US3606303A - Cloth spreading apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

ROLLED FABRIC CLOTH SPREADING OR CLOTH LAYING APPARATUS ADAPTED FOR USE IN THE CUTTING ROOM OF A GARMENT FACTORY AND OPERATIVE FOR USE IN INTERMITTENTLY SEVERING AND DISPENSING THE SEVERED FABRIC WEB MATERIAL OF A CLOTH ROLL ON A CUTTING TABLE AND TO FORM A MULTI-LAYER STACK OF FABRIC PLIES PREPARATORY TO PATTERN-CUTTING THE LAYERED STACK OF CLOTH MATERIAL. THE FABRIC SPREADING APPARATUS INCLUDES TRACKWAY STRUCTURE ELEVATINGLY ARRANGED OVER THE CUTTING TABLE AND INCLUDES CLOTH DISPENSING TROLLEY MEANS PENDANTLY SUPPORTED FROM THE TRACKWAY MEANS AND MOVABLE BACK AND FORTH ALONG THE TRACKWAY. THE TROLLEY MEANS INCLUDES A CLOTH ROLL CARRYING AND CLOTH DISPENSING LOWER SECTION PENDANTLY TURNABLY SUPPORTED FROM THE TROLLEY UPPER SECTION. THE CLOTH ROLL CARRYING LOWER SECTION IS PIVOTALLY TURNABLY 180* ON A VERTICAL PIVOT AXIS AND IS OPERATIVE FOR TURNING THE FRONT OF THE TROLLEY LOWER SECTION LEFTWARD OR RIGHTWARD AT LONGITUDINALLY SPACED APART PORTIONS OF THE OVERHEAD TRACKWAY STRUCTURE. THE TROLLEY MEANS IS ADAPTED FOR DISPENSING CLOTH AS IT TRAVELS IN ONE OR THE OTHER DIRECTION ALONG THE TRACKWAY STRCUTURE. THE SPREADING APPARATUS IS PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR FACE-ONE-WAY TYPE CLOTH SPREADING PROCEDURE AND FOR USE IN DEPOSITING A MULTI-LAYER STACK OF CLOTH ON A CUTTING TABLE WITH A PARTICULAR SIDE SURFACE OF EACH CLOTH LAYER BEING IN CORRESPONDING ARRANGEMENT.

Description

P 20, 1971 K. J. JOHNSON CLOTH SPREADING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 30, 1969 INVENTOR.

KELLY J JOHNSON 9 BY WA? 5 Sheets-Sheet :2

Filed Oct. 30'. 1969 INVENTOR. KELLY J. JOHNSON BY Z ,2:

Sept. 20, 1971 K. J. JOHNSON CLOTH SPREADING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001;. 30, 1969 FIG. 3

FIG. 4

INVENTOR. KELLY J. JOHNSON Sept. 20, 1971 K. J. JOHNSON CLOTH SPREADING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Qot. 30, 1969 INVENTOR. JOHNSON KELLY J. BY WK ,2:

K. J. JOHNSON CLOTH SPREADING APPARATUS Sept. 20} 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 30. 1969 INVENTOR. KELLY J. JOHNSON United States Patent Ofice Patented Sept. 20, 1971 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Rolled fabric cloth spreading or cloth laying apparatus adapted for use in the cutting room of a garment factory and operative for use in intermittently severing and dispensing the severed fabric web material of a cloth roll on a cutting table and to form a multi-layer stack of fabric plies preparatory to pattern-cutting the layered stack of cloth material. The fabric spreading apparatus includes trackway structure elevatingly arranged over the cutting table and includes cloth dispensing trolley means pendantly supported from the trackway means and movable back and forth along the trackway. The trolley means includes a cloth roll carrying and cloth dispensing lower section pendantly turnably supported from the trolley upper section. The cloth roll carrying lower section is pivotally turnably 180 on a vertical pivot axis and is operative for turning the front of the trolley lower section leftward or rightward at longitudinally spaced apart portions of the overhead trackway structure. The trolley means is adapted for dispensing cloth as it travels in one or the other direction along the trackway structure. The spreading apparatus is particularly adapted for face-one-way type cloth spreading procedure and for use in depositing a mu'lti-layer stack of cloth on a cutting table with a particular side surface of each cloth layer being in corresponding arrangement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention Relates to cloth spreading apparatus generally and particularly to such apparatus adapted for face-one-way type cloth spreading procedure.

(2) Description of the prior art Heretofore, the typical practice in the garment industry for face-one-Way type cloth spreading was by utilizing a cloth spreading machine which spread the cloth web material while traveling in one direction only and with the machine dead-heading back to its initial starting position after laying each ply or lay of material. Another cloth laying machine adapted for face-one-Way type cloth laying procedure is designed for carrying two rolls or bolts of cloth material and with the material from one roll being adapted to be laid as the machine travels in one direction and the material from the second roll being adapted to be laid as the machine moves in the opposite direction and returns to its initial starting position. A third type of cloth laying machine adapted for face-oneway type cloth laying procedure is provided with turntable support means for the roll of material and with the roll being adapted to be turned around at each end of each lay or ply of material. In the operating procedure of a turntable type cloth laying machine, the bolt or roll of cloth goods is turned 180 or endwise at the beginning and ending of each cloth lay or correspondingly with the turnaround or reverse travel movement of the cloth laying machine. Conventional face-one-Way type cloth laying procedure utilizing the above-mentioned machines was rather a slow and time-consuming operation; not

infrequently, the output or production of the garment installation may be limited or restricted by congestion in the cloth laying step of the garment making process. Moreover, the prior art cloth laying machines adapted for laying cloth in one direction or the other direction were of complex design and construction. Such machines were subject to malfunctioning and required substantial repair and maintenance. In operation of many of the face-one-way type spreader machines, a workman of considerable skill or practice was required for efficient operation of the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The machine of the present invention is particularly directed toward expediting the cloth laying step in garment manufacture. The cloth laying machine of the invention is effective for quickly and accurately laying a multiplicity of plies of material on a cutting table work surface. The cloth spreading machine of the invention is of substantially simple mechanical design and does not include complicated or intricate mechanisms subject to malfunctioning and a workman of negligible skill or practice may efficiently operate the machine.

BRIEF" DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an environmental showing of the cloth laying apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the cloth dispensing trolley means and a fragmentary showing of the trackway structure and cutting table means of the cloth spreading apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the cloth dispensing trolley means taken as from the right in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal plane sectional view of the material web cutting means of the trolley unit taken as on the line IVIV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top view of the cloth dispensing trolley unit means taken as on the line V-V of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal plane sectional view taken as on the line VI-VI of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the trolley travel controlling electric switch means of the apparatus.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates the various electrical drive components and circuit means of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The cloth spreading apparatus of the invention is indicated generally by numeral 11 and is illustrated as being installed in a typical garment factory cutting room 13 having respectively floor and ceiling structure 15, 17. Cloth spreading apparatus 11 basically includes a cutting table 19 defining a long narrow horizontal work surface 21; an I-beam configured trackway 23 elevatingly supported directly above cutting table work surface 21 preferably by upright and horizontal support members 25, 26, and chain members 27 supported respectively from the cutting room ceiling structure '17; a cloth dispensing trolley unit 29 basically including a traction section 31 runningly pendantly supported from trackway structure 23; a carrier section 33 adapted for turnably supporting a roll R of fabric material; and, bearing means 35 pendantly turnably supporting carrier section 33 from traction section 31.

Cloth dispensing trolley unit 29 is adapted for movement to and fro along trackway structure 23 and between a leftward end portion 23 and rightward end portion 23". Carrier section 3.3 is adapted for horizontal movement leftward or rightward about a vertical axis; carrier section 33 is adapted to be turned around at each end of each ply P of web material W deposited on the cutting table work surface (see FIG. 1).

Traction section 31 includes a main housing 37 including an upper housing portion 37 and a lower housing portion 37" and a plurality of pairs of traction wheels 39, 39" laterally symmetrically arranged relative to I- beam trackway 23 and runningly engaging the oppositely projecting lower flange portions 23L, 23R of the trackway. Trolley unit traction section includes primary electric motor means 41 stationarily supported in housing 37 and includes power transmission means interconnecting output shaft 43 of electric motor 41 with the plurality of traction wheel members 39', 39". The power flow from output shaft 43 is transmitted through a drive sprocket 45 mounted on the output shaft; through chain and sprocket means 47, 49 to traction wheel drive shaft means 51', 51"; through a right angle drive gearbox 53 having side gear structure (not shown) driving oppositely projecting unidirectionally operatively drive shafts 55, 55"; through chain and sprocket means 57', 59', 57", 59; and, through chain and sprocket means 61, 63', 61", 63". Electric clutch means 65 interposedly arranged respectively between drive shaft structure 51, 51' is operative for engaging and disengaging traction wheel members 39, 39" from electric motor means 41 as in stopping and starting traveling movement of trolley unit 29 along trackway structure 23. Electrically energizing clutch means 65 is operative for causing positive drive connection between drive shaft means 51, 51" and for driving the series of traction wheel members 39, 39'. Electric motor means 41 is clockwise-counterclockwise operative respectively for causing leftward or rightward movement of trolley unit 29 along the trackway structure.

Trolley motor means 41 preferably is energized through running brush contacts 67, 67 fixedly supported on trolley upper housing portion 37'. Brush contacts 67', 67" are adapted to runningly engage insulated contact rails 69, 69" dependingly fixed in parallel arrangement to the underside surface of I-beam flange projection 23L. Electrical conductors 71', 71" connect respectively contact rails 69', .69" with electric supply line means (not shown). Electric circuit means including a single-pole double-throw switch 73 having contact points 73', 73" is selectively operative for energizing motor 41 clockwise or counterclockwise and is operative respectively for causing leftward or rightward movement of trolley unit 29 along trackway structure 23.

Carrier section 33 includes a generally inverted U- shaped frame 75 having an upper horizontally arranged frame portion 75' and depending vertical opposingly arranged planar side portions 75L, 75R. The roll of fabric material R is preferably freely turnably supported between frame side portions 75L, 75R on horizontal axle means 77.

The bearing means 35 pendantly turnably supporting carrier section 33 from traction section 31 permits horizontal swinging movement of the carrier section substantially 180 leftward or rightward about a vertical axis. Bearing means 35 preferably includes a circular flange projection 79 dependingly centrally fixed on lower housing 37" of traction section 31 and projecting downwardly through a large aperture 81 formed in upper horizontal frame portion 75' of trolley carrier section 33. Flange projection 79 preferably is right angular in radial section and includes a cylindrical ring portion 79 projecting downwardly through aperture 81 and a rimlike external flange portion 79" flared outwardly and supportingly engaging an annular bearing portion 83 formed on the underside of carrier section frame upper horizontal portion 75' (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

Trolley carrier section 33 preferably includes electrically energized means for causing turning movement of the carrier section 180 leftward or rightward about the vertical pivot axis of the bearing means 35. The turning movement of trolley carrier section 33 preferably is powered from primary electric motor means 41 selectively energized through a push-button switch means 84 and electric clutch unit 85 (see FIG. 8). Mechanical power generated by motor means 41 is transmitted through drive chain 47, through sprocket 87, shaft means 89', 89", through gearbox 91, and oppositely through contradirectionally operative output shaft means 93', 93". Miter gears 95, 95 fixed respectively on output shaft means 93, 93" runningly engage diametrically opposite portions of a ring gear 97 fixedly supported on carrier frame upper horizontal portion 75. Simultaneous contradirectional driving movement of miter gears 95, 95" turnably drives ring gear 97 in one of the other direction and is operative in swinging carrier section 33 leftward or rightward 180 and operatively at the leading and trailing end of each ply P of the fabric web material.

Selective manipulation of switch 73 closes contact point 73 or 7.3 and respectively energizes motor means 41 clockwise or counterclockwise, and thus simultaneousiy correspondingly rotates input shaft means 51, 89' respectively of electric clutch means 65, 85. When input shaft 89' is driven clockwise, closing push-button switch 84 energizes and engages electric clutch 85 and causes clockwise turning movement of carrier-section 33 about the vertical pivot axis of bearing means 35. When shaft means 89 is driven counterclockwise, closing push-button switch means 84 engages clutch means 85 and causes counterclockwise rotation of carrier section 33 about the vertical pivot axis of bearing means 35.

Carrier section 33 preferably includes electrically powered feed roll drive means arranged in positive feed engagement with the web W of rolled fabric material R. An electric motor unit 99 is mounted in carrier section 33 and is drivingly interconnected with a pair of feed rollers 101, 101 by mechanical drive means 103 (schematically illustrated in FIGS. 2, and 8). A pair of auxiliary rollers 105, 105" also preferably is freely turnably supported between carrier section frame portions 75L, 75R and guidingly conduct the fabric web material W from fabric roll R to feed rollers 10 1, 101".

A single-pole double-throw switch unit 107 preferably is mounted on trolley 29 and is operative for simultaneously energizing and de-energizing clutch means 65 and electric motor means 99. Switch 107 simultaneously controls the traveling movement of trolley unit 29 along trackway structure 23 and the feeding movement of web material W through feed rollers 101, 101". Switch 107 includes contact points 107, 107" and an arm 107a pivotally supported on a vertical axis on trolley traction section upper housing 37' by vertical pivot pin means 107p (see FIGS. 2, 3, S and 7). Switch 107 is semiautomatically operative and responsive to the traveling movement of trolley 29 back and forth along trackway structure 23.

Two spaced apart abutment pins 111, 113 arranged respectively at longitudinally distant points on trackway structure 23 provide abutment means for actuation of switch arm 107a and for stopping the leftward or rightward movement of the trolley unit along the trackway (see FIGS. 1 and 7). Arm means 107a of switch 107 is moved to a non-energized neutral disposition upon engagement with a pin member 111, 113 (see FIG. 5). Arm 107a is adapted to be manipulated from a neutral position by handle means 115. After the movement of trolley unit 29 has been halted by engagement of arm 107a with an abutment pin 111, 113, the operator of the apparatus moves arm 107a-to energize a respective switch contact 107, 107 and thus prepare the electrical circuit means for the turnabout movement of the trolley unit. Two spaced apart series of apertures 111, 113 are arranged at longitudinally spaced apart locations along the trackway. Each aperture of each series of apertures 111', 113' is adapted to removably receive respectively an abutment pin 111, 113. Inserting pin members 111, 113 in selected apertures 111', 113' is operative for controlling the distance of movement of trolley unit 29 along trackway structure 23 and for stopping the trolley at a predetermined position along the trackway structure.

The trolley unit 29 of the cloth dispensing apparatus also preferably includes means for synchronizing the feed output travel of fabric web W with the travel of trolley unit 2-9 along the trackway. The means for synchronizing the trolley travel and the output feed of fabric web W preferably is in the form of an adjustable rheostat unit 117 interposedly arranged in the electrical circuit means energizing motor 99. Selectively manipulating adjustment knob 119 of rheostat 117 is operative for increasing or reducing the speed of motor 99 and for synchronizing the output travel of web W with the travel of trolley 29.

Trolley carrier section 33 preferably is fitted with horizontal shoe structure 121 dependingly supported by vertical side supports 12'3L, 123R respectively from side portions 75L, 75R of carrier section frame 75. Horizontal planar shoe structure 121 is arrangeab-le in closely spaced arrangement directly above the uppermost one of plies P of a multi-ply stack S of material being spread on cutting table work surface 21. A slot 125 extending between side supports 123-L, 123R guidingly constrain the fabric web material in output travel as it is unrolled from fabric roll R. Although not specifically shown, the trolley apparatus preferably includes elevator means operative for selectively positioning horizontal shoe structure 121 at a selected elevation above cutting table work surface 21 or above the uppermost ply P of the multi-ply stack of fabric material.

Knife means 127 preferably is provided for transversely severing the web of material at the end of the leftward or rightward travel of trolley unit 29 and in the forming each fabric ply P (see FIGS. 3 and 4). A thin knife blade 129 is supported by carriage means 131 which in turn is guidingly constrained by guide rail means 136 extending horizontally between vertical side supports 123L, 123R. A horizontally extending, push-pull operative actuator rod 135 having handle means 137 is connected with blade carriage 131 and is operative for causing horizontal cutting movement of blade 12 9. When fabric web W is being paid out or unrolled from roll R, blade 129 is arranged along the right side edge of the fabric web and blade carriage 131 is disposed in an atrest disposition. The operator of the apparatus'may transversely sever the fabric web by pulling outwardly on handle means 137 and until blade 129' moves fully across the web. After the web is severed, the operator may push handle 137 inwardly and return the blade to its initial at-rest disposition.

In the operation of the cloth dispensing apparatus the following procedure may be carried? out: considering first that trolley unit 29 has completed traveling movement leftward and such movement has been stopped by engagement of arm 107a with abutment pin 111 (see FIGS. 1 and 5) and consider further that trolley carrier section 33 is facing rightward and switch 73- is disposed in an open circuit disposition. Trolley unit 29 may be caused to move rightward and deposit the web or a ply of fabric material on the cutting table by sequentially carrying out the following actions:

The operator may first arrange switch 73 to a disposition closing contact 73' thereby clockwise energizing motor 41 and clockwise rotating shaft means 51', 89' (see FIG. 8). The operator may then move switch arm 107a away from abutment pin 111 and the open circuit neutral disposition, to a disposition closing contact point 107' (see FIG. 5 and the illustrated movement of arm 10711 from position indicated N to position indicated R). Closing contact point 107' simultaneously energizes and engages clutch means '65 causing traveling movement of trolley unit 29 and energizes electric motor 99 driving feed rollers 101', 101" and causing output feed of the fabric web material from roll R. Trolley unit 29 will continue rightward along trackway 23 and simultaneously feed web material through slot in horizontal shoe 121 until switch arm 107a engages abutment pin 11.3 which actuates the switch arm to an open circuit disposition thereby simultaneously stopping travel of the trolley unit and output feed travel of the web material from the fabric cloth roll. By manipulating rheostat knob 119 the feed output of the web material may be synchronized with the trolley travel along trackway 23; rheostat knob 119 may be adjusted for effecting a smooth unwrinkled disposition of the fabric web on the cutting table or on a previously laid ply of fabric material. The fabric web is then severed by pulling outwardly on knife rod handle 137 thereby causing knife blade 129 to move across the full width of the fabric web. The actuator rod may then be moved inwardly to return blade carriage 131 to an at-rest disposition arranged along the edge of the fabric web. lPush-button switch 84 may then be. held in a closed circuit disposition for causing turnabout movement of trolley carrier section 33 (see the broken line illustration of the trolley shown on the right in FIG. 1). Closing push-button switch '84 energizes electric clutch -85, thereby causing horizontal swinging turnabout movement of trolley carrier section 33 through actuation of coacting miter and ring gear means 95', 95, 97. Trolley unit 29 may be caused to move leftward and to dispense the fabric material in leftward movement by sequentially manipulating switch means 73 and 1.07 in a manner as abovedescribcd. Switch unit 73 is first moved to close contact point 73", thereby energizing motor 41 in a counterclockwise direction and then switch 107 is arranged at a disposition whereat contact point 107" is energized thereby simultaneously causing traveling movement of the trolley leftward along the trackway and feed output movement of the web material through slotted shoe structure 121 and onto the cutting table. Switch arm 107a abutting pin 111 moves switch 107 to an open circuit disposition thereby stopping travel of the trolley and the web feed. Knife means 127 is then actuated to sever the web of material. Switch 84 may then be held in a closed circuit disposition for turnaround movement of the trolley carrier section. The above description describes the operation of the cloth laying apparatus for laying one ply of cloth with the trolley moving in one direction and a second ply of cloth with the trolley moving in the opposite direction. It will of course be understood that the above-described cloth laying proce dure is carried out repetitiously and until a desired number of plies of cloth material is dispensed on the cutting table work surface.

It will be understood that although switches 84 and 73 are shown for purposes of simplicity as being manually actuated switches, they may be otherwise. As for example, they may be automatically actuated by means well known to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Also, the same is true of switch 107 which may be fully automatic. In addition, knife means .127 may be automatically actuated, rather than manual, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. The combination with a long narrow cutting table arranged as in a garment manufacturing installation, of cloth spreading trolley apparatus adapted for unrolling, cutting and dispensing on the work surface top of said table a multiple layer stack of plies of the rolled cloth web material, said cloth spreading trolley apparatus comprising trackway means stationarily supported over and spaced from the table work surface and oriented in longitudinal extension corresponding with the longitudinal extension of said table work surface and with said trackway means having a leftward end and a rightward end and including a cloth dispensing trolley unit including a traction section runningly pendantly supported on said 7 trackway means, a carrier section having a front portion and having means adapted for turnably supporting a roll of fabric material, and including bearing means pendantly turnably supporting said carrier section from said traction section on a vertical pivot axis and operative for turning said carrier section front portion toward the rightward or leftward end of said trackway means, drive means supported substantially in said trolley unit traction section and operative for causing bidirectional movement of said trolley unit toward the leftward or rightward end of said trackway means, fabric web dispensing means operative for causing unidirectional unrolling movement of said roll of fabric material and dispensation of the fabric Web material on the cutting table work surface, and including knife means for transversely severing the fabric web mate arranged as in a garment manufacturing installation, of

cloth spreading trolley apparatus adapted for unrolling, cutting'and depositing on the work surface top of said table a multiple layer stack of plies of the rolled cloth web material, said cloth spreading trolley apparatus comprising trackway means stationarily supported over and spaced from the table work surface and oriented in longitudinal extension corresponding with the longitudinal extension of said table work surface and with said trackway means having a leftward end and a rightward end and including a cloth dispensing trolley unit including a tracti'on section runningly pendantly supported on said trackway means, a carrier section having a front portion and having means adapted for turnably supporting a roll of fabric material, and including bearing means pendantly turnably supporting said carrier section from said traction section on a vertical pivot axis and operative for turning said carrier section front portion toward the rightward or leftward end of said trackway means, electrically energized primary drive means supported substantially in said trolley unit traction section and operative for movement of said trolley unit toward the leftward or rightward end of said trackway means electrically energized secondary drive means supported substantially in said trolley unit carrier section and operative for causing positive drive unidirectional feed movement of said roll of fabric material during unrolling of the fabric roll and dispensation of the fabric web material therefrom, means for substantially synchronizing the feed output travel of the fabric web material with the travel of said trolley unit leftward or rightward along said trac'kway means and for substantially synchronously stopping or starting the traveling movement of the fabric web feed means and the trolley unit movement along said trackway means, and knife means for transversely severing the fabric web material at intermittent locations along the longitudinal extension of said Web material.

3. Apparatus for unrolling and spreading the cloth Web of a cloth fabric roll or the like and such apparatus being adapted for use in the cutting room of a garment factory, said cloth spreading apparatus comprising table means defining a long narrow horizontal planar substantially continuous work surface adapted to supportingly receive unrolled fabric from the fabric material roll and including cloth dispensing means adapted for laying cloth web portions in layers on said table work surface preparatory for the cloth cutting operation and including trackway means stationarily supported over and spaced from said table work surface and oriented in longitudinal extension corresponding with the longitudinal extension of said table work surface; and including a cloth dispensing trolley unit supported on said trackway means including a traction section runningly pendantly supported on said trackway means, a carrier section having a front portion and adapted for carrying a roll or the like of fabric material and including bearing means pendantly turnably support- 8 ing said carrier section from said' traction section on a vertical pivot axis, means for causing selective turning movement of said carrier section at least one-half turn relative to said traction section and respectively toward one or the other end of said table work surface, traction wheel means included in said traction section runningly engaging said trackway means, primary electric motor means included in said traction section, means for energizing said primary electric motor means from an electric power line supply and including mechanical linkage drive means drivingly interconnecting said primary motor means and said traction wheel means for causing clockwise or counterclockwise movement of said traction drive wheels and respectively bidirectional movement of said trolley unit along said trackway means; means turnably horizontally supporting a roll or the like of fabric material on said carrier section of said trolley unit, feed roller means included in said carrier section adapted for positive feed engagement with the web of a roll of fabric material supported on said carrier section, secondary electric motor means included in said carrier section and adapted to be energized from the electric power line supply, secondary mechanical drive linkage means drivingly interconnecting said feed roller means and said secondary electric motor means, means for substantially synchronizing the output travel of the web of material at said feed roller means with the travel of said traction section along said trackway, and means for substantially synchronosly stopping or starting traveling movement of said feed roller means and said traction section of said cloth dispensing trolley, and including knife means for transversely severing the web of material at a point downrun from said feed roller means.

4. A cloth spreading apparatus as defined in claim 3 which additionally includes electrically energized means for causing turning movement of said carrier section relative to said traction section and respectively for turning said carrier section front portion leftward or rightward relative to said trackway and so correspondingly leftward or rightward relative to said cutting table work surface.

5. A cloth spreading apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for causing turning movement of said carrier section relative to said traction section includes electric circuit power means including selectively operative switch means.

6. A cloth spreading apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said knife means is operatively supported on said carrier section and includes a knife blade adapted to engage and sever the web of material, means guidingly constraining said knife blade in movement across the full web width of the fabric material and includes selectively operative actuator means for causing traveling movement of the knife blade in severing the web of material.

7. A cloth spreading apparatus as defined in claim 3 which additionally includes means for stopping the travel of said traction section ata certain point along the longitudinal extension of said trackway means.

8. A cloth spreading apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said trackway means is of single I-beam form and wherein said traction drive wheels are laterally symmetrically arranged relative to the I-beam structure and runningly ridingly engage the opposite lower flange portions of the I-beam configured trackway structure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 883,687 4/1908 Bendien 270-31 957,526 5/1910 Weiss 270--31 2,495,249 1/1950 Gilbert 27031 2,544,951 3/1951 De Lassus 27031 3,219,338 11/1965 Kastner et al 270-31 ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner L. R. OREMLAND Assistant Examiner

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