DE2156597A1 - Method and apparatus for forming bundles of sheet material - Google Patents

Description

Patent attorneys Dipl .-! Ng. Richard Müi'er-Borner

Dip! - irig. Hans-Heinrich Wey Berlin-Dahlem, Podbielskiailee 68

üerlin, 11th November 1971

GERBER GARMMT TEGHNOLOGy ₁ INC. Method and device for forming flaps of sheet material

The present invention relates to a method and a GerSt for the automatic cutting of sample pieces from a multiple ■ Construction and bundling of the sample pieces for the treatment after the cutting work to facilitate.

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In the mass production of clothes, MBbel covers and alan aliens Pieces are samples usually made from a fabric construction that goes through multiple, stacked layers of material is formed, cut. A cutting instrument is guided through the structure along a cutting path so that a pile of specimens of the same size and shape stifle throughout preparing a single pass through the cutting path. Cutting knives on numerically controlled tables are placed along the perimeters of the sample pieces guided by programmed memory tags. Pattern of different Forms are usually laid over the entire surface of the structure, including using as much material in the structure as possible.

After the pattern pieces are cut out of a construction, it is It is common to bundle stacks of pieces of the same shape together for their treatment and to facilitate storage before they are assembled into a Qid product will. The bundling of annlich formed MueteretÜcke was previously one ^ Handicraft, and consisted of tying cords around the stacks in the in an appropriate manner and with the least care, as bundling is only one temporary or interim arrangement. The manual labor of bundling sample pieces is undesirable for several reasons. First, it takes the time of one or more people to be more beneficial would be exploited in other cutting or assembly work.

In addition, the cords do not hold the sample pieces in an exactly vertical position Alignment, but allow the bundles to deform harshly. The alignment of such bundles is difficult and delays subsequent,

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automatic work such as marking or marking the pieces aligned perpendicular to the loading into the machine fixtures. There Moreover, the bundling work is carried out after cutting the pieces and before removing the stacks, the cutting tables on which the superstructures remain are designed while occupied during the time required for manual labor. Subsequent work cannot be started until all bundles of the previous setup have been removed. Prevention of a cutting table, particularly of the type using a numerically controlled cutting head is undesirable as it temporarily affects its usability.

It is therefore a purpose of this invention to provide effective automatic means for binding sample pieces in individual, vertically aligned bundles to provide for the treatment of pieces of mueter after their cutting out to facilitate a construction.

This invention consists of a method and framework for unification of sheet materials stacked on top of one another in a bundle for temporary Treatment and storage are piled up. The device that gemSQ dem Invention method works, contains proppants that provide a work surface to support the layered structure in a spread-out layer. Carriage means are movable relative to the support means in a direction parallel to the work surface and binders are attached to the carriage means and lie above the working surface of the proppants. The binders add a binding material through the sheet material of the buildup on the work surface in distant places on the structure, such as

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the carriage means are moved relative to the support means. In a In an advanced form of the invention, the townspeople put a table on it a penetrable bed, and the binders include a gown for penetrating the binder through the layers of the structure into the penetrable bed one. In one embodiment, the binders can be a The stitching mechanism hem with a floating needle that is one or several loops of thread through the layer material in daa penetrable Bed inserts around non-connected stitches that the sheet material into a loe hold stacked bundles to form. In another embodiment, the binders can be staples or needles through the sheet material and in part to be inserted into the penetrable bed. It is also contemplated that the cutting means for cutting the pattern pieces from the assembly onto the movable ones Carriage means are constructed so that the binding means and cutting means have the same carriage means and support means. If the binding means and the cutting means use the same proppant, the consequence of Cutting and binding work can be changed as desired.

It's in the drawings;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cutting and bundling device that this Invention applies.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of a stapling mechanism that can be used as the binding mechanism in FIG.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the stapling mechanism of Fig. 2. Fig. K is an enlarged cross-section of the stapling Gersts and durchdring-

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as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 shows a detail of the fastening needle in Fig. K.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a stack of sample pieces which be held together by the stapling mechanism in Fig. 2-3.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a stapling mechanism that can be used as the binding mechanism in FIG.

Fig. 8 is a partial perspective view of a stack of sample embroidery, which are held together by the clamping mechanism of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a view of a needle used to tie necklaces can be.

Fig. 1 shows a numerically controlled cutting and BQndelger 8t, the embodies this invention. It must be understood that while that BttndelgerSt for itself without the cutter can exist, the two units usually used together and in conjunction with benefit with common Know parts are built. Therefore, the invention is described below described in a preferred embodiment, wherein the cutting and binding mechanisms are suspended together on a common slide above a common support table on which a structure of sheet material is spread out is.

According to one aspect of this invention, the method is to Connection of layer material of a structure to bundles from a setting table, generally designated 10, a two-axis slide mechanism, which consists of an X-slide 12, which extends in the shown X-direction over the Support table 10 moves, and a Y-carriage 14, which is mounted on the X-carriage.

209849/0599 bad or.qinal.

and on the X carriage in the Y direction shown relative to the Table 10 is movable, and a binding mechanism 16 carried by the Y carriage 1 * f. The binding mechanism is over the structure 18 of fabric material spread out on table 10 moves and joins the layers of material into loosely joined bundles, as in greater detail will be described later.

The support table 10 in its preferred embodiment consists of a table frame 20 ₁ which rests on legs 22, 22 and has a penetrable fall bed 2k which defines a work surface 26 on which multiple layers of sheet material are spread to form the structure 18. The frame 20 can be provided with vacuum compartments underneath the StCt zb et te 2 * f in order to hold the structure 18 against the work surface 26 during the cutting and bundling work. A vacuum hold-down table of this type is more fully described in US Pat. No. 3,955,192 entitled "GerSt For Processing Sheet Material" issued February 17, 1970 to the assignee of this invention. Reference may be made to the patent for a more detailed description of the table and the manner in which the table holds the construction of sheet material in a fixed position. The penetrable bed 2h is made of materials that are easily penetrated by a cutting tool that cuts the pattern pieces from the structure 18. Materials suitable for this purpose include had bristles of sufficient rigidity to define a work surface to support the sheet material, or synthetic foam.

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material such as Ethafoam manufactured by Dow Chemical Company.

A pair of heating rails 30,32 are supported on opposite sides of the table-10 by brackets J> h , Jh and extend along the table in the X-direction. The rails 30, 32 form supports for the X-carriage 12 and have gear teeth that mesh with pinions (not shown) within the carriage 12 and are driven by the drive motor of the X-axis J> 6 and shaft 38 to move the carriage forward and back to move backwards across the work surface 26. The displacements of the carriage 12 »which are caused by the motor 36 are controlled by a numerical control computer h0 and are programmed on a Qed & chtnisband k2. Shift commands are read from the memory tape h2 and transmitted to the drive motor 36 by the computer kO via a command cable Mf.

The! Slide 1 * f is moved in the Y direction relative to the X slide 12 and the work surface 26 by a drive motor 50 for the Y axis and a guide screw 52 which engages in the slide Ik. The drive motor 50 fttr the Y-axis increases commands from the QedXchtnisband and the computer * fO over the cable Mf in the same way as the X-drive motor 36, so that the two drive motors 36 and 30 together cause the Y-carriage Mf in either move in the X or Y directions, or perform combined movement in both the X and Y directions. The binding mechanism 16 depending on the Y carriage 1 ^ can therefore be moved over the bed 2 * f and the structure 18 in both the X and Y directions

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will.

In a preferred form of the invention, the Y-carriage extends 1 * f over the X carriage 12 and is both from the binding mechanism 16, the is suspended on one side, and a knife 60, which is suspended on the other side, divided.

Of course, separate X and T carriages could be provided for the knife 60 and binding mechanism 16, or separate Y carriages could be mounted on the X carriage 12. In the usual form, the knife 60 includes a reciprocating knife 62, a pressure foot 6 ^ and drive motors for reciprocating the knife and rotating the knife about the O-axis. The 0 axis extends perpendicular to the work surface 26 of the table 10 and is therefore perpendicular to the X and Y axes. The movements of the knife 62, which are produced by the carriages 12 and 1 * f, and the rotary movement of the knife about the Q axis are controlled by the six * tO and cause the knife to move through the tissue structure 10 tangent to a cutting path C am Perimeter of pattern pieces a., B, c_ to cut a plurality of stacks of similarly shaped pattern pieces from assembly 18. The penetrable support bed 2h aids the knife 62 in the cutting work by allowing the knife 62 to cut through the structure 18 and partially into the penetrable bed without destroying or damaging the knife. For a more detailed description of the cutting work, reference is made to US Patent 3,5 ^ 8,697, entitled "GerSt for Cutting Sheet Material",

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Issued December 22, 197O ₁ to the assignee of this invention.

In one aspect of this invention, the binding mechanism Above assembly 18 on table 10 moves and binds the sheet material together to form bundles which are appropriately handled and stored can. Although various means are provided for bundling the hats One form of mechanism 16 that is particularly suitable for cooperation with knife 60 is the stapling mechanism shown in Figures 2-5.

The stitching mechanism 70 is provided with a stitching needle 72 and a thread supply roller 7 ^ from which the thread T is fed to the needle 72. The needle 72 is suspended from the Y carriage 1 * f and is reciprocated in a sighting perpendicular to the surface 26 of the bed 2h by the stapling motor 76 attached to the carriage 1 ^ and the motor driven chuck 78 . The needle 72, motor 6 and chuck 78 are attached to carriage 1 ^ by an adjustable platform (not shown) so that the entire stapling mechanism can be raised or lowered relative to the bed 2h - and shut down and causes the chuck 7 $ and the needle 72 to "wipe an upper and a lower layer back and forth to move back and forth wit in Ai) I) * 2 gt shows, where the upper tag" dt * chuck is indicated with dashed lines " in the lower position, the needle 72 penetrates through the lower • te lag of the structure 18 in the durchdrinfbau: · bed 2 ^ · A pressure foot 79, which wi motor 76 is attached, the lifting Lageneaterial tm prevents old

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the needle.

As shown in Fig. K , the needle has a cylindrical fastening part 80 which is received in the hole 82 by the chuck 78 and is held in the hole by a grub screw Bk the penetrable bed 2 * l ·. The needle 72 is hollow and defines a longitudinal passage along almost its entire length between the cylindrical portion 80 and its tapered depending end 90. At the end 90, the longitudinal passage 88 connects to a radial passage 92. The thread T is from the spool 7% (Fig. 2 and 1?) Is inserted into the cylindrical part 80 of the needle 72 through an eyelet 3h on the motor 76 and an 8ee 96 on the chuck 8. The suture T extends through the normal passage 88 of the needle 72 and exits the needle through the radial passage 92, as best seen in FIG. The wall defining the radial passage is preferably smooth and provided with a small rounding in order to exclude sharp ends that could cut the thread Ϊ.

The stitching work by which the sample piece is bundled can either be done or after the cutting work by moving the stitching motor 76 and the needle 72 suspended from the chutes 12 and 1 * f. The tacking work preferably takes place before the cutting work * especially with small or tangled pieces, so that the layered material in the structure has no opportunity to slip or move after the cutting work has started. In its most common form

0 S ⁰ I ° f

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tacking work differs from cutting work in that the Cutting knife 63 continuously moves through assembly 18 as the Movement of the needle 72 along the stitching path P (Fig. 1) is usually discontinuous or interrupted, so that the needle 72 is actually positioned between separate stitching points on the assembly 18 * The bucket program which determines the cutting path C can also be used for this purpose , the stitching path P, which is located at a specified distance from the cutting path C. is, E.B. no more than a quarter (6.35 on) or half an inch (12.7 n «n) 1 so that the booklet is not in the finished garment show to determine. It should be noted that the use of the common slide, support table and controls for the knife and staple mechanism allows the spatial relationship between the cutting path C and the stitch path P to be maintained more precisely. The creation of the stitching path within the cutting path C requires that the distance between the two paths whenever a compensating factor is introduced in the same way as the Radius of a rotating cutting tool in a numerically controlled one Milling machine is compensated. A further adjustment in the X-axis control has to be made because of the attachment of the knife 60 and the stapling mechanism TO can be made on opposite sides of the X carriage 12. Both Adjustments can be carried out within the calculator * tO itself, so that the same tape can be used for both cutting and binding. Alternatively, to simplify the computer circuit, can the adjustment by programming separate memory strikers fttr

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the two works will be billed. Of course others can Staple paths such as a straight line or zigzag paths through each of the stacks, especially with smaller sample stocks, can be used. The stapling mechanism can be moved continuously between different stacks without stopping the stapling work, and connecting strands can be cut off, when the bundles are removed from the table 10.

In a typical stapling job, the stapling mechanism? 0 is first moved over the structure 18 by the carriages 12 and 1 * f. The carriage movements are stopped and at the same time the staple motor 76 is energized or a clutch in the housing of the motor 6 is energized by a six-wire command so that the chuck 78 and needle 72 are reciprocated up and down in a single stapling cycle. As the chuck 78 moves downward, the needle 72 passes through an opening 98 (Fig. H) in the pressure foot 791, dips through the structure 18 and partially penetrates the bed Zh. At the same time, the thread T, one end of which is believed to be already anchored in the structure 18, is dislodged from the roller lh through the hollow needle 72 and through the radial passage 92 due to the greater frictional forces between the thread and the structure than between the thread and needle pulled. A resilient contact arm 991 attached to the motor 76, which rests in frictional contact with the roller 7h , prevents the roller ? H from further turning and the running off of an excess amount of thread T when the needle penetrates the assembly 18.

In Fig. H the needle is shown in its lowest position, where

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the passage 92 is slightly below the working surface of the penetrable bed 2k . When the needle reverses its direction of travel to begin its upward movement of the cycle, friction between the penetrable bed 2k and the structure 18 causes the suture to remain in the structure and bed so that a loop of suture remains tucked through the structure after the needle is completely out the structure is pulled.

In the case of some fabrics or full needles with an eyelet on the tapered thread for introducing the thread, it may be desirable to cover the surface of the needle with a silicone compound in order to reduce the friction coefficient "between the thread T and the needle and to ensure that the thread loop remains tucked through the assembly when the needle is withdrawn. When the needle has finished its upward movement, the staple motor 76 is stopped or the clutch is disengaged and the carriages 12 and "\ k are moved over the table 20 until the needle moves on to the next Stapling position is set. Although the height of the pressure foot 79 relative to the motor ? 6 can be adjusted and the height of the motor ?% Y changed to change the depth of penetration into the bed 2k and the length of the loop exposed on one side of the stack, the stroke of the needle does not need to be changed for structures of different thicknesses, since the thread tension, which remains largely constant, automatically changes the thread requirement as a function of the structure thickness and the distance between the tacking points. Compression of the stacks therefore does not change much.

The stitching is basically the same as that of ordinary people

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^ Sowing machines except that the loops of thread introduced by the structure 18 are non-closing, that is, on the upper surface of the structure, as shown in Figure h , the loops are connected by short lengths of thread; however, on the lower side of the structure 18, the loops simply protrude through the material without being connected to each other by any other thread or by connecting successively formed loops. This type of stitching has the advantage that when a complete stack of swatches is cut out of the assembly 18 and bound together by non-connecting tacking stitches, the sewing provides only a temporary bond and the swatches of any bundle by friction between the thread and the sticks be held together.

Fig. 0 shows a bundle 100 of piled samples taken from Assembly 18 after cutting and basting has been removed and flipped to show the loops of thread T. In. the sample pieces know this location individually removed from bundle 100 as indicated by piece 102 peeled from the best of the bundle. When the individual pieces are removed from the bundle for assembly with other swatches, the loops T of thread are tied and retained to the rest of the swatches the integrity of the bundle for handling and storage. If it is desired to separate all pieces at the same time, thread T pulled all the way out of the bundle to remove any loops. The stapling mechanism 70 therefore provides a versatile binder to hold the pattern

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to hold pieces together for handling and storage, and allows Sample pieces either individually or together as desired by the blind! to separate.

Another means of EiMun stacks of luster pieces is shown in Fig. 7. In this embodiment of the invention, a stapling mechanism 110 is attached to the Y-carriage and adjusted before or after the cutting work between separate stitching layers within the circumference of the sample pieces in the same manner as the stitching mechanism 70 is adjusted between stitching pitches. The mechanism 110 is, as shown in Fig.? shown, a motor-driven stapler normally commercially available which forms and separates staples from a roll of wire and inserts the staple into an object in a sequence of operations. The clamp frame includes a drive motor 112, a wire feed roller from which a braided strand W is fed, a cutting knife 116, and an injector 11.8. Stapling mechanisms of this type are well known in the packaging world. In operation, the motor 112 drives the cutting knife 115 and the injector 118 in such a way that a length of twist is cut from the roll 11 ^, is formed in a U-shape and then through the structure of the sheet material and partly into the penetrable bed 2 * f is inserted, like a staple S through the injector 118. The sides of the staple protruding through the structure into the penetrable bed 2h are not bent over as usual, and therefore a stack of misters cut out of the structure 18 and is clamped by the mechanism 110, from the bed 2k in a bundle

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del 120 as shown in Fig. 8. Again some individuals can Layers of sheet material from the side of the bundle through which the staples protrude, be removed; however, since the staples could damage finer tissues, it is preferred to use the staple mechanism for materials only To be used with loose or open tissue. The pieces of the bundle 120 can also be taken apart together by removing all brackets. On the other hand, the clamping mechanism 110 may be metal or Insert plastic needles through the build-up into the penetrable bed in place of brackets. Fig. 9 shows a self-anchoring needle 130 which is used for is suitable for this purpose. The head 1J2 of the needle is a ring and the The shaft of the needle can be split so that the barbs 13 ^ spread on the inserted lip of the needle when they emerge from the bottom of the structure, to anchor the needle firmly in the bundle. The heads of several Such needles can be used to lift the bundle by hand or by others Lifting machines and placing the bundles precisely in devices for epUtere set automatic work such as labeling or NShen. The heads can have a different shape and are made of magnetically soft materials so that magnetic disks can be used to drop the bundles. The needle shafts can be notched or weakened near the heads so that the Hpfeet are broken or twisted off by hand in order to be able to remove individual pieces from the head of the bundle or to facilitate the removal of all needles and dismemberment of the bundle. Although the invention has been described in several forms, must

OR} G / m _AL

one understands that further replacements or changes without dated Deviating from the spirit of the invention are possible. Although e.g. the binding process has been described in a preferred form with intermittent movements between separate positions in the structure 13, it is possible that the Know movements are made continuously, provided, however, that the The structure has only a few layers of material and that both the layer material as well as the penetrable bed to the increasing movements of the staple or Yield staple mechanism that occurs when inserting a binding material. Therefore, the invention was made by way of explanation and not the limitation described.

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Claims (1)

GerSt for connecting layered material in one structure to one A bundle comprising: support means (20) having a work surface (26) for Determine the support of the lay-up of sheet material in the spread sheet; Slide means (1 * 0 relatively movable to these support means in one direction parallel to the work surface; and binding means (16) built on the carriage means and overlying the work surface for inserting Binding material through the layer material of the structure at separate points in the Construction. 2. GerSt for connecting sheet material, as described in claim 1, wherein the support means (20) is a bed (2 * 0) of penetrable material which defines a penetrable work surface. 3. GerSt for connecting sheet material, as described in claim 2, wherein the binding means means (70, HO) for penetrating a binding material through the layer material of a structure and into the penetrable work surface Include the proppant. k. Scaffold for joining sheet material as described in claim 2, wherein the binding means stapling means (HO) for inserting staples through the sheet material of the structure and partially into the penetrable BATH ORIGINAL 209849/0599 Include proppants. 5 «framework for joining sheet material as described in claim 2, wherein the binding means are tacking means (70) for forming unbonded Stitches along a stitch path that is separated by separate spots on the structure is intended to include. 6. Gerst for the connection of sheet material as described in claim 5, wherein the stitching means (70) from the carriage means generally in perpendicular relationship to the pierceable Arbeitsoberfllche the support means hanging tacking needle (72) with the stitching needle co-operating yarn supply means (7 ¹ O and including reciprocating means (76) cooperating with the fastening needle for reciprocating the needle through the build-up of sheet material and into the penetrable working surface of the support means . 7. Device as described in claim 6, wherein the fastening needle (72) a hollow needle with one radially extending passage next to one The end is. 8. A framework for cutting and bundling a number of masterpieces from a build-up of sheet material, comprising: support means (20) for determining a support surface for holding the build-up of sheet material in a spread-out position; Cutting means (60) for cutting samples from a build-up of sheet material spread on the support surface; Binding means (16) for securing pattern pieces cut from the construction of sheet material in a bundle; with the cutting agents, binders and 209849/0599 BADOR ₁ G ₁ NAL Support means connected carriage means for moving the cutting means and the binding agent relative to the props and structures of sheet material, which are spread out on the supports; and controlled motor means (36t 50) i connected to the support means and the slide means, about the movement of the cutting means and binding means relative to the support means to control. 9. Device for cutting and bundling, as described * in claim 8, wherein: the support means comprises a table (20) with a penetrable bed (2 * f), that defines a support surface; Cutting means a knife (62) with a cutting edge and means for moving the edge of the knife through a build-up of sheet material around the perimeter of the pattern and the through the penetrable bed including certain proppant means; and the binders also means for projecting a binder by building up sheet material into the penetrable bed within the urinal of the sample pieces ^ include. 10. Device for cutting and bundling, as described in claim 9, wherein the binding means stapling means (HO) for driving staples through the build-up of ply material within the perimeter of the sample pieces and in embrace the penetrable bed. 11. scaffolding for cutting and bundling, as described in claim 9, wherein the tying means, stitching means (70) for inserting a loop of thread by building up ply material within the perimeter of the sample pieces and include in the penetrable bed. 2098A9 / 0599 12. Scaffolding for cutting and bundling as described in claim 8, wherein the slide means include a slide (12) movable in a first coordinate direction over the support surface of the support means and a second slide attached to the first slide in a second coordinate direction parallel to the support surface and perpendicular to the first coordinate direction movable carriage (1 ² O; and wherein the cutting means and binding means on the second carriage (1 * 0 for movement with the first carriage in the first coordinate direction and for movement with the second carriage relative to the first carriage in a second coordinate direction are attached over the support surface of the support means. 13 «Method for preparing the bundling of! ■ iust he pieces of sheet material comprising: spreading sheet material on a support bed (2 * 0 in multiple layers to form a structure C18); cutting through the multiple layers of the structure into the support bed along a cutting path Cc) which defines the perimeter of the pattern pieces; a binder CT, S) through the multiple layers of the structure into the support bed at separate locations on the structure within the cutting path defining a pattern to hold the pattern pieces cut from the structure in a bundle. 1 * f. Procedure for preparing bundles of sample pieces, as in Claim 13, wherein the spreading step is spreading the Sheet material on a penetrable support bed and the propulsion step Stapling through the multiple layers of the structure in the penetrable support bed includes. BATH ORIGINAL 2η ^f ) B / ₍ i) / Ό>; on 15 · Procedure for preparing a bundle of sample pieces, such as described in claim 1J, wherein the spreading step is spreading comprising the sheet material on the surface of a penetrable bed; and the advancing step comprises stitching through the multiple layers of a structure on the bed surface to form a series of unconnected stitches. 16. Procedure for preparing a bundle of sample pieces, such as described in claim 1J, wherein the propelling step ELnflgen a self-anchored Needle (1JO) through the multiple layers of the structure against the support bed included. 17 · device for connecting sheet material, as described in claim 3, wherein the binding means a needle by building up sheet material in advance the penetrable work surface. BATH Blank page