Drapery sizing apparatus

#The present invention relates to a material squaring and cutting apparatus.

#More particularly, the apparatus of the present invention provides for rapidly squaring drapery material as it is carried along on a moving belt type of surface to a movable cutter such that conventional sizing, squaring and cutting times can be vastly reduced.

#In the drapery manufacturing business, it has been conventional to use a large, fixed work table having straight edge members at each end of the work surface and at least one of the straight edge members will be movable so as to provide for cutting different lengths of material. In the sizing operation, the material is straightened out on the table and the straight edges used to try and obtain a "squared" piece of material. After the squaring and sizing to measurement, the excess material at one end is cut off to obtain an even length.

#FIG. 1 of the drawing is a partial plan view indicating the placement of a straight edge member along the side of a movable belt member serving as a conveying type of table surface, as well as the positioning of a movable cutter means along track means located in a manner to move at right angles with respect to the belt means.

#FIG. 2 of the drawing is a sectional elevational view through the sizing and cutting apparatus, as indicated by the line 2--2 in FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 of the drawing is a slightly enlarged partial sectional view through the straight edge member and a portion of the moving belt member to indicate roller means mounted near the straight edge member for holding material onto the belt surface, as indicated by the line 3--3 in FIG. 1.

#Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, there is indicated the utilization of a continuous loop-belt member 1 to provide a movable table-like surface for the handling of cloth-like materials, particularly for the manufacture of draperies, with such member being supported around spaced roller means 2 and 3. As indicated in the drawing, the roller member 2 will have shaft means 4 extending on through a suitable pillow-block or bearing means 5 and have a sheave or pulley means 6 to connect through belt means 7 to a pulley means 8 on motor means 9 whereby the roller 2 will be powered to move the belt member 1. As best shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing, pulley 2 will be driven counterclockwise to move the top surface of the belt member 1 toward the left and toward a cutter wheel 10 which is mounted from the shaft of a motor means 11 on support 12. The latter is, in turn, being supported by spaced track member 13 and 14. A foot pedal switch 15 connects to motor means 9 such that there may be the easy starting and stopping of the movement of the loop-belt 1 and the conveyance of material thereon to the cutter blade 10.

#Various types of supporting structures may be utilized in fabricating the present sizing and cutting apparatus and it is to be realized that the table-like supporting structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 is merely diagrammatic. In this instance, there is indicated the utilization of spaced post means 16 and 17 and cross beams 18 and 19 suitable to hold motor means 9 as well as the bearing means 5 for roller 2 and bearing means 47 for the end of roller means 3 at the upper end portion of the apparatus. In addition, there is the straight edge member 20 which extends between the post means 16 and 17 closely adjacent the side edge of the loop-belt member 1 to serve as the straight edge alignment means to maintain the proper aligning and squaring of material being fed onto the conveying belt surface. As a result, it is necessary that the straight edge member 20 be in an accurate parallel alignment with the movement of the belt member 1 and perpendicular to the roller means 2 and 3 over which the belt member will operate. Suitable posts, cross beams, bearing means, etc., (not being shown) will, of course, be provided at the other end of the apparatus to support the rollers 2 and 3 and other longitudinal members. Also, still other beams or brace members may well be utilized in effecting the suitable support of the sizing and cutting apparatus without effecting the scope of the present invention.

#As heretofore noted, it is a particular feature of the present invention to have a mechanical or motor operated cutting means to effect the rapid cutting of the material as it is carried to the downstream edge portion of the belt member 1 and insure the accurate squared cutting of the material with respect to the straight edge alignment member 20. Thus, track means 13 and 14 are necessarily positioned to be perpendicular to the straight edge member 20 and in parallel relationship with the edge of loop-belt member 1 where the surface moves from the top to the bottom, over roller means 2. In this instance, cutter motor 11 and cutter wheel 10, which is attached to the shaft from the latter, is mounted on a slidable support plate 12 which is readily movable along the entire length of the track means 13 and 14 such that any length of drapery material may be cut off as measured from the side of straight edge member 20.