Abstract: Pilot device for a suspended cutting knife of a cutting head of an automatically controlled cutting machine. The cutting head is moved along the X and Y axes and pivots about the Z-axis. The cutting knife is reciprocally movable along the Z-axis. The cutting head includes a device for guiding the unsuspended part of the cutting knife and a pressure foot rigidly connected to the pivotal cutting head. The suspended end of the knife is mounted in the cutting head so as to be freely rotatable around the Z-axis. The guiding device is adjacent to the free end of the knife and comprises a socket rigidly connected to the cutting head having a support which is freely rotatably mounted in the socket around a vertical axis located in front and adjacent to the cutting edge and parallel, at a predetermined distance, to the Z-axis. The support has a slot surrounding the flanks of the knife.

Abstract: Pilot device for a suspended cutting knife of a cutting head of an automatically controlled cutting machine for cutting fabric sheet material spread out on a cutting table in multiple layers. The cutting head is controlled by moving the cutting head along the X- and Y-axes and pivoting about a Z-axis for moving the knife tangently along a predetermined cutting path. The cutting knife is reciprocally movable along the Z-axis. The cutting head includes a device for guiding the unsuspended part of the cutting knife and a pressure foot rigidly connected to the pivotal cutting head. The suspended end of the knife is mounted in the cutting head so as to be freely rotatable around the Z-axis.

Abstract: An automatically controlled cutting machine for cutting multiple layers of fabric sheet material spread out on a cutting table, the cutting machine including a cutting tool which is rotatable about a Z-axis and which includes a cutting knife mounted on a cutting head and a guiding device for guiding the the cutting knife. One end of the knife is mounted in the cutting head so as to be freely rotatable around the Z-axis, and the guiding device is arranged adjacent to the remaining free end of the knife and comprises a socket rigidly connected to the cutting head, and a support which is freely and rotatably mounted in the socket around a vertical axis located in front and adjacent to the cutting edge of the knife, and parallel and spaced a predetermined distance from the Z-axis. The support has a slot surrounding the flanks of the knife.

Abstract: An automatically controlled cutting machine for cutting multiple layers of fabric sheet material spread out on a cutting table, the cutting machine including a cutting tool which is rotatable about a Z-axis and which includes a cutting knife mounted on a cutting head and a guiding device for guiding the cutting knife. One end of the knife is mounted in the cutting head so as to be freely rotatable around the Z-axis. The guiding device is arranged adjacent to the remaining free end of the knife and comprises a socket rigidly connected to the cutting head, and a support which is freely and rotatably mounted in the socket around a vertical axis located in front and adjacent to the cutting edge of the knife, and parallel and spaced a predetermined distance from the Z-axis. The support has a slot surrounding the flanks of the knife.

Abstract: An assembly for the controlled programmed handling of articles includes autoguided and robotized vehicles and a plurality of work stations and storage areas. There is a computer communication system between a host computer, the vehicles, and the work and storage areas. The vehicles have manipulator devices to move articles from the vehicle to the work stations and storage areas and vice versa. The work stations include a receiving area, a work area, and an output area with detector devices for detecting articles in each area and for communicating same to the computer. Each vehicle has a non-traction wheel and an encoder device communicating with the non-traction wheel for converting rotation of the non-traction wheel into distance travelled by the vehicle.

Abstract: This invention consists of an assembly and apparatus for handling clothes on hangers, and more exactly of an apparatus able of moving clothes or the like from one place to another inside a factory or a warehouse, following instructions that could be provided by an external computer. The apparatus includes basically an autoguided vehicle, a manipulator of two degrees of freedom and a clamp, movable in four degrees of freedom, being all the aforementioned elements specifically designed for controlled handling clothes on hangers. When applied in a factory, a set of apparatus like this one of the invention, communicated with the proper computer, could automate the operations and the internal management of the warehouse or workshop (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A direct drive working tool drive system is provided for a drawing machine. Electromagnetic means move the working tool downward toward the working surface of the drawing machine. Resilient means move the working tool upward from the working surface. First and second stroke limit means limit the upward and downward movement of the working tool. The electromagnetic means, resilient means, and first and second stroke limit means are disposed coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the working tool. Suitably, the electromagnetic means comprise a magnetic core having the working tool fixed within it, with the magnetic core being disposed within a solenoid coil. The magnetic core and solenoid coil are disposed coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the working tool.

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 peg is provided for use in overhead conveyors for carrying trousers between work stations in an industrial pressing process. The body of the peg comprises an elongated rigid base having preferably two inverted V-shaped plates and twp strips secured thereto. An elongated rectangular prism, having two contact surfaces, is located within the legs of the inverted V-shaped plates and is secured by means of handles passing through each of the strips. A respective contact surface of the rectangular prism can be tilted from one of the legs of the inverted V-shaped plates to the other. A cylindrical rod is attached at one end to the rigid base by means that enable the rod and the peg body to rotate independently against each other. The other end of the rod is in the form of a hook which is connected to the overhead conveyor.

Abstract: A matching method and apparatus for the automatic cutting of patterned fabrics by an integrated marking and cutting system first defines matching points in each of the patterns of panels to be cut and digitizes these points so that the coordinates and respective identification codes for each of the points are recorded in a memory. Matching relationships are then defined for the matching points which unequivocally fix the position which the design must be in at each of the matching points and digitizes and records these relationships in the memory. Separation margins between the panels in their distribution are then established either automatically or interactively on the basis of the previously defined matching relationships and a vision sensor is then automatically positioned over the spread patterned fabric which is to be cut in the positions of the matching points which have been defined for each one of the panels which have been distributed for cutting.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively drawing patterns on paper sheet or scoring patterns on plastic sheet which includes a table support, a sheet feeding assembly at one end of the table support and a sheet collecting assembly at the other end of the table support. A movable tool support carries a drawing instrument and a scoring instrument above the table support and an automatic data controlled system is connected thereto for moving the tool support in any direction to draw on or score the sheet material supported on the table support. The sheet material is advanced by grippers mounted on the movable tool support and spinners are supported on the sheet material at either end of the table support for operating a motor attached to the sheet collecting assembly and a brake attached to the sheet feeding assembly.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sharpening a cutting blade of a numerically controlled cutting apparatus which includes a conveyor for supporting material to be cut and a cutting head assembly mounted on a carriage disposed above a cutting surface of the conveyor. The cutting head assembly includes a cutting blade, a mechanism for rotating the cutting blade about an axis perpendicular to the cutting surface, a mechanism for raising and lowering the cutting blade and a pair of grinding wheels for sharpening the cutting blade. The rotating mechanism rotates the cutting blade from a first angular position at which cutting is performed to a second angular position at which the pair of grinding wheels sharpen the cutting blade.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting parts out of a sheet of material including a cutting table, an endless gas permeable conveyor movable in a feed direction along the cutting table for supporting the sheet material thereon, a suction box for applying a vacuum to the conveyor and holding the material firmly against the conveyor during a feeding step and a cutting step, a plasma arc cutter for cutting parts from the material supported on the conveyor and a carriage for supporting the plasma arc cutter and moving it along pattern coordinates of the parts. A brake is mounted on the carriage for selectively engaging the conveyor with the carriage to thereby selectively advance the conveyor along the feed direction. A controller stores pattern coordinates of the parts and controls movement of the carriage and actuation of the brake.

Abstract: A machine for continuously laterally perforating very wide paper and having an electronic control for smoothly starting and stopping the paper, a length of perforated paper detection device and combined control warning device for detecting the end of the roll of paper, wherein the machine is arranged in a compact structure having two simultaneously mechanized lateral holders which support all of the various mechanisms so as to thereby ensure the perfect positioning thereof. The actuation of the perforator heads of the machine is effected by the paper itself through a precision mechanized antiskid roller and the tension of the paper is controlled by swinging rollers whose movement is detected by a sensor and electronically processed while simultaneously taking into consideration the speed of the paper so as to control the unwinding of the feed roll of paper utilizing an electromagnet brake.