DEVICE FOR SEALING SHEET MATERIAL CUT

摘要

An automatically controlled cutting machine includes a conveyor table having an endless conveyor belt for moving segments of limp sheet material onto the table for cutting. A cutting carriage and blade are mounted for controlled movement over the support surface of the table to cut pattern pieces from the limp sheet material positioned on the surface. A vacuum system holds the material in a compressed state on the support surface during cutting, and an air-impermeable overlay is spread on top of the cut material to seal the material and prevent leakage into the vacuum system. The overlay is an elongated strip with the opposite longitudinal ends wound into rolls. One roll is mounted on a self-retracting roller and connected with the cutting carriage to spread the overlay onto the cut sheet material as the carriage moves back and forth. The other roll is mounted on a motor driven roller at one end of the conveyor belt with the interconnecting portion between the rolls overlying the support surface of the table and any layup thereon. As the cut layup is moved off of the cutting table, the overlay material is retrieved by the motor driven roller. At periodic intervals, portions of the overlay strip accumulated on the motor driven roller are shifted back to the self-retracting roller mounted on the cutting carriage.