Abstract: The belt is of those which have a flat configuration and is closed by means of staples (6) or similar. Said belt comprises a mesh fabric (1), with warp (12) and weft (11), in which a plurality of holes (2) of size and determined density are defined, said fabric (1) being covered and thermofixed by a coating (3) of nonslip and temperature-resistant material. The weft (11) has some reinforced areas (4) alternating with some clearer areas (5), in which the weft (11) has a lower concentration of threads or fibres and, jointly with the warp (12), it defines the holes (2). The invention includes a method of manufacturing said belt (1).

Abstract: A separated article of laundry is dragged over a plurality of wheels or belts. The wheels or belts adjust the amount of overhang on each side, making an edge of the article more horizontal. A clamp clamps the edge and drags the article of laundry from the wheels or belts. Resistance, such as by a pinch arm, may assist in untangling the article of laundry as the article is dragged. Sensors adjacent the belts or wheels measure a size of the article of laundry. A folder adjusts based on the size. For example, the types of folds to be made, the placement of runners for folding, or the output sorting are adjusted. The folder may operate more efficiently by providing time for the folder to adjust to the size of the article of laundry prior to feeding from the spreader.

Abstract: An article is selected and spread from a load of articles. A first clamp moves along a run to remove an article. By changing orientation of the run, articles may be removed from different locations. A second clamp rotates while holding the article. The rotation generally flattens out the article. A third clamp grabs a portion of the article and further spreads the article. This process may detangle or untwist the article. The untwisted article is dragged over a belt. The belt adjusts the amount of overhang on each side. A plate lifts a resulting edge. The article is clamped at that edge and dragged over a roller. The roller moves into contact with a conveyor. The conveyor conveys the article to find a leading edge. The article is then conveyed in a spread position.

Abstract: The belt is of those which have a flat configuration and is closed by means of staples (6) or similar. Said belt comprises a mesh fabric (1), with warp (12) and weft (11), in which a plurality of holes (2) of size and determined density are defined, said fabric (1) being covered and thermofixed by a coating (3) of nonslip and temperature-resistant material. The weft (11) has some reinforced areas (4) alternating with some clearer areas (5), in which the weft (11) has a lower concentration of threads or fibres and, jointly with the warp (12), it defines the holes (2). The invention includes a method of manufacturing said belt (1).

Abstract: In an ironing machine with a rotary ironing cylinder (14) comprising heating means (42) housed in an intermediary space (40) between the cylinder (14) and a fixed internal tube (34), air circulation is ensured inside the cylinder. Two ventilators (62, 68) take the air from regions at the ends of the space (40) via aspiration apertures (46, 48) and deliver it to a central area of the space via expressing apertures (50, 52).

Abstract: A feeding aid for assisting in the feeding of laundry flatwork to laundry processing equipment such as an ironer. The air comprises spaced clamping stations including at least one pivotally mounted clamping wheel which is actuated into a lowered clamping position when a leading edge of a piece of flatwork such as a sheet is sensed beneath an associated laundry sensing device such as a photosensor. After one corner is clamped in place, the sheet leading edge is drawn taut and the opposite sheet corner portion is placed beneath the clamping wheel in a second clamping station. The clamping action of the two stations prevents the weight of the sheet depending from the feed conveyor from causing the sheet to fall by gravity from the conveyor. After a short time delay following clamping by a second clamping wheel, the feed conveyor on which a sheet or the like is clamped is actuated to feed the sheet into engagement with an ironing cylinder or the like.

Abstract: An ironer folder is provided in which an ironed flatwork item such as a sheet is folded into quarter panels along its length by a pivoting arm. The folded sheet is placed on a sequence of conveyors which carry the folded flatwork into engagement with a series of three cross-folding stations whereby the flatwork may be cross-folded three times and discharged from the apparatus. The longitudinal and lateral free edges of the folded flatwork are interiorly disposed in the discharged folded item so as to present an attractive folded appearance having a periphery defined by continuous bight portions.

Abstract: A device for taking trousers off a double-leg ironing machine having an ironing board receiving the trouser legs in spread position, a gripper mounted for motion along the ironing board including two clamping plates arranged in the transverse direction of the ironing board at least one of which is mounted for vertical motion and can be lowered to the surface of the ironing board. The gripper grips, raises and transports one trouser leg along the longitudinal axis of the board and releases it at the end of the other trouser leg. This positions the ends of the trouser legs together so that they can be gripped manually or mechanically and held by a clamping hanger for further transport. A transport system is provided.

Abstract: A fluid-operated stabilizing apparatus receives an article having loose, wrinkled overlapping surfaces and by use of fluid flow control devices directs flows of fluid to the overlapping surfaces to fluidly shake the surfaces to smooth out wrinkles and any folded portions thereof, and then to align and hold the surfaces for subsequent treatment, such as bonding together. A method is also provided for smoothing and aligning the overlapping surfaces for subsequent treatment.

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 spreader feeder apparatus for laundry flatwork pieces, such as bed sheets. The apparatus has a hanger for releasably gripping the opposite top corners of the flatwork piece and carrying the suspended flatwork piece away from the entry side of the apparatus and toward its exit side. The opposite side edges of the suspended flatwork piece are engaged by upper and lower sets of spreader belts, which spread it laterally in opposite directions. The upper sets of spreader belts release the flatwork piece after it has been spread, and pusher mechanisms push it onto a horizontal conveyor, which carries it toward the exit side of the apparatus.

Abstract: Laundry ironing apparatus comprises sequential ironing rolls each associated with an ironing bed. A first conveyer feeds fresh laundry to the inlet zone of the first ironing roll and a scraper removes the pressed laundry from the periphery of the first roll at the outlet zone of such first roll onto a second conveyer which withdraws the pressed laundry from the outlet zone of the first ironing and feeds it into the inlet of the second roll which is located adjacent to the outlet zone of the first roll. The second conveyer withdraws and feeds in first and second stages, the first of which overlies the second roll and the second of which extends back under the first stage to the inlet zone of the second roll. The combined lengths of the first and second stages are such that pressed laundry is completely withdrawn from the first roll before it is fed to the second roll.

Abstract: A tunnel finisher includes pneumatic rollers for defining an entrance and an exit for a pneumatic treatment chamber. The tunnel finisher is designed to facilitate the replacement of the envelope of pneumatic rollers.The shaft of the pneumatic roller consists of an upper section fixedly mounted in the tunnel finisher housing, and a one-piece lower section carrying roller-supporting discs, with its upper end releasably coupled to the upper section, and its lower end tiltably supported on a tilt bearing.The pneumatic rollers may thus be dismounted for simple and rapid replacement of the roller envelope, so that down-times of the tunnel finisher may be considerably reduced.

Abstract: A machine for inserting and taking up long and flat textile pieces into and from a drying and ironing machine comprises an oscillating outfit provided with a longitudinal beam, a slide fixed to this beam, two rolling pieces rolling in opposite directions and maintained in the slide, and two movable and symmetrically shaped carriages. Each of these carriages comprises a U-shaped rigid frame with opposed cheeks. One carriage bears a gripper for the prehension of the textile piece, and one of the two carriages is provided with an operating handle which bears a block which comes into friction contact against the edge of the longitudinal beam in order to maintain the front edge of the textile piece longitudinally tensioned.

Abstract: A transfer device for depositing flatwork on a continuously movable flat feed belt having a collector rod mounted to reciprocate in a substantially horizontal path to engage a surface of a vertically hung flatwork. An unrolling rod is mounted in association with the collector rod to move in an orbital path about the collector rod. Collector rod and unrolling rod are arranged to operate cyclically in a first collecting stage in which on engagement of the collector rod with the surface of the flatwork an edge of the flatwork is laid over the collecting rod and carried thereon and a second unrolling stage in which the unrolling rod passes about the collecting rod to engage the rear surface of the flatwork and in cooperation with the collecting rod lays the flatwork in stretched condition on the feed belt.

Abstract: An improved fusing machine is disclosed. Improved conveyor apparatus, conveyor belt guide apparatus, conveyor belt cleaning apparatus and oven apparatus are additionally disclosed, one or more of which can be utilized in a fusing machine. The preferred fusing machine is a return-to-operator machine in which feed and discharge conveyors for the oven are superposed, at least the upper conveyor preferably being transparent. The disclosed conveyor apparatus includes direction reversing apparatus, apparatus for adjusting the length of a conveyor and conveyor apparatus in which articles are resiliently engaged between and transported by opposed conveyor belt surfaces. A disclosed oven apparatus comprises resilient heating apparatus.

Abstract: A smoothing and drying apparatus comprising at least one mangle cylinder and corresponding trough. Laundry to be smoothed and dried is passed between the mangle cylinder and trough by a guiding belt which is recycled at least one shifting roller placed above the mangle cylinder and trough. Each mangle cylinder has a covering which is wound or unwound around the mangle cylinder by a device situated above the mangle cylinder and below the portions of the guiding belt passing around the shifting roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for spreading laundry flatwork pieces, such as bed sheets, before feeding them to subsequent processing equipment, such as an ironer and a folder. The flatwork pieces are spread apart by pairs of clamps, there normally being one pair of clamps at the left end, another pair of clamps at the right end, and a third pair of clamps at the center of the apparatus. The spread-out flatwork pieces are blown onto a conveyor for conveying them to the subsequent processing apparatus. Trailing edge sensors are positioned at different levels below the clamps to sense the upward passage of the bottom edge of the laundry flat piece deposited on the conveyor, and a selector switch enables one of the sensors and disables the other, depending upon the speed at which the conveyor is being operated. Proximity switches sense the positions of the clamps. There is an overlying conveyor cooperating with the main conveyor for sandwiching the laundry flat piece as it is moved into the apparatus for stretching purposes.

Abstract: A multi-station laundry feeder including supply apparatus for a plurality of article conveyors, multiple stations at each conveyor, and an article transporting conveyor utilizable by the multiple stations for transversely placing articles on the transporting conveyor. The operators remove individual articles from the supply conveyor, drape them across the transporting conveyor, touching an adjustable bar which is positioned to automatically appropriately align the articles, and release them.

Abstract: An ironing installation possessing an ironing machine having two hollow rolls and four heating elements which can be heated by water vapor. During operation water vapor and hot air are sucked into the rolls through holes at the roll shells or jackets. This water vapor-air mixture is expelled to the surroundings through a heat exchanger. Ambient air is sucked into an air infeed line or conduit and infed through the heat exchanger into the internal compartment of a casing which at least partially encloses the rolls and heating elements. Between the aforementioned heat exchanger and an outlet opening or mouth of the air infeed line there is arranged a passage of a second heat exchanger in the air infeed line. A further passage of this second heat exchanger is connected with outlets of the four heating elements.

Abstract: An ironing machine having two rolls whose axes extend essentially horizontally and are disposed in a common, substantially vertical plane. The rolls can be rotated in opposite rotational directions by means of a drive device. For each roll there are provided two heating elements arranged at different sides of the aforementioned plane. The heating elements have heating surfaces of arcuate cross-sectional configuration. These heating surfaces heating the textile pieces during operation of the ironing machine and pressing such against the rolls. Transport bands or belts serve to guide and transport the textile pieces in such a manner that initially they travel about one and thereafter about the other roll and, thus, follow a predetermined transport path substantially in the form of a figure eight through the ironing machine.

Abstract: An attachment for sewing machines for folding and pressing seam plies for sleeves, trousers and the like having a pair of endless belts or tapes between which the cloth being sewn is carried. After the seam has been sewn, the cloth is carried forwardly into the path of a V-shaped seam opening member which causes the seam plies to be separated, be positioned at right angle to the cloth and lie on either side of the seam in a common plane. Upon being carried further forwardly, the seam plies engages a seam folding member which guides and folds over the seam plies from their right angle position to a flattened position against the cloth whereby the seam plies lie in substantially the same plane as the two layers of cloth after which the heated rollers and a hot air blower presses the four layers of cloth in superimposed contact relation.