GB2092501A - Registration of sheet material workpieces and cutting dies therefor - Google Patents

Registration of sheet material workpieces and cutting dies therefor Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2092501A
GB2092501A GB8103827A GB8103827A GB2092501A GB 2092501 A GB2092501 A GB 2092501A GB 8103827 A GB8103827 A GB 8103827A GB 8103827 A GB8103827 A GB 8103827A GB 2092501 A GB2092501 A GB 2092501A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
workpiece
die
image
conveyor
press
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB8103827A
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GB2092501B (en
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SAMCO STRONG Ltd
Original Assignee
SAMCO STRONG Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SAMCO STRONG Ltd filed Critical SAMCO STRONG Ltd
Priority to GB8103827A priority Critical patent/GB2092501B/en
Publication of GB2092501A publication Critical patent/GB2092501A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2092501B publication Critical patent/GB2092501B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D7/00—Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
    • B26D7/01—Means for holding or positioning work
    • B26D7/015—Means for holding or positioning work for sheet material or piles of sheets
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26F—PERFORATING; PUNCHING; CUTTING-OUT; STAMPING-OUT; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING
    • B26F1/00—Perforating; Punching; Cutting-out; Stamping-out; Apparatus therefor
    • B26F1/38—Cutting-out; Stamping-out
    • B26F1/40—Cutting-out; Stamping-out using a press, e.g. of the ram type

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Details Of Cutting Devices (AREA)

Abstract

A method of locating a sheet material workpiece W and a cutting die D therefor in registration with each other. Either an image of the die is projected on to the workpiece and the die located on the image or an image of the workpiece is projected on to a conveyor 12, the workpiece is positioned on the image, and the conveyor is operated to bring the workpiece into registration with the die. The die is pressed through the workpiece by the platen 8 of a press 4. The image is projected by a projector 14 through a two-way mirror 6 so as to facilitate the location of the dies on the workpiece by the operator. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Registration of sheet material workpieces and cutting dies therefor This invention is concerned with registration of sheet material workpieces and cutting dies therefor so that the sheet material workpiece can be cut by the die being pushed through the workpiece by the action of a press.
When press cutting sheet material workpieces, two alternative methods are commonly used. In the first of these methods, the workpiece is placed on a conveyor, the cutting die is positioned on top of the workpiece, and the conveyor is operated to bring the workpiece and the die between the platens of a press so that operation of the press can push the die through the workpiece. A number of dies are commonly positioned on a single workpiece to enable a number of components to be cut simultaneously and it is necessary to ensure correct positioning of the dies with respect to one another in order to achieve high material utilisation and correct positioning of each die with respect to any nap and/or pattern in the material. At present considerable time is spent in locating the dies on the workpiece.One method of locating the dies is to make a paper pattern with the positions of the dies marked thereon and either hold the pattern above the workpiece while the dies are slid into position between the workpiece and the pattern, which is a very time-consuming procedure, orto place the pattern on the workpiece and position the dies on the pattern, which results in the pattern being destroyed in the cutting operation.
In the second of the two commonly used methods, mentioned above, the cutting die is mounted on one of the platens of the press and the workpiece is located on a conveyor so that operation of the conveyor will bring the workpiece between the platens of the press into registration with the cutting die. This location of the workpiece on the conveyor is achieved by the use of location stops associated with the conveyor. With some types of workpiece, a preliminary operation, e.g. a guillotine cutting operation, is required to produce a suitable straight edge to abut the location stops. Furthermore, since it is undesirable to always cut on the same portion of the conveyor, it is desirable to move the cutting die on the press platen from time to time; this involves time-consuming re-location of the location stops.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of locating a sheet material workpiece and a cutting die therefor in registration with each other, in which method the necessity for a paper pattern or location stops is eliminated.
The invention provides a method of locating a sheet material workpiece and a cutting die therefor in registration with each other so that the sheet material workpiece can be cut by the die being pushed through the workpiece by the action of a press, the method comprising projecting an image of at least a portion of the outline of either the workpiece or the die, in the case of the die, on to the workpiece or, in the case of the workpiece, on to a conveyor arranged to carry the workpiece into registration with the die, and positioning the die or the workpiece, as the case may be, on the image.
When a method according to the last preceding paragraph is used to position cutting dies on top of a workpiece, the dies can be rapidly and accurately located on the images without a paper pattern being used. Alternatively, when a method according to the last preceding paragraph is used to position a workpiece on a conveyor, location stops are not required and hence no preliminary operation to produce a straight edge is necessary.
In order to avoid the operator intercepting the image while positioning the die or workpiece and to allow the operator to avoid having to bend over the conveyor, the image is projected through a two-way mirror arranged at an angle to the direction of projection of the image such that an operator can position the workpiece or the die by observing the reflected image from the two-way mirror.
The invention also provides an apparatus for use in cutting sheet material comprising a press, a conveyor arranged to convey workpieces between the platens of the press, and locating means for use in locating a workpiece and a cutting die therefor in registration with each other so that the workpiece can be cut by the die being pushed through the workpiece by the action of the press, the locating means comprising optical projecting means operable to project an image of at least a portion of the outline of either the workpiece or the die, in the case of the die, on to a workpiece on the conveyor or, in the case of the workpiece, on to the conveyor.
Because the colours of various workpieces to be cut may be different, the optical projecting means is arranged to project the image in a selected one of a plurality of different colours.
In order to increase the efficiency of the press cutting operation, where components of different types are to be cut by successive operations of the apparatus, the optical projection means comprises a magazine containing transparencies of the various images to be projected by the optical projection means, and the apparatus comprises control means operative to select a transparency from the magazine, and hence the image projected, in accordance with stock level information supplied to the control means.
There now follows a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of two methods of locating a sheet material workpiece and a cutting die therefor in registration with each other which are illustrative of the invention and of an illustrative apparatus for use in cutting sheet material. It is to be understood that the illustrative methods and the illustrative apparatus have been selected for description by way of example and not of limitation of the invention.
In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the illustrative apparatus being used for carrying out the first illustrative method; and figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the illustrative apparatus being used for carrying out the second illustrative method.
The illustrative apparatus is for use in cutting sheet material workpieces Wand comprises a press 4 having a fixed lower platen 6 and an upper platen 8 mounted on two columns 10 above the lower platen 6. The columns are arranged to be vertically moved by hydraulic means (not shown) to move the platen 8 downwards towards the lower platen 6 in a cutting stroke of the press or upwards away from the lower platen 6 to allow workpiece W to be positioned between the platens 6 and 8. The illustrative apparatus also comprises a conveyor 12 in the form of a conveyor belt which extends from a loading station thereof between the platens 6 and 8 to an unloading station thereof. The conveyor 12 is arranged to be moved, by moving means (not shown), to convey workpieces positioned on the conveyor 12 at the loading station between the plates 6 and 8 and thence to the unloading station.The conveyor 12 is arranged to pause while a workpiece is between the platens 6 and 8 so that a cutting stroke of the press 4 can be carried out.
The illustrative apparatus also comprises locating means for use in locating a workpiece Wand a cutting die D therefor in registration with each other so that the workpiece W can be cut by the die D being pushedthrough the workpiece W by the action of the press 4 in a cutting stroke thereof. The locating means comprises optical projecting means 14 operable to project an image I on a transprency T. The transparency T may conveniently be produced by photographic means and the optical projecting means 4 is focused so that the image I formed is the same size as the workpiece W or die D to be positioned. The optical projecting means 14 is mounted above the loading station of the conveyor 12 on a vibration-resistant support (not shown).The image I is of at least a portion of the outline of either the workpiece W of the die D. The image I is projected towards the loading station of the conveyor 12 and, as appears from the description below of the illustrative methods, falls, in the case of an image of the die Don to a workpiece Won the conveyor 12 or, in the case of an image of the workpiece W, on to the conveyor 12.
The transparency T can be arranged to produce the image I as a light area on a dark background or vice versa as is most appropriate in the particular circumstances. Furthermore, the optical projecting means 14 is arranged to project an image in a selected one of a plurality of colours by the selection of an appropriate colour filter (not shown). The appropriate colour is selected for each workpiece W since the colours of various workpieces to be cut may be different.
The illustrative apparatus also comprises a twoway mirror 16 mounted on a vibration-resistant support between the optical projecting means 14 and the loading station of the conveyor 12. The two-way mirror 16 is positioned so that image I is projected therethrough on its way towards the loading station of the conveyor 12. The plane of the mirror 16 is arranged at an angle of 45 degrees to the direction of projection of the image I such that an operator can position a workpiece W or a die D by observing the reflected image from the two-way mirror 16. The reflected light rays are indicated by R in Figure 2, the direct light rays being indicated byi in Figures.This arrangement enables an operator to position workpiece W or dies D without bending over the loading station of the conveyor 12 which might be uncomfortable and might cause him to intercept the image I or a portion thereof with his person.
The illustrative apparatus is used in carrying out the first and the second illustrative methods described below which are both methods of locating the sheet material workpiece Wand the cutting die D therefor in registration with each other so that the sheet material workpiece can be cut by the die D being pushed through the workpiece W by the action of the press 4.
When the workpiece W is placed on the conveyor 12 and a die or dies Dare positioned on top of the workpiece D, the first illustrative method is used. In this method images I are simultaneously projected by the optical projecting means 14 of at least a portion of the outline of each of a plurality of dies D to be positioned on the workpiece W. The images I pass through the two-way mirror 16 and are projected onto the workpiece Won the conveyor 12.
The operator observes the reflected image in the two-way mirror 16 and using this as a guide, positions the dies Don the images I. It will be apparent that the first illustrative method avoids the use of a paper pattern.
When the die D is mounted on the platen 8 of the press 4 and the workpiece W is moved by the conveyor 12 into registration with the die D, the second illustrative method is used. In this method, an image of the workpiece W is projected on to the conveyor 12 and the operator positions the workpiece W on the image I. It will be apparent that the second illustrative method avoids the use of location stops so that no preliminary operation on the workpiece W is necessary and the cutting position on the conveyor 12 can readily be changed by moving the die Don the platen 8 and adjusting the optical projecting means 14 to move the image I by a corresponding distance.
In a modification of the illustrative apparatus, the optical projection means 14 comprises a magazine containing transparencies of the various images to be projected by the optical projection means. The modified apparatus also comprises control means, in the form of a computer, which is operative to select a transprency from the magazine, and hence the image projected, in accordance with stock level information supplied to the computer. In this way, a balance of stock levels of various cut components can be maintained by changing the images I.

Claims (11)

1. A method of locating a sheet material work piece and a cutting die therefor in registration with each other so that the sheet material workpiece can be cut by the die being pushed through the workpiece by the action of a press, the method comprising projecting an image of at least a portion of the outline of either the workpiece or the die, in the case of the die, on to the workpiece or, in the case of the workpiece, on to a conveyor arranged to carry the workpiece into registration with the die, and positioning the die or the workpiece, as the case may be, on the image.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the image is projected through a two-way mirror arranged at an angle to the direction of projection of the image such that an operator can position the workpiece or the die by observing the reflected image from the two-way mirror.
3. A method according to either one of claims 1 and 2 wherein the workpiece is placed on a conveyor arranged to carry it between the platens of the press, an image of the die is projected on to the workpiece, the die is positioned on the image, and the conveyor is operated to carry the workpiece and the die between the platens of the press.
4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the images of a plurality of dies are simultaneously projected on to theworkpiece and a plurality of dies are positioned on those images.
5. A method according to either one of claims 1 and 2 wherein the image of a workpiece is projected on to a conveyor arranged to carry the workpiece between the platens of a press into registration with the die which is mounted on one of the platens and the workpiece is positioned on the image.
6. A method of locating a sheet material workpiece and a cutting die therefor in registration with each other substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to: i) Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings; or ii) Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
7. An apparatus for use in cutting sheet material comprising a press, a conveyor arranged to convey workpieces between the platens of the press, and locating means for use in locating a workpiece and a cutting die therefor in registration with each other so that the workpiece can be cut by the die being pushed through the workpiece by the action of the press, the locating means comprising optical projecting means operable to project an image of at least a portion of the outline of either the workpiece or the die, in the case of the die, on to a workpiece on the conveyor or, in the case of the workpiece, on to the conveyor.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the optical projecting means is arranged to project the image in a selected one of a plurality of different colours.
9. An apparatus according to either one of claims 7 and 8 also comprising a two-way mirror positioned so that the image is projected therethrough and at an angle to the direction of projection such that an operator can position a workpiece or a die by observing the reflected image from the two-way mirror.
10. An apparatus according to any one of claims 7,8 and 9 wherein the optical projection means comprises a magazine containing transparencies of the various images to be projected by the optical projection means, and the apparatus comprises control means operative to select a transparency from the magazine, and hence the image projected, in accordance with stock level information supplied to the control means.
11. An apparatus for use in cutting sheet material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
GB8103827A 1981-02-07 1981-02-07 Registration of sheet material workpieces and cutting dies therefor Expired GB2092501B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8103827A GB2092501B (en) 1981-02-07 1981-02-07 Registration of sheet material workpieces and cutting dies therefor

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8103827A GB2092501B (en) 1981-02-07 1981-02-07 Registration of sheet material workpieces and cutting dies therefor

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2092501A true GB2092501A (en) 1982-08-18
GB2092501B GB2092501B (en) 1984-07-18

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GB8103827A Expired GB2092501B (en) 1981-02-07 1981-02-07 Registration of sheet material workpieces and cutting dies therefor

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2133733A (en) * 1983-01-12 1984-08-01 Bondax Carpets Ltd Apparatus and method for cutting carpet
US4528882A (en) * 1983-01-12 1985-07-16 Bondax Carpets Limited Apparatus for cutting carpet
GB2167702A (en) * 1983-01-12 1986-06-04 Bondax Carpets Ltd Method of preparing and cutting carpet
WO1995029046A1 (en) * 1994-04-27 1995-11-02 Lectra Systemes Method for digitising and cutting remnants with non-repetitive shapes
EP1135224A1 (en) * 1998-06-16 2001-09-26 Bizpac (Australia) Pty. Ltd. A punching apparatus
USD855217S1 (en) 2010-11-29 2019-07-30 Anchor Wall Systems, Inc. Molded surface of a concrete product

Families Citing this family (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD584423S1 (en) 2006-12-14 2009-01-06 Anchor Wall Systems, Inc. Molded surface of a concrete product
USD588713S1 (en) 2007-01-19 2009-03-17 Anchor Wall Systems, Inc. Molded surface of a concrete product
USD598135S1 (en) 2007-03-14 2009-08-11 Anchor Wall Systems, Inc. Molded surface of a concrete product
USD585567S1 (en) 2007-05-14 2009-01-27 Anchor Wall Systems, Inc. Molded surface of a concrete product
USD588714S1 (en) 2007-08-06 2009-03-17 Anchor Wall Systems, Inc. Molded surface of a concrete product
USD620614S1 (en) 2008-03-13 2010-07-27 Anchor Wall Systems, Inc. Molded surface of a concrete product
USD620134S1 (en) 2009-05-19 2010-07-20 Anchor Wall Systems, Inc. Molded surface of a concrete product
USD636093S1 (en) 2010-03-02 2011-04-12 Anchor Wall Systems, Inc. Molded surface of a concrete product
USD645165S1 (en) 2010-12-03 2011-09-13 Anchor Wall Systems, Inc. Molded surface of a concrete product
USD678552S1 (en) 2011-05-05 2013-03-19 Anchor Wall Systems, Inc. Molded surface of a concrete product
USD679833S1 (en) 2011-05-05 2013-04-09 Anchor Wall Systems, Inc. Molded surface of a concrete product
USD685923S1 (en) 2011-05-05 2013-07-09 Anchor Wall Systems, Inc. Molded surface of a concrete product
USD703346S1 (en) 2012-09-12 2014-04-22 Anchor Wall Systems, Inc. Molded surface of a concrete product
USD693481S1 (en) 2012-11-05 2013-11-12 Anchor Wall Systems, Inc. Molded surface of a concrete product

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2133733A (en) * 1983-01-12 1984-08-01 Bondax Carpets Ltd Apparatus and method for cutting carpet
US4528882A (en) * 1983-01-12 1985-07-16 Bondax Carpets Limited Apparatus for cutting carpet
GB2167702A (en) * 1983-01-12 1986-06-04 Bondax Carpets Ltd Method of preparing and cutting carpet
US4656901A (en) * 1983-01-12 1987-04-14 Bondax Carpets Limited Method for cutting carpet
WO1995029046A1 (en) * 1994-04-27 1995-11-02 Lectra Systemes Method for digitising and cutting remnants with non-repetitive shapes
US5838569A (en) * 1994-04-27 1998-11-17 Letra Systemes Method of digitizing and cutting up remnants of non-repetitive shapes
EP1135224A1 (en) * 1998-06-16 2001-09-26 Bizpac (Australia) Pty. Ltd. A punching apparatus
EP1135224A4 (en) * 1998-06-16 2003-05-07 Bizpac Australia Pty Ltd A punching apparatus
USD855217S1 (en) 2010-11-29 2019-07-30 Anchor Wall Systems, Inc. Molded surface of a concrete product

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Publication number Publication date
GB2092501B (en) 1984-07-18

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee