Abstract: A tape provides a supply of doubly adhesively faced pads for individual application to a receiving surface. The tape comprises a generally elongate flexible base layer of material having one side with a first release surface, and a plurality of pads of material carried on the first release surface of the base layer arranged in succession along the length of the base layer. Each of the pads has first and second tacky faces facing in opposite directions and has the first of its tacky faces releasably adhered to the first release surface of the base layer. The base layer of material has a second side facing oppositely to the first side and has a second release surface, so that the base layer may be rolled up to bring the second release surface thereof into engagement with the second tacky faces of the pads.

Abstract: A cleaner for cleaning debris from the bristles of a bristle bed which provides the work material support surface for a sheet material cutting machine performs its cleaning operation while the bristle bed or the bristle units making up the bristle bed remain in place on the cutting machine. A plurality of blades which may be either rotary or non-rotary are fixed to and spaced relative to one another along a given line. During a cleaning operation the blades enter the bristle bed and are moved in a direction perpendicular to the given line and parallel to the support surface to dislodge debris from the bristles. A vacuum device may be included in the cleaner to collect the dislodged debris and the cleaner may also include a vibrator for vibrating either the blades or the bed in the vicinity of the blades to assist in freeing the debris from the bristles.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in improving the accuracy of optical systems such as internal drum photoplotters includes a raster scanner responsive to control signals for advancing relative to a substrate an optical beam across a substrate surface in a first direction forming a scan line and for cooperatively advancing relative to the substrate the optical beam in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A signal generator provides a clock signal configured to control the advancement of the optical beam in a first direction. There is a memory for storing error signals indicative of deviations of the curved surface from a preferred value of curvature. The apparatus is characterized by a controller for generating control signals in dependence on the error signals such that the phase of the clock signal is adjusted, thereby removing the curvature error for a segment of the scan line.

Abstract: In a conveyor apparatus for supporting and advancing sheet material, such as fabric to be cut by a cutter head, the conveying element is an endless belt made of elongated supporting members having their length dimensions extending transversely of the path of belt movement. The supporting members include coengagable parts, such as tongues and grooves extending along the length of the members, which coengage one another when the supporting members are in the upper run of the conveyor to prevent vertical movement of the supporting members relative to one another and to thereby maintain the supporting surface defined by the upper run in a smooth and flat condition.

Abstract: In a cutting system and method for cutting pattern pieces from flexible sheet material, after the cutting the cut pattern pieces are separated from the waste material by moving the material forwardly to a separating station at which the waste material is pulled from one point to another so as to be tensioned and constrained to move along one path to one delivery station, while cut pattern pieces are not similarly pulled or tensioned but instead are allowed to move by gravity to a different path leading to another delivery station. An associated means, such as a roll with a resilient outer surface or a plurality of plungers, applies forces to the material to aid gravity in the separation of the pattern pieces by tending to push such pieces from the waste material. The material may also be vibrated to assist in the dislodgment of the pattern pieces from the waste material.

Abstract: In a plotter or other device for drawing inked lines on a receiving surface, an ink reservoir holding a large quantity of ink is provided to attain a long operational life for the associated pen. The reservoir includes a piston or other moveable working member to which air pressure is applied for pressurizing the ink, and the ink reservoir and associated pen are permanently connected with one another and with a few ancillary parts to provide a unit assembly readily connected to and disconnected from a pen head to permit quick exchange of units without danger of ink spillage. The ink reservoir is transparent or translucent to give the operator a visual indication of when the unit assembly is in need of replacement because of imminent ink exhaustion, and sensor may also be provided for automatically producing an electrical "out of ink" signal which appears upon the complete exhaustion of ink from the unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus by which stacks of pattern pieces cut from a layup of sheet material by a cutting tool are bundled and removed from the remaining waste material. A bundler inserts fasteners to bundle at least some of the stacks together and an automatic take-off device removes the bundled stacks from the layup. The cutting tool and bundler are both mounted to a two-axis carriage system and share a common controller with the take-off means. The controller guides the cutting tool around the pattern piece peripheries in response to control data and the bundler inserts fasteners into locations in the layup determined from the same control data. The controller then provides the exact locations of the inserted fasteners to the automatic take-off device which thereafter removes the cut stacks of pieces from the layup. In one embodiment of the invention, identifying information is printed upon the fastener by a printer associated with the bundler to aid in identifying the stacks of pattern pieces.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for cutting parts from hides from different shapes and sizes a digitizer and a cutter are provided which make it possible to digitize a hide at one time on the digitizer and to then cut it at a later time on the cutter with the hide when spread on the supporting surface of the cutter being given a shape and location exactly corresponding to its shape and location on the supporting surface of the digitizer. Therefore, the digitized representation of each hide may be used to create an efficient cuting marker for the hide which marker can then be used to cut the hide on the cutter without producing rejects or other cutting errors due to the location and shape of the hide on the supporting surface of the cutter not agreeing with those of the hide on the supporting surface of the digitizer.

Abstract: In a reciprocating blade for cutting sheet material, a lower cutting part includes a forward cutting edge defining portion and a rear body portion. The body portion has two parallel side faces. The cutting portion has first, second, third and fourth side surfaces. The first side surface is located in a reference plane parallel to and mid-way between the side faces of the body portion. The fourth side surface is in the same plane as one of the side faces of the body portion. The second side surface is inclined to the reference plane, extends between one side face of the body portion and the first side surface, and intersects the first side surface to define the cutting edge. The third side surface is inclined to the reference plane and extends from the rear of the first side surface to the other side face of the body portion. At least the first side surface is covered with a layer of hard material. During use of the blade the second side surface is periodically sharpened.

Abstract: A positioning system for use in a plotter having a reverse axis arrangement moves the Y carriage along two generally parallel spaced apart guides and comprises a first and second cable each having equal lenghts and forming a loop respectively attached to opposite ends of the Y carriage. Each of the cables is commonly wound around a single drive drum having double helical grooves formed on it into which respective ones of the first and the second cables is received. Each end of each cable is secured to the drum and is wrapped along its length such that portions of each of the first and second cables are directed away from and back towards the drum to define the loops which move the carriage. This arrangement allows an equal number of turns of each of the first and second cables to be maintained on the drum regardless of the direction in which it is rotated.

Abstract: A cutter head having a reciprocating knife has a base frame movable relative to a support carriage between a raised non-cutting position and a lowered cutting position with the base frame and the support carriage cooperating with one another to limit the movement of the base frame to define raised and lowered positions. A variable lowering stop mechanism is interposed between said base frame and said carriage to adjustably lower the cutting depth of the knife relative to said support carriage in response to a decrease in knife length at its tip resulting from sharpening. The variable lowering stop mechanism may be activated by a controller which counts the number of sharpenings occurring during a cutting operation.

Abstract: A pen plotter includes a means for applying pressurized air to the ink reservoir supplying the pen with ink. A pressure sensor associated with the pressurized air space provides an out-of-ink signal when the reservoir and pen become empty and the air pressure becomes lost due to air leakage through the pen. The plotter may be one in which a web of paper is intermittently advanced to bring fresh portions of the web to a support surface cooperating with the pen, and in which a pump is used to supply the pressurized air. The pump is driven by the same motor as drives the means for advancing the paper so that the pump is operated only during paper advancements. The pump is of a simple low cost construction and is adjustable to vary the pressure maintained in the ink reservoir.

Abstract: In a reciprocating blade for cutting sheet material, a lower cutting part includes a forward cutting edge defining portion and a rear body portion. The body portion has two parallel side faces. The cutting portion has first, second, third and fourth side surfaces. The first side surface is located in a reference plane parallel to and mid-way between the side faces of the body portion. The fourth side surface is in the same plane as one of the side faces of the body portion. The second side surface is inclined to the reference plane, extends between one side face of the body portion and the first side surface, and intersects the first side surface to define the cutting edge. The third side surface is inclined to the reference plane and extends from the rear of the first side surface to the other side face of the body portion. At least the first side surface is covered with a layer of hard material. During use of the blade the second side surface is periodically sharpened.

Abstract: In a reciprocating blade for cutting sheet material first and second side surfaces inclined relative to one another intersect to define an elongated cutting edge. The cutting edge is offset from a reference plane located midway between the side faces of the blade so that the first side surface passes through the reference plane in going from its associated side face to the cutting edge. At least the first side surface is covered with a thin coat of hard material harder than the base material of the blade. During use the second side surface is ground to cause the cutting edge to be defined by the hard material covering the first side surface. As a result of repeated sharpening grindings of the second side surface the cutting edge gradually moves to and then beyond the reference plane to give the blade a long useful service life.

Abstract: An X,Y plotter for drawing drawings of great length has a plotting area over which paper is moved in one direction parallel to the length of the paper and drawing to be produced. A pen is moved in X and Y coordinate directions relative to the plotting area, by X and Y carriages, to draw on the portion of the paper currently at the plotting area. The elongated one of the two carriages extends parallel to the length of the paper and is supported at its opposite ends by two stationary guide rails extending across the width of the paper and spaced by less than the width of the paper to allow the carriages to be made of small size and light weight. Associated means for providing precise tracking and advancement of the paper are also described.

Abstract: A friction brake used in association with a supply roll in a device advancing sheet material from a supply roll onto a take-up roll. The brake comprises a shaft supported by a plate and having a head at one end and a threaded portion at the other. A journalling part, a reverse bias arm, and a friction washer interposed between the arm and journalling part are each rotatably supported on the shaft and are biased together by axial adjustment means positioned adjacent the shaft threaded end portion. The axial adjustment means cooperates against one side of the plate to clamp the rotatably supported members against the plate other side. The reverse bias arm creates on the supply roll a drag when sheet material is pulled and subsequently delivers to the supply roll a reverse bias force after the pulling of material stops.

Abstract: A cutter in which a reciprocating knife is driven by an eccentric mechanism. The knife has a drive portion that flexes laterally in a plane perpendicular to the drive axis of the eccentric mechanism. The eccentric drive axis is offset along the perpendicular plane away from the axis on which the knife reciprocates. The offset of the eccentric drive axis allows the flexible drive portion to be kept straighter during the downstroke than in previous cutters. The increased straightening provides greater columnar strength and reduces deflection and stress of the drive portion during the time the knife is in compression. During the upstroke the knife is bent to a greater degree than in the previous cutters, but during this time the knife is in tension, the tension forces opposing rather than aiding the bending. The offset therefore provides for a longer service life for a blade of equal size or allows a reduction in size and mass of the knife to maintain an equivalent service life.

Abstract: A computer aided design system includes a means for varying the color of a part of a design created on a visual display screen. A selected color for part of the design is then measured to provide a set of color describing values useful in later reproducing the selected color in an actual garment or other article.

Abstract: An X,Y, plotter for drawing drawings of great length has a plotting area over which paper is moved in one direction parallel to the length of the paper and drawing to be produced. A pen is moved in X and Y coordinate directions relative to the plotting area, by X and Y carriages, to draw on the portion of the paper currently at the plotting area. The elongated one of the two carriages extends parallel to the length of the paper and is supported by .[.at its opposite ends.]. by .[.two.]. .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.stationary guide .[.rails.]. .Iadd.rail .Iaddend.extending across the width of the paper .Iadd.such that the range of movement of the pen in the X coordinate direction is .Iaddend..[.and spaced by.]. less than the width of the paper to allow the carriages to be made of small size and light weight. Associated means for providing precise tracking and advancement of the paper are also described.