Marking apparatus utilizing a dye thread

In combination with an automatically controlled cutting machine having a cutting tool mounted on a tool platform over a support surface on which sheet material is placed in a spread condition to permit the tool and material to move relative to one another and cut pattern pieces from the material, the improvement comprising:

• a needle plunger mounted on the tool platform for reciprocation along an axis of the plunger toward and away from sheet material on the support surface;
• a needle depending from the plunger along said axis for penetration through the sheet material when the plunger is reciprocated toward the support surface and having an eyelet in the depending needle end;
• a supply spool rotatably mounted on the tool platform for feeding a marking thread to the eyelet of the needle;
• a takeup spool also rotatably mounted on the tool platform for receiving marking thread from the eyelet of the needle;
• actuating means connected with the needle plunger for reciprocating the plunger along the plunger axis and reciprocating the needle in and out of the sheet material;
• and
• indexing means connected with the takeup spool and operatively responsive to said actuating means reciprocating the plunger and needle for advancing a length of marking thread from the supply spool through the eyelet of the needle to the takeup spool.