Method and Related Apparatus for Cutting a Product from a Sheet Material

Abstract

A method of cutting a product of a predetermined shape from a sheet material ( 1 ) by firstly supporting a sheet material in a first position by a first support means ( 2 ) whereafter she sheet ( 1 ) may be cut through by moving a line type cutter ( 7 ) relative to the sheet material on a line or lines to define part of the predetermined shape. The sheet material may then be supported in a second position (whether by the first support means or another support means ( 2 a, 2 b )) and again cut by moving a line type cutter relative to the sheet material on a line or lines to define the remaining perimeter of the predetermined shape, to thereby cut the predetermined shape from the sheet material. In the second position the sheet material is provided with upward support to support the predetermined shape to be cut from the sheet material and wherein in the second position the or another support means includes a through cut commensurate to the line or lines to define the remaining perimeter of the predetermined shape.

1 - 35 . (canceled)  
   
   
       36 . An apparatus for cutting a product having a perimeter of a predetermined shape from a sheet material comprising; 
 a first support means to receive said sheet material wherein no support is provided by said first support means at least along a line commensurate to a portion of the perimeter shape of said product to be cut in a first cutting procedure    a second support means including a support region to support said sheet material in a condition having said portion of said perimeter shape cut, said second support means including a slot or slots cut there through commensurate to the remaining portion of the perimeter shape of said sheet material to be cut in a second cutting procedure    at least one line type cutting means movable relative to said to sheet material to cut through said sheet material during said first and second cutting procedure and to pass also through said second support means during a second cutting procedure    means to allow registration of the location of said first support means with said second support means to provide accurate positioning of said support region in support of said sheet material.    
   
   
       37 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 36  wherein said first mentioned support means provides upward support to said sheet material at least at regions of the downwardly facing surface of said sheet material not to be cut during said first cutting procedure.  
   
   
       38 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 36  wherein said first mentioned support means provides upward support to said sheet material at regions of the downwardly facing surface of said sheet material not to be cut during said first cutting procedure.  
   
   
       39 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 36  wherein said first mentioned support means provides upward support to said sheet material at regions of the downwardly facing surface of said sheet material not to be cut during said second cutting procedure.  
   
   
       40 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 36  wherein said first mentioned support means provides upward support to said sheet material at the perimeter region of the downwardly facing surface of said sheet material only.  
   
   
       41 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 36  wherein said second support region is positioned for said second cutting procedure in an upwardly supporting condition to said sheet material to provide upward support to at least that part of said sheet material from where said predetermined shapes will be generated.  
   
   
       42 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 36  wherein said support means include at least two location pins to extend through said sheet material.  
   
   
       43 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 42  wherein said first mentioned first means includes a slot or slots cut there through commensurate to said portion of the perimeter shape of said product to be cut in a first cutting procedure.  
   
   
       44 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 43  wherein each said slots of said first mentioned support means extend from a first end thereof at a perimeter edge of 
 said support means to a second end thereof inward of the perimeter of said support means.    
   
   
       45 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 36  wherein each said slots of said second mentioned support means extend from a first end thereof from a feeder slot of said second mentioned support means to a second end thereof inward of the perimeter of said support means said feeder slot extending at a first end thereof at a perimeter edge of said second mentioned support means and at a second end inward of the perimeter of said second mentioned support means.