Fabric cutting apparatus and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cutting pieces of fabrics of uniform thickness and for stacking these pieces. The method generally includes arranging and maintaining a length of unrolled fabric on a cutting table which comprises a revolving cylinder which rotates so that the length of fabric is positioned to face a cutting instrument. The fabric is cut out according to one or more predetermined patterns when the cylinder stops rotating. Displacement of the cutting instrument over the circumference of a cylinder follows the generators of the cylinder during its motion. After the fabric is cut, the cylinder rotates to deposit the cutout pieces onto a fixed or mobile receiving/stacking table which is positioned under the cylinder. During such deposition, a new length of fabric is simultaneously arranged on the cylinder preparatory to being cut. Alternately, a conveyor belt can be used in lieu of the cylinder.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.