Sheet material cutting system and methods regarding same

Abstract

A system and/or method for cutting designs of text and/or shapes out of sheet material, such as paper, vellum, and other materials used in, for example, the scrapbooking and card making industries.

1 . A method of cutting sheet material using a pattern cutting apparatus, the cutting apparatus comprising: 
 a cutting mat comprising a base substrate and an adhesive layer disposed on the base substrate;    a cutting blade; and    a controller operatively connected to at least one of the cutting blade and cutting mat to move the cutting blade and cutting mat relative to one another to cut the sheet material,    the method comprising:    adhering the sheet material to the adhesive layer of the cutting mat;    driving at least one of the cutting blade and cutting mat to move the cutting blade and cutting mat relative to one another to cut the sheet material into a desired shape; and    separating the cut sheet material from the adhesive layer while the adhesive layer remains disposed on the base substrate.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein driving at least one of the cutting blade and cutting mat to move the cutting blade and cutting mat relative to one another comprises: 
 driving the cutting blade in the y- and z-directions; and    driving the cutting mat in the x-direction.    
   
   
       3 . A method of cutting sheet material using a pattern cutting apparatus, the cutting apparatus comprising: 
 a sheet material assembly consisting essentially of: 
 (a) a sheet material to be cut, and  
 (b) a base substrate, and  
 (c) an adhesive layer disposed on the base substrate, the sheet material being adhered to the adhesive layer;  
   a cutter, the cutter and sheet material assembly being movable relative to one another; and    a controller operatively connected to at least one of the cutter and sheet material assembly to move the cutter and sheet material assembly relative to one another to cut the sheet material,    the method comprising:    driving at least one of the cutter and sheet material assembly to move the cutter and sheet material assembly relative to one another to cut the sheet material into a desired shape; and    separating the cut sheet material from the adhesive layer while the adhesive layer remains disposed on the base substrate.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein driving at least one of the cutter and sheet material assembly to move the cutter and sheet material assembly relative to one another comprises: 
 driving the cutter in the y- and z-directions; and    driving the sheet material assembly in the x-direction.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the cutter comprises a cutting blade.