Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A supporting bed for supporting a stack of sheet material in a cutting machine of the type retaining the material by means of a vacuum applied from below the supporting bed, said supporting bed comprising a sheet of reticulated foam starting material which has been compressed under heat and pressure so as to be permanently reduced to approximately 10-35% of its initial thickness, the degree of compression, the temperature, the compression time, and the porosity of the reticulated foam starting material being selected so that a 1-inch thick sheet of the support bed permits an airflow of at least 1.5 cfm through a four square inch area with a pressure drop between the surfaces of the sheet material corresponding to 1/2 inch of water, and so that compressing a 1-inch thick sheet to one quarter of an inch requires a pressure of at least 1.5 psi.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A supporting bed for supporting a stack of sheet material in a cutting machine of the type retaining the material by means of a vacuum applied from below the supporting bed, said supporting bed comprising a sheet of reticulated foam starting material which has been compressed under heat and pressure so as to be permanently reduced to approximately 10-35% of its initial thickness, the degree of compression, the temperature, the compression time, and the porosity of the reticulated foam starting material being selected so that a 1-inch thick sheet of the support bed permits an airflow of at least 1.5 cfm through a four square inch area with a pressure drop between the surfaces of the sheet material corresponding to 1/2 inch of water, and so that compressing a 1-inch thick sheet to one quarter of an inch requires a pressure of at least 1.5 psi.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A supporting bed in accordance with claim 1, wherein the starting material is a reticulated polyurethane foam and is compressed for a period of time between 8 minutes and 2 hours at a temperature between 300° F. and 450° F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A supporting bed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the starting material is a reticulated grafted polyether polyurethane foam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A supporting bed in accordance with claim 3 wherein the starting material is a sheet approximately five inches thick with a density of about 1.4 pounds per cubic foot and a porosity of about 30 pores per inch, the sheet being compressed to a thickness of approximately one inch and maintained at a temperature of about 400° F. for about 10 minutes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
A supporting bed in accordance with claim 3 wherein the starting material is a sheet approximately seven inches thick with a density of about 1.4 pounds per cubic foot and a porosity of about 15 pores per inch, the sheet being compressed to a thickness of approximately one inch and maintained at a temperature of about 400° F. for about 10 minutes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A supporting bed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the starting material is a reticulated polyester polyurethane foam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
A supporting bed in accordance with claim 6 is a sheet approximately six inches thick with a density of about 2.0 pounds per cubic foot and a porosity of about 10 pores per inch, the sheet being compressed to a thickness of approximately one inch and maintained at a temperature of about 400° F. for about 10 minutes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A supporting bed in accordance with claim 6 is a sheet approximately seven inches thick with a density of about 2.0 pounds per cubic foot and a porosity of about 10 pores per inch, the sheet being compressed to a thickness of approximately one inch and maintained at a temperature of about 400° F. for about 10 minutes.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for manufacturing a supporting bed for supporting a stack of sheet material in a cutting machine of the type retaining the stack of material by means of a vacuum applied from below the supporting bed, said method comprising the steps of: compressing a sheet of reticulated foam starting material, and simultaneously applying heat thereto so as to permanently reduce said sheet to approximately 10-35% of its initial thickness, the degree of compression, the temperature, the compression time, and the porosity of the reticulated foam starting material being selected so that a 1-inch thick sheet of the completed support bed permits an airflow of at least 1.5 cfm through a four square inch area with a pressure drop between the surfaces of the sheet material corresponding to 1/2 inch of water, and so that compressing a 1-inch thick supporting bed to one quarter of an inch requires a pressure of at least 1.5 psi.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for manufacturing a supporting bed for supporting a stack of sheet material in a cutting machine of the type retaining the stack of material by means of a vacuum applied from below the supporting bed, said method comprising the steps of: compressing a sheet of reticulated foam starting material, and simultaneously applying heat thereto so as to permanently reduce said sheet to approximately 10-35% of its initial thickness, the degree of compression, the temperature, the compression time, and the porosity of the reticulated foam starting material being selected so that a 1-inch thick sheet of the completed support bed permits an airflow of at least 1.5 cfm through a four square inch area with a pressure drop between the surfaces of the sheet material corresponding to 1/2 inch of water, and so that compressing a 1-inch thick supporting bed to one quarter of an inch requires a pressure of at least 1.5 psi.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the starting material is a sheet of reticulated polyurethane foam and is compressed for a period of time between 8 minutes and 2 hours at a temperature between 300° F. and 450° F.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the starting material is a sheet of reticulated grafted polyether polyurethane foam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the starting material is a sheet approximately five inches thick with a density of about 1.4 pounds per cubic foot and a porosity of about 30 pores per inch, said method comprising compressing said sheet to a thickness of approximately one inch and maintaining it at a temperature of about 400° F. for about 10 minutes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the starting material is a sheet approximately seven inches thick with a density of about 1.4 pounds per cubic foot and a porosity of about 15 pores per inch, said method comprising compressing said sheet to a thickness of approximately one inch and maintaining it at a temperature of about 400° F. for about 10 minutes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the starting material is a sheet of reticulated polyester polyurethane foam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said sheet is approximately six inches thick with a density of about 2.0 pounds per cubic foot and a porosity of about 10 pores per inch, said method comprising compressing the sheet to a thickness of approximately one inch and maintaining it at a temperature of about 400° F. for about 10 minutes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said sheet is approximately seven inches thick with a density of about 2.0 pounds per cubic foot and a porosity of about 10 pores per inch, said method comprising compressing said sheet to a thickness of approximately one inch and maintaining it at a temperature of about 400° F. for about 10 minutes.