US-20260124844-A1 - CRAFTING APPARATUS

US20260124844A1US 20260124844 A1US20260124844 A1US 20260124844A1US-20260124844-A1

Abstract

A crafting apparatus includes a working portion and a base portion. The working portion includes a lower surface and an upper surface. The upper surface defines a working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. The base portion includes a lower surface and an upper surface. The lower surface of the working portion is disposed adjacent to the upper surface of the base portion. The lower surface defines a non-working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. The upper surface of the working portion extends relative to the lower surface of the base portion at an angle for angularly-offsetting the working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system from the non-working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. Methods are also disclosed.

Inventors

John Barrus CHRISTENSEN
James Lynch
Norman Stevenson
Bryan Fred Bihlmaier
Donald Christopher SUTTON
John Douglas Dalton
Ryun Bates Noble
Kyle Kenneth JOHNSON
Grayson Stopp
Bayden Filleul
Kurt Stalsberg

Assignees

CRICUT, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20260107

Claims (13)

1 . A method for utilizing a crafting apparatus for conducting work upon a workpiece, the crafting apparatus including a working surface of a working portion defined by a working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system that is angularly offset at an angle from a lower surface of a base portion defined by a non-working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, the method comprising: arranging an actuator of the crafting apparatus in a first orientation; configuring one or more workpiece management components of the crafting apparatus in a first arrangement, wherein the one or more workpiece management components are connected to the actuator; arranging the workpiece upon the angularly offset working surface and at least proximate the one or more workpiece management components; transitioning the actuator from the first orientation to a second orientation for configuring the one or more workpiece management components in a second arrangement for securing the workpiece against gravity to the angularly offset working surface while also moveably-securing the workpiece in a first direction of the working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system relative to the working surface; and actuating one or more working components of the crafting apparatus for conducting work upon the workpiece.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein configuring the one or more workpiece management components of the crafting apparatus includes urging one or more workpiece stoppers in a deployed orientation.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein configuring the one or more workpiece management components of the crafting apparatus includes arranging components of a cam actuator connected to a pinch roller arm in a first orientation for arranging a passive roller of the pinch roller arm away from an active drive roller.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein configuring the one or more workpiece management components of the crafting apparatus includes configuring a vacuum source in a deactivated state.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein configuring the one or more workpiece management components of the crafting apparatus includes arranging one or more workpiece guides in a deployed orientation.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein arranging the workpiece upon the angularly offset working surface and at least proximate the one or more workpiece management components includes: reeling a portion of the workpiece from a roll of workpiece material; and arranging a leading edge of the portion of the workpiece reeled from the roll of workpiece material upon the angularly offset working surface and at least proximate the one or more workpiece management components.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein transitioning the actuator from the first orientation to the second orientation includes: urging one or more workpiece stoppers in a retracted orientation; arranging components of a cam actuator connected to a pinch roller arm in a second orientation for arranging a passive roller of the pinch roller arm toward an active drive roller for applying a pinching force to the workpiece; and configuring a vacuum source in an activated state for drawing air into one or more workpiece suction channels for creating a pressure differential for urging a bottom surface of the workpiece to the angularly offset working surface.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising: determining that work conducted on the workpiece is complete; transitioning the actuator from the second orientation back to the first orientation for configuring the one or more workpiece management components from the second arrangement back to the first arrangement; and releasing the workpiece from the working surface.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein configuring the one or more workpiece management components from the second arrangement back to the first arrangement includes: arranging components of the cam actuator connected to the pinch roller arm back to a first orientation for arranging the passive roller of the pinch roller arm away from the active drive roller for removing the pinching force from the workpiece; configuring the vacuum source in a deactivated state for ceasing the pressure differential for no longer urging the bottom surface of the workpiece to the angularly offset working surface; and separating the workpiece that was reeled from the roll of workpiece material.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein arranging the workpiece upon the angularly offset working surface and at least proximate the one or more workpiece management components includes: obtaining the workpiece that is defined by a preconfigured shape that is not derived from a roll of workpiece material; arranging a leading edge of the workpiece having the preconfigured shape that is not derived from a roll of workpiece material upon the angularly offset working surface and at least proximate the one or more workpiece management components; and arranging one or more support arms of the crafting apparatus in a deployed orientation, whereby the one or more support arms are aligned with the angularly offset working surface for supporting the workpiece.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein transitioning the actuator from the first orientation to the second orientation includes: urging one or more workpiece stoppers in a retracted orientation; arranging components of a cam actuator connected to a pinch roller arm in a second orientation for arranging a passive roller of the pinch roller arm toward an active drive roller for applying a pinching force to the workpiece; and configuring a vacuum source in an activated state for drawing air into one or more workpiece suction channels for creating a pressure differential for urging a bottom surface of the workpiece to the angularly offset working surface.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising: determining that work conducted on the workpiece is complete; transitioning the actuator from the second orientation back to the first orientation for configuring the one or more workpiece management components from the second arrangement back to the first arrangement; and releasing the workpiece from the working surface.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein configuring the one or more workpiece management components from the second arrangement back to the first arrangement includes: arranging components of the cam actuator connected to the pinch roller arm back to a first orientation for arranging the passive roller of the pinch roller arm away from the active drive roller for removing the pinching force from the workpiece; configuring the vacuum source in a deactivated state for ceasing the pressure differential for no longer urging the bottom surface of the workpiece to the angularly offset working surface; and separating the workpiece that was reeled from the roll of workpiece material.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This U.S. patent application is a divisional of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 121 from, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/260,152, filed on Jun. 30, 2023, which is a U.S. national phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT application PCT/US 2022/014014, filed on Jan. 27, 2022, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application 63/142,488, filed on Jan. 27, 2021. The disclosures of these prior applications are considered part of the disclosure of this application and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to electronic cutting systems and methods of use. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a crafting apparatus and methods for operating the same. BACKGROUND This section provides background information related to the present disclosure and is not necessarily prior art. While conventional crafting devices have proven to be acceptable for various applications, such devices are nevertheless susceptible to improvements that may enhance their overall performance and cost. Therefore, a need exists to develop improved crafting devices that advance the art. SUMMARY One aspect of the disclosure provides a crafting apparatus. The crafting apparatus includes a: working portion; and a base portion. The working portion includes a lower surface and an upper surface. The upper surface defines a working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. The base portion includes a lower surface and an upper surface. The lower surface defines a non-working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. The lower surface of the working portion is disposed adjacent to the upper surface of the base portion. The upper surface of the working portion extends relative to the lower surface of the base portion at an angle for angularly-offsetting the working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system from the non-working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of the following optional features. In some implementations, the working portion includes: a rail; a carriage, and one or both of a printing device and a cutting device. The carriage is movably-disposed upon the rail in a X-direction of the working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. One or both of the printing device and the cutting device are removably-secured to the carriage for conducting work on a workpiece in a Z-direction of the working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. In some examples, the crafting apparatus also includes a pair of pinch-roller mechanisms and an intermediate drive roller. The intermediate drive roller imparts movement to a workpiece in a Y-direction of the working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. In some implementations, the angle that angularly-offsets the working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system from the non-working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system is between 0° and 90°. In other implementations, the angle that angularly-offsets the working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system from the non-working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system is approximately 45°. In other examples, the crafting apparatus includes one or more workpiece support arms. The one or more workpiece support arms are connected to the working portion. The one or more workpiece support arms are configured for arrangement in one of a stowed orientation and a deployed orientation relative the working portion. In yet other examples, the crafting apparatus includes a safety breakaway coupling. The safety breakaway coupling permits selective disconnection of the one or more workpiece support arms from the working portion. Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method for utilizing a crafting apparatus for conducting work upon a workpiece. The crafting apparatus including a working surface of a working portion defined by a working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system that is angularly offset at an angle from a lower surface of a base portion defined by a non-working three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. The method includes: arranging an actuator of the crafting apparatus in a first orientation; configuring one or more workpiece management components of the crafting apparatus in a first arrangement. The one or more workpiece management components is/are connected to the actuator. The method further includes arranging the workpiece upon the angularly offset working surface and at least proximate the one or more workpiece management components; transitioning the actuator from the first orientation to a second orientation for configuring the one or more workpiece management components in a second arrangement for securing the workpiece against gravity to the angularly offset working surface while also moveably-securing the workpiece in a first direction of the wor