Drapery clamping device

Abstract

The present invention discloses a new and useful clamping arrangement for use in an upstanding drapery manufacturing device including frame means; a vertically adjustable trolley means; reference means defining a horizontal reference plane adjacent the lower end of the frame means and carriage means upon which are mounted marker means and cutter means for horizontal movement with respect to the upstanding frame along the reference means. The improvement provided by the present invention comprises combining with such present device an elongate clamping means located adjacent the lower end of the frame to secure the lower end of a length of fabric as it is being marked and/or cut. The clamping means provided includes an elongate clamping base secured to a transverse support member adjacent the lower end of the frame, an elongate clamping bracket pivotably connected to the clamping base to close on a clamping bar to secure the lower portion of a length of fabric. An actuator means is provided to operate the elongate clamping bracket and cause it to move to its first and second positions. In the first position the clamping bracket holds the fabric securely against the clamping bar where the marker and cutter means can mark and cut the fabric along predetermined horizontal lines. The invention can further be provided with a spring means attached to the clamping base and clamping bracket to hold the clamping bracket in its first or second position when manually operated.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.