DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING A FLEXIBLE SHEET

Abstract

A device for processing a flexible sheet includes a worktop for placement thereon of a flexible sheet to be processed, a processing means provided above the worktop and positioning means for positioning the processing means on the flexible sheet and moving it along a straight processing line in the plane of the flexible sheet. The device also includes orientation means for setting the orientation of the processing line as desired.

Claims

1. A device for processing a flexible sheet, comprising: a worktop for placement thereon of a flexible sheet to be processed, a processing means provided above the worktop, and positioning means for positioning the processing means on the flexible sheet and moving it along a straight processing line in the plane of the flexible sheet, wherein the device further comprises orientation means for setting the orientation of the processing line as desired.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the orientation means comprise a rotatable arm on which the processing means is mounted for movement in the longitudinal direction of the arm, and wherein the arm extends in a plane substantially parallel to the upper surface of the worktop, and is rotatable about an axis that extends substantially perpendicular thereto.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the rotatable arm can be rotated 360.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the worktop has a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, wherein the positioning means are provided with a cross beam which can be moved forward and backward in the longitudinal direction of the worktop over at least part thereof, and wherein the arm can be moved forward and backward in the longitudinal direction of the cross beam.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein a clamping means is provided on the side of the arm that faces the upper surface of the worktop for clamping the flexible sheet between said upper surface and the clamping means.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the clamping means comprises a clamping section extending along substantially the entire length of the arm, on either side of the processing means, which the clamping means is movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the worktop.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processing means comprises several cutting means to be selected as desired, in particular pressure cutting means of varying sharpness, an ultrasonic frequency pulsed cutting means and a laser cutting means.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least the upper surface of the worktop comprises at least one of (1) suction means and (2) is made of hardened steel.

9. The device according to any one of the preceding claim 1, further comprising clamping means provided on the arm for gripping the flexible sheet and subsequently placing the flexible sheet on the worktop using the positioning means.

10. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a marking means for drawing at least one of (1) position marks and (2) patterns on the flexible sheet, in particular in view of subsequent processing steps to be carried out on the flexible sheet.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the marking means comprises a cartridge with ink that lights up in ultraviolet light.

12. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a touch screen for operating the device.

13. A method for processing a flexible sheet, comprising: placing a flexible sheet on a worktop; providing a processing means; positioning the processing means on the flexible sheet; processing the flexible sheet along a straight processing line in the plane of the flexible sheet using the processing means; and setting the orientation of the processing line as desired.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising clamping the flexible sheet between the upper surface of the worktop and a clamping means provided on the processing means.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the processing of the flexible sheet comprises cutting the flexible sheet.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising at least one of: gripping the flexible sheet and subsequently placing it on the worktop; and drawing position marks and/or patterns on the flexible sheet.

17. A computer programme comprising instructions executable by a computer for carrying out the method according to claim 13.

Description

[0027] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to figures illustrated in a drawing, in which:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic, perspective view of a preferred variant of a device according to the invention for cutting a flexible sheet;

[0029] FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, but wherein a flexible sheet is drawn onto a worktop from a feed roll;

[0030] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view according to the arrow III in FIG. 1;

[0031] FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3, but wherein a flexible sheet is drawn onto a worktop from a feed roll;

[0032] FIG. 5 is a schematic, perspective view of a rotatable arm used in the device of FIG. 1;

[0033] FIG. 6 is a side view showing various details of the device of FIG. 1.

[0034] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a device 1 for cutting a flexible sheet 2, for example a fabric, and a ferromagnetic cutting surface 3 onto which the sheet is drawn from a feed roll 4. The cutting surface 3 is made of steel, for example, and forms the tabletop of a cutting table 5 in the figure. The cutting surface 3 may also be a plate, however, which can be detachably or fixedly placed on any existing cutting table and/or any existing cutting surface. The cutting table 5 is provided with upright edges 6, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the cutting surface 3 on opposite sides of the cutting surface 3. Supported on the upright edges 6 is a movable cross beam or bridge 7, which can move forward and backward in the longitudinal direction of the cutting surface 3, as indicated by the arrows 8, over at least part of the cutting surface 3. As shown in FIG. 1, an arm 9 is mounted to the bridge 1, which arm extends parallel to the cutting surface 3. The arm 9 can be rotated 360, as indicated by the arrows 10, about an axis that extends perpendicular to the cutting surface 3. The arm 9 can furthermore be moved forward and backward, as indicated by the arrows 11, in the longitudinal direction of the bridge 7. Mounted to the arm 9 is a cutting element 12, which can be moved forward and backward in the longitudinal direction of the arm 9, as indicated by the arrows 13. The cutting element 12 is fitted with pressure cutting means of varying sharpness, yet to be described hereinafter, which can be selected as desired, an ultrasonic frequency pulsed cutting means, and a laser cutting means. The movement of the bridge 7, the arm 9 and the cutting element 12 is effected by means of independently driven electric motors (not shown), but instead thereof it is also possible to effect said movement by other means, for example pneumatic or hydraulic means. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a clamping section 14 is mounted to the side of the arm 9 that faces the cutting surface 3 for clamping the flexible sheet 2 between the cutting surface 3 and the clamping section 14. As shown, the clamping section 14 extends on either side of the cutting element 12, along the length of the arm 9 and perpendicular to the cutting surface 3. The flexible sheet 2 is thus pressed against the cutting surface 3 in the direct vicinity of the cutting element 12, so that the flexible sheet 2 can be precisely cut without locally warping. The clamping section 14 is movable between an extended position (FIG. 3), in which the flexible sheet 2 is clamped between the clamping section 14 and the cutting surface 3, being ready for cutting, and a retracted position (FIG. 4) in which the flexible sheet 2 can be laid on the cutting surface 3. In this preferred variant, use is made of a hydraulic drive mechanism 15 for moving the clamping section 14 between the extended position and the retracted position. The cutting element 12 is movable between an extended position (FIG. 3) and a retracted position (FIG. 4), which positions corresponds to the extended position and the retracted position, respectively, of the clamping section 14. The driving mechanism for the cutting element 12 is indicated at 16. The arm 9 is also provided with a clamping section 17 for gripping a free edge of the flexible sheet 2 from the feed roll 4 and subsequently drawing the flexible sheet 2 onto the cutting surface 3 (FIGS. 2 and 4), wherein the bridge 7 moves in the longitudinal direction of the cutting surface 3. The clamping section 17 comprises a section part 18 that is fixedly connected to the arm 9 and a section part 19, which can move forward and backward in a direction perpendicular to the cutting surface 3 relative to the arm 9, for clamping the flexible sheet 2 between the section parts 18, 19. The driving mechanism for the section part 19 is indicated at numeral 20. To conclude, the arm 9 is provided with an inkjet unit 21 for marking off positions and/or patterns on the flexible sheet 2.

[0035] The rotatable arm 9 is shown again in perspective view in FIG. 5, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference numerals. The driving mechanism for moving the arm 9 forward and backward in the longitudinal direction of the bridge 7 is indicated at 22.

[0036] Calculating the positions of the cutting element 12 on the sheet 2 on the cutting surface 3 takes place by means of a computer (not shown). The shape and/or straight-line to be cut is input into this computer, taking into account a few parameters such as, for example, the tangential fillet angle of the cutting lines. After said calculation, the cutting element 12 is placed on the flexible sheet 2 on the cutting surface 3, as described in the foregoing. Following this, the bridge 7, the arm 12 and the cutting element 12 will move over the cutting surface 3 in the manner calculated by the computer on the basis of the shape and/or straight line input into the computer, wherein the desired shape and/or line will be cut from the flexible sheet 2 by the cutting element 12.

[0037] FIG. 6 shows various positions of the cutting element 12, with FIG. 6A showing pressure cutting means 23, 24 of varying sharpness as well as a laser cutting means 25 in a downward (active) position), FIG. 6B showing the laser cutting means 25 in the downward (active) position and the pressure cutting means 23, 24 in the upward (passive) position, FIG. 6C showing one pressure cutting means 23 in a downward (active) position and the other cutting means 24, 25 in an upward (passive position, and FIG. 6D showing the other cutting means 24 in a downward (active) position and the other cutting means 23, 25 in an upward (passive) position. The cutting means 23, 24, 25 in the cutting element 12 can thus be moved to a downward (active) position or an upward (passive) position independently of each other.

[0038] It is noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiment as discussed in the foregoing, but that it also extends to other preferred variants that fall within the scope of the appended claims. Thus it will be apparent to the skilled person that the clamping section 14 and the clamping section 17 need not necessarily be used in combination with each other and that the cutting element 12 need not necessarily comprise a combination of cutting means. The skilled person will further appreciate that the invention is not limited to ferromagnetic materials for the cutting surface 3, but that the invention also extends to cutting surfaces made of other materials, for example composites or ceramic materials.