Patent US3777604A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3777604A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for supporting a stack of sheet material being cut or otherwise worked on
Assignee: Gerber Technology LLC
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Filing: 1972-04-25
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Granted: 1973-12-11
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Expires: 1992-04-25
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for supporting a stack or layup of air-impervious sheet material to be cut or otherwise worked upon includes a horizontal base on which the stack is positioned. The stack is covered by an air-impervious cover sheet, and by as associated vacuum means, air is withdrawn from between the top of the stack and the cover sheet to create a sub-atmospheric pressure under the cover sheet whereby atmospheric pressure on the top of the cover sheet will hold the stack in a firm condition while it is worked upon by a cutting tool or the like. The means for withdrawing air from between the cover sheet and the top of the stack includes a porous or air conducting layer of material, such as corrugated cardboard, which may be part of the cover sheet or a separate sheet in itself. If the material of this stack includes layers of porous material alternating with layers of air-impervious material, the latter porous layers themselves serve as air-conducting layers for withdrawing air from below the cover sheet and from between the layers of air-impervious material of the stack. Preferably, to provide the vacuum means, the horizontal base for supporting the stack is air-pervious and located over a vacuum chamber with the vacuum from the chamber passing through the horizontal base and past the longitudinal edges of the stack, through a block or layer of air conducting material, to the space between the cover sheet and the top of the stack.
Inventors
- 👤 H Gerber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:02
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26D; B26D7/00; B26D7/01; B26D7/018; B26D7/20; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S83/00; Y10S83/929; Y10S83/936; Y10S83/939; Y10S83/94; Y10S83/941; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/566; Y10T83/687; Y10T83/6905; Y10T83/693; Y10T83/748
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
In an apparatus for supporting a stack of sheet material to be worked upon by a tool and having a generally horizontal airpervious base disposed between generally vertical impervious walls to cover a chamber subjected to vacuum to draw air downwardly through the base, and also having a means supporting a tool over the base for movement relative thereto when working upon a stack supported on the base, an improved structure for subjecting a stack having impervious sheet material to the vacuum force by withdrawing air horizontally from the stack and then downwardly, such structure including an air-impervious cover extending between at least two of the said walls and across the stack, means associated with the cover adjacent the top of the stack to permit generally horizontal air flow in the direction the cover extends across the stack, and an air-pervious block disposed between at least one of the said walls and the stack to permit the air being withdrawn horizontally of the stack to be directed downwardly to the vacuum chamber, whereby the stack is firmly supported on the base by air at atmospheric pressure bearing upon the cover.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
In an apparatus for supporting a stack of sheet material to be worked upon by a tool and having a generally horizontal airpervious base disposed between generally vertical impervious walls to cover a chamber subjected to vacuum to draw air downwardly through the base, and also having a means supporting a tool over the base for movement relative thereto when working upon a stack supported on the base, an improved structure for subjecting a stack having impervious sheet material to the vacuum force by withdrawing air horizontally from the stack and then downwardly, such structure including an air-impervious cover extending between at least two of the said walls and across the stack, means associated with the cover adjacent the top of the stack to permit generally horizontal air flow in the direction the cover extends across the stack, and an air-pervious block disposed between at least one of the said walls and the stack to permit the air being withdrawn horizontally of the stack to be directed downwardly to the vacuum chamber, whereby the stack is firmly supported on the base by air at atmospheric pressure bearing upon the cover.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein there are two such blocKs provided, one between each of the said two walls and the stack, whereby air is withdrawn horizontally across the stack and then directed downwardly to the vacuum chamber at the sides of the stack adjacent the said two walls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improvement defined in claim 2 wherein the air-impervious cover comprises a thin plastic sheet spread across the stack and over the said two blocks and the said two walls at the said sides of the stack.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The improved apparatus of claim 3 and wherein the means associated with the cover to permit generally horizontal air flow and the two blocks are combined as a single relatively flexible and non-compressible pad of air-pervious material extending across the stack below the plastic cover sheet and in the direction thereof and then downwardly at the sides of the stack between it and the said two walls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The stack supporting apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein the said means associated with the cover comprises a relatively non-compressible blanket extending across the stack and onto the two blocks at the sides thereof below the plastic cover sheet the said blanket being corrugated at least on its bottom face to define flutes extending across the stack to accommodate the generally horizontal flow of air.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
145 words
The stack supporting apparatus as defined in claim 1 and wherein there are two generally vertical impervious walls, each at a side of the stack opposite the other and projecting upwardly from the base approximately to the height of the stack, there are two relatively non-compressible air-pervious blocks, each at a side of the stack between the stack and the adjacent vertical wall, and wherein the cover and the air flow permitting means associated therewith comprise a relatively non-compressible blanket which extends across the stack and the two blocks with its side edges resting on the upper ends of the two vertical walls, the said blanket being corrugated at least on its bottom face to define flutes which are closed at their ends adjacent the side edges of the blanket to accommodate the generally horizontal flow of air from the stack onto the said blocks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
178 words
The stack supporting apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are two generally vertical impervious walls, each at a side of the stack opposite the other and projecting upwardly from the base approximately to the height of the stack, there are two relatively non-compressible air-pervious blocks, each at a side of the stack between the stack and the adjacent vertical wall, and wherein the cover and air flow permitting means associated therewith comprise a pair of flexible but relatively non-compressible impervious endless belts, and means supporting said endless belts for generally horizontal movement relative to the base on opposite sides of the said tool and with the lower extent of the belts engaging the top of the stack and extending across the stack and the two blocks with the side edges of the belts over the two vertical walls, the said belts being corrugated on their outer surfaces to define flutes which are closed at their ends adjacent the side edges of the belts to accommodate the generally horizontal flow of air from the stack onto the said blocks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the means supporting the endless belts is movable with the tool relative to the base longitudinally of the said belts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
178 words
In an apparatus for supporting a stack of sheet material to be cut and having a horizontal longitudinally extending air-pervious base disposed between vertical impervious side walls to cover a chamber subjected to vacuum to draw air downwardly through the base and also having a carriage supporting a cutting tool for movement longitudinally and transversely relative to the base while the tool reciprocates vertically into the base to cut a stack supported on the base, an improved structure for subjecting a stack having impervious sheets to the vacuum force including an air-pervious block disposed between the stack and each side wall, an air impeRvious cover extending across the stack and between the side walls, means associated with said cover adjacent the top of the stack to permit air flow transversely of the stack into the air-pervious blocks, and means supported by the carriage to engage said cover adjacent the reciprocating cutting tool and movable longitudinally and transversely with the cutting tool to minimize the loss of vacuum force caused by the tool cutting the cover with the stack.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
178 words
In an apparatus for supporting a stack of sheet material to be cut and having a horizontal longitudinally extending air-pervious base disposed between vertical impervious side walls to cover a chamber subjected to vacuum to draw air downwardly through the base and also having a carriage supporting a cutting tool for movement longitudinally and transversely relative to the base while the tool reciprocates vertically into the base to cut a stack supported on the base, an improved structure for subjecting a stack having impervious sheets to the vacuum force including an air-pervious block disposed between the stack and each side wall, an air impeRvious cover extending across the stack and between the side walls, means associated with said cover adjacent the top of the stack to permit air flow transversely of the stack into the air-pervious blocks, and means supported by the carriage to engage said cover adjacent the reciprocating cutting tool and movable longitudinally and transversely with the cutting tool to minimize the loss of vacuum force caused by the tool cutting the cover with the stack.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a pair of rotatably supported rollers which engage the cover on opposite transverse sides of the cutting tool and adjacent thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein a presser foot is associated with each such roller to assist in holding the cover down.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 9 and further including a pair of impervious endless belts and means for rotatably supporting said endless belts on the carriage in engagement with said cover adjacent said cutting tool on opposite longitudinal sides thereof, the belts being supported by the carriage for movement relative to the base and stack in the longitudinal direction only.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for supporting and holding in a relatively firm condition a stack of sheet material including at least one relatively air-impervious layer, said apparatus comprising a base having a supporting surface upon which a stack of sheet material such as aforesaid may be placed, means providing a vacuum adjacent said supporting surface, means providing an air-impervious cover extending over the top of a stack of sheet material supported on said supporting surface, a layer of material permitting horizontal air flow between said cover and the upper portion of said stack, and means adjacent at least one edge of said stack for conducting air from said horizontal air flow permitting layer to said supporting surface so that air is withdrawn from said horizontal air flow permitting layer by said vacuum adjacent said supporting surface.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for supporting and holding in a relatively firm condition a stack of sheet material including at least one relatively air-impervious layer, said apparatus comprising a base having a supporting surface upon which a stack of sheet material such as aforesaid may be placed, means providing a vacuum adjacent said supporting surface, means providing an air-impervious cover extending over the top of a stack of sheet material supported on said supporting surface, a layer of material permitting horizontal air flow between said cover and the upper portion of said stack, and means adjacent at least one edge of said stack for conducting air from said horizontal air flow permitting layer to said supporting surface so that air is withdrawn from said horizontal air flow permitting layer by said vacuum adjacent said supporting surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13 further characterized by said means for conducting air from said horizontal air flow permitting layer to said supporting surface comprising a block of porous material positioned adjacent said at least one edge of said stack.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 14 further characterized by said cover being a sheet of flexible air-impervious material which extends over said layer of material permitting horizontal air flow and downwardly past the outboard side of said porous block to said supporting surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13 further characterized by said layer of material permitting horizontal air flow being a sheet of material having a surface configuration on its undersurface which provides air conducting channels between it and said stack of material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13 further characterized by said means for conducting air from said layer of material permitting horizontal air flow to said supporting surface consisting of additional portions of said latter layer of material and of said cover which additional portions extend downwardly past said at least one edge of said stack of material from the top of said stack to said supporting surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13 further characterized by said layer of material permitting horizontal air flow comprising corrugated cardboard.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
76 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13 further characterized by said supporting surface being divided into a plurality of zones arranged end-to-end longitudinally of said base and each extending transversely of said base, said means for providing said vacuum adjacent said supporting surface including means for selectively providing said vacuum at desired ones of said zones, and said layer of material permitting horizontal air flow having air conducting channels extending only generally transversely of said base.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
200 words
In an apparatus for cutting a stack of sheet material coMprised of a plurality of generally similar layers of sheet material superimposed on one another and including a means providing a supporting surface upon which a stack of sheet material such as aforesaid may be placed and also including a cutting tool and means for moving said stack and said cutting tool relative to one another to cause said cutting tool to follow a desired line of cut on said stack, an improved structure for subjecting said stack of sheet material to a vacuum force to hold it in a firm condition for cutting, said improved structure comprising an air-impervious cover extending over the top of said stack of sheet material, means other than one of said generally similar layers of sheet material of said stack providing air flow channels between said cover and the top layer of said stack, and means adjacent at least one edge of said stack for drawing air from said air flow channels to create a subatmospheric pressure on the underside of said cover whereby atmospheric pressure acting on the top side of said cover urges it toward said supporting surface to compress said stack.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
200 words
In an apparatus for cutting a stack of sheet material coMprised of a plurality of generally similar layers of sheet material superimposed on one another and including a means providing a supporting surface upon which a stack of sheet material such as aforesaid may be placed and also including a cutting tool and means for moving said stack and said cutting tool relative to one another to cause said cutting tool to follow a desired line of cut on said stack, an improved structure for subjecting said stack of sheet material to a vacuum force to hold it in a firm condition for cutting, said improved structure comprising an air-impervious cover extending over the top of said stack of sheet material, means other than one of said generally similar layers of sheet material of said stack providing air flow channels between said cover and the top layer of said stack, and means adjacent at least one edge of said stack for drawing air from said air flow channels to create a subatmospheric pressure on the underside of said cover whereby atmospheric pressure acting on the top side of said cover urges it toward said supporting surface to compress said stack.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20 further characterized by said air-impervious cover comprising a thin plastic cover sheet, and said means providing air flow channels between said cover and the top layer of said stack comprising a separate sheet of material interposed between said stack and said cover sheet.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said separate sheet of material is a sheet of corrugated cardboard.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20 further characterized by said cover having its under-surface configured to define said air flow channels between said cover and said top layer of said stack.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20 further characterized by said means for drawing air from said air flow channels including an elongated air conducting member extending along said at least one edge of said stack, and means for applying a vacuum to said elongated member.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 24 further characterized by said elongated member being a block of porous material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
86 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20 further characterized by a pair of endless belts of air-impervious material located above said cover and on opposite sides of said cutting tool, said belts each having a portion thereof engageable with said cover to seal cuts made in said cover by said cutting tool, and means supporting said belts for movement in response to movement of said cutting tool in one coordinate direction relative to said stack to maintain said belts in place relative to said cutting tool.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20 further characterized by a pair of rollers located on opposite transverse sides of said cutting tool and arranged to engage the top surface of said cover while said cutting tool is cutting to aid in holding down said cover.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
82 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20 further characterized by said cover being in the form of two endless belts of air-impervious sheet material located on opposite sides of said cutting tool and spaced from one another longitudinally of said supporting surface to form a transversely extending gap within which said cutting tool works, each of said endless belts of sheet material having its undersurface configured to define said air flow channels between said cover and said top layer of said stack.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3495492A
Cited
US3585888A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-10 | 1977-06-11 | 1977-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-10 | 1981-06-11 | 1981-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-10 | 1985-06-11 | 1985-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |