Card forming method and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12321875-B2
Application number	US-202017757081-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2020
Priority date	Dec 12, 2019
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

A method inserting a first portion of a workpiece material between an upper layer and a lower layer of a workpiece support material. The method also includes folding a second portion of the workpiece material over and on top of the upper layer of the workpiece support material. The second portion is coupled to the first portion. The method further includes inserting the workpiece material and the workpiece support material into an electronic cutting machine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
inserting a first portion of a workpiece material between an upper layer and a lower layer of a workpiece support material;
folding a second portion of the workpiece material over and on top of the upper layer of the workpiece support material, the second portion coupled to the first portion; and
inserting the workpiece material and the workpiece support material into an electronic cutting machine.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
disposing the second portion of the workpiece material flush against an upper surface of the upper layer of the workpiece support material.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
before inserting at least a portion of the workpiece material between the upper layer and the lower layer of the workpiece support material, separating the upper layer of the workpiece support material from the lower layer of the workpiece support material.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising altering the second portion of the workpiece material.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the upper layer is secured to the lower layer at a first end of the workpiece support material; and
a portion of the upper layer is separable from the lower layer.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein:
the upper layer is secured to the lower layer at a second end of the workpiece support material; and
the portion of the upper layer that is separable from the lower layer includes a portion of the upper layer disposed between the first end and the second end of the workpiece support material where the upper layer is secured to the lower layer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the workpiece support material further comprises one or more spacers disposed between the upper layer and the lower layer.

8. A method comprising:
receiving a workpiece into an electronic cutting machine, the workpiece including a workpiece support material and a workpiece material, the workpiece support material including an upper layer and a lower layer opposing the upper layer, the workpiece material including a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion, the first portion disposed between the upper layer and the lower layer, and the upper layer disposed between the first portion and the second portion; and
altering the second portion of the workpiece material with the electronic cutting machine.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the lower layer of the workpiece support material extends laterally beyond edges of the upper layer, the method further comprising:
engaging the lower layer with a roller assembly of the electronic cutting machine; and
actuating the workpiece support material forward-and-backward through the electronic cutting machine.

Assignees

• Cricut Inc

Inventors

• Stopp Grayson
• Crystal Jeremy Burton

Classifications

• G06Q10/40

  Business processes related to social networking or social networking services · CPC title

• B65H2701/1123

  Folded article or web · CPC title

• B65H2301/45

  Folding, unfolding · CPC title

• B65H45/28

  Folding in combination with cutting (cutting machines B26D) · CPC title

• B65H35/002

  Hand-held or table apparatus (B65H35/006 takes precedence) · CPC title