Fixturing Device for Holding Sheet Type Material

Abstract

A device for use with sheet type material provides the elimination of the need for the overlay film in a cutting apparatus for material while having an apparatus that is tolerant of height variations in the flexible sheet work material. In an apparatus for cutting pattern pieces or in any apparatus that requires material to be held down, the device comprising a conforming material. In one embodiment the conforming material is a plurality of soft nylon bristles. The conforming material can be a solitary unit or comprise of many units such as in the soft bristles form of a brush. The device can be any geometrical shape desirable to the application. During operation the device produces axial forces in such a way as to resist the material from rolling up or bunching up. The device also allows cutting close to the edge or on the edge of the material.

1 . A device for holding down sheet type material on an apparatus, comprising:
 a support in communication with a carriage of the apparatus for movement in response to commands issued from a controller; and   a conforming material coupled to the support for allowing the sheet type material to resist rolling up or bunching while the conforming material moves over the material.   
   
   
       2 . An device as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the support and conforming material are a unitary structure for providing forces that resist the sheet type material from bunching up when the device is moved over the sheet type material. 
   
   
       3 . A device as defined by  claim 2 , the conforming material includes at least one bristle. 
   
   
       4 . A device as defined by  claim 3 , the bristle is comprised of fine diameter filaments. 
   
   
       5 . A device as defined by  claim 3 , the bristle is made of nylon for offering physical properties of bend recovery and abrasion resistance. 
   
   
       6 . An device as defined by  claim 1 , the conforming material is in the shape of a circle. 
   
   
       7 . A device for holding down sheet type material on an apparatus, comprising:
 a bristle-like material disposed about a cutting blade for allowing the sheet type material to resist rolling up or bunching while the bristle-like material or sheet type material move relative to each other.   
   
   
       8 . An device as defined by  claim 7 , the bristle-like material is a plurality of bristles uniformly or non-uniformly distributed around the cutting blade. 
   
   
       9 . An device as defined by  claim 7 , the bristle-like material moves relative to the sheet-type material and the sheet type material is stationary. 
   
   
       10 . An device as defined by  claim 7 , the bristle-like material is foam or sponge-like having open or closed cells therein. 
   
   
       11 . An device as defined by  claim 7 , the bristle-like material is fine nylon filaments. 
   
   
       12 . An device as defined by  claim 7 , the bristle-like material is in the shape of a circle, square, rectangle, triangle, polygon or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       13 . An device as defined by  claim 7 , the bristle-like material has a low coefficient of friction. 
   
   
       14 . A device for holding down sheet type material on an apparatus, comprising:
 a cutting device in communication with a carriage for movement about the sheet type material;   at least one table for supporting the sheet type material, the cutting device being in proximity of the at least one table for cutting the sheet type material; and   at least one brush in communication with the carriage for allowing the sheet type material to resist rolling up or bunching while the cutting device cuts the sheet type material and allows cutting close to the edge or on the edge of the sheet type material.   
   
   
       15 . An device as defined by  claim 14 , the brush is in the shape of a disk. 
   
   
       16 . An device as defined by  claim 14 , the brush contains bristles disposed about the cutting device. 
   
   
       17 . An device as defined by  claim 16 , the cutting device further includes a blade and the bristles are arranged in such a manner as to allow the blade to cut the sheet type material. 
   
   
       18 . An device as defined by  claim 14 , the sheet type material is on a roll. 
   
   
       19 . An device as defined by  claim 14 , the sheet type material is multi-ply. 
   
   
       20 . An device as defined by  claim 14 , the brush further includes a laminate for decreasing coefficient of friction of the brush.