US4640222A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Marking apparatus
Assignee: Gerber Scientific Inc
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Filing: 1985-05-31
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Granted: 1987-02-03
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Expires: 2005-05-31
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for annotating a workpiece with powder comprises a writing device which outputs a stream of powder and a mechanism such as an X-Y plotter for moving the device and the workpiece relative to one another to shape the annotation. One such writing device comprises a grinding wheel which grinds powder from a stick of chalk, a nozzle aimed at the workpiece, and air moving means for entraining the powder and transporting it through the nozzle. Another such writing device comprises a storage means for the powder, the storage means tapering to form a downwardly sloping guide which collects powder and leads to an outlet, and a gear adjacent the guide having teeth which move the powder along the guide towards the outlet. Both the rate of powder grinding by the first device and the rotational speed of the gear in the latter device are variable in proportion to the writing speed to adjust the output of powder and thereby provide an annotation of generally uniform intensity despite variations in writing speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Heinz J. Gerber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:16
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06H; D06H1/00; D06H1/02; A; A41; A41H; A41H23/00; B; B26; B26D; B26D7/00; B26D7/27; D06B; D06B11/00; D06B11/0056; D06B11/0063; B26F; B26F2210/00; B26F2210/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
An apparatus for cutting and annotating porous sheet material, said apparatus comprising: means defining a support surface for supporting said sheet material, marking means for outputting a stream of powder downwardly onto said sheet material to mark it, said marking means comprising a movable mechanical element which engages said powder and urges it into air to minimize the force necessary to deliver said powder to said sheet material, means for supporting said cutting means and said marking means adjacent to said support surface and for automatically moving said marking means and said support surface in relation to each other along a first course which outlines said annotation as said marking means outputs a stream of powder and moving said cutting means and said support surface in relation to each other along a second course which outlines a pattern piece as said cutting means cuts out said pattern piece, and means for adjusting the output of said stream of powder in relation to a marking speed to regulate marking intensity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
169 words
An apparatus for cutting and annotating porous sheet material, said apparatus comprising: means defining a support surface for supporting said sheet material, marking means for outputting a stream of powder downwardly onto said sheet material to mark it, said marking means comprising a movable mechanical element which engages said powder and urges it into air to minimize the force necessary to deliver said powder to said sheet material, means for supporting said cutting means and said marking means adjacent to said support surface and for automatically moving said marking means and said support surface in relation to each other along a first course which outlines said annotation as said marking means outputs a stream of powder and moving said cutting means and said support surface in relation to each other along a second course which outlines a pattern piece as said cutting means cuts out said pattern piece, and means for adjusting the output of said stream of powder in relation to a marking speed to regulate marking intensity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting the output of said stream of powder comprises means for automatically adjusting the output of said stream of powder in proportion to changes in the marking speed.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for cutting and annotating porous sheet material, said apparatus comprising: means defining a support surface for supporting said sheet material, marking means for outputing a stream of powder downwardly onto said sheet material to mark it, said marking means comprising means to deliver said powder to said sheet material, and means for supporting said cutting means and said marking means adjacent to said support surface and for automatically moving said marking means and said support surface in relation to each other along a first course which outlines said annotation as said marking means outputs a stream of powder and moving said cutting means and said support surface in relation to each other along a second course which outlines a pattern piece as said cutting means cuts out said pattern piece, said marking means including means for grinding powder from its solid form and directly dispensing said powder by gravity through an outlet to said sheet material, said means for grinding comprising said movable mechanical element.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for cutting and annotating porous sheet material, said apparatus comprising: means defining a support surface for supporting said sheet material, marking means for outputing a stream of powder downwardly onto said sheet material to mark it, said marking means comprising means to deliver said powder to said sheet material, and means for supporting said cutting means and said marking means adjacent to said support surface and for automatically moving said marking means and said support surface in relation to each other along a first course which outlines said annotation as said marking means outputs a stream of powder and moving said cutting means and said support surface in relation to each other along a second course which outlines a pattern piece as said cutting means cuts out said pattern piece, said marking means including means for grinding powder from its solid form and directly dispensing said powder by gravity through an outlet to said sheet material, said means for grinding comprising said movable mechanical element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for outputting a stream of powder comprises grinding means for grinding powder from its solid form, said grinding means including a grinding surface, engaging means for dislodging powder from said grinding means, said engaging means including a flexible member which engages said grinding surface as said grinding means grinds said powder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said grinding means comprises a grinding wheel having teeth and a means for rotating said wheel, and wherein said engaging means comprises a flexible wire which engages said teeth as said wheel rotates to remove powder from said wheel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
A marking apparatus for annotating a porous, fabric worksheet, said marking apparatus comprising: means defining a support surface for supporting said worksheet, means for outputting a stream of powder onto said worksheet including moveable mechanical means for engaging said powder and urging it into air to minimize the force necessary to deposit said powder on said worksheet, and means for automatically varying the output of powder in relation to variations in marking speed to regulate marking intensity and means for automatically moving the output means and said support surface relative to one another along a programmed route defining the shape of said annotation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
A marking apparatus for annotating a porous, fabric worksheet, said marking apparatus comprising: means defining a support surface for supporting said worksheet, means for outputting a stream of powder onto said worksheet including moveable mechanical means for engaging said powder and urging it into air to minimize the force necessary to deposit said powder on said worksheet, and means for automatically varying the output of powder in relation to variations in marking speed to regulate marking intensity and means for automatically moving the output means and said support surface relative to one another along a programmed route defining the shape of said annotation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A marking apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for automatically varying the output of powder comprises means for varying the output approximately in proportion to said variations in marking speed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A marking device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for outputting said powder includes an outlet which is less than one half inch across its widest portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
A marking device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said moveable mechanical element takes the form of a grinding wheel, said powder moves predominantly by gravity from said grinding wheel to said worksheet, and said means for automatically varying the output of powder includes means for varying the grinding rate in relation to variations in marking speed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A marking device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for outputting a stream of powder further comprises air moving means for entraining the ground powder which was urged into said air and carrying it through an outlet.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for producing an annotation, with powder on a pattern piece, said apparatus comprising marking means comprising means for storing said powder; means for guiding said powder to an outlet; a toothed wheel rotatably mounted adjacent to a portion of said means for guiding said powder and partially defining a channel between said means for guiding said powder and said wheel, teeth of said wheel extending substantially into said channel; and means for rotating said wheel so that said teeth move said powder along said means for guiding said powder, means defining a support surface for supporting said workpiece, and means for moving said marking means and said support surface relative to one another along a course which outlines said annotation as powder is output through said outlet, said outlet having dimensions suitable to produce omnidirectional lines of sufficiently similar and small thickness to yield a legible annotation.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for producing an annotation, with powder on a pattern piece, said apparatus comprising marking means comprising means for storing said powder; means for guiding said powder to an outlet; a toothed wheel rotatably mounted adjacent to a portion of said means for guiding said powder and partially defining a channel between said means for guiding said powder and said wheel, teeth of said wheel extending substantially into said channel; and means for rotating said wheel so that said teeth move said powder along said means for guiding said powder, means defining a support surface for supporting said workpiece, and means for moving said marking means and said support surface relative to one another along a course which outlines said annotation as powder is output through said outlet, said outlet having dimensions suitable to produce omnidirectional lines of sufficiently similar and small thickness to yield a legible annotation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for rotating said wheel rotates said wheel at speeds coordinated with various marking speeds to regulate marking intensity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said outlet is generally round.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said teeth extending into said channel have a length nearly equal to the depth of said channel and a thickness nearly equal to the width of said channel so that a tooth within said channel forms a movable barrier within said channel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 further comprising another toothed wheel, which other wheel meshes with the first said wheel and protuberances, other than said teeth of said other wheel, attached to a face of said other wheel and extending into said means for storing said powder, which protuberance agitate said chalk when said other wheel rotates.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
66 words
A marker for producing an inscription with powder on a workpiece, said marker co-operable with a mechanism for moving said marker and said workpiece relative to one another, said marker comprising: grinding means for grinding powder from its solid form, said grinding means comprisng a grinding surface and engaging means including a flexible member which engages the grinding surface for dislodging powder from said grinding means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
A marker for producing an inscription with powder on a workpiece, said marker co-operable with a mechanism for moving said marker and said workpiece relative to one another, said marker comprising: grinding means for grinding powder from its solid form, said grinding means comprisng a grinding surface and engaging means including a flexible member which engages the grinding surface for dislodging powder from said grinding means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
A marker as set forth in claim 16 wherein said grinding means comprises a grinding wheel having teeth and a means for rotating said wheel, and said engaging means comprises a flexible wire which engages said teeth as said wheel rotates.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
A marker as set forth in claim 17 wherein the cross-section of each of said teeth on said grinding wheel is triangular and said wire extends into a valley defined by an adjacent pair of said teeth.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A marker as set forth in claim 17 wherein said flexible wire extends into recesses defined by adjacent teeth to scrape powder lodged in said recesses.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
A marker as set forth in claim 17 further comprising a housing for said grinding means, said wire being secured at one end in fixed relation to said housing, the other end of said wire engaging said teeth.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
209 words
An apparatus for working on sheet material, said apparatus comprising: marker means for marking said sheet material with powder, said marker means comprising grinding means for grinding said powder from its solid form and temporarily suspending it in air housing means for containing said temporarily suspended powder about said grinding means, guide means for directing said powder toward said sheet material, and air moving means for entraining said powder within said housing means immediately after being ground and while said powder is temporarily suspended in the air and transporting said powder through said guide means, means defining a support surface for supporting said sheet material, means for supporting said guide means adjacent to said support surface and moving said guide means and said support surface relative to one another in a manner which corresponds to the shape of an inscription as said marker means deposits powder on said sheet material to produce said inscription, and cutting means for cutting said sheet material, said means for supporting said guide means and moving said guide means relative to said support surface including means for supporting said cutting means and moving said cutting means and said support surface relative to one another, said guide means being fixed relative to said cutting means.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
209 words
An apparatus for working on sheet material, said apparatus comprising: marker means for marking said sheet material with powder, said marker means comprising grinding means for grinding said powder from its solid form and temporarily suspending it in air housing means for containing said temporarily suspended powder about said grinding means, guide means for directing said powder toward said sheet material, and air moving means for entraining said powder within said housing means immediately after being ground and while said powder is temporarily suspended in the air and transporting said powder through said guide means, means defining a support surface for supporting said sheet material, means for supporting said guide means adjacent to said support surface and moving said guide means and said support surface relative to one another in a manner which corresponds to the shape of an inscription as said marker means deposits powder on said sheet material to produce said inscription, and cutting means for cutting said sheet material, said means for supporting said guide means and moving said guide means relative to said support surface including means for supporting said cutting means and moving said cutting means and said support surface relative to one another, said guide means being fixed relative to said cutting means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
88 words
In an apparatus for working on sheet material, said apparatus comprising a cutter, means defining a support surface for supporting said sheet material and a means for moving said cutter and said support surface relative to one another to effect cutting, the improvement comprising: rotatable grinding means for grinding powder from its solid form, said grinding means including a grinding surface, and engaging means for dislodging powder from said grinding means, said engaging means including a flexible member which engages the grinding surface as said grinding means rotates.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
88 words
In an apparatus for working on sheet material, said apparatus comprising a cutter, means defining a support surface for supporting said sheet material and a means for moving said cutter and said support surface relative to one another to effect cutting, the improvement comprising: rotatable grinding means for grinding powder from its solid form, said grinding means including a grinding surface, and engaging means for dislodging powder from said grinding means, said engaging means including a flexible member which engages the grinding surface as said grinding means rotates.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus for working on sheet material, said apparatus comprising: marking means for marking said sheet material with powder, said marking means comprising grinding means for grinding powder from its solid form, means defining a support surface for supporting said sheet material, means for supporting said grinding means above said support surface to directly deposit said powder on said sheet material and moving said grinding means and said support surface relative to one another, cutting means for cutting said worksheet, and means for supporting said cutting means adjacent to said support surface.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus for working on sheet material, said apparatus comprising: marking means for marking said sheet material with powder, said marking means comprising grinding means for grinding powder from its solid form, means defining a support surface for supporting said sheet material, means for supporting said grinding means above said support surface to directly deposit said powder on said sheet material and moving said grinding means and said support surface relative to one another, cutting means for cutting said worksheet, and means for supporting said cutting means adjacent to said support surface.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
116 words
An apparatus for working on sheet material, said apparatus comprising: marking means for marking said sheet material with powder, said marking means comprising grinding means for grinding powder from its solid form, means defining a support surface for supporting said sheet material, means for supporting said grinding means above said support surface to directly deposit said powder on said sheet material and moving said grinding means and said support surface relative to one another, and cutting means for cutting said worksheet, said means for supporting said grinding means and moving said grinding means and said support surface relative to one another including means for moving said cutting means and said support surface relative to one another.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
116 words
An apparatus for working on sheet material, said apparatus comprising: marking means for marking said sheet material with powder, said marking means comprising grinding means for grinding powder from its solid form, means defining a support surface for supporting said sheet material, means for supporting said grinding means above said support surface to directly deposit said powder on said sheet material and moving said grinding means and said support surface relative to one another, and cutting means for cutting said worksheet, said means for supporting said grinding means and moving said grinding means and said support surface relative to one another including means for moving said cutting means and said support surface relative to one another.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for cutting and annotating a fabric worksheet, said apparatus comprising: means defining a support surface for supporting said fabric worksheet, cutting means for cutting said fabric worksheet, means for grinding powder from its solid form and directly dispensing said ground powder to an outlet to mark said fabric supported on a said support surface, and means for moving said grinding means and said support surface relative to one another in a manner which corresponds to the shape of an annotation as powder is dispensed onto said fabric worksheet and for moving said cutting means and said support surface relative to one-another in a manner which corresponds to the shape of a pattern piece as said cutting means cuts said worksheet.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for cutting and annotating a fabric worksheet, said apparatus comprising: means defining a support surface for supporting said fabric worksheet, cutting means for cutting said fabric worksheet, means for grinding powder from its solid form and directly dispensing said ground powder to an outlet to mark said fabric supported on a said support surface, and means for moving said grinding means and said support surface relative to one another in a manner which corresponds to the shape of an annotation as powder is dispensed onto said fabric worksheet and for moving said cutting means and said support surface relative to one-another in a manner which corresponds to the shape of a pattern piece as said cutting means cuts said worksheet.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for cutting and annotating a fabric worksheet, said apparatus comprising: means defining a support surface for supporting said fabric worksheet, cutting means for cutting said fabric worksheet, means for dispensing a stream of powder onto said fabric worksheet to mark said worksheet, means for moving said dispensing means and said support surface relative to one another in a manner which corresponds to the shape of an annotation as said stream of powder is dispensed onto said fabric worksheet and for moving said cutting means and said support surface relative to one another in a manner which corresponds to the shape of a pattern piece as said cutting means cuts said worksheet, and means for varying the rate of flow of said stream of powder as it is dispensed onto said worksheet in accordance with the speed of said dispensing means relative to said supporting surface.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for cutting and annotating a fabric worksheet, said apparatus comprising: means defining a support surface for supporting said fabric worksheet, cutting means for cutting said fabric worksheet, means for dispensing a stream of powder onto said fabric worksheet to mark said worksheet, means for moving said dispensing means and said support surface relative to one another in a manner which corresponds to the shape of an annotation as said stream of powder is dispensed onto said fabric worksheet and for moving said cutting means and said support surface relative to one another in a manner which corresponds to the shape of a pattern piece as said cutting means cuts said worksheet, and means for varying the rate of flow of said stream of powder as it is dispensed onto said worksheet in accordance with the speed of said dispensing means relative to said supporting surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-02-02 | 1990-08-04 | 1991-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-02 | 1994-08-04 | 1995-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-02 | 1998-08-04 | 1999-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |