Fabric cutter and method

Claim 2

Method of cutting a piece of a predetermined pattern out of a relatively longitudinally extended fabric which includes advancing said fabric lengthwise and in like increments to a cutting station, and within the station effecting a first series of parallel cuts at a 45* angle to the fabric advancement path, effecting a second series of parallel cuts at a 45* angle to said path, complementary to and intersecting said first series cuts, each of said cuts extending laterally and longitudinally in the fabric to cut the piece perimeter into each increment according to said pattern and in response to presentation of the increment to the station and in timed relation with the fabric advance to have cuts in successive increments intersect, to progressively free said piece along its perimeter from said fabric.

Claim 3

Method according to claim 1 including also maintaining the fabric taut within said station during cutting.

Claim 4

Method according to claim 1 including also cutting the fabric from one side and supporting the fabric at the opposite side.

Claim 5

Method according to claim 1 including maintaining said fabric stationary in the cutting station between successive incremental advances thereof and cutting the fabric while stationary.

Claim 6

Method according to claim 1 in which said fabric is woven and including also bias cutting said fabric along pattern lines.

Claim 7

Method according to claim 1 in which all of said first series of cuts are made simultaneously and all of said second series of cuts are made simultaneously and in sequence with said first series of cuts.

Claim 8

Method according to claim 6 including also alternately effecting first or second series cuts in laterally indexed relation relative to said fabric responsive to presentation at the cutting station of each successive fabric increment, said indexed relation equaling one-half the laterally adjacent cut-to-cut spacing.

Claim 9

Apparatus for cutting according to a pattern a piece out of a longitudinally extended fabric being advanced incrementally along a predetermined path, including cutter series comprising longitudinally spaced, opposing rows of multiple, individually and independently actuable cutting blades, said rows extending transversely of the fabric path and the blades thereof from edge-to-edge of the fabric, said cutting blades being fixed within said rows at a + or - 45* angle to the path of fabric advance to be parallel with each other within a row and normal to each other in opposing rows for effecting complementary intersecting cuts in the fabric advancing past opposing rows; means advancing the fabric past the cutters, and means actuating selected cutting blades simultaneously within a row and sequentially in opposing rows in timed relation with the fabric advance and in varying progression from row to row responsive to said pattern to cut said piece from the fabric.

Claim 10

Apparatus for cutting according to a pattern a piece out of a longitudinally extended fabric being advanced incrementally along a predetermined path, including cutter series comprising longitudinally spaced, opposing rows of multiple, individually and independently actuable cutting blades, said rows extending transversely of the fabric path and the blades thereof from edge-to-edge of the fabric, said cutting blades being fixed within said rows at a + or - 45* angle to the path of fabric advance to be parallel with each other within a row and normal to each other in opposing rows for effecting complementary intersecting cuts in the fabric advancing past opposing rows; means advancing the fabric past the cutters, and means actuating selected cutting blades simultaneously within a row and sequentially in opposing rows in timed relation with the fabric advance and in varying progression from row to row responsive to said pattern to cut said piece from the fabric.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8 including also a support bed for said fabric opposite said cutting blade rows adapted to receive said blades in passing relation.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 9 including means holding said fabric taut upon the support bed during cutting blade actuation.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 8 in which said advancing means includes a drive operable to incrementally advance said fabric lengthwise past said cutting blade rows.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 11 including also drive control means controlling fabric advance relative to actuations of said cutting blades to have successive fabric cuts intersect.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 8 in which said advancing means also includes first and second sets of feed dogs mounted before and after said cutting blade rows, respectively, saId feed dogs each comprising jaws adapted to releasably grip the fabric in opposed relation and for progressive movement of the fabric past the cutter blade rows.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 13 including also a support bed for said fabric opposite said cutting blade rows and between said sets of feed dogs, said support bed having individual blade receiving slots formed therein.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 8 in which said cutting blades are carried for cammed movement through the fabric.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 8 in which cutting blades in successive rows are paired between rows and including also means to actuate one and then the other of the pair members in a pattern-determined sequence on fabric increments to correspondingly cut the fabric in saw tooth relation.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 8 in which said rows of cutting blades comprise first and second rows, said rows being mounted for lateral indexing and including also means to actuate together certain pair members of the first row selectively, and in sequence to actuate together certain pair members of the second row in timed relation with advance of fabric to have pair member cuts intersect.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 13 including also means carrying said jaws for cyclical movement relative to said support bed in sequenced gripping and releasing relation to the fabric and timed to incrementally advance the fabric between cutter blade actuations and spaced to maintain the fabric taut upon the support during cutter blade actuations.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 8 including also a support bed for said fabric opposite said cutting blade rows, having individual blade receiving slots, said support bed being carried for indexing laterally to maintain its slots opposite said cutting blades.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 19 including also means to actuate certain pair members of one row responsive to presentation of immediately successive increments of fabric in timed relation with the advance of fabric and means to laterally index said cutting blade rows between successive actuations a distance equal to one-half the spacing of laterally adjacent cutting blades to have cuts of the same blade on selected immediately successive increments of fabric intersect.