Optics: image projectors – Projected image combined with real object
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-04
2001-09-25
Metjahic, Safet (Department: 2858)
Optics: image projectors
Projected image combined with real object
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293677
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to machines for automation of production of articles obtained by assembling flat components, and in particular, the present invention concerns a device for projecting real sized profiles of parts on the working plane of a machine for automatic cutting of such parts, mainly of leather or other similar material, used mostly for footwear production.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Shoe uppers as heretofore produced are usually formed by a plurality of parts, made of leather or similar material, suitably cut and processed in relation to the shoe model and joined by stitching.
These parts are cut out from bigger pieces of Leather and then possibly decorated by series of holes or slits.
During production of one product series, a great number of parts of various shapes and sizes are produced, since many models of upper are produced and each upper is composed of several parts. Furthermore, every upper model is usually produced in different sizes and colors and, lastly, the parts of a right upper are symmetrical with the parts of a left one.
The parts must be cut with great precision, so as to guarantee high production and constant quality.
Another problem of the part cutting process relates to optimum use of the material.
As it has been already said, the parts are cut out from big pieces of leather of usually irregular shape and always different. Therefore, it is necessary to check and pre-set the number and best arrangement of the parts to be cut out every time, so as to occupy the biggest surface of the leather piece, without putting one component over another and reducing off-cuts.
Thus, it is obvious that the cutting operations are rather complicated and requires use of a lot of resources.
These operations are carried out automatically by complex cutting machines helped by a processor, so as to improve the productivity and reduce use of specialized manpower, as well as operation time.
In particular, the cutting machines have heretofore been provided, as including a big working plane, on which a tools carrying carriage works, moved along cartesian axes on the whole surface of the working plane.
The tools are drills of different thickness for making holes, and in particular, blades for straight and curved cutting, among others.
The carriage is driven by a computerized system associated with the machine according to known techniques of digital definition for the tools paths.
The driving commands are issued in response to the information identifying the profiles for various parts to be cut, which is stored in memory in the above mentioned system.
The arrangement of the profiles can be manually set on a monitor by an operator, or can be automatically optimized by suitable known calculation algorithms after the leather has been arranged on the working plane and after it has scanned in its profile using known techniques.
The cutting machines include also a device for projecting the image displayed on the monitor, which shows the arrangement of the parts profiles on the working plane.
In, this way, the operator can directly see, before each cutting operation, the effective arrangement of the parts to be cut out from the piece of leather spread on the working plane.
This characteristic is very useful and particularly appreciated by users.
The projecting device in its simplest form includes a digital controlled projector connected directly to the machine computer, on an outlet port in parallel to the monitor outlet port, and a suitable frame for supporting the projector in the proper position.
In larger cutting machines, a virtual division of the working plane is very convenient and advantageous, because leather profiles are arranged on one area of the working plane, whereas on another area of this plane, the leather is automatically cut.
In this case, the profile projector moves on the frame between two extreme positions, in which it projects the image of the profiles on the adjacent areas of the working plane, each area substantially corresponding to a half thereof.
The positioning device is formed by a rail, on which a motorized carriage supporting the projector slides horizontally.
The manufacturing of the above mentioned positioning device is very difficult because of the necessary movement precision required and it is also very expensive.
Moreover, using this device, the speed of the projector while changing position is rather low.
On the other hand, another alternative solution, which uses two stationary projectors, would be also expensive and could result in more frequent failures of: the system.
Moreover, it would need additional electronic components, also very expensive, for the machine processing system.
Finally, also the projector supporting frame requires high manufacture and positioning precision, which leads to a further considerable increase of the cutting machine purchase and maintenance cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was evolved with the general object of providing a device for projecting profiles in one of the above mentioned cutting machines, which reproduces the profile images on two different areas of the working plane using only one projector, without expensive frames and sophisticated positioning devices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a projecting device which is simple to adjust and maintain, and which is highly reliable and cheap.
These objects are fully obtained, in accordance with the present invention by a device for projecting profiles in a machine for cutting flat articles, said machine including a substantially horizontal working plane, on which at least one piece of leather is spread, driving means for a tools carrying carriage situated over said working plane, processing means, which optimize the arrangement of said flat articles to be cut out of said piece of leather and which consequently guide said tools carrying carriage; the device for projecting profiles also includes:
a stationary support, that extends over the working plane of this machine;
at least one pair of adjustable mirrors, connected to the stationary support over the working plane;
a projector mounted on support means, which are rotated alternatively between a first working position in which the image generated by said projector is reflected by said first adjustable mirror and projected in a first area of the working plane, and a second working position in which the image generated by said projector is reflected by said second adjustable mirror and projected in a second area of the working plane;
the support means are mounted in the upper part of said machine
the device includes also means for driving the support means into rotation.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4125285 (1978-11-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5351196 (1994-09-01), Sowar et al.
patent: 5400095 (1995-03-01), Minich et al.
patent: 2 564 708 (1985-11-01), None
Coleman Sudol Sapone P.C.
Leroux E P
Metjahic Safet
Sapone William J.
Teseo S.p.A.
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