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US4588871A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fabric cutting apparatus and method

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-05-12
•
Granted: 1986-05-13
•
Expires: 2002-05-12
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cutting pieces of fabrics of uniform thickness and for stacking these pieces. The method generally includes arranging and maintaining a length of unrolled fabric on a cutting table which comprises a revolving cylinder which rotates so that the length of fabric is positioned to face a cutting instrument. The fabric is cut out according to one or more predetermined patterns when the cylinder stops rotating. Displacement of the cutting instrument over the circumference of a cylinder follows the generators of the cylinder during its motion. After the fabric is cut, the cylinder rotates to deposit the cutout pieces onto a fixed or mobile receiving/stacking table which is positioned under the cylinder. During such deposition, a new length of fabric is simultaneously arranged on the cylinder preparatory to being cut. Alternately, a conveyor belt can be used in lieu of the cylinder.

Inventors

  • 👤 Bernard Etcheparre
  • 👤 Jean Etcheparre

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 21:55
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26D; B26D7/00; B26D7/08; B26D7/086; A; A41; A41H; A41H43/00; A41H43/02; B26D7/18; B26F; B26F1/00; B26F1/38; B26F1/3806; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/202; Y10T83/2033; Y10T83/2037; Y10T83/204; Y10T83/2092; Y10T83/2207; Y10T83/647; Y10T83/658

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim 106 words
A method of continuously severing and stacking uniform thickness fabric pieces onto a receiving table, said method comprising: (a) positioning and maintaining said fabric on a cutting table; (b) severing pieces of said fabric according to a predetermined pattern by using a cutting means which is attached to a guide rail, said guide rail also being attached to said cutting table by two rotatable arms, said rotatable arms being attached to an axis of said cutting table and being positioned above said cutting table; and (c) depositing said severed pieces onto said receiving table, said severed pieces being deposited at predetermined locations on said receiving table.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 106 words
A method of continuously severing and stacking uniform thickness fabric pieces onto a receiving table, said method comprising: (a) positioning and maintaining said fabric on a cutting table; (b) severing pieces of said fabric according to a predetermined pattern by using a cutting means which is attached to a guide rail, said guide rail also being attached to said cutting table by two rotatable arms, said rotatable arms being attached to an axis of said cutting table and being positioned above said cutting table; and (c) depositing said severed pieces onto said receiving table, said severed pieces being deposited at predetermined locations on said receiving table.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said fabric is unrolled from a large fabric roll as needed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising positioning said fabric onto said cutting table by a plurality of rollers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method according to claim 3 wherein one of said rollers is a pressure roller, said pressure roller being positioned adjacent to said cutting table, and said fabric being urged between said pressure roller and said cutting table.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said cutting table is cylindrical and rotatable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said cutting table is an endless conveyor belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said fabric is maintained on said cutting table by glue.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said fabric is maintained on said cutting table by pricks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising driving said rotating arms in rotation in order to cause displacement of said cutting means around said cylinder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the displacement of said guide rail and said cutting means causes said fabric to be cut out on a bias.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising adjusting the vertical height of said receiving table in order to allow said fabric pieces to be stacked.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising moving said cutting table along the longitudinal axis of said receiving table.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising moving said receiving table along the longitudinal axis of said cutting table.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising synchronizing said steps by means of a computer.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 105 words
An apparatus for continually severing and stacking uniform thickness pieces of fabric, said apparatus comprising: (a) a cutting table; (b) cutting means associated with said cutting table; said cutting means being attached to a guide rail, said guide rail being attached to said cutting table by two rotatable arms, said arms being attached to an axis of said cutting table and being positioned above said table; and (c) a receiving table, at least one of said tables comprising means for positioning pieces of said fabric at predetermined locations on said receiving table after said fabric pieces have been cut out while on said cutting table.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 105 words
An apparatus for continually severing and stacking uniform thickness pieces of fabric, said apparatus comprising: (a) a cutting table; (b) cutting means associated with said cutting table; said cutting means being attached to a guide rail, said guide rail being attached to said cutting table by two rotatable arms, said arms being attached to an axis of said cutting table and being positioned above said table; and (c) a receiving table, at least one of said tables comprising means for positioning pieces of said fabric at predetermined locations on said receiving table after said fabric pieces have been cut out while on said cutting table.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising a plurality of rollers, said rollers guiding said fabric onto said cutting table.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 23 words
The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said rollers include a pressure roller, said pressure roller being positioned adjacent to said cutting table.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said cutting table is cylindrical and rotatable.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said cutting table comprises an endless conveyor belt.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising means for maintaining said fabric on said cutting table, said means being glue.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising means for maintaining said fabric on said table, said means being pricks.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said cutting means is a laser beam.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said cutting means is an ultrasound apparatus.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said cutting means is a roller cutter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising means for adjusting the height of said receiving table in order to accommodate a stack of pieces of said fabric.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus according the claim 15 further comprising a movable cutting table, said cutting table being adapted to move along the longitudinal axis of said receiving table.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said receiving table is rigidly positioned.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising a rigidly positioned cutting table.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 22 words
The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said receiving table is adapted to move along the longitudinal axis of said cutting table.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2151703A Cited
US3110207A Cited
US3269235A Cited
FR1399661A Cited
FR1461447A Cited
US3304820A Cited
US3582466A Cited
US3769488A Cited
US4039799A Cited
SU637249A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-05-12 1989-11-11 1990-05-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-05-12 1993-11-11 1994-05-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-05-12 1997-11-11 1998-05-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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