US PATENT CLASS 83
Class Notes


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83 /   HD   CUTTING



DEFINITION

Classification: 83/

Class 83 is the residual locus of patents directed to methods and machines for penetrating material, without substantial reshaping flow of such material, by means of (1) a solid tool, or fluid current, either of which applies mechanical deforming force to the material by direct physical contact therewith, the fluid current forcing the material against a solid tool whose edge defines the line of cut; (2) a heated solid tool which directly engages the material (to effect penetration thereof by melting, or by transmission of mechanical energy, or both); or (3) opposed, controlled fluid currents.

(A) Specifically (as well as implicitly) excluded, is a patent to apparatus or process for cutting by the transmission of heat to the work material from a hot gas, such as flame cutting (for the location of which, see Lines With Other Classes, subsection A, Relationship to Other Classes Including, per se, Cutting, Severing, or Incising, paragraph 8, Classes related to flame or other heat-cutting).

(B) While a disclosure of the production of a reshaping flow, in the operation of its apparatus or accomplishment of its method, will preclude original placement of a patent in this class, a disclosure of a flow of the material which is inherent in, or purely incidental to, the act of cutting will not operate as such a bar. The following types of factual situations illustrate the rule:

(1) A disclosure that the work material flows, due to melting, will not preclude placement herein of the patent so

disclosing; but the further teach-that the flow accomplishes a significant or definable reshaping of the work beyond that inherent in the penetration there-of will bar such placement. Exemplary of such reshaping is the formation of a rim or bead around a hole coincident with the penetration which forms the hole.

(2) A patent to a cutting machine or process employing a tool which, as disclosed, creates a flow of the material while penetrating the material only partially (that is, it fails to reach the surface opposite the surface of entry) will be excluded from this class only if there is a teaching from which it can be fairly inferred that there is no severance of the surface fibres of the work, but rather that the material is compacted, creased, forged or otherwise plastic worked, thus indicating that the reshaping is not an incident of a cutting operation. A disclosure that a "cutting" tool penetrates only partially through tacky, flowable, or green, plastic work material (such as soft synthetic "plastics", food dough, etc.) will be considered to supply such a teaching, unless (by the same disclosure) the work attains its flowable or soft condition by the action of the cutting tool (e.g., a hot tool). If such tool is disclosed as softening or plasticizing the work, a patent directed to same would be proper for this class (83).

LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES

SCOPE OF CLASS 83

Class 83 is an elemental or basic class. That is, its subject matter is restricted (so far as possible) to means for, or steps of, accomplishing the following functions: cutting something (the "work"); or cutting, and handling the work to be cut; or cutting, and handling the product of the cutting operation. As a result, the great preponderance of patents directed to cutting combined with some other work treatment will be found in the respective class of the other treatment or in some more general class of combined operations, such as Class 156 or Class 29 (particularly subclasses 33+ and 566+). The few exceptions to this general statement are set forth explicitly in section II, Lines With Other Classes, subsection B, Relationship to Other Treating Classes (which appears later in this class definition). The class does not act as the sole repository for patents directed to cutting machines or even to cutting machines of the functional types signalized in the subclasses of the class. Based upon past development of the system of patent classification, such patents are to be found in many classes, their disposition depending mainly upon the nature of the material disclosed as constituting work for the cutting operation. A listing of such classes is included in Lines With Other Classes, subsection A, Relationship to Other Classes Including, per se, Cutting, Severing, or Incising (which appears later in this class definition). With respect to such classes, Class 83 is residual.

As an incident of such residual nature, this class will not receive for original placement a patent disclosing alternative embodiments (claimed generically, or with a specific claim to each), one of a type proper for this class and one of a type related to another cutting class or subclass. Nor will it so receive a patent disclosing two purposes for a claimed cutting machine, one general or related to the art of this class (as shearing metal) and another specific to another cutting class or subclass (as, for instance, cutting plastic block or earthenware; or nail making). In both such cases, the original patent will be placed in the other cutting class or subclass.

A. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER CLASSES INCLUDING, PER SE, CUTTING, SEVERING, OR INCISING

The following enumeration and discussion of such classes, although including the loci of patents relating to many and varied types of cutting, does not purport to be exhaustive:

1. The class of cutting implements, Class 30.

Other than as governed by the exception set forth immediately following description 4 below, a patent is deemed to be directed to a cutting implement, and thus to be placeable originally in Class 30, if its claimed subject matter fits any one of following descriptions:

a. A cutting device which as an entirety is disclosed to be supported or held against the force of gravity by the operator during cutting.

b. A cutting device which as an entirety is disclosed as deriving from the work a substantial amount of its support against gravity (i.e., work-supported) during cutting, including a cutting device which is disclosed as being guided and supported during cutting by a member which is itself supported on the work (i) a cutting device which is disclosed as having a loose, work supported tool and powered means for driving the tool into the work, will be placed in Class 83; (ii) a cutting device which includes means to affix, hold, or positively locate a portion of the device relative to the work, for support of the device against gravity, and means to guide movement of the cutter relative to the work-affixed or work-located portion, will be placed in Class 83; (iii) a cutting device which includes (1) means to position or positively locate a portion of the device relative to the work in such a manner that said portion remains in said relative position during cutting and (2) means to guide the cutter in predetermined path with respect to said portion, will be placed in Class 83.

c. A cutting device which is disclosed as being capable of movement in a random path instantaneously under the control of the operator during cutting, including a cutter suspended or supported near the work; e.g., a cutter mounted at one end

of a flexible shaft whose other end is anchored to a table, or a cutter suspended from a trolley, or a cutter mounted on a steerable vehicle.

d. A cutting device of the type referred to in the preceding paragraph in combination with a work support or work holder wherein neither the cutting tool itself nor the tool support is modified or constructed to either constrain the motion of the cutter or to guide it in a predetermined path with respect to the work support or work holder. However, a patent drawn to a device including a cutting tool and means to support a reserve stock of the work in which the work supply is in the form of a web or strand wrapped upon itself and the supply is supported for rotation upon an axis will be placed originally in this class (83) even though it fits one or more of the above listed descriptions.

A patent for the combination of a cutting device meeting any of the criteria set forth above and a work holder provided for in Class 269 will be placed originally in Class 30, although a patent for the work holder, per se, will be placed in Class 269.

A patent which only claims a cutting tool nominally, that is, in which the claimed structure does not sufficiently define a cutting tool substantially in its ultimate use form, or elements, adjuncts, or materials structurally limited to such use, is regarded as proper subject matter for original placement in Class 428, Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles.

2. The class of severing by tearing or breaking.

Class 225 includes patents for process or apparatus for severing determinate portions of work material by causing failure of the work under tension at the point or line of separation, effected by moving one part of the work relative to another part. In such devices or processes, the tension is applied by stretching, bending, twisting, manually or mechanically grasping the work on one side of a fixed edge and forcing it against the edge, or moving a breaking or tearing tool and supported work material relative to each other. Also included in the reference class are tearing or breaking devices combined with any other type of severing means.

For a detailed statement of the distinction between Classes 83 and 225, see the (1) Note and (2) Note under section I, Class Definition, subsection B, Breaking or Tearing, of Class 225.

3. The class of comminuting.

Class 241, Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration, includes original patents for process or apparatus directed to the cutting or severing of solid material into a number of

smaller solid masses, which smaller masses do not have imparted to them any desired or significant shape. As between Classes 83 and 241, the provision of means for (or steps of) retaining an original dimension of the work in the cut up product will exclude a patent for the apparatus (or process) from Class 241.

4. The class of selective cutting.

The art of selective cutting is collected in Class 234, Selective Cutting (e.g., Punching). The distinction between a selective cutting device or a method of selective cutting (either of which is proper for Class 234) and a cutting means or method of this class (83) is set forth in the following statement:

Class 234 is superior to Class 83, and takes or contains original patents directed to cutting devices as defined in Class 83 which are further distinguished by the claimed inclusion of a plurality of cutting tool pairs and an actuating power train for each pair (one power train may be common to all), so that power may be delivered to any or all pairs for any cutting cycle, and wherein each and all of the tool pairs assembled in the machine are constantly available to be chosen for cutting or noncutting (in any desired number, from one to the total number available) by (a) a pattern (b) combinational coding means [defined in section III, Glossary, of the class definition of Class 234, Selective Cutting (e.g., Punching)], or (c) means not a part of the tool actuating power train and which does not partake of all the movements of either tool or the pair; which pattern or means conditions which pair so chosen to (a) enable, or (b) prevent, a cutting operation thereby when its driving power train is actuated. The distinction expressed above is intended to exclude from Class 234 patents for devices wherein, for example, (a) there is no distinct conditioning means [see U.S. Patent No. 682,197 (subclass 225 of Class 83) to Hollerith: each punch is selected and actuated by its individual key-connected linkage]; or (b) less than the whole number of tools is constantly available [see U.S. Patent No. 878,775 (subclass 552 of Class 83) to Colbert: a turret of tools]; or (c) the tool conditioning means move bodily with their associated tools [see U.S. Patent No. 746,625 (subclass 559 of Class 83) to Allen: manipulable locking pins are fixed to the tools]; and is intended to include, for example, devices wherein a tool-actuating power train common to all tools is tripped, manually or automatically, after operation of selected conditioning means [see U.S. Patent No. 1,110,261 (234/111) to Hollerith: initial depression of a key conditions one punch for actuation, and further depression of the key trips a common punch hammer or actuator], and devices wherein a plurality of combinations of less than the total number of tools are actuated or conditioned for actuation, by coding means (see U.S. Patent No. 422,728 to Clark: a turret of coded interposers is positionable to select groups of tools

from an array thereof).

5. The class of mechanical manufacturing (metal working).

The class of reference (29, Metal Working) includes patents for machines for bias cutting of tubular stock (subclasses 2.1+); shredding metal; e.g., metal wool making (subclass 4.51+); spiral cutting of flat stock (subclass 20.1); and filing (subclass 76.1). Patents for files and rasps are found in subclasses 78+.

6. The class of presses.

The class of reference, (100, Presses) includes patents for reciprocating press structures, which (as both claimed and disclosed) may perform, alternatively, a cutting operation or some other forming operation (such as forging, drawing, bending), as well as patents containing such equivocal disclosures of forming devices that the type of forming operation such devices are intended to perform cannot be ascertained accurately.

7. The class of abrading.

With few exceptions (such as those found in Class 132, Toilet), patents claiming a cutting means, or a step involving the use of a cutting means, which (as disclosed) is composed of crystalline material-removing particles, are placed originally in Class 451, Abrading.

8. Classes related to flame or other heat-cutting.

In addition to the classes enumerated below, it will be noted that subclasses 18.1+ of Class 33, Geometrical Instruments, contained original patents for flame-cutting scribers, and that Class 65, Glass Manufacturing, subclass 113, provides for glass preform treating including flame severing, and subclasses 269+ provides for glassworking means including flame severing means.

a. The class of metal treatment.

Subclasses 194+ of Class 148, Metal Treatment, includes original patents for methods of flame-cutting metals. b. The class of metallurgical apparatus.

Original patents for flame-cutting apparatus are collected in subclasses 48+ of Class 266, Metallurgical Apparatus. In addition, subclass 271 of Class 266 contains original patents for devices used for drilling or cutting taphole plugs of metallurgical furnaces.

c. The class of combustion.

Class 431, Combustion, contains original patents for a torch comprising a fluid fuel distributor and a feature which

specializes it for producing a flame; e.g., pilot burner etc., or which depends on the heat generated by the flame to perform its function; e.g., vaporize fuel.

d. The class of electric heating.

Class 219, Electric Heating, includes original patents directed to methods or apparatus effective to sever, part, or burn or melt away, a portion of a workpiece without using a solid tool which engages and penetrates the work. Examples will be found in subclasses 68+.

e. The class of fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing.

Class 239, Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing, includes original patents for fluid distributing nozzles or tips, per se, even though disclosed as burners.

9. Classes related to the cutting of metal.

In addition to the classes enumerated herein, attention is invited to the discussion of patents directed to improvements in the flame- or heat-cutting arts, contained in paragraph H, above.

a. The class of nail making. Patents directed to apparatus for cutting nails to shape are found as originals in subclasses 157+ and 192+ of Class 470, Threaded, Headed Fastener, or Washer Making: Process and Apparatus.

b. The class of chain, staple, and horseshoe making.

Cutting machines disclosed as being useful in making such products are the subject of patents in subclass 29 of Class 59, Chain, Staple, and Horseshoe Making.

c. The class of tool making.

A patent for a cutting machine or process employed in the manufacture of a tool will be found, as an original copy, in Class 76, Metal Tools and Implements, Making, (e.g., in subclasses 12+, 28, 29, 30, 31+, 37+, 82+).

d. The class of wireworking.

Patents for methods of, or means for, cutting wire will be found, as original copies, in many subclasses of Class 140, Wireworking, particularly subclasses 58+, 66, and 67.

e. The class of type casting.

Original copies of patents for machines or processes for cutting cast type are included in subclass 59 of Class 199, Type Casting.

f. A patent directed to cutting metal (or other hard substance whose cutting is not the subject of a subclass is some other class) will be placed originally in one of the following classes, if not earlier placed on the basis of product (e.g., nails) according to the criteria expressed:

i. Class 408, Cutting by Use of Rotating Axially Moving Tool, will take original patents to machines for making a hole, reducing the outside of a round workpiece, trepanning, screw threading either the outside or the inside of a tubular workpiece, as well as any other cutting operation by use of a tool turning about an axis and moving along that axis toward a workpiece; provided, there is no additional motion of the operating tool. Class 408 is intended to ultimately include all cutting in the manner provided in the definition of that class; however, not all classes have now been screened for art proper for Class 408. Included among the classes likely to include patents proper for Class 408 that have not been screened are Classes 82, 142, and 451. ii. Class 82, Turning. Original patents for devices or processes for severing or cutting off work, wherein the cutting movements of tool and work relative to each other include (1) rotation of either or both about an axis passing through the work (except as provided for in Class 408) and (2) relative translation substantially normal to said axis, are in Class 82 as meeting the general concepts of "turning".

iii. Class 409, Gear Cutting, Milling, or Planing, includes original patents for a process and apparatus for shaping material, usually metal, by means of (1) a toothed rotary cutter to produce an article of desired configuration or (2) a nonrotary tool for making a series of comparatively light cuts or a series of such tools, between which tool(s) and the workpiece there is a relative reciprocatory movement in substantially a straight line. Generally, Class 409 is broad enough to take any patent for shaping by means of a toothed rotary cutter not provided for in Class 77 or Class 82. Included in Class 409, subclasses 288+, is a patent for a single edge cutter device which shapes work (e.g., grooving, shaving, slotting, or flash trimming) by means of relative movement between tool and work in one or more passes. See (1) Note under Class 409, subclass 288.

10. Classes related to the cutting of wood.

a. The class of coopering.

Patents for machines adapted to cut barrels, or staves therefor, will be found as original copies in many subclasses of Class 147.

b. Other patents whose claimed method or apparatus is disclosed as being directed to the cutting of wood will be placed originally in the proper woodworking class; Class 142, Wood Turning; Class 144, Woodworking (including pencil

sharpening in subclasses 28.1+); or Class 30, Cutlery (including pencil sharpening implements in subclasses 451+); except for patents directed to veneer-web or -sheet clippers (including those intended to cut a layer to be laminated) which are placed in this class (83).

11. Classes related (in whole or in part) to cutting the earth or the fruits thereof in situ, or well tubing imbedded in the earth.

A patent directed to a machine or process for accomplishing any one of the above enumerated purposes will be placed in the appropriate earth exploring or exploiting, or agricultural, class. A list (not intended as exhaustive) of such classes follows: 37, Excavating; 47, Plant Husbandry; 56, Harvesters; 111, Planting; 166, Wells; 171, Unearthing Plants or Buried Objects; 172, Earth Working (e.g., subclasses 13-22); 175, Boring or Penetrating the Earth; 299, Mining or In Situ Disintegration of Hard Material.

12. Classes related to the cutting of plastic material, stone, or hard glass.

A patent directed to apparatus for cutting plastic, green ceramic or cementitious preformed material will be found as an original in Class 83 unless shaping other than by cutting is involved. See Class 65, Glass Manufacturing, appropriate subclasses for a process of, or apparatus for, cutting or scoring glass combined with glassworking or treating, and subclass 133 for a process of severing a stream of molten glass and also see the collection of search notes under subclasses 112 and 133; Class 125, Stone Working, for stone cutting; Class 264, Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes, particularly subclasses 138+ for a process of plastic shaping by or with cutting; and Class 425, Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating: Apparatus, for means shaping or reshaping of plastic material combined with cutting means.

13. Classes related to the treatment, care, or handling of living animal (including human) bodies. a. The class of surgery.

A patent directed to the cutting of a live animal body will be placed as an original copy in Class 128, Surgery.

b. The class of dentistry.

Original patents for devices for trimming plaster bases of dental models will be found in subclass 38 of Class 433, Dentistry.

c. The class of toilet.

Patents for cutting, scraping, or filing devices, disclosed as useful in manicure or pedicure operations, are placed

originally in subclasses 75.4+ and 75.8 of Class 132.

d. The class of farriery.

The reference class (168), in subclass 48.1+, contains original patents to apparatus for sawing, milling, scraping, filing, or otherwise cutting animal hooves.

e. The class of fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying.

In addition to the typical fish hook and tackle therefor, the class of reference (43) contains patents for such cutting devices as spears and harpoons subclass 6 and impaling traps subclasses 77+.

14. Classes related to the preparation of food. a. The class of butchery.

A patent directed to the cutting of the dead body of a previously living creature, preparatory to its use as food, will be found in Class 452, Butchering. For instance, patents relating to fowl beheading, carcass splitting, or fish cutting are found, respectively, in subclasses 12, 23, or 53+ thereof.

b. Bakery and confectionery type foods.

A manipulative process of shaping edibles combined with preform severing is provided for in Class 99, Foods and Beverages: Apparatus, subclasses 450.1+ and 537+, whereas comparable apparatus is provided for in Class 425, Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating: Apparatus, appropriate subclasses. Cutting of edible preforms, per se, is provided for by Class 83 whereas severing of same by tearing or breaking is provided for by Class 225.

c. Other classes of food cutting.

A patent directed to one of the following types of food cutting will be placed originally in the appropriate food preparation class: Class 99, Foods and Beverages: Apparatus, for a cutting device which is adapted to a peculiar characteristic of the food, or wherein the cutting device separates distinguishable portions of the food, (e.g., leafy top portion, seeds, core, skin portion, eyes, etc.).

15. Classes related to the working of leather, skins, or hides.

a. The class of leather working.

Class 69, Leather Manufactures, includes patents directed to means and processes for splitting, skiving, defleshing, whitening, or buffing of hides or leather, and for cutting, (per se), in the production of certain articles typical of the class (e.g., leather straps, the subject of patents in

subclass 17 of Class 69).

b. The class of boot and shoe making.

Patents for cutting means or methods specialized or peculiarly adapted to operation upon footgear are placed originally in Class 12, Boot and Shoe Making, particularly subclasses 27, 28, 40, 41.05, 41.7, 46, 47, 47.1, 57.5+, 62, and 85+. 16. Textile classes.

a. The class of cloth finishing.

Subclasses 7+ of Class 26, Textiles: Cloth Finishing, constitutes the locus of original patents limited to apparatus or process for severing threads or fibers projecting from textile fabrics. Such patents may relate, for instance, to shearing or to the cutting of float threads, pile loops, or weft ends.

b. The class of fiber preparation.

Patents for "tow-to-top" staplizing machines or methods are placed originally in Class 19, Textiles: Fiber Preparation. The type of severance therein involved is that in which a bundle of filaments of indefinite length (termed "tow") is subjected to a treatment which reduces the individual filaments to staple length fibers without disrupting the continuity or integrity of the bundle (which, when emerging from the machine or processes, is known as "top"). In Class 83, on the other hand, are found patents for machines or processes for the reduction of isolated individual filaments to staple length fibers (for instance, Beria-type cutters) or for the disruptive reduction of filament bundles to such fibers, in both cases without further textile treatment.

c. The class of weaving.

Original copies of patents for cutting devices mounted on loom parts (e.g., temple mounted cutters) are found in subclasses 302+ of Class 139.

d. The class of sewing machines.

Patents for cutting devices disclosed as attached to sewing machines will be found, as original copies, in subclasses 45 and 285-301 of Class 112.

e. The class of apparel apparatus.

Means for trimming the bottoms of dresses or skirts, for trimming hat brims, or for cutting (e.g., clipping) the nap of hats comprise subject matter of patents in subclasses 1.1, 16, and 19 of Class 223.

f. The general class of textiles.

Subclass 144 of the class of reference (28, Textiles) contains original patents for machines for making chenille yarn by cutting a woven fabric.

17. Classes pertaining to the communications and information arts.

a. The class of typewriters.

Subclasses 127+ and 135+ of Class 400, Typewriting Machines, includes original copies of patents drawn to keyboard operated means for cutting intelligence-bearing indicia, as, for instance, stencil cutting, and to processes utilizing such means.

b. The class of printing.

Generally speaking, the recording of intelligence by cutting is proper subject matter for Class 101, Printing. More particularly, individual cases of cutting machines or method may be tested for aptness to Class 101 by reference to the following statements:

i. A patent for a machine or process for cutting on or adjacent the printed or written matter on a document to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent alteration of such matter due to the proximity of the cut surfaces to the printed or written matter (e.g., check protecting) will be placed originally in Class 101, subclasses 3.1+.

ii. A patent for a machine or process for cutting work in the form of a character, a design, or a pattern which will impart information to an observer is proper for Class 101, subclasses 3.1+, if a cut is disclosed as extending only part way through the thickness of the work (e.g., embossing). If all of the cuts forming such character, design, or pattern are disclosed as extending all the way through the thickness of the work, the patent will be found in Class 83.

iii. If in addition to a cutting machine or process of this class (83) there is claimed a means or step peculiar to Class 101, (e.g., the application of ink to the cutting tool to additionally outline or mark an aperture made by the punch), such addition has been considered sufficient to place a patent directed to such combination in Class 101, subclasses 3.1+. This is in accordance with the general rule that a patent for a combination of cutting with another treatment of the work will be placed in the class of the other treatment. (See subsection B, Relationship to Other Treating Classes, below).

iv. An original patent claiming both the process and apparatus for the manufacture of stencils by cutting, or only such process, will be found in Class 101, subclass 128.4.

c. The class of recorders.

A process or apparatus which would be otherwise proper for Class 346, Recorders, will not be removed from the scope of that class merely by virtue of the fact that the recordation, as claimed, is accomplished by an incising or penetrating means or method step.

d. The class of registers.

Original patents directed to means for cutting or punching a record medium, in response to the results of the operation of a calculating machine or register, will be found in Class 235, Registers, particularly subclasses 58+ and 60.27+ (especially subclass 60.29).

e. The class of railway signaling.

Patents for apparatus which cuts or punches a record medium, in response to the operation of a block-signal system or of a cab signal or train control device, are placed originally in subclasses 107 and 185 (respectively) of Class 246, Railway Switches and Signals.

f. The class of telegraphy.

A patent for a cutting device which is actuated by means responsive to a teles:graphically transmitted signal will be placed originally in Class 178, Telegraphy, those in subclass 92 being typical.

g. The class of binder devices releasably engaging aperture or notch of sheet.

A sheet binder device of that class (402) (i) in combination with a discrete sheet aperture forming device, which device perforates a sheet prior to placing the same on the retainer, (ii) including means to force a sheet upon the sheet retainer and (iii) including a sheet retainer which penetrates and inserts a pliant strand through a sheet will be found in subclasses 1, 7, and 25, respectively, of Class 402.

18. Receptacle classes.

a. The class of deposit and collection receptacles. Patents claiming a ticket receiving and collection receptacle, with means to punch or cut tickets introduced into the receptacle, will be found placed originally in Class 232, Deposit and Collection Receptacles.

b. The class of special receptacles.

Patents for cigar- or tobacco-containing receptacles having an attached cutter are placed originally in Class 206, Special Receptacle or Package, subclasses 238+.

c. The class of paper receptacles.

Original patents for paper receptacles with attached means for opening a receptacle by cutting, tearing, or ripping will be found in subclasses 87.05, 200+, and 307 of Class 229, Envelopes, Wrappers, and Paperboard Boxes.

d. The class of metallic receptacles.

Subclasses 265+ of Class 220, Receptacles, includes original patents for general-utility receptacles with attached openers which function to open the receptacle by cutting part thereof.

19. Certain other classes distinguished by the nature or identity of work or product.

a. The class of tobacco.

Patents for machines which are disclosed as being specially adapted to the cutting of tobacco or cigars will be found, as original copies, in subclasses 248+ and 281 of Class 131. (Patents for tobacco cutting machines of more general utility are placed originally in appropriate subclasses of Classes 30 and 83).

b. The class of button making. Patented machines or processes for cutting button blanks are disclosed in subclasses 15 and 16 of Class 79.

c. The class of brush, broom, and mop making.

The class of reference (300) includes a subclass (17) restricted to the, per se, trimming of articles of the class. Most of the devices represented by patents therein operate to accomplish such trimming by cutting.

d. The class of wheelwright machines.

Patents directed to machines and processes for lacerating or buffing the exterior surface of vehicle tires are collected in subclass 13 of Class 157, Wheelwright Machines, except those claiming an abrading means or step, which latter are to be found in Class 451, Abrading.

e. The class of ships.

Patents for ships carrying means to cut or break ice are placed originally in subclasses 40-42 of Class 114.

f. The class of chemical manufacture and adhesive bonding of articles.

Class, 156, Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture, provides in subclasses 625+ for severing a workpiece by the action of a reactive or solvent fluid. It also provides for the combination of laminating and cutting

in subclasses 250+ and 510+.

20. The class of geometrical instruments.

Subclasses 18.1+ of Class 33, Geometrical Instruments, include original patents for means for scoring or indenting a reference point, respectively. B. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER TREATING CLASSES

1. This class is an elementary class and generally does not include patents claiming the combination of a cutting method or means with a process or apparatus for other treatment(s). Certain specific exceptions to this general rule exist, as follows:

a. Heating or cooling work and cutting same.

Subject matter of subclasses 15+ and 170.

b. Cleaning work and cutting same;

subject matter of subclass 168.

2. Means for, or steps of, performing certain other operations whose character as treating or nontreating operations, it is recognized, will vary with individual judgement also are included in patents of this class in claimed combination with cutting instrumentalities or steps, as follows:

a. Weighing the cut product in subclass 77.

b. Separating or assorting product in subclasses 102+

c. Applying a transient, nonpropellant fluid (e.g., lubricant or coolant) to work in subclasses 22 and 169.

d. Temporarily deforming work; in subclasses 17+, 175, and 176.

e. Unwinding material from, or supporting material on, a spool, beam, bobbin, or the like, for presentation to a cutting device for operation thereon; note particularly subclasses 649+. (The combination of a cutting machine and significantly claimed means for winding the product thereof is subject matter for Class 242, Winding, Tensioning, or Guiding, as is the Combination of a winding machine and a means to cut the tail, extending from a package wound by such machine, from the source of material to be wound. See Class 242, subclasses 487.1+, 521, and 522+. 3. As to methods, the claimed recitation of a step of performing a treatment other than cutting will exclude a patent from original placement in this class, regardless of whether such treating step is claimed in detail.

4. In interpreting a claimed combination of cutting and noncutting treating means, a purely nominal recitation of the other (noncutting) treating means will not exclude an original patent from this class if all of the following conditions are met:

a. No means or instrumentality is claimed as being synchronized with the other treating means.

b. A single material handling means presents work to both such treating means; or, the means which presents material (as work) to a second treating means in line is the means which removes it (as product) from a first treating means in line.

c. No support or guide means is claimed as orienting or redirecting the material (work or product) between treating means.

C. RELATIONSHIP TO MATERIAL HANDLING CLASSES

1. Product handling means.

a. This class (83) receives original patents claiming significantly both a cutting tool of the class and means to separate or assort portions of the product resulting from the cutting operation. An original patent claiming such separating or assorting means in structural terms, and the cutting tool in nominal terms only, will be placed in Class 209, Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids.

b. Original patents drawn to the combination of cutting means of this class and product weighing means which does not govern the operation of the cutting means will be placed in this class (83) without regard to the degree of specificity with which the cutting means is claimed therein. If the weighing means is claimed as controlling a cutting device, which cutting device terminates feed or flow of material to the weighing means, a patent thereto is placed originally in Class 177, Weighing Scales.

c. As to other product handling devices (i.e., instrumentalities which effect or affect motion of the product of a cutting machine), the claimed combination of such device with a cutting machine constitutes subject matter for this class (83), regardless of the degree of specificity with which the cutting means is claimed.

2. Work handling means. a. As between this class (83) and Classes 193, Conveyors, Chutes, Skids, Guides, and Ways; 198, Conveyors: Power-Driven; 212, Traversing Hoists; 414, Material or Article Handling; 226, Advancing Material of Indeterminate Length; 406, Conveyors: Fluid Current; and 271, Sheet Feeding or Delivering; the claimed recitation in purely nominal terms, of a cutting instrumentality with respect to

which a work handling means may move or feed work will not of itself exclude placement of an original patent for such work handling means in the respective material handling class listed above. However, when such instrumentality is set forth with structural specificity, the claimed congregation of elements is properly placed with the work modifying instrumentality (class 83). For example: A claim reciting a structurally defined work handling means (not claimed as synchronized with a work modifying means), and a "work station" (or "tool station", or "work modifying means", or "tool", or "cutter", or "punch", or "knife", etc.) in so many words, is properly placed on the basis of the work handling means. A claim reciting a work handling means and, for instance, a work station including a "reciprocating tool element", or a "tapered tool", or a "round cutter", or a "rotary punch", is properly placed in the class of the specific tool set forth. The true test for proper placement in this class (83) is whether or not the combination of a tool and work-feed means is a significant tool-to-work-relationship. For further notes on this relationship see (2) Note, under subclass 703 of this class (83) referring to Class 414.

c. Further, this class (83) receives original patents claiming a cutting tool (of the type provided for in the class) synchronized with or in power-transmitting driving relation with, a work handling means, regardless of whether such tool is claimed significantly or merely nominally.

3. Tool handling means.

Class 483 provides for a Class 83 cutting process or apparatus combined with tool changing.

D. RELATIONSHIP TO CLASS OF TOOL DRIVING OR IMPACTING

Class 173, Tool Driving or Impacting, provides for subject matter directed to driving or impacting a tool, when such subject matter includes combined features peculiar to tool driving, but which does not include features limiting the subject matter to a specific tool art such as specific shape of the work contacting portion of a tool, related tools, or an opposed work support. Class 83 has not been cleared as to subject matter in conflict with this line.

E. RELATIONSHIP TO THE CLASS OF WORK HOLDERS

This relationship is set forth in section II, Lines With Other Classes, of the class definition for Class 269.

F. STRUCTURE OF THE CLASS

1. A perusal of the first line or skeleton schedule of the class will reveal that the class is composed of a relatively small number of major subclass groups. Generally, in order of superiority, these major subclass groups provide search fields for: a. a method including a step of cutting (subclasses 13-56).

b. noncyclic means to halt or prevent motion of a part or all of a cutting machine (subclasses 58-68).

c. means to monitor and control operation of a cutting machine (subclasses 72-76).

d. means to handle the product of a cutting operation (subclasses 78-166).

e. means to cut hollow work from the inside (subclasses 178-195).

f. means to cut work while cyclically halted (subclasses 202-283).

g. a flying cutter (subclasses 284-349).

h. a cutter (of a type other than those previously enumerated) synchronized with work moving means (subclasses 350-357).

i. a cutting machine with an appurtenance such as a clamp, work stop or gauge, work guide; firstly, synchronized with the tool cycle (subclasses 373-398), and secondly, not so synchronized (subclasses 438-468).

j. means to control the operation of a part (at least) of the machine in response to means to sense the work, product, or another part of the machine (subclasses 358-372, 399, 400).

k. a cutting machine having work moving means not claimed as synchronized with the tool cycle; providing for tool-station-type work moving means (subclasses 401 through 437.7).

l. a rotatable disc type cutting machine (subclasses 469-508). m. means to produce or facilitate the cutting motion of a tool or tools (subclasses 513-519; 523-647).

n. a cutting tool, per se, or combined with its support (subclasses 651-699.61).

o. a method of, or means for, cutting other than all the way through the work thickness-wise, providing for scoring, skiving, and related operations (subclasses 6-12).

2. In addition, a limited number of groupings have been established on secondary bases of classification, to facilitate state-of-the-art searches. These subclasses, which contain no original patents are numbered from 901.

The following index is provided for convenience in locating

certain elements or types of cutting machines according to keywords generally of art terminology. This index is not intended to be exhaustive.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

72+, for automation.

278, 391+, 401+, 467.1, for back gage.

788+, for band saw.

562, 640, for beam dinker.

531+, 561, 658+, for bed block. 403, for beria-type cutter.

788+, for chain saw.

182, 206, 262, 282, 294, 319, 325, 375+, 409, 422, 452+, for clamp.

531+, 652+, for clicker die.

32, 42+, 50, for core lamination making.

288, for crop cut.

638, 643, 644, for draw cut.

425.2+, for edge-cutter.

111+, for ejector.

284+, for flying cutter.

218, 278, for four-motion feed.

572, 573, for gag. , See back gage for gage

598, 620+, for gang punch.

450, (also see clamp and stripper), for holddown.

915.3, for ice cutting.

102.1, for kerf spreading.

637, for leader pin.

305, for miscut.

746+, for miter box.

237, 916, 917, for nibble.

169, for oiler.

333, 918, for pinkin. , See clamp and holddown for presser foot.

213, 214, 255, 256, 519, 611, 622, 636, for progressive cutting.

616, for punch hammer.

703+, for saw-mill dog.

401+, for saw-mill feed.

830+, 835+, for saw-teeth.

923, for scrap cutter.

174+, for sharpener (tool).

223+, 582+, for spring storage (cutter, punch).

111+, for stripper.

637, for sub-press unit.

477+, 483+, for table saw. 353, 483+, 614, for traveling cutter.

GLOSSARY:

ANVIL

A tool comprising a smooth-faced, imperforate member, the smooth face having the purpose of contacting the work and providing a reaction surface against which a relatively movable tool may abut in its work penetrating movement.

DETECTOR

A mechanism for sensing a physical property or characteristic of, or the presence or absence or passage of, the work or the product or a movable element of a machine; which mechanism effects a signal or impulse as a result of such sensing. The signal or impulse is sent through a transmitter, (see definition of "transmitter" below) and effects or initiates the functioning of a machine part or assembly controlled by the detector.

FLYING

Moving with the work material. The term "flying" means that the part so described has, at the time of cutting, a motion

component in the direction of the work as it moves to and through the cutting station.

GUIDE

Passive means to direct the movement of something (e.g., work, product, machine part) in a desired path. (Note: although a guide may be movable for the purpose of adjustment, yet it accomplishes its directing function by presenting an obstacle to movement in an undesired direction, rather than by causing the directed thing or part to move with it).

NOTCHING The cutting of a discrete product from a workpiece through the thickness of the workpiece with the line of cut starting at an edge of the workpiece and returning to the same edge. The edge of the workpiece may be either an exterior edge or an interior edge. A cut which extends solely along a single straight line is not considered to be a notching cut.

PRODUCT

Material which has been treated by the cutting tool; the result of a cutting operation. (Note: material which is "product" for one cutting operation may be "work" for an ensuing operation).

PUNCHING

The cutting of a discrete product out of the confines of a workpiece through the thickness of the workpiece so that the cut does not intersect any edge (exterior or interior) of the workpiece.

SHEARING

Cutting effected by the relative motion of two cutting tools having edges which are initially on opposite sides of the work with the cutting taking place by one tool moving towards the other tool and the edge on the moving tool moving past and in close and overlapping relationship to the edge of the other tool.

TOOL

The instrumentality that contacts the work for effecting directly the operation of the class either by itself or by cooperation with another tool.

TOOL CYCLE

The elapsed time between, and all of the motion traced by the tool between, the time the tool leaves any particular datum point in its approach to (or recession from) the work until it again leaves that point in its next succeeding approach to

(or recession from) the work, the location of such datum point for a series of recurring cycles being determined without giving significance to mere positioning movements of the tool with respect to the work (Note: positioning movements of the tool are considered to be part of the cycle of motions constituting the tool cycle, and the time they occupy is part of the span of the cycle. They are disregarded only for the purpose of establishing the datum point of one cycle with respect to that of a preceding or succeeding cycle). TOOL PAIR

A plurality of tools, each having a work contacting portion, said portions being initially separated from each other and cooperating to effect cutting of the work when they have relative movement toward each other.

TOOL STROKE

The motion of the tool toward and into the work to effect a cut, and the motion of retraction of the tool from the product to its base position.

TOOL SUPPORT

An element connected to the tool for supporting it against gravity and that partakes of all of the movement of the tool and has no relative movement with respect to the tool except for purposes of adjustment.

TRANSMITTER

A system for sending the signal or impulse which has been effected by a detector (see definition of "detector" above) to a means for establishing (in response to receipt of such signal or impulse) a driving connection between a source of power and a machine part or assembly; or sending such signal or impulse to a mart or assembly directly (as by a linkage).

WORK

Article, material, or stuff to be treated (cut). (Compare "product").

WORK-FEED MEANS

An instrumentality for advancing work to the treating (cutting) zone. WORK THICKNESS

In general, the least dimension along a substantially planar outer surface of work. As to hollow workpieces, the thickness dimension at an annular section is taken as the wall thickness; at a solid section, it is the thickness of the entire workpiece as though it were not hollow. The

thickness dimension of a strand is defined as follows: (a) as to those of circular, triangular or elliptical cross-section, by any line passing through the strand from surface point to surface point, (b) as to those of other polygonal cross-section, by any line passing through the strand from one outer surface to a nonintersecting outer surface. As to spheres a line extending through the sphere from one point on the surface to another is deemed to define the thickness dimension. As to all other shapes of work pieces, thickness is not considered significant for the purpose of this classification.

Throughout the definitions of subclasses herein below, the appearance of an asterisk (*) will indicate a word or term which has been defined in this section. However, the words "product", "tool", and "work", defined in this section, occur so frequently in the subclass definitions, that the use of the asterisk in reference thereto has been omitted.