US923577A - Cloth-piler. - Google Patents

Description

' A. RATHER. CLOTH PILEB.

APPLICATION Hum MAB. 5, 190a.

Patented June 1, 1909.

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A. RATHER.

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APPLICATION FILED MAR 5, 1908 923,577. Patented June 1,1909.

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A. RATNER. CLOTH PILER.

APPLICATION FILED MAE. 5, 1808.

ATTORNEYS A. RATNER.

CLOTH FILER.

APPLIOATYION FILED MAB. 5, 190a.

Patented June 1, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT UFFllClE.

AARON RATNER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CLOTH-FILER.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON RATNER, citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ClothPilers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention relates, generally, to improvements in machines for stretching or forming layers of fabric upon cutting tables such as are used by manufacturers of underwear and the like; and, the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel machine or apparatus by means of which the bolts or rolls of fabric are carried on a truck or carrier, which is adapted to travel back and forth, from one end of the cutting table to the other, and automatically spreads the fabric in layers, one above the other, upon the said cutting table, and also automatically clamps the same at each end thereof, thus saving the time and labor consumed in stretching the fabric upon the usually long cutting tables by hand, as is ordinarily the practice preparatory to cutting garments, underwear, and many other similar articles.

The present invention, therefore, has for its principal objects to provide a novel simple and cheaply constructed apparatus of the general character hereinafter set forth, in which the various parts of the mechanism, while automatic and effective in their operations, have been reduced to a minimum; and, by means of which the layers of fabric may be quickly, evenly and smoothly stretched and clamped one above the other, ready for cutting.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a clamping means at each end of the cutting table which will firmly and se curely retain the ends of the layers of fabric deposited thereon, and thus keep the said layers of fabric smooth and unwrinkled or creased; and, furthermore, to provide a clamp which is automatically operated by contact with the traveling truck or carrier.

Other objects of this invention not at this Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 5, 1908.

Patented June 1, 1909.

Serial No. 419,268.

time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the following de tailed description of the same.

With these various objects of the present invention in view, the said invention consists, primarily, in the novel machine for stretching or forming layers of fabric 011 a cutting table hereinafter more fully set forth; and, furthermore, this invention consists in the novel arrangements and combinations of devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claims which are appended to and which form an essential part of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cutting table equipped with the novel machine or aparatus for stretching or forming thereon the ayers of fabric to be cut, the said machine embodying the principles of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top or lan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical ongitudinal section of the traveling truck or carrier, as it is ap roaching a clamping device and automatica 1y operating the same as it is about to deposit one end of the fabric layer thereunder. Fig. 4 is a similar view, the upper portion of the truck being broken away, this view being designed to illustrate the truck as it is leaving the clamping device and also showing the operation of changing the spreader-blades to be hereinafter more fully described, the clampframe being illustrated in dotted outline to more clearly show the levers and devices upon the truck. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the operations therein illustrated, still further advanced. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section of the traveling truck or carrier, as it moves away from the clamping device and after the spreaderblades have been reversed or changed in the manner to be subsequently more fully described.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, the reference-character 1 indicates a cutting table. Mounted upon the said outting-table and adapted to travel back and forth thereon is a truck or carrier, comprising a frame-work 2 which is provided with suit ably disposedflangedwheels 3 adapted to engage with the side edges of the said cutting table 1. Secured in any suitable manner to the frame work 2 of the truck or carrier is a platform 4 upon which is carried the bolts or rolls of cloth or other fabric 5 which is to be spread or stretched upon the said cutting table 1. I

Extending upwardly from the frame-work 2 are corner posts 6, and mounted upon these corner-posts 6, so as to extend laterally across each end of the truck or carrier, are guide-rods or rollers 7, over which the fabric 5 is carried. A similar guide-rod or roller 8 is mounted at one end of the truck or carrier in the frame-work 2 thereof, said rod or roller also extending laterally across the truck or carrier. In like manner, another guide-rod or roller 9 is mounted on the frame-work 2 of the truck or carrier beneath the platform 4 and midway between the ends of the said truck or carrier. The fabric 5 is carried over these several guide-rods or rollers, substantially in the manner illustrated. Each of these said guide-rods or rollers is provided with a pair of adjustable gage-collars 10, which serve to guide and keep the fabric 5 in alinement with the cutting table while the cloth or fabric is being spread or stretched thereon.

Secured to each side of the framework 2, and upon the inner surfaces thereof, are a pair of guide-bars 11. Slidably arranged upon one pair of oppositely placed guide-bars 11 are a pair of spreader-brackets 12, to the bottoms of which are secured, in any suitable manner, a spreader-blade 13 which extends laterally across the interior of the truck or carrier. This spreader-blade 13 is provided at one edge with an u wardly curved-portion 14. A shaft 15 is also mounted, in such a manner, that it extends laterally across the interior of the truck or carrier, and is capable of oscillatory movements between the two sides of the frame-work 2.

Secured to this shaft 15, in any suitable manner, near each inner side of the truck or carrier is a sleeve 16, and rigidly secured to said sleeves are arms 17. Secured to andconnected with the free ends of said arms are suitable links 18, which are made collapsible, so that the spreader-blade 13 may adjust itself to the varying heights of the layers of cloth or fabric 5, as they increase while being spread or stretched upon the cutting-table. Also rigidly secured to one of said sleeves 16 is a downwardly extending lever arm 19, which is provided upon one side with a pair of guide-pins 20. Pivotally secured to the inner side of the frame-work 2 of the truck or carrier is a locking-lever 21 adapted to ride between the guide pins 20 of the lever 19, said locking lever 21 being provided with a notched end 22, and having secured to the other end thereof a trip-arm 23. When the spreader-blade 13 is raised out of operative contact with the fabric 5, the notched end 22 of the locking-lever 21 engages with the upper one of said two guide-pins 20 on the lever arm 19, and thus locks the spreader-blade 13 in its raised or inoperative position.

Slidably arranged upon the other pair of oppositely placed guide-bars 11 are a pair of spreader-brackets 24, to the bottoms of which are secured, in any suitable manner, a spreader-blade 25, which extends laterally across the interior of the truck or carrier. This spreader-blade 25 is provided at one edge with an upwardly curved portion 26. An oscillating shaft 27 is mounted, so as to extend laterally across the interior of the truck or carrier, on the frame-work 2. Secured to this shaft 27, in any suitable manner, near each inner side of the truck or carrier is a sleeve 28, and rigidly secured to said sleeves are arms 29. Secured to and connected with the free ends of said arms are suitable links 30 which are made to collapse. Rigidly secured to one of said sleeves is a downwardly extending lever arm 31, this lever arm 31 being provided upon one side with a pair of guide-pins 32. Pivctally secured to the inner side of the frame-work 2 of the truck or carrier is a locking-lever 33 which is adapted to ride between the two guide-pins 32, said locking lever 33 being provided with a notched end 34, and having secured to the other end thereof a trip arm 35.

The lever- arms 19 and 31 are connected together by means of a link or connecting rod 36 which is pivotally secured to said arms.

The spreader bracket 24 is provided with a trip-iron or element, 37 and, in like manner the spreader-bracket 12 is provided with a similar trip-iron or element 38.

Extending laterally across each end of the truck or carrier is a contact-bar 39, the purpose of which will be subsequently described.

The clamping devices located at each end of the cutting table 1 are exactly alike, and each device comprises a frame-work 40 provided with forwardly extending side-members 41, said side-members being provided with inwardly extending ribs or guides 42, which engage with the notched or grooved ends of a clamp-iron 43, so that the same will slide up and down on the said frame-work. Mounted in the said frame-work 40 is a shaft 44, provided near each end with a pulley wheel or drum rigidly secured thereto, and

secured to the said pulleys or drums 45 is an end of a strap or band 46. This strap or band 46 extends forwardly and rides over an idle pulley or wheel 47 mounted on the inner side of the forwardly extending members 41 of the frame-work 40, and the free ends of the said straps or hands 46 are secured to the opposite ends of the clam .i-iron 43. Upon said shaft 44 is a friction c utch 48 which is provided with an upwardly extending arm 49.

This clutch 48 may be of any well-known type, and is used to operate or revolve the shaft 44 and the pulleys or drums 45, which in turn roll up the straps or bands 46, and thus raise the clamp-iron 43. The clutch 48 is used simply to provide a means for taking up the slack of the straps or bands 46, as the clamping level of the clamp-irons 43 is raised by the increasing layers of fabric 5 deposited thereunder.

The clamp-iron is provided at each end with an inwardly extending grooved lug 50, and slidably arranged between these grooved lugs 50, so as to move up and down therein, is a laterally extending pin-clamp 51 provided with a plurality of clamping pins 52 which extend downwardly therefrom. This pinclamp 51 is retained in its normal relation with the clamp-iron 43 so as to be raised with it, by means of a trigger-lever 53 which is pivotally secured upon the top of the clamp-iron 43, and has a slightly chainfered end-member 53 normally forced beneath and in holding engagement with the said pinclamp 51 by means of a suitable spring 54, as will be understood from an inspection of Fig. 2. This trigger-lever 53 is provided at its free-end with an outwardly extending arm 55 which projects beyond the outer edge of the clamp-iron 43.

Secured upon the ends of the forwardly extending members 41 of the frame-work of the clamping device, is a curved or camshaped lug 56, the purpose of said lug being to slightly raise the approaching spreaderblades 13 or 25, as the case may be, away from contact with the fabric 5 after the same has been inserted beneath the clamp-iron 43, so that, when the said spreader-blade is with drawn it will not drag or wrinkle the fold of fabric before the clamp-iron 43 finally comes in contact therewith.

Located upon one side and near the end of the forwardly extending member 41 of the frame-work 40 of the clamping device, is a pair of contact-pins 57, and farther back from these, in a proper location, is another contact-pin 58. The functions of these contactpins will be clearly understood from the subsequent description of the operation of the machine.

Having thus described the construction and essential parts of the novel machine embodying the principles of this invention, it now remains to describe the operations thereof while performing the work of stretching or spreading the cloth or fabric 5 upon the cutting-table 1.

Referring now, more particularly, to Fig. 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated therein the truck or carrier as it is approaching and beginning to operate the clamping device after having spread a fold of fabric upon the cutting-table.

The contact-bar 39 engages with the upwardly extending arm 49 of the clutch 48 pushing the same forward and thereby revolving the shaft 44, the pulleys or drums connected therewith and winding up the straps or bands 46 and thus raises the clampiron 43, which allows the spreader-blade 25 to move thereunder and deposit the end of the fold or layer of fabrics. By the time the fabric 5 is thus disposed, the trip-iron 37 comes in contact with the end-portion of the triggerlever 53, whereby the triggerlever 53 is withdrawn from beneath the pinclamp 51 which then drops down upon the fabric and holds the same while the truck or carrier is started away from the clamping device and in the opposite direction; and, furthermore, holding the fabric until the spreader-blade 25 is withdrawn and the clamp-iron 43 drops back upon the said fabric. As soon as the trip-iron 37 is again withdrawn from its engagement with the end-portion or shoe 55 of the trigger-lever 53, the spring 54 immediately again becomes active and forces the chamfered end-portion 53 of the pivoted lever 53 again beneath the pin-clamp 51, as will be clearly evident. Now, the truck or carrier, when it starts away from the clamping device, must bring into operation the spreader-blade 13 and raise out of the way the spreader-blade 25 which has completed its work. Referring now to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, the manner of accomplishing this result will be clearly evident.

As the truck or carrier begins to move away from the clamping device, the trip-arm 23 of the locking-lever 21, which is constructed to pass over the contact- pins 57 and 58, as the truck or carrier moves toward the clamping device, is brought in contact with the contact-pin 58 and is forced to trip over it and thereby kicks up the locking lever 21 and releases the notched end 22 thereof from contact with the guide-pin 20 of the leverarm 19. This lever-arm 19, when so released, is caused to drop slightly by the weight of the spreader-blade 13, and in so doing brings its free end in a position to ongage with the upper one of the contact-pins 57. As the truck or carrier continues to move on, the lever-arm 19 is held back, and thereby causes the shaft 15 and collar 16 to revolve; and, in so doing, by means of the lever connected therewith, lowers the spreader-blade 13. At the same time, the lever-arm 31 being connected with the lever arm 19 by means of the link or connecting rod 36, the same is caused to oscillate the shaft 27 and collar 28, and by means of the levers connected therewith, raises the spreader-blade 25 into its inoperative position. The end of the lever-arm 19 is held until it assumes the position shown in Fig. 6 and until the notched end 34 of the lockinglever 33 is brought in locked engagement with one of the guide-pins 32 of the leverarm 31, whereby the spreader-blades are locked in the position illustrated in the drawings, the lever-arm 19 then slips away from contact with the contact-pin 58, and the truck or carrier proceeds to spread the fabric until the opposite clamping device is reached when the operations herein-above described are again repeated, only on the opposite end of the said truck or carrier, as will be clearly apparent.

One of the principal advantages of this de vice is that the clamp-iron 43 is always raised one inch from the top-layer of the cloth or fabric no matter how high that cloth or fabric has been piled upon the cuttingtable. The clutch 48 being adapted to be so regulated on the shaft that the slack of the supporting bands 46 can be taken up from time to time as the fabric or cloth piles up upon the cutting table. Thus greater heights of cloth or fabric can be built up than with any of the old style machines. Furthermore the clamp-iron 43 always acting in a perpendicular line and at right angles to the layers of fabric or cloth always clutches or clamps the same firmly and in the same position, which is a great improvement over the swing clamps of old style machines.

Another improvement is in the operation of the spreader-blades which always ride upon the top layer of cloth and fabric spreading the same smoothly, no matter how high the pile of fabric becomes, the collapsible links by which they are supported making an automatic compensating or regulating means as the height of the fabric or cloth piled or spread upon the cutting table increases.

I am aware that changes may be made in the various arrangements and combinations of parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims. Hence, I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the devices and parts, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and as described in the accompanying specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts.

I claim 1. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving back and forth upon said table, means carried by said truck for spreading the fabric in layers upon said table, and means at each end of the table for clamping the folded endportions of the spread fabric, comprising a frame-work having forwardly extending sidemembers provided with guides, and a clampiron movably arranged in said guides, a clutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, and means carried by said truck adapted to be brought in engagement with said arm for 7 actuating said clutch, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck mov- 7 ing back and forth upon said table, means carried by said truck for spreading the fabric in layers upon said table, and means at each end of the table for clamping the folded endportions of the spread fabric, comprising 8 a framework having forwardly extending side-members provided with guides, and a clamp-iron movably arranged in said guides,

a clutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, S and means carried by said truck adapted to be brought in engagement with said arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon said shaft, and flexible connections between said drums and the clamp-iron for raising said iron, sub- 9 stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving back and forth upon said table, means 9 carried by said truck for spreading the fabric in layers upon said table, and means at each end of the table for clamping the folded endportions of the spread fabric, comprising a frame-work having forwardly extending side- 1 members provided with guides, and a clampiron movably arranged in said guides, a clutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch,

and means carried by said truck adapted to 1 be brought in engagement with said arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon said shaft, and flexible connections between said drums and the clamp-iron for raising said iron, and means for dropping said clamp-iron down 1 upon the folded portion of the fabric, sub stantial-ly as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck mov- 1 ing back and forth upon said table, means carried by said truck for spreading the fabric in layers upon said table, and means at each end of the table for clamping the folded endportions of the spread fabric, comprising a 1 frame-work having forwardly extending sidemembers provided with guides, and a clampiron movably arranged in said guides, a clutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said 1 clutch and means carried by said truck adapted to be brought into engagement with said arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon said shaft, and flexible connections between said drums and the clamp-iron for 1 raising said iron, a trip-iron carried by the truck, a pin-clamp connected with said clamp iron, and a trigger-lever with which said tripiron is brought into engagement, substan tially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving back and forth upon said table, laterally extending and vertically movable spreader-blades carried upon said truck, means at each end of the table for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, comprising a frame-work having forwardly extending side members provided with guides, a clamp iron movably arranged in said guides, and means connected with each clamp-iron for raising said spreader-blades, a clutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, and means carried by said truck adapted to be brought into engagement with said arm for actuating said clutch, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving back and forth upon said table, laterally extending and vertically movable spreader-blades carried upon said truck, means at each end of the table for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric,

comprising a frame-work having forwardly extending side members provided with guides, a clamp iron movably arranged in said guides, and means connected with each clamp-iron for raising said spreader-blades, a clutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, and means carried by said truck adapted to be brought into engagement with said arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon said shaft, and flexible connections between said drums and the clamp-iron for raising said iron, substantially as and for the puposes set forth.

7. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving back and forth upon said table, laterally extending and vertically movable spreader-blades carried upon said truck, means at each end of the table for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, comprising a frame-work having forwardly .extending side members provided with guides, a clam iron movably arranged in said guides, ant means connected with each clamp-iron for raising said spreader-blades, a clutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, and means carried by said truck adapted to be brought into engagement with said arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon said shaft, and flexible connections between said drums and the clampiron for raising said iron, and means for dropping said clamp-iron down upon the folded portion of the fabric, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting table, of a boltcarrying truck moving back and forth upon said table, laterally extending and vertically movable spreader-blades carried upon said truck, means at each end of the table for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread. fabric, comprising a frame-work having forwardly extending side members provided with guides, a clamp iron movably arranged in said guides, and means connected with each clamp-iron for raising said spreader-blades, a clutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, and means carried by said truck adapted to be brought into engagement with said arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon said shaft, and flexible connections between said drums and the clamp-irons for raising said iron, a trip-iron carried by the truck, a pin-clamp connected with said clamp-iron, and a trigger-lever with which said trip-iron is brought in engagement, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting-table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving back and forth upon said. table, spreader-blades carried upon said truck, oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a leverarm connected with and extending from each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extending from each sleeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, a connecting rod between said lever-arms, guide-pins extending from each lever-arm, a locking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, a trip-arm connected with each locking-lever, and means at each end of the table for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting-table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving back and forth upon said table, spreaderblades carried upon said truck, oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm con.- nected with and extending from each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extending from each sleeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, a connecting rod. between said lever-arms, guide-pins extending from each lever-arm, a locking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, a trip-arm connected with each locking-lever, and means at each end of the table for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric,

l l O comprising a frame-work having forward extending side-members provided with guides, and a clamp-iron movably arranged in said guides, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

11. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting-table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving back and forth upon said table, spreaderblades carried upon said truck, oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm connected with and extending from each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extending from each sleeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, a connecting rod between said lever-arms, guide-pins extending from each lever-arm, a locking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, a trip-arm connected with each locking-lever, and means at each end of the table for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, comprising a frame-work having forward extending side-members provided with guides, and a clamp-iron movably arranged in said guides, a clutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, and means carried by said truck ada ted to be brought into engagement with saic arm for actuating said clutch, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

12. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting-table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving back and forth upon said table, spreaderblades carried upon said truck, oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm connected with and extending from each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extending from each sleeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, a connecting rod between said lever-arms, guide-pins extending from each lever-arm, a locking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, a trip-arm connected with each locking-lever, and means at each end of the table for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, com rising a frame-work having forward extenc ing side-members provided with guides, and a clamp-iron movably arranged in said guides, a clutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, and means carried by said truck ada )ted to be brought into engagement with saicf arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon said shaft, and flexible connections between said drums and the clamp-iron for raising said iron, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

13. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving back and forth upon said table, spreaderblades carried upon said truck, oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm connected with and extending from each shaft, a

sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extending from each sleeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, a connecting rod between said lever-arms, guide-pins extending from each lever-arm, a locking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, a trip-arm connected with each locking-lever, and means at each end of the table for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, comprising a frame-work having forward extending side-members provided with guides, and a clamp-iron movably arranged in said guides, a clutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, and means carried said truck adapted to be brought into engagement with said arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon said shaft, and flexible connections between said drums and the clamp-iron for raising said iron, and means for dropping said clamp-iron down upon the folded portion of the fabric, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

14. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting-table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving back and forth upon said table, spreaderblades carried upon said truck, oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm connected with and extending from each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extending from each. sleeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, a connecting rod between said lever-arms, guide-pins extending from each lever-arm, a locking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, a trip-arm connected with each lockingdever, an (1 means at each end of the table for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, comprising a frame-work having forward extending side-members provided with guides, and a clamp-iron movably arranged in said guides, a clutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, and means carried by said truck adapted to be brought into engagement with said arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon said shaft, and flexible connections between said drums and the clamp-iron for raising said iron, a trip-iron carried by the truck, a pin-clamp connected with said clamp-iron, and a trigger-lever with which said trip-iron is brought into engagement, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

15. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving back and forth upon said table, guidebars carried by said truck, spreadenblades moving vertically between said guide-bars, oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm connected with and extending from each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extending from each sleeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, a connecting rod between said lever-arms, guide-pins extending from each lever-arm, a locking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, a trip-arm connected with each locking lever, means at each end of the table for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, and means connected with said clamping means for raising said spreader-blades, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

16. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving back and forth upon said table, guidebars carried by said truck, spreader-blades moving vertically between said guide-bars, oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm connected with and extending from each shaft, a sleeve u on each shaft, an arm extending from each s eeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, a connecting rod between said lever-arms, guide-pins extending from each lever-arm, a locking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, a triparm connected with each locking lever, means at each end of the table for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, comprising a frame-work having forwardly extending side members provided with guides, a clamp iron movably arranged in said guides, and means connected with each clamp-iron for raising said spreader-blades, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

17. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving back and forth upon said table, guide-bars carried by said truck, spreaderblades moving vertically between said guidebars, oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm connected with and extending from each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extending from each sleeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, a connecting rod between said leverarms, guidepins extending from each lever-arm, a locking lever riding between each pair of guidepins, a trip-arm connected with each locking lever, means at each end of the table for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, comprising a frame-work having forwardly extending side-members provided with guides, a clamp-iron movably arranged in said guides, and means connected with each clamp-iron for raising said spreader-blades, a clutch, a shaft upon which said. clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, and means carried by said truck adapted to be brought into engagement with said arm for actuating said clutch, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

18. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving back and forth upon said table, guidebars carried by said truck, spreader-blades moving vertically between said guide-bars, oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm connected with and extending from each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extending from each sleeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, a connecting rod between said lever-arms, guide-pins extending from each lever-arm, a locking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, a triparm connected with each locking lever, means at each end of the table for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, comprising a frame-work having forwardly extending side members provided with guides, a clamp iron movably arranged in said guides, and means connected with each clamp-iron for raising said spreader-blades, a clutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, and means carried by said truck adapted to be brought into engagement with said arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon said shaft, and flexible connections between said drums and the clamp-iron for raising said iron, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

19. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving back and forth upon said table, guidebars carried by said truck, spreader-blades moving vertically between said guide-bars, oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a le ver-arm connected with and extending from each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extending from each sleeve, and a collapsible link connected. with each arm, a connecting rod between said lever-arms, guide-pins extending from each lever-arm, a locking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, a trip-arm connected with each locking lever, means at each end of the table for clamping the folded end-portions of the spread fabric, comprising a frame-work having forwardly extending side members provided with guides, a clamp iron movably arranged in said guides, and means connected with each clamp-iron for raising said spreader-blades, a clutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, and means carried by said truck adapted to be brought into engagement with said arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon said shaft, and flexible connections between said drums and the clamp-iron for raising said iron, and means for dropping said clamp-iron down upon the folded portion of the fabric,

substantially, as and for the purposes set forth.

20. In an apparatus for spreading fabrics upon a cutting table, the combination with a cutting table, of a bolt-carrying truck moving back and forth upon said table, guide- &

bars carried by said truck, spreader-blades moving vertically between said guide-bars, oscillatory shafts carried by said truck, a lever-arm connected With and extending from each shaft, a sleeve upon each shaft, an arm extending from each sleeve, and a collapsible link connected with each arm, a connecting rod between said lever arms, guide-pins ex tending from each lever-arm, a locking lever riding between each pair of guide-pins, a trip-arm connected with each locking lever, means at each end of the table for clamping the folded end-portions ol the spread fabric, comprising a frame-work having forwardly extending side members provided with guides, a clamp iron movably arranged in said guides, and means connected with each clamp-iron for raising said spreader-blades, a clutch, a shaft upon which said clutch is mounted, an arm extending from said clutch, and means carried by said truck adapted to be brought into engagement with said arm for actuating said clutch, drums upon said shaft, and flexible connections between said drums and the clamp-iron for raising said iron, a trip-iron carried by the truck, a pinclamp connected with said clamp-iron, and a trigger-lever with which said trip-iron is brought into engagement, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of February 1908.

AARON RATNER.

Vitnesses GEORGE D. RICHARDS, MAYBELLE McADoo.

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