U.S. patent number 3,640,161 [Application Number 05/009,647] was granted by the patent office on 1972-02-08 for method for cutting out individual pictures from a multiple image picture.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Avant Incorporated. Invention is credited to Roger J. Kuhns.
United States Patent |
3,640,161 |
Kuhns |
February 8, 1972 |
METHOD FOR CUTTING OUT INDIVIDUAL PICTURES FROM A MULTIPLE IMAGE
PICTURE
Abstract
A cutting device for cutting out individual rectangular pictures
from a multiple image picture, which pictures are utilized for I.D.
cards, credit cards, badges or the like.
Inventors: |
Kuhns; Roger J. (Lincoln,
MA) |
Assignee: |
Avant Incorporated (Lincoln,
MA)
|
Family
ID: |
21738916 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/009,647 |
Filed: |
February 9, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
83/36; 83/50;
83/468 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B26D
7/015 (20130101); B26F 1/40 (20130101); G03D
15/04 (20130101); Y10T 83/051 (20150401); Y10T
83/0577 (20150401); Y10T 83/76 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
B26D
7/01 (20060101); B26F 1/38 (20060101); B26F
1/40 (20060101); G03D 15/04 (20060101); B26d
007/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;83/467,468,522,36,50 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Yost; Frank T.
Claims
I claim:
1. A method of die cutting a plurality of substantially identical
rectangular images out of a multiple image photograph which
includes a plurality of said rectangular images each having opposed
first and second sides longer than opposed third and fourth sides,
said multiple images having first and second centerlines displaced
at substantially equal distances from a third centerline running
through the middle of the multiple image picture, said method
comprising the steps of:
a. providing a substantially rectangular die cutter having opposed
first and second edges longer than opposed third and fourth
edges;
b. inserting said multiple image picture into said die cutter to
position the first and second longer sides of said rectangular
images substantially parallel with said longer first and second
edges of said die cutter;
c. adjusting the position of said multiple image picture in a first
direction substantially perpendicular with said longer first and
second edges of said die cutter until said first centerline lies
about half way between said longer first and second edges of said
die cutter;
d. further adjusting the position of a given multiple image picture
in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first
direction to properly frame a given multiple image within said die
cutter;
e. die cutting said last named given multiple image picture
and;
f. die cutting the remaining multiple images without repeating step
C.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein step C is performed by adjusting a
picture support member associated with said die cutter and
thereafter affixing the position of said support member with
respect to said die cutter to provide for subsequent cutting of the
remaining multiple images without the need for further adjustment
of said support member.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said adjustment is performed in a
direction parallel to the shorter third and fourth edges of said
die cutter.
Description
A prior art camera for producing the aforesaid multiple image
picture is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,128,685. For most
applications, a human being is photographed by this type of a
camera which results in four pictures, each having a rectangular
format. The rectangular multiple image picture is inserted into a
cutting device which generally is of a type which punches out the
individual pictures one at a time.
These prior art devices include a vertically oriented movable
rectangular die member or ram (i.e., having its major dimension or
length vertically oriented) so that the individual picture of the
subject photographed is initially inserted right side up and the
major dimension or length of the individual picture is vertically
oriented. This procedure produces a problem relating to continual
readjustment which will be discussed hereinafter in connection with
a detailed description of the operation of an embodiment of the
present invention. In order to properly center the individual
picture with respect to the vertically oriented male die member,
devices have been designed which vertically translate the
individual picture until the image of the subject is properly
centered in the vertical with respect to the die-cutting device.
However, these prior art devices for making an initial vertical
adjustment often require vertical readjustment during the die
cutting of a given multiple image picture, are relatively complex
and occasionally make it difficult to support the picture in an
exact vertical orientation; that is, the device for supporting the
bottom edge of the card does not always maintain the bottom card
edge parallel with the horizontally oriented die cutter edges.
SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a horizontally
rather than a vertically oriented rectangular die cutter is
provided for cutting out individual pictures from a horizontally
oriented multiple image picture. An adjustable elongated
cantilevered support member supports the lower edge of the picture
and is designed so that the bottom edge of the picture is always
maintained parallel to the horizontally oriented cutting edges of
the die cutter.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will
become apparent upon reading the detailed description of an
embodiment of the invention together with inspection of the drawing
in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of the invention;
and
FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of the
invention.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
As illustrated in FIG. 2, a movable cutting ram 1, slideable within
frame portion 2, moves to the left and punches out an individual
picture from multiple image picture 8 which is positioned within
cavity 7. Handle 6 drives ram 1 to the left until the ram is
contained within cavity 4, positioned within frame member 3. The
releasing of handle 6 causes ram 1 to move to the right and the
cutting cycle is completed. As shown in FIG. 1, horizontally
oriented multiple image picture 8 is inserted into cavity 7 so that
its lower edge rests on the upper edge of elongated support member
9. Since the female die member, including cavity 4, is open with
respect to the front of the die cutter, the position of the
individual picture 16 with respect to the die cutter may be viewed
by the operator. If the subject is not properly centered with
respect to the die cutter, the operator changes the vertical
position of elongated support member 9 until the subject 16 is
properly positioned in a vertical direction (i.e., centerline 20
bisects female die cavity 4 as illustrated in FIG. 1). Picture 8 is
then positioned in the horizontal direction to complete centering
of subject 16 with respect to die cavity 4. The means for adjusting
the vertical position of the subject 16 includes a screw member
which comprises a knob 13, cylindrical flange 15, and threaded
portion 14, together with an elongated member 11 which has an
elongated aperture 12 therein which is coupled in turn to
cantilevered member 9. When knob 13 is rotated clockwise, the
left-hand edge of flange 15, best shown in FIG. 1, presses against
member 11, tightly pressing member 11 against the side of the die
cutter. The operator adjusts the vertical position of multiple
image picture 8 to center the subject 16 with respect to the die
cutter by turning knob 13 counterclockwise which enables the
vertically oriented elongated member 11 to be moved vertically
until the image 16 is centered with respect to the die cutter as
shown in FIG. 1. After being properly positioned, the knob is
rotated clockwise so that elongated member 11 is firmly clamped
against the side of the die cutter as illustrated in FIG. 1. Owing
to the flattening of the elongated member 11 against the side of
the die cutter, the proper vertical positioning of image 16 is
assured while the lower edge of picture 8 is always maintained
parallel to the horizontally oriented first and second cutting
edges of the die cutter. Unlike prior art devices, this adjustment
may be effected in a positive manner and may be carried out quickly
and accurately.
The aforesaid prior art multiple image camera produces pictures
wherein the centerline 20 running through a reference point, such
as the tip of the subject's nose, is displaced asymmetrically the
same distance from the centerline 21 of multiple image picture 8,
as the centerline 22 is displaced from centerline 21. In other
words, the aforesaid multiple image cameras produce lateral
separation from centerline 21 of the four images which is
asymmetrically identical for each image. Thus, once the elongated
support means 9 is adjusted to cause centerline 20 to evenly bisect
the rectangular female die member 4 as illustrated in FIG. 1 all,
that is required to cut out the second individual picture 17 is to
move multiple image picture 8 to the right until the picture is
horizontally centered. After the cutting out of the second
individual picture 17, the multiple image picture 8 is rotated
180.degree. and the punching out of individual pictures 18 and 19
is carried out as before without readjustment of support means 9.
Thus, it should be apparent that with the improved die cutter of
the present invention, only one vertical adjustment of the multiple
image picture support means is necessary to cut out all four
pictures and all subsequent arrays of four pictures. This is
possible, because the aforesaid lateral separation of a given
reference point associated with the vertically oriented subject
photographed from the centerline of the multiple image picture is
at all times identical for each of the four pictures, owing to the
configuration of the optics of the above-mentioned multiple image
camera. With prior art die-cutting devices, the rectangular die
cutting ram was vertically oriented so that its longest dimension
was perpendicular to the supporting member 9 rather than parallel
therewith as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, when all four images were
substantially identical, a single adjustment of the multiple image
picture support means was sufficient to properly cut out the lower
two images of the multiple image picture where the picture 8 was
oriented vertically rather than horizontally as shown. However,
when the multiple image picture 8 was rotated 180.degree. so that
the upper two images were viewed through the female die-cutting
member, the subject was often not properly centered, since the
center of the subject (e.g., his nose) is often not half way
between the upper and lower edges of the vertically oriented die
cutter. In those instances when the images are of different
persons, some individuals are short and others are tall in the film
frame quadrant, so that the vertical position of the tip of each
subject's nose may be centered in the photographed image. Thus,
upon 180.degree. rotation of the multiple image picture 8 with
respect to the vertically oriented rectangular die cutter, the
support member within the die cutter had to be constantly
repositioned to properly vertically orient images of a given
subject. With the horizontally oriented die cutter of the present
invention, this second operation is eliminated. This is important
when thousands of multiple image pictures are die cut by a single
operator as a great deal of time is saved.
Another advantage accruing through use of the present invention is
that the camera tripod need not be continually raised and lowered
to vertically center subjects having different heights because of
the ease in making the horizontal adjustment during die cutting as
previously discussed.
It should be apparent from the foregoing that the term
"horizontally oriented cutting device" means that the longer
dimension of the cutting device is parallel to the support surface
of the elongated support member 9, which in turn is generally
perpendicular to gravitational force vectors .
* * * * *