Patent FR-2795014-A1 (FR)
Title: Fabric pattern cutting assembly has a distribution table where the cut pattern stacks are taken separately and under control from the fabric skeleton to be moved automatically to designated collection points
Inventor: POMMIER FRANCOIS
IPC: A41H43/02
Filed: 1999-06-21
Abstract: The cut patterned sections, from a stack (20) of fabric layers, are cut on a cutting table (10) using stored pattern cutting data. The skeleton of the fabric stack (20) is divided into a number of sections during cutting of the pattern outlines on the cutting table (20). The fabric stack is advanced progressively to a distribution table (60), composed of stacked cut sections and the coherent skeleton of uncut material around them. The stacks of cut pattern sections are removed in succession by an extracting tool (80), which is controlled according to their disposition to take them clear of the cut stack and move them parallel to the stack plane without affecting the cut pattern stacks still in place.  The cut pattern stacks are made to slide across the distribution table (60), on an air cushion, or they are rolled over the table on supporting roller balls. The extracting tool (80) takes the cut pattern stacks from the upper surface of each stack, and the remaining fabric is moved to a collection point. When the cut pattern stacks have been separated from the remaining material, they are moved to a collection point by a pulsed movement of the tool (80), to be sorted and gathered into bags (72a,72b,74a,74b,76), or into a collection point to be arranged in a line in a given order of succession. Certain sections of the fabric skeleton are taken automatically by extractors from the distribution table, at least the longitudinal edge sections. The cut pattern stacks are taken singly, for each shape, where the layers lock together. Each pile of undersized fabric pieces, below set min. dimensions, is taken from the fabric skeleton as a single pile. Before cutting, the fabric stack is covered with a plastics film (30) and suction is applied from below so that each cut pattern stack has a covering film which is pulled down. The plastics film is gripped by the extracting tool, to be taken away. The cut stacks are wrapped individually and are marked by the extractors before they are taken from the distribution table or after they have been wrapped. The sequence of operations is held in memory to give a ranking order for the removal of cut sections, the gripping data to deploy the cut patterns, the direction they are to take to the collection points and a collection point address. An Independent claim is included for a fabric pattern cutting assembly with a distribution table (60) where the cut pattern stacks are moved by an extractor tool (80). A control unit (18) sets the relative movements between the cutting table (10) and the cutting tool (50), to cut pattern stacks from the fabric stack, and also control the movements of the extraction tool (80) to shift the cut pattern stacks over the distribution table surface (61), downstream of the cutting table (10). It determines the individual separation, in succession, of the cut pattern stacks from the remainder of the fabric skeleton and move them across the table surface to their collection points. The surface (61) of the distribution table (60) has a number of openings (66), and the table has a blower (64) to form an air cushion on the table surface (61) under the fabric stacks to be moved. The distribution table (60) is divided into a number of sectors, to be linked selectively to the blower. The distribution table (60) can be fitted with a roller ball system to support the moving stacks. The assembly can be fitted with a number of cutting tables, a distribution table, and a mechanism to move the distribution table into alignment with the outlet ends of one cutting table or another. The extracting tool (80) can be moved between an elevated and a depressed position, to move to and from the upper surfaces of the cut pattern stacks. The tool (80) is mounted on a support (82), to move parallel to the distribution table (60) by a drive mechanism (86-89), with a further drive to rotate it around a vertical axis over the distribution table surface (61). The tool (80) has at least one tine to make contact with the upper surface of a cut pattern stack to be removed, or it has a number of tines with variable gaps between them. The tool (80) is fitted with a suction system and a system to remove fragments from the table surface. The tool (80) can also have a retractable needle, and a marker. The assembly has collection points where the separated pattern stacks are gathered, with at least one bag at the sides of the distribution table (60), or a conveyor belt along the table sides. A further system removes the skeleton of fabric left after the cut pattern stacks have been distributed, along at least one side of the table (60).