Patent EP-0031319-A3 (EP)
IPC: G06T1/00
Filed: 1979-03-05
Abstract: There is provided an improvement in an apparatus for 
cutting a profile of a selected shape from a natural sheet 
material at a given location, which apparatus comprises a 
cutting platen having an upper generally flat cutting surface 
and a lower generally flat support surface. The platen is movable 
to the desired position relative to a cutter which moves 
along an axis downwardly against the cutting surface to cut 
the preselected shape from the natural material. In accordance 
with the improvement, there is provided a fixed anvil 
having a flat force reaction surface parallel to and facing the 
supporting surface of the platen so that the cutting action is 
against the anvil. The anvil can also form the structure for 
supporting the platen as it is moved into the cutting position.  
     Also provided is a device for converting a succession of 
analog voltage signals representative of light intensity of light 
from and controlled by a corresponding succession of finite 
surface locations of a natural leaf into high or white, low or 
black and intermediate or grey digital signals. This device 
includes an arrangement for creating a white digital signal 
when the analog voltage of a given location exceeds the 
threshold voltage. The digital signals are continuously averaged 
and updated to provide a datum voltage against which 
the analog voltage is compared after the datum voltage is 
decreased by a preselected amount. If the analog voltage is 
less than the reduced datum voltage, a black digital signal is 
created. If there is neither a black nor a white digital signal, a 
grey digital signal is created. In this manner, the general light 
intensity characteristics of each successive location on the 
leaf can be recorded as either white, black or grey. The colour 
profile of the leaf could be created by these signals; however, 
alternatively, a digital signal can be created when the light 
intensity signal shifts from one value to another. At that time, 
a transition signal is created which can be combined to form a 
transition profile of the leaf which is indicative of the actual 
profile and colour variations of the leaf itself. This information 
can be used for locating a wrapper cutter at the desired position 
on the leaf for subsequent cutting of the wrapper from the 
leaf.  
     A device for cutting a piece of a flat workpiece at a 
selected location identifiable by two or more binary coded 
numbers which device includes a cutter, a cutting platen having 
an upper workpiece supporting surface and a lower portion, 
a plurality of upstanding, shiftable members, a guiding 
arrangement on the platen adjacent the lower portion for 
loosely receiving the members, an arrangement for moving 
the members in accordance with the coded numbers and a 
structure for forcing the cutter against the cutting surface. In 
accordance with another aspect, the shiftable members are 
movable by binary fluid motors each including a series of 
axially aligned fluid actuating units having strokes corresponding 
to binary numbers and an arrangement for actuating 
certain of these units in the fluid motor to move the shiftable 
members in accordance with the extended condition of the 
binary motors.