Abstract: The disclosure relates to a sheet spreader for a sheet feeder apparatus comprising at least one pair of sheet clamps, a guideway extending along an entry to a sheet feeder, clamps mounted on the guideway for movement along the entry to the sheet feeder and a plurality of sheet loading stations located at fixed positions opposite the guideway. Each loading station has a sheet clipping system to receive and support a pair of corners of a sheet and for effecting transfer of the sheet corners from the clipping system to the pair of sheet clamps on the guideway when the clamps are located in a transfer position adjacent the loading station. The sheet clamps of each pair move independently of one other, first together in a transfer position at a respective loading station and then apart to spread the sheet received at a loading station for entry to the sheet feeder.

Abstract: A laundry article handling apparatus comprises at least one article clamp having a fluid pressure operated for closing a clamp to hold an article therein, a system for moving the clamp between an article receiving an article release position, a source of pneumatic pressure having an outlet disposed at the article receiving position, the fluid pressure operated system having an inlet configured to connect to and disconnect from the outlet to be charged therefrom when so connected thereto, and further having a valving system which will retain the pneumatic pressure supplied thereto after disconnection from the outlet. The valve release system is arranged to release pneumatic pressure from the system at the release position to allow the article to be released from the clamp.

Abstract: A feed system for conveying and spreading laundry articles on a conveyor has an air-permeable conveyor having a feed end upon which leading portions of an article are placed for conveyance therefrom. Varying portions of the article to be so emplaced are supported by a feed support element spaced at a distance from the feed end of the conveyor to provide a gap therebetween. A suction duct located generally below the feed end of the conveyor and the feed support element causes air to flow through the feed end of the conveyor to adhere the leading part of the article to the conveyor, and through the space between the feed end of the conveyor and the support element to draw the trailing portion of the article down into a suction duct to stream the article therein by air flow on both sides. An enclosure surrounding the feed end of the conveyor and has a moveable closure member sealing the entrance thereto.

Abstract: A stacking machine includes a pair of gripping jaws that are openable and closable to grip a leading edge of an article and move it to a stacking position. The jaws are moved between a gripping position and a release position by a fluid cylinder assembly and are automatically moved to an intermediate position when the jaws are moved to receive an article. Air flow is used to straighten the trailing part of the article on the stack. The gripping jaws are moved between an article receiving position and an article discharge position by a pneumatic cylinder assembly that will accommodate variations in stack height.

Abstract: A laundry folding unit comprises a transfer conveyor on to which laundry articles are fed by a bridge mechanism from a feed conveyor. At the appropriate time the transfer conveyor is braked momentarily to allow a fold line of the article to be caught in the nip between the feed conveyor and a fold roller. Bypass is effected either by failure to operate the bridging mechanism or by failure to stop the transfer conveyor, which leads the article back to the feed path of the machine.

Abstract: A laundry feeding machine features a conveyor moving through a suction induction tunnel. Articles are held at their upper edges by an automatically releasing clamp to hang in front of the induction tunnel. Upon release of the clamp, a valving system is immediately actuated to apply suction to suck the article in to lie flat on the conveyor to be transported thereby. In one version of the invention, a nip roller based at the outlet of the system engages the leading edge of each article as it passes through, whereupon the valving system is actuated to suck the remainder of the article into a suction chamber having a smoothing blade at the entrance port thereof, so that as the article is drawn out of the suction chamber by the nip roller, a smoothing action occurs. A system of computer-controlled valve actuators responsive to properly laced photosensors governs all valving operations automatically.

Abstract: A simplified apparatus for centering and spreading laundry articles on the conveyor of a machine automatically feeding such articles to a commercial laundry iron and comprising lead and trailing carriages having clipping apparatus for gripping adjacent corners of such articles, a track to convey the carriages, a belt driven by a motor for moving the carriages on the track. The lead carriage is directly affixed to the first run of the belt, the trailing carriage idles with respect to the second run of the belt. Upon activation of the motor, the lead carriage moves down the track drawing the laundry article along the front of the inlet end of the conveyor. An abutment affixed on the second run of the belt contacts the trailing carriage creating tension in the leading edge of the laundry article. Movement of the abutment with respect to the second run of the belt is made adjustable so that the position of the line about which the articles are centered may be varied.

Abstract: A laundry feeding machine, particularly suitable for feeding small-piece flat-work articles to an ironing machine. A pair of clamping devices is arranged to accept any part of the leading edge of an article. The devices are moved apart symmetrically with respect to a feeding line of the machine, and as they move, the leading edge of the article runs through them. Each clamping device has a sensor which detects the side edge of the article and on such detection the clamping device is locked on to the article to hold it firmly. When both devices are locked the article is released and thus fed on to a feeding conveyor.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns apparatus for stacking folded laundry. A pair of clamping jaws is supported for swinging about a swinging axis. A first pneumatic cylinder is connected through a first rack with a first pinion connected with the first clamping jaw. A second pneumatic cylinder is connected through a second rack with a second pinion connected with the other clamping jaw. The first pneumatic cylinder is stronger than the second pneumatic cylinder, whereby when both pneumatic cylinders are operated, the first pneumatic cylinder swings the clamping jaws together around the swinging axis to deliver laundry to a stacking table and the second pneumatic cylinder acts in opposition to the first pneumatic cylinder to cause the clamping jaws to clamp together.

Abstract: A laundry folding machine for imparting initial folds to an article is disclosed. The article is fed from a first conveyor to a second conveyor across a fold gap which is bridged at this time. The second conveyor pauses and then reverses, a suspended loop being thus formed in the article beneath the fold gap. Finally, the hanging article is tucked into a fold mechanism at the quarter and three-quarter position, thereby folding the article into quarters.

Abstract: A loading station located at one side of a feeding conveyor, into which the corners of a sheet can be loaded. The station comprises two movable clamping devices supported on a track which runs across the rear of the feeding conveyor. Each clamping device is driven by an independent transmission system, the two transmission systems are connected to a selfcentering interlock mechanism. The centering mechanism is arranged to permit independent movement of the two clamping mechanisms, whereby they can move from the side position into a position in front of the feeding conveyor. The centering mechanism will then automatically control the tensioning and positioning of the leading edge of the sheet which is held by the clamping devices irrespective of the width of the sheet.This will result in the center of the sheet being positioned in line with the required feeding center of the feed conveyor.