Apparatus for cutting and notching sheet material
AssigneeGerber Garment Technology, Inc.
InventorDavid R. Pearl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cutting apparatus includes a cutting tool in the form of a cutting wheel which rolls along a cutting path in cutting engagement with sheet material spread over a support surface. A second cutting tool is mounted adjacent the cutting wheel for notching the material along the path. The apparatus also includes actuator for moving the notching tool toward and away from the support surface to effect a notch. With the cutting tools mounted adjacent one another, a notch may be effected in the material as the cutting wheel moves along a cutting path.
Claims12
Apparatus for cutting limp sheet material along a cutting path defined by a pattern piece and forming notches in the sheet material along the cutting path, comprising:
- support means defining a support surface on which sheet material is spread for cutting;
- a cutting head including a first cutting tool in the form of a cutting wheel rotatable about an axis extending generally parallel to the support surface and with a peripheral cutting edge which rolls on the support surface of the support means along a cutting path in cutting engagement with the sheet material spread on the surface, the head further including a second cutting tool in the form of a notcher mounted axially adjacent the wheel for movement toward and away from the support surface and movement with the cutting wheel along the cutting path, the notcher having a cutting edge for effecting a notch in the sheet material adjacent the location of the wheel along the cutting path as the notcher moves toward and away from the support surface and as the cutting edge of the notcher moves into and out of cutting relationship with the sheet material on the support surface;
- controlled translating means connected with the cutting head and the support means for controllably moving the cutting wheel and notcher parallel to the support surface along a desired cutting path;
- controlled rotating means also connected with the cutting head for turning the cutting wheel and the axially adjacent notcher jointly about an axis perpendicular to the support surface to enable the wheel and notcher to translate along a cutting path defined by a pattern piece;
- and
- actuating means connected to the notcher for moving the notcher toward and away from the support surface and the cutting edge of the notcher into and out of cutting relationship with the sheet material to effect a notch in the sheet material adjacent the cutting path of the wheel as the material is pressed between the cutting edge of the notcher and the support surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.