Cutting – Processes
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-13
2003-09-16
Ashley, Boyer D. (Department: 3724)
Cutting
Processes
C083S039000, C083S052000, C083S075500, C083S076800, C083S364000, C083S365000, C083S368000, C083S371000, C083S940000, C700S134000, C700S171000, C347S157000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06619168
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is related generally to the field of cutting of graphics areas or the like from sheets for various purposes, and other narrow-path-processing with respect to graphics areas on sheets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The technical field involving the cutting of graphic areas from sheets, or otherwise doing narrow-path-processing with respect to graphics images on sheets, includes, for example, the face-cutting of laminate sheets to form decals. More specifically, a graphics image area on the face layer of a laminate needs to be cut away from the remainder of the face layer so that the graphics area (decal) can subsequently be pulled away from the backing layer of the laminate and be applied elsewhere as intended. Highly accurate face-layer cutting about the graphics is obviously highly desirable.
This is but one example in which highly accurate sheet cutting (or other processing) is desirable. In many other situations, highly accurate sheet cutting which is desired may not involve face-cutting, but through-cutting, in which the full thickness of the sheet is cut about a graphics area on the sheet. And in many situations, rather than highly accurate cutting, highly accurate scoring, creasing, line embossing or the like, in each case, of course, along a line the varying direction of which is determined by the shape of the graphics area. Together these types of operations on sheets with respect to graphics areas thereon are referred to herein for convenience as “narrow-path-processing.” For convenience, the prior art problems and the invention herein which solves such problems will be discussed primarily with reference to sheet-cutting apparatus.
A method and associated apparatus which addresses many of the problems encountered in such processing of sheet material is the i-cut™ vision cutting system from Mikkelsen Graphic Engineering of Lake Geneva, Wis., and is the subject of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/678,594, filed on Oct. 4, 2000, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/827,000, filed on Apr. 5, 2001.
The invention described in the first document is a method and apparatus for achieving highly improved accuracy in cutting around graphics areas in order to fully adjust for two-dimensional distortion in the sheets from which the graphics areas will be cut, including distortion of differing degrees in different directions on the sheet of material. The distortion may be from the printing process or from some other post-printing process such as material handling or during the cutting process itself. This invention also provides improved speed and accuracy in narrow-path-processing and greater efficiency of material usage.
The invention described in the second document is a method and apparatus for automatically and rapidly determining the position and orientation of a sheet of material on a work surface. When the placement of the sheet of material is not precisely controlled, the speed of the cutting or other narrow-path-processing system is often impaired because the system may require manual intervention to adjust the placement of the sheet of material so that the system can begin processing. Thus, the invention described in the second document provides further improved speed over the invention described in the first document.
In some cases, such as in the i-cut™ system from Mikkelsen Graphic Engineering, a flatbed plotter is used. These are devices having a positionally-controlled cutting implement above a flat work surface on which the sheet to be cut rests. The cutting implements are controlled based on controller-supplied instructions based on the X-Y coordinates necessary to achieve cutting along the intended path, such as about the graphics area.
Achieving greater speed and overall efficiencies in cutting or other narrow-path-processing is a continuing challenge encountered in the field of graphics image processing. One source of inefficiency is the length of time required by the system to begin the cutting process after the sheet of material on which graphics areas have been previously printed are placed on the work surface of the cutting apparatus, either manually or by automatic sheet-feeding equipment. In either of these set-up situations, the cutting apparatus must determine the position and orientation of the sheet on the work surface in order to proceed accurately with the cutting process. If the operator or automatic sheet-feeder places the sheet of material on the work surface such that it is outside of the area or region of alignment on the work surface which the cutting system expects to find the sheet, manual intervention may be necessary to adjust the placement of the sheet to within the required initial region in order for the process to continue beyond this initial set-up step. A further source of inefficiency is the time-consuming step which may be required to allow the system to determine the initial position and orientation of the sheet on the work surface.
Despite the significant advances represented by the i-cut™ system, further increases in efficiency (speed of operation) are highly desirable in automated cutting systems.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for precision cutting of graphics areas from sheets overcoming some of the problems and shortcomings of the prior art.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus which increase the speed of cutting and other narrow-path-processing of sheet material.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus which automate the cutting and other narrow-path-processing of sheet material as much as possible.
Another object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for reducing the time to determine sheet position and orientation in apparatus for precise cutting around graphics areas.
Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for cutting and other narrow-path-processing with respect to graphics on sheet materials of various kinds.
These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following descriptions and from the drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention overcomes the above-noted problems and shortcomings and satisfies the objects of the invention. The invention is an improved method and apparatus for cutting graphics areas from sheets, or other narrow-path-processing with respect to graphics images. Stated more broadly, the invention is an improved method and apparatus for narrow-path-processing with respect to graphics images on sheets, including by cutting, creasing, scoring or the like around such images. Of particular note is that the instant invention brings high speed and improved efficiency, including eliminating certain manual intervention, to the precision cutting of graphics images from sheets bearing such images, including in situations in which there has been distortion of various kinds in the sheets, including two-dimensional distortion.
The method of this invention is stated with respect to cutting graphics areas from a sheet of material bearing such graphics area and a plurality of registration marks in predetermined positions with respect to the graphics area. The plurality of marks includes a subset of the marks as initial-position/orientation-determining marks, printed on no more than one side of the graphics area.
The method is of the type which includes (a) placing the sheet on a sheet-receiving surface, (b) sensing the subset in the field of view of a main sensor to determine the position and orientation of the sheet and approximate positions of the plurality of marks, (c) sensing the precise positions of the marks, and (d) cutting the graphics area from the sheet in response to the precise positions of the marks with respect to the graphics area. The invention involves the addition of steps which enable the process to proceed when the subset is not in an expected location on the sheet-receiving surface. These steps include autom
Alsten Peter
Andersen Geo
Ashley Boyer D.
Jansson & Shupe & Munger Ltd.
Mikkelsen Graphic Engineering
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