DISPOSITIF PREHENSEUR DE TISSU

LE DISPOSITIF PREHENSEUR COMPREND UNE PREMIERE ET UNE SECONDE MACHOIRE ALLONGEE 72, 74 DES MOYENS POUR MONTER DE MANIERE ARTICULEE LESDITES MACHOIRES AUTOUR D'UN PREMIER ET D'UN SECOND AXE 76, 78 AXE SENSIBLEMENT PARALLELES ENTRE EUX ET ESPACES DE FACON QUE LESDITES MACHOIRES PUISSENT PIVOTER D'UNE PREMIERE POSITION POUR SERRER UNE PIECE DE TISSU ENTRE ELLES, A UNE SECONDE POSITION OUVERTE; DES MOYENS ELASTIQUES DE CENTRAGE 82 AGISSANT DIRECTEMENT SUR LESDITES MACHOIRES POUR MAINTENIR CES DERNIERES SOIT DANS LA PREMIERE, SOIT DANS LA SECONDE DE LEURS POSITIONS; ET DES MOYENS 88 POUR COMMANDER LESDITES MACHOIRES ET LES DEPLACER DE LADITE SECONDE POSITION A LADITE PREMIERE POSITION. A cloth pickup device comprising, first and second elongated jaws. The pickup device has a device for pivotally mounting the jaws about first and second axes substantially parallel to each other and spaced so that the jaws are pivotable from a first position wherein they are in operative clamping position with respect to each other to clamp a piece of cloth therebetween, to a second position wherein they are in an unobstructive open position to allow a piece of cloth to freely pass into a position between the jaws. The pickup device has an overcenter spring device acting directly on the jaws for maintaining the jaws in either the first or second position thereof once moved to that position. The pickup device has a device for moving the jaws from the first position to the second position, and a device for actuating the jaws and moving them from the second position to the first position.