Speed reducing apparatus for a cloth spreading machine

Claim 1

A speed reducing apparatus for a cloth spreading machine having a frame supported for longitudinal movement over a cloth laying surface between reversing stations, a spreader unit to spread cloth in layers, and means for supplying cloth to the spreader unit, comprising: a. electrically energized motor drive means for moving said frame longitudinally of said surface, b. speed control means for selectively energizing said drive means to move said frame at a low speed, or to move said frame at a high speed substantially faster than said low speed, c. a dynamic braking circuit connected to said motor drive means, d. a trigger circuit including a low-speed switch, a speed selector switch movable between a high position and a low position, and dynamic brake switch means, e. said selector switch communicating with said speed control means to selectively energize said drive means in high speed in high position and in low speed in low position, f. said dynamic brake switch means, when closed, being adapted to energize said dynamic brake circuit, g. said low-speed switch being adapted, when actuated, to move said selector switch to its low position and to close said dynamic brake switch means while the back EMF of said motor drive means is above a pre-set value corresponding to said low speed, h. signal means communicating with said dynamic braking circuit and with said speed control means for actuating said speed control means to de-energize said drive means while said dynamic brake circuit is energized, and for re-actuating said speed control means to energize said drive means in said low speed while said dynamic braking circuit is de-energized, i. trip means for actuating said low-speed switch while said frame is moving toward a reversing station.