Cloth spreading and clamping apparatus

摘要

An improved cloth clamping or catching apparatus is provided for a cloth spreading arrangement of the type having a table with a cloth spreader reciprocally moveable along the length of the table for laying down superimposed layers of cloth with reversing folds in the cloth at the respective ends of the spreader travel path. A catcher carriage is provided for at least one of the catchers disposed at the cloth pile ends for clamping the cloth against the table. The catcher carriage includes a pair of guide wheels engageable with a guide track for the spreader, as well as a pair of support wheels engageable directly with the table surface for accommodating easy, longitudinal adjusting movement of the catcher. A carriage brake is provided which includes a single hand-operable spindle which is rotatable to simultaneously engage brake shoes against opposite sides of the table to clamp the carriage in an adjusted position. The cross frame for the catcher carrier, as well as the brake rod for the catcher carrier breaking system are disposed sufficiently above the level of the table surface so as to accommodate step-wise stacking of cloth, with the catcher and carrier moveable over already folded piles of cloth so as to accommodate cloth spreading for various lengths without interruption or cutting of the cloth being required.