Abstract: Apparatuses and methods spread a towel from a load of towels. The towels are rectangular, such as hand, wash or beach towels. A trailing corner is first identified to isolate one short edge from another short edge. The entire towel is then transported from one side of a center line of a conveyor to another side. Once on the other side, an end of the towel is brought into contact with a moving belt. The moving belt tensions the towel by causing friction downwards or away from the direction the towel is being moved. The clamped corner is moved back to the other side of the center line and released on the conveyor. A pinch belt, such as a pinch belt on one side of the conveyor, conveys one end of the towel in a bunch. The conveyor conveys one portion of the towel while the pinch belt conveys the bunched portion. The conveyor conveys the towel off the end of the conveyor until a trailing corner is detected. A pinch roller is then placed against the conveyor to clamp the trailing corner.

Abstract: Gaps between articles of laundry being passed between two automated laundry processing stations are reduced. By sensing a gap and accelerating an upstream conveyor, gaps between articles of laundry passed between stations are reduced. A reduction in gaps provides for more efficient and quicker processing of articles of laundry.