Abstract: A cloth cutter knife permeable bed formed from a plurality of elongate support members, preferably plastic extrusions, provides a permeable support surface in a cloth cutting machine upon which a lay-up is supported for cutting by a cutter head. The extrusions are cut up by the reciprocated knife of the cutter head to form a multiplicity of bristles which after subsequent cutting operations of the lay-up create a dense knife permeable bristle bed for supporting the layup in a generally flat manner.

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: An apparatus for trimming three-dimensional workpieces made, e.g., of plastic comprises a bottom platen for supporting the workpieces and a cutter, which is movable relative to the bottom platen along a line of cut. To permit an automatic trimming by means of an inserted-tooth cutter, the bottom platen extends across the line of cut to support also that portion of the workpiece which is to be trimmed off. The bottom platen has a top surface for supporting the workpiece and is formed with a groove extending along the line of cut.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the precision cutting of corrugated paperboard panels into rectangular test specimens, having shapes of predetermined size. A reference rod is inserted through a selected flute in the corrugated paperboard panel, prior to the first cutting operation on the raw panel. The reference rod is then placed in a specific location on the cutting table surface, so that the internal flutes in the raw panel are oriented at a specific angle to the cutting plane of the cutter mechanism. This ensures that the first edge formed on the raw panel has a precise orientation relative to the panel flutes, such that the final precision cut panel specimen can be used as a test specimen for performing edge compression tests, and other tests, that are reproducible, and representative of the characteristics of the corrugated paperboard panel structure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for cutting patterned sheets. The apparatus is made of a support surface formed on an upper side of a pedestal. Needle holders having removable needles therein are disposed above said support surface and held adjustably by a base member. The apparatus also includes a suction pipe disposed on one side edge of the support surface. The suction pipe is used with an envelope of air-impervious material and forms one edge of the envelope.

Abstract: A vacuum chuck includes a lower base with vacuum plenums, a permanent metal plate with vertically extending holes which communicate with the plenums, a panel of particle board with vertically extending holes disposed in registry with the holes in the metal plate, and a sheet of open cell foam covering the particle board and defining the top surface of the chuck. When a vacuum is drawn in the plenums, it is disbursed beneath the foam sheet via the holes and acts through the foam sheet to clamp the workpiece tightly with respect to the metal plate. During cutting of the workpiece into individual piece parts, a cutting tool cuts through the workpiece and the foam sheet but is prevented by the particle board from cutting into the permanent metal plate.

Abstract: A backing plate retainer is disclosed for retaining a backing plate for clamping engagement with a fastening element such as a hook and eye fastener. The retainer includes an adapter strip of a given width which is remotely attached to at least one of its longitudinal edges. The retainer has magnetic members adapted to attract and hold the adapter strip in place with respect to the retainer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for handling multi-board panels in order to liberate therefrom individual circuit boards which may or may not have been prepopulated with the electrical components. Each panel is supported above a receiving tray on a top shuttle and transported from a load/unload station to a routing station at which tabs or webs which retain the circuit boards in the panel are removed. Removal of the boards is facilitated by X-positioning of the panel and Y-positioning of the router according to a programmable controller. The tray receives liberated boards from the top shuttle which is then cycled back to the load/unload station for unloading scrap, acquiring another tray, and reloading the shuttle with another multi-board panel. During subsequent translation of the loaded top shuttle to the routing station, a bottom shuttle transfers the first tray and liberated circuit boards to the load/unload station for unloading thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus has a base plate having a plurality of penetrating holes, a vertically movable plate slidably mounted on guide posts, and a stripper plate slidably mounted on the guide posts and hung from the movable plate. A plurality of stripper pins are vertically slidably mounted in the stripper plate. Each stripper pin is arranged to be inserted in corresponding one of the penetrating holes of the base plate. A sheet holding plate for mounting a product sheet is provided to be detachably mounted on the base plate. The stripper pins are arranged to push each molded rubber product on the product sheet in the corresponding penetrating hole so as to strip it from the product sheet.

Abstract: A dedicated V-shaped groove forming machine comprises an X-axis slider disposed over a plate material so as be movable in an X-axis (groove forming direction); a Z-axis slider supported by the X-axis slider so as to be movable in a Z-axis direction (vertical direction); and plural cutting tools mounted on the Z-axis slider; and a Y-axis carriage for moving a plate material (workpiece) in a Y-axis direction (perpendicular to the X-axis direction). Further, there are provided work table adjusting device for adjusting the cutting tool movement locus in parallel to the work table and tool height detecting device for determining an origin in the Z-axis direction, etc.

Abstract: A dedicated V-shaped groove forming machine comprises an X-axis slider disposed over a plate material so as be movable in an x-axis (groove forming direction); a Z-axis slider supported by the x-axis slider so as to be movable in a Z-axis direction (vertical direction); and plural cutting tools mounted on the Z-axis slider; and a Y-axis carriage for moving a plate material (workpiece) in a Y-axis direction (perpendicular to the X-axis direction). Further, there are provided work table adjusting device for adjusting the cutting tool movement locus in parallel to the work table and tool height detecting device for determining an origin in the Z-axis direction, etc.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting sheet material such as cloth during operations thereon such as cutting wherein a pattern is placed on a supporting surface provided with a plurality of pins extending through apertures in the surface, the pins are lowered below the surface for removal of the pattern whereupon sheet material is placed on the surface, typically a plurality of plies being layed up in a stack, and simultaneously the pins are moved through the sheet material to maintain alignment and matching of the plies in the stack. The pattern then is placed on the sheet material in a position determined by the location of the pins, and the material is shaped such as by cutting. A plurality of separate pin holding and supporting devices of narrow width are spaced lengthwise along the apparatus and independently movable lengthwise toward and away from each other. Pins of adjacent rows can be closely spaced together thereby achieving a grid pattern wherein the pins are relatively closely spaced.

Abstract: There is provided a sweeper for cleaning the support surface of a machine for cutting sheet material and having a vacuum chamber disposed below said support surface to hold down the sheet material during cutting, and a carriage assembly, supported above said support surface for longitudinal and transverse movement relative to said support surface. The sweeper has a nozzle mounted on said carriage assembly and is adaptable for contacting the support surface, and includes a conduit in fluid communication to a vacuum generator. A filter is disposed in a housing intermediate said nozzle and the vacuum generator, and a valve is provided for by-passing vacuum to the vacuum chamber and opening vacuum to said sweeper for cleaning said support surface.

Abstract: A jig for positioning a press plate is used with a punch press which perforates the press plate to define reference holes or recesses that will be used to position the press plate in a printing press. While pins of the jig are being fitted in respective reference holes or recesses defined in advance in the press plate, reference end surfaces of the jig are held against a reference surface of the punch press to position the press plate in a first direction in which the press plate is inserted into the press plate. Then, other pins of the jig are fitted in a groove of the punch press to position the punch press in a second direction that is normal to the first direction. With the press plate being thus positioned, it is perforated by the punch press. Holes or recesses thus formed in the press plate have a certain positional relation to the reference holes or recesses already defined in the press plate, and will be used as a positioning reference when the press plate is set on the printing plate.

Abstract: In an apparatus for spreading and cutting layups of sheet material pin mechanisms are distributed over the supporting surface of the table and include pins moveable between raised and lowered positions to enable selected portions of the supporting surface to be adapted, or not, to a spreading procedure involving the pinning of each layer as it is spread. The supporting surface is divided into sections and the pin mechanisms of each section are operated in unison by a control element located on the side wall of the table with each control element being aligned with its associated section of the table so as to be quickly and easily operable by an operator without the operator having to give great thought or attention to which pin mechanisms are operated by which switch. The pins passing through a layup being cut by the cutter are automatically lowered upon the cutter approaching the pins to avoid collision between the pins and the cutter.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a used ink ribbon wound in a pancake form, comprising a ribbon holder for setting a position of the ink ribbon, and a plurality of cutting blades extending radially on one surface of a base member movable relative to the ink ribbon. When the base member is driven to the ink ribbon, the cutting blades cut the ink ribbon through a plurality of cutting planes extending radially from the axis of the ink ribbon in a pancake form.

Abstract: A laminate cutting apparatus has a support belt supported on a frame for reciprocating horizontally in the longitudinal direction, independently lowerable support plates juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction and retained on the frame for supporting the bottom of a laminate support portion of the belt, suction ports on opposing side portions of the frame for withdrawing air from the interior of the laminate supported on the support portion with its upper and lower surfaces covered with air-impermeable sheets, a longitudinally reciprocated travelling body supported on the frame, a transversely reciprocated cutter head supported on the travelling body, a cutter on the cutter head for being raised and lowered to cut the laminate, recess forming rollers for forming the support portion of the belt into a transversely extending movable recess open at the top, a lower receiving member secured to the travelling body and arranged in parallel with the rollers within the recess, interconnected closure plates within th

Abstract: A vacuum grip cutting table for laminar material of the type having a conveyor loop comprising a plurality of successive tiles is provided with a vacuum sealing device for the tiles at the collection end of the cutting table.

Abstract: A process for the edge-planing of the longitudinal and frontal edges of workpiece plates. A workpiece plate is advanced to a plate saw and at least one longitudinal edge is planed. The workpiece plate is then rotated and at least one frontal edge is planed by the plate saw. The workpiece plate is then rotated, aligned, and advanced toward the plate saw for sectioning.

Abstract: A stationary steel rule cutting die for cutting a fixed pattern in each of a plurality of stacked compressible material layers according to the shape of the steel rule die and including a vacuum system for reducing the stacked height of the compressible material layers prior to cutting. The die assembly includes an enclosure comprising an upper wall and collapsible side walls extending downwardly from the upper wall. A rigid annular structure is secured to the lower edge of the collapsible side walls. The enclosure is positioned over the stacked compressible material layers with an annular sealing surface defined on the lower peripheral edges of the rigid annular structure coacting with an upwardly facing, closed loop sealing surface defined on the steel rule cutting die to define a sealed chamber from which air is exhausted through the rigid annular structure to collapse the side walls of the enclosure and compress the material layers prior to cutting.

Abstract: A food preparation appliance for cutting generally spherical food items into two portions, with the complimentary cut edges being of a fanciful design. The appliance adjustably supports the food item with respect to a cutting head, such that the cutting head may be moved toward and into the food item to cut it at a desired location. A drive mechanism is provided to rotate the food item in response to the cutting head being moved toward the food item, after being retracted therefrom, such that successive cuts will normally form a continuous cut around the food item to separate the food item into two portions, each of which has a fanciful cut edge.

Abstract: A platen assembly is described for supporting a master board of material to be cut by a fluid jet cutting device. The platen assembly comprises a layer of resiliently compressible material bonded to a lattice-like network of relatively uncuttable structural material. The resiliently compressible material is adapted to be compressed by the contacting topography of the supported master board to act as a cushion, as well as to anchor the master board against movement. The lattice-like network of relatively uncuttable structurable material prevents the compressible material on opposite sides of a cut from migrating towards the cut.

Abstract: A table exchanging device for a wood working machine wherein workpieces of wood can be individually attracted and fixed by a sucking action by vacuum and such sucking action can be maintained also while the slide tables are slidably moved. The device comprises a pair of hollow slide tables having air sucking holes formed in upper walls thereof, a hollow bracket provided in a pneumatically communicating relationship on each slide table, and a hollow tubular shaft provided on each of a pair of left and right beds of the wood working machine and connected to a blower or a vacuum pump. A first hollow arm is supported for horizontal pivotal motion on each hollow bracket and pneumatically communicated with the follow bracket at their mutually connecting location. A second hollow arm is supported for horizontal pivotal motion on each hollow tubular shaft and pneumatically communicated with the hollow tubular shaft at their mutually connection location.

Abstract: A programmable bed is provided for machine tools and the like, such as routers, boring tools, and other powered cutters and shapers. The programmable bed has a platen shaped to support differently sized workpieces thereon, and includes a plurality of retractable stops slidably mounted in the platen. The stops are selectively and individually shifted vertically between extended and retracted positions in response to the identification of a particular workpiece, so as to automatically locate or index the same on the platen at a preselected position relative to the machine tool. A plurality of pop-up suction chucks are also slidably mounted in the platen, and are selectively communicated with a source of vacuum. The suction chucks are reciprocated vertically between a retracted disengaged position, and an extended engaged position abutting an adjacent surface of the workpiece, so as to securely retain the workpiece in its preselected position during the machining operation.

Abstract: A laminate cutting apparatus has a support belt supported on a frame for reciprocating horizontally in the longitudinal direction, independently lowerable support plates juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction and retained on the frame for supporting the bottom of a laminate support portion of the belt, suction ports on opposing side portions of the frame for withdrawing air from the interior of the laminate supported on the support portion with its upper and lower surfaces covered with air-impermeable sheets, a longitudinally reciprocated travelling body supported on the frame, a transversely reciprocated cutter head supported on the travelling body, a cutter on the cutter head for being raised and lowered to cut the laminate, recess forming rollers for forming the support portion of the belt into a transversely extending movable recess open at the top, a lower receiving member secured to the travelling body and arranged in parallel with the rollers within the recess, interconnected closure plates within th

Abstract: A center punching apparatus is disclosed as having an upper die base and a lower die base relatively movable. An upper die is mounted on the upper die base facing downwardly and on the lower die base a rotatable turntable is mounted for rotation about an axis coaxial with the upper die. A movable table on the turntable holds the workpiece of a material to be punched and is movable accurately in X and Y directions by micrometers for independent movement. The workpiece can thus be moved in X and Y directions on the apparatus without relating the movements to any X and Y coordinate system on the workpiece. The workpiece is accurately marked with reference indicia such as a circle, a line or a plurality of points for accurately monitoring the position of the indicia by direct visual viewing of the indicia through a microscope. The workpiece is accurately positioned by rotating the turntable and moving of the movable table along X and Y directions with the material to be punched thereon.

Abstract: Strip retainer and stripper which is used on a stamping and forming machine for stripping or removing the stock material from the pilot pins and punches when the punches and pilot pins move from their closed positions to their open positions, comprises one or more wires in the operating zone of the machine. Each wire extends transversely across, and intersects, the path of reciprocation of the punch assmebly. The wire does not intersect the path of reciprocation of the pilot pins or the punches and is located between the punches and pilot pins and the surface of the stock material. The ends of the wires extend beyond the path or reciprocation of the punch assembly and are secured by fixed securing devices.

Abstract: A programmable bed is provided for machine tools and the like, such as routers, boring tools, and other powered cutters and shapers. The programmable bed has a platen shaped to support differently sized workpieces thereon, and includes a plurality of retractable stops slidably mounted in the platen. The stops are selectively and individually shifted vertically between extended and retracted positions in response to the identification of a particular workpiece, so as to automatically locate or index the same on the platen at a preselected position relative to the machine tool. A plurality of pop-up suction chucks are also slidably mounted in the platen, and are selectively communicated with a source of vacuum. The suction chucks are reciprocated vertically between a retracted disengaged position, and an extended engaged position abutting an adjacent surface of the workpiece, so as to securely retain the workpiece in its preselected position during the machining operation.

Abstract: A stationary steel rule cutting die for cutting a fixed pattern in each of a plurality of stacked compressible material layers according to the shape of the steel rule die and including a vacuum system for reducing the stacked height of the compressible material layers prior to cutting. The die assembly includes an enclosure comprising an upper wall and collapsible side walls extending downwardly from the upper wall. The enclosure is positioned over the stacked compressible material layers with the lower peripheral edges of the side walls of the enclosure coacting with an upwardly facing, closed loop sealing surface defined on the steel rule cutting die to define a sealed chamber from which air is exhausted to collapse the side walls of the enclosure and compress the material layers prior to cutting.

Abstract: A supporting bed for supporting a stack of sheet material in a cutting machine of the type retaining the material by means of a vacuum applied from below the supporting bed is manufactured from a composite structure of starting material including individual layers of reticulated foam material separated by at least one layer of a hot melt adhesive web. The composite structure is compressed under heat and pressure so as to be permanently reduced to approximately 10-35% of its initial thickness. The degree of compression, the temperature and compression time, and the porosity of the retriculated polyurethane foam starting material are selected to provide particular airflow and firmness characteristics for the finished supporting bed.

Abstract: A sheet material cutter is movable between a number of different cutting stations at which it cooperates respectively with a number of stationary spreading tables. Vacuum is transmitted from a single stationary vacuum generator to a number of normally closed junction boxes located one at each of the cutting stations. When the cutter is positioned at a selected cutting station, a vacuum inlet carried by the cutter aligns with the junction box serving that station, and the vacuum inlet is movable between connected and disconnected positions relative to the junction box to supply vacuum from the generator to the cutter.

Abstract: A combined pre-press punch for simultaneously punching a symmetrical configuration for film sheet bearing a fixed relationship with desired plate punch configurations and having a floating back punch symmetrically disposed relative to the symmetrical punching configuration.

Abstract: A supporting bed for supporting a stack of sheet material in a cutting machine of the type retaining the material by means of a vacuum applied from below the supporting bed is manufactured from a sheet of reticulated polyurethane foam material which has been compressed under heat and pressure so as to be permanently reduced to approximately 10-35% of its initial thickness. The degree of compression, the temperature and compression time, and the porosity of the reticulated polyurethane foam starting material are selected to provide particular airflow and firmness characteristics for the finished supporting bed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the starting material is a reticulated grafted polyether foam having a porosity of 30 pores per inch and a sheet thickness of 5 inches. The sheet of material is compressed to a thickness of one inch and retained under pressure for 10 minutes at a temperature of about 400.degree. F.

Abstract: In a copier, automatically providing tabbed sheets in the output of the copy sheets of the copier, with an integral, on-line, copy sheet tab cutting system. Selectably varying the tab cutting position and cut tab size provides sequentially varied tabs. A selected tab may be cut on any selected sheet being fed through the regular copy sheet (paper) path of a xerographic or other copier or printer. This may be done by temporarily stopping and registering the leading edge of the selected sheet, and then shear cutting off the untabbed areas of the trailing edge of the sheet by moving an shear cutting assembly transversely across the direction of movement of the copy sheet path of the copier upstream of the lead edge registration position at slightly less than the sheet width distance, and providing irregular width cutting of the sheet (non-cutting of the tab area).

Abstract: An apparatus and improved method for transversely cutting strips of deformable material with a rotating cutting blade which is moved generally transversely across the strip at a predetermined rake angle and bevel angle. A vacuum applied to certain chambers of a platen draws the strip firmly against a supporting structure at two locations on opposite sides of a cutting line during the cut cycle. A lubricant is sprayed through nozzles onto the blade as it cuts the strip and blow-off nozzles remove excess lubricant during the cut and return cycles of the blade to prevent contamination of the cut strip edges. A release bar assists in disengaging the strip from the platen after the strip is cut. Grippers remove the cut strip and then an input conveyor advances the remaining strip toward the cutting line where the grippers pull the strip forward to a predetermined position for the next cut cycle.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of a stack of knitted fabric panels for subsequent cutting. It consists in spreading the knitted panels under extension over the needles of a needle table, covering the formed stack over with a sheet of material impervious to air, creating a reduced pressure inside the stack by sucking in the air contained between the table and the sheet, retracting the needles from the stack and proceeding to the cutting while keeping up the suction throughout the cutting operation.The needle table comprises a table top perforated with holes, a movable support on which are fixed the needles and a tight box containing the movable support and equipped with suction means.

Abstract: The invention provides work piece support apparatus for supporting resilient sheet material during a machining operation, e.g., routing, in which the support apparatus includes hydrostatic clamping means comprising perforated support pads positioned each side of the resilient material and connected to a fluid supply. By this arrangement a fluid layer under relatively high pressure is interposed between each pad and the adjacent region of sheet material which is thus fluid pressure supported in the immediate vicinity of the routing tool throughout the machining process. The invention beneficially provides a routing machine including the work piece support apparatus in which the work piece is positioned in a generally vertical plane and the routing tool is mounted about a generally horizontal axis.

Abstract: A method for cutting flexible formed shell product from a flexible plastic foam sheet. In the method, a foam shell formed in the sheet is drawn into and positioned in a die unit lower cavity and the die assembly is clamped together. A cutting die unit having dual curved serrated knife elements then descends and severs the formed shell from the sheet at all locations except for two short segments located at opposite ends of the formed shell. Then as a separate step, the partly severed formed shell is punched out from the flexible foam sheet, so as to provide multiple formed products. The products are usually formed as multiple units oriented in an end-to-end relationship in the foam sheet and which are simultaneously severed from the sheet. Cutting die apparatus adapted for cutting the formed products from the foam sheet is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sheet member is transported over a knife anvil by a feed conveyor movable from a first position adjacent the knife anvil to a second position overlapping the knife anvil. The feed conveyor has a moving belt which is driven in a forward direction for transporting the sheet member over the anvil and to a takeaway conveyor. The belt is driven in an opposite direction to pull the cut leading edge of the sheet material away from the end of the feed conveyor after cutting of the sheet material and during movement of the feed conveyor to the overlapping position over the anvil. A rotary knife is moved along the knife anvil and is mounted for rocking of the knife in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the knife to provide a positive shear point.

Abstract: A pair of brackets is arranged side by side on a horizontal work surface so that a front flange of each extends down against a front edge of the work surface, and a rear flange of each projects upward. A large rectangular can to be opened is placed on its side on the brackets, with its bottom in engagement with the rear flanges. Side flanges on the brackets confine opposite sides of the can between them, and the top of the can is disposed at the front of the work surface. A T-handled, oblique bladed spear-like opener is then thrust piercingly longitudinally into the can through the top wall adjacent the rim. Preferably the width of the blade equals the width of the cut which needs to be made, so that four bayonet-like thrusts will neatly sever the lid from the can as a square of metal sheet. The task can be easily performed by one person, because the brackets by themselves hold the can at a convenient location for opening.

Abstract: Method for handling semiconductor chips and the like objects are disclosed which include the use of a flat flexible film that is supported on a flat porous texturized fabric sheet such as a woven or knit fabric having spaced fiber crossovers. Objects, are supported on the flat flexible film in intimate surface contact therewith for securely holding the same in position by interfacial forces therebetween. Adhesive may be included for increasing the interfacial force. To facilitate removal of objects from the film, the fabric is connected to a vacuum source for drawing portions of the flexible film over and between crossovers in the fabric whereby portions of the flexible sheet are withdrawn from the objects. The contact area and interfacial forces between the flexible sheet and objects is thereby reduced to enable removal of the objects from the sheet using conventional object handling techniques.

Abstract: An air-equipped table is disclosed which includes a frame mounted table top of sturdy, planar construction. The table top is formed with a laminate of a thin top hardboard layer, a thin bottom hardboard layer and a relatively thick particle board layer sandwiched therebetween. A plurality of air distribution channels are formed in the particle board layer prior to lamination to provide an integral air distribution system beneath the table top surface. A plurality of equally spaced orifices are drilled through the thin top layer to communicate with the air distribution channels in a manner to provide a uniform air cushion over the table surface. An air moving unit is interconnected with the air distribution channels and is designed to provide either air pressure or suction forces at the plurality of orifices.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing registration holes in a sheet-like workpiece that is provided with registration marks.

Abstract: A steel rule die assembly for cutting a fixed pattern in each of a plurality of stacked compressible material layers according to the shape of the steel rule including a plate member defining a support surface, a steel rule die adapted to be positioned on the support surface, and a continuous rigid frame adapted to be removably positioned on the support surface in surrounding relation to the steel rule die and pivotally secured to the plate member along one side edge of the frame so as to allow the frame to be pivoted upwardly about that side edge to allow removable and replacement of the steel rule die.

Abstract: A bed for supporting sheet material to be cut or otherwise worked on is made of a densely packed array of relatively short, stiff bristles with pointed upper ends which penetrate the sheet material to inhibit it from moving laterally relative to the bed. Vacuum may be used in the space containing the bristles to aid in holding the sheet material to the bed and to normalize the holding effect of the bristles with respect to different sheet materials. Pressurized air may also be used in the bristle space to aid in removing cut sheet material from the bed and the bristles are shaped to facilitate such removal. Various different cutters are useable with the bed to provide a complete sheet material cutting machine.

Abstract: A stationary steel rule cutting die for cutting a fixed pattern in each of a plurality of stacked compressible material layers according to the shape of the rule die, including a vacuum system for vertically reducing the stack height of the compressible material layers without lateral distortion prior to cutting and retaining the compress condition during the progressive or incremental cutting operations.

Abstract: A supporting bed for supporting a stack of sheet material in a cutting machine of the type retaining the material by means of a vacuum applied from below the supporting bed is manufactured from a sheet of reticulated polyurethane foam material which has been compressed under heat and pressure so as to be permanently reduced to approximtely 10-35% of its initial thickness. The degree of compression, the temperature and compression time, and the porosity of the reticulated polyurethane foam starting material are selected to provide particular airflow and firmness characteristics for the finished supporting bed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the starting material is a reticulated grafted polyether foam having a porosity of 30 pores per inch and a sheet thickness of 5 inches. The sheet of material is compressed to a thickness of one inch and retained under pressure for 10 minutes at a temperature of about 400.degree. F.

Abstract: An air distribution system for air tables of the type in which modular table sections each have a plurality of holes in the surface thereof leading to or from a plenum underneath. A plurality of manifolds each receives a supply of air from a central blower from which the air is delivered through separate air feed lines to the plenums of a corresponding set or group of sections. The air from the blower to each manifold is selectively controlled by an on-off valve so that a selected set of modular sections may obtain its air supply separately from the other sets.

Abstract: A roller hold down device for removable work table which has a pair of rollers which extend transversely across the workpiece mounted on the movable table so as to hold it down and with a pair of cam roller members mounted on either side of the movable table and formed with cam portions so as to engage the rollers at the end of travel so as to force the rollers up away from the workpiece and also so as to prevent the rollers from falling off of the end of the workpiece. The rollers are controlled by hydraulic cylinders which can be actuated to automatically move them to the down position and also to move them to the up position.

Abstract: A roller hold down device for removable work table which has a pair of rollers which extend transversely across the workpiece mounted on the movable table so as to hold it down and with a pair of cam roller members mounted on either side of the movable table and formed with cam portions so as to engage the rollers at the end of travel so as to force the rollers up away from the workpiece and also so as to prevent the rollers from falling off of the end of the workpiece. The rollers are controlled by hydraulic cylinders which can be actuated to automatically move them to the down position and also to move them to the up position.