Abstract: In a cutting machine having a reciprocating blade driven by a crank mechanism which includes an angularly balanced crank, the blade, the connecting rod which drives the blade and the connecting member which connects the blade to the connecting rod are dynamically counterblanced by a passive load, pair of connecting rods which drive the passive load in a direction opposite the direction of blade movement, and a pivoted link which cooperates with the pair of connecting rods to maintain the passiive load for movement in a predetermined path.

Abstract: A compound plotting apparatus for rapidly producing an annotated design comprises a symbol printing device such as a matrix printer for printing an annotation directly on a worksheet or on a label which is deposited on the worksheet and a design line drawing device such as a pen and actuator assembly. Both devices are mounted on a carriage translatable over a worksheet supporting surface. A controller is programmed to automatically select and activate the device more suitable to produce a type of mark, the symbol printing device to print annotations on the worksheet or on the label as the case may be and the design line drawing device to draw design lines on the worksheet.

Abstract: A cutting machine for cutting layups of sheet material has a reciprocating blade suspended from a platform above a support surface for the material. A blade sharpener is also suspended from the platform and comprises at least one sharpening wheel for engagement with the cutting edge of the blade. The sharpening wheel is mounted on a rotatably driven shaft, and includes an abrasive surface disposed about an axis of symmetry which in turn is arranged in angular relation to the axis of the shaft. The angular arrangement of the axes of symmetry and the shaft ensures contact between a limited portion of the abrasive surface and the cutting edge of the blade during sharpening operations.

Abstract: A conveyorized vacuum table comprises a conveyor for feeding and supporting limp sheet material and a vacuum system which applies vacuum to the sheet material while it is being fed and/or worked upon. The conveyor comprises a penetrable support bed and a plurality of vacuum chambers which move with the support bed and communicate with it. Means are also provided to apply vacuum to the vacuum chambers to cause the conveyor to hold the sheet material for cutting or other work operations.

Abstract: A hanger for use with a conveyor in a garment making plant or the like for holding limp sheet material includes a hanger rod for attachment to a conveyor trolley and a hanger body carrying, and forming in part, a plurality of grippers, each capable of holding a workpiece unit to the body. Each gripper is made up of a stationary gripping face on part of the hanger body and a grip elememnt supported for movement along a path giving it a wedging action on a work unit inserted in the gripper when the grip element is urged downwardly by the weight of the work unit and its engagement therewith.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for use in cutting pattern parts from a plurality of irregularly shaped and sized pieces of sheet material, such as hides, a piece of sheet material to be cut is spread onto the cylindrical surface of a drum and is then first digitized and subsequently cut while remaining fixed to the drum. From the data obtained by the digitizing a representation of the hide periphery is visually displayed on the screen of a layout unit where an operator interactively arranges visual part representations selected from a computer memory store within the hide periphery representation to arrive at an acceptable layout of parts. Such layout is then converted to digital data used to cause the sheet material to be cut in accordance with the layout during the cutting step.

Abstract: A laser cutting system comprises a means for controllably delivering sheet material to a laser cutter and automatically removing cut pieces of sheet material and scrap. The sheet material is supported on an inclined bed having longitudinal slots and the means for delivering sheet material comprises an engagement mechanism which engages an end of the sheet material while supported on the bed by frictionally or penetrably engaging the sheet material and a movement means for moving the engagement mechanism and the associated sheet material longitudinally of said slots. Vacuum means are provided to hold the sheet material on the inclined bed during cutting, which vacuum means are deactivated after cutting to allow the cut pieces and scrap to slide down the bed out of a cutting region to make room for a fresh worksheet. Various means are provided for facilitating the removal of the cut sheet material from the bed.

Abstract: A worksheet supporting bed for a laser cutter comprises a series of thin bands arranged parallel to one another in a common plane to form an even support surface. The bands take the form of endless strips each of which being tensioned between two braces. One of the braces is fixedly secured to an end frame portion of the bed and the other brace is secured via a tensioning screw to an opposite end frame portion. By turning the screw, the tension in the associated endless band is adjusted, and by removal of the screw, the associated endless band may be removed and another one substituted for it. The bands define elongated slots which may be penetrated by an optional mechanism which engages a worksheet supported on the bed and transports it to or from the bed. The upper edges of the bands may be smooth so that fabric sheets may slide along it easily without snagging. Also, the bed is gas-permeable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for working on sheet material utilizes a table having two spaced coplanar lips across which sheet material is stretched to be worked on by a tool supported from a movable carriage spanning the table. Clamping units attached to the table hold the sheet material in a taut condition between the coplanar lips of the table by clamping the material against the lips. A platen is suspended from the carriage on the side of the material opposite from the work tool for movement with the carriage and provides a backing for the material as the work tool performs a work operation on the material. The apparatus is particularly suited for applications in which the sheet material in an elongated strip is indexed in segments across the work area of the table.

Abstract: A conveyorized vacuum table comprises a conveyor for feeding and supporting limp sheet material and a vacuum system which applies vacuum to the sheet material while it is being fed and/or worked upon. The conveyor comprises a penetrable support bed and a plurality of vacuum chambers which move with the support bed and communicate with it. Means are also provided to apply vacuum to the vacuum chambers to cause the conveyor to hold the sheet material for cutting or other work operations.

Abstract: A hanger for use with a conveyor for transporting pieces of limp sheet-like work material from place to place in a garment making plant or the like includes a hanger rod for attaching the hanger to a conveyor trolley and a rigid body having at least one gripper, and preferably several grippers, each for releasably holding a workpiece unit to the hanger. Each gripper is of a simple construction including a fixed generally vertical gripping surface on one downwardly extending portion of the body and a cooperating spring clip attached to the lower end of a second downwardly extending body portion spaced laterally of the first downwardly extending portion.

Abstract: A stiffened elongated cutting blade for use in a cutting apparatus of the type employing an elongated cantilevered cutting blade for cutting layups of fabric or other similar sheet material, and reciprocated along its longitudinal axis when actively cutting. The blade is a compound part made up of an inexpensive, reversible and replaceable edge member insert which provides the cutting edge and an associated holder supporting the insert for substantially its entire length along its rear edge and serving to reduce lateral and rearward deflections. The insert is held in the holder by a mechanical interfit between the insert and holder at its lower end and in mechanical engagement with the holder at its upper end and is easily releasable from the holder to allow its reversibility and replacement after the cutting edge has dulled or worn beyond a desireable point.

Abstract: A material unloading conveyor is arranged in overlapping relation to the discharge end of a bristle conveyor and includes an endless belt which has a plurality of U-shaped staples secured to its surface to pivot relative thereto. The staples move in combing relation to the bristles, which comprise the bristle conveyor, and the material supporting surface defined by the bristles to lift sheet material from the bristle conveyor and onto the unloading conveyor as the material is discharged by the bristle conveyor.

Abstract: An elongated blade has a notch in its leading edge, with parallel chisel edges adapted to chop through the oriented fibers (boron or graphite) of uncured sheet material as the blade is reciprocated vertically at a high frequency relative to its forward velocity (five cycles per blade width). The notch is about half as deep as the blade width and has a vertical extent (between the chisel edges) of about 60 percent of the blade's vertical stroke. The blade has a lower edge which forms a 135 degree angle with it's leading edge, and which lower edge is spaced below the lower notch chisel edge by approximately the width of the blade.

Abstract: A layup of sheet material clamped to a conveyor by a conveyor loading apparatus is pulled by and onto the conveyor from an adjacent supply table. The loading apparatus includes a clamping carriage assembly straddling the conveyor and supported for free rolling movement relative to the conveyor. Fluid motors mounted on the clamping carriage move a clamping bar from a released position into clamping engagement with the layup to clamp it between the conveyor surface and the clamping bar and couple the clamping carriage to the conveyor to move with the conveyor. A flexible hose wound on a pay-off reel mounted on the clamping carriage and spring biased toward wound position supplies pressure fluid to the fluid motors and biases the clamping carriage toward a retracted position near the supply table end of the conveyor when the clamping bar is in its released position.

Abstract: An automatically controlled machine for cutting a layup of limp sheet material includes a conveyorized vacuum holddown table for advancing a layup of sheet material, compressing the layup and holding it in a fixed position while it is cut by a cutting tool supported by a cutting carriage assembly and moved by the carriage assembly in cutting relation to the layup. An overlay of air-impermeable sheet material wound on a retractable roll carried by the cutting carriage assembly is spread over the layup to cover the kerf formed in the layup by the cutting tool as the carriage assembly advances. The free end of the overlay is secured to a clamping bar at the discharge end of the table. The clamping bar is vertically movable relative to the table between raised and lowered positions.

Abstract: An automatically controlled cutting machine includes a conveyor table having an endless conveyor belt for moving segments of limp sheet material onto the table for cutting. A cutting carriage and blade are mounted for controlled movement over the support surface of the table to cut pattern pieces from the limp sheet material positioned on the surface. A vacuum chamber envelops the endless conveyor belt except for the portion of the belt defining the support surface, and the chamber communicates with the sheet material on the surface to draw a vacuum within the material and hold the material in a compressed state on the surface for cutting.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a cutting tool in the form of a cutting wheel which rolls along a cutting path in cutting engagement with sheet material spread over a support surface. A second cutting tool is mounted adjacent the cutting wheel for notching the material along the path. The apparatus also includes actuator for moving the notching tool toward and away from the support surface to effect a notch. With the cutting tools mounted adjacent one another, a notch may be effected in the material as the cutting wheel moves along a cutting path.

Abstract: An automatically controlled cutting machine includes a conveyor table having an endless conveyor belt for moving segments of limp sheet material onto the table for cutting. A cutting carriage and blade are mounted for controlled movement over the support surface of the table to cut pattern pieces from the limp sheet material positioned on the surface. A vacuum system holds the material in a compressed state on the surface during cutting, and a sealing carriage is coupled with the cutting carriage to spread an air-impermeable overlay which seals the material when cut. Before the conveyor belt moves the cut segment of the sheet material off of the table, the sealing carriage is uncoupled from the cutting carriage, and the overlay is wound onto a self-retracting roller on the sealing carriage. The carriage is simultaneously drawn by the overlay toward one end of the table where the carriage remains parked as the cut segment moves off the table.

Abstract: A pattern piece is prepared by moving a cutting instrument in accordance with a predetermined program and in cutting engagement with sheet material spread on a supporting surface to cut the pattern piece from the sheet material. Simultaneously with the cutting operation, a substance is applied to the sheet material along at least a substantial portion of the outline of the pattern piece. The applied substance may be a marking fluid for outlining the pattern piece to facilitate its separation from adjacent scrap material or adhesive for enabling a pickup surface brought into adhering engagement with the applied adhesive to pickup either the cut pattern piece or the scrap material.