Cutting – Processes – Cut advances across work surface
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-17
2001-02-27
Young, Lee (Department: 3729)
Cutting
Processes
Cut advances across work surface
C083S076600, C083S075000, C083S075500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192777
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to fabric cutting apparatus and methods and, more particularly to an improved apparatus and method for cutting pieces of material from a workpiece, such as a web of patterned fabric, which includes irregularities or which is misaligned with respect to a coordinate system of the cutting apparatus.
BACKGROUND
Automated fabric cutting systems, wherein numerically controlled cutters cut pieces of material from a workpiece, are widely used. So long as the fabric is consistent and free of imperfections, such cutting systems can produce accurately cut pieces. Unfortunately, textile irregularities and flaws are common in most fabrics and pose a particular challenge to upholstery and apparel manufacturing, where matching of patterns is critical. Further, when a patterned fabric is spread on the work surface of a cutting table, the lines of the pattern are often bowed or skewed with respect to the table axes. While it may be possible to correct such placement or orientation problems manually, such corrections are extremely time-consuming.
It is known to compensate for these conditions by adjusting the electronic markers which direct the cutting operation. Such adjustments, however, require the establishment of a correlation or matching between points on the marker and the corresponding points on the workpiece. Efforts have been made to display this correlation by optically projecting the marker onto the workpiece. Unfortunately, visibility of the optically projected marker requires that the work area be suitably darkened. This is often impossible or unacceptable. Further problems arise where such systems are used in conjunction with very large workpieces. In such cases, the projected light beams spread, especially near the workpiece edges, to the extent that acceptable accuracy may not be attained. In addition, such light projection systems, for use with large workpieces, are complex and costly.
A shortcoming associated with conventional computerized display systems is the lack of a clear, well defined correlation between the marker (displayed on a monitor) and the workpiece. If an irregularity is noted on the workpiece, it is not readily apparent where the corresponding point lies on the marker displayed on a monitor. This shortcoming is magnified by the lack of a convenient and ergonomically sound means of making changes to the marker. Most commonly, changes are entered through a computer keyboard. Entry of changes by this means requires that the operator repeatedly shift attention from the workpiece to the marker display device. Such repeated shifting of attention often causes the operator to lose track of the specific area, requiring adjustment in a sea of similarly patterned areas. Further, such systems may simultaneously present so much information as to compound this problem.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for optimizing the cutting of pieces of material from a workpiece such as a patterned fabric.
It is a further object to provide an apparatus and method for accurately and efficiently adjusting an electronic marker to compensate for irregularities or misalignments in a workpiece.
It is another object to provide an apparatus as aforesaid which may be readily integrated with existing automated fabric cutting systems, at minimal cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an improved apparatus and method for cutting pieces of material from a workpiece such as a sheet of patterned fabric. The workpiece is spread on a cutting table where it is cut by a numerically controlled cutter in accord with an electronic marker stored in the cutter controller. The marker is matched to the workpiece and appropriate adjustments are made to the marker before the workpiece is cut. A laser, operatively connected to the controller, projects a match target onto the workpiece at a point corresponding to a selected point on the marker. The marker is then adjusted such that the selected point coincides with a desired location on the workpiece. Adjustment is achieved by electronically displacing the match target from a non preferred location to a preferred one. Software in the controller translates this displacement into appropriate adjustments to the marker. The displacement is effected with an electromagnetic pointing device which coacts with a digitizing grid embedded in the cutting table work surface and operatively connected to the controller.
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Copy of European Search Report Jun. 15, 2000.
Monroe Jeffrey S.
Williams Kevin M.
Gerber Garment Technology, Inc.
McCormick Paulding & Huber LLP
Smith Sean
Young Lee
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