cardboard, fabric, or other sheet material, comprising four knives mounted in respective fixtures in a cutting block, each knife being individually movable from an inactive position in which the knife cannot contact an underlayer of the sheet material to an active position in which the knife can cut the underlayer, the knives in their active positions coinciding with the side faces of a truncated rectangular pyramid, and means for defining the diretion of motion of the cutting block.

Thus the relative position of the four cuts, which always forms a rectangle - even if having the most different sizes - is rectangularly preformed for all intended sizes and shapes and, consequently, for all cut lengths, and in this way the exact joining of the cutting edges, which form a constant space angle for all sizes, is secured once and for all. The always delicate connection of the cuts is so to speak built-in in the instrument and cannot fail. In cutting one edge, only one knife is used. After each completion of one of the four cutting edges and before the beginning of the following cutting stage it can be moved to its inactive position so that its exact position is secured in respect of the cut completed at that moment.This change of position can be controlled mechanically, the knives being brought consecutively from inactive position into working position and then again lifted into inactive position.

A special embodiment of the invention consists in the combination of the cutting block or holder with a templet frame or an adjustable modular frame in such a way that the knife shift technique is automatically released as soon as the holder hits the edge or another preformed element of one of the frame rulers arranged for release, as described below. This embodiment may comprise an adjustable frame in two parts, more specifically of two angular pairs of rulers, which are rigidly connected vertically to each other in the angle apex and are covered with locking structures in such a way that the pairs can form different sizes movable relative to each other under constant maintenance of vertical position and preferably due to the locking of the structures in a plan position cannot be lifted from each other.Along these frame parts the holder described above runs preferably on rails to which a bearing groove in the holder corresponds, which can be provided with ball bearings or slide bearings.

To obtain continuous cutting of all four edges of a window to be cut, the four blades are arranged to be in contact with each other and are characterized in that their contact edge corresponds to the intended angular position of the passepartout corners to be obtained.

The preferred shape of the blades, viz.

with a long cutting edge instead of a point, a cutting edge which is tapered into two or more points, has three different purposes.

Firstly it will simplify the rectilinear guiding of the cut. Secondly this design will permit the cuts to touch each other in their end points without cutting so deeply into the underlayer under the material to be cut as would be necessary with knives terminating in one point, the blades of which form a pyramid, in order to achieve contact of the cuts. Thirdly, part of the way of the slide motion of the holder is spared by the extended knife edge, which is of a great advantage in respect of the placing of the mechanical parts, especially when the device is to be constructed for mechanical operation. If, on the other hand, the knife should have only one straight edge, a much greater force should be required for piercing the material; the series of points eliminates this difficulty. The cutting process always starts with this piercing of the material.

The exterior of the holder can be formed to fit the shape of a grasping hand. It can be used for all sizes and formats desired. These can consequently be achieved by only adjusting the frame. The change of size of the rectangular frame can either take place by displacement of the pairs of frame rulers or by separation and renewed joining thereof. It is an advantage for the precision in the coaction of the ruler parts that such a separation only can take place under bending. As long as they are positioned flat, they cannot bc separated from each other against the operator's will, but will only be displaced towards each other until the desired dimensions are obtained. Structured frame rulers of this kind can easily be produced from plates, e.g. such of PVC, which can be stamped in a corresponding way under heating.The structure element can be formed according to the shape of a sinusoidal curve with higher inclined sides.

In this way a form of "interlocking" art is created. Thus, the raised parts consist of thickened portions, which fit into each other, but cannot be fitted together without deformation, pressure, etc. The pieces can be slideably combined for good precision.

They can be stamped or cast on both sides in such a way that the structures on one surface of the rulers run vertically to those of the other side. The result is then that in one case a series of similar but differently big formats are obtained, but in the other case, i.e. through sliding contact of the opposite surfaces with each other, running format changes between standing and lying formats of the same order of magnitude.

The condition for this is that the sliding structure grooves in one case run parallel to the angle partition line of the frame corners and in the other case perpendicularly to that line.

Illustrative examples of the invention will be described below more in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment according to the invention for' making rectangular cuts, Fig. 2 is a view from above of two angular rulers co-operating with each other, Fig. 3 is a side view of a cutting block, Fig. 4 is a view from above, partly in section, on an enlarged scale, of the cutting block according to Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a component part of the cutting block according to Fig. 4, Fig. 6 shows schematically the knives of the cutting block in operative position, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a device according to the invention, Fig. 8 shows a connection between a cutting block and an angular ruler, partly in section, and Fig. 9 shows schematically an embodiment of the release mechanism.

In Fig. 1 a device for cutting passepartout windows is shown. The device 1 consists of a' table 2, on which a glass plate 3 is arranged, which is raised above the plate 4 of the table 2, under which the original can be pushed in or towards which, alternatively, the original, which is placed above 4, can be pressed from below. Two angular rulers 5 and 6 are arranged on the glass plate 3, of which the ruler 5 is stationary and the ruler 6 is displaceable relative to the ruler 5, in order to vary the size of the window which is formed by these two rulers together.

A cutting device 7 is mounted on the side of the glass plate 3 on the table plate 4, and includes a telescopic arm 8, the end of which is actuated photoelectrically to follow the contour of the window. Thereby a cutting block 9, displaceably arranged on the arm 8, carries out such a motion that the knives disposed in the cutting block 9 cut out a window in a pasteboard 10, the size of the window in the pasteboard 10 corresponding to the window formed by the rulers 5 and 6.

When the window sides which run in the longitudinal direction of the table 2 are cut, the cutting block 9 is displaced along the arm 8, while when cutting the window sides running in the transverse direction of the table 2, the cutting block 9 is displaced together with the arm 8 being guided by grooves 11 and 12 in the table 2. The guiding of the knives is carried out electrically in this embodiment.

In Fig. 2 a simpler variant of a device for cutting out passepartout windows is shown, which consists of two angular rulers 5' and 6', of which the ruler 5' is stationary, while the ruler 6' is parallelly displaceable via parallel rods and a turn-plate, so that the legs of the rulers 5' and 6' always meet at the correct angle. The stationary ruler 5' can be tilted upwards so that an original can be introduced under the ruler 5' and adjusted so that the legs of the ruler 5' form two sides of the window to be cut. After this the ruler 6' is adjusted to that a closed window is obtained. The original is then removed and a window is cut out in a pasteboard, which is introduced under the rulers 5' and 6' or, alternatively, was introduced in advance.

Cutting is carried out by means of the cutting block 9' shown in Fig. 3, which has four pivotable hooks 13 attached thereto.

The cutting block 9' includes, moreover, four knife fixtures 15, one of which is shown with a knife 14 in operative position, while in the other fixtures the remaining three knives (not shown) are in an inactive position. In cutting, which is started in a corner of the window, the cutting block 9' is hooked to the ruler 5' or 6' by means of one of the hooks 13 so that the cutting block is held in position with respect to the ruler 5' or 6'. After this the knife 14, which corresponds to the attached hook 13, is pressed through the pasteboard, and the cutting block is displaced along one leg of the ruler to the following corner, where the attached hook is released and the following hook is actuated. The pressed down knife is raised to inactive position, and the following knife is pressed through the cardboard etc.

In Fig. 3, moreover, a shaft 54 is shown, around which an arm 55 can be adjusted by means of the handles 56, 57, and the knife holder 58 can be pressed down and through the underlayer.

The construction and the way of operation of a cutting block 9' are described in more detail with reference to Figs. 4 and 5. The cutting block 9' comprises four knives 14, which in the inactive position are pushed upwards into their fixtures 15. The fixtures 15 are inclined relative to each other, so that when all four knives 14 are moved down to cutting position they form the sides of a truncated pyramid, which is schematically indicated in Fig. 6. This means, as already mentioned, that the risk of a corner not being perfectly cut is eliminated. This presupposes that the requirements as to the tolerances of the positions of the knives must be high.

A pressure plate 16 is pivotally connected via an arm 17 with the centre of the cutting block 9'. A coil spring 18 exerts a turning force on the arm 17, e.g. in clock-wise direction. As the pressure plate 16 is turned relative to the centre of the cutting block 9' it comes into contact with a head 19 of a guide member 20, which is raised above the upper surface of the cutting block 9', the member 20 being rigidly connected with one knife 14. As turning of the pressure plate 16 continues, the head 19 is pressed against the force of a compression spring 21 to bring the knife 14 to the cutting position shown in Fig.

5. A locking means 22 guarantees that the pressure plate 16 stops above the head 19 and does not continue its motion past the head.

When the cutting block 9' is displaced from one corner in the window formed by the rulers 5' and 6', Fig. 2, and its associated knife 14 enters the position shown in Fig. 5, cutting of the underlying pasteboard takes place. When the cutting block 9' arrives at the following corner of the window a front end of a rod member 23 comes into contact with the ruler along which the following cut is to be made. The rod member 23 is then displaced, against the action of a spring, backwards relative to the direction of motion of the cutting block 9', the locking means 22 being pressed down towards the underlayer against the action of a spring, releasing the pressure plate 16. Due to the action of the spring 18 the pressure plate is turned to the region of the following knife, where it again enters the position shown in Fig. 5.

The lowermost position of the pressure plate 16 shown in Fig. 4 is the final position for a window cut-out. The stop means 24, which locks the pressure plate in this position, is not released in the same way as the locking means 22 but is manually operated. The tension of the spring 18, which will be reduced with the turning of the pressure plate, is restored by being wound up like a spiral spring.

In Fig. 7 a further embodiment of a device for cutting out passepartout windows is shown. The device consists of a table 2" and an angular ruler 5" arranged on the table, which is attached to the table 2" by means of joints 25. The ruler 5" is treated with an anti-slide agent on its underside and has displaceable indicating means 26 along The legs of the rulers. The device has, moreover, a sliding rod 27, which can be temporarily attached e.g. by means of a clamp 28 in different positions on the ruler 5". The device further includes a cutting block 9", which contains four knives like the aforesaid cutting blocks, which are arranged in the form of the truncated pyramid described above. The cutting block 9" has moreover two locking grooves 29 and 30, which are arranged transversely to each other. In the grooves 29 and 30 spring locks 31 are arranged.The cutting block 9" is further provided with four switch knobs 32 to displace the knives 14 out of the inactive position into the working position, a locking mechanism however guaranteeing that only one knife enters operating position. In order to lock all knives 14 in the inactive position, which might be necessary so as not to risk damage to the original, a safety knob 33 is arranged.

When using the device, the original is moved under the angular ruler 5" and the indicating means 26 are adjusted to mark the size of the window. The cutting block 9" is then arranged in the corner of the ruler 5" and connected with the leg of the ruler 5" in a suitable way, e.g. as is described below with reference to Fig. 8, along which leg cutting is to be carried out. The knife 14 facing this leg is actuated by means of its associated switch knob to enter its active position and cutting is then carried out along one leg of the ruler. When the cutting block 9" has arrived at one of the indicating means 26, the cutting along the the leg ceases, and the slide rod 27 is attached to that leg, by means of the clamp 28, along which cutting took place, the rod 27 being pressed down in one of the grooves 29 or 30 and locked therein.The knife which is now to enter an active position is pressed down through the pasteboard, while the knife which was in active position enters its inactive position at the same time. One knife is consequently always in active position and guarantees in this way additionally that no displacement of the cutting block 9" transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ruler 5" or the slide rod 27 takes place. The switching mechanism of the knives 14 is so to speak based on the same principles as the shifting of different colour pencils in a ball-pen of multi-colour type. The cutting block 9" is then displaced along the slide rod 27, until the desired cutting length has been obtained by reading on the slide rod 27, after which the slide rod 27 is attached to the other leg of the ruler 5".

In Fig. 8 an example is shown, which illustrates how a cutting block 9" can be loosely connected with a leg of an angular ruler 5". A sliding pin 34 fitted in the cutting block engages a guide groove 35 in one leg of the ruler 5", the pin 34 and the groove 35 having such an inclination that the risk of the slide pin 34 coming out of the groove 35 is very small. The slide pin 34 is preferably brought into engagement with the groove at the same time as the associated knife 14.

enters its operating position.

In Fig. 9 a release mechanism for four knives is shown, which has four switch knobs 32', of which only two are shown in Fig. 9. The switch knobs 32' have bolts 36 projecting laterally to the centre of the mechanism and extending over the upper surface of a round head 37, which is displaceable downwards against the action of a compression spring 38. Sliding members 39 which are provided with stop tongues 40 are arranged under the switch knobs 32'.

The sliding members 39 are provided at their lower ends with knives 14"'. The sliding members 39 are consequently displaceable downwards with their knives 14"' by means of the switch knobs 32' against the action of a tension spring 41.

Four locking levers 43 are arranged on a stand 42 of the mechanism via shafts 44 and are pivotable around the shafts against the action of a spring 45. The levers 43 are provided with arms 46 at their upper ends which arms can be turned upwards and are intended for cooperation with the round head 37. Moreover, on the round head 37 a security knob 47 is arranged.

The mechanism has the following way of operation. In the position according to Fig.

9 the knife 14"' on the right is in the active position, while the other knives are in the inactive position. When the knife 14"' on the left is now actuated to enter its active position in such a way that the left slide member 39 is displaced downwards by means of the left switch knob 32', the round head 37, which is likewise downwardly displaced, presses the lever plates via the arms 46 outwards, the right knife returning to inactive position. The stop tongue 40 of the left knife passes the lower part of the locking lever 43, and, at the same time, the right knife is released. The left arm 45 then follows the contour of the round head 37 at the further downward motion of the left member 39 and consequently also the round head 37, the locking lever 43 moving around the centre of the mechanism and locking of the left knife 14"' taking place. At release of the knob 32' and, as a consequence of this, upward motion of the round head through the action of the spring 38 the left arm 46 is turned aside upwards, the round head 37 not influencing the position of the locking lever 43 on its way upwards. After this the left arm 46 returns to its starting position through the action of a spring.

By depression of the security knob 47 all knives 14"' can be caused to enter inactive position.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A device for cutting out a rectangle in cardboard,-fabric, or other sheet material, comprising four knives mounted in respective fixtures in a cutting block, each

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (1)

1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

   pyramid described above. The cutting block 9" has moreover two locking grooves 29 and 30, which are arranged transversely to each other. In the grooves 29 and 30 spring locks 31 are arranged. The cutting block 9" is further provided with four switch knobs 32 to displace the knives 14 out of the inactive position into the working position, a locking mechanism however guaranteeing that only one knife enters operating position. In order to lock all knives 14 in the inactive position, which might be necessary so as not to risk damage to the original, a safety knob 33 is arranged.

   When using the device, the original is moved under the angular ruler 5" and the indicating means 26 are adjusted to mark the size of the window. The cutting block 9" is then arranged in the corner of the ruler 5" and connected with the leg of the ruler 5" in a suitable way, e.g. as is described below with reference to Fig. 8, along which leg cutting is to be carried out. The knife 14 facing this leg is actuated by means of its associated switch knob to enter its active position and cutting is then carried out along one leg of the ruler. When the cutting block 9" has arrived at one of the indicating means 26, the cutting along the the leg ceases, and the slide rod 27 is attached to that leg, by means of the clamp 28, along which cutting took place, the rod 27 being pressed down in one of the grooves 29 or 30 and locked therein.The knife which is now to enter an active position is pressed down through the pasteboard, while the knife which was in active position enters its inactive position at the same time. One knife is consequently always in active position and guarantees in this way additionally that no displacement of the cutting block 9" transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ruler 5" or the slide rod 27 takes place. The switching mechanism of the knives 14 is so to speak based on the same principles as the shifting of different colour pencils in a ball-pen of multi-colour type. The cutting block 9" is then displaced along the slide rod 27, until the desired cutting length has been obtained by reading on the slide rod 27, after which the slide rod 27 is attached to the other leg of the ruler 5".

   In Fig. 8 an example is shown, which illustrates how a cutting block 9" can be loosely connected with a leg of an angular ruler 5". A sliding pin 34 fitted in the cutting block engages a guide groove 35 in one leg of the ruler 5", the pin 34 and the groove 35 having such an inclination that the risk of the slide pin 34 coming out of the groove 35 is very small. The slide pin 34 is preferably brought into engagement with the groove at the same time as the associated knife 14.

   enters its operating position.

   In Fig. 9 a release mechanism for four knives is shown, which has four switch knobs 32', of which only two are shown in Fig. 9. The switch knobs 32' have bolts 36 projecting laterally to the centre of the mechanism and extending over the upper surface of a round head 37, which is displaceable downwards against the action of a compression spring 38. Sliding members 39 which are provided with stop tongues 40 are arranged under the switch knobs 32'.

   The sliding members 39 are provided at their lower ends with knives 14"'. The sliding members 39 are consequently displaceable downwards with their knives 14"' by means of the switch knobs 32' against the action of a tension spring 41.

   Four locking levers 43 are arranged on a stand 42 of the mechanism via shafts 44 and are pivotable around the shafts against the action of a spring 45. The levers 43 are provided with arms 46 at their upper ends which arms can be turned upwards and are intended for cooperation with the round head 37. Moreover, on the round head 37 a security knob 47 is arranged.

   The mechanism has the following way of operation. In the position according to Fig.

   9 the knife 14"' on the right is in the active position, while the other knives are in the inactive position. When the knife 14"' on the left is now actuated to enter its active position in such a way that the left slide member 39 is displaced downwards by means of the left switch knob 32', the round head 37, which is likewise downwardly displaced, presses the lever plates via the arms 46 outwards, the right knife returning to inactive position. The stop tongue 40 of the left knife passes the lower part of the locking lever 43, and, at the same time, the right knife is released. The left arm 45 then follows the contour of the round head 37 at the further downward motion of the left member 39 and consequently also the round head 37, the locking lever 43 moving around the centre of the mechanism and locking of the left knife 14"' taking place.At release of the knob 32' and, as a consequence of this, upward motion of the round head through the action of the spring 38 the left arm 46 is turned aside upwards, the round head 37 not influencing the position of the locking lever 43 on its way upwards. After this the left arm 46 returns to its starting position through the action of a spring.

   By depression of the security knob 47 all knives 14"' can be caused to enter inactive position.

   WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A device for cutting out a rectangle in cardboard,-fabric, or other sheet material, comprising four knives mounted in respective fixtures in a cutting block, each

   knife being individually movable from an inactive position in which the knife cannot contact an underlayer of the sheet material to an active position in which the knife can cut the underlayer, the knives in their active positions coinciding with the side faces of a truncated rectangular pyramid, and means for defining the direction of motion of the cutting block.

   2. A device as claimed in claim I, including a control mechanism for moving only one knife into the active position at a time.

   3. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which the control mechanism comprises a motion means for moving each knife, and a turning arm which acts on one said motion means at a time.

   4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which the control mechanism includes locking means to lock the arm in a position above the respective motion means as well as rod elements cooperating with the respective locking means to release the arm.

   5. A device as claimed in claim 4, in which the elements release the respective locking means when the rod elements come into contact with the means for defining the direction of motion of the cutting block.

   6. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the knives have an extended length in the cutting direction, and have cutting edges which taper into two or more points.

   7. A device as claimed in any of claims I to 6, in which the means for defining the direction of motion of the cutting block comprises frame rulers having structural elements engaging each other.

   8. A device as claimed in any of claims I to 6, in which the means for defining the direction of motion of the cutting block comprises an angular ruler and a sliding rod which can be attached tod the ruler, and two grooves in the cutting block for receiving the sliding rod.

   9. A device as claimed in claim 1, substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 6 or Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.