Hosiery item spreading unit with pneumatic feed, usable with pneumatic hosiery item convenience systems equipped with a centralized suction

A hosiery item spreading unit with pneumatic feed, usable with pneumatic hosiery item conveyance systems equipped with a centralized suction, comprising:

• a structure forming an elongated spreading chamber, said chamber being arranged with a longitudinal axis thereof being substantially horizontal;
• a first opening provided at a first longitudinal end of the chamber;
• a duct for feeding a hosiery item to be spread, said duct being connected to said first opening;
• a second opening provided at a second longitudinal end of said chamber;
• a suction duct connected to said second opening;
• and suction means connected to said suction duct;
• a door which can be opened on command to remove the spread hosiery item, said door closing said spreading chamber in a downward region thereof;
• gripping means for gripping a longitudinal end of the hosiery item being contained in said spreading chamber, said gripping means being spaced from said first opening towards said second opening;
• an auxiliary duct connecting said hosiery item feed duct to said suction duct;
• and valve means being actuatable on command selectively into a first operating position, wherein the valve means close said auxiliary duct, connecting said suction duct to said feed duct through said spreading chamber for conveying a hosiery item to be spread into the spreading chamber, into a second operating position, wherein the valve means connect said suction duct to said feed duct through said auxiliary duct and connect said second opening with outside environment to reverse suction stream through said spreading chamber with respect to suction stream determined by said first operating position and into a third operating position, wherein the valve means disconnect said spreading chamber from said suction duct.