Laundry feeding apparatus

Abstract

A loading station located at one side of a feeding conveyor, into which the corners of a sheet can be loaded. The station comprises two movable clamping devices supported on a track which runs across the rear of the feeding conveyor. Each clamping device is driven by an independent transmission system, the two transmission systems are connected to a selfcentering interlock mechanism. The centering mechanism is arranged to permit independent movement of the two clamping mechanisms, whereby they can move from the side position into a position in front of the feeding conveyor. The centering mechanism will then automatically control the tensioning and positioning of the leading edge of the sheet which is held by the clamping devices irrespective of the width of the sheet. This will result in the center of the sheet being positioned in line with the required feeding center of the feed conveyor.

What is claimed is: .[.1. Apparatus for spreading and feeding pieces of laundry, comprising: 
     
        devices move said clamping devices together and apart..]. .[.3.  Apparatus for spreading and feeding laundry of claim 2, wherein each said transmission comprises:.]..Iadd.Apparatus for spreading and feeding pieces of laundry, comprising: a conveyor for receiving laundry from a spreading apparatus;   said conveyor having an upstream and a downstream end;   a spreading apparatus comprising at least one pair of clamping devices; each said clamping device including means for holding a piece of laundry; said clamping devices being positioned upstream of said upstream end of said conveyor and above said conveyor; clamping device moving means for moving said clamping devices of said pair thereof apart and together crosswise to the motion of said conveyor and always upstream of said conveyor; said clamping device moving means comprising a separate transmission for each said clamping device; the two said transmissions for said pair of clamping devices moving said clamping devices together and apart, each said transmission comprising: .Iaddend.   a first group of stationary pulleys; a second group of movable pulleys; a sliding bar; said second group of pulleys being mounted on said sliding bar; each said sliding bar of each said transmission of said pair of clamping devices being .[.slidable.]. .Iadd.movable .Iaddend.toward and away from said sliding bar of said transmission of the other said clamping device of said pair; means for .[.sliding.]. .Iadd.causing .Iaddend.said sliding bars to move toward each other and apart;   each said transmission further comprising a cable loop passing around both said first and said second pulley groups of said transmission and also being attached to the respective said clamping device, whereby said sliding bar and said clamping device .[.moves.]. .Iadd.move .Iaddend.together.Iadd.; and   a blade positioned further upstream from said conveyor than said clamping devices and positioned above said conveyor; said blade being movable toward said conveyor to contact the piece of laundry held by said clamping   
     
     
        devices and to move the piece of laundry onto said conveyor .Iaddend.. 4. Apparatus for spreading and feeding laundry of claim 3, wherein said means for sliding said sliding bars comprises: .[.a.]. respective pneumatic .[.cylinder attached to each said clamping device.]. .Iadd.cylinders .Iaddend.for moving the said clamping devices and for causing the respective said sliding bar which is attached to each said clamping device to move toward the other said sliding bar of the   
     
     
        other said clamping device of said pair. 5. Apparatus for spreading and feeding laundry of claim 4, wherein one said cable loop of the pair of said transmission cable loops of said pair of clamping devices includes a crossing in the pathway of the one said cable loop for causing motion of both said clamping devices of said pair thereof in the same direction when 
     
     
        their said sliding bars are moving toward each other. 6. Apparatus for spreading and feeding laundry of claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.3.Iaddend., further comprising a plurality of said pairs of clamping devices; each said pair 
     
     
        of clamping devices having respective said moving means. 7. Apparatus for spreading and feeding laundry of claim 6, wherein all of said clamping device moving means further comprise two straight parallel tracks extending crosswise of and being positioned above and upstream of said conveyor; each said track supporting at least one said clamping device 
     
     
        pair. 8. Apparatus for spreading and feeding laundry of claim 7, wherein each said track has respective opposite end portions; each said track supports two said pairs of clamping devices; each said pair of clamping devices being positioned to start moving from a respective said end 
     
     
        portion of its said track. 9. Apparatus for spreading and feeding laundry of claim 7, wherein said blade comprises two separate blade parts extending toward each other; a respective pivot arm supporting each said blade part; a respective upright support for each said pivot arm and each said pivot arm being pivotally supported to pivot about its said upright support; each said blade part being pivotable by its said pivot arm to 
     
     
        move through an arc toward and over said conveyor. 10. Apparatus for spreading and feeding laundry of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.3.Iaddend., wherein said blade comprises two separate blade parts extending toward each other. A respective pivot arm supporting each said blade part; a respective upright support for each said pivot arm and each said pivot arm being pivotally supported to pivot about its said upright support; each said blade part being pivotable by its said pivot arm to move through an arc toward and over said conveyor. .Iadd. 11. In a laundry handling system including a conveyor for receiving laundry from an upstream end thereof; the improvement in apparatus for first spreading and then applying a piece of laundry in a spread-out condition upon the upstream end of said conveyor, said apparatus comprising: at least first and second pairs of laundry retaining means for spreading laundry pieces, each pair of such means being mounted on a pair of carriages movable on stationary track means in a path laterally across the upstream end of said conveyor, said pairs of carriages being initially positioned in contiguous relation at respective laterally spaced laundry receiving stations, each of said pair of laundry retaining means being adapted releasably to receive the opposite corner portions of a piece of laundry like a sheet or the like when the retaining devices are contiguous to one another at the associated receiving station; moving means associated with each pair of carriages for moving the carriages on said track means laterally apart to spread the laundry piece opposite and above the upstream end of said conveyor; and pushing means for applying a force to the side of a spread apart piece of laundry facing away from the conveyor when the pair of carriages involved have reached spaced points where the laundry piece is completely spread apart for pushing said spread apart laundry piece upon the upstream end of said conveyor as the pair of retaining means involved release the spread apart laundry piece, said means for pushing said spread apart laundry upon said conveyor being the sole means for initially moving the spread apart laundry piece upon said conveyor; and each of said moving means returning the pair of spaced apart carriages involved to contiguous positions opposite a receiving station when the laundry piece involved is released therefrom. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 12. The laundry handling system of claim 11 wherein said laundry receiving stations of said first and second pairs of laundry retaining means are spaced substantially on opposite sides of the center point of the upstream end of said conveyor, each of said moving means first moving the associated pair of carriages from its receiving station together to the approximate center point of the upstream end of said conveyor, and the moving one of the carriages past said center point to the opposite side of the conveyor while reversing the direction of movement of the associated carriage, so that the laundry piece is spread apart in a centered position opposite the upstream end of said conveyor, each of said moving means after release of said laundry piece from the associated pair of laundry retaining means returning the associated pair of carriages to the laundry receiving station from which it was originally moved. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 13. The laundry handling system of claim 12 wherein said laundry receiving stations for said pairs of carriages are located beyond the side margins of said conveyor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. The laundry handling system of claim 13 wherein there is provided a third and fourth pair of laundry retaining means and associated carriages and moving means like said first and second pair of laundry retaining means and the associated carriages and moving means, the carriages of said third and fourth pair of laundry retaining means being respectively initially positioned in confronting relation to the carriages of said first and second pair of laundry retaining means, to provide four separate laundry receiving stations beyond the side margins of said conveyor. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 15. The laundry handling system of claim 11, 12, 13 or 14 wherein each of said laundry receiving stations is adapted to have an operator stationed thereat who manually attaches the corner portions of a laundry piece to the pair of laundry retaining means thereat. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. The laundry handling system of claim 11, 12, 13 or 14 wherein said pushing means are a pair of confronting horizontally extending members initially extending parallel to and across the upstream end of said conveyor where the pushing members are also located behind and extend generally parallel to the face of a spread apart piece of laundry facing away from the upstream end of the conveyor, said pair of pushing members being mounted for pivotal movement about pivot axes adjacent the opposite sides of the upstream end of the conveyor so that the pushing members can be pivoted forwardly against the face of said spread apart laundry piece facing away from the upstream end of the conveyor to push the same upon the conveyor. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 17. The laundry handling system of claim 11, 12, 13 or 14 wherein said moving means associated with each pair of carriages includes a separate transmission for each carriage comprising stationary pulley means, movable pulley means secured to a common member, a flexible motion transmitting means extending between the stationary and movable pulley means of each transmission and secured to the associated carriage so that a given degree of movement imparted to the associated common member will be multipled manyfold at the point where the associated flexible motion transmitting means is connected to the associated carriage, and a selectively operable control device associated with each carriage and associated transmission and having a first condition where the associated carriage is located at the associated laundry receiving station and a second condition where the associated carriage could be moved past and beyond the center of the upstream end of said conveyor, and control means movable by the common member of one of the transmissions for reversing the condition of the control device associated with the other transmission and the direction of movement of the common member associated with the other transmission when the associated carriage has reached the center portion of said upstream end of said conveyor, to effect the immediate reversal of direction of movement of the carriage associated with the other transmission. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 18. For use with a conveyor for receiving laundry from an upstream end thereof; the improvement in apparatus for first spreading and then applying a piece of laundry in a spread-out condition upon the upstream end of said conveyor, said apparatus comprising: at least first and second pairs of separately movable and feedable laundry retaining devices for spreading laundry pieces and respectively to be moved in paths laterally across the upstream end of said conveyor and being respectively initially positioned at laundry receiving stations spaced laterally on opposite sides of the center point of the upstream end of said conveyor, each pair of laundry retaining devices being adapted releasably to receive the opposite corner portions of a piece of laundry like a sheet or the like when the retaining devices are contiguous to one another at the associated receiving station; and moving means associated with each pair or retaining devices for first moving the associated pair of laundry retaining devices from its receiving station together to the approximate center point of the upstream end of said conveyor, and then continuing without stopping to move one of the laundry retaining devices past said center point to the opposite side of the conveyor while immediately reversing the direction of movement of the associated laundry retaining device, so that the laundry piece is spread apart in a centered position opposite the upstream end of said conveyor; and pushing means for engaging the side of a spread apart piece of laundry facing away from the conveyor when said pairs of retaining devices have reached a point where the laundry piece is completely spread apart for pushing said spread apart laundry piece upon the upstream end of said conveyor as the pair of retaining devices involved release the spread apart laundry piece, said means for pushing said spread apart laundry upon said conveyor being the sole means for initially moving the spread apart laundry piece upon said conveyor; and each moving means returning the spaced apart pair of laundry retaining devices to contiguous positions opposite its original receiving station when the laundry piece involved is released therefrom. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. The laundry handling system of claim 18 combined with said conveyor so that said laundry retaining device moves across the upstream end of said conveyor and wherein the laundry receiving stations for each pair of laundry retaining devices are located beyond the side margins of said conveyor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. The laundry handling system of claim 19 wherein there is provided two pairs of said laundry retaining devices initially located at separated laundry receiving stations beyond each side of said conveyor and in confronting relationship thereat, and separately and sequentially operable moving means for said pairs of laundry retaining devices like said moving means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. The laundry handling system of claim 18 wherein said moving means associated with each pair of laundry retaining devices includes a separate transmission for each device comprising stationary pulley means, movable pulley means secured to a common member, flexible motion transmitting means extending between the stationary and movable pulley means of each transmission and secured to the associated laundry retaining device so that a given degree of movement imparted to the associated common member will be multiplied manyfold at the point where the associated flexible motion transmitting means is connected to the associated laundry retaining device, and a selectively operable control device associated with each retaining device and associated transmission and having a first condition where the associated laundry receiving station is located at the associated laundry receiving station and a second condition where the associated laundry retaining device would be moved past and beyond the center of the upstream end of said conveyor, and control means movable by the common member of one of the transmissions for reversing the condition of the control device associated with the other transmission and the direction of movement of the common member associated with the other transmission when the associated retaining device has reached the center portion of said upstream end of said conveyor, to effect the immediate reversal of direction of movement of the retaining device associated with said other transmission. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. The laundry handling system of claim 21 wherein each of said laundry retaining devices is supported on a carriage movable along a stationary track extending along the upstream end of said conveyor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 23. The laundry handling system of claim 18 wherein said pushing means are a pair of confronting horizontal members initially extending parallel to and across the upstream end of said conveyor where the pushing members are also located behind and extend generally parallel to the face of a spread apart piece of laundry facing away from the upstream end of the conveyor, said pair of pushing members being mounted for pivotal movement about pivot axes adjacent the opposite sides of the upstream end of the conveyor so that the pushing members can be pivoted forwardly to sweep against the face of said spread apart laundry piece facing away from the upstream end of the conveyor to push the same upon the conveyor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 24. For use with a conveyor for receiving laundry from an upstream end thereof, the improvement in apparatus for first spreading and then applying a piece of laundry in a spread-out condition upon the upstream end of said conveyor, said apparatus comprising: at least one pair of laundry retaining devices for spreading laundry pieces and respectively to be moved in a path laterally across the upstream end of said conveyor and being respectively movably positioned at a laundry receiving station spaced laterally from the center point of the upstream end of said conveyor, each pair of laundry retaining devices being adapted releasably to receive the opposite corner portions of a piece of laundry like a sheet or the like when the retaining devices are contiguous to one another at the associated receiving station; and moving means associated with each pair of retaining devices for first moving the associated pair of laundry retaining devices from its receiving station together to the approximate center point of the upstream end of said conveyor, and then continuing without stopping to move one of the laundry retaining devices past said center point to the opposite side of the conveyor while immediately reversing the direction of movement of the associated laundry retaining device, so that the laundry piece is spread apart in a centered position opposite the upstream end of said conveyor, said moving means associated with each pair of laundry retaining devices including a separate transmission for each device comprising stationary pulley means, movable pulley measn secured to a common member, flexible motion transmitting means extending between the stationary and movable pulley means of each transmission and secured to the associated laundry retaining means so that a given degree of movement imparted to the associated common member will be multiplied manyfold at the point where the associated flexible motion transmitting means is connected to the associated laundry retaining device, and a selectively operable control device associated with each retaining device and associated transmission and having a first condition where the associated laundry retaining device is located at the associated laundry receiving station and a second condition where the associated laundry retaining device is moved past and beyond the center of the upstream end of said conveyor, and control means movable by the common member of one of the transmissions for reversing the condition of the control device associated with the other transmission and the direction of movement of the common member of the transmission associated with said other control device when the associated retaining device has reached the center portion of said upstream end of said conveyor, to effect the immediate reversal of direction of movement of the retaining device associated with said other control device. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 25. In an apparatus having a conveyor for receiving laundry flat pieces, said apparatus including at least first and second pairs of clamps for releasably gripping respective laundry flat pieces at adjacent corners along a top edge thereof, the improvement wherein said first pair of clamps are initially positioned closed to each other at a first loading station near one end of the apparatus at one side of the centerline of the conveyor for the insertion of said corners of a first laundry flat piece into said first pair of clamps by an operator stationed there, and there is provided moving means for moving said first pair of clamps simultaneously from said first loading station laterally in one direction to positions close to each other midway across the apparatus while continuing to grip said adjacent corners of the second laundry flat piece, for thereafter spreading said first pair of clamps apart laterally in opposite directions away from the centerline of the conveyor while said second pair of clamps continue to grip the adjacent corners of a second laundry flat piece, whereby to return one clamp of the first pair toward said first loading station while moving the other clamp of the first pair farther away from said first loading station until the laundry piece is fully spread apart, and thereafter for returning said other clamp of the first pair to said first loading station close to said one clamp of the first pair; said second pair of clamps being initially positioned close to each other at a second loading station near the opposite end of the apparatus at the opposite side of the centerline of the conveyor for the insertion of said corners of the second laundry flat piece into said second pair of clamps by a second operator stationed there, and moving means for moving said second pair of clamps simultaneously from said second loading station laterally in the opposite direction to positions close to each other midway across the apparatus while continuing to grip said adjacent corners of a second laundry flat piece, for thereafter spreading said second pair of clamps apart laterally in opposite directions away from the centerline of the conveyor while said second pair of clamps continue to grip said adjacent corners of the second laundry piece, whereby to return one clamp of said second pair toward said second loading station while moving the other clamp of said second pair farther away from said second loading station until the laundry piece is fully spread apart, and thereafter for returning said other clamp of said second pair to said second loading station close to said one clamp of said second pair. .Iaddend..Iadd. 26. An apparatus according to claim 25 wherein each of said moving means include separate flexible means operatively coupled respectively to each clamp to position the same individually; and said flexible means extending transversely across said conveyor and being offset from each other longitudinally of the conveyor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 27. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein each flexible means is operatively coupled individually to a corresponding reversible drive unit to have its operation controlled thereby. .Iaddend.