Abstract: An apparatus for forming a spread of generally thin, pliable material from a roll thereof onto a table includes a cradle for holding the roll of the material which is selectively operable to rotate the roll of material for feeding a web of material generally forwardly from the roll. An endless conveyor including a series of flights spaced at intervals therealong with openings between the flights is driven for forward travel, and the web from the roll of the material is received on and carried forward by a flight in the upper reach of the conveyor. A knife is operable to cut the web to separate a first sheet of material from the roll of material. The first sheet of material is thereafter held from forward movement with the supporting flight by grippers selectively operable for gripping the first sheet of material on the supporting flight in the upper reach of the conveyor. Thus, the supporting flight slides out from under the first sheet of material with the first sheet falling onto the table.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically feeding workpieces of limp material one at a time and one after another from a stack thereof to a device for operating thereon, e.g. for feeding plies of fabric from a stack of plies to sewing apparatus, comprising an endless conveyor having spaced flights and gaps. The stack is held under an upper reach of the conveyor on a table. The space between the gaps is substantially less than the dimension of the table in the direction of travel of the upper reach of the conveyor. A pick-up is operable through the gaps to grasp the top workpiece of the stack and pick it up with the workpiece extending down in a gap. The bottom surface of the workpiece is engaged by the oncoming flight of the conveyor to complete the separation of the workpiece from the stack and to bring it to lie generally flat on the oncoming flight.

Abstract: Apparatus for perforating paper including a roll for holding a supply of paper to be perforated, and a roll for taking up paper from the supply roll. The apparatus moves the paper in a forward direction along a reach extending between the supply roll and the take-up roll at a selected speed so that a perforating roller between the supply roll and the take-up roll can perforate the paper in the reach from edge to edge. The perforating roller is rotated so that its teeth travel in the same direction as the paper at the location of engagement with the paper, but the perforating roller is rotated at a rate such that the speed of the teeth is less than the speed of the paper in the forward direction along the reach.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for automatically stacking pieces of limp material including an endless conveyor having a forward traveling upper reach. The conveyor has a series of flights spaced at intervals therealong with spaces between the flights. Each flight is constructed for carrying one of the pieces thereon with the piece so positioned on the flight as to have a trailing end overhanging the trailing end of the flight. The apparatus further includes a platen or table at a stacking station along the length of the upper reach of the conveyor and below the upper reach for stacking pieces thereon one upon another and for holding the stack. A gripper mechanism is engageable with an upwardly facing surface of the piece for gripping the piece to stop it from moving forward. Thereafter, as the flight travels forward it moves out from under the piece and the piece is deposited at the station for accumulation of piece one on top of another on the table.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically feeding workpieces of limp material one at a time and one after another from a stack thereof to a device for operating thereon, e.g. for feeding plies of fabric from a stack of plies to sewing apparatus, comprising an endless conveyor having spaced flights and gaps. The stack of workpieces is held under an upper reach of the conveyor. A pick-up is operable through the gaps to grasp the top workpiece of the stack and pick it up with the workpiece extending down into the gap for engagement of the bottom surface of the workpiece by the oncoming flight of the conveyor to complete the separation of the workpiece from the stack and to bring it to lie generally flat on the oncoming flight.