US 4,527,346 AGranted

Sheet material stacking, conveying and cutting method and apparatus

AssigneeMacpherson, Inc.

InventorJohn M. Schwartzott

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Abstract

A work table is divided at least into a spreading station and a cutting station, has a flat, substantially smooth upper surface and a plurality of apertures extending through the top of the table for passage of air currents therethrough. A reversible pump generates and delivers the air current to said apertures through a plurality of separate conduits connected to each of the apertures. A spreading device, which spreads, cuts, and stacks individual layers of fabric is provided with a plurality of air jets for selectively applying a thin film of air over the top of the fabric layers as they are spread. While the stack is being formed, the pump draws air through the fabric stack and down through the work table surface to hold the stack in place. When the stack is completed the pump is reversed so that a positive air pressure creates a cushion of air between the stack of fabric and the work table to move the stacked material to the cutting station. When the stack has reached the cutting station, the pump is again reversed, drawing air down through the fabric stack to hold the stack in place during the work process.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An apparatus for facilitating the handling of goods or materials during processes such as cutting, sewing, binding, stacking and the like where the goods or materials are conveyed from one work station to another work station by means of a cushion of air, and then held in place at a selected work station by application of air suction, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a work table having a top with a flat, substantially smooth upper surface on which the goods are processed;
(b) a plurality of apertures arranged in spaced relationship to each other in a selected pattern covering a substantial portion of said top, and extending through said top for passage of air currents therethrough;
(c) means for generating and delivering said air currents to said apertures, said means comprising an air current generator and a plurality of conduits operatively connected thereto, each one of said conduits being separately connected to one of said apertures and collectively connected by means of a header having a substantially lesser volume than the volume of said table bounded by said apertures to said generating source for delivering air from said generator to said apertures;
(d) means for relatively instantaneously reversing said air current from a positive flow pressure to a negative flow pressure;
whereby the substantially lesser header volume allows for the relatively instantaneously application of said reversing air current such that the goods on which work is being performed are subjected to the selective and instantaneous application of a positive pressure air current for forming said cushion of air to convey the goods, or to a negative pressure air current for applying suction pressure to hold the goods in place;
thus eliminating the necessity of additional guides, apparatus or holding mechanisms for stabilizing the goods.

3 more elements

An apparatus for laying out and cutting a plurality of stacked sheets of fabric material wherein said stack is conveyed between a plurality of work stations, including a first lay-out station, by means of a cushion of air, and wherein said stack is held in place at a selected work station by means of air suction;

said apparatus comprising:
(a) a work table having a top with a flat, substantially smooth upper surface on which the fabric sheets are conveyed;
(b) a plurality of apertures arranged in spaced relationship to each other in a selected pattern covering a substantial portion of said top, and extending through said top for passage of air currents therethrough;
(c) means for generating and delivering said air currents to said apertures comprising an air generating source and a plurality of conduits operatively connected thereto, each one of said conduits separately connecting one of said apertures by means of a header having substantially lesser volume than the volume of said table bounded by said apertures to said generating source;
(d) means for relatively instantaneously reversing said air currents from a positive flow pressure to a negative flow pressure;
(e) a spreading device for laying out and stacking layers of sheet fabric material, said spreading device including air supply means for selectively applying a positive pressure film of air over the top of the fabric layers to smooth out wrinkles in the layers of fabric;
whereby as the fabric layers are spread and stacked on said table, said film of air is selectively applied from above said stack to smooth the layers as air suction is selectively and simultaneously applied through said apertures in said table to the underside of the stack to hold the stack in place;
and when the stack is completed the negative pressure air suction through said apertures is reversed to a positive pressure flow to form said air cushion on which the stack of fabric is conveyed to the next work station.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.