Apparatus for working on sheet material and having magnetic holddown means
AssigneeGerber Garment Technology, Inc.
InventorHeinz J. Gerber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Sheet material spread on a cutting table is clamped to the surface of the table by parallel flexible bands of ferromagnetic material attracted to the table by magnets associated with the table. The bands are threaded under and over rollers journalled on a tool carriage which moves a cutter wheel in cutting engagement with the sheet material in response to command signals received from a programmable computer. The rollers pick up portions of the bands ahead of the carriage assembly and lay down portions of the bands behind it as the carriage assembly advances longitudinally of the table.
Claims13
In an apparatus for working on sheet material and having means defining a support surface for supporting sheet material spread thereon, means for holding the sheet material in fixed position relative to the support surface, a tool carriage assembly, a tool supported by the tool carriage assembly, and means for moving the tool carriage assembly and the tool relative to the support surface to move the tool in working relation to sheet material spread on the support surface, the improvement wherein said means for holding the sheet material comprises at least one strip of flexible material extending longitudinally of said support surface to overlie associated portions of sheet material spread thereon, magnetic means for biasing portions of said one strip toward said support surface to clamp the associated portions of the sheet material in fixed position relative to said support surface, and strip supporting means for maintaining another portion of said one strip in the region of said tool in spaced relation to said support surface as said tool moves relative to said support surface and in working relation to sheet material spread thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.