APPARATUS FOR CUTTING SHEET MATERIAL
According to the present invention, an apparatus for cutting a workpiece sheet is provided that includes a frame member, a clamp assembly, a cutter head assembly, and a cartridge removably mounted in the cutter head assembly. The clamp assembly has a bar that is selectively operable between a retracted position and a deployed position. The clamp assembly is operable to fix the position of the workpiece sheet relative to the frame member. The cutter head assembly is mounted on a track, which is attached to the frame member. The cutter head assembly can be selectively moved along the track. The cartridge includes a first cutting blade and a second cutting blade, both statically mounted on the cartridge. Each blade is positioned to engage the workpiece sheet as the cartridge is moved along the frame member.
1 . An apparatus for cutting a workpiece sheet, comprising:
a frame member;
a clamp assembly having a bar that is selectively operable between a retracted position and a deployed position, which clamp assembly is operable to fix the position of the workpiece sheet relative to the frame member;
a cutter head assembly mounted on a track, which track is attached to the frame member, wherein the cutter head assembly can be selectively moved along the track; and
a cartridge removably mounted in the cutter head assembly, wherein the cartridge includes a first cutting blade and a second cutting blade, both blades statically mounted on the cartridge, wherein each blade is positioned to engage the workpiece sheet as the cartridge is moved along the frame member.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first cutting blade is positioned to make a first depth of cut into the workpiece sheet and the second cutting blade is positioned to make a second depth of cut into the workpiece sheet, and the second depth of cut is greater than the first depth of cut.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each of the first cutting blade and the second cutting blade has a cutting edge, and the cutting edges are aligned with one another.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first cutting blade and the second cutting blade are coplanar with one another.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first cutting blade and the second cutting blades are geometrically the same.
6 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first cutting blade and the second cutting blade are made from the same type of material.
7 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first cutting blade and the second cutting blade are made from dissimilar materials.
8 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first cutting blade is designed to cut a first material, and the second cutting blade is designed to a second material, wherein the first material is different than the second material.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge further comprises a pivotable guard that is biased in a deployed position where it at least partially encloses the first and second cutting blades.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the cartridge includes a selectively operable lock mechanism operative to lock the guard in the deployed position.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the lock mechanism is configured to be in an unlocked position when the cartridge is mounted within the cutter head assembly, and is configured to normally be in a locked position when the cartridge is separate from the cutter head assembly.
12 . A cutter cartridge, comprising:
a frame;
a first cutting blade statically mounted to the frame;
a second cutting blade statically mounted to the frame; cartridge, wherein the first cutting blade has a first blade exposure distance, and the second cutting blade has a second blade exposure distance, and the second blade exposure distance is greater than the first blade exposure distance.
13 . The cartridge of claim 12 , wherein each of the first cutting blade and the second cutting blade has a cutting edge, and the cutting edges are aligned with one another.
14 . The cartridge of claim 13 , wherein the first cutting blade and the second cutting blade are coplanar with one another.
15 . The cartridge of claim 14 , wherein the first cutting blade and the second cutting blades are geometrically the same.
16 . The cartridge of claim 14 , wherein the first cutting blade and the second cutting blade are made from the same type of material.
17 . An apparatus for cutting a workpiece sheet, comprising:
a frame member;
a clamp assembly having a bar that is selectively operable between a retracted position and a deployed position, which clamp assembly is operable to fix the position of the workpiece sheet relative to the frame member;
a cutter head assembly mounted on a track, which track is attached to the frame member, wherein the cutter head assembly can be selectively moved along the track; and
a powered cutting tool having a rotary tool bit operable to cut the workpiece sheet, wherein the powered cutting tool is attached to the cutter head assembly.