Closed loop method and apparatus for cutting sheet material
AssigneeGerber Garment Technology, Inc.
InventorHeinz J. Gerber
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method 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.
Claims12
A method of cutting limp sheet material with a controlled cutting machine having a cantilever-mounted, reciprocated cutting blade with a sharp knife edge comprising:
- generating fundamental machine command signals for translating the cutting blade and the limp sheet material relative to one another along a predetermined cutting path with the cutting blade in cutting engagement with the sheet material;
- sensing lateral loads applied to the cutting blade by the limp sheet material engaging the sides of the blade with a force sensor as the blade and material translate relative to one another in cutting engagement;
- generating additional signals representative of the sensed lateral loads from the material;
- and
- controlling the orientation of the cutting blade about an axis perpendicular to the sheet material and relative to the predetermined cutting path with the additional signals as the blade and material translate relative to one another along the path to cause the sensed lateral loads applied by the material to be reduced toward zero.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.