Marking apparatus

An apparatus for cutting and annotating porous sheet material, said apparatus comprising:

• means defining a support surface for supporting said sheet material,
• marking means for outputing a stream of powder downwardly onto said sheet material to mark it, said marking means comprising means to deliver said powder to said sheet material, and
• means for supporting said cutting means and said marking means adjacent to said support surface and for automatically moving said marking means and said support surface in relation to each other along a first course which outlines said annotation as said marking means outputs a stream of powder and moving said cutting means and said support surface in relation to each other along a second course which outlines a pattern piece as said cutting means cuts out said pattern piece,
• said marking means including means for grinding powder from its solid form and directly dispensing said powder by gravity through an outlet to said sheet material, said means for grinding comprising said movable mechanical element.

An apparatus for producing an annotation, with powder on a pattern piece, said apparatus comprising

• marking means comprising means for storing said powder;
• means for guiding said powder to an outlet;
• a toothed wheel rotatably mounted adjacent to a portion of said means for guiding said powder and partially defining a channel between said means for guiding said powder and said wheel, teeth of said wheel extending substantially into said channel;
• and means for rotating said wheel so that said teeth move said powder along said means for guiding said powder,
• means defining a support surface for supporting said workpiece, and
• means for moving said marking means and said support surface relative to one another along a course which outlines said annotation as powder is output through said outlet, said outlet having dimensions suitable to produce omnidirectional lines of sufficiently similar and small thickness to yield a legible annotation.

An apparatus for working on sheet material, said apparatus comprising:

• marker means for marking said sheet material with powder, said marker means comprising grinding means for grinding said powder from its solid form and temporarily suspending it in air housing means for containing said temporarily suspended powder about said grinding means, guide means for directing said powder toward said sheet material, and air moving means for entraining said powder within said housing means immediately after being ground and while said powder is temporarily suspended in the air and transporting said powder through said guide means,
• means defining a support surface for supporting said sheet material,
• means for supporting said guide means adjacent to said support surface and moving said guide means and said support surface relative to one another in a manner which corresponds to the shape of an inscription as said marker means deposits powder on said sheet material to produce said inscription, and
• cutting means for cutting said sheet material,
• said means for supporting said guide means and moving said guide means relative to said support surface including means for supporting said cutting means and moving said cutting means and said support surface relative to one another, said guide means being fixed relative to said cutting means.

An apparatus for working on sheet material, said apparatus comprising:

• marking means for marking said sheet material with powder, said marking means comprising grinding means for grinding powder from its solid form,
• means defining a support surface for supporting said sheet material,
• means for supporting said grinding means above said support surface to directly deposit said powder on said sheet material and moving said grinding means and said support surface relative to one another,
• cutting means for cutting said worksheet, and
• means for supporting said cutting means adjacent to said support surface.

An apparatus for working on sheet material, said apparatus comprising:

• marking means for marking said sheet material with powder, said marking means comprising grinding means for grinding powder from its solid form,
• means defining a support surface for supporting said sheet material,
• means for supporting said grinding means above said support surface to directly deposit said powder on said sheet material and moving said grinding means and said support surface relative to one another, and
• cutting means for cutting said worksheet,
• said means for supporting said grinding means and moving said grinding means and said support surface relative to one another including means for moving said cutting means and said support surface relative to one another.

An apparatus for cutting and annotating a fabric worksheet, said apparatus comprising:

• means defining a support surface for supporting said fabric worksheet,
• cutting means for cutting said fabric worksheet,
• means for grinding powder from its solid form and directly dispensing said ground powder to an outlet to mark said fabric supported on a said support surface, and
• means for moving said grinding means and said support surface relative to one another in a manner which corresponds to the shape of an annotation as powder is dispensed onto said fabric worksheet and for moving said cutting means and said support surface relative to one-another in a manner which corresponds to the shape of a pattern piece as said cutting means cuts said worksheet.

An apparatus for cutting and annotating a fabric worksheet, said apparatus comprising:

• means defining a support surface for supporting said fabric worksheet,
• cutting means for cutting said fabric worksheet,
• means for dispensing a stream of powder onto said fabric worksheet to mark said worksheet,
• means for moving said dispensing means and said support surface relative to one another in a manner which corresponds to the shape of an annotation as said stream of powder is dispensed onto said fabric worksheet and for moving said cutting means and said support surface relative to one another in a manner which corresponds to the shape of a pattern piece as said cutting means cuts said worksheet, and
• means for varying the rate of flow of said stream of powder as it is dispensed onto said worksheet in accordance with the speed of said dispensing means relative to said supporting surface.