Automated cutting system for customized field stencils

摘要

The Automated Cutting System for Customized Field Stencils (“ACSCFS”) is a device designed to implement an automated field stencil creation process. The ACSCFS is comprised of a computer system and an automated cutting table, wherein said automated cutting table is further comprised of a cutting surface, an automated means for placing sheet material onto said cutting surface, and an automated cutting implement. The computer analyzes a color logo image and translates it into a line drawing. The drawing is then scaled, and guideline aperture locations are placed along each line. The computer then transmits instructions to the automated cutting table, directing the creation of a field stencil with a dotted guideline hole pattern. Such field stencils allow for the reproduction of multi-color logos using a single stencil.

主权项

1. A method for creating field stencils for reproducing a multi-color image onto a field surface, using an automated cutting table with flexible sheet material, comprising the steps of:
converting by computer the multi-color image into a line drawing of the multi-color image; scaling by computer the line drawing; automatically placing by computer a plurality of guideline aperture cut location coordinates for each line of the line drawing; designating by computer each of the plurality of guideline aperture cut location coordinates as one of the following shapes: approximately semi-circular, approximately triangular, approximately circular, and approximately square; generating by computer cutting instructions to the automated cutting table; drawing sheet material onto the automated cutting table; and cutting a plurality of guideline apertures in the sheet material using the automated cutting table in accordance with the cutting instructions; wherein the cutting instructions are based on the guideline aperture cut location coordinates and direct the automated cutting table to cut an aperture of the designated shape for each guideline aperture cut location coordinate; and wherein each line in the line drawing represents a color boundary within the multi-color image; wherein the shapes for each guideline cut aperture location coordinate are either approximately triangular or approximately semicircular guideline apertures, wherein the guideline apertures cut in the sheet material are either approximately semicircular apertures or approximately triangular apertures, and wherein the approximately triangular apertures are located to denote a sharp angle in the line drawing.