Die-cutting beaded material
AssigneeMexican Technologies Company, Inc.
InventorMichael Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is provided for cutting beaded fabric that includes a bead attached to cloth-like material. According to one embodiment, a continuous length of the beaded fabric is fed through a guide into a die-cutting press and is die-cut via a soft anvil die while the material is retained in the guide. A guide is also provided for retaining the beaded fabric during die-cutting operations. Pre-cut beaded fabric is also provided that is easily separated into tie-downs. A continuous cutting method is also provided for forming individual tie-downs from a combination of fabric and plastic material used to form a bead on the fabric. The continuous cutting method may include die-cutting beaded fabric, placing a mark on a bead of the beaded fabric, and severing the bead at the mark.
Claims14
A method for cutting beaded fabric, the method comprising:
- advancing a substantially continuous length of beaded fabric through a generally continuous guide disposed in a die press until the breaded fabric substantially covers a steel rule disposed within the die press, the beaded fabric including a bead;
- pressing a cutting edge of the steel rule through fabric of the beaded fabric;
- withdrawing a cut portion of the continuous length of beaded fabric from an exit end of the guide while simultaneously advancing an uncut portion of the continuous length of beaded fabric into an entrance end of the guide;
- and
- separating the cut portion from the continuous length of beaded material including:
- separating a bead section associated with the cut portion from the remainder of the bead;
- and
- breaking a connecting portion between the bead section and the remainder of the bead, the connecting portion having a reduced cross-section from the remainder of the bead.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.