Matcutter with clamping system and cutting head

A machine for cutting a sheet material comprising:

• (a) a clamping system comprised of a base having a substantially planar support surface with a marginal portion;
• a plurality of clamp units, each including a separate clamping member having an axial stem portion and a head portion on one end of said stem portion, each of said head portions having a substantially flat top surface lying substantially parallel to the plane of said support surface, and a peripheral element extending laterally beyond the adjacent surface of said stem portion, said peripheral element being relatively thin, in the direction of the axis of said stem portion, and being constructed to engage thereunder an edge portion of a sheet material lying on said support surface and proximate said adjacent surface of said stem portion, said clamp units being arranged with said stem portions of said clamping members extending through said marginal portion of said support surface, with said head portions of said clamping members spaced from one another along said marginal portion, and with said peripheral elements of said head portions in overlying relationship to said support surface, said clamping members being movable axially in said clamp units between release and clamp positions with said head portions spaced relatively away from and proximate to said support surface, respectively, for clamping the sheet material against said support surface in said clamp positions;
• and actuating means for effecting movement of said clamping members between said release and clamp positions and for causing each of said clamp units to apply, independently of the other of said clamp units and in effective coaction with said support surface, a portion of the total clamping force applied in said clamp positions;
• (b) a cutting head assembly;
• and
• (c) means for supporting said cutting head assembly for movement over said support surface of said base, said cutting head assembly including a cutting element and a surrounding glide plate extending outwardly about said cutting element, said cutting element and guide plate being disposed for contact with sheet material supported on said support surface of said base;
• whereby, in said clamp positions of said clamping members, said glide plate can pass, without substantial impediment, over the surface of the clamped sheet material and said top surfaces of said head portions, in contact therewith.