A fabric spreading machine

A fabric spreading machine comprising:

• a chassis configured to traverse a fabric spreading table in use;
• an unspooling cradle of opposing proximal and distal drive belt assemblies, the opposing drive belt assemblies defining a lower vertex therebetween;
• and
• a tilting actuator supporting the cradle from the chassis, the tilting actuator configured to position the cradle in:
• an unspooling position wherein the cradle is raised so that:
• the drive belt assemblies are each angled with respect to the fabric spreading table to cradle a roll of fabric therebetween for unspooling;
• and
• the vertex and the fabric spreading table define a raised offset therebetween to provide clearance under the cradle for piled fabric lengths as the chassis traverses the fabric spreading table in use;
• and
• a loading position wherein the cradle is lowered so that:
• the proximal drive belt assembly is lowered towards the fabric spreading table to a lesser angle with respect to a surface of the fabric spreading table as compared to when the cradle is in the unspooling position;
• and
• the vertex and the fabric spreading table define a lowered offset therebetween, the lowered offset being less than the raised offset so that the lowered offset and the lesser angle allow a replacement spool to be more easily loaded into the cradle.