Abstract: In an apparatus for printing on a continuously moving sheet of work material, a frame is provided and defines a work supporting surface over which a sheet of work material is advanced in a first coordinate direction longitudinally of itself. An elongated support is mounted to the frame and extends transversely across the work supporting surface. A print head is mounted to the elongated support and is movable across the support, as well as between a forward and rearward position. During operation, as the work material is continuously advanced through the apparatus, the print head traverses the support and simultaneously moves between the forward and rearward positions, such that the print head has a component of speed in the first coordinate direction approximately equal to the rate at which the work material is advanced.

Abstract: In an apparatus for printing on a web of work material continuously advanced in an X coordinate direction at a velocity v.sub.wx, at least one print head having a plurality of print elements arranged in a scanning array extending in the X direction is repetitively movable relative to the apparatus. The scanning array moves at a velocity v.sub.a along a path that includes at least one scan segment and at least one repositioning segment. As the scanning array traverses the scan segment it has a first velocity component v.sub.ax in the X direction, and a second velocity component v.sub.ay in a Y direction perpendicular to the X direction. The first velocity component v.sub.ax is equal to the velocity v.sub.wx so that the scanning array in traversing the scan segment, scans a swath on the web parallel to the Y direction, having a swath height h.sub.s. The velocity component v.sub.ay is such that in the time taken for the array to move along the full extent of the scan segment the web advances a distance h.sub.

Abstract: In an apparatus for printing on a continuously moving sheet of work material, a frame is provided and defines a work supporting surface over which a sheet of work material is advanced in a first coordinate direction longitudinally of itself. An elongated support is mounted to the frame and extends transversely across the work supporting surface. A print head is mounted to the elongated support and is movable across the support, as well as between a forward and rearward position. During operation, as the work material is continuously advanced through the apparatus, the print head traverses the support and simultaneously moves between the forward and rearward positions, such that the print head has a component of speed in the first coordinate direction approximately equal to the rate at which the work material is advanced.

Abstract: A system for automatically making sample garments comprises a controller having a central process for preparing a marker based on data representing individual pattern pieces of an overall garment design and data representing selected portions of the sheet material from which the garment is to be constructed. The system further comprises an apparatus for cutting and performing other work operations on the sheet material. The apparatus includes a table having a core defining a vacuum plenum and a sheet material support surface.

Abstract: A dancer bar including a plurality of segments flexibly linked together is provided. Preferably, the segments are selectively connectable to provide a dancer bar having a length which substantially equals the width of an associated web of sheet material. A sheet material feed mechanism including the segmented dancer bar and an apparatus for performing a work operation on sheet material including the feed mechanism are also provided.