Spreader feeder apparatus

In an apparatus having:

• a conveyor for receiving laundry flat pieces;
• clamps at the entry side of the apparatus for releasably gripping a laundry flat piece at adjacent corners along a top edge thereof;
• means for moving the clamps apart laterally to spread the laundry flat piece along its top edge;
• means for actuating said clamps to release the laundry flat piece onto the conveyor after it has been spread apart along its top edge;
• and two pairs of endless, flexible, motor-driven spreader belts respectively extending in opposite directions laterally outward from the longitudinal centerline of the conveyor below said clamps at the entry side of the apparatus, the belts of each pair running contiguous to each other laterally outward for spreading a laundry flat piece engaged between them;
• the improvement wherein at least one belt of each pair has outwardly projecting bristles for engaging the laundry flat piece wherein both belts of each pair have outwardly projecting bristles for engaging the laundry flat piece and further comprising a respective safety switch means operatively associated with each pair of spreader belts to detect the presence between them of an object substantially thicker than a laundry flat piece, and means for stopping the spreader belts in response to the actuation of either of said safety switch means.

In an apparatus having:

• a conveyor for receiving laundry flat pieces;
• clamps at the entry side of the apparatus for releasably gripping a laundry flat piece at adjacent corners along a top edge thereof;
• means for moving the clamps apart laterally to spread the laundry flat piece along its top edge;
• means for actuating said clamps to release the laundry flat piece onto the conveyor after it has been spread apart along its top edge;
• and two pairs of endless flexible spreader belts located respectively on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the conveyor below said clamps, and drive means for moving the belts of each pair contiguous to each other laterally outward from said centerline for spreading a laundry flat piece engaged between them;
• the improvement which comprises:
• a respective safety switch means operatively associated with each pair of spreader belts for detecting the insertion between them of part of a person's hand;
• and means for stopping the spreader belts in response to the actuation of either of said safety switch means each safety switch means being located near the laterally inward end of the respective pair of spreader belts.

In an apparatus having:

• a conveyor for receiving laundry flat pieces;
• and means at the entry side of the apparatus for suspending a laundry flat piece from a top edge thereof and for laterally spreading the suspended laundry flat piece before depositing it on the conveyor;
• the improvement which comprises:
• variable speed drive means for said conveyor:
• a pair of trailing edge sensors positioned at different levels below said suspending and spreading means, each of said sensors being operative to sense the upward passage of the bottom edge of the laundry flat piece deposited on the conveyor;
• and selector switch means operatively connected to said sensors to enable one of said sensors and disable the other, depending upon the speed at which the conveyor is being driven by said drive means.

In an apparatus having:

• a conveyor for receiving laundry flat pieces;
• clamps at the entry side of the apparatus for releasably gripping a laundry flat piece at adjacent corners along a top edge thereof;
• means for moving the clamps apart laterally to spread the laundry flat piece along its top edge;
• means for actuating said clamps to release the laundry flat piece onto the conveyor after it has been spread apart along its top edge;
• and spreader means below said clamps at the entry side of the conveyor for engaging and spreading laterally the laundry flat piece below its top edge;
• the improvement which comprises:
• variable speed drive means for said conveyor;
• a pair of trailing edge sensors positioned at different levels below said clamps, with each of said sensors being operative to sense the upward passage of the bottom edge of the laundry flat piece deposited on the conveyor;
• and selector switch means operatively connected to said sensors to enable one of said sensors and disable the other, depending upon the speed at which the conveyor is being driven by said drive means.

In an apparatus having;

• a conveyor for receiving flat pieces;
• clamps at the entry side of the apparatus for releasable gripping a flat piece at adjacent corners along a top edge thereof;
• means for moving the clamps apart laterally to spread the laundry flat piece along its top edge;
• and actuating means for actuating said clamps to release the flat piece onto the conveyor after it has been spread apart along its top edge;
• the improvement wherein;
• said actuating means includes means to selectively apply high and low pressure to said clamp so that when said clamps are stationary at rest positions low pressure is applied thereto, and when said clamps are moved by said moving means high pressure is applied thereto.