Method and apparatus for cutting parts from hides or similar irregular pieces of sheet material

A method for cutting parts from a plurality of hides of different shapes and sizes, said method comprising:

• providing a plurality of hides of different shape and size,
• providing a digitizing table having a surface for supporting a hide to be digitized and having a row of pins extending upwardly from said surface located on opposite sides of the space occupied by a hide when spread on said supporting surface,
• providing a cutting table having a surface for supporting a hide and having a plurality of pins located on opposite sides of the space occupied by a hide when spread on said cutting table with said pins of said cutting table having a placement corresponding to the placement of said pins of said digitizing table,
• spreading each hide on said digitizing table and digitizing it to provide a digital representation thereof,
• at some point before the removal of each hide from said digitizing table applying a flexible means, with holes for receiving said pins, to said pins of said digitizing table so that said flexible means extends across said hide, and attaching said hide to said flexible means,
• spreading each hide on said cutting table by placing the holes of the attached flexible means to said pins of said cutting table to cause said hide to assume on said cutting table a shape and position related to the shape and position of said hide on said digitizing table,
• using said digital representation of the hide spread on said cutting table to provide cutting instructions for cutting parts therefrom, and
• then cutting the hide spread on said cutting table using said cutting instructions.

A digitizer for use in cutting hides, said digitizer comprising:

• means providing a supporting surface for supporting a hide in spread condition,
• means for digitizing a hide spread on said supporting surface,
• a plurality of pins extending upwardly from said supporting surface on opposite sides of the space occupied by a hide spread thereon, and
• a flexible means with holes which may be placed over said pins so as to cause said flexible means to extend across a hide spread on said supporting surface and which flexible means may be attached to said hide to establish its shape and position relative to said supporting surface.

A cutter for cutting parts from a hide, said cutter comprising:

• means providing a supporting surface for supporting a hide to be cut in spread condition,
• means for cutting parts from a hide spread on said supporting surface,
• a plurality of pins located on opposite sides of the space occupied by a hide spread on said supporting surface, and
• a flexible means with holes which may be moved over said pins so as to cause a hide attached to said flexible means to assume a shape and position relative to said supporting surface dictated by its attachment to said flexible means.