US3844461A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Precise indexing apparatus and method
Assignee: Gerber Systems Corp
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Filing: 1973-04-09
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Granted: 1974-10-29
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Expires: 1993-04-09
Abstract
Abstract Precise indexing of a strip of sheet material on a flatbed table traversed in two coordinate directions by an instrument which works over the material is achieved by coupling the sheet material to an instrument carriage and moving the carriage along the table in one direction. Since the carriage has a precision drive system for accurately positioning the instrument over different areas of the table, indexing of the sheet material can be carried out efficiently with the same accuracy as the positioning of the instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 S Robison
- 👤 H Gerber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/22; B; B26; B26D; B26D7/00; B26D7/01; B26D7/015; B26D7/018; B26F; B26F1/00; B26F1/38; B26F1/3806; B26F1/3813; B43; B43L; B43L13/00; B43L13/02; B43L13/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
In an automatically controlled instrument system in which sheet material is spread on the supporting surface of a table while a carriage suitable for accurately positioning an instrument which works upon different areas of the spread sheet material is controllably moved in one direction back and forth over the table parallel to the supporting surface and relative to the sheet material in a stationary position, the improvement comprising: coupling means attached to the carriage and engagable with the sheet material on the supporting surface whereby the sheet material may be precisely shifted relative to the table in said one direction with the carriage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
In an automatically controlled instrument system in which sheet material is spread on the supporting surface of a table while a carriage suitable for accurately positioning an instrument which works upon different areas of the spread sheet material is controllably moved in one direction back and forth over the table parallel to the supporting surface and relative to the sheet material in a stationary position, the improvement comprising: coupling means attached to the carriage and engagable with the sheet material on the supporting surface whereby the sheet material may be precisely shifted relative to the table in said one direction with the carriage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
In the automatically controlled instrument system, the improvement of claim 1 wherein the coupling means comprises a clamp suspended in precise relationship from the carriage adjacent the supporting surface to engage and hold the material in precise positional relationship relative to the carriage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein the clamp is an electrically actuated clamp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
In the automatically controlled instrument system, the improvement of claim 1 further including: a belt extending in said one direction over the table; and wherein the coupling means comprises a clamp connected with the carriage above the belt and engagable with the belt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
In the automatically controlled instrument system, the improvement of claim 4 wherein: the belt is an endless belt encircling the table with one portion extending in said one direction over the table and below the sheet material and another portion below the table; and means are provided for supporting the portions of the endless belt for movement back and forth in said one direction relative to the table.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement of claim 5 wherein: the endless belt is magnetically sensitive; and the clamp includes an electrically actuated magnet capable of magnetically coupling with the portion of the endless belt extending over the table.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
In the automatically controlled instrument system, the improvement of claim 1 further including: a conveyor extending in said one direction relative to the table and defining a movable supporting surface on which the sheet material is spread; and the coupling means includes means for engaging the conveyor to shift the sheet material on the conveyor in said one direction relative to the table.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improvement of claim 7 wherein: the conveyor comprises an endless conveyor belt; and wherein rollers mounted to the table and extending transversely of said one direction support the conveyor belt for movement relative to the table.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
In the automatically controlled instrument system, the improvement as defined in claim 1 further including means connected with the table for generating a fluid cushion between the sheet material on the supporting surface and the table.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
In the automatically controlled instrument system having a table defining a vacuum bed and a pump for drawing air from the bed to hold the sheet material on the supporting surface, the improvement of claim 9 wherein the means for generating a fluid cushion comprises means for reversing the flow of air from the vacuum bed by the pump.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
In the automatically controlled instrument system, the improvement of claim 1 wherein the coupling means comprises a pin support member suspended from the carriage and having a number of engagement pins projecting from the member, and means for bringing the member and the sheet material on the supporting surface together to drive the engagement pins through the sheet material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
In the automatically controlled instrument system, the improvement of claim 11 further including a penetrable member defining at least a portion of the supporting surface of the table; and the means for bringing comprises means for Forcing the engagement pins of the pin support member into the penetrable member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
In the automatically controlled instrument system, the improvement of claim 11 further including a non-magnetic track defining at least a portion of the supporting surface of the table and having grooves extending in said one direction along the supporting surface; and the means for bringing comprises thrusting means for pushing the engagement pins through the sheet material into the grooves of the track.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
In the automatically controlled instrument system, the improvement of claim 11 wherein the pin support member is an elongated member extending a substantial distance over the sheet material transversely of said one direction and the engagement pins project from the elongated member at spaced stations along the member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein the coupling means includes vacuum means for securing the sheet material to the carriage as the material is shifted.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of precisely indexing a strip of sheet material on the work surface of a table having a carriage which traverses the table in one coordinate direction with precision sufficient to accurately position an instrument that operates upon the material at different areas of the table work surface comprising the steps of: coupling the sheet material to the instrument carriage; and then moving the carriage and the coupled sheet material to precisely shift a new segment of the strip of sheet material onto the work surface.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of precisely indexing a strip of sheet material on the work surface of a table having a carriage which traverses the table in one coordinate direction with precision sufficient to accurately position an instrument that operates upon the material at different areas of the table work surface comprising the steps of: coupling the sheet material to the instrument carriage; and then moving the carriage and the coupled sheet material to precisely shift a new segment of the strip of sheet material onto the work surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of precisely indexing as defined in claim 11 wherein an instrument is mounted on the carriage including the step of stopping the operation of the instrument during the step of moving.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of precisely indexing as defined in claim 11 wherein an additional step comprises: providing a belt on the table in said one direction, the belt defining the work surface on which the strip of sheet material rests; and the step of coupling comprises engaging the carriage with the belt.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the step of engaging comprises clamping the belt to the carriage without lifting the belt.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the step of engaging comprises clamping the belt to the carriage without clamping the sheet material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of precisely indexing a strip of sheet material as defined in claim 16 wherein additional steps comprise: providing a conveyor belt movable on the table in said one direction, and spreading a segment of the strip of sheet material on the conveyor belt; and wherein the step of coupling comprises coupling the carriage to the conveyor belt; and the step of moving comprises moving the carriage and the coupled conveyor belt together with the strip of sheet material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of precisely indexing as defined in claim 16 further including the steps of: mounting at least one portion of the strip of sheet material in a roll at one end of the table; and rotatably driving the roll of sheet material mounted at one end of the table simultaneously with and in coordination with the moving of the carriage coupled to the sheet material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of precisely indexing as defined in claim 16 wherein the step of coupling comprises engaging the strip of sheet material at both lateral edges.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of indexing a strip of sheet material on the table as defined in claim 16 including the step of supporting the sheet material from the table on a fluid cushion during the step of moving.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of indexing as defined in claim 24 further including: halting the moving of the carriage and the coupled sheet material after a new segment of the strip is on the work surface; and then holding the new segment of the strip in position on the table with vacuum and uncoupling the sheet material from the carriage.
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) | 1977-10-28 | 1978-04-29 | 1978-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-28 | 1982-04-29 | 1982-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-28 | 1986-04-29 | 1986-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |