JPH021640B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the cutting of sheet material, and more particularly to the cutting of sheet material onto a support surface by a cutting tool that is moved relative to the support surface by controlled transport means. spread out 1
The present invention relates to a cutting device for cutting layers of sheet material or thinly stacked layers of sheet material.

(Prior Art and Problems to be Solved) Automatically controlled cutting devices for cutting a single layer of sheet material or thin layers of sheet material are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,752 to Schmeid and Pavone. U.S. Pat. No. 3,772,949 to Gerber et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,072 to Gerber et al.
It is known from the prior art as disclosed in No. Typical types of sheet materials cut by prior art cutting equipment include woven and non-woven materials, paper,
These include leather, cardboard, foil, sheet-like or tape-like woven materials, etc.

The general object of the present invention is to improve the production of hybrid materials that are otherwise difficult to cut, consisting of graphite or boron fibers embedded in an uncured or partially cured resin base plate. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatically controlled sheet material cutting apparatus that provides improved cutting of a wide variety of materials, including thin cutting.

It is another object of the present invention that the cutting tool performs the cutting with a primarily crushing motion, and that the cutting tool performs the cutting at a relatively high speed, minimizing the forces that tend to move the sheet material in the plane of the support surface. An object of the present invention is to provide a cutting device for cutting.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the description below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention resides in a cutting device for cutting sheet material by means of a cutting tool that operates in combination with a relatively rigid support surface on which the sheet material is spread. The cutting tool of the present invention has a cutting surface facing the support surface.
and an ultrasonic drive source that vibrates the cutting surface of the cutting tool with a small amplitude at an ultrasonic frequency in the direction of an axis substantially perpendicular to the support surface. The cutting tool is moved along the desired cutting line when the cutting surface is ultrasonically vibrated, and the sheet material is ultrasonically squeezed between the cutting surface and the support surface, resulting in crushing.
separated by action.

The invention also resides in a cutting tool having a shape with a cutting surface elongated in one direction parallel to the support surface. The cutting surface itself can be defined by a relatively sharp edge or point, a curved or spherical surface, or a surface that is flat in at least one direction.

The support surface is hard and cannot be penetrated by cutting tools. The cutting surface of the cutting tool is elongated in one direction parallel to the support surface, and when the cutting tool is progressively moved along the cutting line by the moving means, the sheet material is moved between the cutting surface of the cutting tool and the support surface. By being repeatedly crushed by ultrasonic vibrations, the cutting tool progressively cuts the sheet material along the desired cutting line.

EXAMPLE FIG. 1 shows an automatically controlled cutting apparatus, indicated generally by 10, in which the sheet material S to be cut is
It is placed on a hard, smooth, continuous support surface 14 of a cutting table 16. The cutting device 10 can be used to cut one layer of sheet material or simply several layers of sheet material in low stacks. The illustrated cutting device is numerically controlled by a control unit 18. The control unit 18 controls the cutting tool 11 of the cutter 12.
is guided along a predetermined cutting line, for example as indicated by P, which defines the periphery of the fabric pattern forming the garment. The outline or shape of the fabric pattern and its associated cut lines are defined on the program tape 20. The program tape 20 includes the control section 1
8 to generate a machine command signal. This command signal is transmitted to the cutting table 16 and the cutter 12 via the command signal cable 22.

The cutter 12 is suspended on the support surface 14 of the table 16 by an X-direction transport member 26 and a Y-direction transport member 28 . The X-direction transport 26 reciprocates over a support surface in the X-coordinate direction shown on a pair of racks 30,32. 1 pair of racks 30, 32
is operatively engaged with an X-direction drive motor 34 energized by a command signal transmitted via cable 22 . The Y-direction transport body 28 is mounted on the X-direction transport body 26 so as to move in the Y-coordinate direction with respect to the X-direction transport body 26. Y direction transport body 28
is moved by a Y-direction drive motor 36 and a lead screw 38 that connects the Y-direction drive motor 36 and the Y-direction transfer body 26 . Like the X-direction drive motor 34, the Y-direction drive motor 36 is also energized by a command signal received from the control section 18 via the cable 22. Thus, the cooperative movement of the X-direction transport body 26 and the Y-direction transport body 28 causes the cutting tool 11 to
is moved along any predetermined cutting path in the plane of the support surface 14.

According to the present invention, the cutting tool 11 of the cutter 12 is
It has a cut surface facing the support surface 14. Cutting tool 11
The cutting surface of is engaged with the sheet material S to be cut and is subjected to ultrasonic vibrations towards and away from the support surface, i.e. along an axis perpendicular to the sheet material, such as the θ axis as shown. Vibrated by numbers. The ultrasonic vibrations of the cutting surface of the cutting tool are maintained as the cutting tool is moved along the desired cutting line, and the crushing caused by the ultrasonic squeezing of the sheet material between the cutting surface and the support surface The action results in the sheet material being separated.

The cutting tool and the means for ultrasonically vibrating it may vary, but in the case shown, the cutting tool is illustratively part of an elongated acoustic horn 40 driven by a transducer. The transducer consists of a converter 42 and a booster 44 that converts an alternating electrical signal at an ultrasonic frequency into a mechanical vibration of the acoustic horn 40 at a corresponding ultrasonic frequency. This electrical signal is transmitted to converter 42 by means such as cable 48.
It is supplied by a power supply unit 46 which is appropriately connected to. Although the power supply unit 46 is shown separate from the cutter 12 in FIG. 1, it can be mounted on the transport 28 with the cutter 12 if desired, or it can be located in or near the control 18 so that electrical signals can be transmitted to the cable 22. via cutter 1
2 can also be supplied. 46,
Power supply units, converters and boosters such as those shown at 42 and 44 are manufactured by Branson Sonic Corporation.
Power Company (Branson Sonic Power)
Company, Eagle Road, Danbury;
(Connecticut 06810 USA). The cutting surface of the cutting tool detailed below is preferably approximately 0.025 mm (0.001 inch) and 0.152 mm.
It is vibrated at a frequency between 10,000Hz and 100,000Hz, with a relatively small amplitude, such as a peak-to-peak amplitude of between (0.006inch).

The ultrasonic transducer consisting of the converter 42 and the booster 44 is attached to the vertical transfer body 50 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and is in the lowered position and the raised position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. exercised between. In the lowered position of the transducer, the cutting tool 11 cuts into sheet material S. In the raised position of the transducer, the cutting tool 11 is taken out of contact with the sheet material. The vertical transfer body 50 includes a bracket 52 and a bracket 54. The bracket 52 is engaged with the converter 42 at the vibration nodes and is connected to the converter 42 at the vibration nodes.
2 is fixed to the vertical transfer body 50. Bracket 54
is engaged with the booster 44 at the node of vibration, and fixes the booster 44 to the vertical transfer body 50.

The vertical transfer body 50 is slidably supported by two vertical guide rods 56, 56 so as to move upward and downward. The vertical guide bars 56, 56 have lower ends secured to a horizontal support plate or base plate 58 and upper ends secured to a bracket 60 carried by the base plate 58. The base plate 58 is provided with an opening so that the horn 40 can loosely pass through the opening.

The cutting surface of the cutting tool 11, which will be explained in more detail below, can be of various different shapes. In some cases, the cut surface may be elongated in the direction perpendicular to the θ axis,
In this case, the base plate 58 is supported on the transfer body 28 so as to move around the θ axis which is substantially co-linear with the longitudinal axis of the cutting tool 11, and is controlled by the control section 18 at a suitable position of the transfer body 28. A drive mechanism rotates the base plate 58 around the θ axis and maintains the longitudinal direction of the cutting surface so as to be substantially in contact with the cutting line P.

Although the mechanism for raising and lowering the vertical transport body 50 may be varied, preferably, the cutting tool 11 is set on the cutting surface 14 and the sheet material S by open loop means or closed loop means in the lowered position of the vertical transport body. It is pressed with a predetermined force. The actuator used in the mechanism may be hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric. For example, in the illustrated case, the raising and lowering mechanism consists of a pneumatic actuator 62 fixed to a base plate 58 and having a drive rod 64 as shown in FIG. The drive rod 64 has its upper end loosely penetrated by the drive protrusion 66 of the transfer body 50 . A helical compression spring 68 is received in a cylindrical recess in projection 66 and surrounds drive rod 64 . A slider 70 is also received on drive shaft 64. The slider 70 is
It is located between the upper end of the spring 68 and an adjustment nut 72 that is threaded onto the upper end of the drive rod 64. The drive rod 64 has a collar 74 fixed below the protrusion 66 . Pressurized air is supplied to actuator 62 via air passages 75, 75 and
Exhaust from 2.

When the vertical transfer body 50 is in the lowered position as shown in FIG. 4, the piston of the actuator 62 does not reach the lowest point within the cylinder, and the actuator 62 is supplied with pressurized air through the upper port to drive the drive rod. A downward force can be applied to 64. This force is transmitted to the vertical transport body 50 via the compression spring 68, and the cutting tool 11 is pressed downward against the sheet material S with a force that compensates for gravity. This additional downward force is
This is controlled by controlling the pressure of air supplied to the actuator 62. Actuator 6
The pressure of the air supplied to the cutting tool 2 may be controlled by open-loop control, such as by a set air supply pressure dictated by the controller 18, or by a detector for detecting the downward force exerted on the cutting tool 11 and the like. The actuator 62 is controlled by closed loop control, such as provided by means for controlling the air pressure supplied to the actuator 62 to maintain the downward force at a set point. The presence of the compression spring 68 between the actuator 62 and the vertical transport 50 provides resiliency to allow the cutting tool 11 to move vertically against the downward force applied by the actuator 62.

The vertical transport body 50 and the cooperating cutting tool 11 are the fourth
When the actuator 62 is to be raised from the lowered position shown, the actuator 62 is biased to extend the drive rod 64. Fixed collar 74 while extending drive rod 64
engages the protrusion 66 and drives the vertical transfer body 50 upward to the desired raised position.

As previously mentioned, the cutting surface of the cutting tool can take on a variety of shapes, and some shapes may be better suited for cutting certain materials than others.
Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the first
The cutting tool 11 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 has an end 76. The cutting tool 11 shown in FIGS. The end portion 76 is cylindrical in its upper region and is shaped so as to define a cutting surface in the form of two umbrella-shaped surfaces 78, 78 below the cylindrical region. The umbrella-shaped surfaces 78, 78 intersect to form a relatively sharp, straight, downwardly directed cutting blade 80. At both ends of the straight cutting blade 80, the cutting tool is rounded as 82, 82 to form a cam-like surface. The cam-like surface causes the sheet material S to wedge between the cutting blade 80 and the support surface 14 as the cutting blade is moved in one direction or the other along a line parallel to the cutting blade.

8 and 9 show a cutting tool having lower ends 76' and 76'', respectively, similar to lower end 76 of FIG. 7, except that the cutting surface does not have a sharp edge like cutting blade 80. At the lower end 76' of FIG. 8, the cut surface includes two umbrella-shaped surfaces 78', 78'' which meet together by a flat downward facing surface. 9th
At the end 76'' of the cutter shown, the cutting surface is defined by two umbrella-shaped surfaces 78'', 78'' which are met by a rounded downward facing surface 86.

In the cutting tools shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9,
Sharp cutting blade 80, flat surface 84, and rounded surface 86 are all straight or nearly straight when viewed in side view, as in FIG.

FIG. 10 shows another cutting tool 11a having a lower end.
shows. At the ends of this cutting tool, the upper section is cylindrical and the lower section is shaped to provide a convex curve when viewed in side view. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the cutting plane is defined by two umbrella-shaped surfaces 90, 90 that intersect to form a relatively sharp downwardly directed blade 92. As shown in FIGS.

Figures 12 and 13 show the cutting tool 11 in Figure 10.
Another form of a is shown. End part 8 of the cutting tool in Figure 12
8' is similar to the lower end of the cutter of FIG. 11, except that the umbrella-shaped surfaces 90', 90' are met by a downward facing surface 94 which is flat when viewed from the front as in FIG. be. At the lower end of the cutting tool of FIG.
0'' is matched by the rounded surface 96 when viewed from the front as in FIG.

In all of the cutting tools shown in FIGS. 5 to 13, the cutting surface is elongated in one direction parallel to the support surface 14, and the cutting tool maintains the elongated direction of the cutting surface tangent to the cutting line. It must be rotated around the θ axis as shown in FIG. 14 to 17 show a reference cutting tool configuration in which the cutting surface is symmetrical about the θ axis so that rotation of the cutting tool is not required. Cutting tool 11 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15
b includes a lower end 98. The lower end 98 has a conical cutting edge 100 that is cylindrical in its upper region and defines a sharp cutting point 102 in its lower region.
has. The lower end 98' of the cutting tool of FIG. 16 is similar to the cutting tool of FIG. 15, except that the conical cutting edge 100 is truncated to define a flat, circular, downwardly facing surface 104. In FIG. 17, the end 98'' of the cutting tool has a conical cutting edge 100''. The conical cutting edge 100'' has a downwardly facing surface 106 that is rounded or generally spherical instead of having a sharp point or cutting edge as in FIGS. 15 or 16.

The different shapes of cutting implements shown in Figures 5 to 13 are examples, and the choice of which one is most suitable for the characteristics of the material to be cut and other operational factors is used. A particular cutting tool can be selected. Many other shapes may be used without departing from the invention. Figure 8 and 1
When the cutting tool in Figure 2 has a flat surface in at least one direction, the thickness of the flat surface is
It can vary depending on the nature of the material being cut.
For example, about 0.127mm (0.005inch) to 6.35mm
(0.250inch) range. Cutting tools are number 9
When the cutting tool of FIGS. and 13 includes a surface that is rounded in at least one direction, the radius of curvature of such a curved surface may vary depending on the material being cut, for example, about 0.127 mm (0.005 inch). and 2.54mm
(0.100inch) range.

In the cutting device described above, the cutter is pressed against the cutting surface 14 by a downward force. At least a portion of the downward force is provided by actuator 62. However, the cutting force exerted by such an actuator 62 is not essential to the broader aspects of the invention, and the cutting tool may, in its lowered or cutting position, simply be driven by the weight of the vertically moving part. , or by such a weight acting in conjunction with spring means added to or subtracted from such weight, towards the support surface 14 . As a further option, the displacement between the cutting surface of the cutting tool and the support surface 14 is such that a predetermined basic positional relationship between the cutting surface of the cutting tool and the support surface 14 is maintained during the cutting operation. can be controlled.

A cutting device in which the displacement of the cutting tool is controlled is shown in FIG. 18 and includes a cutter 12'.
The cutter 12' in this case is substantially similar to the cutter 12 of FIG. 1, except that the vertical transport 50 has a displacement detector 108 secured thereto. Displacement detector 108 is a displacement detector that operates on a capacitance between displacement detector 108 and support surface 14 to provide an electrical signal representative of the spacing between displacement detector 108 and support surface 14 . This electrical signal is transmitted via cable 110 to control and drive device 112 . The control and drive unit 112 compares the displacement signal from the displacement detector 108 with a set point and vertically adjusts its output rod 114 and the vertical transfer body 50 attached thereto to detect the displacement detector 108.
Keep the signal from equal to the set value. This therefore maintains the detector 108 at a constant displacement relative to the support surface and thus the cutting surface of the corresponding cutting tool 11 at a constant reference position relative to the support surface.

(Effects of the Invention) In the present invention, while the cutting tool is moved along the cutting line by the moving means, the cutting surface of the cutting tool is vibrated by the vibration means in the direction of moving toward and away from the support surface at an ultrasonic frequency, The sheet material is cut by repeatedly applying a crushing action to the sheet material between the cutting surface and the supporting surface of the cutting tool, and by crushing the sheet material, the moving force of the sheet material during cutting is minimized. The mechanisms and power required to hold the sheet material can be minimized. Since the supporting surface is hard and has a structure that cannot be penetrated by a cutting tool, it can have a longer service life, a simpler structure, and better precision than a conventional penetrable supporting surface. The cutting surface of the cutting tool is elongated in one direction parallel to the support surface, allowing for faster cutting, and the relatively large contact area with the support surface reduces the downward pressing force of the cutting tool. The accuracy can be relaxed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cutting device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side view of the cutter shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a front view of the cutter shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a cutting of the cutter shown in Fig. 1. FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view, partially in elevation and partially in vertical cross-section, showing the mechanism for raising and lowering the tool; FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the cutting tool of the cutter in FIG. 1;
The figure is a partial front view of the cutting tool in Figure 5, and Figure 7 is a partial front view of the cutting tool in Figure 5.
Further enlarged partial front views of the cutting tool shown in the figure, FIGS. 8 and 9 are views similar to FIG.
Fig. 0 is a side view similar to Fig. 5, but shows a cutting tool of a different shape from the cutting tool used in the cutter of Fig. 1, Fig. 11 is a front view of the cutting tool of Fig. 10, 12 and 13 are front views similar to FIG. 11, but diagrams showing a cutting tool having a cutting surface slightly different from that in FIG. 10; FIG. 14 is a partial side view of the cutting tool for reference; Fig. 15 is a front view of the cutting tool shown in Fig. 14, and Figs. 16 and 17 are front views similar to Fig. 15, but diagrams showing a cutting tool having a cutting surface slightly different from Fig. 15. , FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a cutting device having a control device for controlling the displacement of a cutting tool. 10... Cutting device, 11... Cutting tool, 12...
cutter, 14... support surface, 16... table,
18... Numerical control unit, 20... Program tape, 22... Cable, 26... X direction transport body,
28...Y direction transfer body (tool transfer body), 30,3
2...Rack, 34...X direction drive motor, 36
... Y-direction drive motor, 40 ... acoustic horn (vibration means), 42 ... converter (ultrasonic transducer,
vibrating means), 44... booster (vibrating means), 46...
...power supply unit (vibrating means), 50...vertical transfer body, 52, 60...bracket, 56...vertical guide rod, 58...base plate, 62...actuator,
64... Drive rod, 66... Protruding portion, 68... Spring, 70... Slider, 75... Air path, 76,
76', 76''...lower end, 78, 78', 90,
90', 90''...Umbrella-shaped surface, 80...Cutting blade, 8
4, 86, 92, 94, 96... cut surface, 108
...Displacement detector, 110...Cable, 112...
...Drive device, 114...Output rod.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A sheet material cutting device, comprising: a table 16 having a support surface 14 for supporting at least one layer of spread sheet material; cutting surfaces 80, 84, 86 facing the support surface;
a cutting tool 11 having 92, 94, 96, for progressively cutting the cutting tool against the supporting surface and the sheet material supported thereon and pressed between the supporting surface and the cutting tool; Transfer means 26, 2 for relative movement along the two-dimensional cutting line
8, and a vibration means 40 for vibrating the cutting surface of the cutting tool at an ultrasonic frequency in a direction toward and away from the support surface while the cutting tool is moved along the cutting line by the moving means;
42, 44, and 46, the supporting surface is hard and cannot be penetrated by the cutting tool, and the cutting surface of the cutting tool is elongated in one direction parallel to the supporting surface, and the cutting tool has a cutting surface that is elongated in one direction parallel to the supporting surface. When the sheet material is gradually moved along the cutting line in the longitudinal direction of the surface, the sheet material is repeatedly crushed by ultrasonic vibration between the cutting surface of the cutting tool and the supporting surface, so that the cutting tool cuts the sheet material. A sheet material cutting device characterized by cutting gradually along a cutting line. 2. In the sheet material cutting device according to claim 1, the cutting surface of the cutting tool has a one-dimensional extension that determines the cutting width to be cut by the cutting tool, and the cutting tool has a desired cutting width. Apparatus for cutting sheet material, characterized in that the transport means maintains the one-dimensional extent perpendicular to the cutting line when moved along the cutting line. 3. The sheet material cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying means includes a numerical control section 18. 4. In the sheet material cutting apparatus according to claim 1, the transporting means is a tool transporting body 28 movable in two coordinate directions on the support surface 14, and the numerical control unit 18 is configured to control the transporting body. A sheet material cutting device characterized by controlling movement in two coordinate directions. 5. In the sheet material cutting device according to claim 1, the cutting surface of the cutting tool is extended within a plane that is perpendicular to the supporting surface and fixed to the cutting tool, and the conveying means is used for cutting. characterized by comprising means 58 for rotating the tool about an axis perpendicular to the support surface to maintain the plane of the cutting tool in a desired direction with respect to the portion of the cutting line in which the cutting tool momentarily abuts. sheet material cutting equipment. 6. The sheet material cutting device according to claim 4, wherein the two coordinate directions are orthogonal X and Y coordinates, and the X-direction transport body 26 is movable in the X-coordinate direction on the table, A sheet material cutting device characterized in that the tool transport body 28 is mounted on an X-direction transport body and is movable in the Y-coordinate direction with respect to the X-direction transport body. 7. In the sheet material cutting device according to claim 1, the cutting surface of the cutting tool is linear portions 80, 84, 86 substantially parallel to the support surface when viewed from the side.
A sheet material cutting device comprising: 8 In the sheet material cutting device according to claim 1, the cutting surfaces 92, 94, 96 of the cutting tool are provided.
A sheet material cutting device characterized by having a convex shape when viewed from the side. 9. The sheet material cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting surface of the cutting tool is symmetrical about an axis perpendicular to the supporting surface when viewed from the side. . 10 In the sheet material cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, means for pressing the cutting surface of the cutting tool against the supporting surface while the cutting tool moves along the cutting line. A sheet material cutting device comprising: 11 In the sheet material cutting apparatus according to claim 10, the means for pressing the cut surface of the cutting tool against the support surface includes an actuator 62 for pressing the cut surface against the support surface, and a constant portion of the actuator. A sheet material cutting device characterized in that it comprises means 75 for supplying a biasing medium with an intensity of . 12 In the sheet material cutting apparatus according to claim 10, the means for pressing the cut surface of the cutting tool against the support surface is an actuator 62 for pressing the cut surface against the support surface, and the cut surface is pressed against the support surface. a detector for detecting a force pressed against a surface; and a response means responsive to the detected force, the response for maintaining the detected force at a set value by varying the strength of the biasing medium supplied to the actuator. A sheet material cutting device characterized in that it includes means. 13 The sheet material cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the cutting surface of the cutting tool is kept constant with respect to the support surface when the cutting tool moves along the cutting line. A sheet material cutting device characterized in that it has means 112, 108 for maintaining the reference height at a reference height of . 14. The sheet material cutting device according to claim 13, wherein the vertically movable transport body 50 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the support surface and to which a cutting tool is attached.
means for maintaining the cutting surface of the cutting tool at a constant reference height with respect to the support surface is disposed near the cutting surface and fixed to the vertically movable transport body, and a displacement detector 10
8 a displacement detector for detecting displacement between itself and said support surface, and means 1 for responding to changes in the detected displacement;
12, comprising means for moving the vertically movable transport member perpendicularly to the support surface and returning the detected displacement to a set value. 15 In the sheet material cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, the vibration means are electromechanical ultrasonic transducers 42 and 44, and the cutting tool 11 is an ultrasonic transducer. A sheet material cutting device characterized in that it is a part of an acoustic horn that is driven by being attached to a container.