Cutting apparatus with consumable marker
AssigneeGerber Garment Technology, Inc.
InventorDavid R. Pearl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatically controlled machine for cutting single plies of limp sheet material employs a cutting wheel and a hard, smooth and continuous support surface on which the sheet material is spread for cutting. The machine is controlled by a program to move the cutting wheel along predetermined cutting paths that define pattern pieces for clothing, upholstery and similar products. The machine has a rotatable marking tool that includes a consumable shaft of marking matter such as chalk. The shaft is translated over the sheet material cut by the machine and is lowered into engagement with the material at desired locations to generate nonpermanent marks for positional reference in subsequent cutting, sewing or other finishing operations.
Claims6
In combination in an apparatus for cutting limp sheet material positioned on a support surface and including an automatically controlled cutting tool for cutting the sheet material and carriage means for controllably moving the cutting tool and the material on the support surface relative to one another along a desired cutting path, the improvement comprising:
- a rotatable marking tool suspended from the carriage means for movement with the cutting tool over the support surface and the sheet material on the surface, the marking tool including a consumable shaft of marking matter having a depending end located adjacent the sheet material, drive motor means connected in driving relationship with the marking tool for rotating the consumable shaft about the axis of the shaft and marking the exposed surface of the sheet material while the depending end is engaged with the limp sheet material, and actuating means connected with the tool for moving the depending end of the consumable shaft into engagement with the sheet material on the support surface whereby motor driven rotation of the shaft about the shaft axis abrasively deposits some of the marking matter on the material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.