Patent GB-163406-A (GB)
Title: Improved machine for cutting and spreading fabrics such as cloth and the like
IPC: D06H7/02
Filed: 1920-01-22
Abstract: 163,406. Holmes, J. H., and Dorey, E. W. Jan. 22, 1920. Feeding webs; delivery apparatus.-A machine for cutting off predetermined lengths of fabric and laying these up in a pile on an automatically lowered table comprises a guillotine blade which is operated when the required length has been drawn off. Gripping devices for drawing off the fabric are carried on an endless chain which passes round the machine, release being effected by an adjustable stop. A roller on a spring-controlled arm over which the cloth passes is so arranged that the severed end is brought into position to be seized by the approaching gripper. The cloth passes from a roll between rollers 57, 58 and over a flanged roller 53 mounted between pivoted spring-retracted arms 52, the end being held fast by a gripping device comprising fixed and movable jaws 19, 20, pivoted at 18 and provided with springs which tend to hold the jaws either in the closed or open position. One or more grippers are carried by pairs of chains 8 mounted on sprocket wheels situated at the sides of the machine, one of the wheels 10 being driven from a main shaft 17. The cloth is drawn along the table until an arm 24. Fig. 6, on the jaw 20 strikes an adjustable stop 23, thus opening the gripper on the severance of the cloth due to the descent of the guillotine 25, the roller 53 rises under the influence of the spring 56 and brings the cut end of the cloth into position to be seized by an approaching gripper which is closed by contact of an arm 21 with a fixed stop 22. Descent of the guillotine is effected by cams 35 on a shaft 36 which rock, through cranks 31, Fig. 1, and links 30, the frame 26 carrying the guillotine knife 25. During the cutting operation the material is held by a spring-depressed presser foot 29 moving with the knife. Rotation of the shaft 36 is effected from the shaft 17 through a worm wheel 40 connected to the shaft 36 by an arm 37 fast thereon and provided with clamping means operated by a handle 41 whereby adjustment of the shaft 36 and thus of the cams 35 can be effected with regard to the driving wheel 40, this adjustment being made to correspond with the position of the stop 23. As the lengths of cloth are piled on the table, this is gradually lowered by a link 44 connecting one crank 31 with a pawl bearing arm 45 engaging a ratchet 47 secured to a screwed shaft 7, on which moves a block connected to the table by wire ropes passing over pulleys carried by the framing. Disablement of the ieeding pawl is effected by rocking a cam 48 through a lever 49, this movement also serving, through a link 63 and a pivoted arm 64, to move a stop 65 below the crank 31 to hold the knife in the raised position. Spring retaining fingers may be provided for holding the cloth in position on the table to prevent creasing, such fingers being raised by the downward movement of the guillotine frame. According to the Provisional Specification the cloth may be fed by an electrically-driven carriage provided with grippers which may be electrically operated. Counting- means may be provided for registering the length of the cloth dealt with.