A digital flatbed cutter is described. The cutter includes a flatbed on which a workpiece can be positioned. A head unit is movable in a plane above the flatbed. A tape applicator head and a cutter head are mounted to the head unit. The tape applicator head includes an applicator roller for applying a strip of tape to the workpiece that is rotatable about an axis that is normal to the plane so that strips of tape can be applied to the workpiece in any direction. The cutter head includes a knife or blade for cutting the workpiece. A creaser head that includes a creaser wheel for creasing the workpiece can also be mounted to the head unit.

The invention is directed to a re-sealer for a multi-ply cutter including a cutter table and a cutter frame. The cutter frame includes a fixed re-sealer end attached to an overlay film. The overlay film covers a workpiece on the cutter table through a movable re-sealer end, which is longitudinally displaced along the table and includes a swing arm on each side of the table. The cutter frame further includes a mandrel attached between the swing arms of the movable re-sealer end and the overlay film. Each of the swing arms include an actuator attached thereto, providing rotation of each of the swing arms in a first direction about an axis of the actuator thereby raising the mandrel above the table. The actuators also include a down stop preventing rotation of the swing arm in a second direction thereby establishing a minimum height of the mandrel above the table.

A system 10 may be used to carry out methods for portioning substantially uniform food products 12 into a series of intentionally created unique variations of one or more predetermined reference shapes to resemble naturally occurring food product shapes. The method includes scanning the uniform food product and generating digital data based on the results of the scanning. This data is used to generate a series of unique variations of one or more predetermined reference shapes based on one or more specified physical parameters for the unique variation shapes. Cutting paths are generated for cutting the substantially uniform food product 12 into the digitally generated unique variation shapes 44. A control system 30 controls the operation of a cutting apparatus 22 cut the substantially uniform food product 12 along the generated cutting paths thereby portioning the substantially uniform food product into unique variations of naturally occurring food product shapes.

A method and apparatus for cutting a Non-Crimp Fabric for improving edge stability and reducing stitch retraction is disclosed. The part of the NCF to be cut is treated with a binder and heated to activate the binder and therefore bind the tows and stitches together. By treating only the cutting path the drapability of the wider fabric is maintained. This may be achieved by heating only the part of the NCF to be cut, or applying binder to only the part of the NCF to be cut. The NCF may be compressed and cooled before cutting to improve binding action. A ply cutter may be adapted to carry out the invention by including a heat source and optionally a binder dispenser, compressor and cooler.

A cutting plotter includes a cutting plotter shell, a placement plate disposed outside the cutting plotter shell, an upper transmission assembly and a lower transmission assembly disposed at two ends of the cutting plotter shell, and a belt assembly disposed in the cutting plotter. The lower transmission assembly and the upper transmission assembly correspond to each other to assist paper in entering the cutting plotter. A slide rod is disposed in the cutting plotter shell and located at the top of the upper transmission assembly, and a cutting tool assembly is disposed on the slide rod. The belt assembly includes a driving motor. A belt body is steered through a steering belt wheel of the belt assembly, and the distance between parallel parts of the belt body is decreased through two small-radius tensioning belt wheels, such that the chain installation space is reduced and the cutting plotter is compact.

An automated sheet material cutting and handling system for producing sheet material articles having a planar shape comprises a cutting surface with a suction hold-down, a suction lifting apparatus, a robotic actuation system for moving the suction lifting apparatus, and a control system for controlling the operation of the cutting device and the suction lifting apparatus. The suction lifting apparatus comprises a suction lifting head including a suction lifting portion comprising a suction lifting plate for applying suction through a plurality of holes in the plate. The control system is configured to operate the cutting device to make at least one cut through the planiform blanks. A resiliently compressible template is adhered to the suction lifting plate. Also, methods.

The invention relates to machines and methods for separative machining of plate-shaped workpieces by a processing beam. The machines include a first movement unit configured to move the workpiece in a first direction and a second movement unit including a machining head configured to emit the processing beam. The second movement unit is configured to move the machining head in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to direct the processing beam onto the workpiece. The machines include a first workpiece support unit including a first workpiece-bearing face and a second workpiece support unit including a second workpiece-bearing face spaced apart by a gap from the first workpiece support unit and the first workpiece-bearing face. The gap extends along the second direction. The machines include at least one support slide arranged to move in the second direction within the gap and including a support slide bearing face.

An electronic cutting machine includes at least one housing to which a drive roller is coupled for moving a sheet to be cut in a first direction and a cutter assembly coupled to the housing and moveable in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

A cutting system including a cutting table and a first cutting material belt movably supported about the cutting table and a second cutting material removably supported above the first cutting material, the laser cutting material having a metal material having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough.

A machine for separative machining of a plate-shaped workpiece by a processing beam. The machine has a first movement unit for moving the workpiece in a first direction, a second movement unit for moving a processing head in a second direction, two workpiece bearing supports for bearing the workpiece, and a parts chute. The two workpiece bearing supports are separated from each other by a gap that extends along the second direction. The parts chute is movable between a first chute position and a second chute position so as to move a cut-free workpiece part that has dropped into the gap, laterally away from the gap. The machine includes a receiving unit movable in the second direction, to receive the cut-free workpiece part at a transfer position and transport the workpiece part to one or more discharging positions of the machine along the second direction.