MXPA98009368A - Marker and cutter of configurations and circu - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for producing configurations in a material is disclosed. This material can be paper, plastic or sheet metal, packaging material, fabrics or other substances. The production may include operations, such as the application of a marking on the surface of the material, the inscription of a marking, cutting, trimming and the like. The apparatus includes a housing with a drift axis and a restriction element, a radially movable and disposable arm, which extends with respect to the housing when the restriction element is disconnected, and includes a production tool and a cam follower, and an element to join the axis of rotation with the material. With the restriction element engaged, the arm is fixed radially with respect to the housing, the apparatus can be used to produce a circle. This apparatus also includes a cam, which has the configuration, which is to be produced in the material, and is used to produce the configuration, with the restriction device decoupled and the cam follower coupled with the cam. The production tool is rotatably mounted to the arm, in the form of a wheel with slices, by which its line of action remains substantially tangential to the path of the configuration that occurs during the course of the circumnavigation of the cam follower in the one

Description

MARKER AND CUTTER OF CONFIGURATIONS AND CIRCLES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to devices and apparatuses for producing configurations in a material. In particular, the invention relates to such an apparatus, which has a cam and a cam follower.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In the manufacture of artistic type mats, packaging and seals, handicraft products and other objects, devices are often used to produce a particular configuration in a material. The material is often in the form of flat sheets of a substance, such as paper, mat boards, packaging material, sheet plastic and the like. The term "produce" may include, but is not limited to, operations such as cutting, edge trimming, surface marking with a pen or pencil, or inscriptions. Circumference devices are well known in the prior art, and include drawing templates, hinge compasses, beam compasses, taut lines that oscillate around a central pivot stem, and apparatuses having a central housing, configured more or less cylindrically, a central axis of rotation and one or more production tools (for example, a marker or a cutter), assembled in the housing in a manner that can be placed in an adjustable and radial manner (US patent, No 4,773,798 to Gaster, 1988). These devices are generally more easily operated, in particular when cutting a material, than the bars. However, they can not produce other configurations besides circles. The devices, such as the templates, are not adjustable and can produce only in the size or sizes of aperture or profile provided inside or on the template. Apparatus for producing acicular configurations (ie non-circular configurations or different configurations of circles) have been provided with an arm and a perpendicular shaft, pivot post or similar device, arranged coaxially with the axis of rotation of the apparatus, the arm is slotted in the region of the tree , so that this arm can both pivot around the pole as it slides radially with respect to it (US patents, Nos. 4,222,169 to Lockwood, 1980; 1,391,530 to Bustillo Y Diego, 1921; 742,047 to Moeble, 1903; and 179,039 to McAdams, 1876). The arm of the apparatus of the prior art has sometimes been of the telescopic type or of the slip-and-away configuration, instead of being slotted, whereby the outermost end (ie, the one furthest from the axis of rotation) of the arm can be moved radially (US patents, Nos. 705,576 to Forker, 1902, 658,710 to Forker, 1900 and 572,320 to Stuparich, 1896). In all these apparatuses, the arm has been provided with a production tool, or a mounting element of a separate production tool, and has been further provided with at least one cam follower device, such as a bolt or a roller. A template has also been provided, which has a cam in the configuration that will be produced. The cam has been in some prior techniques the peripheral surface or edge of the template and in others a groove formed within a surface of the template. Since at least the outer end of the arm can both rotate and slide radially with respect to the central axis, the cam follower can be crossed around the entire shape of the cam. Both the cam follower and the production tool have been mounted to the arm, the producing tool follows a trajectory in the configuration of the cam and thus produces the configuration. This configuration can be made larger or smaller, or to scale, if desired, by (a) substituting a larger or smaller cam or (b) increasing or decreasing the radial distance between the cam follower and the production tool (patents' 169 , '530,' 047 and '576 mentioned above, US Patents, Nos. 701,828 to Arnold, 1902 and 658,711 to Forker, 1900, and the' 710, '320,' 039 patents mentioned above).

Virtually any configuration, including the circle, can be produced within the size restrictions of the device. A circle is a configuration that is often desired to be produced and may be desired in a size for which a cam having a slot of the corresponding size is not available. The cutters of configurations, therefore, are sometimes constructed in a way that makes them convertible for use within the slotted cams as circle cutters, adjustable to any radius, or circle size, within the limitations of the size of the apparatus. Up to now, this has required at least one reconfiguration of an apparatus, which needs to remove the arm of the apparatus and its placement in a different position in a pivot post, and in other apparatuses, a more extensive disassembly and replacement of parts, thus incurring in major inconveniences as well as an additional cost of parts. The device that produces circles, often includes elements and resources that, in the construction operation of the apparatus, suggest its incorporation in a configuration which includes an approximately cylindrical housing. According to those familiar with well-known manufacturing techniques, such a configuration is easily scored or made otherwise suitable for holding and operating with one hand, facilitating the production of smaller configurations. The configuration-producing apparatus, up to now, has not addressed this type of operability, and two-handed operation has generally been required with an excessive degree of operator attention and care for even smaller configurations. However, as the size of a circular or acircular configuration increases, one-handed operation becomes difficult and the second hand of the user is used to stabilize the outermost end of the arm, or to direct the producing tool in contact with the material , and oscillate the device around its central axis of rotation. A resource for facilitating a comfortable and secure grip on the end of the arm has been provided in the form of larger hand grips in the prior art, involving a larger configuration cutter, but this need has not been addressed so far. in a relatively compact apparatus, to produce configurations and circles that are smaller but, nevertheless, large enough for the recommended operation with both hands. Another aspect of the operation of a configuration producing apparatus relates to the shape of the configuration that is produced and the nature of the producing tool. Producer tools that have a preferred operating direction (for example, a cutter blade or a sharp point boom) are mounted for the best operation on a path that is tangent to a circle circumscribing the axis of rotation. This is because most of the configurations are closed and the cam follower and the producing tool must cross a complete revolution around the cam in the course of producing such a configuration. Also, in many cases, such as in ovals and ellipses, only a radial component, relatively small and that varies smoothly, of the movement, is required of the producing tool and thus the directional producing tool, oriented tangentially, can work very adequately although not be oriented or can be oriented for radial movement or operation. In other cases, however, which include some characters and alphanumeric configurations, with deep denticulation, the producing tool will be formed laterally and, in particular, in the case of a cutting blade, at least it will work poorly and both the tool and the material can be damaged Since the configuration producing apparatus is normally used to produce acrylic configurations, some radial operating direction components are required and, as described above, this radial component may, for some configurations, be excessive for the producing tool in use. While the prior art includes elements for actively directing a cutter (patents '576 and' 828 above and US Pat. No. 494,864 to Huston, 1892), those elements involve double-spaced, cam followers with exact adjustments to minimize the cumulative game between the cam and the cam follower and, consequently, the high manufacturing costs. Yet another aspect of the pattern and circle cutting apparatus is the depth and / or coupling force of the producing tool with the material. If some control elements are not exercised in this contact, the producing tool or the material may be damaged by excessive force, the cutter mat may wear out prematurely, due to the excessive cutting depth, and the operation of the apparatus may require exerting undue action on the part of the user. While the rollers, placed adjacent to the production tool and in some previous technique, adjustable in height, to vary the thickness of the material, have been used, difficulties may arise from their need for readjustment in changing the producing tool or in the thickness of material , as well as a tendency to leave clues on the face of the image framed mats and other graphic work. It would be convenient for the management capacity of the production tool, which is adaptable to the configuration that is going to be produced; that is to say, its direction maintained tangential to the shape of the cam, without adding parts and the cost required to supply an active direction of the producing tool. Furthermore, it would be convenient for the apparatus producing configurations, at least in the smallest sizes intervals, most commonly produced, to incorporate a central housing of the nature of that included in a circle producing apparatus, whereby it will be possible to grip and operate substantially with one hand, and the operator's other hand will be free to stabilize or flatten the material or otherwise assist in the operation. It would be equally convenient for a device producing circles and configurations to include, in order to produce larger configurations, an element for the user to make contact with the outer end of the arm with the second hand or with at least one finger and the thumb of this second one. hand, which can stabilize the arm in the region of the producing tool, direct the tool in contact with the material to be produced and stretch the arm around its rotation. It would also be convenient that such an element be compact and not add protruding parts to the apparatus. It would also be convenient for a device producing configurations that can be easily and quickly converted to a circle producing apparatus, operable without a configuration cam, without the need to disassemble and reassemble with additional parts and without the use of a tool. It would also be convenient for a device that produces configurations or circles, that has a contact of the producing tool with the material that is going to be produced, that is variable to accommodate the different thicknesses of material, as well as the normal wear of the producing tool , without the need for manual readjustment and without additional coupling with the material that may leave an unwanted mark on the material.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to solve the previous needs for several years, in a simple and effective manner. The invention is a configuration producing apparatus, having a housing, this housing is provided with a size, configuration and surface texture that provides the user with a comfortable and secure grip. The housing further includes a channel for containing a transverse arm radially, as well as an axis of rotation, which is perpendicular to the major axis of the arm. This housing also includes a shaft, arranged coaxially with the axis of rotation, this shaft projects beyond the bottom of the housing, whereby it can make contact with an opening in a cam and thus be secured against lateral movement or sliding with respect to the cam The cam rests on a surface of a material to be produced, and is provided with a surface having a high coefficient of friction, whereby it can be frictionally connected with the material. The invention is easily convertible to a circle producing apparatus having a fixed production radius. The conversion is executed by tightening a locking wheel, which is threadedly engaged with the housing, and which does not require adding or removing parts or using a tool. By tightening the locking wheel, the arm is secured to the housing channel, frictionally securing it against radial movement, whereby the production radius with respect to the central axis of rotation is fixed. The invention includes a production tool which is rotatably mounted to the arm by a tool holder that makes it rotary. The point of contact of the production tool with the material is slightly displaced from the axis of rotation of the ball joint, in the manner of a slice. The production tool is thus enabled to operate in a direction of least resistance, it can operate without lateral sliding in a direction that remains tangential to the configuration that is going to be produced. The producing tool is provided with an oriented mounting element, whereby it can exert sufficient force on the material to be produced, to enable its production, but it can be displaced against the orientation element, to prevent the application of a force excessive, that could damage the production tool or the material that is going to be produced. The outermost end of the arm is provided, in the illustrated case, with finger grips that have the form of grooved or knurled repressions, whereby the arm can be gripped by the user to stabilize the production tool, direct it in contact with the material to be produced, and stretch it through its rotation around the central axis of rotation of the apparatus. The finger grips are compact, in the general nature of the present invention and, in contrast to the large manual knob of the prior art. To increase the comfort and safety of the user's grip, the corresponding end of the arm may be provided with a taper or other narrowing. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, from the drawings and from the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference numerals designate similar parts, and in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view showing the invention, with an elliptical cam placed on a material to be produced; Figure 2 is an isometric view, partially with separate pieces, showing the production assembly with three cams and a cutting mat; Figure 3 is an elevation view in cross section of the invention, configured to be used in producing an acrylic configuration and taken through line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a partial, longitudinal sectional elevational view of the invention, configured for use in producing an acicular configuration and taken generally through line 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a longitudinal, partial, sectional elevation of the end of the arm, taken through line 5-5 of Figure 3, and showing details of the producing tool and its support; Figure 6 is a plan view of the invention, configured for use in the production of an acrylic configuration and showing the arm in a first position and in a second position, shown in dashed lines, both connected with an elliptical cam; Figure 7A is a partial detail of the end of the arm, selected from the area indicated in Figure 6 and showing the producing tool rotated to a position corresponding to the first arm position in Figure 6; Figure 7B is a partial detail of the arm end, selected from the area indicated in Figure 6 and showing the produced tool rotated to a position corresponding to the second arm position in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a plan view of the invention, configured for use in producing a circular configuration; Figure 9 is a cross-section elevation view of the invention, taken through the cut line 9-9 of Figure 8 and showing the invention configured for use in the production of a circular configuration; and Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional elevational view of the invention, taken through the cut line 10-10 of Figure 9, and showing the invention configured for use in the production of a circular configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EXEMPLARY MODE With reference to Figure 1, an apparatus 10 is shown for the production of configurations in or within a material 12, which utilizes a producing tool 14. The operations described as "producing" may include the application on a material surface 12 of a mark using a pen 14a (not shown) or pencil (14b (not shown), the application on the material 12 of a recorded marker using a tracing tool 14c (not shown) and cutting in or through the material 12, using a cutting tool 14d (not shown) Other operations, such as the formation of grooves or perforations, can also be performed and are also within the scope and spirit of the invention. be, for cutting and in the illustrated modes, any rigid or flexible substance, capable of being cut by a manual blade, cutting wheel or other tool cutter or trimmer. Alternatively, the producing tool 14 can be a power tool, such as a saw or a milling machine, or a heat source, such as a gas flame or an electric arc, or a high intensity light source, such as a laser beam In that case, and in any case for marking operations or surface inscription the material 12 can be virtually any substance or device having a substantially flat surface on which the apparatus can be placed. A portion 22 of the main body of the apparatus 10 includes a housing 16, approximately cylindrical, and an arm 18, which can slide radially within a channel 30, formed within the housing 16. A shaft 32 (shown in Figure 3) , is provided within the housing 16 and, in the illustrated embodiment, is provided with a palm support 30, comprising an enlarged surface of a first end of the shaft 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the shaft 32 is supported by the housing 16. in any of the conventional bushing, the tree stump and the tree support, configurations well known to those skilled in the art. The palm rest 20 facilitates the application of force from the user's hand for a frictional engagement of the apparatus 10 with the material 12 and for cutting the materials, such as thick mat boards or plastic sample material, which are harder to cut than others, like paper. The main body 22 may be provided with cavities (not shown) or similar receptacles for the storage of spare parts production tools 14, whose cavities can preferably be placed inside the housing 16 or on the lower side of the arm 18. This arm 18 includes the producing tool 14, placed on or near the first end of the arm 18, a support 38 of the producing tool and a follower 24 of cam. When adapted to produce in an acrylic configuration, the apparatus 10 is further provided with a jig, or cam 26, having a slot 28 formed, milled, punched or otherwise formed on the first face of the cam 26. The follower of cam 24 and slot 28 may be better seen in Figure 3 and are discussed in more detail below. Still referring to Figure 1, the arm 18 further includes, at or near its outermost end, a compact element to comfortably secure the grip of a user's hand or a portion of a hand, to facilitate the stabilization and direction of the tool 14 in its production of the material 12. In the illustrated case, the gripping element is a pair of opposed grooved depressions 62, at a narrowed end 64 of the arm 18, these depressions 62 can be connected, in a comfortable and secure manner, by the tips of the thumb and another finger. While the apparatus 10 is generally easily operable by a worker of the apparatus 10 using one hand, producing a particularly large configuration or configuration having particularly large projections with deep sides, or cutting or inscribing a material that is particularly difficult to produce , it may be preferable for the worker to use a second hand, in contact with the depressions 62, to provide additional power for, and control of, this tool 14. In Figure 2, the portion 22 of the main body of the apparatus 10 is shown spaced apart for clarity from cams 26a, 26b and 26c. The cam 26c is used in the production of circular configurations and is discussed in detail below. The cams 26a and 26b can have slots 28a and 28b, respectively, of similar or dissimilar configurations and can be constructed in different sizes, so that the apparatus 10 can produce the configurations in different sizes correspondingly. Alternatively or additionally, the distance between the tool 14 and the cam follower 24 in Figure 1 can be made adjustable by mounting the tool 14 and / or the cam follower 24 in a reclosable manner to the arm 18. A cutting mat 36 is shown also in Figure 2. The cutting mat 36 can be placed on the work surface and the material to be produced is placed on the mat 36, so the cutting tool 14d will penetrate the material 12 and will not damage the surface of the material. job. The cutting mat 36 can be made of a plastomeric substance having a self-healing quality; that is, it is not appreciably damaged by light cuts or repeated marks by the cutting tool 14d. Referring now to Figure 3, a shaft 32 is provided within the main body 22 to cooperate with the cam 26. A second end of the shaft 32, opposite the palm rest 20, projects beyond the housing 16 in an opening 40 on the first face of the cam 26, in lateral engagement with the main body 22 of the cam 26 to prevent lateral sliding of the main body 22 with respect to the cam 26. Preferred elements to ensure cooperation between the shaft 32 and the 40 opening are discussed below. The cam 26 is also provided, on the second face opposite the first face, with a resource for frictional contact of the material 12, this resource in the illustrated case being the friction pads 42, to oppose the lateral sliding of the cam 26 with respect to the material 12. Alternatively, the second face of the cam 26 can be coated with an anti-slip finish or can simply be textured or made rough to increase its coefficient of friction. The two lateral retention elements combine to secure the position of the main body 22 with respect to the material 12, in r to maintain reproducibility accuracy in or within the material 12 of the configuration of the cam 26. Figure 3 also illustrates the way of coupling the arm 18 with the cooperating channel 30 inside the housing 16. As can be seen on the left side of Figure 3, the contact of the cam follower 24 with an acrylic groove 28 causes the arm 18 to be slide radially within the channel 30, and, therefore, inside the housing 16. Since the distance between the producing tool 14 and the cam follower 24 is fixed, the producing tool 14 will faithfully reproduce on or within the material 12 the configuration of the slot 28 inside the cam 26. The less extended position of the arm 18 with respect to the housing 16 shown in solid lines may represent, for example, the smaller diameter of the ellipse defined by slot 28, shown in Figure 1, while the most extended position, shown in silhouette lines, may represent the larger diameter of the same ellipse, or a point in the ellipse between the smaller and larger diameters (as shown) , for example, in Figure 6). Still referring to Figure 3, the cam follower 24 can slide freely in the path of the slot 28, but has a minimum free play in a direction perpendicular to the path, to better combine the operating capability of the apparatus 10 with accuracy of the configuration produced. In an alternative construction, within the scope or spirit of the invention, the cam 26 can be constructed without a slot 28 and instead has a peripheral edge, which is in the shape of the configuration to be produced. A orienting device, such as a spring, can then be provided within or in the main body 22 to orient the arm 18 radially inwardly with respect to the housing 16, whereby the cam follower 24 will be retained against the edge of the cam 26. Likewise ,. the cam follower 24 can be configured as a pin, as shown, or as a rotating bushing or as a roller provided with bearings of the roller element. Those skilled in the art can readily see other possible constructions of the cam follower 24, such as a sliding shoe constructed of plastic, which has a low coefficient of friction and configured to pivot about the pin n the course of crossing the periphery of the cam. Figure 26 illustrates, in cross-section, a manner of coupling the arm 18 to the channel 30 of the housing 16, whereby the arm 18 is restricted from almost all radial movement with respect to the housing 16. Many other configurations of construction achieved in the same way of coupling are, of course, possible and, with considerations of construction rather than invention, are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, it can be seen that the channel 30 comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, with respect to the arm 18, and that this arm 18 is restrained against movement in all directions with respect to the housing 16. , except for the radial slip or translation. While the channel 30 thus restricts the arm 18 when this arm 18 is in a retracted position with respect to the channel 30 and the housing 16, as shown in solid lines in Figure 3, it can be seen in Figure 3 that when the arm 18, as shown in dashed lines, the end of the arm that does not have the producing tool 14 will be free to move in an upward direction, thus allowing a possibility of an objectionable rotary movement to the arm 18. This is easily prevented by the locking wheel 52, which is discussed below and which is screwed into the housing 16, and which can be rotated to a position in which it is sufficiently close to the arm 18, to restrict the arm 18 from vertical movement, while it is forced against the arm 18 and, therefore, does not grip or interfere with the radial sliding of the arm 18. When this is objectionable, the arm 18 may be provided with longitudinal guide flanges is (not shown) and channel 30 with longitudinal retention flanges (not shown), these retention flanges cooperate with the guide ridges to retain arm 18 against all vertical movement at any position of arm 18 and wheel 52 of locked Figure 5 is a cross-sectional detail of a producing tool 14, in the illustrated case a cutting blade 14, and of a support 38 of the producing tool. This holder 38 of the producing tool can be constructed, as shown, integral with the arm 18 or as a subassembly having a housing that includes a similar cavity 50, this subassembly is attached to the arm 18. The tools 14 are mounted to a mandrel 44 which is housed within the cavity 50 and is constructed to have a sliding fit into the cavity 50, whereby it can both slide and rotate within the cavity 50. In the illustrated case, the blade 14 is provided with a tang flat having dimensions that ensure an interference fit of the spike in a groove formed within the end of the mandrel 44, but other mounting means will be obvious to those skilled in the art. The mandrel 44 is oriented against a flange, which partially closes a first end of the cavity 60, the orienting element 46 is a spring in the illustrated case. The orientation element 46 is restricted within the cavity 50 by a cover 48, which closes the second end of the cavity 50. During the use of the apparatus 10, the main body 22, which includes the producing tool 14, is pressed in contact with the material 12. The spring constant (i.e., the change in force per unit change in length) of the orienting device 46 can be selected to supply a contact force of the tool 14 with the material 12, which is sufficient to enable the tool 14 to produce, but it is sufficiently low to be overcome by excessive force exerted on the tool 14 by the material 12, thereby allowing the tool 14 to be partially withdrawn within the cavity 50 and to reduce the contact of the tool. tool 14 with the material 12. The damage, which includes the cumulative damage or wear, to the producing tool 14 and to the cutting mat 36, is thereby reduced to a minimum, as the stress r The lid 48 is threadably mounted to the second end of the cavity 50 and rotated to adjust the position of the orientation element 46 and thus the force exerted on the tool 14., whereby both the depth and the contact force of the tool 14 with the material 12 can be adjusted. Because the contact point 68 of the producing tool 14 in the illustrated case a cutter 14, moves from the center line of the mandrel 44, and because this mandrel 44 is free to pivot within the cavity 50, the movement of the tool holder 38 through a surface of the material 12 will cause the tool 14 to be drawn behind the center line 66 in a following relationship, in the manner of a wheel with slices. Referring now to Figure 6, the main body 22 of a configuration producing apparatus 10 is shown coupled with a cam 26, while producing a material 12 using a production tool 14, which is rotatably mounted by a support 38 of rotary tool at or near the end of an arm 18, this arm 18 is placed inside a channel 30 of a housing 16. The cam 26 is provided with a slot 28 in the shape of the configuration to be produced, in the illustrated case, an ellipse. Any other configuration that can be cross-rotated is equally within the scope and spirit of the present invention. In Figure 6, arm 18 is shown in two positions: a first position, shown in solid lines, corresponding to a position on the minor axis of an ellipse, and a second position, shown in silhouette lines, corresponding to a position placed between the minor and major axes and having a radial dimension that is greater than that of the first position. A cam follower 24, more clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3, is both mounted to the arm 18 and coupled with the slot 28. In the rotation of the main body 22 in the cam 26, the arm 18, by the contact of the follower 24 of cam with the slot 28, is slid radially into the channel 30, where the production tool 14, also mounted to the arm 18, crosses a path 54, which is similar to the shape of the slot 28. The point of contact 68 (see Fig. 5) of the producing tool 14 with the material 12 moves from the center line 66 (see Fig. 5) of the tool holder 38, this tool 14 crosses the path 54 in the manner of a wheel with slices and thus remains rotatably oriented in a tangential relationship to the path 54. FIGS. 7A and 7B more clearly show the rotation of the tool holder 38 with respect to the arm 18 in FIG. 6, whereby the tool 14 can cross the path 54 m shown in Figure 6. When crossing the path 54 between the first and second positions of the arm 18, shown in Figure 6, the angle of the tool 14 with respect to the arm 18 has changed from a larger angle, designated in FIG. Figure 7 as "x", at a smaller angle, designated in Figure 7B as "x" '.

Referring now to Figure 8, the apparatus 10 is configured as a device that produces a circle. A locking wheel 52 is threadably engaged with the housing 16 and functions as a thumb nut, enlarged in diameter and provided with a peripheral surface with protrusions, ridges or knurled or otherwise textured, to facilitate gripping with a finger and the thumb. The locking wheel 52 frictionally clamps the arm 18 to the channel 30, thus securing the producing tool 14 in a fixed position with respect to the central axis of rotation of the housing 16, where the tool is restricted to a circular path 56 of fixed radius, wherein the main body 32 is rotated in the material 12. No tool and no removal or addition of one or more parts, are necessary to reconfigure the main body 22 of the apparatus from a device that produces configurations or produces circles. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional elevational view showing the apparatus 10 configured for use in producing circles. The solid lines illustrate the position of the arm 18 and thus of the producing tool 14, to produce a circle of a first radius, while the lines in silhouette similarly illustrate the position of the arm 18 and the tool 14 to produce another circle with a radius different and smaller. The cam 26s used in producing circles is different from the cams 26 used in producing acrylic configurations, examples of which are best seen in Figures 1, 3 and 6, in that they do not have a slot 28 since they do not have a delineated configuration or tool guide function 14. The cam 26c is used only in the production of circles and serves only to secure the main body 22 in place in the material 2 by means of an opening 40 in a first cam surface 26s, the opening 40 receives one end of shaft 32, and by means of a frictional element 42 not slidable in the second surface, which is opposite to the first surface. The opening 40 may be a blind hole in the nature of a recess, or it may be a hole through, as illustrated. The frictional element 42 can be elastomeric cushions attached to the second surface of the cam 25c, as illustrated, or alternatively it can be a non-slip surface finish applied to the second surface or merely a second roughened surface, such as by marking or a knurled surface. The cam follower 24 is not used in producing circles and thus does not interfere with any other part or with the performance of the operation, it is simply left in place on the arm 18. To assist in selecting a position of the arm 18 to produce a A circle of a particular size, one or more numerical scales (for example, in English units in inches and in metric units of millimeters or centimeters) may be provided in arm 18 and a co-operation index mark provided in housing 16 (in the extreme of the channel 30, which is closest to the production tool 14. The scales can be for the dimension of the spokes and / or for the diameters, to minimize the need for calculations by the worker of the apparatus 10 and thus opportunities for errors Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional elevation view showing more clearly a preferred way of grooving the periphery of the locking wheel 58, as well as holding the wheel azo 18 to the channel 30 within the housing 16, to frictionally secure the arm 18 against movement within the channel 30. The second end of the shaft 32 can be constructed of a sliding fit (e.g. an RC-1 fit of American Standards class Association (ASA)) to the cooperating opening within the cam 26 or may be provided with a circumferential groove 58, as illustrated by the retention of an elastic spacer, this spacer is preferably of standard size 0-ring seals, easily available in non-rigid elastomeric and plastomeric materials. Alternatively, the opening 48 can be tapered, this taper widens in a direction towards the main body 222 and the cooperating end of the shaft 32 provided with both a coincident taper, tapering in a direction toward the cam 26c, and an orientation element (for example a spring), configured to press the matching tapers together. The elasticity of the orienting element allows it to be in intimate contact without allowing them to interfere dimensionally with each other. Other means and variations of construction are well known to those skilled in the art and are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment and in all the illustrated embodiments, the second end of the shaft 32 can be provided with a tip that can be inserted into the surface of the material 12, whereby the portion 22 of the main body of the apparatus 10 can be coupled with the material 12. The use of the cam 26c will thus not be required to produce the circles, except when the point mark left by the point on the material 12 is objectionable. The operation of the apparatus 10 in a first mode, that of producing a circular configuration, is easily accomplished and is generally similar to the use of a conventional compass. A production tool 14 suitable for the desired production operation is installed, if not present, and the locking wheel 52, if it is not already disconnected from the arm 18, is turned off by rotating it by approximately half rotation with respect to the housing 16. The position of the arm 18 can then be adjusted to the radius of the desired circle, and the locking wheel 52 is connected to ensure adjustment. If the use of the template 26a is not desired, it is placed on the cooperating end of the shaft 32 and the main body 32 is then placed on the material 12. The main body 22 is then grasped by the worker and rotated by a revolution in both it is pressed into the palm support 20, causing tool 14 to operate on material 12 and complete the operation. The operation of the apparatus 10 in a second mode, that of producing configurations that may or may not be circular, is similarly described. A production tool 14, suitable for the desired production operation, is installed if it is not present and the locking wheel 52, if not already disconnected from the arm 18, is turned off by rotating it approximately by half rotation, an amount sufficient to remove the clamping force of the arm 18, but not so large to leave the arm 18 free to oscillate within the channel 30. The jig 26 is placed on the cooperating end of the shaft 32 and the cam follower 24 is coupled with the cam 28. The main body 22 with the template 26 is then placed on the material 12, this main body 22 is grasped by the worker and rotated by a revolution, while pressing on the palm support 20, causing the producing tool 14 to operate on the material 12 and complete the operation. In any of the above modes of operation, the worker of the apparatus 10 can apply additional stabilizing and / or steering forces to the tool 14 by connecting the finger grip depressions 62 in the arm. 18 with a finger and the thumb of a second hand. While the modalities illustrated in the figures and described above are presently preferred, it should be understood that these modalities are offered only in exemplary form. Other embodiments that are construction considerations, rather than the invention, are possible, for example, the configuration of the housing 16 need not be cylindrical and may be of another configuration that can be grasped, comfortably and safely by a user of the apparatus, the invention can be provided with multiple producing tools, so that more than one operation of a material can be produced simultaneously. The invention can be provided with an extension for the arm, or with an extended arm, which can be replaced, for the production of larger configurations. Therefore, the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular embodiment, but rather to extend to various modifications which, however, fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (25)

1. CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for producing configurations in a material having a surface, this apparatus comprises: a template, having a first surface, this first surface has a cam in the form of a desired predetermined configuration, which is to be produced in the material; an arm, which includes a production tool, which can be brought into contact with the material, and includes a cam follower; Y a housing, configured to be gripped and rotated about an axis and further configured to be placed on the first surface of the jig, the axis of rotation of the housing is substantially perpendicular to the first surface of the jig, this housing includes a channel, radially disposed, containing the arm and confining movement of the arm relative to the housing for radial sliding within the channel, the housing and the template also have resources to restrict the axis of rotation to a fixed position on the first surface of a template; whereby, when the cam follower comes into contact with the cam, the tool produces on the material in the configuration defined by this cam.
2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an element for radially restricting the arm within the channel, with the production tool positioned at a particular distance desired from the axis of rotation, in which: the apparatus is used in a first mode, with the restricted arm to produce circular configurations in the material; Y the apparatus is used in a second mode, with the arm released to produce acrylic configurations in the material.
3. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the production tool includes a marker element, for marking the material in the shape of the configuration defined by the cam.
4. 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the production tool includes a cutting element, for cutting the material in the shape of the configuration defined by the cam.
5. 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cam is a slot formed in the first surface of the template.
6. 6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cam is the peripheral edge of the jig and the apparatus further comprises an element for orienting the cam follower against the cam.
7. 7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cam follower is a pin configured to cross the trajectory of the cam.
8. 8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cam follower is a roller configured to cross the trajectory of the cam.
9. 9. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a second surface of the template, opposite the first surface, this second surface can be pressed on the material surface, for frictional contact of the template with the material and in that: element for restricting the axis of rotation to a fixed position on the first surface of the template comprises a shaft, which extends through the housing, coaxially with the axis of rotation, this shaft has a first end, which projects into and it engages with an opening in the first surface of the jig; Y the element for pressing the template on the material comprises an enlarged surface at a second end of the shaft, this shaft with the enlarged surface is rotatably supported by the housing, whereby a worker of the apparatus is able to apply manual pressure to the enlarged surface. - given; whereby the apparatus is restricted to a fixed position with respect to the material, while producing on this material.
10. 10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the element for radially restricting the arm within the channel is a locking wheel, threadably coupled to the housing coaxially with the axis of rotation, to clamp the arm to the channel.
11. 11. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an element for a worker of the apparatus to grip, safely and comfortably the arm, whereby the production tool is stable and directed in the course of its production, this element is included within of the dimensional envelope of the arm.
12. 12. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an element for orienting the production tool in contact with the material, whereby the deflection of the orientation element allows the production tool to partially withdraw from contact with the material, when this Contact includes excessive force.
13. 13. An apparatus for producing rotationally, around a first axis of rotation of the apparatus, in a material having a surface, this apparatus comprises: a production tool, which can be connected to the material; a second axis of rotation of the production tool, this second axis is radially displaced from the first axis; Y a point of contact of the production tool with the material, this contact point is displaced radially from the second axis of rotation; whereby the production tool rotates around the second axis, in the manner of a wheel with slices, when the apparatus is rotating around the first axis.
14. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a template, having a first surface, this first surface has a cam, the cam has the shape of a desired configuration, which is to be produced in the material, the template has a second surface, opposite the first surface, this second surface is pressed on the surface of the material for frictional contact with this material; an arm, which includes the production tool and which includes a cam follower; a housing, configured to be gripped and rotated about an axis and further configured to be placed on the first surface of the template, the axis of rotation of the housing is substantially perpendicular to the first surface of the template, this housing includes a radially arranged channel, which contains the arm and confines the movement of the arm relative to the radial sliding housing within the channel, this housing and template also have elements to restrict the axis of rotation to a fixed position, on the first surface of the template; whereby, when the cam follower engages the cam, the production tool makes the material in the configuration defined by the cam and in a direction of movement, which is substantially tangential to the configuration that occurs.
15. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an element for radially restricting the arm within the channel, with the production tool positioned at a particular distance desired from the axis of rotation, whereby: the apparatus is used in a first mode , with the restricted arm for the production of circular configurations in the material; Y the apparatus is used in a second mode, with the arm released to produce acrylic configurations in the material.
16. 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the production tool includes a marker element, for marking the material in the shape of the configuration defined by the cam.
17. 17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the production tool includes a cutter, for cutting the material in the shape of the configuration defined by the cam.
18. 18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the cam is a slot, formed in the first surface of the template.
19. 19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the cam is the peripheral edge of the jig and the apparatus further comprises an element for orienting the cam follower against the cam.
20. 20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the cam follower is a pin, configured to cross the trajectory of the cam.
21. 21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the cam follower is a roller, configured to cross the trajectory of the cam.
22. 22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein: the element for restricting the axis of rotation to a fixed position on the first surface of the template comprises a shaft extending through the housing, coaxially with the axis of rotation, this shaft it has a first end projecting into and engaging an opening in the first surface of the template; Y the element for pressing the template into the material comprises an enlarged surface at a second end of the shaft, this shaft, with the enlarged surface, is supported rotatably by the housing, whereby a worker of the apparatus is capable of applying manual pressure to the enlarged surface; whereby the apparatus is restricted to a fixed position with respect to the material, while producing in this material.
23. 23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the element for radially restricting the arm within the channel, is a locking wheel, threadably coupled to the housing, coaxially with the axis of rotation, to clamp the arm to the channel.
24. 24. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an element for a worker of the apparatus to grip, securely and comfortably, the arm, whereby the production tool is stabilized and directed in the course of its production, this element is included within of the dimensional envelope of the arm.
25. 25. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an element for orienting the production tool in contact with the material, whereby the deflection of the orientation element allows the production tool to partially withdraw from contact with the material, when Contact includes excessive force.