Abstract An apparatus cuts pattern pieces from a layup of sheet material and temporarily joins the pattern pieces of similar shape in bundles for convenient handling or storage. The apparatus employs a cutting blade which is mounted on a two axis carriage mechanism and translated through a layup of sheet material spread on a support table having a penetrable bed so that a stack of pattern pieces having the same shape are cut from the layup. The two axis carriage mechanism is numerically controlled so that the blade follows a programmed cutting path which defines the periphery of the pattern pieces to be cut from the sheet material. A binding mechanism which inserts a binding material through the sheet material to hold the stacked pattern pieces in a bundle is also mounted to the two axis carriage mechanism to move the binding mechanism over the layup between spaced stations within the periphery of the cutting path where the binding material is to be inserted. The binding mechanism may take the form of a stitching mechanism having a needle which generates non-locking stitches in the pattern pieces by reciprocating through the layup of sheet material and into the penetrable bed at spaced stations. In another form, the binding mechanism may include a stapler which projects staples through the layup of sheet material and partly into the penetrable bed at the spaced stations. Both the stitching and stapling operations can be performed before or after the pattern pieces are cut from the layup sheet material and, after either operation, the pattern pieces may be striped or removed singly from the temporary bundle or the entire bundle may be broken apart by removing the binding material.
Apparatus for cutting and bundling a plurality of pattern pieces from a layup of sheet material comprising: support means defining a support surface for holding the layup of sheet material in a spread condition; cutting means for cutting stacks of pattern pieces from a layup of sheet material spread on the support surface; a binder for projecting binding material through said layup; carriage means connected to said cutting means, said binder and said support means for translating said cutting means and said binder relative to said support means and layups of sheet material spread on the support surface; motor means connected to said support means and said carriage means for controlling the translation of said cutting means and said binder relative to said support means; and means for automatically controlling said motor means to cause said cutting means during one period of time to cut stacks of pattern pieces from a layup of sheet material spread on the support surface and to cause said binder during a different period of time to project binding material at a plurality of spaced points through such layup within tHe bounds of each of said stacks to bind together the layers thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
Apparatus for cutting and bundling a plurality of pattern pieces from a layup of sheet material comprising: support means defining a support surface for holding the layup of sheet material in a spread condition; cutting means for cutting stacks of pattern pieces from a layup of sheet material spread on the support surface; a binder for projecting binding material through said layup; carriage means connected to said cutting means, said binder and said support means for translating said cutting means and said binder relative to said support means and layups of sheet material spread on the support surface; motor means connected to said support means and said carriage means for controlling the translation of said cutting means and said binder relative to said support means; and means for automatically controlling said motor means to cause said cutting means during one period of time to cut stacks of pattern pieces from a layup of sheet material spread on the support surface and to cause said binder during a different period of time to project binding material at a plurality of spaced points through such layup within tHe bounds of each of said stacks to bind together the layers thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus for joining sheet material as defined in claim 1 wherein said binder comprises stapling means for inserting staples through the sheet material of the layup and partially into said penetrable support means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus for cutting and bundling as defined in claim 1 wherein: said support means comprises a table having a penetrable bed defining the support surface; said cutting means includes a blade having a cutting edge and means for placing the edge of the blade in motion through a layup of sheet material at the periphery of the pattern pieces and through the support surface defined by the penetrable bed; and said binder also includes means for projecting a binding material through the layup of sheet material into the penetrable bed within the periphery of the pattern pieces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus for cutting and bundling as defined in claim 3 wherein said binder comprises stapling means for driving staples through the layup of sheet material within the periphery of the pattern pieces and into the penetrable bed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus for cutting and bundling as defined in claim 3 wherein said binder comprises stitching means for inserting a loop of thread through the layup of sheet material within the periphery of the pattern pieces and into the penetrable bed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus for cutting and bundling as defined in claim 1 wherein said carriage means includes a first carriage movable in a first coordinate direction over the support surface of said support means and a second carriage mounted on the first carriage and movable on the first carriage in a second coordinate direction parallel to the support surface and perpendicular to the first coordinate direction; and wherein said cutting means and said binder are mounted to the second carriage for movement with the first carriage in the first coordinate direction and movement with the second carriage relative to the first carriage in a second coordinate direction over the support surface of said support means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus for joining sheet material as defined in claim 1 wherein the binder projects a pin through the layup of sheet material to the penetrable work surface.