Abstract: An apparatus for supporting rolls of work material for a printer includes first and second mandrel support plates each having a pair of mandrel supports spaced equidistant one from the other, along a length thereof. The first and second mandrel support plates are coupled to the printer for supporting opposing ends of a feeder roll mandrel and a take-up roll mandrel for the rolls of work material. One or both of the first and second mandrel support plates including adjustment means for adjusting the relative positions of the first and second mandrel support plates for alignment of the feeder and take-up roll mandrels one with the other.

Abstract: In an apparatus for cutting pattern pieces and creating apertures in sheet-type work material a frame has a support surface mounted thereon for carrying at least one layer of the work material. A carriage is coupled to the frame for movement back-and-forth there along a first coordinate direction in response to commands issued from a controller. A cutting head is mounted to the carriage and moves in a second coordinate direction along the carriage approximately perpendicular to the first coordinate direction. A rotary die is coupled to the cutting head and at least one cutting tool is mounted to the rotary die. The cutting tool includes a shaped cutting portion corresponding to the shape of an aperture to be formed in the work material. During operation the rotary die is movable between a working position wherein the cutting tool engages the work material and a non-working position wherein the rotary die is positioned away from the work material.

Abstract: A vacuum hold down table includes a surface sheet having perforations arranged so as to reduce surface cracking when the surface sheet is subject to forces during use of the table; the perforations may also be arranged to that a greater hold down force is produced in that portion of the table where the workpiece will be located, this may be accompanied by varying the hole diameter and/or hole spacing.

Abstract: A method for symmetrically aligning a pattern piece relative to a work material defining a pattern with varying repeat dimensions. The method including selectively capturing first and second images of areal portions of the work material corresponding to respective first and second reference points on said pattern piece, displaying the first and second images adjacent one another, and moving the pattern displayed in one of the first and second images an adjustment distance, such that the pattern defined by the work material is substantially aligned with respect to first and second images. The position of the pattern piece is then moved relative to the work material proportional to the adjustment distance so that the first and second reference points are symmetrically aligned with respect to the repeating pattern. The images can also be rotated about an axis substantially perpendicular to or parallel with the plane of the work material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for acquiring image data of a plurality of portions of a sheet material calibrating the acquired image data of each portion to address any pincushioning distortions, aligning the calibrated images to form a composite and displaying the composite image to an operator. The system employs a camera that is translated with a cutting assembly and a program for calibrating acquired image data to provide for tiling of captured images.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting rolls of work material for a printer includes first and second mandrel support plates each having a pair of mandrel supports spaced equidistant one from the other, along a length thereof. The first and second mandrel support plates are coupled to the printer for supporting opposing ends of a feeder roll mandrel and a take-up roll mandrel for the rolls of work material. One or both of the first and second mandrel support plates including adjustment means for adjusting the relative positions of the first and second mandrel support plates for alignment of the feeder and take-up roll mandrels one with the other.

Abstract: In a method for compensating for pattern distortion of sheet-type work material spread onto a support surface a processing apparatus is provided and carries said support surface. The work material is spread onto the support surface and images of selected areal portions of the work material are captured. A controller analyzes these images and projects them onto a display whereupon the images are mapped to define any distortion in the work material. The controller then undistorts the images of these areal portions and projects them back onto the display so that an operator can position undistorted digital representations of pattern pieces onto the undistorted images of the work material. The controller then distorts the geometry of the pattern pieces positioned on the work material by the operator to conform to the distortion in the spread material.

Abstract: In a method for scanning and cutting sheet-type work material carried on a support surface, the work material is automatically scanned to determine a periphery thereof and to allow for the detection of any flaws within the periphery of the work material. The layout of a marker is then established on the work material and a nesting process for pattern pieces is begun. A first pattern piece is nested onto the work material and a subsequent pattern piece is also nested onto the work material while the first pattern piece is simultaneously cut therefrom. These steps are repeated until all of the pattern pieces are cut from the work material.

Abstract: A sheet material cutting apparatus includes a cutting head and a knife frame rotatably coupled to the cutting head. A blade defining a cutting edge is coupled for reciprocation to the knife frame, as is a primary sharpener for sharpening substantially the entire cutting edge of the blade after it becomes dull from operation. A presser foot having a secondary sharpener mounted thereon, is also coupled to the knife frame for movement between a raised non-working and a lowered working position. The secondary sharpener includes a sharpening member engageable with the cutting edge of the blade via the action of an actuator, for sharpening a portion of the blade's cutting edge between primary sharpening operations.

Abstract: In a resonating assembly, a beam having a pickup thereon is positioned proximate to a magnet which passes across the pick up at a predetermined frequency. The passage of the magnet across the pick up establishes an alternating magnetic field that in turn causes the beam and pick up to vibrate. A blade is mounted on the beam and vibrates therewith so that when the blade is brought into engagement with a layer of sheet type work material the vibratory amplitude of the blade causes the blade to cut through the material as it is moved in engagement therewith.

Abstract: In an apparatus for cutting pattern pieces and creating apertures in sheet-type work material a frame has a support surface mounted thereon for carrying at least one layer of the work material. A carriage is coupled to the frame for movement back-and-forth there along a first coordinate direction in response to commands issued from a controller. A cutting head is mounted to the carriage and moves in a second coordinate direction along the carriage approximately perpendicular to the first coordinate direction. A rotary die is coupled to the cutting head and at least one cutting tool is mounted to the rotary die. The cutting tool includes a shaped cutting portion corresponding to the shape of an aperture to be formed in the work material. During operation the rotary die is movable between a working position wherein the cutting tool engages the work material and a non-working position wherein the rotary die is positioned away from the work material.

Abstract: A bristle cleaner station for a conveyorized sheet material cutting machine includes a plurality of air jets that direct pressurized air between downwardly extending bristles of a bristle bed to dislodge debris; and a vacuum chamber adjacent to the bristles to draw away the dislodged debris. The preferred embodiment uses air needles that extend into downward extending bristles to riffle or bend the bristles, making an enlarged space between them. The air needles direct pressurized air into the enlarged space to dislodge debris, and an upwardly open vacuum channel adjacent to the air needles and bristles collects the dislodged debris. A method to clean bristle beds is also disclosed whereby pressurized air is directed between the bristles and vacuum draws away dislodged debris.

Abstract: A wheel cutter for cutting a compressible material having a relaxed thickness greater than a radius of the wheel cutter is disclosed, wherein a compressor guide locally compresses the batting to a thickness less than a radius of the wheel cutter. In one configuration, the compressor guide includes a compressor wheel eccentrically mounted with respect to the wheel cutter.

Abstract: A labeling head includes a printing unit and an applicator foot assembly for printing and applying labels onto a layup of material. The printing unit is integral to the labeling head and prints each label prior to applying the label to the layup. The applicator foot assembly transfers the printed label onto the layup. The labeling head of the present invention can be used either with a cutter, a spreader or as a standalone unit. The labeling head of the present invention prints and prepares labels while the cutter head cuts the part. Once the part is cut, the labeling head applies the prepared label onto the cut part. The labeling head also includes a layup height sensor allowing the labels to be applied to layup having varying heights.

Abstract: In an apparatus for notifying machine operators of the necessity for preventive maintenance, predetermined difficulty factors corresponding to the severity of particular machine operating conditions are stored in the memory of a controller. Maximum acceptable values are also stored in the controller's memory. Sensors, detect any one of a number of different machine operating parameters and the duration for which the machine functions under a particular operating condition. These parameters are quantified with respect to one of the difficulty factors most closely related to the operating condition. The quantified parameters are accumulated and compared with the appropriate maximum value. When the accumulated quantified parameters reach the maximum value, an operator is alerted to the fact that maintenance is needed.

Abstract: In a method for aligning a spatial array of pattern pieces comprising a marker, a work material processing apparatus defining a support surface adapted to carry work material is provided and at least one layer of work is spread thereon. Images of said work material at a reference point and match point are captured and superimposed over one another these superimposed images being projected onto a display. One of said images of said work material at said reference point in said image of said work material at said match point is moved relative to the other to substantially align the images. The position of a matching pattern piece contained within the marker is then moved in accordance with the amount of relative movement to align the pattern of the sheet material within a boundary defined by the matching pattern piece with that defined by the reference pattern piece.

Abstract: In a printer having a continuously moving web, a method is disclosed for accelerating the moving web in the areas where printing is not to occur such that the throughput of the print can be increased without sacrificing print quality.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting and matching parts in a layup of material that includes a cutter tool for cutting the parts and a camera for detecting and analyzing match points located on the individual parts that need to be matched to other parts. The apparatus also includes a computer having instructions for optimizing a process for matching various parts in the layup resulting in an increase of effective usable area of the cutter table and in increased efficiency in use of material in the layup. The computer includes instructions to direct the camera to process match points that are disposed within a tool offset, defined as a distance between the cutter head and the camera, prior to advancing the layup to a takeoff end of the cutter table.

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 method and apparatus for cutting patterned sheet material to provide a predetermined relationship between a pattern characteristic and the part to be cut. An estimated position of a pattern characteristic is projected onto the sheet material and a distance between the estimated position and an actual position of the pattern characteristic is identified. A transforming program calculates a position for other pattern characteristic positions and cutting instructions are then created and executed.