Feed assist apparatus for a flexible sheet material spreader

A feed assist apparatus for a flexible sheet material spreader, comprising:

• a first arm attached at a first end to one side of the material spreader;
• a second arm attached at a first end to another side of the material spreader;
• and
• a material retainer having a means of retaining flexible material, attached at a second end of each of the first and second arms, the material retainer having a pre-load position for feeding flexible sheet material there-through and a load position for retaining flexible sheet material;
• wherein the first arm and the second arm have a means for moving together from a first position adjacent a flexible material supply and a second position adjacent entry to the material spreader;
• and
• wherein the material retainer is in the load position when the moveable arms are in the first position, and the material retainer is in the pre-load position when the moveable arms are in the second position.

A feed assist apparatus for a flexible sheet material spreader, comprising:

• a first arm attached at a first end to a first side of a pivot point of the material spreader;
• a second arm attached at a first end to a second side of the material spreader;
• and
• a material retainer attached at a second end of each of the first and second arms, the material retainer comprising guide plates, a pinch roller, and a stationary roller;
• and
• the guide plates having elongated slots with long and short ends;
• wherein the material retainers have a first configuration for feeding flexible sheet material there-through and a second configuration for retaining flexible sheet material;
• wherein the first arm and the second arm are moveable together from a first position adjacent a flexible material supply and a second position adjacent entry to the material spreader;
• wherein the material retainers are in the second configuration when the moveable arms are in the first position, and the guide plates are in the first configuration when the moveable arms are in the second position.