US3782649A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tensionless cloth feeding apparatus for cloth spreading machine
Assignee: Cutters Machine Co Inc
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Filing: 1973-01-22
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Granted: 1974-01-01
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Expires: 1993-01-22
Abstract
Abstract In a stationary cloth spreading machine adapted to spread cloth upon a laying surface movable away from the spreading machine, cloth feed control apparatus including radiant energy sensing means for sensing excessive tension in the cloth, without frictionally engaging the cloth, to produce a relatively tensionless cloth feed.
Inventors
- 👤 C Frederick
- 👤 H Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:38
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H45/00; B65H45/02; B65H45/06; B65H45/10; B65H45/101; B65H23/00; B65H23/04; B65H23/18; B65H23/182; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/40; B65H2301/41; B65H2301/413; B65H2301/4137; B65H2301/41372; B65H2301/41374
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A cloth spreading machine comprising: a. a spreader frame, b. a cloth laying surface having a longitudinal direction, c. means for relatively moving said laying surface and said spreader frame longitudinally, d. a spreader element mounted on said spreader frame adjacent said laying surface, e. cloth supply means on said spreader frame, f. feed means on said frame for feeding cloth from said supply means to said spreader element, g. means for driving said relatively moving means so that said laying surface and said spreader frame move relatively away from each other longitudinally in a spreading mode, h. means for normally driving said feed means to feed cloth at a speed faster than the relative speed of said laying surface and said spreader frame in said spreading mode, i. a sensing station on said frame in the path of said cloth between said feed means and said laying surface, j. radiant energy sensing means at said sensing station for sensing a slack portion of cloth, k. control means operatively connecting said radiant energy sensing means to said feed drive means to actuate said drive means to feed cloth when said sensing means senses a predetermined tension in said slack cloth portion, and to deactuate said feed drive means when said sensing means senses excessive slack in said cloth portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
A cloth spreading machine comprising: a. a spreader frame, b. a cloth laying surface having a longitudinal direction, c. means for relatively moving said laying surface and said spreader frame longitudinally, d. a spreader element mounted on said spreader frame adjacent said laying surface, e. cloth supply means on said spreader frame, f. feed means on said frame for feeding cloth from said supply means to said spreader element, g. means for driving said relatively moving means so that said laying surface and said spreader frame move relatively away from each other longitudinally in a spreading mode, h. means for normally driving said feed means to feed cloth at a speed faster than the relative speed of said laying surface and said spreader frame in said spreading mode, i. a sensing station on said frame in the path of said cloth between said feed means and said laying surface, j. radiant energy sensing means at said sensing station for sensing a slack portion of cloth, k. control means operatively connecting said radiant energy sensing means to said feed drive means to actuate said drive means to feed cloth when said sensing means senses a predetermined tension in said slack cloth portion, and to deactuate said feed drive means when said sensing means senses excessive slack in said cloth portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which said spreader frame is stationary and said cloth laying surface is movable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention according to claim 2 in which said cloth laying surface is an endless conveyor belt member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which said spreader element comprises a ramp extending transversely of said frame and declining from said frame toward said laying surface, said ramp having a low-friction surface over which said cloth is pulled by the relative movement of said laying surface away from said frame, said sensing station being between said feed means and said ramp.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention according to claim 4 in which the angle of declination of said ramp is a function of the coefficient of friction of said ramp surface and the weight of the cloth fed over said ramp.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention according to claim 4 further comprising a transverse sensing trough at said sensing station, said sensing means comprising a radiant energy emitter and a radiant energy receiver in said trough for creating a radiant energy beam across said trough for interception of a cloth loop.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention according to claim 6 in which said emitter and said receiver are mounted in one wall of said trough, the opposite wall of said trough constituting a highly reflective surface for reflecting the emitted energy beam to said receiver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which said feed means is between said supply means and said sensing station and proximate to said sensing station, said supply means comprising positive feed means for feeding said cloth from said supply means, and means for driving said supply feed means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
The invention according to claim 8 further comprising a second sensing station between said supply means and said cloth feed means, second radiant energy sensing means at said second sensing station for sensing a second slack portion of cloth, second control means operatively connecting said second raDiant energy sensing means to said cloth supply feed drive means to actuate said supply drive means to feed cloth when said second sensing means senses a predetermined tension in the second slack portion at said second station, and to de-actuate said supply feed drive means when said second sensing means senses excessive slack in the second slack portion at said second station.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention according to claim 9 further comprising synchronous control means operatively connecting said first control means, said second control means and the means for driving said relatively moving means, to synchronize the operation of said relatively moving means, said cloth feed means and said supply feed means to spread cloth upon said laying surface with a minimum of tension.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention according to claim 9 further comprising a first carriage supporting said supply means for lateral shiftable movement upon said frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention according to claim 11 further comprising a second carriage supporting said cloth feed means for lateral shiftable movement upon said frame, said first sensing station being between said second carriage and said spreader element, and said second sensing station being between said first carriage and said second carriage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |