US3566724A

US3566724A - Apparatus for forming corner cushions

Info

Publication number: US3566724A
Authority: US
Inventors: Phillip A Templeton; John M Carmody
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-07-07
Filing date: 1969-07-07
Publication date: 1971-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-02
Also published as: JPS496268B1

Abstract

Apparatus for cutting corner cushions from a continuous length of material such that the cushions are not completely severed from the material. The material is cut on three faces which are disposed at substantially right angles to one another and are tapered so that the faces form a point substantially along the central axis of the material by means of three cutting blade assemblies, each of which includes a cutting blade having a generally pointed tip and which is disposed to cut one of said three faces in said material.

Description

0 United States Patent 1 3,566,724

[72] Inventors Phillip A. Templeton [56] References Cited R 2, BOX 173, e 60401 UNITED STATES PATENTS gz' g fi ig fi sjzf 3,430,290 3/1969 Kinslow, Jr. 83/54X pp No 839,424 3,449,993 6/1969 Temple,Jr 83/519): [22] Filed July 7, 1969 Primary Examiner-James M. Meister [45] patented 2 1971 Attorney-Dominik, Knechtel & Godula Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 770,460, lfeb. 26, 1968.

ABSTRACT: Apparatus for cutting comer cushions from a continuous length of material such that the cushions are not [54] l fg l CORNER CUSHIONS completely severed from the material. The material is cut on 1 C rawmg three faces which are disposed at substantially right angles to [52] U.S. Cl 83/1, one another and are tapered so that the faces form a point sub- 83/247, 83/277, 83/513, 83/581, 83/697 stantially along the central axis of the material by means of [51] Int. Cl B26d 3/24 three cutting blade assemblies, each of which includes a [50] Field of Search 83/l,5l3, cutting blade having a generally pointed tip and which is disposed to cut one of said three faces in said material.

54 60 I u I I I //5 i I 4': 1 F.

I /29 23 j I I l I I l/ I I :5

Patented March 2, 1971 i 4 Sheets-Sheet l /N VE N TOR John M. Car/n 0d y By Phillip A. Templeton ATTYS.

Patented March 2, 1971 3,566,724

4 sheets-sheet a FIG. 6 INVENTOR John M. Carmody BY Phillip A. Templeton Patentd March 2,1971 3,566,724

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 12

/N VE N TOR FIG. 14 John M. carmody BY Phi/lip A Templeton ATTYS.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING CORNER CUSHIONS This application is a continuation-in-part application of US Pat. application, Ser. No. 770,460, filed Jul. 26, 1968.

This invention relates, in general, to improved cutting apparatus and, in particular, to cutting apparatus for automatically cutting an article of manufacture having a predetermined configuration from a substantially continuous length of material, in a continuous fashion.

The cutting apparatus is particularly adapted to cut corner cushions of the type disclosed in application, Ser. No. 770,460, from a substantially continuous length of material, in an automatic and continuous fashion. These corner cushions can be cut and separated so as to be in the form of individual units, however, preferably and advantageously the corner cushions are not completely severed from the length of material. When cut in this latter fashion, a number of the corner cushions can be easily handled in the form of an elongated length of, for example, 10 corner cushions which are affixed together and which can be separated simply by pulling them apart to separate them, as desired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved cutting apparatus.

More particularly, it is an object to provide improved cutting apparatus for automatically cutting corner cushions of a predetermined configuration from a substantially continuous length of material, in a continuous fashion.

Another object is to provide improved cutting apparatus of the above-described type which is adapted to cut a number of corner cushions in a fashion such that they are not completely severed from the length of material, so that the corner cushions can be stored and shipped in lengths comprising a number of the corner cushions, each of which is severable simply by pulling it apart from the other ones of the corner cushions.

Still another object is to provide improved cutting apparatus of the above-described type which is adapted to be easily and quickly adjusted to handle different size diameter materials.

A still further object is to provide improved cutting apparatus of the above-described type which is adapted to be easily and quickly adjusted to form corner cushions having body portions of different lengths.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side plan view of a cutting apparatus exemplary of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end plan view of the cutting apparatus, of that end thereof into which the material is fed;

FIG. 3 is a view taken substantially along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2, illustrating the adjustment means for adjusting and establishing the length of the body portion of the corner cushions;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1, il-' lustrating the construction of the indexing or feed assembly for advancing the material being fed to the cutting apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines S5 of FIG. 1, illustrating the construction of the clamping support assembly which supports the material while it is being cut;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 1, illustrating the cam and the cam switch for controlling the synchronous operation of the various assemblies of the cutting apparatus;

FIG. 7, 8 and 9 are top, side and rear plan views, respectively, of one of the cutting blade assemblies of the cutting apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a view generally illustrating the manner in which the cutting blades are moved relative to one another and to the material to cut one end of one of the corner cushions;

FIG. 11 is an end plan view of one ofthe corner cushions, illustrating the pointed tip formed on the one end thereof;

FIG. 12 is a view generally illustrating the manner in which the corner cushions are preferably and advantageously cut to form a length of a number of individually severable corner cushions;

FIG. 13 is a view generally illustrating the severable web portion connecting the corner cushions together, in the fashion illustrated in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram generally illustrating the sequence of operation of the cutting apparatus.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a cutting apparatus 10 exemplary of the invention including a support frame base 11 which has an upright support frame 12 securely affixed thereon. The support frame 12 supports three cutting blade assemblies 14-16 (FIGS. 1 and 10), an indexing or feed assembly 18 for feeding a continuous length of material to the cutting apparatus 10, a support assembly 19 for supporting the length of material while it is being cut, and a motor 20 for operating the cutting apparatus 10, in the manner described below. The cutting apparatus 10 is particularly adapted to cut cushions 22, of the type illustrated in FIGS. 10-13.

These corner cushions 22 are cut from a substantially continuous length of extruded foamed polyethylene, which preferably has a density within a range of 1.8 to 2.6 lbs/cubic foot so as to provide a substantially strong, sturdy, firm but yet resilient corner cushion. Material of this density has been found to be satisfactory to provide a corner cushion which will firmly and resiliently support most articles against damage, when the corner cushions are formed in the manner described below. In cases of extremely heavy objects, material having a greater density, approximately 4 lbs/cubic foot, can be used.

The corner cushions 22 have a body 23 which is illustrated to be of generally cylindrical shape, with three flat faces 24- 26 on one end thereof which are tapered to a point 30, and with an interior cavity 31 (FIGS. 10 and 13) in the opposite end thereof which likewise has three flat faces 2729, which taper inwardly to a point 32. The body portion 23 also can be polygonal shaped, for example, triangular or hexagonal, as explained more fully below. The three faces 24-26 are radially spaced approximately I20 apart on the periphery of the body portion 23 and taper inwardly from the sidewall of the cylinder to form the point 30, at the central axis of the body portion 23. The faces 2426 each also can be in a plane so as to form right angles at their respective intersecting edges, indicated by the reference numerals 34 36. The three faces 27- -29 of the interior cavity 31 likewise taper inwardly to form the point 32, at the central axis of the body portion 23, and are in planes so that their respective intersecting edges, indicated by the reference numerals 38-40, form right angles. The faces 24-26 on one corner cushion 22 and the faces 27-29 on another corner cushion can be advantageously simultaneously formed, as explained below.

The recessed interior'cavity 31, that is, the faces 2729 forming it, therefore substantially correspond to and form an inside corner which can be easily fitted about a corner on any rectangular or square-shaped article, such as, for example, a cabinet. The faces 24-26 on the opposite end of the corner cushions likewise substantially correspond to and form an out side corner, and therefore will seat within a corner of a carton. Accordingly, an article such as a cabinet is easily packaged within a carton for shipping and/or storage by, for example, affixing a corner cushion 22 to each of its corners at one end thereof, placing the open end ofa carton over the cabinet until the corner cushions 22 seat within the corners of the carton, inverting the carton and the cabinet, affixing a corner cushion 22 to the remaining corners of the cabinet, and then closing and sealing the carton. As indicated above, the corner 22 will firmly and resiliently support the cabinet in a substantially suspended position within the carton, so that it is completely protected from damage.

A number of the corner cushions 22 can be formed in a long length, for ease in shipping and/or storing them, as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. Each of the individual corner cushions 22 are affixed to one another by a severable member which can be, for example, a tip sprue 41, at the points and 32, as illustrated in FIG. 13, or by a web sprue (not illustrated). The tip sprue and the web sprue are formed by not completely cutting or severing the individual corner cushions during the cutting operations, as explained below, and are of sufficient strength to hold the corner cushions together. The sprues can thereafter be easily broken, however, by pulling and/or twisting the corner cushions, to remove individual ones of the corner cushions for use, as desired.

In cutting these corner cushions 22, the end of the substantially continuous length of extruded foamed polyethylene is fed into the cutting apparatus 10, between the jaw plates 44 and 45 supported by

jaws

46 and 47, respectively, of the indexing or feed assembly 18. The jaw 46 is fixedly secured to a top plate 49 of a slide assembly 50, while the jaw 47 is pivotally affixed to the top plate 49, by means of a pivot pin 48. Preferably and advantageously, the jaw plates 44 and 45 are affixed to the ends of a pair of

adjustment shafts

56 and 57, respectively, which are slidably and adjustably securable within

adjustment assemblies

58 and 59, so that the spacing between the jaw plates 44 and 45 can be easily varied to receive different diameter material.

A single action air cylinder 60 is pivotally affixed atop the jaw 46, and its piston 61 is adjustably and fixedly secured to a lever arm 62 affixed to the top of the jaw 47. The air cylinder 60 is operated in the manner described below to pivotally close the jaw 47, against the action of a compression spring not shown) included within its cylinder, to fixedly clamp the material fed to the cutting apparatus 10 between the jaw plates 44 and 45. A tension spring64 is affixed to the

jaws

46 and 47 to keep the jaw plate 45 next to the material, and to prevent jaw 47 from excessive travel in opening and closing. Thereafter, the indexing or feed assembly 18 is longitudinally and slidably moved to feed an established length of material into the cutting apparatus 10. The lever arm 62 has a number (four as illustrated) of adjustment apertures 63 provided in it, so that the degree of pivotal throw or movement of the jaw 47 can be adjusted as desired or necessary to receive the material between the jaw plates 44 and 45. Also, when the air cylinder 60 is deactivated, the spring 64 functions to forcibly urge

th jaws

46 and 47 open.

The top late 49 to which the

jaws

46 and 47 are affixed forms part of a slide assembly 50 which also includes a pair of spaced-apart slide blocks 51 and 52 fixedly secured between the top plate 49 and a bottom plate 53. These slide blocks 51 and 52 each have an aperture therein in which slide

rods

65 and 66 are slidably received, respectively. The ends of these

slide rods

65 and 66 are fixedly secured to and supported by a pair of spacedapart

vertical frame arms

68 and 69 which are, in turn, supported upon a horizontal frame member 70.

A double action air cylinder 72 is affixed to the frame member in a horizontally disposed position, and its piston 73 is affixed to an arm 74 integrally formed with the bottom plate 53 of the slide assembly 50. The air cylinder 72 is adapted to slidably move the slide assembly 50 and hence the

jaws

46 and 47 back and forth on the slide bars 65 and 66, to feed the material through the cutting apparatus 10. A pair of springs 82'(only one of which is visible in FIG. 3) is provided to assist the operation of the slide assembly 50. The length of material advanced during each operation of the slide assembly 50 is controlled by means of the position of an adjustment nut 77 which is threadedly affixed to threaded shaft 76. This threaded shaft 76 is affixed at its one end to an arm integrally affixed to the bottom plate 53 of the slide assembly 50, and its opposite end is extended through an aperture in the frame arm 68 and has a stop nut secured to it. The adjustment nut 77 and the stop nut 80 have

resilient pads

78 and 81 affixed to them, respectively, for absorbing or cushioning them when they engage the frame arm 68.

To vary the length of material advanced during each operation of the slide assembly 50, the adjustment nut 77 is threadedly positioned on the threaded shaft 76 until the slide assembly 50 is permitted to move backward (to the right, as illustrated in FIG. 3-) a distance corresponding to the desired length of material to be advanced. When so adjusted, the adjustment nut 77 will strike the frame arm 68 to limit the backward movement of the slide assembly 50, as the latter is operated by the air cylinder 72. The

jaws

46 and 47 then are operated, in a manner described more fully below, and the air cylinder 72 is operated to draw its piston 73 back into its cylinder to move the slide assembly 50 forward, or to the left, to advance the material. This forward movement is limited by the stop nut 80 now engaging the frame arm 68.

The end of the length of material which is advanced is fed between a

pair ofjaws

85 and 86 of the support assembly 19 which is best seen in FIG. 5. In this case, each of the

jaws

85 and 86 preferably have a pair of

jaw plates

94, and 96, 97 adjustably affixed to them, respectively, so that the end of the length of material can be more securely held and positioned during cutting. These jaw plates 94-97 also are adjustable for various diameter materials. Each of these jaw plates 94-97 is affixed to one end ofa threaded adjustment shaft 98 which has its opposite end received within a lock assembly 99.

The jaw 85 is fixedly secured to a top plate 87, while the jaw 86 is pivotally affixed to the top plate 87 by means of a pivot pin 92. pair of spaced-apart slide blocks-88 and 89 are al fixed to the underside of the top plate 87, and the

slide rods

65 and 66 are slidably extended through apertures formed in them. The support assembly 19 is fixedly secured in position on the

slide rods

65 and 66, by means of

set screws

90 and 91 extended through them and lockingly engaged with the slide rods.

A single action air cylinder is pivotally affixed atop the jaw 85, and its piston 101 is affixed to a lever arm 102 secured to the top of the jaw 96. In thiscase also, the air cylinder 100 is operated to close the

jaws

85 and 86, by pivotally moving the jaw 86 with the action of a tension spring 104, to clamp the end of the material between the jaw plates 94-97 to support the material during cutting. When the air cylinder 100 is deactivated, a compression spring (not shown) within its cylinder, forcibly urges the

jaws

85 and 86 open.

The cutting blade assemblies 14-16 for cutting the materi al to provide the flat faces 24-26 and 27-29 on the corner cushions 22, as can be best seen in FIGS. 1 and 7-9 wherein one of the cutting blade assemblies 14 is illustrated, includes a I cutting blade 108 having a generally triangular-shaped cutting end 109. This cutting end 109 advantageously is'formed to receive therein, as between two clamping plates, a cutting blade insert 110 which can be replaced, as necessary. The cutting blade 108 is slidably supported within and guided by means of a pair of spaced-apart,

parallel guide arms

112 and 113 which are affixed to a pair of guide arm supports 114 and 115. These guide arm supports are affixed to and supported by a cutting blade support arm 126 which is affixed to the upright support arm 12 of the cutting apparatus 10, as can be best seen in FIG. 1. I

A pair of spaced-apart, parallel guide bars 117 and 118 are affixed to the rear surface of the cutting blade 108, and form a guide slot 119 between them. A cam roller 122 rotatably affixed to one end of a cam arm 121 is slidably disposed and retained within the guide slot 119. The opposite end of the cam arm 121 is fixedly secured by means of a clamping assembly 124 to a drive shaft 123 which is rotatably driven by the motor 20, in a manner described more fully below. As the drive shaft 123 and the cam arm l2l affixed to it are rotated, the cam roller 122 moves back andforth in the guide slot 119 in a fashion such as to cause the cutting blade 108 to be operated in a sliding reciprocal manner, as illustrated in FIG. 9.

The cutting blades 108 of each of the cutting blade assemblies 14-16 are operated in synchronism, and during the downward stroke thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the three flat faces 2426 are cut on one corner cushion 22 and simultaneously the three flat faces 2729 forming the interior cavity 31 in a corner cushion 22 are formed on the next successive one of the corner cushions being cut. The material is advance and, during the next downward stroke of the cutting blades 108, the flat faces 24-26 forming the'pointed tip are formed on the corner cushion which, during the previous downstroke, has the flat faces 2729 forming the interior cavity 31 cut in it. During this same downward stroke, the interior cavity 31 is cut in another corner cushion. Accordingly, during each downward stroke of the cutting blades 108, the pointed tip 32 is formed on one corner cushion and the interior cavity 31 is formed on another one of the corner cushions.

The cutting blade support arms 126 are affixed to the vertical support frame 12 of the cutting apparatus 10, and are positioned so that the cutting blades 108 out three flat faces on the corner cushions which are radially spaced approximately 120 apart and taper inwardly to form a point at the central axis of the body portion 23 thereof. These three flat faces, of course, form the flat faces 24-26 and the flat faces 27-29 on the corner cushions.

The drive shafts 123 which reciprocally operate the cutting blades 108 in the above-described fashion are each extended through a number of bearing assemblies 129 (four as illustrated), and have drive gears 131133 affixed to the opposite ends of them, respectively. A universal joint 128 also is included in each of the drive shafts 123, to permit them to be angularly bent and rotatably driven. A single drive chain 134 is passed around each of the drive gears 131133 so that they as well as the drive shaft 123 are rotatably driven in synchronism.

The drive gear 133 is a double gear, and a second drive chain 135 is passed about the other one of its two gears and about a drive gear 136 which is affixed to and rotatably driven by an output shaft 137 of a gear box 21. The input to the gear box 21 is from the motor 20 which may be an electric motor of a suitable horsepower. With this arrangement, it can be seen that the drive gear 133 is driven by the drive chain 135, and in turn, it drives the other two drive gears 131 and 132 by means of the drive chain 134 so that all of the drive shafts 123 are rotatably driven in synchronism.

The operation of the cutting apparatus is controlled by means of a cam 138 which is affixed to and rotated by one of the drive shafts 123 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is the drive shaft having the drive gear 133 affixed to it. The cam 138 has two

cam surfaces

139 and 140, and these cam surfaces are engaged by a cam wheel 141 affixed to a contact 142 of a microswitch 143. When the cam wheel 141 is on the cam surfaces 139 and 140, the contact 142 of the microswitch 143 is closed and opened, respectively. The microswitch 143 controls a main solenoid 145 which, in turn, controls the cylinder supply control 146 for the double acting air cylinder 72. The main solenoid 145 also controls the operation of the

solenoids

147 and 149 which, in turn, control the cylinder supply controls 148 and 150 for the single

action air cylinders

100 and 60, and is adapted to function in a fashion such that only one of the

solenoids

147 and 149 can be activated at one time. During the time that the cam wheel 141 is riding on the cam surface 139, the operation is synchronized so that the cutting blades 108 are cutting the material, and during the time it is riding on the cam surface 140, the cutting blades are or are being retracted and the material is being advanced.

More specifically, assume that the cam wheel 141 is riding on the cam surface 139 and is about to engage the cam surface 140. At his point of time, the cutting blades 108 have cut the flat faces on the material and have been substantially retracted. When the cam wheel 141 engages the cam surface 140, the contact 142 of the microswitch 143 is opened, and the main solenoid 145 operates the solenoid 149 which, in turn, activates the cylinder supply control 150 such that the piston 61 of the air cylinder 60 is retracted to pivotally move the jaw 47, to thereby clamp the material between the

jaws

46 and 47. Also, at this time the solenoid 145 functions to deenergize the solenoid 147, and the latter causes the cylinder supply control 148 to cut off the supply of air to the air cylinder 100. When this occurs, the jaw 86 is forcibly urged by the compression spring within the air cylinder 100 to pivot to an open position. The main solenoid 145 furthermore is operated so as to cause the cylinder supply control 146 to deliver air to the air cylinder 72 to operate its piston 73 to index the feed assembly 18 to the left (as illustrated) to feed the material into the cutting apparatus 10. The air cylinder 72 operates after the

air cylinders

60 and 100 operate so that the

jaws

46 and 47 of the feed assembly 18 are closed and the jaws and 86 of the support assembly 19 are opened, before the indexing assembly is physically shifted to the position shown in F IG. 3, to advance the material.

When the cam 138 has rotated so that the cam wheel 141 now engages the cam surface 139, the contact 142 of the microswitch 143 is closed. When contact 142 closes, the main solenoid 145 is now operated to, in turn, energize the solenoid 147 and the latter operates the cylinder control feed 148 to operate the aircylinder so that its piston 101 is drawn into the air cylinder. This movement of the piston 101 causes the jaw 86 to pivot against the action of the spring therein, to

therein close the

jaws

85 and 86 to tightly clamp the material between them. At the same time, the main solenoid deenergizes the solenoid 149, and the latter operates the cylinder control feed to cutoff the supply of air to the air cylinder 60. When this occurs, the spring within the air cylinder 60 forcibly urges the jaw 47 to pivot to open the

jaws

46 and 47. Next, the cylinder supply control 146 is operated by the main solenoid 145 to inject air into air cylinder 72 to expel its piston 73. This action shifts the feed apparatus 18 to its initial position, in readiness to advance another preestablished length of material into the cutting apparatus 10, between the

jaws

85 and 86 of the support assembly 19. Asindicated above, the length of material advanced by the feed assembly 18 is determined or established by the position of the adjustment nut 77 on the threaded shaft 76.

During the time that the cam roller 141 is traversing the cam surface 139 on the cam 138, the cutting blades 108 are advanced to cut the three faces on the material, and then retract at about the same time that the cam wheel again engages the cam surface 140. This operation continues automatically, and during each cycle of operation, the preestablished length of material is advanced into the cutting apparatus 10, by the feed assembly 18. As indicated above, preferably and advantageously the cutting blades 108 are adapted to cut the material in a fashion such that a small tip sprue 41 remains between each of the corner cushions 22, so that a number of them can be stored and/or shipped in an elongated length, as illustrated in P16. 12. Thereafter, individual ones of the corner cushions can be removed, simply by severing this tip sprue.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and certain changes may be made in the above construction. Accordingly, it is intended that all matter con tained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for cutting a length of material to form a corner cushion having a body with a pointed tip on one end thereof and pointed interior cavityin the opposite end thereof, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a frame for supporting a length of said material; cutting means supported by said frame; support means for supporting said length of material therein while it is being cut; means for operating said cutting means to cut three faces in said material which are disposed at substantially right angles to one another and are tapered so that said faces form a point disposed substantially along the central axis of said material, said three faces forming the pointed tip on one end of said corner cushion; indexing. means for advancing said length of material a predetermined distance with. respect to said cutting means; means for synchronizing the operation of said support means, means for synchronizing the operation of said support means, said indexing means and said cutting means to support said length of material with said support means, to out said material with said cutting means while it is being supported by said support means, and to then advance a predetermined length of said material with said indexing means, whereby said corner cushion is automatically cut for said length of material.

2. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a pair of jaws, at least one of which is adapted to be pivotally operated to clamp said material therebetween, jaw operating means for pivotally operating said one jaw, said jaw operating means being controlled by said means for synchronizing the operation of said support means, said indexing means and said cutting means.

3. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indexing means comprises a pair of jaws, at least one of which is adapted to be pivotally operated to clamp said material therebetween, jaw operating means for pivotally operating said one jaw, said pair of jaws being supported by a slide assembly which is movable to advance an established length of material into said apparatus, and means for operating said slide assembly to advance said established length of material into said apparatus, said jaw operating means and said means for operating said slide assembly. being controlled by said means for synchronizing the operation of said support means, said indexing means and said cutting means.

4. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said slide assembly further includes adjustment means for limiting the movement of said slide assembly to thereby control the length of material fed into, said apparatus.

5. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said indexing means comprises a pair of jaws, at least one of which is adapted to be pivotally operated to clamp said material therebetween, jaw operating means for pivotally operating said one jaw said pair of jaws being supported by a slide as sembly which is movable to advance an established length of material into said apparatus, and means for operating said slide assembly to advance said established length of material into said apparatus, said jaw operating means and said means for operating said slide assembly being controlled by said means for synchronizing the operation of said support means, said indexing means and said cutting means.

6. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cutting means comprises three cutting blade assemblies, each of which includes a cutting blade having a generally pointed tip and which is disposed to cut one ofvsaid three faces in said material, a drive shaft means connected to each of said cutting blade assemblies for reciprocally operating said cutting blades, means coupling said drive shaft means together and rotatably driving said drive shaft means in synchronism.

7. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cutting means comprises a pair of jaws, 'at least one of which is adapted to be pivotally operated to clamp said material therebetween, jaw operating means for pivotally operating said one jaw, said pair of jaws being supported by a slide assembly whichv is movable to advance as established length of material into said apparatus, and means for operating said slide assembly to advance said established length of material into said apparatus, said jaw operating means and said means for operating said slide assembly being controlled by said means for synchronizing the operation of said support means, said indexing means and said cutting means.

8. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said means for synchronizing the operation of said support means, said index ing means and said cutting means comprises a cam having a plurality of cam surfaces thereon affixed to and rotatably driven by one of said drive shaft means, switch means having a contact which is engaged and operated by said cam as said contact engages the respective ones of said cam surfaces, said switch means being coupled to and operating said support means and said indexing means as said contact engages the respective ones of said cram surfaces, said cam surfaces being correspondingly related to the rotation of said drive shaft means to synchronize the operation of said cutting means with the operation ofsaid support means and said indexing means.

9. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support means and said indexingmeans each comprises a pair ofjaws, at least one of which is adapted to be pivotally operated to clamp said material therebetween, a pair of air cylinders each having a cylinder body portion and a piston, said cylinder body portions being fixed stationary and said piston being affixed to and pivotally operating said pivotally operable jaw of said support means and said indexing means, respectively, said pair ofjaws of said indexing means being supported by a slide assembly which is movable to advance an established length of material into said apparatus, a main air cylinder having a main cylinder body portion which is fixed stationary and a main cylinder piston which is affixed to and, operates said slide assembly to advance said established length of material into said apparatus, said pair of air cylinders for pivotally operating said one jaw of said support means and said indexing means and said main air cylinder for operating said slide assembly being controlled by said means for synchronizing the operation of said support means, said indexing means and said cutting means.

10. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said slide assembly further includes adjustment means for limiting the movement of said slide assembly to thereby control the length of material fed into said apparatus.

11. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 10-, wherein each of said jaws of both said support means and said'indexing means has at least one jaw plate adjustably affixed thereto for permitting said jawplates to be adjusted to receive different size material therebetween.

12. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said cutting means comprises a pair of jaws, at least one of which is adapted to be pivotally operated to clamp said material therebetween, jaw operating means for pivotally operating said one jaw, said pair of jaws being supported by a slide assembly which is movable to advance an established length of material into said apparatus, and means for operating said slide assembly to advance said established length of material into said apparatus, said jaw operating means and said means of operating said slide assembly being controlled by said means for synchronizing the operation of said support means, said indexing means and said cutting means.

13. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 12, wherein said means for synchronizing the operation of said support means, said indexing means and said cutting means comprises a cam having a plurality of cam surfaces thereon affixed to and rotatably driven by one of said drive shaft means, switch means having a contact which is engaged and operated by said cam as said contact engages the respective ones of said cam surfaces, air supply control means controlling the supply of air to said pair of air cylinders and said main air cylinders for operating them, said switch means being coupled to and operating said air supply control means as said contact engages the respective ones of said cam surfaces, said cam surface being correspondingly related to the rotation of said drive shaft means to synchronize the operation of said cutting means with the operation of said support means and said indexing means.

Claims

1. Apparatus for cutting a length of material to form a corner cushion having a body with a pointed tip on one end thereof and pointed interior cavity in the opposite end thereof, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a frame for supporting a length of said material; cutting means supported by said frame; support means for supporting said length of material therein while it is being cut; means for operating said cutting means to cut three faces in said material which are disposed at substantially right angles to one another and are tapered so that said faces form a point disposed substantially along the central axis of said material, said three faces forming the pointed tip on one end of said corner cushion; indexing means for advancing said length of material a predetermined distance with respect to said cutting means; means for synchronizing the operation of said support means, means for synchronizing the operation of said support means, said indexing means and said cutting means to support said length of material with said support means, to cut said material with said cutting means while it is being supported by said support means, and to then advance a predetermined length of said material with said indexing means, whereby said corner cushion is automatically cut for said length of material.

3. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indexing means comprises a pair of jaws, at least one of which is adapted to be pivotally operated to clamp said material therebetween, jaw operating means for pivotally operatinG said one jaw, said pair of jaws being supported by a slide assembly which is movable to advance an established length of material into said apparatus, and means for operating said slide assembly to advance said established length of material into said apparatus, said jaw operating means and said means for operating said slide assembly being controlled by said means for synchronizing the operation of said support means, said indexing means and said cutting means.

4. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said slide assembly further includes adjustment means for limiting the movement of said slide assembly to thereby control the length of material fed into said apparatus.

5. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said indexing means comprises a pair of jaws, at least one of which is adapted to be pivotally operated to clamp said material therebetween, jaw operating means for pivotally operating said one jaw said pair of jaws being supported by a slide assembly which is movable to advance an established length of material into said apparatus, and means for operating said slide assembly to advance said established length of material into said apparatus, said jaw operating means and said means for operating said slide assembly being controlled by said means for synchronizing the operation of said support means, said indexing means and said cutting means.

6. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cutting means comprises three cutting blade assemblies, each of which includes a cutting blade having a generally pointed tip and which is disposed to cut one of said three faces in said material, a drive shaft means connected to each of said cutting blade assemblies for reciprocally operating said cutting blades, means coupling said drive shaft means together and rotatably driving said drive shaft means in synchronism.

7. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cutting means comprises a pair of jaws, at least one of which is adapted to be pivotally operated to clamp said material therebetween, jaw operating means for pivotally operating said one jaw, said pair of jaws being supported by a slide assembly which is movable to advance as established length of material into said apparatus, and means for operating said slide assembly to advance said established length of material into said apparatus, said jaw operating means and said means for operating said slide assembly being controlled by said means for synchronizing the operation of said support means, said indexing means and said cutting means.

8. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said means for synchronizing the operation of said support means, said indexing means and said cutting means comprises a cam having a plurality of cam surfaces thereon affixed to and rotatably driven by one of said drive shaft means, switch means having a contact which is engaged and operated by said cam as said contact engages the respective ones of said cam surfaces, said switch means being coupled to and operating said support means and said indexing means as said contact engages the respective ones of said cam surfaces, said cam surfaces being correspondingly related to the rotation of said drive shaft means to synchronize the operation of said cutting means with the operation of said support means and said indexing means.

9. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support means and said indexing means each comprises a pair of jaws, at least one of which is adapted to be pivotally operated to clamp said material therebetween, a pair of air cylinders each having a cylinder body portion and a piston, said cylinder body portions being fixed stationary and said piston being affixed to and pivotally operating said pivotally operable jaw of said support means and said indexing means, respectively, said pair of jaws of said indexing means being supported by a slide assembly which is movable to advance an established length of material into said apparatus, a main air cylinder having a main cylinder body portioN which is fixed stationary and a main cylinder piston which is affixed to and operates said slide assembly to advance said established length of material into said apparatus, said pair of air cylinders for pivotally operating said one jaw of said support means and said indexing means and said main air cylinder for operating said slide assembly being controlled by said means for synchronizing the operation of said support means, said indexing means and said cutting means.

11. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of said jaws of both said support means and said indexing means has at least one jaw plate adjustably affixed thereto for permitting said jaw plates to be adjusted to receive different size material therebetween.