Methods and apparatus for cutting profiles

Abstract

An apparatus for cutting a profile, including: a cutter configured to make cuts on the profile having a first surface and a second surface, and having at least one rib on the first surface, wherein the cuts are made on the first surface of the profile; a first drive unit to drive the cutter forward and backward to and from the first surface of the profile; and a second drive unit to drive the cutter up and down along the first surface of the profile.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for cutting a profile, comprising:
 a cutter configured to make cuts on the profile having a first surface and a second surface, and having at least one rib on the first surface,   wherein the cuts are made on the first surface of the profile;   a first drive unit to drive said cutter forward and backward to and from the first surface of the profile; and   a second drive unit to drive said cutter up and down along the first surface of the profile.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a cutter driving motor configured to rotate said cutter for cutting the profile.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said first drive unit comprises:
 a bi-directional rod coupled to said cutter driving motor;   a first slide rail coupled to said cutter driving motor;   a cylinder configured to drive said bi-directional rod,   wherein the driving of said bi-directional rod moves said cutter driving motor on said first slide rail forward to and backward from the first surface of the profile.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said first drive unit further comprises:
 a stopper; and   a securing wheel,   wherein said stopper and said securing wheel operates together to limit the movement of said bi-directional rod to control the depth of a cut made by said cutter on the first surface of the profile.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said second drive unit comprises:
 a moving plate coupled to said cutter driving motor;   a second slide rail coupled to said moving plate;   a driving motor configured to drive said moving plate on said second slide rail,   wherein the driving of said moving plate moves said cutter driving motor and said cutter up and down along the first surface of the profile.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising
 a vertical axis screw coupled to said driving motor and said moving plate,   wherein said vertical axis screw is driven by said driving motor to move said moving plate vertically on said second slide rail.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cuts made on the at least one rib are angled so that an open edge of the at least one rib has a larger angle than a closed edge. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cuts made on the surface of the profile produce a small ridge with a depth equal to approximately one-third the thickness of the profile. 
     
     
         9 . A folding machine for cutting and folding profiles to make channel letters for a sign board, comprising:
 a profile supply unit configured to feed a profile into the folding machine;   a profile feeding path coupled to said profile supply unit, and configured to guide said profile for cutting;   a cutting unit coupled to said profile feeding path, said cutting unit comprising:
 a cutter configured to make cuts on the profile having a first surface and a second surface, and having at least one rib on the first surface, 
 wherein the cuts are made on the first surface of the profile; 
 a first drive unit to drive said cutter forward and backward to and from the first surface of the profile; 
 a second drive unit to drive said cutter up and down along the first surface of the profile; 
   a folding unit configured to fold said profile that is properly cut into a channel letter.   
     
     
         10 . The folding machine of  claim 9 , wherein said cutting unit comprises a frame coupled to said profile feeding path, said frame disposed parallel to said profile feeding path, and together forming a slit through which the profile is fed through for cutting. 
     
     
         11 . A method for cutting a profile, comprising:
 determining a cut depth of a cut to be made with a cutter on the profile;   appropriately selecting and engaging a stopper to allow the cutter to receive and cut the profile;   first moving the cutter forward for first cutting and/or backward for repositioning;   second moving the cutter down and/or up for second cutting or repositioning;   repeating said first moving and said second moving according to a desired number of cuts.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising
 positioning the cutter initially at a top end of the profile, wherein   said first moving includes moving the cutter forward for the first cutting,   said second moving includes moving the cutter down for the second cutting,   said repeating includes first moving the cutter backward for repositioning, and second moving the cutter up for repositioning.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising
 positioning the cutter initially at a bottom end of the profile, wherein   said first moving includes moving the cutter forward for the first cutting,   said second moving includes moving the cutter up for the second cutting, and   said repeating includes first moving the cutter backward for repositioning.   
     
     
         14 . A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for cutting a profile, the program comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:
 determine a cut depth of a cut to be made with a cutter on the profile;   appropriately select and engage a stopper to allow the cutter to receive and cut the profile;   first move the cutter forward for first cutting and/or backward for repositioning;   second move the cutter down and/or up for second cutting or repositioning;   repeat said first moving and said second moving according to a desired number of cuts.