The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 28, 1997
Filed:
Feb. 18, 1994
H Joseph Gerber, West Hartford, CT (US);
Richard Kuchta, Tolland, CT (US);
Gerber Garment Technology, Inc., Tolland, CT (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for conveying and cutting sheet material has an endless conveyor belt trained over rotatable end units. The endless belt defines an upper run for supporting the sheet material, a lower run spaced below the upper run, and two arcuate end sections, each extending between the upper and lower runs. A first gap is formed in the conveyor belt between one end of the upper run and the adjacent end section, and a second gap is formed in the belt between the other end of the upper run and the adjacent end section. A cutting unit is supported over the upper run for cutting the sheet material, and a vacuum is introduced in the upper run for creating a vacuum bed to hold the sheet material against the supporting surface during a cutting operation. Two end sealing assemblies are mounted between the upper and lower run, and each is located adjacent to a respective gap in the conveyor. Each end sealing assembly includes one or more sealing strips extending substantially across the width of the conveyor belt, and movable between sealing and retracted positions. In the sealing position, each sealing strip is received within the adjacent gap in the conveyor, and engages an end surface of the upper run to seal the engaged surface, thereby preventing the leakage of air through the respective end of the vacuum bed. In the retracted position, each sealing strip is retracted from the respective gap to a position below the upper run away from the path of conveyor movement.