Patent ID: 6029554
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: B26D,D05B,D05D,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A fabric trimming apparatus, said apparatus comprising:(a) a frame having a movable slide and a holding fixture having a holding surface for holding a fabric panel;(b) at least one trimming assembly attached to the slide, said trimming assembly including a circular blade, a matching anvil, and a drive means connected to said circular blade and said anvil; and(c) means for aligning said fabric edges prior to trimming, said means including an edge lifter with a vacuum chamber for lifting freely hanging edges of a fabric panel away from said holding fixture and towards said vacuum chamber with a vacuum during trimming with said at least one trimming assembly, said edge lifter being generally linearly aligned with said surface of said holding fixture and perpendicularly aligned with said circular blade; wherein said edge lifter lifts the freely hanging edges into alignment with a portion of the fabric panel on the holding fixture surface, wherein said fabric is first clamped in said holding fixture and then aligning said edges with said vacuum chamber prior to trimming.