Claims
- 1. Apparatus for dispensing fabric from a bolt thereof comprising a panel over which the fabric is fed, said panel having means for guiding a cutting instrumentality for cutting the fabric on a line extending transversely across the fabric, means for unwinding fabric from the bolt and feeding it over the panel, means for measuring the length of fabric unwould from the bolt, means for presetting the length of fabric to be dispensed, means for starting the unwinding means, means for starting operation of the measuring means in response to arrival of the leading edge of the fabric generally at said line, means for comparing the length measured by the measuring means with the preset length, and means controlled by the comparing means for stopping the unwinding means when the preset length has been fed past said line.
- 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for starting operation of the measuring means comprises light sensor means in the panel adjacent said line.
- 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having means responsive to placement of the leading end portion of the fabric over the panel for enabling operation of the unwinding means.
- 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means responsive to placement of the leading end portion of the fabric over the panel comprises light sensor means in said panel adjacent the rear edge of the panel.
- 5. Apparatus for dispensing fabric from a bolt comprising an inclined panel over which the fabric is fed, said panel having a groove for guiding a cutting instrumentality to cut the fabric on a line extending transversely across the fabric, means for unwinding the fabric from the bolt and feeding it down over the panel comprising an endless belt, means guiding the belt for travel in an endless path including an upwardly opening loop in which a bolt may be cradled with the bolt extending transversely of the belt, means for driving the belt to rotate a bolt cradled in the loop to unwind fabric from the bolt and feed it down over the panel, said guiding means comprising an upper rear and an upper front guide roll for establishing said loop, said panel extending forwardly and downwardly from said upper front guide roll, the conveyor travelling over the upper rear guide roll, thence downwardly, upwardly and over the upper front guide roll and thence downwardly behind the panel, means mounting said upper rear guide roll for movement toward and away from the upper front guide roll, means for measuring the length of fabric unwound from the bolt comprising a measuring roll engaging the outside of the belt and driven by the belt, means for presetting the length of fabric to be dispensed, means for starting operation of the measuring means in response to arrival of the leading edge of the fabric generally at the groove, and means controlled by the measuring means for stopping the belt upon unwinding of said preset length of fabric.
- 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the means for driving the belt comprises a first motor for driving the upper front roll and a second motor for driving the upper rear roll.
- 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the second motor is movable with the upper rear roll.
- 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the first motor includes a positive brake and the second motor includes an impositive brake.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a division of application Ser. No. 560,358, filed Mar. 20, 1975, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,004,148, which application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 477,166, filed June 6, 1974 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,902,500, entitled Apparatus for Measuring and Cutting Lengths of Fabric.
This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing fabric from a bolt, and more particularly to apparatus for automatically dispensing a measured length of fabric from a bolt.
The invention is especially concerned with apparatus for unwinding a measured length of fabric from a bolt of the fabric, as distinquished from a roll of fabric, although the apparatus of this invention is quite capable of handling a roll of fabric as well as a bolt. It will be understood, however, that unwinding fabric from a bolt (as distinguished from a roll) and measuring the length of fabric unwound presents special problems because of the elongate (as distinguished from circular) cross section of a bolt.
Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of apparatus for dispensing fabric from a bolt particularly for use by sales personnel in retail fabric stores, in the fabric departments of department stores, or elsewhere to supply a customer with a specified length of fabric from a bolt; the provision of such apparatus which automatically unwinds the specified length of fabric from the bolt and presents it for being cut; the provision of such apparatus which measures any preselected yardage of fabric with a high degree of accuracy; the provision of such apparatus which automatically folds the fabric unwound from the bolt; the provision of such apparatus which simplifies the handling of a bolt, eliminating any necessity for chucking the bolt, and considerably reducing the time required for a sales transaction; and the provision of such apparatus adapted smoothly to unwind a bolt despite the elongate cross section of the bolt.
Among various features of the apparatus is the feature that it comprises an endless belt conveyor and means guiding the conveyor for travel in an endless path including an upwardly opening loop in which a bolt may be cradled with the bolt extending transversely of the conveyor. Means is provided for driving the conveyor to rotate a bolt cradled in the loop to unwind fabric from the bolt. The guiding means comprises a first and a second guide for establishing said loop, the conveyor travelling over the first guide, thence downwardly, upwardly and over the second guide, and the apparatus has means mounting the guides for relative movement toward and away from one another as the bolt rotates, the guides being relatively movable away from one another as the bolt rotates to a horizontal position and toward one another as the bolt rotates away from horizontal position.
Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
US Referenced Citations (2)
| Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
| 2713904 |
Ostuw et al. |
Jul 1955 |
|
| 3501106 |
Case |
Mar 1970 |
|
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
| 426,279 |
Apr 1935 |
UK |
| 3,450 OF |
Jan 1887 |
UK |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
| Parent |
560358 |
Mar 1975 |
|
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
| Parent |
477166 |
Jun 1974 |
|
Patent Grant
4084467
