Patent ID: 7380356

Claim:
An apparatus for loading flat articles of clothing into a laundry processing unit, comprising a frame having an entrance opposite a reception end of a conveyor belt, at least one loading post controlled by an operator, said loading post having a first pair of clamps in which said operator can catch the ends of a flat article of clothing, and lifting means adapted to move said first pair of clamps to a higher position in which the flat article of clothing is transferred to a second pair of clamps associated with spreading out means including at least one pair of carriages running on respective guide rails transverse to the transport direction of said conveyor belt, each clamp in said second pair of clamps being mounted on one respective carriage of said pair of carriages, driving means being arranged to independently move said pair of carriages separating them from one another between positions in front of said at least one loading post, and symmetrical positions with respect to the center of conveyor belt for placing an end of the flat article of clothing spread out on said reception end of conveyor belt with the help of blowing and suction means, characterized in that said lifting means for moving said first pair of clamps in the loading post include at least one pivoting arm supporting at one end the first pair of clamps and which is connected in a pivoting manner at the other end to a slide slidably mounted on one or more rectilinear guide rails having one end higher than the other, rotation driving means for said pivoting arm and translation driving means for said slide being arranged and adapted to move the first pair of clamps in a combined translation and rotation trajectory.