Apparatus for extracting chips from slots cut into a substrate

• US 6,196,775 B1
• Filed: 05/24/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. (Gerber Scientific LLC)
• Original Assignee: Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. (Gerber Scientific LLC)
• Inventors: Aubin, Paul D., Strobel, Wolfgang M.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRAY, WAYMOND D
• Application Number:
  US09/317,583
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 153/39, 154/151, 83/98, 83/61, 831/00, 831/69, 144/134.1, 144/135.2, 144/136.1, 144/252.1, 144/252.2, 408/67, 409/131, 409/136, 409/137, 451/357, 451/359, 451/441, 451/451, 451/456
• US Class Current: 409/137
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/006 by sucking and blowing simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/304088 with means to remove chip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/2066 By fluid current
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/207 By suction means

Abstract

In an apparatus for extracting chips from slots cut into a substrate, a cutter having a cutting implement is mounted thereon and is adapted to cut slots into the substrate. At least one injector is positioned proximate to the cutting implement, and includes a nozzle having a nozzle tip directed at the slots such that during operation a current of gas is directed into the slots to loosen any substrate chips therefrom which were generated during the cutting operation. A vacuum apparatus is positioned proximate to the cutting apparatus for capturing and removing the substrate chips loosened by the injector.

Claims

1. An apparatus for extracting chips from slots cut into a substrate, comprising:

a cutter having a cutting implement mounted therein and adapted to cut slots into said substrate;

at least one injector positioned proximate to said cutting implement and including a nozzle having a nozzle tip located proximate to and directed at said slots for selectively directing a current of gas into said slots during a cutting operation to loosen any substrate chips from said slots generated during said cutting operation;

vacuum means positioned proximate to said cutting implement for capturing said substrate chips loosened by said injection means; and

pressurizing means for supplying said gas to said injection means.

2. An apparatus for extracting chips from slots cut into a substrate as defined by claim 1, wherein said injection means includes;

a body member coupled to said cutter;

at least one nozzle mounted to said body member and moveable relative thereto, between an extended position wherein said nozzle is adjacent to said cutting implement, and a retracted position wherein said nozzle is spaced away from said cutting implement; and

said nozzle being in gaseous communication with said pressurizing means and having a tip directed at said slot when said nozzle is in said extended position, such that gas supplied by said pressurizing means travels through said nozzle and is injected into said slot being cut, such that said gas loosens any chips located in said slot, generated during said cutting operation.

3. An apparatus for extracting chips from slots cut into a substrate as defined by claim 2, wherein injection means further includes:

said body member comprising;

a first upper surface, and a second lower surface approximately parallel to said first upper surface;

at least one channel extending at least part way across said

second lower surface and in gaseous communication with said pressurizing means;

a piston slidably positioned in said channel, said nozzle being coupled to and extending outwardly form a mounting surface defined by said piston; and

wherein

said piston having, a pressure surface opposite to said mounting surface approximately perpendicular to said body member, and a bore extending from said pressure surface to said nozzle, such that when gas is supplied to said channel, said gas impinges on said pressure surface causing said nozzle to move from said retracted to said extended position wherein said gas moves through said bore to said nozzle.

4. An apparatus for extracting chips from slots cut into a substrate as defined by claim 3, wherein said injection means includes biasing means positioned in said channel for urging said piston and thereby said nozzle from said extended to said retracted position when said pressurizing means is deactivated.

5. An apparatus for extracting chips from slots cut into a substrate as defined by claim 3, wherein said apparatus further comprises

a first cover mounted to said body member;

said vacuum means including at least one vacuum plenum defined by said first cover and said body member, said plenum being in communication with a vacuum source, such that said vacuum source draws any of said chips loosened by said nozzle through said plenum.

6. An apparatus for extracting chips from slots cut into a substrate as defined by claim 5, wherein:

said body member defines a plurality of channels extending at least part way across said second lower surface, a groove in gaseous communication with said pressurizing means and extending from said first upper surface part way through said body member, and a plurality of apertures, each extending from said groove and into one of said channels;

a second cover overlying said groove, such that said groove and said second cover coact to define a flow path for said gas, from said pressurizing means to each of said channels; and

a plurality of pistons, each having a nozzle mounted thereto, each of said pistons being slidably positioned in one of said channels.

7. An apparatus for extracting chips from slots cut into a substrate as defined by claim 6, wherein said cutter is a flat-bed type router having;

a frame,

a support surface attached to said frame for carrying said substrate;

a cutter carriage mounted to said frame and movable back-and-forth relative thereto in a first direction longitudinal of said support surface;

said cutter being mounted to said cutter carriage for movement back-and-forth along said cutter carriage in a second direction approximately perpendicular to said first direction;

said cutting implement being a bit defining a rotary cutting surface, mounted for rotation about a central axis to said cutter and movable relative to said substrate between a working position wherein said bit engages and cuts said substrate, and a non-working position wherein said bit is disengaged from said substrate.

a controller associated with said router for issuing commands thereto to coordinate the movement of said cutter carriage, said cutter, and said router bit.

8. An apparatus for extracting chips from slots cut into a substrate as defined by claim 7, wherein:

said body member is cylindrical and includes a central bore;

said body member being releasably mounted to said cutter such that said bit extends through said central bore.

9. An apparatus for extracting chips from slots cut into a substrate as defined by claim 8, further comprising:

a biasing means located between said first cover and said body member for urging said cover onto said substrate, such that when said bit is in said working position, said cover engages said substrate with said biasing means acting to evenly distribute any uneven forces on said cover resulting from asperous surfaces on the substrate.

10. An apparatus for extracting chips from slots cut into a substrate comprising:

a cutter having a cutting implement mounted thereon and adapted to cut slots into said substrate;

a body member coupled to said cutter;

at least one nozzle mounted to said body member movable relative thereto between an extended position wherein said nozzle is adjacent to said cutting implement and a retracted position wherein said nozzle is spaced away from said cutting implement;

pressurizing means for supplying gas to said nozzle;

said nozzle being in gaseous communication with said pressurizing means and having a tip directed at said slot when said nozzle is in said extended position such that gas supplied by said pressurizing means travels through said nozzle and is injected into said slot being cut, thereby loosening any chips embedded in said slot and generated during said cutting operation;

said body member including a first upper surface and a second lower surface approximately parallel to said first upper surface, at least one channel extending partway across said second lower surface and in gaseous communication with said pressurizing means;

a piston slidably positioned in said channel, said nozzle being coupled to and extending outwardly from a mounting surface defined by said piston, and wherein said piston has a pressure surface opposite said mounting surface approximately perpendicular to said body member and a bore extending from said pressure surface to said nozzle such that when gas is supplied to said channel said gas impinges on said pressure surface, causing said nozzle to move from said retracted to said extended position wherein said gas moves through said bore to said nozzle.