Stone working – Splitting – shearing – and punching
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-13
2002-10-01
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Stone working
Splitting, shearing, and punching
C125S023020, C083S886000, C225S096500, C225S096000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06457469
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a device for cutting slabs or tiles and, more particularly, to a device with a frame, which has a bearing surface for the slabs or tiles, and a cutting member for creating a rupture location in the slab or tile surface, which member is mounted on the frame displaceably over the bearing surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Slab and tile cutting machines of the type referred to at the beginning are known in a wide variety of different forms. Cutting machines of this type generally have a frame which has a bearing surface for the slabs or tiles to be cut. A cutting member is generally mounted displaceably over the bearing surface on one or two guiding rails, which are fastened to the frame. The cutting member often comprises a carbide tip, which is rolled under pressure over the surface of the slab or tile to be cut. Arranged for this purpose in the region of the cutting member is a lever, with which first of all the cutting member can be pivoted about an axis parallel to the bearing surface, but with which also the necessary applied pressure for the carbide tip is produced.
Cutting devices of this type are designed only for straight cuts. To create curved borders on tiles, the person laying the tiles must use other means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based on the object of providing a device for cutting slabs or tiles which can be used in a more versatile way.
This object is achieved by a tile cutting device, with a frame which has a bearing surface for tiles and also a cutting member for creating a rupture location in the tile surface, which member is mounted on the frame displaceably over the bearing surface by guides, and is provided with a lever with which the cutting member can be manually pivoted about an axis parallel to the bearing surface to create the necessary applied pressure. The guides for guiding the cutting member along a curved path comprise a mounting of the cutting member that is linearly displaceable in two directions comprising two parallel running rails, to which a running carriage is attached in each case. The running carriages are fixedly connected to each other by a further running rail, to which the cutting member is attached displaceably along the further running rail.
Advantageous and expedient developments of the device according to the invention are specified in the subclaims.
The invention is based on a tile cutting device with a frame which has a bearing surface for the tiles and is equipped with a cutting member for creating a rupture location in the tile surface, which member is mounted on the frame displaceably over the bearing surface by a guiding device, and is provided with a lever with which the cutting member can be manually pivoted about an axis parallel to the bearing surface to create the necessary applied pressure. The essence of the invention is that the guiding device for guiding the cutting member along a curved path during the displacement on the frame comprises a linearly displaceable mounting of the cutting member in two directions along the frame. The mounting includes two parallel running rails, to which a running carriage is attached in each case, the running carriages being fixedly connected to each other by a further running rail, to which the cutting member is displaceably attached. This makes it possible to create curved borders on slabs or tiles in a way corresponding to the guidance of the cutting member. This allows, for example, tile-laying work in the floor region of rooms with curved, for example half-round, wall sections to be carried out more efficiently and exactly, in that, during the cutting of the respective tile, the cutting member guide runs on a curved path which corresponds to the shape of the wall bounding the floor to be tiled. Until now, work of this type had to be carried out entirely manually, i.e. the tile was appropriately cut off with cutting tools guided by hand or the desired curved shape was broken out with nippers. It is easy to appreciate that exact tile edges cannot be produced by these methods. With the device according to the invention, on the other hand, the guidance of the cutting member by the guiding device allows exact tile edges to be created.
German Patent document 1 240 241 describes a device for cutting panes of glass in accordance with templates, which has at least one carriage for a cutting tool received by a tool holder. The cutting tool is movable with the aid of a drive under guidance by the template along two orthogonal coordinates given by fixed and movable rails, which also extend transversely in relation to one another. Each tool holder provided with a cutting tool is arranged on its own carriage and each carriage is driven movably for its part on a rail assigned to it and also with a guiding roller acting on the template. This device is designed quite specifically for the problems encountered in the exact cutting of panes of glass and is not suitable for the cutting of tiles.
It is also advantageous if the guiding device has a guiding template with a stop which extends in a way corresponding to the desired curved path and by means of which the cutting member is guided. For example, the cutting member may bear directly against the stop during displacement.
In an alternative configuration of the invention, the cutting member is guided directly on a guiding template which comprises at least one guiding unit shaped in the desired curved path, preferably a guiding or running rail. This measure makes it possible to dispense with additional guides, such as for example linear guides. This makes the construction simple and inexpensive.
To achieve guidance of the cutting member which is as simple but effective as possible, it is also proposed that the guiding device comprise a guiding template, in which the desired curved path is formed in the manner of slits.
It is also preferred if the guiding template can be arranged over the bearing surface, so that the cutting member can be guided like a stylus in the curved path formed in the manner of slits.
In an advantageous embodiment, it is also preferred if the cutting member is mounted rotatably about its longitudinal axis, i.e., with the cutting member placed on a tile or slab, about an axis which runs essentially perpendicularly with respect to the slab or tile surface to be cut. This creates the possibility of always aligning the cutting member in the direction of the path. This is advantageous in particular whenever a carbide wheel is used for creating a rupture location in the slab or tile surface, it being possible for said wheel always to roll along the curved path.
In a further advantageous configuration of the invention, the cutting member has in the guiding region of the guiding template a surface-contact bearing location, for example a square or rectangular cross section. In particular in the case of a slit-like guiding slot, the cutting member which bears with surface contact against the guiding slot, at least on one side, is in this way aligned automatically into the respective direction of the path in the manner of positive guidance. It can consequently be ensured that, for example, a carbide wheel on the cutting member used for the cutting rolls along in the direction of the path without any lateral sliding movement.
For the cutting device to be easy to handle, it is also advantageous if the guiding template is attached to the frame in such a way that it can be swung up above the bearing surface. This allows a tile to be easily put in place and aligned.
Finally, it is preferred if the guiding template is exchangeable. This is because it will be advantageous for an efficient working procedure to supply the cutting device together with a large number of commonly used guiding templates, which can be inserted into the device as required.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1511016 (1924-10-01), Barker
patent: 1680805 (1928-08-01), Schmidt
patent: 3104467 (1963-09-01), Lloyd-Young
patent: 4382590 (1983-05-01), Pandya et al.
patent: 5626124 (1997-05-01), Chen
patent: 6269994 (2001-08-01), Harrington
pat
Mueller Erich
Schmid Daniel
Berry Jr. Willie
Crowing & Moring LLP
Hail III Joseph J.
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