Patent ID: 6095023
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: B25J,B26D,B26F,B29C,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A soft part cutting method which uses a sheet material continuously formed from a continuously formed release sheet having at least a release layer on a surface and a soft member having an adhesive layer, and cuts the soft member together with the adhesive layer into a predetermined shape, comprising the steps of:providing a cutting blade for cutting both the soft member and the adhesive layer away from the release layer, wherein the cutting blade has a predetermined shape corresponding to a cutting shape and surrounds a first suction unit;applying a suction force by a second suction unit to hold the sheet material;moving the cutting blade towards the sheet material so that the cutting blade reaches a cutting position at which the cutting blade cuts into the soft member, and stopping the cutting blade at the cutting position;starting vibration of a vibrating unit including ultrasonic waves for transmitting vibration to the second suction unit;after applying the vibration, applying a suction force by the first suction unit;moving the cutting blade to cut through the soft member and into the adhesive layer, thereby obtaining the soft member; andstopping the suction force of the first suction unit to release the soft member and the adhesive layer from inside the cutting blade, whereina thickness of the soft member in a natural state is T1 and a thickness of the soft member compressed by the first suction unit is T2, and with a predetermined compression ratio defined by T2.div.T1, the compression ratio of the soft member varies from 1 to 0.1.