Abstract: Machine for feeding flatwork articles to an ironer-dryer machine, the machine including loading posts (1) with a load conveyor (2) for loading flatwork articles (53); one pair of transferring grippers (6) at each loading post (1), two or more spreading grippers (7) at a pickup station movable along one transverse guide (8); an outgoing feed conveyor (9) to transfer the flatwork article (53); and a vacuum chamber (44) below the spreading grippers (7) and below conveyor (9). The spreading grippers (7) are independent of each other, to spread a flatwork article (53) at several different zones with regard to the conveyor (9), operative in one or more lanes. A suction entrance (45) of vacuum chamber (44) has associated movable separating blades (59) temporally preventing insertion of a spread flatwork article (53) into vacuum chamber (44) and a controller coordinates the movements of the transferring grippers (6), spreading grippers (7) and separating blades (59).

Abstract: The feeding device comprises a pair of clamp assemblies (3) arranged to grasp corner portions of two contiguous corners of a flatwork textile article (30) and to move along transverse guides in opposite directions to spread the flatwork textile article (30) for depositing it on a feed conveyor. Each clamp assembly comprises a main clamp (6) supported on a main support (5) and having a pair of main jaws (7) providing a first frictional force, and a secondary clamp (9) supported on a secondary support (8) and having a pair of secondary jaws (10) providing a higher second frictional force. The secondary support is movable relative to the main support between a position adjacent to the main clamp and a position distanced from the main clamp to reduce an article protruding corner portion (31) remaining at a first side (S1) of the main jaws (7) in a closed position.

Abstract: The feeding device comprises a pair of clamp assemblies (3) arranged to grasp corner portions of two contiguous corners of a flatwork textile article (30) and to move along transverse guides in opposite directions to spread the flatwork textile article (30) for depositing it on a feed conveyor. Each clamp assembly comprises a main clamp (6) supported on a main support (5) and having a pair of main jaws (7) providing a first frictional force, and a secondary clamp (9) supported on a secondary support (8) and having a pair of secondary jaws (10) providing a higher second frictional force. The secondary support is movable relative to the main support between a position adjacent to the main clamp and a position distanced from the main clamp to reduce an article protruding corner portion (31) remaining at a first side (S1) of the main jaws (7) in a closed position.