Fabric cutting

Abstract

Bias cutting of rubberized fabric material wherein a carriage is reciprocated on a support frame, which frame may be adjusted angularly to determine the bias angle of cut. A cutter support is mounted on the carriage for movement therewith. Such cutter support journals for rotation a shaft that supports on one end a rotating cutter with a plurality of circumferentially spaced linear cutting edges that cooperate with an anvil carried by the cutter support to shear the fabric material. A guide is located adjacent to the anvil over which the fabric material is to travel and under which the conveyor belt moves. Upon completion of the cut, the cutter, anvil and its supporting framework is pivoted out of the way to permit the indexing of the material and the return of the cutter and anvil during such indexing to the starting position in preparation for the succeeding cutting operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bias cutting apparatus for cutting rubberized fabric comprising a support frame, a carriage mounted on said support frame for reciprocal movement, drive means connected to said carriage for reciprocating said carriage, a cutter support member pivotally secured to said carriage, a cutter means journaled on said cutter support member for rotation thereon, power means mounted on said carriage operatively connected to said cutter means for rotating said cutter means, said cutter means having a plurality of spaced linear cutting edges, a guide bar secured to the lower portion of said support frame over which fabric is moved and under which a conveyor belt travels, anvil means mounted on said cutter support member for movement therewith, said anvil means having a linear cutting edge, said cutter means having its cutting edges parallel to said linear cutting edge of said anvil means, and power operated means interconnecting said carriage and said cutter support member for pivoting said cutter support member on said carriage to move said cutter support member and anvil away from said guide bar to facilitate the movement of fabric while said cutter support member and carriage are moved back for a subsequent cutting of the fabric. 
     
     
       2. A bias cutting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide bar extends transversely across said apparatus, and said pivotal mounting of said cutter support member on said carriage includes a rod that is parallel to the direction of said guide bar for pivoting said anvil in an arcuate direction about said rod and away from said guide bar. 
     
     
       3. A bias cutting apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cutter support member has a recess therein extending parallel to the direction of said guide bar, a slide member mounted on said cutter support member, said cutter means journaled on a shaft that is supported by said cutter support member and said slide member adjusting said slide member in said recess for adjusting the parallel relationship of said cutter means to said anvil. 
     
     
       4. A bias cutting apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said carriage has a pair of racks secured thereto, said cutter support member having a drive shaft journaled therein, a pair of spur gears keyed to said drive shaft and meshing with said .[.rack, said cutter means mounted on one end of said drive shaft.]. .Iadd.racks.Iaddend., said power operated means on said carriage operatively connected to said spur gears for selectively rotating said spur gears .Iadd.to pivot said cutter support member relative to said carriage.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus for the cutting of elastomeric fabric material comprising a support frame, guide means on said support frame, carriage means mounted for movement on said guide means, power operated means operatively connected to said carriage means for reciprocating said carriage means on said guide means, cutter support means mounted on said carriage means for movement therewith, cutter means journaled on said cutter support means for rotation thereon, drive means operatively connected to said cutter means for rotating said cutter means, said cutter means having a plurality of circumferentially spaced linear cutting edges, a guide bar secured to the lower portion of said support frame and extending transversely thereacross operative to guide fabric to be cut thereover, anvil means connected to said cutter support means for movement therewith, said anvil means having a linear cutting edge, said spaced linear cutting edges of said cutter means being sequentially cooperative with said cutting edge on said anvil and being parallel thereto to perform a shearing action, said cutter on said carriage is pivotable away from said guide bar in a vertical planar direction relative to said guide bar. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said carriage means has a rod journaled thereon that extends in a horizontal direction contained by a vertical plane that is normal to said transverse direction of said guide bar, said cutter support means being pivotally mounted on said rod, and power operated means interconnecting said carriage means and said cutter support means for selectively pivoting said cutter support means about said rod upon actuation of said power operated means. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein a drive shaft is mounted in said cutter support means for rotatably supporting said cutter means and adjusting means interconnecting said carriage means and said cutter support means for adjusting the parallel relationship of said cutter means with said anvil. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said adjusting means includes a slide block slidably mounted on ways in said cutter support means and set screws operatively connected to said block for positioning said slide block relative to said cutter support means. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said drive shaft is supported at one end in said cutter support means and supported at the other end in said slide block to thereby adjust the relationship of said cutter means relative to said anvil.