US 11,821,123 B2 · Fabric sheet loading and unloading machine for a computer controlled pattern forming machine

Abstract

A composite fabric sheet loading and unloading machine and its method of operation is described for loading and unloading a composite fabric sheet into a computer controlled stitching and laser cutting machine. The composite fabric sheet is restrained on a rectangular contour support frame of a transport platform which is displaceably and guidingly transported into the stitching and laser cutting machine where programmed pattern fabric pieces are formed in the restrained fabric sheet. The transport platform is then unloaded and transferred back to its original position where the pattern pieces and trimmings are separated and a new composite sheet is positioned and restrained on the flat top surface to repeat the operation. A transport platform is provided on opposed sides of the computer controlled stitching and die cutting machine wherein after the unloading of the transport platform another transport platform is loaded into the stitching and laser cutting machine from the opposed side.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A composite fabric sheet loading and pattern pieces unloading machine for positioning the composite fabric sheet in a computer controlled stitching and laser die cutting machine, said loading and unloading machine comprising

at least one transport platform displaceably mounted on a support frame, said transport platform having a rectangular contour support frame for supporting said composite fabric sheet taunt in a horizontal suspended plane,
restraining means for restraining said fabric sheet over said rectangular contour support frame,
displacement means for displacing said transport platform from a fabric sheet loading and pattern pieces unloading position to a fabric sheet pattern forming position in said stitching and laser cutting machine and back to said fabric sheet loading and pattern pieces unloading position for discharging formed fabric pattern pieces, and
a suction box disposed between structural members of said rectangular contour support frame and spaced below said horizontal suspended plane, said suction box having a perforated top wall, a vacuum pump in communication with said suction box, said vacuum pump creating a vacuum in said suction box to draw air through said perforated top wall to immovably retain said composite fabric sheet on a flat top fabric support surface of the structural members when lowered thereon.

1 more element

A method of positioning a composite fabric sheet in a computer controlled stitching and laser cutting machine to form composite fabric pattern pieces, said method comprising the steps of:

(i) positioning a rectangular composite fabric sheet on a rectangular contour support frame of at least one transport platform at a fabric sheet loading and pattern pieces unloading location;
(ii) retaining said composite fabric sheet in a horizontal suspended plane by restraining means onto said rectangular contour support frame;
(iii) guidingly displacing said transport platform at a precise location into said stitching and laser cutting machine;
(iv) stitching contour patterns in said composite fabric sheet held in said horizontal suspended plane;
(v) displacing said fabric sheet onto a flat top fabric support surface spaced below said horizontal suspended plane;
(vi) laser cutting said fabric pattern pieces about said stitched contour patterns to form individual pattern pieces;
(vii) guidingly displacing said transport platform, after said individual pattern pieces are formed, back to said fabric sheet loading and pattern pieces unloading position;
(viii) removing said individual pattern pieces and fabric trimmings from said transport platform, and
(ix) positioning another composite fabric sheet on said rectangular contour support.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fabric sheet loading and unloading machine for a computer controlled pattern forming machine

Life of this patent

Fabric sheet loading and unloading machine for a computer controlled pattern forming machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18