摘要:
An apparatus and method for cutting sheet material is provided which includes a numerically controlled cutting machine which cuts a spread of sheet material positioned on a supporting surface of penetrable material. Each individual pattern piece desired to be cut is converted to a numerical program form for controlling the cutting machine, and is stored for ready retrieval, for example in a computer memory. Indexing marks are provided on the spread to be cut, the cutter is positioned relative to such marks, the desired program pattern is selected and the cutter is controlled by the selected program to cut the desired pattern. The process is repeated until all desired pattern pieces are cut, thereby providing great flexibility in pattern selection and placement on a spread or plurality of spreads of materials.
摘要:
A device for cutting sheet material, such as a layup of fabric sheets spread on a cutting table, includes a cutter head movable over the table and having a vertically reciprocating knife or other similar cutting tool. The cutter head is moved by numeric control relative to the table to cause its tool to follow a desired line of cut, and associated therewith is a guide or receiver which moves both longitudinally and transversely of the table in unison with the tool, between the supporting surface of the table and the bottom layer of the material, and receives the lower or distal end of the cutting tool to provide additional support for the tool and to inhibit tool deflection.
摘要:
A system and method for cutting multiple pattern pieces from a layup of sheet material employing two-stage digitizing to produce a cutting program in which contour segments of individual pieces are cut by a cutting blade in different directions about the pattern pieces. The direction in which a particular segment of a pattern piece contour is cut and the order in which the segments are cut are selected to most easily facilitate the cutting operation. The point on any given pattern piece toward which a cutting blade is advanced from different directions is generally the point of closest approach to an adjacent or contiguous pattern piece in the marker cut in the sheet material. The feed rate and tangency of the cutting blade are also regulated at sensitive cutting points such as the points of closest approach to an adjacent pattern piece.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for cutting parts, patterns, or the like from fabrics, paper or other thin sheet material employing a rotary cutting tool which is supported for movement above a work surface of a penetrable supporting bed. The rotary cutting tool is carried by a numerically controlled translating mechanism which moves it over the work surface in two orthogonal coordinate directions. The tool is rotated at a peripheral speed substantially greater than the translation speed and has a peripheral cutting edge which performs the cutting operation while the tool is translated with a segment of the peripheral cutting edge penetrating through the sheet material supported on the work surface and into the penetrable supporting bed. The rotation of the tool is coordinated with the translation of the tool so that the leading edge of the tool rotates downwardly into the sheet material during the cutting operation. The cutting tool is suspended from the translating mechanism by an adjustable mount and a follower guide or foot that travels over the sheet material with the tool is connected to the adjustable mount and positions the mount so that the segment of the peripheral cutting edge penetrating through the sheet material into the penetrable supporting bed maintains a substantially constant penetration depth regardless of uneveness or variation in height of the penetrable bed.
摘要:
A bed of material provides a supporting surface for supporting sheet material during a cutting process. The bed is used in combination with a cutting apparatus having a cutter and a means for moving the cutter and the bed with respect to each other. The supporting surface is penetrated and cut during the sheet material cutting operation. At least the top layer of the bed material is of such a nature that it may be restored to a substantially uncut or healed condition after having been penetrated and cut to the point where its capacity for properly supporting sheet material is impaired. This restoration may be accomplished by subjecting the bed material to a restoring influence such as heat, ultrasonic waves, or a solvent, or by bonding a thin sheet of plastic or other sheet material to the supporting surface. Particular apparatus combinations are disclosed which will apply the desired restoring mediums at the desired time.
摘要:
In an automatically controlled cutting machine for cutting thick layups of sheet material, apparatus is provided to dispense a liquid fluid onto the tool for cooling, lubricating or other ancillary functions. The apparatus includes a presser foot which rides on top of the sheet material during a cutting operation and the presser foot permits liquid to flow to the reciprocating blade whenever the blade is cutting through the sheet material. A liquid absorbing material in the presser foot insures that the cutting portion of the blade receives the liquid.
摘要:
A hollow needle member is used to apply a substance to a sheet of material for marking same or for applying a fluid material along a cut edge of the sheet material. The hollow needle member is mounted for reciprocation along its axis thereof. A controller receives coded input information and converts the input information into two-dimensional directional command pulses and a needle action command pulse. The needle member is moved in response to the two-dimensional directional command pulses over a sheet of material to which the substance is to be applied so that the needle member is disposed in a preselected location over the sheet of material. The needle member is reciprocated in response to the needle action command pulse so that the needle member is contiguous to the sheet of material. Marking material or fluid material which prevents edge fray or bonds edges of several sheets of material is ejected through the hollow needle member to the sheet material. Various specific embodiments of the device include specific needle member moving means and response mechanisms. One specific embodiment is directed to a combination of a hollow needle member mounted for reciprocation along with a cutting mechanism both of which are automatically controlled through the use of a controller.
摘要:
Apparatus for cutting and drilling layups of sheet material and including a table for supporting a layup, a main carriage supported for movement in one coordinate direction relative to the table, and cutting and drilling heads supported on the carriage for movement therewith and relative thereto and to each other in at least one other coordinate direction. The main carriage and the cutting and drilling heads move in response to positioning signals supplied by a numerically controlled or computerized controller. A movable cutting tool or blade driven by the cutting head is adapted to advance in cutting engagement with the layup to form a cut therein. A trepanning or drilling tool carried by the drilling head removes material from the layup at selected points to form openings therethrough. The shape of the drilling tool is such that the drilling operation is performed with a minimum of applied pressure, so that substantially no compressive force is applied to the layup by the drilling tool to cause movement of upper layers of the layup relative to the cutting tool.
摘要:
An apparatus is disclosed for working on sheet material, such as woven and non-woven fabrics, plastic or paper with a tool which translates over the sheet material to perform a cutting, plotting or other material processing operation. The apparatus holds the sheet material down during the operation and includes a table, such as a vacuum table, which supports the material, either a single sheet or a layup of the material, and a fluid compartment which is positioned over and exposes the material to pressurized air to force the material onto the supporting surface of the table. While maintaining a region of increased air pressure in the immediate vicinity of the tool, the compartment may be translated along one or two orthogonal directions in conjunction with the movements of the tool. The compartment is open or perforated at the side confronting the material to expose the material to the air under pressure within the compartment. When appropriate, a sheet of impervious material may be overlaid on a layup of the material to increase the effective pressure on each ply of the layup.
摘要:
The method and apparatus for holding sheet material while it is worked upon by a tool employ a support table having a surface on which the sheet material is spread and a cage which holds a plurality of spherical weights over a given portion of the sheet material. The weights rest either directly or indirectly on the material and press the material against the support surface. The spherical weights are held within the cage so that they rotate freely over the material when the cage is moved relative to the material. By connecting the cage to the carriage from which the working tool such as a cutting blade is suspended, the region of the sheet material which is subjected to the pressure of the spherical weights may be localized in that region which is immediately adjacent the tool and, accordingly, there is less opportunity for the sheet material to move or shift under the influence of the tool during the work operation.