Abstract: A cloth spreading machine having a manually operable disconnect device for drivingly disconnecting the drive motor and the drive wheel, including a pair of clutch members rotatably mounted upon a drive shaft, one clutch member having a keyway adapted to be aligned with and to receive an elongated key upon the shaft when the clutch member is manually rotated between operative and inoperative positions.

Abstract: A transversely reciprocating cutting apparatus mounted on the frame of a cloth spreading machine to cut a cloth web spread by the machine, including a knife guide having an elongated transversely extending, highly frictional surface for holding a portion of the cloth web in place, while the knife of the cutting apparatus cooperates with the knife guide for cutting the cloth.

Abstract: A motor-driven cloth spreading machine having a speed control apparatus manually operated by a rotary elongated control shaft having radial handle means for rotating the control shaft.The speed control apparatus may also include a trip lever operatively connected to the control shaft and adapted to counter-rotate the control shaft to reduce the speed of the machine when the trip lever engages a tripping device at a predetermined station in the path of the spreading machine.

Abstract: A cutter head mounted upon a cloth spreading machine for longitudinal movement widthwise of the cloth spreading machine for transversely cutting cloth laid upon a cutting table. An elongated handle member is swivelly connected to said cutter head for manual movement of the cutter head over the entire width of the cloth spreading machine by an operator standing on one side of the spreading machine.The cutter head may be removed from the spreading machine and the handle member may be rendered rigid with respect to the cutter head, so that the cutter head may be manipulated for cutting cloth independently of the cloth spreading machine.