Abstract: An expert system containing a built-in application knowledge is used with a controllable cutting system to automatically seek an optimal feed rate during cutting in response to various of a number of possible changing system cutting parameters wherein a programmable controller defines and specifies a preset configuration file defining the specific cutting system control parameters for directing the operation of the cutting system in accordance with a contour defining a path be followed by a cutter carried by the cutting system and which cutter is moved in an X, Y and C coordinate space across the cutting surface of the cutting system. The X, Y and C axes motors are driven with a commanded current to move the cutter with a velocity defined in the configuration file.

Abstract: A method of moving a cutter blade along a contour defined by a plurality of segments each connected end to end with one another and having at least one angle disposed between consecutively ordered segments calculates a distance from a corner point along one and another line segments and fits an arc to be followed by the blade between the line segments for eliminating repeated high force short time system inputs and replacing them with lower force longer duration inputs to affect the reduction and mechanical wear and the reduction of shocks to the system. The method further includes a process by which individual velocity profiles are determined for each contour in order to run the system at maximum velocity at all times during the course of a cutting operation.

Abstract: A scheme for controlling the vacuum holddown in a cutter table of the type having a conveyorized support surface comprised of a plurality of bristle members which create a permeable bed through which a vacuum is communicated employs separate zone regions on the vacuum bed which are controllably energized and de-energized in response to command signals generated by a controller in response to cutter head movement which anticipates the position of the knife prior to its arrival at a given zone in order that material set up in reaction time in the valve system is allotting for.

Abstract: A device for cleaning a bristle bed of a conveyor type trained between the rotatable end units employs a carriage which is moveable relative to the conveyor member transversely of its advancement direction and includes a cleaner head which is engagable with individual slats indexed to a cleaning location in line with the head to accomplish cleaning by moving the head laterally of each slat to effect removal of debris contained within the bed.

Abstract: A jointed barrier seal is provided as part of the conveyor apparatus and is connected to support members such that the end faces of the members can be readily assembled with end seals without the need of adhesive or other materials otherwise used to affix the barrier strip to the involved support member.

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: A pattern development system for use during the garment development process includes a digitizer with a work surface. The designer draws the lines of the garment pattern on the work surface with a stylus that enables the digitizer to present position signals to a controller in real time. The controller includes algorithms to compose the drawn lines into a garment pattern as well as compensate for human errors such as multiply drawn lines and missing line portions. The present system is transparent to the designer in operation as it adapts to the human designer rather than forcing the designer to adapt to the system.

Abstract: A garment cutting system adapted for use with fabrics having a stripe or plaid design is characterized by computer assisted design matching that allows for either manual or automatic matching both between a garment marker to the fabric layup and between sequenced garment segment patterns. The present system employs data reduction techniques to reduce processing time and includes apparatus for optimizing image stability, focus and illumination.

Abstract: The invention resides in winder for automatically winding sections of sheet material to form separate tubes. The winder comprises a base, a supply of sheet material and a material drive means on the base for advancing sheet material from the supply towards a station on the base located remotely thereof. A winding means is located at the station for winding a section of the sheet material about itself and about a rotational axis such that the involved section of sheet material is substantially wound in a tubular condition. A cutting means is provided and is located between the drive means and the second rotational axis for cutting the sheet material transversely of its length at points therealong corresponding to the end one section and the beginning of the next successive section to be advanced to the station.

Abstract: An automated cutter bed employs a sealer which is mechanically coupled to a tool carriage and moves with it along a first coordinate direction. A first roller is connected with a second roller disposed at the take-off end of the table by an air impermeable sheet which is tensioned between the two rollers by a resilient member housed within each of the rollers causing a preload to be exerted on the air impermeable sheet material. The first roller moves between ends of the table paying out a length of the air impermeable material. As the carriage moves to the cutter datum, equalization is effected by the preloads given in each of the first and second rollers.

Abstract: A supply of labels for use by a labelling apparatus which applies labels to the top surface of work material to identify the parts out therefrom includes a plurality of labels each associated with a respective one of the parts. Each label carries a display for identifying the associated cut part, and carried by or otherwise associated in the supply with each label is a machine sensible code identifying the position on the work material at which the label is to be applied. The position codes associated with each label may therefore be machine read and its information used to automatically move the label to its intended position on the work material.

Abstract: A carriage for carrying a labeller, bundler or similar tool for working on sheet material spread on a supporting table is moveable vertically and transversely relative to such table by an associated lifting and transport cart allowing the carriage to be lifted from one table and transported to another table at which it is lowered onto the new table to bring it into working relationship therewith. The carriage may be engaged by the cart from the side or end of the table. Accordingly, the carriage may be moved from one table to another even in cases where the carriage can not be easily moved onto or off of the end of a table because of such table end being inaccessible. Means hold the carriage against vertical and lateral movement relative to the table while the carriage is in working relationship therewith, and these means are moveable to disengaged positions to free the carriage for vertical movement relative to the table when removing the carriage from or placing it onto the table.

Abstract: A top ply labeler includes a presser foot and applicator pad which are arranged for relative movement to one another travel along a rectilinear path as the ram of an applicator cylinder is extended and retracted toward and away from the top surface of a lay-up of sheet material whereby a label carrying identification information are applied at predetermined positions. The applicator cylinder is mounted to the applicator backplate for relative vertical movement toward and away from the top ply surface to maintain the labeller at a desired elevation above the top ply. A vane carried by the pressure foot is detected by a sensor carried on the applicator pad when the pressure foot contacts the surface of a top ply. As the applicator pad continues its downward movement, the pressure foot and vane move relative to the applicator pad until such time as the vane is detected by the applicator pad sensor to apply to the label and stop the downward movement.

Abstract: A production system for garments or other products includes a plurality of work stations for performing a series of work operations in which parts of a garment or other product are progressively manufactured. A conveyorized transport system extends between the various work stations and the flow of work between the various stations is regulated by assigning class codes to each operation required for a garment and each operation available at the various work stations. The class codes for a given garment order are read sequentially from a data memory and as a requirement for each code or work operation arises in the course of producing the garment, the scheduler searches a second data memory to locate the work stations which offer the work operations corresponding to the class code sought. The scheduler then determines from among the available work stations the specific work station to which the garment pieces are sent for performing the required work operation.

Abstract: A cutter for cutting closed shape pieces into sheet material has a bristle bed conveyorized member advancing the sheet material from a receiving end to a discharge end past a cutting tool performing a cutting operation on the material. Disposed at the discharge end is a take-off ramp responsible for separating the sheet material in a single ply or a layup form from the underlying conveyor member at the juncture where the slats making up the bed depart from the upper run of the conveyor defining the support surface.

Abstract: In a machine and method for automatically cutting a length of sheet work material segment-by-segment to separate two dimensionally shaped pieces from it, registration between lines cut in adjacent segments is enhanced by the use of X and Y coordinate sensors carried by the X beam of the machine and having X and Y wheels respectively rotatably engaging the top surface of the work material to detect displacement changes between the X beam and the work material in the X and Y coordinate directions which detections are used to slave the advancement of the X beam to the advancement of the work material and to provide X and Y coordinate offset adjustments to the X and Y sets of control signals used to drive the cutter head in the X and Y coordinate directions during the cutting of the next segment of the work material.

Abstract: In the bite-by-bite cutting of a length of sheet material split points for pattern pieces extending between adjacent bites are assigned to bite overlap regions containing sheet material capable of being cut at the cutting station either before or after a given advancement. A method is further given for optimally locating the split points within the bite overlap regions so as to best avoid problems caused by slit notches, V-notches, sharp corners or other discontinuities located close to the split points.

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 method and apparatus for cutting either a single sheet or a lay-up of sheets of material to derive pattern pieces or the like from the material, the material is cut segment-by-segment by bringing a fresh segment to a cutting station after a preceding segment has been entirely cut. Discontinuities, which may translate into points of non-clean cutting, which might otherwise occur in cut lines as they pass to one segment to another, because of accidental shifting or mispositioning of the material during advancement, are avoided or reduced by acquiring the start and finish X and Y coordinates of an index point on the material and then using such coordinates with the cutting instructions used in the cutting of the subsequent segment, the use of the coordinates being such that accidental shifting or mispositioning of the material is taken into account and compensated for in the cutting of the second segment.

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.