US 5,831,857 AGranted

Pattern alignment and cutting system

AssigneeGerber Garment Technology, Inc.

InventorsThomas N. Clarino, Mary McFadden Altshul

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A pattern alignment system for use during the garment development process prior to the cutting operation includes a table with work surface. There is a digitizer located with the surface. The operator establishes a perimeter of a hide or other fabric piece that has been positioned on the surface with a stylus that presents position signals to a controller in real time. The controller has signals corresponding to a marker and further includes algorithms to compose the drawn lines or points into an electronic representation of the piece perimeter. Defects, textures or the like in the piece are identified in a similar manner. The system includes algorithms which enable the operator to reposition one or more garment segment patterns in the marker to avoid defects or otherwise optimize the segment position on the piece.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A pattern alignment and cutting system for for adjusting the position of a pattern segment within a marker database and thereafter cutting a sheet of limp sheet material mounted on a cutting surface said system comprising;

a digitizing panel located with and in substantial registration with said cutting surface, said cutting surface being associated with a cutting table;
a hand-held digitizing means capable of manual manipulation relative to said cutting surface, said digitizing means and said digitizing panel cooperating for producing position signals representing the position of said digitizing means relative to said cutting surface;
a controller receiving said position signals and having a memory means for storing the marker database, said controller including
a means for aligning a marker reference position with a corresponding landmark position in said sheet of limp sheet material;
a means for receiving signals indicative of a position of a selected form in said sheet material piece and establishing a form position within said marker database relative to said pattern segment;
a segment adjustment means for generating adjustment command signals and for adjusting the position of said pattern segment relative to said form position within said marker in dependence on said adjustment command signals and;
a cutter for cutting the sheet of limp sheet material in accordance with said adjusted position of said pattern segment.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/525,919Filed 8 Sep 1995
Granted: 3 Nov 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

G05B 19/4205
Preparation of the program medium using a drawing, a model: in which a drawing is traced or scanned and corresponding data recorded
B26D 5/007
Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by…
B26D 7/015
Means for holding or positioning work: for sheet material or piles of sheets
B26F 1/3813
Wherein relative movements of tool head and work during cutting have a component tangential to the work surface: wherein the tool head is moved in…