Patent US5298018A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3598006A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for working on sheet material and other objects
Assignee: Gerber Technology LLC
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Filing: 1970-02-02
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Granted: 1971-08-10
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Expires: 1990-02-02
Abstract
Abstract A method for working on sheet material or other objects uses a vacuum holddown device having a material-supporting surface including a plurality of vacuum openings passing therethrough. A vacuum chamber associated with the supporting surface applies a vacuum through the vacuum openings to the sheet material or other object received thereon. A sheet or panel of substantially airimpervious sheet material, such as a sheet of thin polyethylene, is spread over the exposed surface of the work, and cooperates with the vacuum to draw it toward the supporting surface and into a more compact condition. The air-impervious panel used with the vacuum may be an expendable sheet of such material spread entirely over the surface of the work prior to the performance of work thereon and/or may be one or two continuous belts of such material located in front of and/or behind the work tool. The vacuum and air-impervious panel may also be used to hold a layup of sheet material to be cut in a compact condition for a long period of time between the laying up process and the cutting process to prevent the various layers of the layup from shifting, flowing or otherwise moving relative to one another so as to depart from their relative positions as initially laid up.
Inventors
- 👤 Heinz Joseph Gerber
- 👤 David R Pearl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:27
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26D; B26D7/00; B26D7/01; B26D7/018; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S83/00; Y10S83/929; Y10S83/936; Y10S83/939; Y10S83/94; Y10S83/941; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/0405; Y10T83/0476; Y10T83/748
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for working on an object, said method comprising the steps of placing said object on a supporting surface, positioning a substantially air-impervious panel in overlying relation with at least a portion of the exposed surface of said object, producing a vacuum directly adjacent the surface of said airimpervious panel facing said object so that atmospheric pressure acting on said panel Pushes it toward said object and causes said object to be compressed between said panel and said supporting surface, and thereafter working on said object in the vicinity of said panel while said vacuum is applied thereto.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for working on an object, said method comprising the steps of placing said object on a supporting surface, positioning a substantially air-impervious panel in overlying relation with at least a portion of the exposed surface of said object, producing a vacuum directly adjacent the surface of said airimpervious panel facing said object so that atmospheric pressure acting on said panel Pushes it toward said object and causes said object to be compressed between said panel and said supporting surface, and thereafter working on said object in the vicinity of said panel while said vacuum is applied thereto.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for cutting a layup of sheet material comprising the steps of placing said layup in spread condition on a supporting surface, positioning a substantially air-impervious panel in overlying relation with at least a portion of the exposed surface of said layup, producing a vacuum directly adjacent the surface of said air-impervious panel facing said layup so that atmospheric pressure acting on said panel pushes it toward said layup and causes said layup to be compressed between said panel and said supporting surface, and thereafter cutting said layup in the vicinity of said panel while said vacuum is applied thereto.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for cutting a layup of sheet material comprising the steps of placing said layup in spread condition on a supporting surface, positioning a substantially air-impervious panel in overlying relation with at least a portion of the exposed surface of said layup, producing a vacuum directly adjacent the surface of said air-impervious panel facing said layup so that atmospheric pressure acting on said panel pushes it toward said layup and causes said layup to be compressed between said panel and said supporting surface, and thereafter cutting said layup in the vicinity of said panel while said vacuum is applied thereto.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for cutting sheet material comprising the steps of placing sheet material in spread condition on a supporting surface, providing a cutting tool movable relative to said sheet material in the plane thereof for cutting the same, positioning a substantially air-impervious panel in overlying relation with the exposed surface of said sheet material at least in a zone adjacent said cutting tool, producing a vacuum directly adjacent the surface of said air-impervious panel facing said sheet material so that atmospheric pressure acting on said panel pushes it toward said sheet material and causes said sheet material to be compressed between said panel and said supporting surface at said zone, and cutting said sheet material with said cutting tool while said vacuum is applied thereto.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for cutting sheet material comprising the steps of placing sheet material in spread condition on a supporting surface, providing a cutting tool movable relative to said sheet material in the plane thereof for cutting the same, positioning a substantially air-impervious panel in overlying relation with the exposed surface of said sheet material at least in a zone adjacent said cutting tool, producing a vacuum directly adjacent the surface of said air-impervious panel facing said sheet material so that atmospheric pressure acting on said panel pushes it toward said sheet material and causes said sheet material to be compressed between said panel and said supporting surface at said zone, and cutting said sheet material with said cutting tool while said vacuum is applied thereto.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for working on sheet material comprising the steps of spreading a layup of sheet material onto a supporting surface, positioning a substantially air-impervious panel in overlying relation with the exposed surface of said layup, producing a vacuum directly adjacent the surface of said air-impervious panel facing said layup so that atmospheric pressure acting on said panel pushes it toward said layup and causes said layup to be compressed between said panel and said supporting surface, maintaining said vacuum for a relatively long period of time in comparison to the period of time required for spreading said layup onto said supporting surface so as to hold said layup in a compressed state during such relatively long period of time, and thereafter cutting said layup at the end of said relatively long period of time.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for working on sheet material comprising the steps of spreading a layup of sheet material onto a supporting surface, positioning a substantially air-impervious panel in overlying relation with the exposed surface of said layup, producing a vacuum directly adjacent the surface of said air-impervious panel facing said layup so that atmospheric pressure acting on said panel pushes it toward said layup and causes said layup to be compressed between said panel and said supporting surface, maintaining said vacuum for a relatively long period of time in comparison to the period of time required for spreading said layup onto said supporting surface so as to hold said layup in a compressed state during such relatively long period of time, and thereafter cutting said layup at the end of said relatively long period of time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method for working on sheet material as defined in claim 4 further characterized by maintaining said vacuum at least in the vicinity of the cutting zone while performing said step of cutting said layup.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method for cutting a layup of sheet material as defined in claim 2 further characterized by said layup which is placed on said supporting surface being comprised of sheets of porous material, and said step of producing a vacuum directly adjacent the surface of said air-impervious panel facing said layup being performed by producing a vacuum adjacent said supporting surface which latter vacuum is transmitted to said air-impervious panel through said porous material of said layup.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-09 | 1975-02-08 | 1975-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-09 | 1979-02-08 | 1979-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-09 | 1983-02-08 | 1983-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |