Electromagnetic cutting apparatus particularly for use, etc.

Claim 1

A cutting apparatus for cutting a strip of binding tape connected to a shoe upper component and extending beyond at least one edge thereof, the cutting being performed at said one edge, said apparatus comprising a frame; a yoke on said frame; an arm slidably mounted in said yoke; a table portion on said frame for receiving said component and tape; a casing on one end of said arm opposite said yoke and above said table portion of the frame; plunger means housed in said casing and projecting therefrom toward said table portion of the frame; blade means on the outer end of said plunger for cutting said tape during passage of the component and tape over said table portion of the frame; electromagnetic drive means for moving said plunger and blade means from a rest position to a cutting position; sensor means for actuating said drive means when said component and said tape are properly located beneath said blade means; and means for returning said plunger means and said blade means to said rest position, said electromagnetic drive means including a core formed of magnetic material mounted on said plunger means in said casing; a coil around said core; and circuit means for energizing said coil in response to signals from said sensor means, said sensor means including photoelectric cells positioned in the path of travel of said component in advance of said blade means, and a light source for illuminating said photoelectric cells.