Method and apparatus for the automatic loading of an article onto a printing machine

An automatic textile loader for a printing machine comprising:

• a first support structure having a surface including a first area and a second area, and adapted to support at least one textile thereon, wherein the first area comprises a primary textile positioning mechanism;
• and
• a second support structure, proximate the second area of the first support structure, having a textile lifting mechanism comprised of at least one pick and place device and a textile transfer mechanism that transports the textile to a working surface;
• wherein the first support structure, the textile lifting mechanism and the textile transfer mechanism cooperatively operate to repeatably align the textile on the working surface for further processing, and wherein the primary indexing mechanism comprises a compact table having a downwardly angled surface along each of two opposing edges.

An automatic textile loader comprising:

• a textile conveying table having a first end, a second end, and means for moving a textile from an area proximate the first end to an area proximate the second end, the first end comprising a primary textile positioning mechanism and a secondary textile positioning mechanism wherein the secondary textile positioning mechanism comprises at least one laser to position the approximate centerline of the textile;
• a lifting mechanism, comprised of at least one pick and place mechanism, for moving the textile from the area proximate the second end to an elevated position;
• and
• a transfer mechanism for moving the textile from the elevated position to a working surface;
• wherein the first support structure, the textile lifting mechanism and the textile transfer mechanism cooperatively operate to repeatably align the textile on the working surface for further processing.