Abstract: A method and apparatus for fray-free cutting at the perimeter of an area of a textile sheet on a textile-receiving surface, including applying an anti-fray substance onto the sheet along a path at the perimeter by an anti-fray substance applicator movable along the surface as directed by a controller based on programmed information regarding the perimeter, and cutting the sheet at the perimeter by a cutter movable along the surface as directed by the controller based on the programmed information.

Abstract: An apparatus and laminate allow removal of at least one sub-area of a face layer sheet from a laminate composed of a backing layer with the face layer sheet adhering thereto to leave at least one product area of the face layer sheet in place on the backing layer. The apparatus may comprise a work surface for receiving the laminate thereon; at least one adhesive applicator mounted adjacent to the work surface; an actuator associated with the applicator(s); an actuator controller to cause application of an adhesive to predetermined portions of the waste area(s); a laminator beside the work surface including a supply of carrier web oriented for temporary lamination with the laminate using the applied adhesive; and a delaminator positioned to receive the carrier lamination and delaminate the laminate therefrom with the waste area(s) adhering to the carrier web.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fray-free cutting at the perimeter of an area of a textile sheet on a textile-receiving surface, including creating an anti-fray condition in the sheet along a path at the perimeter by an anti-fray instrument movable along the surface as directed by a controller based on programmed information regarding the perimeter, and cutting the sheet at the perimeter by a cutter movable along the surface as directed by the controller based on the programmed information. The anti-fray instrument is preferably an anti-fray substance applicator or, if the textile is a thermoplastic textile, a laser device configured and arranged to induce an anti-fray state therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for performing finishing operations on at least one graphics area on a graphics sheet, the graphics sheet having a graphics side, an opposite process side, and reference features, the graphics side bearing the graphics area(s) and registration marks in predetermined positions with respect to the graphics area(s). The method comprises positioning the graphics sheet on a sheet-receiving surface, sensing from the graphics side the positions of the registration marks, determining the coordinates of the graphics area(s) with respect to the sheet-receiving surface as if viewable from the process side, and performing finishing operations on the process side of the graphics sheet based on such determination, whereby such process-side finishing operations compensate for variations of the graphics area(s).

Abstract: A method for preparing a graphic on a sheet of material which also includes at least one registration mark at and about the graphic in predetermined positions. The method involves the steps of applying the graphic and at least one registration mark on a sheet of material in positions according to layout data, transferring the layout data to a processing controller, placing the sheet of material on a sheet-receiving surface, sensing the position of the registration mark on the sheet of material, and utilizing the layout data and the position of the registration mark to precisely narrow-path-process around the graphic on the sheet of material. Certain embodiments use either (a) a subset of marks which is applied on one side of graphic or certain reference features, such as edges and corners of the sheet and elements of the graphic, to ascertain the position and orientation of the sheet on the apparatus.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing at least one waste area of a face layer, which includes graphic or product area(s) and waste area(s), from a laminate composed of a face layer removably adhering to a backing layer, to leave at least one product area of the face layer in place on the backing layer, the method including: applying adhesive on portions of the waste area(s); temporarily adhering the laminate to a carrier surface using the adhesive; and separating the laminate from the carrier surface with the waste area(s) remaining on the carrier surface. One preferred embodiment of the invention includes a carrier web enabling continuous or near continuous operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting a graphics area from a sheet of material which includes such graphics area. The method involves applying a plurality of registration marks on the sheet at and about the graphics area in predetermined positions at the time the graphics are applied thereto, sensing the locations of the registration marks on the sheet of material at the time of cutting, and cutting the graphics area from the ready-to-cut sheet along a path determined in response to the sensed locations positions of the registration marks with respect to the graphics area at that time, whereby precise cutting occurs despite two-dimensional distortion of the sheet prior to cutting.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for cutting graphics areas from a sheet of material bearing a combination of graphics areas and a plurality of registration marks in predetermined positions with respect thereto, the combination being in a predetermined approximate position and orientation with respect to a set of reference features of the sheet. The method involves automatically determining whether the reference features are in an expected coordinate region on a sheet-receiving surface, and, if not, automatically determining the coordinate region of such features. Further steps then include sensing metrics of the reference features to determine the position and orientation of the sheet, inferring therefrom the approximate positions of the registration marks and then sensing the precise positions thereof with a main sensor, and cutting the graphics areas from the sheet in response to such precise positions.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for automatic cutting of graphics area(s) from a sheet of material which includes such graphics area(s), the graphics areas having a plurality of registration marks in predetermined positions with respect thereto and including a subset of the marks on no more than one side of the graphics area which are initial-position/orientation-determining marks. The method involves placing the sheet on a sheet-receiving surface, attempting to sense the subset in the field of view of a main sensor, and, when the subset is not in an expected location, automatically determining the coordinate region of the subset on the sheet-receiving surface and automatically repositioning the main sensor to the coordinate region such that the subset is within the field of view of the main sensor.