US2355526A - Cloth-spreading machine - Google Patents

Description

A118- 8, 1944 T.J. GUVNDLACH 2,355,526

CLOTH-SPREADINGMAGHINE l Filed July 18, 19424 2 .Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 8, 1944. 1'. J. GUNDLACH CLOTH-SPREADING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 18. 1942 HTTQR n Patented Aug. 8, 1944 .2,355,526 y vc1.0m-SPREAI)I,N G frheoaoru. Gndmh,jaileviilajni.f' y v application July 1s, 194e, :snat 316.451,510 v f i, 'Y y Y '12 olaims. i (01.27o-31if This invention relates to improvements in cloth-spreading machines, and more particularly to improved devices for singling and spreading .doubled fabrics from a supply bolt or roll thereof.

For some time past devices have been employed for the .general purpose of transferring and spreadinglbolted or rolled cloth or fabrics, yfor example,'onto a horizontal. cutting surface :such aslaltable. There are prevalently in use several types of such devices involving a rolling carriage, arranged to traverse an elongate cutting table, vand in so moving, serving to unroll as froma horizontal supply bolt, the cloth as paid out from such bolts, .and to deposit the cloth in superposed .layers upon the table, Whereonit is adapted -to be cut for the manufacture of garments `or the like. The 'present invention relates to devices of .this general and broad category, namely, those :which operate back and forth over an elongate work table. However, therpresent improvements `have beenxparticularly evolved to meet the'de'-l mand fora successful and unfailingly dependable machine'which will pay out and spread in evenly registered, superposed layers, without wrinkles or unwanted folds, single vlayers of cloth or fabric from a supply roll or bolt inA which'the fabric .is-initially doubled. It may be noted that this requirement creates a problem considerably different from that of unrolling a single vfabric from =a supply roll on which the fabric is wound in :single layers. It is accordingly a general object Aof the present invention to provide a device of the type briefly referred to for the general v4purposeof singling and spreading-a doubled fabric and depositing same on a horizontalsurface in Vsingle layers which are in exact registration, free -ofwrinkles and under a slight, although uniform, tension at the time of deposit. Another object of the invention is attained in 4the provision of .an improved agency for parting, spreading and laying out in single thicknesses, -initially -doubled thicknesses of cloth, all in a manner to deposit the cloth without Wrinkles and -in an optimum condition for cutting or other processing.- .i `l j A further objectr of the invention is attained 'fin an improved combination of supply reel for bolted fabrics, with singling and spreading means :for unfolding the doubled fabric, in .a manner conducing to'uniformity of spreading operation andsimplicity of structure.

.Y et another object of the Vinvention is attained .in a combination with and an improved arrangement of cloth supply reel, cloth singling element, and: flattening andtensio'ning elements by which the clo-thfis constrained to an exact .position of deposit on a work table or the like, as for cutting. Yet 'another object ofthe invention is attained accommodate itto the disposition of single layers :ofclothfof different widths.

Another object is. attained in an improved varrangement for periodically lifting the cloth `spreading and `tensioning agencies in response to increasing height .ofthe deposited cloth, due to the increasing number of superposed layers .thereof as the device is operated. l5

Numerous other objects of the vinvention are attained in the provision of certain advantageous such different widths are automatically eected.

1 The foregoing and numerous other objects will VmOreclearly, appear from the following detailed description of a presently preferred. embodiment of the invention, all as will best. be understood in j connection Vwith in which: L

Fig. 1 is a top or plan view cfa cloth spreading the accompanying drawings,

carriage embodying present improvements, and

a `fragmentary portion of a cutting table along which the carriage operates; Fig. 2is a side elevation of the carriage and a portion`v of the table; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of .the'carriaga showing in dotted lines .an adjusted relation of certain of `itspartsV to accommodate different widths of cloth; Fig. 4 is a section in a vertical plane, of a portion of thel supply bolt reel as taken along line V 4--4- of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a View taken in a vertical plane, being a fragmentary sectional elevation asviewed along line 5-5 of Fig. 3, in order better to show the relation of certain of the final cloth- -spleading andvtensioning rollers, and Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken at a right angle to the view .of Fig. 5,-particularly along the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Referring now by characters of reference to A work table'of this order, indicated generally by the letter T, will be understood to be elongate in nature, being often made -in lengths of to feetl.- 'Extending parallel to and along one lateral' marginof table Tis a single track struc- -ture TRsecured to the table by spacers S and .the carriage.

screws SC. It may be noted that, since the width of the carriage, later to be described, may be varied to accommodate different Widths of single layers of cloth, it is desirable that only one rail of track be employed.

The device of the present invention is preferably mounted on a vehicle or carriage indicated generally at I0, which, as Will be understood, operates lengthwise of the table and is constrained to a definite linear path of movement thereover, through the provision of a pair of wheels I| each provided with a track groove |2 operating on the track TR. At the opposite sideof the carriage a pair of Wheels |3, with wide, cushioned treads, operate directly over'the table top and, as will appear, along a line which may vary according to the width adjustment'of the carriage. nalled bearing arms or axle supports |5coact with the Wheels in supporting side members I6 and I1 of 4the frame of thecarriage-l A. generally rectangular frame.v or chassis .Y .of the carriage proper is completed as by end channel elements 23 and 2|. Although. the carriage is adapted to operate in either direction, for convenience. of

future description the end of the carriage identified with cross member 2| will be referred to as the front, and the oppositeend defined by cross frame member may be considered thefrear of Therectangular aspect of the carriage frame is preserved and `the frame suitably reinforced in any of numerous ways which will readily suggest. themselves, butin the present example corner brace members 22 serve this purpose. These may be welded, bolted or otherwise secured to theend and sideelements of the frame.

The desirability .for effecting an occasional width adjustment of the carriage is met by forming each of the rear and front end members of the frame such as 20 and 2|, of two slidably rel lated parts, with one ofY such Aparts being so l the Wishbone or singling element, that the round- Suitable axle elements I4, and jour-f` dimensioned that it will operate within and along ample, by the inner of the telescopingly .related members, while the outer is providedwith ,a suitable .slot 25 for each of the bolts, whereby to Vpermit a requisite degree-of adjustment.

k In order to support a reel .for Va. supply bolt of doubled fabric, there is attached to the outermost .face of 4the outer oneV of the telescoping elements 2|), a-generally cylindrical foot `bearing or support 26v (Figs. 2 and 4). Thisserves as a holder and bearing retainer for a cloth reel and reel shaft, as will be hereinafter more particularly described. The letter B indicates Ya roll or bolt of cloth constituting a supply `of .the fabric to be spread; each layer, consisting of a doubled thickness or fold of the cloth, is paid out from the roll or bolt B and thence over a .Wishbonelike element generally. indicated at.21. The general location and arrangement of the Wishbone are features of importance to the successful operation of the device, aswill better appear. As

.shown in the present example, this :structure is preferably formed` of a single piece of steel rod stock and hence is of curved exterior surface and permissible with good results.

tion 32. It will be noted, however, that this peak or apex of the Wishbone 21 is not sharp, but is distinctly rounded, into the arms 30 and 3|. At

for detachment of the Wishbone 21 from the carriage.

AIt is Va further preference in the formation of 'ate a surface thereon which will obviate any possibility of any protuberances or rough portions snagging the fabric or cloth as same is moved thereoven After protracted vexperimentation.it has also .been determinedas highly advisable so to locate the supply reel thatthebolt B pays out the cloth in a zone which is not substantially laterally off- .set from-the roundedpeak or apex 32. of the Wishbone. It will best appear from the plan of Fig. l that a fold line indicated by the numeral 35, substantially intersects the peak 32 as the cloth progresses away from the reel. YThere will of course be some variation in this relation between line 35 and portion 32 becauseof differences in condition .prevailing when a full bolt of cloth occupies the reeLVand when a nearly exhausted Ysupply bolt B is yet feeding out the cloth.

A further preference inshaping and relation -of the Wishbone 21 bestappears from the side view of Fig. 2 wherein it is'seen that the element ,21 is inclinedslightlyfrom the vertical and toward the supply bolt B. Thss shown as being at an angle to the lvertical-"of about ten degrees, although some variation in this sloping is Although the specific agencies employed for finally tensioning .the singled layers of cloth and .constraining same to assume a distinctly hori- Zontal position on thecutting table, are susceptible of some variation, a serviceable and practical assembly thereof `is `indicated by an assembly of lfour rollers for this purpose. Two of these con- .stitute an upper set and areindicatedat 36 and 31, While a lowerpair ror set consist'of rollers 40 and 4|. Of these, the rollers 36 and 31 are shown as supported at a constant height above the table through ,apair of arms 42 constituting extensions of the 'side members I6 .and |1 ofthe rcarriage Vframe vand secured thereto `iii-any suitable manner, as by bolts, certain Qfjwhich are indicated at 43. The ends of the .rollers'36 and 3,1 may be provided with-threaded studs or the like M through which :they are rotatably vjour,- nalled inthe extension arms 42. .It will have appeared that each of the rollers 36 andz31., which is also true of rollers .40 andg4|, consists of two telescoping parts, namely, a hollowelement .and `a solid element arranged -in .telescoping relation. The solidportion of each .0f these rollersextends Vsubstantially into the hollow companion portion, thus maintaining the rectilinear Aaspect-of the -roll and thev correct relation betWee'n the companion rolls of .each set,zirrespective of the adjusted lengths of rollers dueto differing widths of .the .carriage Il). vIn .this manner, incident to increase in spacing of the side elements |6 and l1 of the carriage, the effective length .of the rolls 36, 31, and 4| is automatically cared for without separate adjusting operations. As heretofore indicated, it is desirable to arrange for locating the lower` set of rolls 40 and 4|, constituting the final cloth spreading and tensioning agency, at various heights above the table T, as successive layers of cloth are deposited thereon. This is cared for bya pair of roller-supporting arms 45, one on each side of and paralleling the side frame mem-bers of the carriage. Each arm is pivoted as at .46 to one of the bearing arms l5, the upper and lower adjusted positions of each arm 45/ being shownk respectively in dotted and solid lines .by Fig. 2. Mounted at the end of each of arms 45 is a plate element 41 provided with horizontally `spaced apertures (not shown) serving to receive aY pair of the cap screws 44 or similar elements by which the rolls 40 and n4| are journalled. Each plate 41 is pivotally connected as by a bolt (Fig. 5) .to

an upright guide arm 5|, the guidearm in turn being free .to slide vertically through a cylindricallyboredguide member 52 secured to the extension arm 42, there being one of these assemblies on each side of the carriage, as will appear; From the foregoing it will have appeared that, in spite of the slight arcuate movement of the free end of the arms 45, nevertheless the rolls 40 and 4| of the lower set, as they are lifted or lowered, are constrained to movement in substantially vertical planes, the guide 52 and guide rod 5| serving somewhat -after the manner of a crosshead in constraining these rolls to predetermined adjusted positions.

As a means for readily manually raising or lowering the arms 45 and hence the lower pair or set of spreading rollers 40 and 4|, there is provided at each side of the carriage and supported bythe extension arms 42, a cable anda ratchet winding mechanism which serves this adjustment. -This assembly includes a. small flxeible steel cable 55 connected to each arm 45, this cable being wound over a cylindrical reel or windlass 56, peripherally provided near its inner face with ai seriesf of ratchet teeth 51 coactingwith a pivcted stop pawl 58. Each reel is mounted on a shaft 6|, the shaft Gli-6l consisting of telescopically related parts, one of which such as 6|, is of solid square section while the parts 60 may be tubular with a hollow internally squared end so as telescopically to receive the solid end 60. Manual means for lifting or lowering, through the cable assembly, the arms 45 and rollers 4G-4|, 'are shown as consisting of a pair of - knurled knobs 62 and 63, one one v`each side ofthe carriage.

It will have appearedfrom the foregoing. de-

scription that as the shaft Gil-6| is rotated clock- Wise (Fig.V 2) the ratchet elements 51 areso arranged thatrotation of the reel over one ratchet tooth, results in an appropriate lift of` rollers 40- 4| to account for the deposit of a singlelay'er of cloth on the table. Thus at each pass of the machine or carriage over the table, a single notching movement of the windlass assemblies may be made ateach end of the table. l

It will have appeared from the foregoing that the device includes ample adjustment means, first, for varying the width of the carriage through manipulation of the various wing nuts 24 and extension of the front and rear frame members of the carriage, followed by threading up of thewing nuts on the bolts 23, all in coaction with the several slots 25, The; arrangement is .in the member 26.

-such as. to .main-tain theside members I6 and |1 of .the carriage in parallelism and similarly the front and rearframe members 20 and 2|. As has been brieiiy, referred to, the adjustment features include self-adjusting provisions due to the -telescopingarrangement of the halves of each of rollers 36 and 31 of the; upper set and 40 and 4I of-the lowerset. It should similarly be observed that the rod `stock of which the Wishbone singling elementis composed, is such that it possesses inherent resilience and flexibility to a degree that, irrespective of any carriage width adjustment Within usual limits, the Wishbone 21 will vautomatically be spread or narrowed incident to ythe adjustment of the carriage width, all without materiallydisturbing thedescribed relation betweenlthe location 4of the .peak 32 of member 21 and the supply bolt.v

Proceeding now toa more detailed description -of the reelfor the cloth supply bolt or roll, this includes by preference, a horizontal table con.- Vveniently formed of a relatively heavy gauge sheet metal, the table'being circular in outline and indicated at 65. If desired this may, as shown, consist of a double thickness of metal, both for rigidity and as `will be described, to facilitate removal and reapplication of the roll of cloth. Projecting upwardly of the rotatable table or platform 65is a substantially flat bolt core 66, the median line of which preferably coincides with the axis of rotation of the table 65. The core 66 is lso shaped as to be readily extended through the rectangular space often provided centrally 'of a supp1ybo1t or. m11 of doubled cloth B.

A journal support for the supply bolt reel is identified in part with the sturdy cylindrical socket 2.6 heretofore generally described, and with which ,isoperatively associated a stub shaft 61.

,The reel is thrust-journalled through an inner 4race Tlland an outer race 1| of a tapered roller bearing assembly mounted in a journal socket 12 Below the thrust bearing assemblydescribed a plain sleeve bearing 13 is located, principally for alignment purposes so as vto preserve the perpendicularity of the axis of the 'reel,most of the wear incident to reel rotation being taken bythe thrust roller assembly referred to. The bolt core 66 described is formed as afseparate structure and may be mounted through the 'provision of a pair of angle elements 14:,we'lded to member 66 and secured as yby screws 15 tothetabjle 65;4

Inthe 'operation of the carriage it will be understood that there is a tendency at times, particularly as the'carriage is decelerated near the ,endsof the table, due to the high inertia of the bolt and reel, for the reel to overrun,` i. e. to unwind the cloth to a greater extent than corresponds to vthe linear movement of the carriage. This effect is overcome in the present structure by the provision of a smallscrew brake or drag, .consisting of a friction disc 16 operating against -the under surface of the table 65 to constitute a slight drag thereon sufficient to prevent overrunning.l The disc 16 is supported at the end of a screw 11, which may bev manually operated for varying the braking effect, by the screw threaded relation fof. member 11 to an internally threaded socket member 18.

While vthe Aoperation of the Aimproved cloth spreading'machne is thought to have been apparent from the foregoing detailed description of its parts tand functions of its sub-assemblies, it may be noted for completeness that the carriage I0 `isiirst disposed on thetable T, with its grooved i ent description.

operation, these collars are set along the rollers in such manner that the inner faces of the rollers are just in engagement with lateral margins` of the single layer of fabric, whereby the collars tend i to direct the cloth to a straight line course of deposit. As before noted, the width of the carriage is appropriately adjusted through bolts 23, "j

nuts 24 and slots 25 to accommodate the carriage and hence the rollers proper as wellasthe wishbone 21 to the predetermined` width of the single layer of cloth.

` The width adjustments having been completed throughout, a roll or bolt B of the doubled fabric to be spread, is applied to the table 65 of the reel. For this purpose either the whole table assembly 65, 61, etc. may be lifted from its bearings and the core 66 inserted centrally of the bolt of cloth; alternately the element 65 may be made removable from a deck portion 65A therebelow, by the provision of unthreaded sockets in member 65A which receive the lower ends of screws 15. This latter arrangement is preferred as it Although the action on the cloth to be deposited will now have become obvious from the drawings and earlier description, it may be noted that the effect of linear movement of the carriage is to withdraw the doubled fabric from the supply roll B, thence to move the carriage to bring the Wishbone with its apex under the bight or fold t of the cloth, thence to drape the two previously folded layers of each turn of cloth, one over each of the arms 30 and 3| of the Wishbone. In this manner the effective divergence of arms 3|] and 3l produces the same effect on the folds of cloth. The substantially ninety degree angularity of the cloth folds in passing over the Wishbone is, between the Wishbone and upper rolls 36 and 31, further enlarged so as to bring the paired folds of cloth to a 180 degree, or flattened, single-layer relation. The passage of cloth under roll 36 and over roll 31 has the effect of ironing out the fold or crease theretofore existing in the bight portion 35 of the cloth, and the slight tensioning effect imparted by rolls 36, 31, 40 and 4l serves to lay the cloth as the carriage is moved, in absolutely fiat formation free of wrinkles and bulges or the like, and with the successive layers in the pile of deposited cloth, all in exact superposition.

' Now obviously, the carriage is caused to traverse reduces the height to which the full bolt or roll must be lifted prior to its location on the carriage.

With the supply bolt B in place, a few turns of the doubled cloth are paid out by hand, and from the description of a selected embodiment.

draped over the Wishbone 21 in a manner which will be apparent from Fig. 2. It will now appear that the fold 35k of the doubled fabric overrides and engages the rounded apex portion 32 vof the Wishbone singling element 21, in such manner that the cloth therebeyond (or to the left in Fig. 2 of the Wishbone) assumes an inverted V form. From this zone the cloth is manually fed `for starting, ilrst under roller 36, thence between rollers 35 and 31, thence over roller 31, thence downwardly between rollers 46 and 4I whence the starting margin of the singled layer kof fabric is deposited on the table. will of course take place at one end of the cutting table or other surface traversed bythe carriage.

It may here be noted that, as is known in the art, means (not shown) are provided for arichoring not only the starting end of the fabric laid upon the table but also for anchoring the successive end folds of the cloth thus deposited incident to the back-and-forth movement of the carriage. Since such means form no part of the present improvements it may be noted for completeness that any of several Well known devices for this purpose may be utilized. A suitable device for example, is shown by Patent No. 883,687, Bendien, although any other suitable clothcatching device for cloth-piling machines may be utilized. After catching the starting end of the cloth to be piled, the carriage lll is moved lengthwise in successive and alternately reversed passes over the table T and track rail TR, in the present example, by manual actuation through the paired handles 85 provided for this purpose.l It is of course within the intended scope of the invention to utilize power-actuating means for the carriage if and when desired', such driving means The starting operation the length of the cutting table T as many times as there are desired successive layers of cloth for cutting or other processing.

It will have appeared from the foregoing description that the machine as described by selected example, serves fully to attain each of the objects hereinabove expressly set forth, as Well` as to attain other advantages in part implied The detail of description of the single example selected is to be understood in an instructive and not in any limiting sense, since it; is obviously possible to make many changes in the assembly, sub-assemblies and arrangements of parts described, Without departing from the full intended spirit of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim:

1. In a device for singling and spreading doubled fabrics from a supply bolt thereof, a carriage movable along a surface on which the fabric is to be deposited in single layers, a reel for the supply bolt mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis 0n the carriage, and a dividing or singling structure mounted on the carriage between the reel and Zone of cloth deposit, said structure being substantially in wishbone shape formed of metal rod stock, and characterized by a smooth and rounded surface for engagement by the cloth as same is moved thereover, the singling structure being further characterized by angularly related, upwardly converging rectilinear side elements, collectively tra-nsversely bridging opposite side members of the carriage.

2. In. a cloth-spreading carriage adapted to coact with a table or like surface for the deposit of single layers of an initially double-bolted fabric, a vertically disposed rotatable supply reel on the carriage, a Wishbone type singler mounted in a generally transverse position on the carriage and with its apex portion in the region of the supply bolt, means enabling an adjustment in width of the frame structure of the carriage by effecting different spacings of the carriage side members, the wishbone structure being so formed as to accommodatel itself to'y different Widths of carriage` while substantially maintaining the positionfits apex portion` with respect to the l'supply'bolt.` Y`

3. Thev combination and "arrangement of elements substantially as recited in yclaim 2, and further characterized in that the Wishbone structure is disposed in a generally-vertical plane substantiallyl transverselyof -th'ecarriage, but is inclined slightly toward the bolt reel on the 'car-1 riage.. i.

4. A substantially V--shaped inverted cloth singling and spreading element adapted for use adjacent a supply reel for a bolt of doubled fabric, the singling and spreading element consisting of a single length of round metal rod stock shaped to form a pair of upwardly projecting arms converging and integrally united in a somewhat rounded apexed portion, the exterior surface of the singling and Ispreading element being Asmoothed to minimize resistance and obviate snagging effects on the cloth as same is moved thereover, the lower ends ofthe singling structure being of substantially vertical trend, and a vertical socket at each side of the carriage, each socket located for detachably receiving one of said vertical end portions and supporting the singling and spreading element.

5. In a device for singling and spreading doubled fabrics from `a supply bolt thereof, a carriage, a table for cutting or the like, along which the carriage is operable, a vertical bolt reel intermediate the sides of the carriage, an inverted V-shaped singling element bridging and projecting upwardly from opposite sides of the carriage, and characterized by a pair of substantially right-angularly related arms connected by a rounded upper portion located somewhat below the top of the bolt reel, and so adapted substantially to half open the doubled fabrics as it is withdrawn from the reel, means on the carriage spaced below the singling element for directing the singled cloth to a horizontal plane on the table, and means providing for a manually adjustable resistance or braking effect on the bolt reel, whereby to prevent overrunning thereof as the fabric is moved from the reel over the singling element and onto the table.

6. In a cloth singling and spreading machine, a rolling frame, an elongate horizontal table over which the rolling frame is adapted to operate for cloth spreading purposes, a single track at one side of the table, a reel carried by the frame for holding a supply bolt of cloth to be singled and spread, a Wishbone structure converging above and arranged transversely of the frame,

means enabling a variation in the cross frame members of the frame for adjustment of frame width, the Wishbone structure being of sufficient flexibility to adjust itself to the different adjusted widths of rolling frame.

7. In combination, an elongate cloth possessing table, a carriage operable along the table, a vertical supply reel on the carriage for a bolt of cloth to be singled and spread on the table, a. pair of horizontal cloth-spreading rollers on the carriage, means for adjusting the effective lengths of the rollers, and a cloth-dividing and -singling structure between the supply reel and the rollers, the last said structure being selfadjusted responsively to variation in effective lengths of the spreading rollers while maintaining a substantially constant relation to the doubled fabric as same is drawn from a bolt on the supply reel.

8. In combination, an elongate cloth-receiving table, a single track extending along one edge of saidA tabla/1a -carriage operable along the table andV directed by'said track, a supply reel for doubled fabric, mounted on the carriage, a Wishbone mounted substantially transversely of the carriage and adapted tov single-or vdivide doubled layers of cloth as drawnv from the reel,v a plurality of horizontalfspreading and'I "flattening rollers mountediion the' carriage', A means "associated with thefrainel members of the carriage to enable a variation thereof i to *accommodate* different widths of cloth to be spread, the Wishbone and the spreading rollers being self-accommodating and self-adjusting to the carriage irrespective of variation in width thereof, and while preserving a substantially constant relation to the layers of cloth drawn from the supply reel over the Wishbone and between the rollers for deposit on the table.

9. In a cloth-spreading machine for singling and spreading doubled cloth fabrics, a reel for a supply bolt of doubled cloth, dividing means on the carriage beyond the reel, a plurality of spreading rollers engaging opposite sides of the cloth, and means for lifting the rollers as successive layers of cloth are deposited on the table, said lifting means including a vertically swingable arm on each side of the carriage, a cable supporting each of said arms, a reel for each cable and means for retaining the reels in adjusted position whereby to secure the spreading rollers at various predetermined heights above the table.

10. In a device for singling and spreading doubled layers of fabric from a supply bolt thereof, a carriage, an elongate table for receiving the singled layers of cloth and over which the carriage is movable, a vertical reel on the carriage, for supporting a supply bolt of cloth, an inverted V-shaped spreader serving as a singling device beyond the reel, the sides of which are so related that as the cloth is drawn thereover, the device serves to half-open the adjacent doubled layer, two sets of flattening rollers horizontally disposed on the carriage, one set being substantially above the other set of rollers and so arranged that the cloth is adapted to be passed under one and over another of the rollers of the upper set, just, after leaving the singling device, in a manner to complete singling and eliminate fold marks, the rollers being so arranged that the cloth is drawn thence downwardly between the rollers of the second set.

11. In a device for singling and spreading doubled layers of a cloth or fabric from a supply bolt thereof, a carriage, an elongate table for receiving the singled layers of cloth and over which the carriage i-s movable, a vertical reel for supporting a supply bolt of cloth and mounted on the carriage, an inverted V-shaped singler and spreader close to, but beyond the reel in the direction of cloth movement therefrom, the spreader being characterized by a pair of downwardly divergent arms, each of a length generally approximating the width of one of the singled cloth layers, the arms being angularly related to effect a right angular divergence of the layers of cloth, two sets of flattening rollers horizontally disposed on the carriage, one set being substantially above the other set of rollers and so arranged that the cloth is adapted to be passed downwardly, after leaving the singler and spreader, under one and over another of the rollers of the upper set, to flatten the initially doubled cloth and relieve it of fold lines, thence downwardly between the rollers of the second set, and means for acljusting the lower set of rollers to various heights from the table, each of `the rollers ofthe lower set being provided with clothA guiding projections at the opposite ends. l

12. In a cloth-spreading vcarriage adapted to coact With a table or like surface for the deposit of single layers of an initially double-bolted fabric, a vertically disposed rotatable supply reel on the carriage, a Wishbone type Vsingler mounted in a generally transverse position on the carriage and with its apex portion at about, the height of issuance of thefahric fold fromia supply bolt on the reel, means enabling an'adjustment Width of the frame structure of the carriage by effecting different spacings of the carriage side members, the Wishbone structure being so formed as to accommodate itself to different widths of carriage While substantially maintaining the position of its apex portion with respect to the s upply bolt. p g

THEODORE J. GUNDLACH..

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