Abstract: A cloth spreading machine for accurately spreading layers of cloth upon a cloth supporting surface without a catcher mechanism, including a longitudinally reciprocably movable spreader frame having a vertically movable spreader element, a motor for elevating the spreader element and a sensor adapted to detect an increase in the height of the cloth layers and coupled to the elevator motor for continually maintaining a substantially uniform height between the spreader element and the top layer of cloth within close tolerances. A cutter mechanism mounted on the spreader element is operative to cut the cloth when the spreader frame is in a stationary position spaced longitudinally a short distance from the end of the traverse of the spreader frame so that when the cloth is cut, it will fall free upon the next lower layer so that its cut end will lie substantially in a vertical plane containing all of the cut ends of the spread layers.

Abstract: A turntable for supporting a cloth spreading machine adapted to abut the end of a conventional cutting table having an elongated track on each side. The rotary platform of the turntable includes a straight track adapted to align with one track of the cutting table, in one rotary transfer position of the turntable, to permit a cloth spreading machine to be transferred from the cutting table to the turntable. When the turntable is rotated 180.degree., the platform track is aligned with the other track of the cutting table to permit the cloth spreading machine to be transferred back to the cutting table with the cloth spreading machine reversed end-for-end.

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 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.