Patent Abstract:
Laundry articles ( 20 ) are spread out by means of what are known as input machines in front of a feed conveyor ( 27 ) which feeds the spread-out laundry article ( 20 ) to a mangle. The respective laundry article ( 20 ) is previously fed by a transfer device ( 23 ) to a draw-on device ( 24 ) onto which the laundry article ( 20 ) is drawn. In known input machines of this type, relatively complicated transfer devices ( 23 ) are provided. According to the invention, the transfer device ( 23 ) is provided with a rectilinear conveying section ascending to the draw-on device ( 24 ). The laundry article ( 20 ) is thereby transported to the draw-on device ( 24 ) by the transfer device ( 23 ) in the plane in which it is transferred to the transfer device ( 23 ). Such a transfer device ( 23 ) needs to have only a simple set-up. Since the laundry article ( 20 ) remains in the plane in which it is fed to the transfer device ( 23 ), it can be brought by the transfer device ( 23 ) into a favourable initial position for being drawn reliably onto the draw-on device ( 24 ).

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a method for feeding a laundry article to a mangle or the like, the laundry article being transferred from at least one transfer device to a draw-on device, being drawn over the draw-on device and, preferably spread out by spreading pegs, being deposited onto a feed conveyor which inputs the spread-out laundry article into the mangle or the like, Method for feeding a laundry article ( 20 ) to a mangle or the like; or the laundry article being drawn over a draw-on device, so that parts of the laundry article hang down on both sides from the draw-on device, the laundry article preferably being spread out by spreading pegs, and the spread-out laundry article being deposited onto a feed conveyor which feeds the laundry article in the spread-out state to the mangle or the like; or the laundry article being transported to a draw-on device by at least one transfer device and being drawn onto the draw-on device, the laundry article subsequently being spread out preferably by spreading pegs and then transferred to a feed conveyor which feeds the laundry article in the spread-out state to the mangle or the like. The invention relates, further, to a corresponding apparatus for feeding a laundry article to a mangle or the like, with at least one transfer device, with a draw-on device extending transversely with respect to the feed direction of the laundry article to the mangle or the like, if appropriate a spreading device and a feed conveyor for feeding the spread-out laundry article to the mangle or the like; or for feeding a laundry article to a mangle or the like, with at least one transfer device having a transfer peg, with a draw-on device extending transversely with respect to the feed direction of the laundry articles to the mangle or the like, if appropriate a spreading device and a feed conveyor for feeding the spread-out laundry article to the mangle or the like; or for feeding a laundry article to a mangle or the like, with at least one transfer device, with a draw-on device extending transversely with respect to the feed direction of the laundry articles to the mangle or the like, if appropriate a spreading device and a feed conveyor for feeding the spread-out laundry article to the mangle or the like. 
         [0003]    2. Prior Art 
         [0004]    Laundry articles, specifically, above all, flat laundry articles, such as bed laundry and table laundry, are fed automatically by input machines to a mangle or another laundry treatment machine. For this purpose, the respective laundry article is simply suspended manually on an input peg. The laundry article is subsequently spread out mechanically and is deposited onto a feed conveyor or a depositing strip assigned to the latter and is fed to the mangle or the like. 
         [0005]    Various types of input machines are known. The invention relates to one such input machine in which the respective laundry article is drawn onto a draw-on device transversely with respect to the feed direction, is subsequently spread out preferably by spreading pegs and is transferred, in the spread-out state, to the feed conveyor or to a lay-on strip of the latter. In these known input machines, the transfer of the respective laundry article from the input station to the draw-on device has proved to be difficult especially when a plurality of input stations are provided. Furthermore, the transfer of the respective laundry article from the draw-on device to the spreading device, in particular the spreading pegs, has often proved to be unsatisfactory in practice. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The object on which the invention is based is to provide a simple method and an apparatus for feeding laundry articles to a mangle or the like, which operate more reliably and, above all, also more quickly. 
         [0007]    A method for achieving this object is a method for feeding a laundry article to a mangle or the like, the laundry article being transferred from at least one transfer device to a draw-on device, being drawn over the draw-on device and, preferably spread out by spreading pegs, being deposited onto a feed conveyor which inputs the spread-out laundry article into the mangle or the like, characterized in that the laundry article hanging at least partially in one plane is transferred in the same plane by the respective transfer device into a transfer position to the draw-on device. Accordingly, there is provision whereby laundry articles hanging at least partially in one plane are transferred in the plane by the transfer device into a transfer position to the draw-on device. Thus, when being transported into the transfer position, the laundry article maintains the plane in which it is suspended on a peg at an input station. The laundry article does not need to be reoriented. The transfer device can thereby have a simple design, because it requires essentially only one rectilinear conveying section on which the laundry article arrives at the transfer position to the draw-on device without reorientation in the plane. 
         [0008]    The laundry article hangs down from the transfer device partially in a vertical plane. This plane is intersected, preferably perpendicularly, by the draw-on direction. The transfer device thus transports the hanging-down laundry article into the transfer position transversely with respect to the draw-on direction. 
         [0009]    A further method for independently achieving the object mentioned in the introduction, although possibly also being a preferred development of the method described above, is a method for feeding a laundry article to a mangle or the like, the laundry article being drawn over a draw-on device, so that parts of the laundry article hang down on both sides from the draw-on device, the laundry article preferably being spread out by spreading pegs, and the spread-out laundry article being deposited onto a feed conveyor which feeds the laundry article in the spread-out state to the mangle or the like, characterized in that the spacing between the parts of the laundry article which hang down from the draw-on device is increased, in particular that part of the laundry article which points towards the feed conveyor is moved in the direction towards the feed conveyor. Accordingly, there is provision whereby the spacing between the parts of the laundry article which hang down on both sides from the draw-on device is increased. Preferably, that part of the laundry article which lies adjacently to the feed conveyor is moved in the direction towards the feed conveyor, with the result that the spacing between this part of the laundry article and the feed conveyor decreases or this part may even come into contact with that part of the feed conveyor which lies at the front in the feed direction. This makes it easier to transfer the laundry article to the feed conveyor. 
         [0010]    In a preferred development of the method, part of the laundry article is moved in the direction towards the feed conveyor as a result of a rotation of a discharge conveyor or draw-on conveyor of the draw-on device. This procedure does not necessitate any appreciable additional outlay in terms of equipment. 
         [0011]    A further method for independently achieving the object mentioned in the introduction, although also possibly being a preferred development of at least one method described above, is a method for feeding a laundry article to a mangle or the like, the laundry article being transported to a draw-on device by at least one transfer device and being drawn onto the draw-on device, the laundry article subsequently being spread out preferably by spreading pegs and then transferred to a feed conveyor which feeds the laundry article in the spread-out state to the mangle or the like, characterized in that the laundry article is input manually with an edge region into an input peg of the respective transfer device, transfer of the laundry article from the input peg to a transfer peg of the respective transfer device subsequently takes place, or the laundry article is input manually with an edge region into a transfer peg, and the laundry article is transferred from the transfer peg to a draw-on peg of the draw-on device. According to this method, the laundry article is input manually with an edge region into an input peg. Everything else takes place mechanically, in that that edge region of the laundry article which hangs in the input peg is transferred automatically to a transfer peg of the transfer device, and subsequently the edge region of the laundry article is transferred automatically from the transfer peg to a draw-on peg of the draw-on device. Suspending the edge region of the laundry article manually in the input peg constituting a holding peg results in buffering, to be precise in that the operator can input the edge region of a following laundry article into the holding peg when the transfer peg of the transfer device is still occupied. Alternatively, the respective laundry article can also be input manually with an edge region into the respective transfer peg. 
         [0012]    In a development of the method, the edge region is held in a preferably vertical orientation by the input peg, while the draw-on peg takes over the edge region in a different orientation, in particular in an inclined or horizontal orientation. Such positions make the input or transfer of the edge region of the laundry article easier. 
         [0013]    In an especially advantageous refinement of the method, the edge region is held by the transfer peg in an orientation which deviates from the orientation of the edge region both in the input peg and in the draw-on peg. Preferably, the edge region is held by the transfer peg in an orientation which lies between the orientation of the edge region in the input peg and that in the draw-on peg. Thus, a partial reorientation of the edge region takes place during the take-over of the edge region from the input peg by the transfer peg. Preferably, there is provision whereby the orientation of the edge region in the transfer peg lies between the vertical orientation of the edge region in the input peg and the horizontal orientation of the edge region in the draw-on peg. 
         [0014]    An apparatus for achieving the object mentioned in the introduction is an apparatus for feeding a laundry article to a mangle or the like, with at least one transfer device, with a draw-on device extending transversely with respect to the feed direction of the laundry article to the mangle or the like, if appropriate a spreading device and a feed conveyor for feeding the spread-out laundry article to the mangle or the like, characterized in that the or each transfer device has a rectilinear conveying section which runs transversely with respect to the draw-on direction of the laundry article onto the draw-on device. This apparatus provides a transfer device having a rectilinear conveying section, the rectilinear conveying section of the transfer device running transversely with respect to the draw-on direction of the laundry article onto the draw-on device. By virtue of the rectilinear conveying section, the transfer device can have a very simple set-up. The conveying section running at right angles to the draw-on device makes it easier to transfer the laundry article onto the draw-on device. 
         [0015]    Preferably, there is provision whereby the conveying section of the respective transfer device runs upwards in the direction towards the draw-on device. The laundry article is thereby raised on the path to the draw-on device, as a result of which the laundry article hangs down freely completely or at least for the most part under the transfer peg at the latest upon reaching the transfer position to the draw-on device and the laundry article is thereby previously spread out, with the result that it can be drawn onto the draw-on device simply and reliably. 
         [0016]    A further apparatus for independently achieving the object mentioned in the introduction, although also possibly being a preferred development of the apparatus described above, is an apparatus for feeding a laundry article to a mangle or the like, with at least one transfer device having a transfer peg, with a draw-on device extending transversely with respect to the feed direction of the laundry articles to the mangle or the like, if appropriate a spreading device and a feed conveyor for feeding the spread-out laundry article to the mangle or the like, characterized in that the transfer peg of the respective transfer device is assigned an input peg. Accordingly, the respective transfer device has a transfer peg and an input peg assigned to the latter. The respective laundry article is input manually with a stretched edge region into the input peg. The input peg subsequently prepares the laundry article for the transfer peg. As a result of the input peg which precedes the transfer peg, the operator does not need to wait until the transfer peg is ready for receiving the next laundry article. The edge region extends only over a small, approximately central part of any edge or any margin of the laundry article. The operator therefore needs only to stretch this small part of a margin or edge of the laundry article in order to input the latter into the input peg. 
         [0017]    In an advantageous further refinement of the apparatus, the input peg can be moved for the transfer of the edge region of the laundry article into the transfer peg. Preferably, the edge region is moved rectilinearly by the input peg. This rectilinear movement of the laundry article or of the edge region to the transfer peg takes place, in particular, vertically, that is to say in the plane in which the laundry article can be moved by the transfer peg into a transfer position to the draw-on peg. Since the input peg is movable with respect to the transfer peg, the input operation into the input peg can be decoupled from the transfer operation onto the draw-on device. While the transfer peg is transferring the laundry article to the draw-on peg, the input peg is ready to receive an edge region of the next laundry article. 
         [0018]    A further independent solution for achieving the object mentioned in the introduction, although also possibly being a preferred development of at least one of the apparatuses described above, is an apparatus for feeding a laundry article to a mangle or the like, with at least one transfer device, with a draw-on device extending transversely with respect to the feed direction of the laundry articles to the mangle or the like, if appropriate a spreading device and a feed conveyor for feeding the spread-out laundry article to the mangle or the like, characterized in that the draw-on device has a draw-on conveyor of variable width, the conveying direction of which corresponds to the feed direction of the laundry article to the mangle or the like. In this case, the draw-on device has a discharge conveyor of variable width which may also be designated as a draw-on conveyor. The conveying direction of the discharge conveyor corresponds to the feed direction of the laundry article to the mangle or the like. By means of the discharge conveyor of variable width, the spacing between the parts of the laundry article which hang down on both sides from said discharge conveyor can be varied. Preferably, the front part, pointing in the feed direction to the feed conveyor, of the laundry article can be moved forwards in the feed direction when the width of the discharge conveyor is being increased. As a result, the front part of the laundry article can be brought simply and reliably into a transfer position on the spreading device and/or to the feed conveyor or a lay-on strip of the latter. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the apparatus is designed such that an upper strand of the discharge conveyor, onto which upper strand the laundry article can be drawn, can be widened in the direction towards the feed conveyor. As a result of the widening of the upper strand of the discharge conveyor, the parts of the laundry article which hang down on both sides from the latter are moved apart from one another. 
         [0020]    In a further preferred refinement of the apparatus, the discharge conveyor is designed as a belt conveyor with two parallel drums, at least one drum of which can be driven. The axes of rotation of the drums extend transversely with respect to the feed direction. The belt conveyor has a fixed drum and a movable drum, the movable drum being pivotable about an axis of rotation of the fixed drum. When the movable drum is pivoted about the fixed drum such that the drums lie approximately next to one another, the upper strand has the maximum width. This width can be adapted according to the requirements by means of a corresponding spacing between the axes of rotation of the drums. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below by means of the drawing in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  shows an overall perspective view of the apparatus in an initial position, 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a view II of one end face of a transfer device located in the initial position, 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the apparatus, similar to  FIG. 1 , with a laundry article taken over by a transfer peg of the transfer device, 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the apparatus, similar to  FIG. 1 , before the transfer of the laundry article from the transfer peg to a draw-on peg, 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  shows a view of the transfer device, similar to  FIG. 2 , during the transfer of the laundry article to the draw-on peg, 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the apparatus, similar to  FIG. 1 , during the transfer of the laundry article to the draw-on peg, 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  shows a view, similar to  FIG. 2 , after the transfer of the laundry article to the draw-on peg, 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the apparatus, similar to  FIG. 2 , with the laundry article drawn onto a draw-on device, 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  shows a side view (transversely to the feed direction) of the apparatus, with a laundry article drawn onto the draw-on device, according to  FIG. 8 , 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  shows a view of the apparatus, similar to  FIG. 9 , during the transfer of the laundry article to spreading pegs of a spreading device, 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  shows a view of the apparatus, similar to  FIG. 9 , after the transfer of the laundry article to the spreading pegs, 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  shows a view of the apparatus, similar to  FIG. 9 , with the laundry article partially deposited onto a feed conveyor, and 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  shows the apparatus to the direct transfer of the laundry article to the feed conveyor in a side view according to  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]    The apparatus shown here is an input machine for what is known as the single-edge input of a laundry article  20  in each case into a mangle or another laundry treatment machine. The laundry articles  20  are transported to the mangle by the apparatus in the feed direction  21  and are input in the stretched-out state into the mangle or the like. The apparatus shown here has two parallel input stations  22 . An input station  22  is arranged on each of the opposite sides of the apparatus. The input stations  22  are designed identically, but are assigned mirror-symmetrically to the opposite sides of the apparatus, specifically such that the operator stands between the input stations  22 . It is also conceivable that the apparatus has a larger number of input stations  22 , preferably four input stations  22 , or only a single input station  22 . 
         [0036]    Each input station  22  is assigned an identically designed, but mirror-symmetrically oriented transfer device  23 . The transfer devices  23  are assigned to opposite ends of a draw-on device  24  extending transversely with respect to the feed direction  21 . The draw-on device  24  is followed in the feed direction  21  by a spreading device for spreading out the laundry article  20 . The spread-out laundry article  20  is transferred with a stretched horizontal edge to a feed conveyor  27  by the spreading device  25 . In the feed conveyor  27  shown here, this transfer of the laundry article  20  takes place onto the upper strand of its conveyor belts  28 . The invention is also suitable, however, for apparatuses in which the feed conveyor  27  is assigned a lay-on strip, onto which a front edge region of the laundry article  20  is deposited by the spreading device  25 . The input strip then deposits the laundry article  20  onto the conveyor belt  28  of the feed conveyor  27 . 
         [0037]    Each of the identically designed input stations  22  has an input peg  29 , onto which the operator suspends any edge region of the laundry article  20  manually. In this edge region  30 , which extends only over part of the entire length of the respective edge, the laundry article  20  is stretched, to be precise held with a taughtened margin in the input peg  29 . For this purpose, the input peg  29  shown here is provided with two parallel individual pegs  31  which are spaced apart from one another and fix the edge region  30  at opposite ends and which thereby maintain the stretch of the edge region  30  between the individual pegs  31  of the input peg  29 . The input peg  29  is arranged at a height above the floor which is ergonomically beneficial for the operator, so that a large part of the laundry article  20  hangs vertically downwards from the input peg  29 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, a lower part of the laundry article  20  also lies on the floor. The input peg  29  is oriented in such a way that the edge region  30 , in particular the smoothly drawn upper margin, runs horizontally in the feed direction  21 . The peg jaws  32  of the individual pegs  31  are oriented vertically on the input peg  29 . 
         [0038]    In the apparatus shown here, each input peg  29  can be moved up and down, for example, by means of a pneumatic cylinder, so that the preferably approximately central edge region  30  can be raised in a vertical plane running parallel to the feed direction  21  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
         [0039]    Each of the identically designed transfer devices  23  on opposite sides of the draw-on device  24  has a rectilinear conveying section running in the feed direction  21 . The conveying sections of the two transfer devices  23  run parallel to one another, specifically, in the exemplary embodiment shown, so as to ascend from the respective input station  22  to the draw-on device  24 . However, the conveying sections may also run so as to ascend anti-parallel to one another. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the conveying section of each transfer device  23  is formed by a rectilinear ascending rail  33 , on which a slide  35  carrying a transfer peg  34  can be moved. 
         [0040]    The transfer peg  34 , like the input peg  29 , has two individual pegs  36  spaced apart from one another. The spacing between the individual pegs  36  is selected such that these fit between the individual pegs  31  of the input peg  29 . The peg jaws  37  of the individual pegs  36  are directed obliquely on the transfer peg  34 , specifically such that they run at about  45 ° to the vertical peg jaws  32  of the input peg  29 . In this case, the open sides of the peg jaws  37  point obliquely downwards ( FIG. 2 ). In the lower end position of the transfer peg  34 , the individual pegs  36  of the latter are located above and between the individual pegs  31  of the input pegs  29  ( FIG. 1 ). The transfer peg  34  can thereby be moved freely over the input peg  29 . When the input peg  29  is moved up, the edge region  30  held stretched is pushed by the latter into the peg jaws  27  of the transfer peg  34  which are set obliquely at  45 ° ( FIG. 3 ). An alternative exemplary embodiment of the apparatus, in which each transfer device  23  has only one transfer peg  34 , that is to say no input peg  29 , may also be envisaged. The operator then inputs an edge region of the respective laundry article  20  directly into the transfer peg  34 . 
         [0041]    The draw-on device  24  has a discharge conveyor  38 , also to be designated as a draw-on conveyor, which is located in front of the spreading device  25  transversely with respect to the feed direction  21 . The length of the discharge conveyor  38  corresponds to the operating width of the feed conveyor  27 , so that the discharge conveyor  38  extends over the entire operating width of the apparatus. It is also conceivable, however, that the draw-on device  24  has two parallel draw-on conveyors. 
         [0042]    The discharge conveyor  38  is designed as a belt conveyor. For this purpose, the discharge conveyor  38  has two parallel horizontal rollers  39 ,  40 , around which a plurality of belts  41  spaced apart from one another or only a single belt alone is guided. One of the rollers  39  or  40  is driven in rotation by a drive, not shown, while the other roller  39  or  40  is freely rotatable. One of the rollers  39 ,  40 , specifically, in the exemplary embodiment shown ( FIG. 1 ), the upper, somewhat larger roller  39 , which is preferably also the driven roller, is mounted fixedly between opposite pillars  42  of the stand of the apparatus. The other (lower in the figure) roller  40  is mounted at each end on a pivoting arm  44  actuable by a pressure-medium cylinder  43 . The pivoting arm  44  is pivotable about an axis of rotation of the upper, fixed roller  39 . The pivot travel of the lower roller  40  about the axis of rotation of the upper roller  39  amounts to about 30° to 45°. In an initial position for drawing the laundry article  20  onto the discharge conveyor  38 , the roller  40  is pivoted virtually under the roller  39 . To transfer the laundry article  20  to the spreading device  25 , the lower roller  40  is pivoted such that it is located laterally next to and somewhat below the upper roller  39  ( FIG. 10 ). As a result, an upper strand  53  of the discharge conveyor  38 , on which a middle part of the laundry article  20  drawn onto the discharge conveyor  38  lies, is widened, as compared with the position of the discharge conveyor  38  in which the roller  40  is pivoted virtually under the upper roller  39  ( FIG. 9 ). 
         [0043]    Above the discharge conveyor  38  is arranged a draw-on peg  45 . The draw-on peg  45  can be moved on a fixed rail  46  extending over the entire operating width of the apparatus. The rail  46  runs rectilinearly in a horizontal direction transversely with respect to the feed direction  21 . The draw-on peg  45  selectively serves the transfer peg  34  of the transfer device  23  at one end of the rail  46  or at the other. It is also conceivable that the apparatus has a plurality of draw-on pegs  45  movable in each case on a specific rail  46  over the entire operating width of the apparatus. For example, each transfer device  23  can then be assigned a draw-on peg  45 . The draw-on peg  45  of one transfer device  23  then operates independently of the draw-on peg  45  of the other transfer device  23 . 
         [0044]    The draw-on peg  45  shown here has two parallel horizontal plates  48 ,  49 . The plates  48  and  49  can be moved together and apart from one another ( FIGS. 2 and 7 ). In the exemplary embodiment shown, the lower plate  49  is stationary, while the upper plate  48  can be moved up and down in order to open and close the draw-on peg  45 . As a result of the plates  48  and  49 , the draw-on peg  45  has two opposite peg jaws  50  which are both oriented horizontally and are open to opposite sides. In each case an edge region  30  of the laundry article  20  is held in a horizontal plane between the moved-together plates  48  and  49  of the draw-on peg  45  ( FIG. 7 ). The width of the preferably identically sized plates  48 ,  49  (as seen transversely with respect to the feed direction  21 ) is selected such that the ends of the plates  48 ,  49  and therefore the peg jaws  50  of the draw-on peg  45  can be moved between the individual pegs  36  of the respective transfer peg  34  ( FIG. 6 ). The draw-on peg  45  can be moved up to the transfer peg  34  of the respective transfer device  23  to an extent such that that edge region  30  of the laundry article  20  which is held obliquely at 45° by the transfer peg  34  can pass between the moved-apart plates  48  and  49  of the draw-on peg  45 . 
         [0045]    The draw-on device  24  of the apparatus shown here is assigned a holding-down device  51  which extends over the entire width of the discharge conveyor  38 , that is to say the entire operating width of the apparatus. The holding-down device  51  is pivotable from a position of rest ( FIG. 9 ) located next to the discharge conveyor  38  into an operating position ( FIG. 10 ) in which an elongate slip-out bar  52  extending over the entire operating width presses a narrow strip of the laundry article  20  from above against the upper strand  53  of the discharge conveyor  38 . The holding-down device  51  may alternatively have a slip-out brush or a freely rotatable or rotary-drivable brush roller. To pivot the slip-out bar  52  from the position of rest ( FIG. 9 ) into the operating position ( FIG. 10 ), the slip-out bar  52  is mounted at its opposite ends on plates  55  pivotable about fixed centers of rotation  54  in vertical planes running in the feed direction  21 . The plates  55  can be pivoted about the centers of rotation  54 , lying on one line parallel to the slip-out bar  52 , by means of at least one pressure-medium cylinder  56  or the like. 
         [0046]    In the apparatus shown here, the draw-on device  24  has, in front of both ends of the discharge conveyor  38 , slip-out sheets  57  which are V-shaped, as seen from above. The slip-out sheets  57 , in the apparatus shown here, are fastened to the upper ends of the pillars  42 , the pointed sides of the V-shaped slip-out sheets  57  pointing outwards to the respective transfer device  23 . 
         [0047]    Each transfer device  23  is assigned a preconveyor  58  which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, has a rotary-drivable star drum  59 . The star drum  59  is rotatable about a horizontal axis which runs transversely with respect to the feed direction  21 . When the transfer peg  34  is being moved up to the draw-on peg  45 , the lower part of the laundry article  20  is straightened out by the preconveyor  58 , thus ensuring that, for the purpose of drawing the laundry article  20  onto the discharge conveyor  38 , the entire laundry article  20  is located on the outside in front of the vertical pillar  42  at the respective end of the draw-on device  24 . 
         [0048]    The spreading device  25 , arranged at a distance behind the draw-on device  24  in the feed direction  21 , has two spreading pegs  60  which can be contradirectionally moved together and apart from one another and which serve at the same time as catching pegs. The spreading pegs  60 , like the draw-on pegs  45  of the draw-on device  24 , are arranged on running carriages  61  which can be moved together and apart from one another on a rectilinear rail  62  running transversely with respect to the feed direction  21 . The rail  62  runs parallel to the rail  46  of the draw-on device  24 , but is placed at a lower level than the rail  46 . The rail  62  is arranged at such a distance behind the rail  46  that, when the discharge conveyor  38  of the draw-on device  24  is pivoted towards the spreading device  25  ( FIG. 10 ), a part  67  of the laundry article which hangs down from the discharge conveyor  38  on the side of the feed conveyor  27  passes in front of the rail  62  between the spreading pegs  60  which are also moved apart from one another. 
         [0049]    The spreading pegs  60  also serving as catching pegs have in the figures sensors, not shown, which contactlessly detect in each case a vertical edge of the laundry article  20 , with the result that the spreading pegs  60  can be moved together to an extent such that the peg jaws of the spreading pegs  60  can pick up vertical edge regions emanating from the upright edges of the laundry article  20 . Moreover, the spreading pegs  60  are assigned sensors, not shown, which contactlessly detect a horizontal rear edge  68  of that part  69  of the laundry article  20  which hangs down from the discharge conveyor  38  on the other side, to be precise on the side of the input station  22 , in order to control the closing of the spreading pegs  60 . 
         [0050]    When the spreading pegs  60  of the spreading device  25  have grasped opposite corners of the rear edge  68  of the laundry article  20 , the rear edge  68  of the laundry article  20  is stretched by the spreading pegs  60  being moved apart from one another in a directed manner. The laundry article  20  is subsequently transferred with a then front marginal region emanating from the rear edge  68  onto the feed conveyor  27 . This takes place by means of suction air, specifically, preferably, a suction-air pulse which acts at right angles upon the stretched-out marginal region, emanating from the rear edge  68 , of the laundry article  20 . The suction air is generated by a vacuum shaft  70  below the initial region  71 , pointing to the spreading device  25 , of the feed conveyor  27 . The conveyor belts  28  of the feed conveyor  27  are designed to be air-permeable for this purpose, so that the suction air flows through the initial region  71  of the feed conveyor  27 . Arranged at a distance above the initial region  71  of the feed conveyor  27 , specifically above the upper strand  63  of the latter, is a guide sheet  72 , of which the distance from the upper strand  63  increases somewhat towards the spreading device  25  in the exemplary embodiment shown. The initial region  71  of the feed conveyor  27  above the upper strand  63  thereby acquires a wedge-shaped suction space  73 , into which the transverse marginal region (the original rear edge  68 ) of the laundry article  20  is sucked after the opening of the spreading pegs  60  and is at the same time fixed on the upper strand  63  of the feed conveyor  27  in the initial region  71  ( FIG. 12 ). 
         [0051]    Alternatively to the exemplary embodiment shown, it is conceivable to provide, above the initial region  71  of the feed conveyor  27 , a lay-on strip which is movable in the feed direction  21  and can be acted upon with suction air and on which the front transverse marginal region of the laundry article  20  is transferred and fixed after the opening of the spreading pegs  60 . The laundry article  20  is then deposited with the stretched front marginal region on the feed conveyor  27  by the depositing strip. 
         [0052]    In the apparatus shown here, a pivotable preconveyor  74  is also provided. The preconveyor  74  can be arranged in front of the feed conveyor  27 , particularly when smaller laundry articles  20  are spread out and input by hand. The preconveyor  74  extends through a free space below the draw-on device  24  and between the pillars  42  ( FIG. 13 ). A front end  75  of the preconveyor  74 , designed as a belt conveyor, is located, in the position of use, in front of and below the draw-on device  24 , so that operators can deposit laundry articles  20  in front of the apparatus directly onto the front end  75  of the preconveyor  74 . When not in use, the preconveyor  74  is pivoted down into an approximately vertical position, so that it is located below the initial region  71  of the feed conveyor  27  and in front of the vacuum shaft  70 . 
         [0053]    The method according to the invention is explained in more detail below: 
         [0054]    At each input station  22 , in each case a laundry article  20  is suspended by an operator with a stretched-out edge region  30 , which preferably extends over a short middle part-region of a margin of the laundry article  20 , on the individual pegs  31  of the respective input peg  29 . The laundry article  20  and also the edge region  30  in this case hang vertically under the respective input peg  29 , the edge region  30  extending in the feed direction  21  or running parallel thereto. When the edge region  30  is being input into the input pegs  29 , it is in its lowered, lower initial position ( FIG. 1 ). As soon as a transfer peg  34  of the respective transfer device  23  is empty, it is moved into a take-over position onto the lower end of the rail  33  of the transfer device  23 . In this case, the individual pegs  36  of the transfer peg  34  are located above the input peg  29 , specifically between the individual pegs  31  of the latter ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). To transfer the laundry article  20  to the transfer peg  34 , the input peg  29  is moved up vertically, the edge region  30  of the laundry article  20  passing from below into the open peg jaws  37  of the transfer peg  34 . The individual pegs  31  of the input peg  29  are then opened and moved downwards into the initial position again. The laundry article  20  then hangs under the transfer peg  34 , the edge region  30  being angled at about 45° with respect to the vertical. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to input a stretched edge region of each laundry article  20  directly in each case into a transfer peg  34  by the operator. 
         [0055]    The laundry article  20  hanging under the transfer peg  34  is then moved by the latter from the input station  22  in front of the respective end of the draw-on device  24 . For this purpose, the transfer peg  34  is moved up by means of its slide  35  on the rail  33  rectilinearly in the feed direction  21  or parallel thereto as a result of the obliquely ascending run of the rail  33 . In this case, the laundry article  20  is moved, in the plane in which it hangs under the transfer peg  34 , in front of the respective end of the draw-on device  24  and at the same time raised. According to the invention, a reorientation of the laundry article  20  on the path to the draw-on device  24  does not take place. The laundry article  20  is simply moved, while maintaining the plane in which it hangs down from the transfer peg  34 , to the draw-on device  24  in the feed direction  21 , that is to say it is displaced and at the same time raised in the plane in which it hangs, so that it preferably hangs down completely freely under the transfer peg  34  when the latter is located in front of one end of the draw-on device  24  ( FIG. 6 ). During the movement of the transfer peg  34  to the end of the draw-on device  24 , the lower part of the laundry article  20  is moved via the preferably rotary-driven star drum  59 , with the result that the lower part of the laundry article  20  is straightened out, so that the latter hangs freely under the transfer peg  34  in the transfer position. 
         [0056]    When the transfer peg  34  with the laundry article  20  is in the transfer position at the upper end of the rail  33  of the transfer device  23 , the empty draw-on peg  45  fetches the laundry article  20  from the transfer device  23 . The empty, open draw-on peg  45  is, for this purpose, moved to that end of the rail  46  which points towards the respective transfer device  23 . In this case, the horizontally oriented peg jaw  50 , pointing to the transfer peg  34 , of the draw-on peg  45  engages between the individual pegs  36  of the transfer peg  34 . By the upper plate  48  being moved down against the lower plate  49 , the draw-on peg  45  is closed and the laundry article  20  is clamped in the edge region  30  in the draw-on peg  45 . In this case, the edge region  30  is oriented approximately horizontally, while the remaining part of the laundry article  20  hangs vertically down from the draw-on peg  45 . 
         [0057]    As soon as the draw-on peg  45  has taken over the laundry article  20 , it is moved by means of its running carriage  47  along the rail  46  transversely with respect to the feed direction  21 . In this case, the laundry article  20  is laid, U-shaped, around the wedge-like slip-out sheet  57  at the upper end of the respective pillar  42 , with the result that the laundry article  20  is drawn onto the discharge conveyor  38  of the draw-on device  24  such that it hangs down with the parts  67  and  69  from the discharge conveyor  38  on both sides. When the laundry article  20  is being drawn on and drawn over completely via the draw-on device  24 , the upper strand of the discharge conveyor  38  is in a for the most part pivoted-down draw-on position ( FIG. 9 ). The laundry article  20  then hangs essentially above the upper roller  39  of the discharge conveyor  38 . 
         [0058]    After the laundry article  20  has been drawn completely onto the discharge conveyor  38  and has been released from the draw-on peg  45 , in order to prepare for the transfer of the laundry article  20  to the spreading device  25  the discharge conveyor  38  is pivoted upwards, in that the lower roller  40  is pivoted about the upper roller  39 , specifically, in the exemplary embodiment shown, clockwise over about 30° to 60° ( FIG. 10 ). A widening of the draw-on device  24  thus takes place. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the draw-on device  24  is widened by means of an increase in size of the upper strand  53  of the discharge conveyor  38 . During the widening of the upper strand  53  of the discharge conveyor  38 , the parts  67  and  69  of the laundry article  20  which hang down from the latter are spaced further apart from one another, specifically the front part  67 , directed towards the feed conveyor  27 , of the laundry article  20  is spaced further apart from the rear part  69 , remaining in an unchanged position, of the laundry article  20  (cf.  FIGS. 9 and 10 ). 
         [0059]    As a result of the widening of the discharge conveyor  38 , the (front) part  67 , hanging down from the discharge conveyor  38  on the side of the feed conveyor  27 , of the laundry article  20  is brought between the spreading pegs  60  moved apart from one another. The opposite, laterally vertically longitudinal margins of the laundry article  20  consequently lie between the moved-apart spreading pegs  60 . The discharge conveyor  38  is then driven, specifically such that the laundry article  20  is transported in the feed direction  21  over the upper strand  53  of the discharge conveyor  38 , with the result that the front edge on the lower part  67  of the laundry article  20  moves downwards between the draw-on device  24  and the feed conveyor  27  and at the same time the rear part  69  of the laundry article  20  is transported over the discharge conveyor  38 . So that the rear part  69  of the laundry article  20  does not in this case slide off from the upper strand  53  of the discharge conveyor  38 , the slip-out bar  52  is pivoted, so that it presses the laundry article  20  from above against the upper strand  53  of the discharge conveyor  38  and the laundry article  20  is thus fixed on the upper strand  53  of the discharge conveyor  38 . 
         [0060]    As soon as the part  67  of the laundry article  20  is located between the spreading pegs  60 , the corresponding sensors of the spreading device  25  detect the vertical longitudinal edges of the laundry article  20 . On the basis of the width, contactlessly detected by the sensors, of the laundry article  20 , the spreading pegs  60  are moved together, so that vertical longitudinal marginal regions of the laundry article  20  engage into the peg jaws of the spreading pegs  60 . The rear edge  68  of the laundry article  20  is detected contactlessly by other sensors, specifically, preferably, when the laundry article is still located on the upper strand  53  of the discharge conveyor  38 . A specific time after the detection of the rear edge  68  of the laundry article  20  on the discharge conveyor  38 , the spreading pegs  60  are closed, with the result that the spreading pegs  60  automatically grasp the opposite corners of the rear edge  68  of the laundry article  20 . 
         [0061]    If appropriate, a possible skewing of the rear edge  68  can be eliminated by means of the time-offset closing of the spreading pegs  60 , so that the rear edge  68 , oriented horizontally, can be caught and clamped by the spreading pegs  66  of the spreading device  25 . 
         [0062]    After the spreading pegs  60  have automatically caught opposite corners of the rear edge  68  of the laundry article  20 , the spreading pegs  60  are moved apart from one another contradirectionally and at the same time stretch out the rear edge  68  of the laundry article  20 . The original rear edge  68  of the laundry article  20  then forms a transverse edge with which the laundry article  20  is first deposited onto the feed conveyor  27 . 
         [0063]    As soon as the spreading device  25  has spread out the laundry article centrally in front of the feed conveyor  27  ( FIG. 11 ), the discharge conveyor  38  is pivoted back into the initial position in order to draw on a following laundry article  20  ( FIG. 12 ). Moreover, a vacuum is generated in the upper strand  63  under the initial region  71  of the feed conveyor  27 . An air draught is thereby generated through the conveyor belts  28  of the initial region  71  of the feed conveyor  27  in the suction space above the upper strand  63  of the feed conveyor  27 , specifically between the upper strand  63  and the guide sheet  72 . By means of this air draught, after the opening of the spreading pegs  60 , a horizontal transverse marginal region, emanating from the rear edge  68 , of the laundry article  20  is sucked into the suction space  73  and fixed on the air-permeable upper strand  53  of the feed conveyor  27  ( FIG. 12 ). The laundry article  20  is then transported in the spread-out state with the original rear edge  68 , stretched out by the spreading device  25 , first, over the upper strand  53  of the feed conveyor  27  to the mangle or another laundry treatment device. 
         [0064]    If laundry articles which are not to be deposited automatically onto the feed conveyor  27  are to be fed to the mangle by means of the apparatus, the apparatus can be changed over to a manual input. For this purpose, the preconveyor  74  is provided, which is normally pivoted back into an approximately vertical position under the front end  75  of the feed conveyor  27 . For manual input, the preconveyor  74  is pivoted out, so that it prolongs the upper strand  63  of the feed conveyor  27 . In this case, the preconveyor  74  extends through the draw-on device  24 , specifically under the discharge conveyor  38  and between the pillars  42  ( FIG. 13 ). When the preconveyor  74  is no longer required, it is pivoted back again into its position of rest in front of the suction space  73  and under the initial region  71  of the feed conveyor  27 . 
       LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
       [0065]     Laundry article 
         [0066]      21  Feed direction 
         [0067]      22  Input station 
         [0068]      23  Transfer device 
         [0069]      24  Draw-on device 
         [0070]      25  Spreading device 
         [0071]      27  Feed conveyor 
         [0072]      28  Conveyor belt 
         [0073]      29  Input peg 
         [0074]      30  Edge region 
         [0075]      31  Individual peg 
         [0076]      32  Peg jaw 
         [0077]      33  Rail 
         [0078]      34  Transfer peg 
         [0079]      35  Slide 
         [0080]      36  Individual peg 
         [0081]      37  Peg jaw 
         [0082]      38  Discharge conveyor 
         [0083]      39  Roller 
         [0084]      40  Roller 
         [0085]      41  Belt 
         [0086]      42  Pillar 
         [0087]      43  Pressure-medium cylinder 
         [0088]      44  Pivoting arm 
         [0089]      45  Draw-on peg 
         [0090]      46  Rail 
         [0091]      47  Running carriage 
         [0092]      48  Plate 
         [0093]      49  Plate 
         [0094]      50  Peg jaw 
         [0095]      51  Holding-down device 
         [0096]      52  Slip-out bar 
         [0097]      53  Upper strand 
         [0098]      54  Center of rotation 
         [0099]      55  Plate 
         [0100]      56  Pressure-medium cylinder 
         [0101]      57  Slip-out sheet 
         [0102]      58  Preconveyor 
         [0103]      59  Star drum 
         [0104]      60  Spreading peg 
         [0105]      61  Running carriage 
         [0106]      62  Rail 
         [0107]      63  Upper strand 
         [0108]      67  Part 
         [0109]      68  Rear edge 
         [0110]      69  Part 
         [0111]      70  Vacuum shaft 
         [0112]      71  Initial region 
         [0113]      72  Guide sheet 
         [0114]      73  Suction space 
         [0115]      74  Preconveyor 
         [0116]      75  Front end

Technology Classification (CPC): 3