Flatwork spreader and feeder machine

Claim 1

A MACHINE FOR SPREADING AND FEEDING A FLATWORK PIECE COMPRISING: (A) A SPREADER UNIT HAVING A WORK PIECE INPUT END AND A WORK PIECE OUTPUT END, SAID SPREADER UNIT OPERABLE TO RECEIVE A FLATWORK PIECE AT THE INPUT END AND TO SPREAD THE PIECE DURING MOVEMENT THEREOF TOWARD THE OUTPUT END, (B) A FEEDER UNIT HAVING A WORK PIECE INPUT END AND A WORK PIECE OUTPUT END, SAID INPUT END POSITIONED REARWARDLY OF THE OUTPUT END OF THE SPREADER UNIT, (C) A WORK PIECE TRANSFER ASSEMBLY POSITIONED BETWEEN THE SPREADER UNIT AND FEEDER UNIT AND OPERABLE END RECEIVE AND ARREST THE MOVEMENT OF THE TRAILING END SECTION OF THE WORK PIECE FROM THE SPREADER UNIT AND TO MOVE SAID ARRESTED TRAILING END SECTION TO THE INPUT END OF THE FEEDER UNIT, AND (D) CONTROL MEANS FOR SAID TRANSFER ASSEMBLY OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO THE POSITION OF THE WORK PIECE ON THE SPREADER UNIT TO ACTUATE SAID TRANSFER ASSEMBLY TO MOVE THE ARRESTED TRAILING END OF SAID WORK PIECE FROM THE OUTPUT END OF THE SPREADER TO THE INPUT END OF THE FEEDER UNIT.