# US 4,391,170 A · Apparatus for working on advancing sheet material > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,391,170 A - Document ID: US4391170A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/224,650 - Filed: 1981-01-12 - Granted: 1983-07-05 - Earliest claimed: 1981-01-12 - Assignees: Gerber Garment Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Bentsion Boverman; Vilen Vodyanitsky - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4391170A ## CPC - B26D 5/005: {Computer numerical control means} - B26D 7/018: {Holding the work by suction} - B26F 1/38: Cutting-out; Stamping-out - B26F 1/3813: {wherein the tool head is moved in a plane parallel to the work in a coordinate system fixed with respect to the work} - B26D 5/22: having the cutting member and work feed mechanically connected - B26F 1/382: {wherein the cutting member reciprocates in, or substantially in, a direction parallel to the cutting edge} - B26F 3/004: {by means of a fluid jet (methods for use of abrasive blasting for cutting B24C1/045; guns for abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet B26F1/26)} - B26F 2001/3873: {advancing the material stepwise onto the work surface of the cutting machine} - Y10T 83/175: With condition sensor - Y10T 83/566: Interrelated tool actuating means and means to actuate work immobilizer - Y10T 83/6668: Interrelated work-feeding means and tool-moving means - Y10T 83/6875: With means permitting tool to be rotatably adjusted about its cutting edge during cutting - B26D: CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING (for growing crops or plants A01D, A01G; for fodder or straw A01F; for bulk butter A01J; for dough A21C; slaughtering A22B; for tobacco, cigars or cigarettes A24; marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; manufacturing footwear A43D; brushmaking A46D; surgery A61B; disintegrating, mincing or shredding in general B02C; cutting wire, making pins or nails B21F, B21G; of the kind used formetal B23; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; hand-held cutting tools B26B; perforating, cutting-out, stamping-out or punching, or severing by means other than cutting B26F; for wood B27; for stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices B65H35/00; for leather or upholstery B68, C14B; for glass C03B; making matches C06F; for peat C10F; for sugar C13B45/00; for textile materials D06H; civil engineering, building, mining, see Section E; for light guides G02B6/25; cutting processed photographic material G03D15/04) - B26F: PERFORATING; PUNCHING; CUTTING-OUT; STAMPING-OUT; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING (marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; shoemaking A43D; surgery A61B; punching metal B21D; drilling metal B23B; cutting of metal by applying heat locally, e.g. flame cutting, B23K; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; details common to machines for severing B26D; drilling wood B27C; drilling stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; of glass C03B; of leather C14B; of textile materials D06H; for light guides G02B6/25; of tickets G07B) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A machine for cutting an elongated layup of sheet material has a conveyor table for supporting the material and advancing it while it is being cut. A carriage assembly moves a cutting tool in cutting engagement with the material on the conveyor table in response to signals from a programmable controller. The conveyor table and carriage assembly are connected in one system so that the programmed movements of the cutter are relative to the movement of the conveyor thereby enabling the material to be cut in accordance with a predetermined program while simultaneously advanced by the conveyor table. Another cutting machine which has a rotary drum conveyor for supporting and advancing sheet material has a movable tool carriage coupled to the drum conveyor for movement relative to the conveyor by a ring gear and pinion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In an apparatus for working on sheet material and having conveying means for supporting and moving sheet material, a carriage assembly, means supporting the carriage assembly for movement relative to the conveyor means and in one and an opposite direction generally parallel to the direction of movement of the conveyor means, instrument means mounted on said carriage assembly for movement with the carriage assembly and in working relation to sheet material supported by the conveyor means, and drive means for moving the carriage assembly relative to the conveyor means to move the instrument in working relation to the sheet material supported by the conveyor means, the improvement wherein said drive means comprises coengaging drive elements including one drive element mounted on the conveyor means to move with the conveyor means and another drive element supported on the carriage assembly to move with the carriage assembly and relative to the conveyor means. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) In an apparatus for working on sheet material as set forth in claim 1 the further improvement wherein one of said drive elements comprises a gear and another of said drive elements comprises a pinion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) In an apparatus for working on sheet material as set forth in claim 2 the further improvement wherein said gear is supported on said conveyor means and said pinion is supported on said carriage assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2, 3) In an apparatus for working on sheet material as set forth in either claim 2 or claim 3 the further improvement wherein said conveyor means comprises an endless conveyor and said gear comprises an endless rack. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) In an apparatus for working on sheet material as set forth in claim 4 the further improvement wherein said endless rack comprises a series of rack segments. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) In an apparatus for working on sheet material as set forth in claim 5 the further improvement wherein said instrument comprises a cutting instrument. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) In an apparatus for working on sheet material as set forth in claim 4 the further improvement wherein said conveyor comprises a rotary drum and said gear comprises a ring gear mounted in fixed position relative to said drum for rotation therewith. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) In an apparatus for working on sheet material as set forth in claim 7 the further improvement wherein said instrument comprises a cutting instrument. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1, 2, 3) In an apparatus for working on sheet material as set forth in any one of claims 1 through 3 the further improvement wherein said conveying means defines a material supporting surface and said apparatus includes control means for maintaining said instrument within the region of said material supporting surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) In an apparatus for working on sheet material as set forth in claim 9 the further improvement wherein said conveyor and said material supporting surface comprises a horizontally disposed and upwardly facing portion of the conveyor surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) In an apparatus for working on sheet material as set forth in claim 9 the further improvement wherein said control means comprises means for varying the relative rate of movement of said conveyor and said instrument. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Apparatus for working on sheet material as set forth in claim 11 the further improvement wherein said control means comprises means for varying the speed of said conveyor travel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) Apparatus for working on sheet material as set forth in claim 12 wherein said control means comprises means for increasing the speed of travel of said conveyor when said instrument approaches one extremity of said supporting surface and for decreasing the speed of travel of said conveyor when said instrument approaches the opposite end of said supporting surface. ### Claim 14 In an apparatus for cutting sheet material and having an endless conveyor, a sheet material supporting surface defined by the conveyor, vacuum means for releasably securing sheet material on the supporting surface, a carriage assembly, means supporting the carriage assembly for movement in one and an opposite direction parallel to the direction of movement of the conveyor, a cutter assembly supported on the carriage assembly and including a reciprocating blade, a drive means for moving the carriage assembly in the one and the opposite direction and relative to the material supporting surface to move the blade in cutting engagement with sheet material supported on the supporting surface, the improvement wherein said drive means comprises coengaging drive elements including gear means carried by and movable with said conveyor, a pinion carried by said carriage assembly to move with said carriage assembly and relative to said conveyor and engaged with said gear means, and a drive motor for rotating said pinion in driving engagement relative to said gear means. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) In an apparatus for cutting sheet material as set forth in claim 14 the further improvement wherein said gear means comprises an endless rack. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) In an apparatus for cutting sheet material as set forth in claim 15 the further improvement wherein said rack comprises a plurality of rack segments. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) In an apparatus for cutting sheet material as set forth in claim 14 the further improvement wherein said conveyor comprises a rotary drum and said gear means comprises a ring gear supported in fixed relation to said drum for rotation therewith. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14, 15, 16, 17) In an apparatus for cutting sheet material as set forth in any one of claims 14 through 17 wherein said apparatus includes control means for maintaining said blade within the region of said supporting surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) Apparatus for working on sheet material as set forth in claim 18 wherein said control means comprises means for increasing the speed of travel of said conveyor when said instrument approaches one extremity of said supporting surface and for decreasing the speed of travel of said conveyor when said instrument approaches the opposite end of said supporting surface.