Closed loop apparatus for cutting sheet material
AssigneeGerber Garment Technology, Inc.
InventorHeinz J. Gerber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for cutting sheet material utilizes a closed loop automatically controlled cutting machine having a reciprocating cutting blade as the cutting tool. Sheet material to be cut is spread in multiple plies to form a layup, and the cutting blade and the material are then moved relative to one another in cutting engagement along predefined lines of cut. During cutting, a sensor detects a cutting parameter that is affected by the interaction of the cutting blade and sheet material, and signals provided by the sensor are fed back in the closed loop automatic control mechanism to adjust or initiate further steps in the cutting operation. Such adjustment or initiation alters the cutting machine operation for cutting conditions in real time in order to improve the overall performance of the machine.
Claims23
An automatically controlled cutting machine for accurately cutting limp sheet material comprising:
- a cutting blade;
- a cutting table defining a support surface on which sheet material is positioned in a spread condition for cutting by the cutting blade;
- motor means for moving the cutting blade and the sheet material relative to one another in cutting engagement;
- control means connected with the motor means and providing control signals to the motor means for guiding the cutting blade through the material along a predetermined cutting path;
- sensing means operatively associated with the cutting blade and sheet material for detecting lateral forces applied to the blade by the material as the blade advances through the material in cutting engagement, the sensing means also producing a signal corresponding to the detected lateral forces;
- and
- feedback means interconnecting the sensing means and the control means for generating additional control signals to regulate the cutting of the material by the blade along the predetermined cutting path in response to the detected forces.
In combination in an automatically controlled cutting machine having a cutting blade which translates relative to sheet material in a spread condition, the cutting machine including displacement means for guiding the cutting blade in cutting engagement with the material along a predefined line of cut and means for orienting the cutting blade about an axis generally perpendicular to the sheet material at each point along the line of cut, the improvement comprising:
- detecting means for producing information defining blade side loads generated by the interaction of the cutting blade and the sheet material as the blade is guided along the line of cut by the displacement means;
- and
- reacting means responsive to the detected cutting information and generating blade orientation signals in accordance with the detected information, and applying the orientation signals to the orienting means to reduce blade side loads.
An automatically controlled cutting machine for cutting limp sheet material with a closed loop control comprising:
- a reciprocated cutting blade;
- a cutting table having a bed for supporting the limp sheet material in a spread condition during cutting;
- vacuum means associated with the sheet material spread on the bed of the cutting table for rigidizing the limp material during cutting;
- sensing means cooperatively connected with the cutting blade for detecting a cutting load parameter affected by the interaction of the blade and the rigidized material during cutting;
- and
- closed loop control means connected with the sensing means and responsive to the sensed cutting load parameter for controlling the cutting blade in accordance with cutting conditions manifested by the sensed parameter as the material is cut.
An automatically controlled cutting machine for cutting limp sheet material comprising:
- a thin cutting blade having a sharp leading cutting edge which is advanced in cutting engagement with the sheet material and a trailing edge spaced from and generally parallel to the leading edge;
- a support table defining a surface on which the limp sheet material is laid in a spread condition;
- translating means for advancing the cutting blade and the sheet material relative to one another in cutting engagement with the sharp leading cutting edge of the blade extending generally perpendicular to the support surface of the table;
- orientation means for rotating the cutting blade and a sheet material relative to one another about an axis generally perpendicular to the surface of the table;
- sensing means operatively associated with the cutting blade for detecting unbalanced lateral blade loading and the corresponding blade deflection away from the axis perpendicular to the cutting table;
- and
- feedback control means connected with and responsive to the sensing means and also connected in controlling relationship with the orientation means to rotate the leading cutting edge of the blade about the perpendicular axis and toward the side of the blade having the higher loading in response to detected blade deflection and thereby reduce blade deflection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.