Abstract: Pieces (21) are cut out from a lay-up (20) built up from plies of superposed flexible sheets of material, and the lay-up is then packaged in full inside a covering (70) without separating the cutout pieces from the scrap. The lay-up can thus be transferred from a cutting installation to a workshop for assembling the pieces, and information relating to the layout or layouts of the cutout pieces can be transmitted therewith.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for reducing the working area for cutting on a cutting machine for cutting a stack (1) of sheet material, the machine being provided with an automatic moving cutting tool (4) and with suction apparatus for holding the stack covered in air-impervious film (5) down on a cutting table (3) having a conveyorized support surface 3a. The apparatus comprises the air-impervious film (5) for covering the stack (1), an air-impervious movable mask loop (6) designed to cover a portion of the table (3), and a low friction block (65) for positioning the mask (6) over the portion of the table. The mask (6) covers the portion of the table and holds down the film (5) and the mask (6) when suction is applied beneath the table. The mask (6) is able to move across the portion of the table when a conveyor (62) transfers the stack (1) by use of the conveyorized support surface 3a.

Abstract: Each path (P.sub.1 -P.sub.10) is travelled by moving a tool in two directions in a determined working zone (20) through which the material (22) is advanced intermittently under the action of a control circuit that is separate from the control circuit of the tool, without the work of the tool being totally interrupted while the material is advancing. Each time the material advances, it does so over a distance that is less than the length of the working zone, as measured in the advance direction of the material, and while the material is advancing, the tool is caused to travel along at least a portion of one or more paths (P.sub.6 -P.sub.8) over a portion of the material that is already within the working zone prior to the advance, and that is not removed from the working zone during the advance.

Abstract: The invention relates to an installation for automatically cutting sheet material, the installation comprising at least one cutting device and at least one device for stacking sheets for cutting. The cutting device comprises a bench, and a cutting head mounted on displacement means. From its feed end to its unloading end, the bench has a cutting zone beneath which a suction cutting conveyor is mounted together with an unloading conveyor. Turbine means for creating suction are disposed beneath the unloading conveyor, and the cutting head is mounted on the face of the displacement means that face toward the feed end of the bench.

Abstract: A computer system of the invention for grading includes means for automatically generating grading rules from a measurement scale. Advantageously, the system includes a database including one or more scales (50) of standard measurements for target populations for which clothes are to be made, and tools for enriching such a database with new measurement scales. The database also includes relations between the measurement scales and the knowledge relating to a specific garment that constitutes the taxonomy for that garment.

Abstract: Ultrasound pulses are emitted by two emitters (12, 14) carried by an instrument (10) and substantially aligned with the tip of the instrument. Several receivers (62a, . . . , 62e) occupy determined positions with respect to the support (50) on which a trace is made with the tip of the instrument so that ultrasound pulses emitted from any point on the surface of the support are received by more than two receivers. The times of propagation of the ultrasound pulses between each of the emitters and receivers are measured in order to evaluate the coordinates of the vector defined by the positions of the two emitters and to deduce therefrom the position of the tip of the instrument on the support, and at least one of the two instrument orientation cues consisting of the inclination of the longitudinal direction of the instrument with respect to the support and the angular position of the instrument about an axis making a predetermined angle with respect to the support.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical connection device with automatic positioning. The device comprises a first moving carriage (44) displaceable in a connection direction (C); a second carriage (48) mounted on the first carriage and movable relative thereto in a direction orthogonal to the connection direction (C); an indexer element (64) secured to the second carriage extending along the connection direction, the first connection element (34) being secured to the second carriage; and a stationary assembly forming a cam (72) for the indexer element, the second connection element being secured to the cam-forming assembly.

Abstract: The invention uses a carriage that is longitudinally displaceable with respect to a cutting table, and a light transporting band whose width is at least equal to that of the sheets. The carriage is comprised of two separable movable members, one of which is motorized and comprises an image device for recording an optimized disposition of pieces to be cut out, while the other is towed and comprises a transversal clamping device into which is engaged a free end of the sheet. The towed member is coupled at its rear portion to the light transporting band, the latter serving to support and protect the sheet of patterned material when it is being drawn out.

Abstract: This invention relates to a laser cutting apparatus comprising a laser radiation emitter, a focussing lens fixed in an adjustable sliding sleeve, said sleeve being extended, towards the material to be cut, by a truncated nozzle of which the small end is in the immediate vicinity of said material to be cut, said apparatus comprising a gas-evacuation device constituted by a hood--called ejector--open towards the material to be cut and fixed on said sliding sleeve. According to the invention, said ejector comprises, on its periphery and on its open face lying opposite the material to be cut, openings allowing the injection of gas-air along convergent axes, and, in its upper part, a pipe for evacuating the gases. The invention is more particularly applicable to the cutting of materials in sheet form.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the interconnection of two mobile carriages which are connected by a rigid beam and guided along parallel guide rails. The apparatus permits the simultaneous and identical movement, with respect to both direction and distance, of the carriages along the respective guide rails. The apparatus comprises two generally symmetrically disposed cables, each of which is attached at one end to an end of one rail and at its other end to a diagonally opposed end of a parallel rail. Intermediate the attachment points, the cables connect the carriages by resting on and being supported by return pulleys which are integral with the carriages. Each cable thereby describes a generally Z-shaped configuration. The Z-shaped configurations are symmetrically disposed in order to cause, during the displacement of one carriage, the tensioning of one of the cables, and thereby cause the other carriage to be identically and simultaneously displaced.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for driving and displacing a beam in a direction parallel to guide rails, and one or more carriages rigid with the beam in a direction transverse to the displacement of the beam.The device comprises two cables 7 and 8 stretched over pulleys 5 fixed at the ends of the guide rails 3 for the beam 4, and over pulleys 6 of the beam 4. The cables 7 and 8 are wound in reverse directions on the drums 9 of the motors M 1 and M 2 which are disposed symmetrically on one and the other side of the rails, such that when the motors are rotated, they cause the displacement of the beam, or of the carriage fixed on to one of the cables, or the simultaneous displacement of the beam and carriage.