Abstract: This apparatus is for spreading laundry flatwork pieces, such as bed sheets, before feeding them to subsequent processing equipment, such as an ironer and a folder. Separate pairs of flatwork clamps are normally located respectively at the left end, middle and right end of the apparatus. The left end and right end clamps are movable straight across the entry side of the apparatus to the middle before being spread apart. The paired clamps operate to spread their respective flatwork pieces in the order in which their respective start switches are operated manually. Interference among the paired clamps or between the clamps of each pair is prevented. No intermediate flatwork transfer operation is required between the insertion of a flatwork piece into a pair of clamps and the spreading of that flatwork piece.