Abstract: The invention provides, in combination with a swimming pool cleaning device comprising an outer shell with a detachable lid, the outer shell being open at its lower end, and an inner shell spaced apart therefrom, open at its upper end and accommodating an impeller and a clean-water exit tube, the improvement comprising a filter element having a basket-like shape including a tubular central stem configured to be seated on the exit tube, the central stem being surrounded by an annular trough constituting the active filtering portion of the element, with the outer rim of the trough being detachably affixed to the inner shell, wherein, during operation of the device, solids-entraining water drawn by the impeller enters the annular trough from above and, passing the active filtering portion, emerges therefrom as clean water to be expelled through the exit tube and returned to the pool.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding sheets, particularly fabrics, from a stack comprises an arrangement for: engaging the opposite edges of the upper sheet of the stack by a pair of restrainer members, bringing a pick-up head into engagement with the upper sheet of the stack while producing air streams from the pick-up head directed outwardly across the opposite edges of the upper sheet of the stack, lowering the pick-up head to depress the stack below the restrainer members whereby the air streams cause the opposite edges of the upper sheet of the stack to curl upwardly to clear the restrainer members, lifting the upper sheet from the stack, and permitting the stack to rise so as to bring the next sheet into engagement with the restrainer members.