Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus is provided for loading, transferring, and spreading a sheet of laundry onto a conveyor. One aspect of the invention is to provide a clamp which has a pivot arm adapted to releasably grip a top corner portion of the sheet. The pivot arm is movable between a forwardly extending first position in which the corner portion of the sheet is gripped and a second position closer to the conveyor than the first position. A spreader mechanism spreads apart the top corner portion of the sheet and an opposite top corner portion of the sheet. Another aspect of the invention is to provide a pair of such clamps each having a pivot arm adapted to releasably grip a corresponding top corner portion of the sheet. The clamps are moved laterally apart to spread the sheet and returned to the receiving position after the pivot arms release the sheet. Yet another aspect of the invention is to fix one of the clamps to a first leg of an elongated endless member and to fix the other clamp to a second leg of the endless member. An inverter motor moves the endless member in one direction to spread the clamps apart and in an opposite direction to move the clamps toward each other. Another aspect of the invention is to provide a hanger which is moved between a transfer position where the clamps pick up the sheet and an input position lower than the transfer position.

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First Claim