GB2121214A

GB2121214A - Automatic cloth cutting machine with integral controller

Info

Publication number: GB2121214A
Application number: GB08311440A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Heinz Joseph Gerber
Original assignee: Gerber Scientific Inc
Current assignee: Gerber Scientific Inc
Priority date: 1982-05-06
Filing date: 1983-04-27
Publication date: 1983-12-14
Also published as: DE3313940A1; IT8353288V0; ES8404441A1; ES521869A0; GB2121214B; IT8367489A0; GB8311440D0; FR2526455B1; FR2526455A1; IT219564Z2; JPS58197370A

Abstract

In a cloth cutting machine having a cutter 18 movable in two coordinate directions relative to a supporting surface 14 to cut pattern pieces from one or more layers of cloth 16 spread on the surface, an electronic controller 42 is provided for controlling the operation and movement of the cutter, the controller being mechanically connected with the machine and including a solid state memory device 44, such as an EPROM or bubble memory, which stores pattern information and which is replaceable to change the pattern information and to allow the memory device to be loaded off-line if desired. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Automatic cloth cutting machine with integral controller Background of the invention This invention relates to automatic cloth cutting machines, and deals more particularly with an improvement in such a machine whereby an electronic controller for the machine is directly integrated with the mechanical structure of the machine to provide a more compact and efficient cloth cutting system than heretofore known in the art.

Cutting machines of the type with which this invention is concerned are shown for example in U.S. Patents No. 3,495,492; No. 3,765,289; No.

3,803,960; and No. 4,178,820; and by pending U.S. patent application Serial No. 06/224,650, filed January 1981. In general, in such a cloth cutting machine a single layer of cloth, or a layup comprising a pluraiity of layers of cloth, is spread on a supporting surface and is cut along desired lines of cut by a cutter movable simultaneously in two coordinate directions relative to the supporting surface with the operation and movement of the cutter being controlled by a numerical or other electronic controller which converts information from a marker digitizer, or other pattern defining information, into output signals directly controlling the energization of the various motors, solenoids and other operator components of the machine to cause the cutter to cut pattern pieces corresponding to the pattern information.The controller which converts the pattern information into machine operating commands has in the past been a separate unit usually located a substantial distance from the cutting machine. The pattern information has in turn been fed to such a controller either in an on-line way with the marker digitizer or other pattern information generator being connected directly to the controller or in an off-line way in which case the pattern information is recorded prior to use on a record such as a magnetic tape, paper tape or magnetic disc and the record thereafter read by the controller to reproduce the pattern information.The off-line method of operation has the advantage of facilitating the production of the pattern information in clean, efficient environments removed from the cutting machine environment and allows the records to be saved and reused and shared by different users, with reproductions being made if necessary, and a single record making facility may serve a number of different cutting machines or different cutting machine users.

The use of recorded pattern information in an off-line manner, however, has the disadvantage that the controller requires some means for reading the recorded information, which reading means are usually not suited to operation in the presence of vibration and dusty air, often present near a cutting machine, thereby requiring the controller to be placed away from the cutting machine. This means that it may be necessary to have two operators for the cutting system with one operator stationed at the controller and the other at the cutting machine, or if only one operator is available considerable machine operating time may be wasted through the time required for the operator to make necessary trips between the machine and the controller.Also, the remote location of the controller requires somewhat complex cabling between the controller and the machine which may pick up electrical noise introducing errors in the signals transmitted to the machine.

The object of this invention is therefore, to provide an automatic cloth cutting machine or system having an electronic controller integral with the cutting machine structure so that the machine may be operated entirely from a work station or console on the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic cloth cutting machine or system of the foregoing character wherein the electronic controller includes a solid state memory which reduces or eliminates the likelihood of controller failure due to dust, vibration and other harsh conditions existing at the cutting machine while nevertheless permitting replacement of the memory to change the pattern information with which the controller works.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

Summary of the invention This invention resides in an automatic cloth cutting machine having a stationary frame, a surface for supporting at least one layer of cloth to be cut, a cutter, a means for moving the cutter relative to the supporting surface in two coordinate directions to cut the cloth on the supporting surface along desired lines of cut, and an electronic controller for controlling the operation of the cutter and of the means for moving it, with the controller being supported in mechanically connected association with the machine frame.

More specifically, the invention resides in the electronic controller being either fixed to the frame of the machine or being carried by a carriage which carries the cutter and moves in one coordinate direction relative to the frame.

Also, the invention resides in the controller having a display device, such as a solid state panel display, for displaying alphanumeric messages, which display is part of a control panel with other indicators, knobs, switches or the like providing an interface between the controller and an operator.

Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic cloth cutting machine embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an automatic cloth cutting machine comprising another embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an automatic cloth cutting machine comprising still another embodiment of this invention.

In the drawings some features which are generally similar to features of previously described machines are given the same reference numbers as applied to the previously described features but with a prime or double prime mark added.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments Fig. 1 illustrates an automatically controlled cutting machine, generally designated 10, in which the present invention is employed. This machine cuts pattern pieces from cloth or similar sheet material and has a stationary frame in the form of a table 12 providing an upwardly facing supporting surface 14 for supporting either a single layer of material to be cut or a layup, such as shown at 16, consisting of a plurality of layers of sheet material.

The cutter of the machine 10 may take various different forms without departing from the invention, and in the illustrated case is shown to be a reciprocating blade cutter 1 8 with a stroking motor 20 and blade 22. The cutter 20 is movable vertically into and out of cutting relationship with the layup 1 6 and when in its lowered position, at which it is in cutting relationship with the layup, it is movable simultaneously in the illustrated Xand Y-coordinate directions to move it along any desired line of cut, such as the line indicated at 24, to cut pattern pieces from the layup.To aid in holding the layup 16 on the supporting surface 14 while it is being cut the table 12 may include structure, including a vacuum source 26, for creating a vacuum at the supporting surface 14, and a superimposed layer of air-impermeable sheet material (not shown) may be spread over the layup 16 and the exposed areas of the supporting surface 14 as described in U.S. Patent No. 3,495,492.

Movement of the cutter 20 in the X- and Y coordinate directions is obtained by a bridging carriage 28 which straddles the supporting surface 14 and is supported at its opposite ends for movement in the X-coordinate direction by a pair of racks 30 and 32 extending along opposite side edges of the table. The bridging carriage 28 in turn supports a cutter carriage 34 for movement along the length of the carriage 28 in the Y-coordinate direction, the cutter carriage 34 in turn supporting the cutter 20.Therefore, movement of the bridging carriage 28 relative to the frame or table 12 in the X-coordinate direction effects movement of the cutter 20 relative to the supporting surface 14 in the same X-coordinate direction; and movement of the cutter carriage 34 in the Y-coordinate direction relative to the bridging carriage 28 effects movement of the cutter 20 relative to the supporting surface 14 in the same Y-coordinate direction. A motor 36 drives the cutter carriage 34 along the bridging carriage 28 through a lead screw 38 and a cooperating nut device (not shown) on the carriage 34. Another motor 38 drives the bridging carriage 28 in the Xcoordinate direction through a shaft 40 having pinions (not shown) at its opposite ends engaging the racks 30 and 32.

In accordance with the invention, the cutting machine 10 of Fig. 1 includes an electronic controller 42 mounted on the bridging carriage 28 so as to be in mechanically connected association with the frame or table 12 and otherwise integrated with the mechanical structure of the table. The controller 42 may take various specific forms without departing from the invention and in general operates to provide machine operating signals in response to pattem information stored on a solid state memory device 44 forming part of the controller. Preferably, the solid state memory 44 is one, such as an EPROM or bubble memory, contained on a single integrated circuit chip and it is designed to be readily removable from the controller 44 to allow its easy replacement by another similar device to change the nature of the pattern pieces cut by the cutter.

The solid state memory device may be loaded with a package of pattern information through the use of a remote off-line marker digitizer or other pattern signal generating means such as shown for example by Patent No. 3,803,960. The information stored in the solid state memory device, however, is retrievable by purely electronic means requiring no moving parts subject to damage by vibration or dust and it therefore allows the controller to function effectively in the environment of the cutter 10.

The electronic controller 42 also, as shown in Fig. 1, includes an alphanumeric display panel 46, preferably a solid state device, which displays alphanumeric messages generated by the controller. This display 46 is part of a control panel 48 containing additional knobs, indicators, switches and the like providing an interface between an operator and the controller 42 sufficient to allow the operator to exercise high level control and supervision over the operation of the machine and controller.

The integration of the controller 42 with the mechanical structure of the cutting machine 10 has the further advantage of simplifying the electrical connections between the controller and the machine motors and other operator components controlled by the controller and reducing the likelihood of the controller to pick up or to be influenced by stray electrical signals or noise such as may be picked up by a transmission cable extending from a machine to a remote controller. As indicated in Fig. 1, the power supply 50 for the controller 42 may be located below or otherwise near the table 12 and connected to the controller 42 through a flexible cable 52 to reduce the inertia of the bridging carriage 28.

Fig. 2 shows a cutting machine 54 of the general type shown in U.S. patent application serial no. 06/224,650, wherein the supporting surface 14' is provided by a bristled conveyor belt 54 movable in the X-coordinate direction, under the driving influence of a drive motor 56 to move the material (not shown) supported on the supporting surface in the X-coordinate direction. Otherwise, the cutting machine 54 is generally similar to the machine 10 of Fig. 1 in that it includes a bridging carriage 28' movable relative to the stationary frame 12' in the Xcoordinate direction, a cutter carriage 34' movable along the bridging carriage in the Ycoordinate direction and an electronic controller 42' with a solid state memory device 44' mounted on the bridging carriage 28' for movement with said carraige.Therefore, as explained in the aforesaid copending patent application in the cutting machine 54 the total movement of the cutter 18 in the X-coordinate direction relative to the supporting surface comprises the sum of the movement of the supporting surface 14' in the X-coordinate direction relative to the frame 12' and the movement of the bridging carriage 28' in the Xcoordinate direction relative to the frame 12'.

Fig. 3 shows still another automatic cutting machine 58 embodying the invention which is similar to the machine 54 of Fig. 2 except that the bridging carriage 28' of the machine 54 is replaced by structure providing a stationary bridge 60 straddling the supporting surface 14' with the cutter carriage 34' being movable along the bridge 60 in the Y-coordinate direction.

Therefore, in the cutter 58 the movement of the cutter 18' relative to the supporting surface 14' in the X-coordinate direction is effected solely by the movement of the supporting surface 14' relative to the frame 12' in the X-coordinate direction.

Also, in the cutting machine 58 of Fig. 3 the controller 42" with its solid state memory device 44" is fixedly connected to the frame 12' at one end of the bridge 60, thereby allowing an operator to work with and observe the control panel 48" while at the same time observing the actual operation of the cutter 18'.

Claims

1. In an automatic cloth cutting machine, the combination comprising: a stationary frame, means associated with said frame providing a supporting surface for supporting at least one layer of cloth to be cut, a cutter for cutting cloth positioned on said supporting surface, means for moving said cutter relative to said supporting surface in two coordinate directions parallel to said supporting surface, said means for moving said cutter including a cutter carriage carrying said cutter and means supporting said cutter carriage for movement relative to said frame to effect movement of said cutter relative to said supporting surface in one of said two coordinate directions, an electronic controller for controlling the operation of said cutter and of said means for moving said cutter, said controller including a solid state memory device storing instructions used by the remainder of said controller dictating a program of cutter operation and cutter movement to be followed in cutting a corresponding set of pattern pieces from the cloth positioned on said supporting surface, and means supporting said electronic controller in mechanically connected association with said frame.

2. In an automatic cloth cutting machine the combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by: said means supporting said electronic controller in mechanically connected association with said frame being means fixedly attaching said controller to said frame.

3. In an automatic cloth cutting machine the combination defined in claim 2 further characterized by: means for moving said supporting surface relative to said frame to effect movement of said cutter relative to said supporting surface in the other of said two coordinate directions, said means supporting said cutter carriage including a bridge fixed relative to said frame and spanning said supporting surface, said controller being located adjacent one end of said bridge.

4. In an automatic cloth cutting machine the combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by: a supporting surface bridging carriage carrying said cutter carriage, means supporting said bridging carriage for movement relative to said frame to effect movement of said cutter relative to said supporting surface in the other of said two coordinate directions, and said means supporting said electronic controller in mechanically connected association with said frame being means supporting said controller on said bridging carriage for movement with said bridging carriage.

5. In an automatic cloth cutting machine the combination defined in claim 4 further characterized by: said supporting surface being fixed relative to said frame.

6. In an automatic cloth cutting machine the combination defined in claim 4 further characterized by: means for moving said supporting surface relative to said frame to effect movement of said cutter relative to said supporting surface in the other of said two coordinate directions so that the total movement of said cutter relative to said supporting surface in said other coordinate direction is the sum of the movement of said bridging carriage relative to said frame in said other coordinate direction and the movement of the supporting surface relative to said frame in said other coordinate direction.

7. In an automatic cloth cutting machine the combination defined in any one of claims 1 to 6 further characterized by: said electronic controller including a display device for displaying alphanumeric messages.

8. In an automatic cloth cutting machine the combination defined in claim 7 further characterized by: said display device being a solid state display panel.

9. In an automatic cloth cutting machine the combination defined in any one of claims 1 to 6 further characterized by said electronic controller including a control panel providing an interface between said controller and an operator.

10. In an automatic cloth cutting machine the combination defined in any one of claims 1 to 6 further characterized by said solid state memory device being removable from the remainder of said electronic controller and being replaceable by another solid state memory device to change the stored information used by said controller in cutting a corresponding set of pattern pieces from the cloth positioned on said supporting surface.

11. An automatic cloth cutting machine substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.