Abstract: A cutter having a reciprocating knife for cutting sheet material has a drive mechanism for converting the rotary motion of a drive member into the reciprocating motion of the knife. The drive mechanism is comprised of a mechanical linkage which causes the forces applied to the upper end of the knife to be directed substantially along the axis of reciprocation and to, therefore, have very small lateral components minimizing wear between the knife guiding surfaces. The drive mechanism basically includes an eccentric drive pin which through a connecting link oscillates a pivotal crossarm. The oscillating movement of the crossarm is in turn imparted to the knife by means of an intermediate link connected between the crossarm and knife.

Abstract: A lay table is placed adjacent to a cutting table with the tables in end-to-end relationship so that layups of limp sheet material may be prepared on the lay table and then be moved onto the cutting table for a cutting operation. A sled formed by a low friction, non-stretching, sheet material is first placed on the lay table and the layup is then formed on top of the sled. Motor-driven cabling extends between the cutting table and the lay table and when a layup is to be moved, the sled is coupled to the cabling and pulled by the cabling with a layup thereon onto the cutting table. The layup on the cutting table is then clamped in position, and the cabling pulls the sled out from between the layup and the cutting table.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for cutting pattern pieces from layups having a low stack height employs a cutting head having a small reciprocating blade suspended from a carriage which moves over the layup. The drive motors for reciprocating the blade and orienting the blade in a particular cutting direction about a .theta.-axis remain in a stationary position on the cutting head as the blade is oriented and elevated in and out of cutting contact with the layup. A blade sharpener is suspended from the head with the cutting blade and is energized by spinning the blade about the .theta.-axis. Drilling is also accomplished by spinning the blade.

Abstract: An automatically controlled cutting machine has a label applicator mounted with the cutting tool for movement above the support surface of a table on which multi-ply layups of sheet material are positioned for cutting. Stacks of pattern pieces cut from the layup by the tool are marked with information labels dispensed from the applicator. Information borne by the labels is preprinted on the labels or is generated by a printer which cooperates with the dispensing mechanism of the applicator.

Abstract: An automatically controlled cutting machine having a support table on which limp sheet material is spread for cutting by means of a cutting tool is provided with a marking apparatus to identify key points on pattern pieces cut from the sheet material. The cutting tool and the marking apparatus are mounted on a tool platform for movement to any desired location over the sheet material. The marking apparatus utilizes a needle which is suspended above the sheet material and a dye thread which is laced through an eyelet in the depending end of the needle. Each time a mark is to be generated, the needle plunges downwardly through the sheet material, and dye on the thread is rubbed onto the material at the point under consideration. An indexing mechanism operated with the reciprocating movement of the needle pulls a finite length of thread through the eyelet after each marking operation.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for cutting pattern pieces from layups having a low stack height employs a cutting head having a small reciprocating blade suspended from a carriage which moves over the layup. The drive motors for reciprocating the blade and orienting the blade in a particular cutting direction about a .theta.-axis remain in a stationary position on the cutting head as the blade is oriented and elevated in and out of cutting contact with the layup. A blade sharpener is suspended from the head with the cutting blade and is energized by spinning the blade about the .theta.-axis. Drilling is also accomplished by spinning the blade.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus employs a cutting wheel which is rotated about an axis perpendicular to a support surface on which sheet material is positioned for cutting. A stripping plate is mounted in closely spaced relationship with the cutting wheel so that shredded material generated by the wheel during a cutting operation is sheared off. The cutting wheel in a cutting operation is advanced relative to the sheet material so that the leading cutting edges of the wheel, rather than the trailing edges, move along the desired line of cut. The material being cut is positioned on a bed that can be penetrated by the wheel and the depth of penetration of the wheel into the bed is regulated to remain substantially constant as the tool moves along the line of cut.

Abstract: A cutting machine having a reciprocating cutting blade is provided with a penetrable support bed for holding limp sheet material during a cutting operation. The support bed is formed from a plurality of flexible bristles held in a closely packed array. The base ends of the bristles are mounted in a binder and the free ends of the bristles have flattened heads which lie in a common plane defining the support surface on which the sheet material is spread. The flattened heads are developed by heating the free ends of the bristles in the array until they are softened and then forming the heads on the free ends. The bristles are preferably made of a thermoplastic material.