Automated container cutting apparatus, a system including the apparatus, and a method of cutting a container

Abstract

The disclosure provides an automated container cutting system, a compliant cutting tool, and a process for automatically cutting containers that have one or more non-planar sides. The compliant cutting tool is attached to a moveable support of the automated container cutting system and uses a blade to cut an outer surface of a container along a cut line. The cut line can be independent of a cutting path of the moveable support that is used to move the compliant cutting tool. In one example the compliant cutting tool includes: (1) a wear plate that contacts one or more outer surfaces of a container during cutting and positions a blade against the outer surfaces during the cutting, and (2) a mechanical interface configured to control repositioning of the blade for the cutting. A blade bank can be used with the compliant cutting tool to allow automatic blade replacements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automated container cutting system for containers, comprising:
 a compliant cutting tool having a repositionable blade; and   a controller configured to direct cutting of a container by moving the compliant cutting tool along a cutting path while the compliant cutting tool follows a cut line on an outer surface of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The automated container cutting system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cut line includes a non-linear portion. 
     
     
         3 . The automated container cutting system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cutting tool includes a wear plate and the wear plate rides against the outer surface of the container during the cutting. 
     
     
         4 . The automated container cutting system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cutting tool includes a single blade that is used for the cutting of the container. 
     
     
         5 . The automated container cutting system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the controller moves the cutting tool and the blade around corners of the container along the cut line, wherein the cutting tool remains engaged with the container while moving around the corners. 
     
     
         6 . The automated container cutting system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to control replacement of the single blade with another blade based on one or more cutting factors. 
     
     
         7 . The automated container cutting system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to control the replacement by determining when to replace the single blade and removing the single blade by pulling, pushing, or dropping the single blade from the cutting tool. 
     
     
         8 . The automated container cutting system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to automatically control a blade depth, a blade angle, or a combination thereof during the cutting. 
     
     
         9 . The automated container cutting system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the controller determines the cutting depth of the blade based on a thickness of the outer surface of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The automated container cutting system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the thickness is automatically determined based on a SKU of the container. 
     
     
         11 . The automated container cutting system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a moveable support, wherein the compliant cutting tool is attached to the moveable support and the controller is configured to move the compliant cutting tool along the cutting path by directing operation of the moveable support. 
     
     
         12 . The automated container cutting system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cutting path is independent of the cut line. 
     
     
         13 . A compliant cutting tool, comprising:
 a wear plate that contacts one or more outer surfaces of a container during cutting and positions a blade against the one or more outer surfaces during the cutting; and   a mechanical interface configured to control repositioning of the blade for the cutting.   
     
     
         14 . The compliant cutting tool as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a holder that maintains at least a portion of the wear plate against the one or more outer surfaces during the cutting. 
     
     
         15 . The compliant cutting tool as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the holder is one or more spring that pushes the at least a portion of the wear plate against the one or more outer surfaces during the cutting. 
     
     
         16 . The compliant cutting tool as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the compliant cutting tool is configured to receive a blade bank having multiple blades. 
     
     
         17 . The compliant cutting tool as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising a moving mechanism configured to engage with blades of the blade bank for automatic replacement of an active blade. 
     
     
         18 . The compliant cutting tool as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the repositioning of the blade occurs before the cutting. 
     
     
         19 . A cutting tool, comprising:
 a wear plate that contacts one or more outer surfaces of a container during cutting and positions a blade against the one or more outer surfaces during the cutting; and   a blade bank having multiple blades.   
     
     
         19 . The cutting tool as recited in claim  19 , wherein the cutting tool is a compliant cutting tool.