US1809213A

US1809213A - Cloth handling machine

Info

Publication number: US1809213A
Application number: US136366A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rudolph A Oesman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1926-09-18
Filing date: 1926-09-18
Publication date: 1931-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 1948-06-09

Description

June 9, 1931. I R, A. OESMAN 1,809,213

CLOTH HANDLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18 1926 8 Shts-Shet 1 Inventor Fudo/pfi fl 09.5mm.

y Attorney June 9, 1931.-

R. A. OESMAN CLOTH HANDLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor Attorney 7 June 9, 1931.. v QESMAN 1,809,213

CLOTH HANDLING MACHINE I 7 :Filed Sjept. $8, '1926 '8 Sheets- Sheet. 5

Jun 9, 1931.. QESMAN 1,809,213

CLOTH ANDLIN MACHINE Inventor I? 17. Owl/2'00 Attorney June 3 R. A. OESMAN CLOTH HANDLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Attorney June 9, 1931. R. A. OESMAN 1,809,213

' CLOTH HANDLING MACHINE Filed SBPB- 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 .95 Inventor fiadai/i /Z 066M012 4 I: I" I Attor ey ig g z automatically feed the cloth'to a suitable Patented June 9, 1931 r, I r

- as PT;

'RUDOLI'H A. OESIVZAN, IBEGUKLYN, NEW YORK" I cnorn HAnnLinG ACHINE Application filedse ptember 18, 1926. Seria1,No. 136,366;-

This invention relates to improvements in same to the proper length, with the nap alcloth handling machines and additionally to Ways in the same direction.

a machine adapted to lay out predetermined This inventioncontemplates theprovision lengths of cloth for suitings on a table" or of a machine which Will perform this Work other support. in a highly efficient and economical'manner, 55-

In clothing factories and the like, Where in order to considerably'increase the produclarge numbers of ready to Wear suits are tion of suiting and at the sametime reduce tailored, it is customary to take a bolt of the cost incident to the operation of'cuttingv cloth and lay it out on acutting table in pres In the provision of this'machine, it is condetermined lengths and in superimposed retemplated to produce a substantially greater 60 lation, in one, two, or three suit lengths and output for a single cutting table than has i sometimes more, from Which cutter afterbeen heretofore attainable, and as a result, Wardscuts a predetermined number of suits the amount of clothspace for the cutting opof certain sizes and With little or no Waste. eration may be considerably reduced, through In cuttingseveral lengths ofcloth and lay the'useof a reduced number of tables'for a 65 ing the, cloth in superimposed relation on] pr d t rmin d out ut of cut'suiting.

the table, it is necessary that the nap ofall The invention comprehends additlonal im layers be in the same direction, so that the provements in the details of construction and I suit cut from'the cloth Will hav e nap arrangement of. parts, in orde'r toobtain a running in the proper direction. It is come i l a d fli i t hi 11 f hi h '70 monly experienced in these factories that more particularly pointed out in the followthe, cutters Who are highly paid experts in ing detailed description and claims directed thi lin f il to g the p 0f e cloth to the preferred form of the invention, it bee the right 'd-U to a re of giv- 'ing understood,hoWever,that Various changes ing the proper concentration to their Work, i th i Shape nd g t ofth 7 and as a result of which greater g h o parts tegether withfthe cooperation therebe- I, c h e frequently out h are necessary tween may be made, Without departing from as We a o pieces 010th being laid the spirit and scope'of theinvention, as herein -Witll the nap in the Wrong direction. This s t f th I I r "results' in a substantial amount of waste at- I st-h drawings, forming a part f thi so the present time, and under these conditions jli ti of procedure, andit has been found substan- Fi u e 1 is a id l ati f a tti y pQ to get e cutters'to v table, having the present invention applied the P p attentiQZ-l to these matters in thereto, and showing several layers of cloth, 'derto prevent the-Waste and therebyobtain f d t ined l th d l f th a the highest efiicien 1n -roductmn with length laid on the table and havingthe ends l f l Q ti 7' severed, the carriage being at the rear end of T1113 lnventmn 1S ne to replace the its stroke ready to'start the'forward motion Cutter one two helpers w i are for supplying the next layerof cloth and the usually necessary to auton-latlcahy l end thereof to the holding mechanism, preil lir-edeternimed number Offdobh paratorv to layinv it on topof the several in superposed relatlon on a cutting table d .t. d u tab} I ready for cutting in accordance with suiting 3 5 3% mi 8 f f th 7 patterns. In operation, the machine Will- 2 l a font 9 10ml Y Q carnage structure forming the sub ect matter holding device on the end of the table sothat of 1 P Y I I I I I the ends are all placed in coincident relation, g 3 a p vlew p the ge,

after which the machine lays out apredeter I Figure 1s a side elevation of the rn g I mined length :of'the 1 cloth and through the 1111112 to a Wn in F gure 1, on the en-- ope-ration of suitable mechanism] cuts the. larged scale, as shown 1n Flgures 2 and 3. ion I line l414 of Figure 12.

Figure 5 is a sectional View, taken on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views, similar to Figure 5, showing progressive operations K in presenting a cloth end to the holding mech anism, prior to the operation of the device to laythe cloth on the table in the return stroke tails of construction thereof, taken on the .line 99 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a sectional view, taken on the line 101O of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a isectional view, taken on the line 1111 of Figure 9, the scale being enlarged.

Figure 12 is a sectional view, taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 4.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on the line 1313 of Figure 12.

Figure 1 1 is a sectional view, taken on the I Figure 15 is a rear elevation of the control disc forgoverningthe operation of the carriage and stopping the same after a predetermined'number of layers of cloth have been placed in superimposed relation.

Figure 16 isa sectional view, taken on the line 1616 of Figure 12.

Figure 17 is a sectionalview, taken on the line 17 17 of Figure 12.

Figure 18 is a sectional view, taken on the line 18-18 of Figure 5.

Figure 19 is an inside elevational view of one of the movable block members, showing the cloth guiding tongue and the operating mechanism therefor.

Figure 20 is a sectional View, taken onthe line 20 2 O of Figure 12. Figure21 is a perspective view of the operating plunger on the carriage, movable to operate the cloth holding mechanism in feeding a cloth end into said mechanism,

Figure 22 isia front elevational view of one end of the carrier, showing one of the movableblock members carried thereby and a dash pot attachment in'longitudinal section for controlling the lowering movement of the block-members and parts carried thereby up on release of the pawl mechanism shown in Figure 18.

Referring'particularly to Figure 1, a cutting table is indicated atl, which is of the usual construction already known in the art, and which for the purpose of this invention is provided with channels at opposite edges thereof as shown in Figure 2, formed with rack teeth as indicated at 2, and more particularly shown in Figure 4c.

The mechanism forming the subject matter of this invention, is mounted on this cutting table 1, and includes the holding mechanism, which is generally indicated by'the numeral 3 in Figure 1, while a movable carriage mechanism, which forms a cloth folding feeding and operating mechanism for the entire device is indicated at 1,.referring to the condinal bar members 6 joined by the vertical bar members '2' at a plurality of points inter mediate-the enos as well as at the opposite end portions. A suitable motor platform 8 extends between said frames 5 and serves to mount the same in spaced parallel relation incooperation with the front connecting bar 9 joining the upper front corners of the side frames. At the rear ends of the side frames and between the upper portions is mounted the cloth holding basket 10, secured thereto in any suitable manner and in which the cloth to be cut in predetermined lengths is posiv tioned after being folded according to the usual book fold method.

The free end of the cloth in the basket 10 is drawn upwardly and passed over the guide roller 11 which is provided with annular flanges at the opposite ends and j ournaled in bearings 12 in suitable bearing brackets 13,

positioned on the upper edges of the side frame members 5 as clearly shown in Figure l. The cloth is then drawn over this flanged roller 11, to the forward end of the'frame and in this movement it is received in the guide tray 14-, extending between the brackets 13 and from the forward portion of the bearings 12 to the forward end of the side frames as shown in Figure 5. At this point, the cloth is passed over the idler roller 15 and downwardly to-the flanged guide roller 16 carried by the movable cloth feeding mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 1?. This movable cloth feeding mechanism includes a pair of end members 18 which are slidably mounted on the inner sides of the movable block members 19, movably mounted in any desired manner, on the front uprights 7 of the side frame members 5. These movable block members 19 may be assembled on vertical bars 7 of the side frame in any suitrespectively, for driving'tlie s able manner that may be found most expedient. Figure 19 illustrates the cloth feeding mechanism in which alower tongue 21 joins the end members 18 and an upper tongue member 22is formed at opposite ends with extensions'23, pivotally mounted at 2e on the end members 18. Spring latches 25 engage the notches formed in the portion .23

. of themovable upper tongue member and are adapted to hold it in ad acent but spaced parallel relation with respect to thelower tongue member 21. This upper tongue is formed thro-ughoutitssurface with a plurality of small humps such as indicated at-26, in Figure 19, which have shoulders at their forward ends and are adapted to prevent the retraction of the cloth after passing through the tongue member, and to assist in holding the cloth end, after: cut in potill sitlon for presentation to the holding mechanism 3, when beginning the layingof the next,

layer on the cutting table.- The'dotted lines in Figure 19 illustrate the raised position; of

the movable upper tongue member 22, which permits the insertion of a new cloth end between said members. Idler supporting wheels 27 are rotatably mountedon suitable stub axles 28 carried by the front portion of the lower longitudinal bars 6 of the side frames5 and are provided with toothed peripheries engaging in the rack teeth 2 formed in thecuttingtable while the main supporting and driving [wheels -29 formed with toothed peripheries riding in the racks 2 in the cutting table arev mounted upon the suportinr shaft 30" 'ournaled ina ")air of -o P o l l P -pOS1t vertical-bars. spaced from the rear end of the frame and, at opposite sides of the basket 10 as clearly shown in Figure 4. I The-side frame 5 at the left hand side of Figure 2, which will hereinafter be termed the left side frame is provided with hearings on the v-erticalbars 7 rotatablyi supporting the drive shaft 31 carrying the bevelledgear' 32intermeshing with bevelled gearteeth '83, onthe left hand drive wheel-29-as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, the bearings for the shaft 31 being indicated at 3. This shaft 81 carries a pair of spacedzdrive pulleys35, between. which is an idler pulley .36 and aligned with these three pulleys on anintermediate shaft 37 journaled in bearings 3 its the bevelled gear connection indicated-at 42, from the drive shaft 48 of the reducing gearingindicated generally at a l of any suitable type for reducing the speed ratio between the drive shaft 48 and the shaft 45, connected by a suitable coupling with the armature shaft 46, of the electric motor 427 This electric motor is suitably mounted on the motor platform '8 secured between the side frames as clearly shown in Figure 8 and is of suitable power with suitable speed, preferably of the constantspeed type of motor for producing a uniform movement of the carriage on the cutting table, throughout its stroke of movement. The shifting ofthe belts O'a-nd ll controls the direction of movement of the carriage'on the cutting table, and in order that the motion ofthe carriage in eithcrdh rection may be suitably controlled, an oper-e ating lever 48 is pivotally mounted on the left side frame asshownin Figure 4 at 419, andcarries, through a suitable pivotal connection therewith, the belt shiftinglever 50, provided with su table fingers engagingat opposite sides ofthe belts 40 and ll and operable in its movementin a plane parallel with the left side frame to shift thebelts l0 and a1, sothat either of the belts may be cooperation with one of the placed in driving drive pulleys 35. J i

For automatically controlling the opera ion of the lever 48, a pair ofshifting lugs 51 are removably and adjustably mounted on the edge portion of the cutting table, so that theymay be set to operate the carriage mecha-- nism 4: to changeits direction of motion at a predetermined pointin order that cloth will be laid on the cuttingtable to the desired lengthand automatically, cut 'as'fwill hereinafter appear. I v a A cam shaft 53-extends between theside frames 5' and is rotatably mounted in apair of the vertically extending bars 7 of the side frame, clearlyisliown in Figures 3 and 4. Operating scamshe are rigidlymounted on the camshaft 53 at the'inner sides of the uprights 7 of the side frames,;while' a ratchet ,wheel 551smountedon the outer end ofgthe" g cam shaft beyond the-left side frame,

shown in Figure 4c. As more particularly illustrated in Figure lg, this ratchetwhecl is provided with a hubv portion 55 which has a' nair of "diametrically opposite recesses56,

with, which cooperates the pivoted pawl 5'?- nonnted on the left side frame 5, and norm- 7 ally spring pressed intoposition by'the leaf Q spring 58ysecured to the vertical bar ofthe side frame, asshownin Figure 4c.

As shown 1n Figure 4;, the left s de frame 5 has one vertical bar; adjacent the forward end of the frame provided with an eiitension 59 extending rearwardly on which :is pivotally mounted the operating quadrant 60.

This operating quadrant 'is illustratedin d etail' ine FigureQO and at the forward end Figure 4:.

thereof has a yieldable racl l 6l provided with ratchet teeth for cooperation with the ratchet wheel 55, so that in an arcuate movement of the quadrant 6O downwardly from the position shown in Figure lto that shown in Figure 8, the cam shaft will be rotated one-half a revolution to produce an operation which will hereinafter be set forth. This operation of the quadrant member is effected through the medium of the lever 62, connected to the end of "he belt shifting lever. This lever 62 is slidably mounted in the bearing 63, on the projection 59 from the vertical bar 7 of the side frame, as shown in The free end of this lever 62 is provided with a laterally extending head, operating in the slot 64, extending in close relation along the upper edge of the quadrant 60. A pin and slot connection 65 serves to limit the operation of the quadrant member 60, but is sufiicient to permit its motion for rotating the cam shaft 53 a one-half revolution. The yieldable mounting of the rack 61, permits the return upward motion of the quadrant member 60, from the position shown in Figure 8 to that shown in Figure 4, without afiecting or rotating the cam shaft 53. The face of the quadrant 6O adjacent to the side frame 5 is formed with a recess at 66 in which is mounted a resiliently projected pawl 67', movable in a path to enthe movable blocks 19.

gage the free end of the pawl 57, so that in the downward movement of the quadrant 60, the pawl 67 will engage the pawl 57 and move the same on its pivot so as to release the ratchet wheel for rotation by the operation of the quadrant through a onehalf revolution as above stated.

The operating cams 54: are adapted to engage the cross heads 68 for operating the plungers 69, of. which they form a part, as shown in Figure 21. These plungers 69 carrying the cross heads 68 are slidably mounted in guideways 70 as shown in Figure 18, formed in the movable block members 19, while the operating slides 1 of shorter length than the plunger 69 are slidably mounted in the guide ways 70 alongside and inwardly of the plungers 69. members 71 are provided with inwardly projecting studs on the inner faces thereof as shown in Figure 19, with which engage the forked ends of the levers 7 2, pivoted intermediate their ends on the inner faces of The opposite ends are forked as indicated at 76. which extend over the shaft supporting the guide roller 16 of the cloth feeding mechanism so that by the movement of the levers 72011 their pivots by the operation of the slides 71, the cloth feeding mchanism will be moved forwardly or rearwardly to the position as indicated in Figuresfi to 8 inclusive, for feeding a cloth end to the holding mechanism 3 in the man ner which will be hereinafter described.

ing the cutter bar.

The slide 6 The forward ends of the plungers 69 are formed with enlarged heads 74:, so that the heads 74 and the cross heads 68 extend to the inner side of theplunger 69 to form stops for engaging the ends of the operating slides 71. It will be noted from the several views that the operating slides 71 are shorter in length than the distance between the head 7d and the cross head 68 on the plunger member, so that a predetermined amount of lost ting lever 77, having one end pivotally connected to the control lever 48 and the opposite end slidably extending through the projection on the bearing 84, on the left side frame 5, while the cross head portion of this T- shaped lever 77 is slotted, as indicated at 78, for slidably receiving the arm 79, to which is pivotally connected the operating hook 80, as shown in Figure 4. This arm 7 9 is slidably mounted in the bearing 81, on one of the movable block members 19, as shown in Figure 4, while a leaf spring 82 normally moves the operating hook in one direction on its piv- 0t, in order that it will engage with the shoulders of the star wheel 83 provided for operat- This star wheel 83 is adapted to operate the slidable plate member 84 carried by the movable block member on the left hand side frame 5', to one end of which is secured the cutter bar 86. The opposite end of the cutter bar 86 is secured to the pivoted link 87, mounted on the front face of the movable .block member 19 on the right hand side frame 5 as shown in Figure 2. The cutter bar 86 is slotted adjacent its ends at 86 to receive the securing studs 86 which rigidly mount the bar on the plate member 84 and quadrant 87 respectively. The slots 86 permit the proper setting of the cutter bar for smooth operation. The cutter 86 is given a slicing motion through the medium of the pivoted quadrant 87, and the curved slot formation indicated at 88, in the plate member 84. Coil springs'89 are attached to plate member 84 and quadrant 87, and to the block members 19 at the opposite ends to normally raise the cutter bar 86 into the position shown in Figure 2, ready for a subsequent cutting operation. It will be seen that in the operation of the'sta-r wheel 83 forcing the block 84 downwardly, the cutter bar 86 will be given a sweeping motion downwardly in order to produce a draw out on the fabric immediately at the forward end of the' cloth feeding tongues. I

A maincontrol mechanism adapted to stop the operation of the machine when a predetermined number of layers have been piled on the cutting table and out to thepredetermined. length desired is provided for control- ,ling the operation of the motor 4:? 'andis indicated generally by the numeral 90 in Figure 4, and shown in Figures 12, 15,16 and 1'7, in detail. This mechanism includes a suitable switch mechanism including a stationary 1 contact 91 and a resilient movable contact 92, mounted on a post of insulating material 93, secured to the extension 59 on the left side frame heretofore described. These contact arms are provided with opposed contact points adapted to normally engage with

oneures

1 and 12 and is provided with an operating pin 96, adapted to engage thecurved head 94 of the movable contact 92 and inpassing thereunder to raise said movable contact for disengaging the contact point thereon from the contact point of the stationary switch member 91 and in this way open-the circuit to theniotor 47 and stop the operation of the machine. The disc 95 is "rotatable through the operation of the resilient pawl 97 mounted on the quadrant member 60,

through the lateral project-ion 98, thereon, which operates through the slot 99, in the eX- tension 59 on the frame, as illustrated in Figure 15.- This resilient pawl member is adapted to engage'with the circumferentially' arranged and equally spaced pins 100, so as to produce a step by step rotation-of the disc 95 ineach operation of the quadrant member 60. The switch operating pin 96 is disposed in circumferential relation with the pins 100 as clearly shown in Figure 15 and with. which the resilient operating pawl 97 is adapted to.

engage in the operation of the disc-95. The

a shaft 101 mounts the control disc 95, as shown in Figures 16 and 17 and isprovided at the j end with an operating handle 102, 'by which the disc may be manually rotated, so that this disc-may be set for a desired number of layers to be placed on the cutting table, in

order that the-machine may beset and 'start-' ed and thereafter operate automatically until a predetermined number of layers of cloth are piled in superimposed relation and cut to a predetermined length on the cutting table, at

which time the control disc will operate to stop the machine. The disc 95 is permitted to rotatein one direction only through the me-' dium of a pawl 103, shown particularly in Figures 12 and16, which cooperates with rack teeth formed on the face of the disc 95, as

shown in Figure 16, adjacent to the extension 59.

em: to the extension 59 and are-adapted to regis er with the opening 104 11111116 bracket 105, secured on the 6111361151011 59, of the left side frame, so as to indicate the settingof the d1sc95 for a desired number'of cloth Circumferentially arranged numerals are provided on the face of the disc ad a-:

layers to, be cut and piled on the cutting table. v v

The members 19 andass'ociated parts are adapted for step-by-step raising or upward ,motion, on the front upright 7 of the side frame and for this purpose, these forward uprights are provided wlth a series of ratchet teeth indicated at 106, in Figure 18, with which cooperates a spring pressed pawl 107, mounted in a recess formed in the slotted portion 20 of block member 19 and opening to-' ward uprights 7. These'pawls 10? support the block members 19 in any position of ad- I justinent in a mannerwhich will ,p'resently appear.

Now referring more particularly to the cloth holding mechanism indicated. at 3'in F igure 1, and with particular reference to" Figures '9 to 11 inclusive, themain housing 108 ofinverted U-shaped construction is pro,-

vided with channel portions 109 formed at thefree ends ofth'e bottom adapted to fit on the cutting table *1. Suitable means may be employed in securing the ends 109 rigidly to the cutting table 1. The sides of this housing 108 are provided with guides 110 for the movable housing 111 of the holding maria ingsha-ft112', for the mechanism adapted to hold the ends of the cloth in place on thecutting table 1. A pawl andra'tchet mechanism shown in Figure 11 includes the ratchet wheel 113 mounted on the shaft 112, andthe pawl ,7

11 4 pivotally mounted onthe'topside ofthe housing 111, which permits rotation of the V shaft 112 in one direction only. The oppo site ends of the. shaft 112 are journaled in hearings in the ends of the housing 111'," and adjacent which are mounted the pinions 115 i as shown in Figures 9 and 10, with which the teeth formed on block members 76 are adapted to mesh as shown in Figure 10, so that in the operation of the block members from the position shown in Figure 10,-to the,

position shownin Figure 7, a one-halfre'vo-v lution of the shaft 112 willloe produced, in order that the parts of the holding mecha nism will operate in a manner as will now appear. p r i In orderfto provide for'themeshingbetween the teeth of the 'blockmember'r'ti and the pinions' 115, when operated by the plungers toward the back of the casing -111,'and.

nism in whichis rotatably mounted an operat j permit the return movement to the position shown in Figure 10, under the influence of the spring 116 without engaging the teeth of the pinion 115, there is provided a special operating mechanism for the blocks, which includes slotted guide ledges 117 with which the projections 118 spaced unequal distances are adapted to cooperate and which are formed on the block members 76 on the 0pposite sides thereof as shown in Figure 9.

These projections 118 are adapted to register with the slotted guide ledges 117 in the forward and rear positions or the positions at the opposite ends of the stroke of movement of the block members 76, so as to permit the movement of the projections 118 from the lower side to the upper side, or vice versa of the guide ledges 117. A continuous guide ledge'119 is provided inspac-ed parallel relation above the slotted guide ledges 117 so as to limit the upward movement of block members 76 in their operation.

The block member 76, shown in Figures 5 and 10 is in position ready to aroduce a onehalf rotation of the shaft 112 through the operation thereof by the plunger 69. As the bloclr member approaches the rear end of; a stroke of movement in effecting this operation of the shaft 112, the rear end thereof rides upwardly on the elevating member 120 slidably mounted in the projection 121 on the casing 111, and pressed upwardly by the coil spring 122. As the projections 118 ride opposite their respective slots in the guide ledges 117, the elevating member 120 will force the block members 76 upwardly until the projections 118 strike the upper ledge 119, at which time the. teeth will move out of mesh with the teeth of the pinion 115, and the spring 116 will return the block member to the forward end of the casing. 111, where the projections 118 will register with their respective parts in the ledge 117 and drop to the position shown in Figure 10 concluding one cycle of operation. The block members at the opposite ends of the casing .111 operate in synchronism in the manner as above described. Suitable retaining plates '123 formed as illus trated in Figure 9 provide the guide ways for the block members 76 to slidably retain them in position to operate as above described.

In the lower portion'of the housing 111 is mounted a stationary supporting shaft 124, on which are mounted a plurality of pairs of rotatable cloth holding and engaging ele ments, in which corresponding elements of theipairs are indicated by the

numerals

125 and 126 respectively. Each of the cloth en gaging

elements

125 and 126 are independently rotatable on the stationary shaft 124, and are formed with pinion teeth at their adj acent ends as illustrated at 127 in Figure 9. The central portion of each element is formed with. a proj ection having an arcuate cloth engaging foot 128. The opposite end of each cloth holding element of a pairis formed with a ratchet l29-with which engages a hold corresponding cloth holding elements of a pair indicated by

thenumerals

125 and 126. These operating gears 132 and 133 are provided with gear segment sections 134 in which a pair of said segment sections are provided on the periphery of each operating gear at a distance of one-fourth of the circumference apart, so that thesegments 134 on each operating gear are formed within one-half of the circumference of said gear, while the. gears 132 and 133 are so mounted on the shaft 112 that their gear segments are in diametrically opposite; positions, so that one of the cloth engaging elements will be operated through one whole revolution of movement alternately, with the other, in each, pair.v This is to obtain 7 a predetermined operation of the cloth holding mechanism, which will now be described.

For the purpose of describing the operationof the machine, particular reference will be had to Figures 1 and 5 to 8 inclusive.

With the machine constructed as above described, a bolt of fabric folded in the well known book fold manner in which the layers are in zig-zag relation ontop of one another,

is placed in the basket 10 and the end fed up over the flanged guide roller 11, downwardly along the tray 141-, over roller 15, and down through the feeding. mechanism over roller 16, and through

channels

21 and 22, with the free edge terminating adjacent the free edge of the tongues of the feeding mechanism. This is accomplished by moving the upper tongue member 22 upwardly to the dotted line position as shown in Figure 19, in order to insert the end of the cloth between the tongues. The forward edges of these tongues are recessed as indicated at 135, in line with the positions of opposed

cloth engaging elements

125 and 126 so as to permit the projection of parts of the ton ues between these pairsof engaging elements, so that the end of the cloth may be effectively fed into the cloth holding mechanism. WVith the parts in the position shown in Figures 1 and 4 and downwardly for releasing the pawl 58 from engagement with the recess 56 in the ratchet wheel 55, so that a slight rotation of the cam shaft 53 will move the cam 54- engaging and holding the plungers in position as shown in F igure 4, upwardly to permit the rearward movement of the mechanism'with the forward movement of the cloth feeding mech-- anism to the position shown in Figure 5. In the further motion of the 1 carriage l toward the cloth holding mechanism 3, to the position shown in Figure 6, a further rotation of the cam shaft 53 will be effected by the operation'of the quadrant member 60 which will move the cams 54 to the position shownin Figure 6 and project the plunger mechanisms forwardly,'so that the angularly formed heads 74: will engage in the sockets 7 5 of the block members? 6, and move these block membersto produce a retation of the operating shaft 112 of the cloth holding mechanism for bringing one set of rack teeth 13 1 on the operating gears 132 into engage ment with the pinions 127 on the elements; 125 of each pair so that the cloth engaging feet 128 thereof will beimoved' one-half a revolution to engage and seat on the top of the end portion of the clothcai ied by the feeding mechanism 17 and heldbetween the

tongues

21 and 22 by engaging the portion of the cloth extending across the recessed portion of the tongues as indicated at 135 and through the weight of the housing-andits associated parts firmly press this end of'the cloth toward the cutting table 1, which it has been found will firmly hold the end of the cloth in the proper position as presented to the cloth holding mechanism by the carriage mechanism 1, as'shown in Figure 6.

At this juncture,the carriage l moves still further forward, and in this'further'forward motion, the cam shaft 53 will be rotated through the remainder ofa one-halt revolu- .tion to position the parts as shown in Figure 7. It will be noted that the motion from the position shown in Figure 5 to that shown in Figure 6 does not affect the cloth feeding mechanism due to .the'lost motion between the operating slide 71 and the plunger member 69, while in the operation of the parts from the position shownin Figure 6 to that shown in Figure 7, the cloth feeding mechanism is moved from its forwardly projected position to the and the cloth end is effectively held by the holdingmechanism. In this furthermovement of theparts to the position shownin rearwardly' projected position,

Figure 7, it will be noted that the plunger mechanism is fully projected so that the block member 7 6 is moved to the rear position in gagement from under the end of cloth just presented to the cloth holding mechanism, and to the upward position as shown in Figure 7, ready for a subsequent"operation to engagea new end of cloth. I Now that the end of the cloth is held by the holding mechanism 3, as heretofore described and the parts positioned as shown in Figure 7, the full stroke of operation of the controllevel d8 will have been completed; This posi tions the parts as illustrated in Figure 8, that is, the cutting mechanism will havethe bar member 77 and the operating hook means 80 moved so that the hook member will engage over the adjacent shoulder on the spur wheel 83 as shown in Figure 8, while the operating quadrant 60 will be at the lower limit of its the ratchet teethon the gear The pawl- 5'? will hold this gearand the cam shaft in the position shown. in Figure 8. The belt shifting lever 50 will have, in'the operation rso j I of the arrn l8 shifted the belts 450 anddl so i that the belt 40 will be on the idler pulley and the belt 41 on the reverse pulley, so as v to permit the operation of the carriage'mech anism 4 from the position shown in Figure 8, toward ltsrear limit of movement as shown in Figure 1. ln this operation of the parts,

the carriage moving rearwardly with the end of cloth held by the holding mechanism 3 will pull out a length of cloth and'evenly lay the same on the cutting table 1,either directly on the table or on top of the. layers already positioned onthe table. 6

' As the carriage reachesiits other/limit of movement shown in Figure 1, the arm 48 v I will engage therear stop 51 as shown in Figure 1 andbe movedfromlthe position shown in Figure Sto that shown in Figure 4t. in this motion, the operating quadrantGO' will be returned to the position shown in Figure 4:: from that of Figure '8 while the cutting mechanism will be operated sojthat thespur' wheel will. be rotated one-fourth a revolution which will force the block'member 84 downwardly and produce the sweeping cutting operation of the cutter bar 86, so

that the length of cloth laid on the table may), be cutfrom the end held in the holding mechanism, at the predetermined l'engtlifor'wliicli the stop 51 is set, which for instance maytbe what is referred toinjthe a-rt as a three suit by the cutter inorder that'he may out three:

length, that is, a three suitlength is desired faces.

suits from the predetermined length of the cloth with the least amount of waste. One,

two, four or five suit lengths may be cut by,

the operation of the mechanism, if desired,

through the setting of the stop mechanism 51 at the proper point, in accordance with the scale shown and indicated at 136 on the edge portion of the cutting table. Any other length of cloth desired may also be cut by properly positioning the stop on the cutting table. This operation of the lever 48 will tion by the resilient p vls or latches 107, as

shown in Figure 18, and above described. In producing the upward motion of these block members 19, a cooperation between the plunger 69 and the block member 76 is utilized, through the formation of the socket 75 and the head 7 i on the plunger with angular angular faces cooperating to raise the block members 19 a corresponding amount and thereby always maintain the feeding mechanism 17 in spaced relation above the layers of cloth placed in superposed relation on the cutting table, as'clearly shown in Figure 1,in order that the cloth cut and laid on the'table will not be interfered with in the subsequent placing of other layers in superposed relation thereon. The elevating member 120 assists in this raising operation. That is, when the plungers are fully engaged with blocks 7 6, feet 128 have engaged on top of the cloth ends which raises the housing slightly with each additional thickness of cloth, throwing the angular faces out of alignment and giving the plungers an upward lifting movement to realign said faces, while the upward movement of the block members 76 at the end of the stroke, also aids in raising the blocks 19. The power feed cable for the electric motor is illustrated in Fi ure 1 at 137 which may be controlled by a manually operated switch 138. In order to provide for the reciprocat ing motion of the carriage, the cable is formed with divided conductors 189 which if desired are movable on the supporting wire 140, so that the carriage may freely move back and forthand proper cable connections maintained with a source of power and the carriage.

, bers 19 as shown in Figure 22.

At the end of the forward stroke movement of the carriage 4 as shown in Fig' '

ures

7 and 8, these angular faces cooperates so that as the housing 111 is raised to the thicknesses of cloth held on the table, the

In order to prevent the sudden dropping of the block members 19- which is likely to damage the parts carried thereby and the machine, at the end of a carrying and cu ting operation by the machine, through the release of the latches 127, it may be found desirable to provide a cushioning mechanism for this lowering motion of the block mem- This mechanism includes a dash pot structure having a cylinder 1 11 mounted on a projection or supporting bracket 142, secured to the side frame 5 of the machine. A piston is mounted for reciprocation in the cylinder 141 and has its piston rod 1&3 extenoin g through the upper end thereof and in slidable relation and provided with a pair of stops 144: in spaced relation (hereon for cooperation with the bracket 1 15 secured to the block members 19. in the upward motion of the block members 19, the bracket member 1415 will engage the upper stop 144 and move the piston pwardly in the cylinder letting a charge of air into the cylinder through. the air open; ing in the cap on the upper end thereof, which will pass around or through the piston mechanism in any suitable manner as well known in the art, s'uchas inan ordinary tire pump. In the construction of these devices, While in the downward motion of the block 19, the bracket 145 will engage the lower stop member 14 and the piston will then, through the gradual release of air by the vent 14 6 cushion the downward movement of the block members and prevent the sudden dropping of the same. In each operation of the quadrant members 60, the resilient pawl 97 is operated to move the disc 95 one step of movement. Should three layers be desired to be laid on the table and cut to a predetermined length, the handle 102 is operated to position the numeral 3 for view through the opening 104, so that the carriage mechanism a will reciprocate three times in each direction to lay and cut the three lengths of cloth on the cutting table in superimposed relation and as the carriage moves toward the holding mechanism to present the end of the fourth length, it will be seen that as the parts move to the position shown in Figure 8, the rotation of the quadrant member to the position shown will rotate the disc 95 to move the projection or stop member 96 into engagement with the resilient switch member 92 and break the circuit to the electric motor 17 for thus stopping the machine. Should a greaternumber of layers of cloth be desired on the cutting table, the disc member 95 is rotated by operating handle 102 to position the desired number to view through the opening 10%. In this way automatic operation of the machine is obtained, which operation will result to lay a predetermined number of cloth layers on the table and cut the out the predetermined length cutting the same sameto the predetermined length to which the stops 51 are set regardless of the'starting position of the carriage mechanism 4. The mechanism will, always stop in the position shown in Figure 8, adjacent to the cloth holdingmechanism 3. i

It will thus be clear from the foregoing description that a comparatively simple and efficient mechanism is provided with the parts properly timed and cooperating to hold and feed cloth into a suitable holding mechanism which is automatically operated to firmly grip the cloth and hold the same on the table while-[the carriage mechanism moves awayfrom the holding mechanism and lays at the desired length through the operation of the cutter bar 86. In this way a waste of material is prevented through thecutting of a greater amount of material for a certain number of suit-s than is necessary and often done by cutters, when-manual labor is used, through inadvertence and carelessness, and in addition the nap of the cloth is always maintained in the same direction for the reason that the bolt of cloth in thebasket of the machine is never touched from the .beginning to the finishing operation of the ma chine. In addition, the operation of the machine to produce any desired length of cloth and any number of lengths in superimposed relation is entirely automatic by the proper setting of the parts and'the control-mechamsm. I

The particular constructionand operation of the cloth holding mechanism forms an important feature of this invention aside from those above mentioned. I

7 What is claimedis: I 1

1. In a cloth handling machine,a table, a cloth end holding mechanism, and means having movement on said table for feeding cloth ends and operating said mechanism to gri said ends, adapted to automatically lay an out predetermined independent lengths of cloth on said table. I a

2. In a. cloth handling machine, an automatically operable gripping mechanism, and

' rocable cloth carrier operable to feed cloth ends to the holder, and lay cloth length'son a means. reciprocable relative to said mechanism adapted to feed, lay, and cutautomatically independentpredetermined lengths of cloth in its movement relative to said mechanism the nap on all cloth layers being unidirectional. I I i i 3. In combination, a support,'a cloth holder thereon, and means for feeding cloth to said holderop'erable to automatically lay and cut predetermined lengths superimposed relation onsaid support; I 4. In combination, a cloth holder having movable cloth engaging elements, and cloth carrying means operable to feed independent cut cloth ends to said holder in coincident relation and operate said engaging elements.

5. In combination, a: cloth holder having lengths.

movable cloth engaging elements, means operable to feed cloth ends to said holder,

means for operating said engaging elements to grip the cloth ends, and means for operating the first mentioned means to automatically lay and cut predetermined lengths of cloth on a support having cut ends retained in said holder in coincident relation.

6. In combination, cloth holding means, reciprocable cloth carrying means, -means "carried'by the'last named means for feeding cloth ends into said holding means, means operable in the reciprocation of said carrying means for cutting cloth in predetermined lengths, and operating means for the carry-- ing means and the cutting means.

In combination, cloth holding means,

reciprocating cloth carrying'means, means on the last named means for positioning for'presenting cloth ends tosaid holding 7 means carried by the second mentioned 'means, means associated with thesecond men"- I tioned means for operating the holding means to grip presented'cloth ends,' a cutter on the carrying means, means for operating said carrying means, and means operable with the carryingmeans for controlling the operation thereof and adapted to operate said holding meansv and cutter in timed relation with said carrying means to cut cloth in predetermined 1 9. In combination, a cloth holder, a re ciprocable cloth carrier operable to feed cloth ends to the holder andlay cloth lengths on a support, a cutter, and means operable for governing the movement of the carriery'oper ating the cloth holder and cutter in predeter-- mined timed sequence to obtain predeter- V mined lengths'ofcloth laid on the support; 10. In combination, a cloth holder, a recip- 11. In combination, a table, a cloth holder on the table, amovable cloth carrier on the table, means on the. carrier to present cloth ends to the holder, cutting means, means for moving the carrier, and means operable in the movement'of the carrier for operating the means for presenting cloth ends, and the cutting means ina predeterm ned manner to lay and cut predetermined cloth lengths on the table.

12. In combination, a table, a cloth holder on the table,a movable cloth carrier on the table, movable means on the carrier for presenting cloth ends to the holder, means on the carrier for operating the holder to grip and hold said ends, a cutter operable on the car rier, means for operating the carrier, means operable in the operation of the carriercarrie'd thereby for operating the movable means for presenting cloth ends, the holder, and the cutter, and controlling means movable in the operation of the carrier for producing timed operation of the parts to lay and cut predetermined cloth lengths on the table.

. 13. In combination, a table, a clothholder on the table, a movable cloth carrier on the table, cloth feeding means on the carrier operable to present cloth ends to the holder, means on the carrier for operating the holder to grip and hold said ends, a cutter operably mounted on the carrier, means for operating the carrier, means operable in the operation ofthe carrier for operating the cloth feeding means, the holder operating means and the cutter in timed sequence, and adapted to control the movement of the carrier, and means operable by the last named means controlling the operation of the means for operating the carrier.

14:. In combination, a table, a cloth holder, a movable cloth carried on the table operable to feed cloth to the hold-er and lay and cut lengths on the table, means for moving the carrier, means governing the oper ation of the-carrier for controlling the length of cloth laid and cut'on the table, and operl ailing ans for the last named means adjusts ably mounted onthe table.

15. In combination, a table, cloth holding means on the table, cloth carrying and feeding means for feeding cloth ends to the holding means, and for laying and cutting predetermined lengths of cloth on the table, and means on the table for controlling the operation of the last named means in a predetermined manner. I

16. In combination,a table, a cloth holder mounted on the table including a. casing, a plurality of movable cloth engaging elements mounted for movement in the casing relative' to the table, and operating means for moving said elementsto engage cloth in a predetermined manner. 7 V

17. In combination, a table, and a cloth holder mounted on the table having a plurality of movable cloth engaging elements normally movable toward said table and adapted for cooperation therewith to hold cloth ends laid on the table and simultaneously grip and hold a new clothend in substantially coincident relation to said laid ends.

18;. In combination, a table and a cloth holder mounted on' the table including a casing, a housing movable in said casing, a plurality of pairs of cloth engaging elements, the elements of each pair being alternately operable for holding cooperation with the table, and means for operating said pairs of elements.

19. A cloth end holding mechanism comprising a casing adapted for mounting on a cutting table, a housing movable in said casing relative to the table, cloth engaging elements movably mounted in the housing adapted to engage and hold cloth ends on the table, and means for operating said elements in a predetermined manner for engaging cloth ends.

20. A cloth feeding and carrying mechanism for cutting tables comprising a frame, means movably supporting said frame on the table, operating means for moving the mechanism on the table, means on the frame for supporting cloth, cloth feeding means operable in the frame, a cutter movably mounted. on the frame, and means operated in the movement of said mechanism on the table for operating the cutter and feeding means in predetermined timed relation.

' 21. In combination, a support, cloth holding means on said support having a plurality of groups of cloth engaging elements: successively operable to hold cloth ends on said support, and means for feeding cloth ends to said holding means and operating said engaging elements.

22. In combination, a cloth holder, means for automatically feeding cloth to said holder operable to lay predetermined lengths in superimposed relation on a support,v and means controlling the last-namedmeans for predetermining the number of layers placed on the support.

23. In combination, cloth holding means, automatically operable means for feeding clothto said holding means and lay predetermined lengths in superimposed relation on a support, and means for automatically stopping the last-mentioned means after a predetermined cycle of operations.

24. In combination, cloth holding means, automatically operable means for feeding cloth to said vholding means and laying predetermined lengths in superimposed relation on a support, stop means for the last-mentioned means, and cutting means for cutting said cloth operating in timed relation with the second-named means, said stop means being adjustable and operable at the end of a predetermined laying and cutting operation.

a 25. In combination, cloth gripping means, movable means for feeding cloth into the gripping means, and means for stopping the operation of the movable means at the -end of a predetermined cycle of operation.v

a 5 rier in the reciprocation of said feeding means, and means controlling the operation of said cloth feeding means.

27. In combination in a cloth handling machine, a movable carrier, reciprocable cloth.

feeding means on said carrier, and means operable in the movement of the carrier for reciprocating said cloth feeding means to feed an end of cloth outwardly from the carrier.

28. In combination in a cloth handling machine, a movable carrier, automatic means controlling movement of the carrier, and cloth feeding means reciprocable relative to the carrier for feeding an end of cloth outwardly from the carrier controlled by said automatic means.

29. In combination in a cloth handling machine, a movable carrier, means controlling movement of the carrier, cloth gripping means for holding an end of the cloth during movement of the carrier, and cloth cutting means on the carrier, said gripping and cutting means being operatedand controlled by the first named means.

30 In a cloth handling machine, a cloth holder formed for mounting on a table to hold the lengths of cloth at one end, movable cloth engaging and gripping elements carried thereby, and operating means for said elements. f V 31. A cloth holder for cloth handling machines operable on a table for laying cloth lengths thereon, comprising a movable housing mounted on and normallymovable toward the'table, rotary cloth engaging and gripping elements mounted in said housing, and means for rotating said elements to engage, grip and hold the cloth ends between said elements and said table.

32. A cloth ,holder for cloth handling machines operable on atable for laying cloth 35. In combination, a cloth holder for cloth handling machines having cloth engaging elements, reciprocating means carried by said cloth holder operably connected to sald' elements, and an automatically operated carrier movable relative to said cloth holder for engaging and operating said reciprocating means and said elements.

36.'-A cloth laying machine comprlslng a cloth holding means, a reciprocable carriage for carrying cloth, a reciprocable cloth feeding mechanism on the carriage, and means for operating said cloth feeding mechanism on engagement with said cloth holding means, and for simultaneously operating the cloth feeding means to feed cloth ends into the holding means. i

37. A cloth laying machine comprising a supporting table, a cloth holding device on one end of said table, a carriage reciprocable on said table, operating means for the carriage, a control lever for said operating means, and adjustable stops on said table for engaging and operating said control lever to control said operating means for causing reciprocating movement of the'carriage on the (able to and from the cloth holding device for cooperation therewith.

- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RUDOLPH A. OESMAN.

lengths thereon, comprising a plurality of independentrotary cloth engaging elements, means for supporting said elements formovement normally toward said table, and means 50 for operating said elements in independent timed relation for engaging and holding clot-h ends on said table.

{33. A cloth holder for cloth handling machines, comprising alternatelyoperable cloth engaging elements,'and means for operating said elements to alternately engage and hold cloth lengths at one end.

34. A cloth holder for cloth handling machines operable on a table for laying cloth 60 lengths thereon, comprising alternately operable-rotary cloth engaging elements, means supporting said elements for movement to ward said table, and operating means therefor to move alternate elements to engage and i 65 hold cloth against said table.