US2783993A

US2783993A - Apparatus for shade marking

Info

Publication number: US2783993A
Application number: US204664A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lewis C Pearce
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-01-05
Filing date: 1951-01-05
Publication date: 1957-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 1974-03-05

Description

March 5, 1957 c. PEARCE 2,783,993

APPARATUS FOR SHADE MARKING Filed Jan. 5, 1951 5 Sheets- Sheet 1 2 a a 2 1 Q lllllllllll 2 2 2. 2 5 83 f1 2 2 2 z 1 'T 2 z z 2 i 2 2 2 g lNVE'NTOE. AfW/S PEA ECE ,4 TOIENEYS March 5, 1957 L. c. PEARCE 2,733,993

APPARATUS FOR SHADE MARKING Filed Jan. 5, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 AA A FA Q E m R. C

H n H m H WM m o E m 1:: Li Z Illlllllll "III n n BY WW ATTORNEYS March 5, 1957 L. c. PEARCE APPARATUS FOR SHADE MARKING 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 5, 1951 INVENTOR. ZW/5 PEARCE 4 TTOENEYS March 5, 1957 L. c. PEARCE APPARATUS FOR SHADE MARKING 5 Sheets-She et 4 Filed Jan. 5, 1951 2 5 m m w a a m. 2 2 Q\\x.\..,1. Z. 4 a m j jl . INVENTOR. ZEW/S March 5, 1957 L. c. PEARCE 2,733,993

APPARATUS FOR SHADE MARKING Filed Jan. 5, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 nfmllm.

INVENTOR. LEW/S PEAIECE 'iv/z.

United States Patent 2,783,993 APPARATUS FGR SHADE MARKING Lewis C. Pearce, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Samuel Rosenthal, Cleveland, Ohio Application January 5, 1951, Serial No. 204,664 10 Claims. (Cl. 2763-1) This invention relates to more particularly to a novel for shade marking.

In the manufacture of wearing apparel, it is customary to form the blanks corresponding to the various portions of the garment by spreading a bolt of cloth in successive layers upon a cutting table. The outline of the various pieces which go to make up the garment are'then laid out on the top layer of cloth and the entire thickness of the several layers of cloth is cut by a power driven shear. Each cutting operation thus produces a number of pieces of each blank depending upon the number of layers of cloth which are spread- Since the shade of the cloth in any given bolt will vary perceptibly from one end of the bolt to the other, it is then necessary that each piece of every group of pieces be manually ticketed to designate the layer of cloth from which the piece was cut. The finished garment must be then formed of pieces from the same layer of cloth in order that the shade of the cornpleted garment be uniform.

There is disclosed in application Serial No. 186,826, filed September 26, 1950, now U. S. Patent No. 2,756,992, a novel method and apparatus whereby a cloth marking operation at the time of spreading is substituted for the usual manual ticketing. The present disclosure is concerned with various novel aspects of the apparatus described in the above-referenced application, including particularly printing, inking and drive apparatus therefor.

The objects and features of the invention will be understood from the following detailed description and claims taken in connection with the following drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of the apparatus of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the apparatus of the invention showing particularly an end elevation view of the spreader and marking apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation view of the spreader showing particularly the drive apparatus and components of the inking apparatus;

Fig. 4 is an elevation view in section taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2 and showing particularly details of the printing and inking mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the reversing clutch taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a top view of the table illustrating the manner in which the cloth is marked;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the drive clutch mechanism;

Figs. 9 and 10 are views taken along the line -9 of Fig. 2 illustrating the details and manner of operation of the register pawl actuating mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a top view of the printing roll; and. V

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12 12 apparel manufacture and method of and apparatus on the shaft 42 except as constrained by 'with the driving member 49. The driven of Fig. 2 illustrating particularly the drive gear for the various rolls.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the apparatus of the invention includes a table 10 upon which the cloth is spread in a pile 11 of superimposed layers. The layers are normally of a length such that the component portions of at least one garment may be laid out on the top layer for subsequent cutting of the entire pile. A spreader 12 carries the cloth in a pile 13 from which the cloth is drawn as the spreader traverses the length of the table. The cloth is normally constrained at the ends of the pile 11 in order to assist in the withdrawal of the cloth from the spreader and the uniform deposition of the layers on the pile.

The spreader 12 comprises a frame 14 of suitable constnlction. A set of wheels 15 at the front of the machine are grooved to engage a track 16 mounted on the side of the table and serve as a guide. A second set of wheels at the rear of the machine engage the surface of the table, a drive wheel 17 being equipped with a rubber tire to obtain the necessary tractive force for the operation of the mechanisms of the marker. Two arms 13 and 1% extend upwardly from the frame 14 for the support of a carrier roll 20 and, conjointly with the

uprights

21 and 22 support front and

rear bearing plates

23 and 24. A series of strips 25 form a bed for the cloth pile l3.

Cloth from the pile 13 is pulled over the carrier roll 20 and a suitably surfaced platen roll 26 and through

tensioning rolls

27 and 28. The lower tensioning rolls 28 are supported from the frame 14 by linkages 2h and 30 and are controlled as to position by an adjustable tensioning device 31. The tensioning device includes a body 32 secured to the frame 14, a spring biased slide 33, and a slide-adjusting nut 34. The adjustment of the nut 34 determines the operative clearance between the rolls 28 and the table 10 and the rolls are lifted clear of the pile 11 by a block 35 which engages the lower end of the slide 32 as the spreader reaches the end of the table.

The marking apparatus of the invention functions as an integral part of the spreader and serves to print a matrix of layer-identifying symbols upon the cloth as it leaves the spreader. As is shown in Fig. 7, the symbols may be numerical and spaced at appropriate intervals across the width and along the length of the cloth, each layer of the cloth being separately numbered. The number printed is changed automatically for each layer so that every layer is distinctly identified.

The marking apparatus includes the platen roll 26, a printing roll 36, inking apparatus, indicated generally at 37, for supplying marking ink to the characters of the printing roll, and drive apparatus 38 for the entire mechanism. Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the drive apparatus 38 is actuated by the drive wheel 17 through a sprocket wheel 23 attached thereto, a drive chain as, and a clutch sprocket 41. The clutch sprocket 41 is secured to a clutch shaft 42 which is in turn appropriately supported for rotation in bearings mounted in

bearing plates

43 and 44. The inner bearing plate 43 is mounted on the frame 14 while the outer bearing plate 44 is rigidly secured to the inner plate by means including a spacer 45. The clutch shaft 42 supports a direct drive gear 46, a reverse drive gear 47, and a torsion responsive reversing clutch 48. As is shown more clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, the body 49 of the clutch 43 comprises the driving member and is secured to the shaft 42 by means such as a key 50. The driven members 51 and 52 are secured to the

drive gears

46 and 47 respectively and rotate freely engagement member 52 associated with the reverse drive gear 47 is shown in Fig. 6 and comprises a generally disc-shaped plate hav- Patented Mar. s, was

ing multiple spiral variations around the circumference thereof for the support and engagement of spring-actuated friction members 53. It will be seen that the driven member 52 receives and transmits force from the driving member 49 only for one direction of rotation of the latter. The second .driverrmember 51 is similar to that just-described except that the sense is reversed and'one of the drive gears 46 and 47 is driven for each direction of rotation of the drive wheel. The direct drive gear 46 engages a corresponding gear 54 mounted upon the shaft 55 while the reverse drive gear 47 engages a reversing pinion 56, suitably mounted upon theouter bearing plate 44, the latter gear inturn engaging a corresponding gear 57. Thegears 54 and 57are secured to theshaft 55 and transmit force through the associated sprocket 58, a drive chain-59, and to a-sprocket 60 mounted on the rear shaft 61 of the printing roll 36. It will thus beseen that the printing roll is always .drivento rotate in the same direc tion regardless of the direction of translation of the apparatus along the table 10.

The particular apparatus herein described utilizes the printing roll 36 also as a transmission means between the drive apparatus 38 and-the remainder of the mechanism and incorporates a clutch 62 for effectively disconnecting the printing roll from the drive apparatus. As shown more clearly in Fig. 8, the drive sprocket 60 is mounted for free rotation upon the rear printing roll shaft 61 while a clutch wheel 62 is secured thereto by a nut 63. A series of holes 64 circumferentially spaced around the clutch wheel 62 cooperate with a similar series of holes in the drive sprocket 60 to accommodate a clutch pin 65. The clutch pin 65 is mounted upon a generally annular plate 66 which rides in a groove in a collar 67 mounted for free rotationand limited translation along the shaft 61. An annular plate 68, which rides in a groove in the collar 67 adjacent to that of the plate 66, is attached to a shaft 69, passes through the rear bearing plate 24, across the machine, and through the front bearing plate 23. An eccentric pin 70 supported in a block 71 attached to the front bearing plate 23 engages a block 72 mounted on the end of the rod 69. The rotation of a handle 73 thus serves to move the collar 67 along the shaft 61 and cause the engagement or disengagement of the clutch pin 65 in the circumferential holes of the sprocket 60 and -the clutch wheel162.

As conveniently outlined in Fig. 3 and shown in detail in Fig. 12, a gear 74 on the shaft .75 at the front end of the printing roll 36 engages an identical gear 76 secured to the shaft of the platen roll 26 so that the two rolls are driven at the same speed but in opposite direction-s. The platen roll.% is mounted in sliding hearings to enable relative movement between the two rolls during the printing operation, the platen roll being .urged toward the printing roll by springs in the mounting. Details of the bearing mounting mountings are well known and the details thereof are not germane to the present invention.

Referring now to 'Fms. 4 and 11, the printing roll 36 comprises a cylindrical body 77 formed from steel or other suitable material and having the ends reduced to form the rearsshaft 61 :and the front shaft 75. The central portion of the body 77 ismachined to form a'recess 78 of generally rectangular crosssection along a major portion of the length of the body, the-resulting configuration being apparent from the cross sectional view of Fig. 4. A series of plates 79 are appropriately mounted in the recess 78 and serve-as bearings for ashaft80 which extends along the length of the recess and is journalled through an opening in the wall at the rear end of the body of the roll. The plates 79 and the shaft .80 serve as supports for a series of printing registers 81 which are thus mounted within the recess 78 so that the active printing elements of theprcgisters extend somewhat beyond the surface of the roll. The printing registers 81 are of a well known disc type bearing numerical charare not shown since such i acters and may include any desired number of decadic discs. The characters active for printing are cyclically controlled by pawls which are secured to the shaft 80.

The register pawls are actuated at the ends of the table 10 so that the registers are advanced by one digit for each successive layer of cloth. To that end, there is included a register pawl actuation mechanism 82 as a component ofuthe marking apparatus, and an associated actuating means comprising a block 83 mounted upon the table 10. The pawl actuating mechanism 82 is shown generally in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, and the detailed construction andmanner of operation will be evident from Figs. 9 and 10. As shown, the mechanism comprises a parallel linkage including a vertical member 84 supported by a lower horizontal member 85 pivoted on a spacer 86 (for the bearing plates 43 and 44) and an upper horizontal member pivoted on a pin 87. The vertical member 84 comprises two relatively movable parts, distended by a spring 88, a lower part 89 supporting two roller terminated

links

90 and 91. The

links

90 and 91 are constrained by

strips

92 and 93 depending fromthe part 89 1 so that each link is free to swingfreely in only one direction. The block 83 is formed with an inclined surface 94 and a horizontal surface 95 so that, as the spreader 12 reaches an end of the table 10, the forced engagement between the roller of one of the

links

90 or 91 causes the elevation of the vertical-member 84.

The pawl actuating mechanism 82 includes a trigger 96 for the rotational displacement of the register shaft 80 and a trigger actuator 97 for engaging the trigger 96 to accomplish that rotation. As shown particularly in Figs. 9 and 10, the trigger actuator 97 comprises a flat plate 98 pivoted upon a pin 99 and connected to the upper horizontal member 86 by a link 100. The upper portion of the plate 98 is formed into an arcuate surface 101, skewed with respect to the center of rotation of the printing roll shaft 61, for engagement by a roller 102 mounted at the end of a trigger arm 103. The surface 101 is said to be skew and, particularly, converges toward the center of rotation of the printing roll 36 in the direction of the roll in orderthat the trigger arm be increasingly displaced with increasing rotation after engaging the actuator plate. The trigger arm 103 is mounted at the end of the shaft 80 and is of generally arcuate form around the shaft 61 to permit a maximum travel while maintaining a minimum normal outer radius between the outer surface and the center of the shaft 61. The trigger is normally maintained in the extended position of Fig. 10 by a torsion spring 104 (Fig. 1.1) and rotates freely with the printing roll body 77.

The trigger actuator 97 has two positions, a normal inoperative position as shown in Fig. 10 and an operative position, as shown in Fig. 9. The actuator plate '98 is held in the operative position by a locking plate 105 which is pivoted upon a pin 106. Release of the locking plate 105 is effected by a slide 107 which engages a lip 108 on the outer surface of the plate and is actuated by a trip lever 109 pivoted with respect to the plate 98 upon a pin 110. A spring (not shown) causes the retraction of the slide 107 afterthe tripping operation.

In the operation of the pawl actuating mechanism 82, the vertical member 84 is urged upward by the block 83 as the spreader reaches the end of the table. The pawl actuator plate 98 is moved upward and locked into the operative position by the locking plate 105. As the spreader is again moved down the'table, the normalrotation of the printing roll 36 by the drive apparatus 38 brings the roller 102 into engagement with the arcuate surface 101. Further rotation of the roll 36 causes an increasing displacement of the trigger arm 103 and a rotational displacement of the shaft 80 with respect to the body 77 of the vroll until the position of maximum displacement shown in Fig. 9 is reached. The-total displacement is such that the register pawls which are attached to the shaft 80 dvance a disc of each of the registers by one step, thus changing the printing character by one digit. The further rotation of the roll 36 then actuates the trip lever 109 and slide 107 to deflect the locking plate 105 and allow the actuator plate 98 to drop to the lower, inoperative position. Simultaneously, the trigger arm 103 springs back to the extended position under the influence of the spring 104. The printing operation then proceeds, the new number being printed upon the cloth until a new actuating cycle again advances the register. It is to be understood, of course,- that the pawls may be operative to rotate the register discs either upon the initial displacement of the shaft 80 or upon the spring actuated return.

The printing registers 81 are supplied with ink by a series of inking devices 110, an inking device being associated with each register. Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3, and 4, each of the inking devices comprises a unitary mechanism pivotally supported upon a transverse shaft 111 and having a series of

common drive shafts

112, 113, and 114. Each inking device includes an ink reservoir formed from a block 115 and side plates 116 and supported from the transverse shaft 111 by a support member 117. The forward ends of the plates 116 are attached to plate-like members 118, configured as shown in Fig. 4, by means such as a link 119. An ink feed roll 120 mounted upon a shaft 121 supported by the side plates 116 cooperates with a leaf spring 122 mounted on the block 115 to form a reservoir for the ink 123. The pressure of the spring 122 upon the surface ofthe roll 120 is made adjustable by a thumbscrew 124.

The ink feed roll 120 and an ink transfer roll 125 are driven from the ink feed drive shaft 112. The ink feed roll 120 i intermittently rotated by a pawl 126 which actuates a ratchet wheel 127 secured to the feed roll shaft 121. A pawl lever arm 128, also mounted upon the feed roll shaft 121, is actuated by a cam 129 mounted upon the drive shaft 112. The ink transfer roll 125 is supported upon lever arms 130 mounted upon a pivot 131 so that the transfer roll is forced into contact with the feed roll 120 by a cam 132 mounted upon the shaft 112. During the interval when the cam 132 is not incident upon the lever arm 130, the transfer roll 125 is held in contact with, and is frictionally rotated by, an ink transfer roll 133. The ink transfer roll 133 is in rolling engagement with an ink transfer roll 134, which latter roll is impinged by the characters of the registers 81 as the printing roll rotates, thus transferring the ink to the characters. The spacing between the transfer roll 134 and the printing roll 36 is controlled by a rotationally adjustable shaft 135 having a flattened side. The members are held in firm contact with the shaft 135 by a series of springs 136.

The various drive shafts for the inking devices are supported and driven as shown in Fig. 12. The

shafts

112, 113, and 114 are supported in bearings mounted in end plates pivoted upon the shaft 111, a front end plate 137 being shown. Two gears 138 and 139 of equal diameter are secured to the

transfer roll shafts

113 and 114 respectively and engage the printing roll drive gear 74 so that the transfer rolls 133 and 134 are driven at equal speeds but in opposite directions. A relatively larger gear 140 is secured to the ink feed cam shaft 112 and drives the shaft. A hand drive comprising a wheel 141 attached to the printing roll shaft 75 at the front side of the front bearing plate 23 and a handle 142 enables the adjustment of the printing and inking appaartus as desired.

In the operation of the inking devices 110, the rotation of the printing roll 36 by the drive apparatus 38 causes the actuator of the ink feed cam shaft 112 by the gear train composed of gears74, 139, 138, and 140. The consequent rotation of the ink feed roll 120 by the action of the associated cam and pawl carries a supply of ink to the transfer roll 125 by the adhesion of a film of ink to the surface of the roll 120. The transfer roll 125 is rotated by frictional engagement with the driven roll 133 and transfers the ink thereto. The ink is then transferred by surface contact from the roll 133 to the roll 134 and thence to the printing registers 81. When desired, the inking devices may be made inoperative by a rotation of the shaft to disengage the gears and separate the transfer roll 134 a sufiicient distance from the printing roll 36 to clear the registers.

The ink utilized in connection with the marking device may be of a suitable type removable from the cloth by washing. The ink may preferably be a fluid of relatively high viscosity to insure an optimum transfer from the reservoirs to the printing registers. It is to be understood that the term ink is here used in a generic sense and may include solids as well as fluids.

In the operation of the apparatus, the cloth to be spread is laid out in a pile upon the strips 25. The web of the cloth is then led over the carrier roll 20 between the printing roll 36 and the platen roll 26 and through the tensioning rolls 27 and 28. The end of the cloth is attached to the table 10 by any suitable means. The spreader 12 is then moved along the table, utilizing handles 143 for ordinary operation. The movement of the spreader relative to the table drives the mechanism of the marker to print a matrix of numerals upon the cloth, as has been explained, and such operation continues while the spreader is in motion. At the ends of the table, the engagement of the block 83 with the actuating mechanism associated with the printing apparatus serves to advance the number printed by one digit as the spreader is started in the reverse direction. This operation continues until the cloth from the pile on the spreader is completely laid out. The printing mechanism may then be reset so as to start a new series of identifying numerals or the series in use may simply be continued. It is an important feature of the invention that the utilization of a marking symbol printed upon the cloth leads to great simplification and general economy in the identification and handling of garment components where the production operations are highly functionalized.

The cloth forms for the garment components are cut from the pile 11 by the usual cutters. After the various sewing and other individual and assembly operations are performed, the numbers or other characters printed upon the cloth may be removed as by washing.

It is to be understood that while a hand driven apparatus is illustrated in the disclosure, any suitable form of mechanical or electrical drive may be utilized in the practice of the invention. Further, it is to be understood that the marker changing apparatus may be mounted at only one end of the table or may be only operable at predetermined intervals, no limitation with respect thereto being intended.

The foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character in order that the specific embodiment of the invention be completely set forth. It is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to berestrictive or confining and that various rearrangements of parts and modifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for spreading sheet material in identified layers, in combination, a frame and means for permitting movement of the frame along a table or the like, means for supporting a strip of sheet material on the frame, a platen roll for carrying the sheet material, a printing roll mounted adjacent the platen roll and cooperative therewith, the printing roll carrying printing means for impressing symbols upon the sheet material, and drive means for driving the printing roll in one direction only regardless of the direction of movement ofsaid frame.

2. In apparatus for spreading sheet material in identi fied layers, in combination, a frame and means for permitting movement of the frame along a table or the like,

means for supporting a strip of sheet material on the frame, 'aplaten roll for carrying the sheet material, a printing roll mounted adjacent t. e-platen roll, the printing1roll including printing ,means for impressing identifying'indicia uponthe sheet material, inking means including, a transfer roll mounted adjacent the printing roll, whereby the-printing means may engage the transfer roll, and drive apparatus for the roll and the inking means, whereby the printing roll rotates in the same direction regardless of the direction of movement of said frame.

3. In apparatus for spreading sheetmatcrial in identified layers, in combination, a frame and means for permitting movement of the frame along a table or the like, means for supporting a "strip of sheet material on the frame, a platen roll adapted to engage the sheet material on one side thereof, a printing roll mounted adjacent the platen roll-and cooperative therewith to impress identifying indicia uporrthe remaining side of the sheet material, the printing roll including a plurality of printing registers cyclically operable toshift the active characters of the register, inking-means'for theprinting registers and drive'apparatus for the rolls and-inking means, whereby the printing roll rotates inthe same direction regardless of thedirection of translation of the frame.

4. In apparatus for spreading sheet material in identitied layers, in combination a frame having side port-ions, wheels mounted on said frame for supporting the frame and permitting movement of the frame along a table, a platen-roll havinga shaft portion supported by said frame, a print-ingroll mounted adjacent the platen roll, the printing roll having shaft portions supported by the frame, a recess in the printing-roll along the length thereof, printing registers mounted in the recess, a register shaft disposed along the lengthof the recess for operating the registers, means foroperatively actuating the shaft to shift the registers, inking means for the printing registers including reservoirs and means for transferring ink from the reservoirsto the registers, andmeans for driving the printing roll, said platen roll, said inking means and said transfer means concurrently with the movement of the frame along the table.

'5. -A cloth spreader comprising a frame, wheels on the underside of the frame for supporting the frame and permitting movementof the frame along a table or the like, means for-supportinga strip of-cloth on the frame and means for continuouslytransferring the cloth on the support means to the table as the apparatus is moved along the table, a platen roll mounted transversely of the frame for carrying the cloth as it passes -from the supporting means to the table, a printingroll mounted adjacent the platen roll and cooperative therewith for impressing identifying indicia upon the cloth, the printing roll having shafts at either end journalled for rotation in'the said frame and including printing registers cyclically operable to shiftthe printing characters, drive means for rotating the said printing roll, and means for shifting the said registers while the printing roll is in rotation, said last named-means including defiectablelever means operatively connected to the printing registers, an actuator platefor engaging the lever means, and means for controlling the position of said actuator. plate.

6. A cloth spreader comprising afrarne, wheels on the underside of the frame for supporting the frame and permitting movement of the frame along a table or the like, means for supporting'a strip of cloth on the frame and means for continuously transferring the cloth on the support means to the table as the apparatus is moved along the table, a platen roll mounted transversely of the frame for carrying the cloth as it passes from the supporting means to'the table, a printing roll mounted adjacent the platenroll and cooperative therewith for impressing identifying indicia upon the cloth, the printing roll having shafts at either end journalled for rotation in the said frame and including printing registers cyclically operable to shift the printing'characters, drive means for rotating the said printing roll, and means for shifting the said registers-while the printing roll 'is in rotation, said last named means including a defiectable lever mounted on the printing roll, an'actuator platefor'said roller, means for engagingthe actuator plate to hold the actuator plate in a positionfor'engaging the lever, and means responsive to the action of the lever for disengaging said last named means.

7. A cloth spreader comprising a frame having two spaced side portions, means positioned between the side portions for supporting a strip of cloth, wheels on the underside of said frame for permitting reciprocation of the frame over a table or the liketo spread the cloth in successive superimposed layers, a platen roll mounted transversely of said frame and aligned with the cloth support means, a printing roll mounted adjacent the platen roll and cooperative therewith to impress identifying indicia upon the clothas it passes to the table, the said rolls having shaft portions journalled through the side portions of the frame,,inking apparatus for said printing roll including a plurality of drive shafts, interconnected drive gears on the said'inking apparatus, drive shafts and said roll shafts, and drive apparatus for said rolls and inking apparatus for actuating the rolls and inking apparatus as the frame is moved over the surface upon which the cloth is spread, said drive apparatus being connectedtto thewheels and including a reversing clutch, whereby "the printing roll is driven in a constant direction whatever the direction of movement of the frame.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 7, said drive apparatus'including a torsion controlled reversing clutch, whereby the printing roll'is driven in a constant direction whatever 'the direction of movement of the frame.

9. A cloth spreader comprising a frame, wheels supporting said 'frame, a platen roll mounted transversely of said frame for carrying the cloth to be marked, a printing roll mounted 'adjacentthe platen roll and cooperative therewith, the printing roll including printing means disposed along the length of the printing roll and projecting from the surface thereof, means for inking said printing means mounted adjacent the printing roll, the inking means being 'rotatably driven, and drive apparatus connectedbetween said rolls, said inking means, and at least one of said'wheels, said drive apparatus including a re versing clutch, whereby the printing roll is driven in a constant direction.

'10. A cloth spreader comprising a frame, wheels mounted on the-underside of said frame and adapted to facilitate translation of the frame along a table, means for supporting a strip of cloth on the frame, means for transferring cloth fromthe supporting means to the surface of the table, a platen roll for engaging the cloth on one side of the strip as it passes from the supporting means to the table, and means mounted adjacent the platen roll and cooperating therewith to print identifying indicia upon the cloth as it passes over the platen roll, said printing 'means including a printing roll rotatably coupled to said-platen roll, and drive means for said printing roll and said platen roll operatively connected to one of said wheels and including clutch means for driving the printing roll and platen roll in a constant direction of rotation whatever the direction of translation of the frame.

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