GB2135621A - Method of cutting flexible materials - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of producing a bevelled edge on a flexible sheet material comprises placing the material (4) over a raised jig (1) and cutting the material (4) with a substantially vertical blade (3) operating at a distance from the jig (1) such that during cutting the plane of the material (4) at the point of cut is inclined to the direction of movement of the blade (3) through the material (4). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of cutting flexible materials This invention relates to a method of cutting flexible materials and more particularly provides a method of cutting flexible materials to provide a bevelled edge thereon. For many applications of flexible materials, for example where they are to lie against an inclined surface or where it is desired to join them by means of a lap joint without increasing the thickness of the material at the joint, it is necessary to produce a bevelled edge on the material. The most common way of producing a bevelled edge on flexible materials is to cut the materials to the desired shape and then to produce the bevelled edge by hand using a skiving machine. This operation is extremely time consuming and, because it is a manuai operation, the results are variable, particularly as regards the angle of the bevel.

This invention provides a one-stage method of producing a bevelled edge on a flexible sheet material which comprises placing the material over a raised jig and cutting the material with a substantially vertical blade operating at a distance from the jig such that during cutting the plane of the material at the point of cut is inclined to the direction of movement of the blade through the material.

The method of the invention may be used to provide a bevelled edge wholly or partially around a piece of flexible sheet material and to this end the blade may be either a continuous blade for cutting a small piece of material from a larger sheet or it may be a discontinuous blade simply for cutting along the portion that is desired to provide with a bevelled edge.

The flexible sheet material may, for example, be rubber or plastics material, for example natural or synthetic latex, which may be a flexible foam, a felt or leather or any other material which can be bent over the edge of the jig to present an inclined surface to the vertically acting blade.

The distance between the cutter and the edge of the jig will vary depending on the nature of the material to be cut, and particularly its flexibility, the thickness of the material to be cut and the angle of cut desired. Once the apparatus has been set up with the desired separation, which is easily ascertainable by trial and error, the method provides a re-producible cut in a very rapid operation. A multiplicity of cutters and jigs can be arranged in a press whereby a number of shaped articles can be cut from a large sheet in a single operation.

Where the flexible material is for example a latex foam bonded to a backing sheet of nonfoamed material and it is desired to cut a multiplicity of articles from the sheet in a single cutting operation it may be necessary under some circumstances to provide relieving cuts to allow the material to stretch satisfactorily over the jig since the un-foamed backing has a very much lower elasticity than the foam.

The method is particularly suitable for producing inserts for footwear, for example insoles and heel pads etc., which require a bevelled edge to ensure that they conform to the internal contours of the footwear. Whereas previously the production of such insoles has been largely a manual operation the method of the invention allows the manufacturer of footwear inserts to be substantially largely mechanised thereby considerably reducing the cost of such operations.

The invention also includes the apparatus for carrying out the method.

The invention will now be described in greater detail by way of example with reference to the drawings of which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a jig and cutter according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the operation of the apparatus according to the invention and Fig. 3 is a section through a piece of material cut in the manner shown in Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 1 the apparatus comprises a jig 1 mounted on a base 2 and standing proud thereof and a vertically operable cutter 3. In the arrangement shown the cutter 3 is a closed loop of the same contours as the jig 1 but of larger overall dimensions so that when placed over the jig 1 it is equidistantly spaced from the edge of the jig on all sides.

When a piece of flexible material 5 is laid over the jig and the cutter moved vertically relative to the sheet material the cutter contacts the sheet material which overlaps the jig 1 and presses it downwardly over the edges of the jig 1. Only when the resistance to downward movement of the material becomes greater than the force needed to cut the material does cutting commence and at that time the plane of the material at the point of cut is inclined to the vertical direction of cut. Thus, when the cut piece 5 is flattened out it has bevelled edges 6 on all sides as shown in Fig. 3.

1. A method of producing a bevelled edge on a flexible sheet material which comprises placing the material over a raised jig and cutting the material with a substantially vertical blade operating at a distance from the jig such that during cutting the plane of the material at the point of cut is inclined to the direction of movement of the blade through the material.

2. A method according to claim 1, substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the drawings.

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

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Method of cutting flexible materials This invention relates to a method of cutting flexible materials and more particularly provides a method of cutting flexible materials to provide a bevelled edge thereon. For many applications of flexible materials, for example where they are to lie against an inclined surface or where it is desired to join them by means of a lap joint without increasing the thickness of the material at the joint, it is necessary to produce a bevelled edge on the material. The most common way of producing a bevelled edge on flexible materials is to cut the materials to the desired shape and then to produce the bevelled edge by hand using a skiving machine. This operation is extremely time consuming and, because it is a manuai operation, the results are variable, particularly as regards the angle of the bevel. This invention provides a one-stage method of producing a bevelled edge on a flexible sheet material which comprises placing the material over a raised jig and cutting the material with a substantially vertical blade operating at a distance from the jig such that during cutting the plane of the material at the point of cut is inclined to the direction of movement of the blade through the material. The method of the invention may be used to provide a bevelled edge wholly or partially around a piece of flexible sheet material and to this end the blade may be either a continuous blade for cutting a small piece of material from a larger sheet or it may be a discontinuous blade simply for cutting along the portion that is desired to provide with a bevelled edge. The flexible sheet material may, for example, be rubber or plastics material, for example natural or synthetic latex, which may be a flexible foam, a felt or leather or any other material which can be bent over the edge of the jig to present an inclined surface to the vertically acting blade. The distance between the cutter and the edge of the jig will vary depending on the nature of the material to be cut, and particularly its flexibility, the thickness of the material to be cut and the angle of cut desired. Once the apparatus has been set up with the desired separation, which is easily ascertainable by trial and error, the method provides a re-producible cut in a very rapid operation. A multiplicity of cutters and jigs can be arranged in a press whereby a number of shaped articles can be cut from a large sheet in a single operation. Where the flexible material is for example a latex foam bonded to a backing sheet of nonfoamed material and it is desired to cut a multiplicity of articles from the sheet in a single cutting operation it may be necessary under some circumstances to provide relieving cuts to allow the material to stretch satisfactorily over the jig since the un-foamed backing has a very much lower elasticity than the foam. The method is particularly suitable for producing inserts for footwear, for example insoles and heel pads etc., which require a bevelled edge to ensure that they conform to the internal contours of the footwear. Whereas previously the production of such insoles has been largely a manual operation the method of the invention allows the manufacturer of footwear inserts to be substantially largely mechanised thereby considerably reducing the cost of such operations. The invention also includes the apparatus for carrying out the method. The invention will now be described in greater detail by way of example with reference to the drawings of which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a jig and cutter according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the operation of the apparatus according to the invention and Fig. 3 is a section through a piece of material cut in the manner shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 1 the apparatus comprises a jig 1 mounted on a base 2 and standing proud thereof and a vertically operable cutter 3. In the arrangement shown the cutter 3 is a closed loop of the same contours as the jig 1 but of larger overall dimensions so that when placed over the jig 1 it is equidistantly spaced from the edge of the jig on all sides. When a piece of flexible material 5 is laid over the jig and the cutter moved vertically relative to the sheet material the cutter contacts the sheet material which overlaps the jig 1 and presses it downwardly over the edges of the jig 1. Only when the resistance to downward movement of the material becomes greater than the force needed to cut the material does cutting commence and at that time the plane of the material at the point of cut is inclined to the vertical direction of cut. Thus, when the cut piece 5 is flattened out it has bevelled edges 6 on all sides as shown in Fig. 3. CLAIMS

1. A method of producing a bevelled edge on a flexible sheet material which comprises placing the material over a raised jig and cutting the material with a substantially vertical blade operating at a distance from the jig such that during cutting the plane of the material at the point of cut is inclined to the direction of movement of the blade through the material.

2. A method according to claim 1, substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the drawings.