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WO1997008376A1 - Machine servant a decouper des motifs - Google Patents

Machine servant a decouper des motifs Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1997008376A1
WO1997008376A1 PCT/GB1996/002045 GB9602045W WO9708376A1 WO 1997008376 A1 WO1997008376 A1 WO 1997008376A1 GB 9602045 W GB9602045 W GB 9602045W WO 9708376 A1 WO9708376 A1 WO 9708376A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cutting
fabric
mirror
pattern
cut path
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1996/002045
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kenneth Morrison
Alexander Mitchell
Original Assignee
Morrison Technology Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Morrison Technology Limited filed Critical Morrison Technology Limited
Priority to AU68265/96A priority Critical patent/AU6826596A/en
Publication of WO1997008376A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997008376A1/fr

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06H—MARKING, INSPECTING, SEAMING OR SEVERING TEXTILE MATERIALS
    • D06H7/00—Apparatus or processes for cutting, or otherwise severing, specially adapted for the cutting, or otherwise severing, of textile materials
    • D06H7/16—Apparatus or processes for cutting, or otherwise severing, specially adapted for the cutting, or otherwise severing, of textile materials specially adapted for cutting lace or embroidery
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
    • B23K26/02—Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impact; Aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam
    • B23K26/04—Automatically aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam, e.g. using the back-scattered light
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
    • B23K26/08—Devices involving relative movement between laser beam and workpiece
    • B23K26/083—Devices involving movement of the workpiece in at least one axial direction
    • B23K26/0838—Devices involving movement of the workpiece in at least one axial direction by using an endless conveyor belt
    • B23K26/0846—Devices involving movement of the workpiece in at least one axial direction by using an endless conveyor belt for moving elongated workpieces longitudinally, e.g. wire or strip material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
    • B23K26/36—Removing material
    • B23K26/361—Removing material for deburring or mechanical trimming
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D3/00—Cutting work characterised by the nature of the cut made; Apparatus therefor
    • B26D3/10—Making cuts of other than simple rectilinear form
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D5/00—Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
    • B26D5/20—Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting with interrelated action between the cutting member and work feed
    • B26D5/30—Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting with interrelated action between the cutting member and work feed having the cutting member controlled by scanning a record carrier
    • B26D5/32—Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting with interrelated action between the cutting member and work feed having the cutting member controlled by scanning a record carrier with the record carrier formed by the work itself

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for cutting patterned fabrics, particularly but not exclusively patterned fabrics of the type known as lace.
  • lace is understood in the textile industry to mean a fine openwork fabric with a ground of mesh or net on which patterns may be worked at the same time as the ground is formed or applied later, and which is made of yarn by looping, twisting, or knitting, either by hand with a needle or bobbin, or by machinery. It may also be made by crocheting, tatting, darning, embroidering, weaving, or knitting.
  • lace and similar fabrics are commonly formed as a parallel- sided strip of a length usually very much greater than its width.
  • the fabrics are produced with pre-existing patterns, specifically scallop patterns, which are generally, but not exclusively, close to an edge parallel to the longitudinal run of the length of the material.
  • the lace may have a series of narrow strips which have scallop patterns to be cut and separated from parallel borders at the join of each longitudinal strip.
  • Pattern strips and pattern pieces may also be formed on the base fabric by techniques including but not restricted to selective dyeing, printing, embroidering, pile trimming or other localised modifications of the base fabric and while not necessarily being "lace" as defined above, such other patterned fabrics have in common with lace (for the purposes of the present invention) the feature of pattern strips or pattern areas on the base fabric, each pattern strip or pattern area having a discrete boundary.
  • each such pattern strip or pattern area (however formed) requires to be cut from the base fabric strip in a manner which closely follows the pattern boundary, ideally without cutting into the pattern strip or pattern area and without leaving attached portions of the base fabric outwith the pattern strip or pattern area.
  • the problem requires an effective and efficient means of cutting the base fabric strip along the boundary or boundaries of the pattern strips or pattern areas. It is already known to provide automatic cutting of longitudinal scallop edges in lace and other materials by means of directing a laser beam.
  • the known cutting apparatus there are two main methods used for recognising the pre-existing pattern which is to be cut. The first is by using a camera (ccd/tv), the second is by means of a sensor array combined with a suitable light source.
  • the apparatus according to the invention enables pattern pitch and width plus fibre numbers to be measured and recorded along with defects in the material. It can scallop complex re-entry patterns with returning cuts in excess of 10mm.
  • the tension of the flexible and variable lace material is controlled conjointly with the laser operation.
  • the method recognises the variants in lace construction and design in that some types have a more open weave than others, or are more stretchy than others, and so on.
  • the apparatus and method according to the invention combine improved pattern recognition and pattern following, including a method of electronic masking, with beam directing by galvanometer in a new cutting assembly.
  • the invention envisages alternative cutting assemblies, including a 2-axis galvanometer, a multi- beam and a Raster.
  • the invention improves not only the speed of cutting of more complex patterns and more difficult lace types but also the quality of cut achieved.
  • the present techniques can cut up to two paths simultaneously, but the invention can achieve the advantage that more than two, even six, eight, ten or more paths can be cut at once.
  • the present invention includes opto-electronic pattern recognition by scanning methods and pattern cutting by laser or other means, with the laser beam being steered automatically from the data collected by the pattern recognition system and processed in the controlling computer.
  • the invention also includes opto-electronic pattern recognition by scanning means with the information thus gathered used for inspection for defects int he knitting process.
  • the scanning system may also be applied to measuring and recording the number of fibres in a specific area of the material.
  • the apparatus and method incorporate novel pattern recognition techniques with galvano etric beam directing.
  • the techniques include electronically masking areas of the pattern adjacent to the path to be cut.
  • the scanning system further enables continuous measurement to be made of the pitch and width of the pattern which allows the control of the pattern mask in defining the complex pattern paths such as the re- entrant and "Y" junction types of pattern.
  • They also encompass a novel cutting head assembly which combines laser safety and fume extraction and the whole is capable of lateral movement to cut at any desired position.
  • the use of an angled material conveyor system will enable several cutting passes to be made in a continuous spiral. Re-entrant cutting of complex patterns can be cut utilising the raster capability of the laser and steering mirror assembly.
  • this invention proposes a novel method whereby more than one pre-existing path can be cut simultaneously.
  • machine woven lace is transported in a lightly stretched condition across a free span between a roller and a support bar.
  • the material passes a scanning array (preferably digital) similar to the scanner of a facsimile machine.
  • This array is coupled to a computer system which generates an image of the passing lace.
  • the operator views this image and designates the part of the existing pattern to be scalloped.
  • an encoder which measures the incremental movement of the fabric as it passes under the scanning array.
  • the scanning array may be a linear array which detects light as a single line of received image data, such that one line of received image data corresponds directly to one incremental movement of the fabric (as measured by the encoder or other means) and a corresponding incremental movement of the cutting means, which is moved according to information obtained by the scanning array.
  • Such a scanning system is of course not limited to lace-type fabrics, nor to electromagnetic cutting beams directed by mirrors, but may be used with any patterned materials and cutting means such as hot wire cutters.
  • the laser beam is first expanded, and collimated, to reduce divergence, then concentrated by a long focus lens onto the surface of the material. This controls the path of the beam.
  • the beam of the focused energy is steered by a small mirror positioned close to the lens and mounted on the shaft of a limited angle torque motor. The angular position of the motor shaft, and thus the mirror, is determined by the computer system.
  • the laser beam may be replaced by any other energy source capable of vaporising the material contacted to achieve cutting thereof.
  • the high energy beam from the laser is thus concentrated onto the material and performs the cutting function.
  • two steering mirrors mounted orthogonally such that the first steers the beam across the material and the second positions the beam lengthwise. This function is used to set the distance longitudinally from the scanning array, and also to dynamically facilitate complex and steep cutting as in re-entry. Re-entrant cutting follows complex paths in which the pattern returns on itself to the "normal" line of flow of the material and pattern.
  • the steering mirror assembly is mounted on a slideway such that it can be positioned across the width of the material to allow cutting in any position. For convenience, this is powered. This feature is facilitated by the optical configuration in which the focusing lens is mounted on the beam steering carriage.
  • Electronic pattern masking may form part of the programme to be used for controlling the laser when cutting complex cutting paths, including those such as re-entrant paths.
  • the following three methods will be greatly enhanced by use of "masking". Indeed it is seen as almost essential, in order to avoid problems of cumulative position errors .
  • Re-entry cutting can be facilitated by multiple laser beams (Multi-beam) produced from additional optics whose drive motors are programmed to "switch on and off” further laser beams to cut simultaneously at different parts of the scallop each time the re-entrant feature is crossed.
  • Multi-beam multiple laser beams
  • Re-entry cutting can be facilitated by the use of a galvanometric drive.
  • This may comprise .a two-axis galvanometer, with simple optics, and capable of directing a continuous laser beam both across the material and in a lengthwise direction within the cutting area.
  • the material forward speed may vary to accommodate the laser cutting rate, especially in deep scallops, allowing the laser beam to "catch up" with the continuously forward moving material, and the calculation of the galvanometer steps is complex.
  • a further re-entry cutting method is to use the high switching capability of the pulsed laser and the high speed scan of the aforementioned galvanometer to cut in very short bursts effectively "drilling holes" at several points in a single axis on the re-entrant feature.
  • Scanning will be carried out on scallop paths which are in excess of 200mm, by motorising the scanning apparatus across the lateral width of the pre-existing pattern on the lace or other material .
  • the cross-slide can be used to maintain the array substantially centrally on the cutting path.
  • the cross-slide would require to be a low friction backlash free type with encoder feedback of carriage position. In this way the large departures are followed, with the accurate high speed departures utilising the galvanometer action.
  • the scanning system may also continuously measure and record the pitch and width of the material pattern. Compensation is made for the difference between the material in its lightly tensioned condition on the machine and its finished relaxed sated. Such pitch measurement further allows the control of the electronic pattern masks to define complex cutting paths, which would otherwise suffer cumulative error as the material may stretch as it passes through the machine. Using such a mask allows materials with a "Y" junction pattern (where the scanned cutting path divides into two or more branches) and re-entrant features to be processed.
  • the scanning system may also be applied to continuous inspection for defects in the material (lace) knitting process.
  • the scanning system may also be applied to measuring and recording the number of fibres in a specified area of the material.
  • the scanning system preferably comprises a segmented optical sensor array which detects light transmitted through the pattern of said fabric.
  • Linear sensor arrays are available in limited lengths, and a number of arrays may be combined in an offset arrangement to provide a scanning area of greater total width than the length of one individual scanner.
  • the sensors cannot simply be arranged in a collinear manner, as this would leave gaps between adjacent sensors in which the fabric would not be scanned, due to the fact that the each sensor is mounted in a housing and the scanning elements themselves do not extend over the full length of the housing.
  • the sensors are offset from each other both in a transverse direction parallel to the length of the sensor and in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the length of the sensor.
  • the software of the pattern recognition means takes account of the fact that adjacent sensors are not collinear and do not scan the fabric on the same transverse line at the same time.
  • This machine is capable of performing following and cutting or other operations on materials other than lace where there is a pre-existing pattern or similar outline on the material.
  • materials For example leather sometimes has irregular patterns on its surface which may be followed and cut as part of a quality control system.
  • Such materials will use the reflective method of material scanning in place of scanning through the material as used for lace. In reflective scanning the scanning sensor and the light source are on the same side of the material for cutting. In through material scanning they are on opposite sides.
  • the cutting plane can be substantially flat. Near flatness is achieved by lightly stretching the material between cylindrical supports. This is unlike other machines where the material is pulled across a cutting platen.
  • the advantage of free span is that the beam passes through the material and can be baffled or dissipated in the defocused condition on a plate some distance below the material. Also, cutting debris which could stain the material is not present.
  • the beam forming the cutting means may be reflected from two galvanometric mirrors, arranged substantially orthogonally to each other. Where more than one cutting means is present, each will have a dedicated pair of orthogonal galvanometric mirrors.
  • the beam can follow the pattern line side- ways whilst keeping pace in the lengthwise direction with the constantly moving material .
  • the beam can be returned to its original location by cutting through less-acute portions of the pattern at a rate exceeding the movement rate of the material. Extremely fast cutting rates are possible since the only moving part involved in the cutting means is the galvanometric mirror which tilts through very small angles to produce a relatively large beam deflection.
  • the material (which may be lace - whether lingerie, Jacquard or Focard lace - leather, paper (such as wallpaper or wallpaper border strips), or any other material where a shaped edge is desirable) may be suspended over two sets of rollers, the cutting area formed in between the rollers being otherwise unsupported.
  • Figs 1 and 2 are respectively a side elevation and an end elevation of a lace cutting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention
  • Figs 3 and 4 are respectively a side elevation and a plan view of a lace cutting apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig 5 is a partial view of a multi-beam cutting head of a lace cutting apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention.
  • Figs 6, 7 and 8 are plan views of a portion of a lace strip showing a re-entrant cut path
  • Figs 9 and 10 are schematic views of pre-defined masks used to assist in cutting path calculations.
  • Figs 11, 12 and 13 are plan views of a portion of a lace strip showing the cut path imposed against the pattern boundary.
  • Fig 1 shows a side elevation of the machine. Lace 23 is drawn into the machine by input drive roller 1 driven by motor 4 and trapped between input roller 1 and support roller 3 by weighted trap roller 2. The material passes up and round tension roller 5 which is supported on strain gauged beams and incorporates an encoder to mea ⁇ ure the material travel. The lace then span ⁇ un ⁇ upported between roller 5 and ⁇ upport bar 6 in which region cutting will take place. It then pa ⁇ e ⁇ through output drive roller 7, trap roller 9 and ⁇ upport roller 8 performing the same function as the input roller set. The material tension is controlled by setting up the required speed relationship between the input motor 4 and output motor 10 as directed by the tension roller system. The speed of movement of the material may be altered by means of the motorised rollers, but is conveniently maintained at a constant rate.
  • Laser energy is generated in laser unit 21, collimated by lens 22 and turned through a right angle by fold mirror 11.
  • the energy thus travelling acro ⁇ the machine if focu ⁇ ed by len ⁇ 12 and ⁇ teered in 2 axes by ⁇ teering mirror pair 13 mounted on the shafts of galvanometer motors 14.
  • the required position of the laser beam 17 is determined in the first instance by scanning array 15 with illumination being provided by the light source array 16 placed below the lace, although it can be above the lace.
  • the lens and steering mirror assembly is mounted on the carriage of a motorised ⁇ lideway 19 and hence can be po ⁇ itioned anywhere acro ⁇ the width of the material. Fumes from the cutting action are contained by a hood 18 and are drawn off from below via a fume tray which is mounted on a second slideway 20 mechanically synchronised with the first slideway 19.
  • the mechanical and electrical components are all mounted on machine frame 24.
  • Figs 3 and 4 illustrate an embodiment of the invention, in which an angled handling method is provided.
  • the cutting head 31 comprising the scanner assembly, laser, optics and steering mirror may be mounted in a fixed position at one side of the machine frame 24, allowing cutting of one or more paths 32 with each pas ⁇ of the material 33.
  • the uncut material 34 i ⁇ returned to the infeed of the machine u ⁇ ing a conveyor 36 po ⁇ itioned at an angle, and the leading edge i ⁇ ⁇ ewn to the trailing edge 37 with the pattern aligned but off ⁇ et, ⁇ o that the material may pass through the machine several times in a continuous spiral.
  • the handling ⁇ y ⁇ tem may traverse by means of the scrolled roller 38 across the width of the machine frame 24 to maintain the material position with respect to the centre line of the cutting head 35. Further the scanner as ⁇ embly may be used to control the material tracking, so that the positions of the cutting paths are maintained.
  • Such a cutting head may al ⁇ o cut le ⁇ than the maximum number of path ⁇ with each pass of the material, by deflecting the unused laser beams using the steering mirrors.
  • Fig 5 is an isometric view of an eight path cutting head, in which eight la ⁇ er beam ⁇ 42 are each deflected by a mirror 40 and focu ⁇ ed by a focusing lens 41 to cut the fabric along a cut path 45.
  • the intended cut paths 46 have not yet been scanned and cut.
  • Each mirror 40 can deflect the laser beam from a source (not shown) along a range of paths within the subtended angle 44, such that the path can vary from the beam path 42 (shown by solid lines) when the mirror is in the po ⁇ ition 40 (indicated by solid lines) to the beam path 42' (shown by dotted lines) when the mirror is in the position 40' (indicated by dotted lines).
  • Figs 6 to 8 show three methods of re-entrant cutting made possible by the present invention.
  • the first method uses ⁇ a two-axi ⁇ galvanometer.
  • the fabric is propelled in a first direction M, while the galvanometer deflects the cutting beam in two axes G, and G 2 which are parallel and perpendicular to the direction of material flow M respectively.
  • the cutting beam moves along the intended cut path P from point Si to point S 2 and so on by deflection along the perpendicular galvanometer axi ⁇ G 2 until it reaches point S 9 .
  • the cutting beam has to move in the direction parallel to the direction of material flow M in order to "chase" the material. This is achieved by deflecting the cutting beam along both axes Gj and G 2 until the cutting beam reaches point S 12 , at which point deflection is again only neces ⁇ ary along perpendicular axi ⁇ G 2 .
  • the ⁇ econd method uses a multi-beam arrangement, in which a second beam and a third beam are switched on when required to cut re-entrant features.
  • the fabric is propelled in a first direction M, while a galvanometer deflects a single cutting beam along an axis G which is perpendicular to the direction of material flow M.
  • the cutting beam moves along the intended cut path P from point S 0 to point S x , at which point two additional cutting beams are switched on, so that three beams are in operation.
  • a first beam cuts along the path S x to S y
  • a second beam cuts along the path S z to S y
  • a third beam cut ⁇ along the path S z to S n a multi-beam arrangement, in which a second beam and a third beam are switched on when required to cut re-entrant features.
  • the multi-beam zone T extends along the length of the re- entrant feature in the direction M of fabric movement.
  • the third method shown in Fig. 8, use ⁇ a raster cutting method, in which a single cutting beam is switched on and off rapidly and "flies" between a number of cutting points along a raster line. The fabric is propelled in a first direction M, while a galvanometer deflects a single cutting beam along an axis G which is perpendicular to the direction of material flow M.
  • the cutting beam moves along the intended cut path P from point S 0 to point S x , at which point the raster cutting method is brought into operation.
  • the scanning means determines all the points on the intended cut path P which are intercepted by a raster line (R,, R 2 , etc) which is parallel to the galvanometer axis G, and the cutting beam is then deflected to cut the fabric at each interception point on the raster line in turn.
  • the raster cutting method ceases and the cutting method reverts to normal.
  • the raster zone R extends along the length of the re-entrant feature in the direction M of fabric movement.
  • multi-beam and ra ⁇ ter method ⁇ of re- entrant cutting illu ⁇ trated in Figs 7 and 8 are described above as using a galvanometer to deflect the cutting beams, other methods of controlling the position of the cutting beam can be utilised.
  • a masking method using an electronic/software ma ⁇ k algorithm involves the use of a pre-defined mask to assi ⁇ t in cutting path calculations.
  • the mask can be defined in one of two ways:
  • Vector list (see Fig 9) - a list of x, y co- ordinate pairs of a succession of vectors V,, V 2 , V 3 etc. along a path P.
  • the movement of the cutting beam is restricted to a rectangular operating window, hence the laser slows down when going against the flow of the material, and speed ⁇ up when cha ⁇ ing the material.
  • the vectors are defined relative to a known feature on the material .
  • Raster bit mask (see Fig 10) - a list of raster lines, each line made up of l ⁇ ( ⁇ hown by X in Fig 10) and O ⁇ ( ⁇ hown by 0 in Fig 10) where the 0 ⁇ indicate the cutting path profile. Again, the " ⁇ et" i ⁇ relative to a known material feature. The bitmap ma ⁇ k i ⁇ overlaid on incoming data from the scanner to derive the cutting path.
  • Both methods involve the pre-definition of the data for a given lace pattern. This is done once and retained as a database.
  • the creation of the retained data which allows a given material pattern to be cut, can be considered as collecting a complete scanned picture of the material and then allowing an operator to select the required cutting line through the pattern.
  • the selected cutting line information then becomes the data which is stored in a memory ready for use when cutting.
  • a +/- tolerance band is applied to each of the cutting path points in the cutting line information. This tolerance band is selected to ensure that extraneous paths falling outside the tolerance are ignored by the sy ⁇ tem, particularly at "Y" and "T" junctions.
  • the cutting line data When in use the cutting line data is used as a mask over the data collected by the scanner forming a moving "window" whose width is twice the +/- tolerance on the cutting path points.
  • the selectivity imposed by the mask on the data collected by the scanner therefore limits the amount of data to be proces ⁇ ed at any given point along the cutting line and allow ⁇ high speed cutting.
  • the cutting proces ⁇ mu ⁇ t complete the re-entry pattern before the material leaves the "window” defined by the mask.
  • This "window” may be limited by physical limits of the cutting apparatu ⁇ , for example the fact that the mirror guiding the cutting beam can only ⁇ wing 25 degree ⁇ or ⁇ o from a centre-line.
  • the mirror is the y-coordinate mirror which operates the cutting beam in the line of flow of the material, either against it or chasing it.
  • the raster or bitmap mask is a "true" electronic mask; the vector list mask is obtained by producing approximate X,Y pairs in the first run of a new pattern and inputting this information into the machine memory. It ⁇ hould be noted that this masking method may be used to cut any fabrics, not only lace, with any cutting apparatus other than electromagnetic beams, for example hot wire cutting, and with any means for controllably varying the relative po ⁇ ition of fabric and cutting apparatu ⁇ , not only tiltable mirrors.
  • the cutting algorithm may employ various edge following mechanism ⁇ illu ⁇ trated in Figs 11, 12 and 13 and described below.
  • the mask may act as a guide where backward/forward paths are found or at "Y" junction events.
  • Fig 11 shows the edge following mechanism.
  • a reasonably well defined single pattern edge 51 is required in the fabric 52.
  • the reference edge 51 is identified by the operator and this edge is followed by the software, keeping the laser or cutting beam a fixed distance D away from it to form the cut path 53. Localised smoothing is used to eliminate deviations in the edge profile.
  • Fig 12 show ⁇ the track (or two edge) following mechanism.
  • This routine is required where the fabric 52 has a reasonable track running between two pattern edges 54, 55 which need not be as well defined as the single edge 51 routine above. In this case the edge routine would fail due to the close proximity of the other edge.
  • the edges 54, 55 essentially form "tram lines" between which the laser or cutting beam is guided along the cut path 53. If one edge becomes “weak” then the other edge will keep the software on track since "smoothing" is employed to eliminate local deviations .
  • Fig 13 show ⁇ the hole following mechani ⁇ m. This method is used where no edges are available in the fabric 52. In thi ⁇ case the pattern is such that a series of holes 56 is used to guide the cutting beam along the cut path 53. The software "looks ahead" to locate a hole 56, then moves in a straight line towards that hole, then progresses centrally through the hole.
  • This invention by incorporating galvanometric drive for the mirrors allows for greater speed and flexibility in the complexity of pattern which can be cut. Cutting ⁇ peeds will be increased from around 10 meters a minute to 30 metres a minute. The actual cutting speed will vary according to the complexity of the pattern, but this is a considerable advantage over previous capability.
  • This invention adds to the existing arrangement of pattern recognition, which has single edged path following, in that two edge following, and pattern hole-to-hole tracking is now possible.
  • the control system can perform the computing necessary to cope with these and will be capable of adaption for other styles of lace materials and patterns.
  • This invention has the advantage of having a unified complete assembly incorporating: the cutting arrangement; the fume extraction hood; the laser beam protection requirements; and the path recognition and following scanner.
  • the whole is able to be motor driven along guide rails to any point acros ⁇ the full width of the lace with the la ⁇ er beam maintaining the required focu ⁇ for cutting.
  • the previou ⁇ known arrangement ⁇ are restricted in cutting only up to two different tracks simultaneously using opto-electronics .
  • This invention enables more than two tracks to be cut simultaneou ⁇ ly, again u ⁇ ing beam ⁇ plitting and opto-electronics.
  • This invention ha ⁇ the advantage over previous methods of having continuous pitch and width measurement and recording, inspection for defect ⁇ in the knitting proce ⁇ s and measuring and recording the number of fibres in a given distance along or across the material, all allowing greater proces ⁇ control and producing important quality control statistics.
  • This invention can accommodate complex patterns including those with "Y" junction and re-entrant features with return pattern paths in excess of 10mm, allowing the automatic cutting of a far wider range of material styles and offering much greater design flexibility.
  • a multi-head cutting system clearly offers higher production rates, but, together with this invention's angled handling method and operation technique ⁇ described above, higher rates can be achieved with the minimum of operator intervention.
  • Such a system al ⁇ o allows the flexibility of proces ⁇ ing a wide variety of material widths and style ⁇ using the same scanner and cutting head assembly.
  • this invention produces the advantage of: far greater cutting speeds than previous methods, (30 metres per minute); multiple cut ⁇ ; and con ⁇ i ⁇ tent higher quality of cut finish; plus, the advantage of les ⁇ fall off in cutting speed when scalloping more complex and multi-strip fabric.
  • the former is a particular benefit to furnishings lace production while the latter is of benefit to garment and lingerie production.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)

Abstract

Dispositif et procédé servant à découper du tissu (23), tel que de la dentelle, le long d'une bordure d'un motif préexistant sur le tissu. Ce dispositif comprend des moyens de coupe constitué par un faisceau de rayonnement électromagnétique (17), tel qu'un faisceau laser; un moyen de balayage (15, 16), tel qu'un ensemble de balayage numérique, qui balaye le tissu avant la coupe et reconnaît la bordure en tant trajet voulu de coupe; et au moins un miroir galvanométrique (11). L'information obtenue par le moyen de balayage provoque l'inclinaison du miroir (11), afin de diriger le faisceau par réflexion sur le tissu le long du trajet de coupe. Un petit angle d'inclinaison du miroir provoque un déplacement important du faisceau de coupe et permet de découper et de rogner automatiquement et extrêmement rapidement la dentelle, ainsi que des tissus semblables à motifs. Le masquage électronique des motifs aide à découper des formes complexes rentrantes. On peut utiliser un deuxième miroir, perpendiculaire au premier, afin de permettre le déplacement des moyens de coupe dans un sens parallèle au déplacement du tissu. On peut mettre en fonction ou hors fonction un deuxième faisceau, quand on a besoin de découper des trajets divergents dans des formes rentrantes.
PCT/GB1996/002045 1995-08-23 1996-08-23 Machine servant a decouper des motifs WO1997008376A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU68265/96A AU6826596A (en) 1995-08-23 1996-08-23 Pattern cutting machine

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9517234.2A GB9517234D0 (en) 1995-08-23 1995-08-23 Cutting machine
GB9517234.2 1995-08-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997008376A1 true WO1997008376A1 (fr) 1997-03-06

Family

ID=10779627

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1996/002045 WO1997008376A1 (fr) 1995-08-23 1996-08-23 Machine servant a decouper des motifs

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU6826596A (fr)
GB (1) GB9517234D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1997008376A1 (fr)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998047035A1 (fr) * 1997-04-11 1998-10-22 Bootsman Holding B.V. Systeme de deplacement d'un faisceau laser, par exemple systeme de marquage au laser
JP2001171017A (ja) * 1999-12-20 2001-06-26 Daisan Shigyo Kk 軟包装資材の加工機械、および、包装体
EP1762653A1 (fr) * 2005-09-07 2007-03-14 Framax S.r.l. Machine pour couper ou pour graver des textiles avec laser, en particulier des rouleaux de bandes textiles
FR2967696A1 (fr) * 2010-11-24 2012-05-25 Ascodero Productique Installation pour la decoupe d'un textile notamment pour l'ecaillage de la dentelle
WO2014122524A1 (fr) 2013-02-11 2014-08-14 Dimeco Alipresse Procédé de découpage de pièces dans une bande de matière et machine de découpage mettant en oeuvre ledit procédé
GB2550193A (en) * 2016-05-12 2017-11-15 Rollem Ltd A material processing system
CN108080802A (zh) * 2018-01-03 2018-05-29 苏州辰晟优机电科技有限公司 一种三维激光切割智能机器人
CN110238538A (zh) * 2019-05-22 2019-09-17 东莞市五州激光科技有限公司 一种多头布料激光切割设备及切割方法

Families Citing this family (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105506948B (zh) * 2016-01-26 2018-03-23 广东宏杰内衣实业有限公司 一种蕾丝布料切割机
CN109374639A (zh) * 2018-08-29 2019-02-22 芜湖华烨工业用布有限公司 工业用布的检验装置

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DE4026250A1 (de) * 1990-08-20 1992-03-05 Arnold Herzog Koordinatenschneid- oder -trennvorrichtung zum automatischen schneiden oder trennen von abgepasstem, flaechenfoermigem schneidgut
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WO1994003301A2 (fr) * 1992-08-05 1994-02-17 Loughborough University Of Technology Operations automatiques sur des materiaux

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M. JACKSON; M. PRESTON; L. TAO: "HIGH SPEED CUTTING OF PATTERNED SHAPES FROM FABRICS", MECHATRONICS, vol. 5, no. 2/03, 1 March 1995 (1995-03-01), pages 197 - 213, XP000510164 *
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Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998047035A1 (fr) * 1997-04-11 1998-10-22 Bootsman Holding B.V. Systeme de deplacement d'un faisceau laser, par exemple systeme de marquage au laser
JP2001171017A (ja) * 1999-12-20 2001-06-26 Daisan Shigyo Kk 軟包装資材の加工機械、および、包装体
EP1762653A1 (fr) * 2005-09-07 2007-03-14 Framax S.r.l. Machine pour couper ou pour graver des textiles avec laser, en particulier des rouleaux de bandes textiles
FR2967696A1 (fr) * 2010-11-24 2012-05-25 Ascodero Productique Installation pour la decoupe d'un textile notamment pour l'ecaillage de la dentelle
EP2458081A1 (fr) 2010-11-24 2012-05-30 Ascodero Productique Installation pour la découpe d'un textile notamment pour l'écaillage de la dentelle
WO2014122524A1 (fr) 2013-02-11 2014-08-14 Dimeco Alipresse Procédé de découpage de pièces dans une bande de matière et machine de découpage mettant en oeuvre ledit procédé
FR3001906A1 (fr) * 2013-02-11 2014-08-15 Dimeco Alipresse Procede de decoupage de pieces dans une bande de matiere et machine de decoupage mettant en oeuvre ledit procede
US9744621B2 (en) 2013-02-11 2017-08-29 Dimeco Sas Method for cutting pieces from a strip of material and cutting machine for carrying out said method
GB2550193A (en) * 2016-05-12 2017-11-15 Rollem Ltd A material processing system
CN108080802A (zh) * 2018-01-03 2018-05-29 苏州辰晟优机电科技有限公司 一种三维激光切割智能机器人
CN110238538A (zh) * 2019-05-22 2019-09-17 东莞市五州激光科技有限公司 一种多头布料激光切割设备及切割方法
CN110238538B (zh) * 2019-05-22 2022-02-25 东莞市五州激光科技有限公司 一种多头布料激光切割设备及切割方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6826596A (en) 1997-03-19
GB9517234D0 (en) 1995-10-25

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