Patent · US Expired

Pin table

US5063800A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
10References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 18, 1989
Grant dateNov 12, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 18, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T83/748
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for supporting sheet material such as cloth during operations thereon such as cutting wherein a pattern is placed on a supporting surface provided with a plurality of pins extending through apertures in the surface, the pins are lowered below the surface for removal of the pattern whereupon sheet material is placed on the surface, typically a plurality of plies being layed up in a stack, and simultaneously the pins are moved through the sheet material to maintain alignment and matching of the plies in the stack. The pattern then is placed on the sheet material in a position determined by the location of the pins, and the material is shaped such as by cutting. A plurality of separate pin holding and supporting devices of narrow width are spaced lengthwise along the apparatus and independently movable lengthwise toward and away from each other. Pins of adjacent rows can be closely spaced together thereby achieving a grid pattern wherein the pins are relatively closely spaced. There is provided apparatus for developing a positive pressure which is employed to apply a flotation force to sheet material on the surface to facilitate movement of the material along th…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.