Numerical control apparatus for automated cutting of a sheet of material or of multiple superimposed sheets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cutting machines are overly complex and require significant reconfiguration to switch between different types of materials, limiting their versatility and production flexibility when cutting various sheet materials such as leather, fabrics, and synthetic materials.
Innovation Solution
A numerical control apparatus with a cutting chamber, conveying means, holding means, and an artificial vision system that allows cutting of multiple materials without changing the machine's direction, featuring a load-bearing crosspiece to support cutting heads and image acquisition devices, enabling efficient cutting of hides, fabrics, and synthetic materials as single sheets or multilayers with minimal reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cutting machine is designed to work on different types of materials (hide, fabric, synthetic materials), then the versatility and production flexibility are improved, but the device complexity and reconfiguration time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting machine is designed with a universal cutting head that can process multiple material types (hide, fabric, synthetic materials) using the same cutting mechanism. The blade system and conveying means are configured to accommodate different material properties without requiring fundamental structural changes, enabling one machine to perform multiple cutting functions across diverse material classes.
Solution Approach 2:
The machine incorporates adjustable and movable components including the cutting head positioning system and conveying speed control that can be dynamically adapted to different material types. The numerical control system allows real-time parameter adjustments (speed, cutting depth, blade position) to optimize cutting performance for each material without permanent reconfiguration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cutting machine is designed to work on different types of materials, then the production flexibility is improved, but the reconfiguration time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The machine is pre-configured with adjustable parameters and modular components that are prepared in advance for quick swapping. The numerical control system stores pre-programmed settings for different material types, allowing operators to rapidly switch between material classes by loading appropriate parameters without extensive manual reconfiguration or structural modifications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the machine works in opposite directions depending on material type, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than designing separate machines or complex reversible mechanisms for different material directions, the invention uses a unified cutting head that can effectively process materials regardless of their natural grain or fiber direction. The numerical control system manages cutting parameters to accommodate material-specific characteristics without requiring the physical machine to operate in fundamentally opposite configurations.
Data Source
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AI summary
Numerical control apparatus (1) for automated cutting of a sheet (2) of material or of multiple superimposed sheets (2), comprising: - a cutting chamber (3) equipped with an inlet (4) and an outlet (5), said cutting chamber (3) being configured to house at least one portion of the sheet (2) lying on a plane (α); - cutting means (80) active within said cutting chamber (3) to perform the cutting of said sheet (2) according to a predefined pattern; - conveying means (6) adapted to feed the sheet (2) into said cutting chamber (3) in a forward direction (A) along a longitudinal direction (Y); - holding or retaining means (10; 115) active on said sheet (2) in a combined manner with said conveying means (6) to ensure the stability of said sheet during the cutting operation of said cutting means (80); - a control unit (U) configured to control said apparatus (1); - wherein said material may be indifferently a hide, a fabric or a synthetic material, and may be fed as a single sheet (2) or as a multilayer of sheets (2), without modifying said forward direction (A).