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US 4,328,726 AGranted
Apparatus and method for working on successive segments of sheet material
AssigneeGerber Garment Technology, Inc.
InventorDavid R. Pearl
Life of this patent
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AssigneeGerber Garment Technology, Inc.
InventorDavid R. Pearl
Estimating the term…
Apparatus for cutting patterns from successive contiguous segments of an elongated layup of sheet material has a zoned vacuum table which includes an endless bristle mat conveyor, for shifting a layup along the table to position a segment of the layup in the cutting zone of the table and for holding the layup segment in the cutting zone, and a carriage assembly, which moves a cutting mechanism relative to the table and in cutting engagement with the segment to cut patterns from the segment in response to signals from a programmable controller. A rotary encoder mounted on the carriage assembly has a pinion which engages a rack carried by the conveyor to detect movement of the carriage assembly relative to the conveyor when the carriage assembly returns to its starting position after completing its cutting cycle. A responsive circuit connects the encoder to the conveyor drive motor and energizes the drive motor in response to the relative movement detected by the encoder to cause the conveyor to move the layup in the return direction and through a distance equal to the distance traversed by the carriage assembly in returning to its starting position whereby the next successive segment of the layup is accurately positioned in the cutting zone. An error sensing circuit detects the magnitude and direction of an error in positioning the layup and alters the data in the controller to nullify the error. A vacuum device cleans the bristle mat while the conveyor is in motion and also reduces the vacuum holddown force applied to the layup while it is being shifted by the conveyor.
In an apparatus for working on sheet material and having a working table, instrument means for working on sheet material, carriage means supported to move in a first coordinate direction relative to the table for moving the instrument means in working relation to sheet material spread on the table, first drive means for moving the carriage means in the first coordinate direction, means for controlling said first drive means to control movement of said carriage means, material shifting means for moving the sheet material relative to the table and in the first coordinate direction, and second drive means for moving the material shifting means, the apparatus having a working mode wherein said carriage means moves in said first coordinate direction from a position of origin relative to the table and the material spread thereon in response to signals from the control means to move the instrument in working relation to the material and a material moving mode wherein the instrument is out of working relation to the sheet material and the material shifting means moves the sheet material in the first coordinate direction relative to the table, the improvement comprising a rotary encoder coupled to said carriage means and to said material shifting means for detecting movement of said carriage means in said first coordinate direction relative to said material shifting means in returning toward said position of origin upon completion of said working mode and responsive means connecting said rotary encoder to said second drive means for energizing said second drive means in response to the detected movement of said carriage means relative to the material shifting means to cause said material shifting means to move in said first coordinate direction and to a predetermined position.
In an apparatus for working on sheet material as set forth in claim 11 the further improvement wherein said material shifting means comprises an endless belt conveyor which includes said bristle mat.
A method for precisely positioning sheet material in an apparatus for working on successive segments of the material and including a working table, carriage means supported to traverse the table in one coordinate direction for moving an instrument in working relation to sheet material spread on the table, sheet material shifting means for moving the material in the one coordinate direction to position it relative to the table, and first drive means for driving the material shifting means, said method comprising the steps of coupling a rotary incremental encoder to the carriage means and to the material shifting means to generate output signals in response to movement of the carriage means relative to the material shifting means, moving the carriage means in the one coordinate direction, storing the output signals from the encoder in a register, and energizing the first drive means with the output signals accumulated in the register.
A method for precisely positioning sheet material in an apparatus for working on sheet material having a working table, instrument means for working on sheet material, carriage means supported to move in a first coordinate direction relative to the table for moving the instrument means in working relation to sheet material spread on the table, first drive means for moving the carriage means in the first coordinate direction, means for controlling said first drive means to control movement of said carriage means, material shifting means for moving the sheet material relative to the table and in the first coordinate direction, and second drive means for moving the material shifting means, the apparatus having a working mode wherein said carriage means moves in said first coordinate direction from a position of origin relative to the table and the material spread thereon in response to signals from the control means to move the instrument in working relation to the material and a material moving mode wherein the instrument is out of working relation to the sheet material and the material shifting means moves the sheet material in the first coordinate direction relative to the table, said method comprising the steps of detecting the movement of said carriage means in said first coordinate direction relative to the sheet material in returning to said position of origin, upon completion of said working mode, and energizing said second drive means in response to the detected movement of said carriage means relative to the sheet material to cause the sheet material shifting means to move the sheet material in said first coordinate direction and to a predetermined position relative to said position of origin.
In an apparatus for working on sheet material and having a working table, instrument means for working on sheet material, carriage means supported to move in a first coordinate direction relative to the table for moving the instrument means in working relation to sheet material spread on the table, first drive means for moving the carriage means in the first coordinate direction, means for controlling said first drive means to control movement of said carriage means, material shifting means for moving the sheet material relative to the table and in the first coordinate direction, and second drive means for moving the material shifting means, the apparatus having a working mode wherein said carriage means moves in said first coordinate direction relative to the table and the material spread thereon in response to signals from the control means to move the instrument in working relation to the material, and a material moving mode wherein the instrument is out of working relation to the sheet material and the material shifting means moves the sheet material in the first coordinate direction relative to the table, the improvement comprising sensing means connected with said carriage means and said material shifting means for detecting shifting movement of the sheet material relative to the carriage means during said material moving mode, and adjustable means in the means for controlling said first drive means and responsive to said sensing means for adjusting the movement of said carriage means in the first coordinate direction and relative to the sheet material during the working mode by the amount of shifting movement detected by the sensing means during the material moving mode.
A method for precisely positioning on a work table successive segments of sheet material such as fabric or the like, said method comprising the steps of moving an instrument carriage in one coordinate direction relative to sheet material supported on the work table to move an instrument in working relation to one segment of the sheet material, measuring with a rotary encoder which generates an output signal relative to measured distance movement of the instrument carriage in the one coordinate direction relative to the sheet material, storing the output signals from the encoder in a register, and driving a material shifting means in the one coordinate direction with the output signals accumulated in the register to shift the material in the one coordinate direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.