DE1813296A1 - Control device for laundry - Google Patents

Description

OR.-INQ. DIPL.-ΙΝβ. M.3C. DIPL.-PHYS. DR. OIPL.-PHYS. HÖGER - LEGAL RIGHTS - GRIESSBACH - HAECKER PATENT LAWYERS IN STUTTGART

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Chicago Dryer Company, 221o North Pulaski Road, Chicago, Illinois 6o639, U.S.A.

Control device for laundries

The invention "relates to a control device for excretion of damaged laundry items from the normal workflow.

It is desirable in laundries and the like to remove damaged laundry items from the workflow at an early stage. The workflow can consist of, for example, that Λ a supplied towel is automatically ironed and folded and that several towels are combined into clean-looking bundles which contain a predetermined number of items of laundry and which are removed with the aid of a conveyor.

Devices are now known that use signals transmitted by an operator at the loading end of the yor-

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direction is given to another operator, which is at the end of the discharge · and which is the "object in question manually removes it from the finished pieces which are discharged for use. These known devices allow complete processing of the item of laundry eirischliesslicti several stages in which the item of laundry is ironed and folded, although the damaged item needs to be repaired, e.g. by plugging a crack, after which it is washed again and treated further. After the damage has been recognized by the operator on the item of laundry in question, it is removed from the workflow, whereby further automatic processing steps are switched off

The invention is now based on the object of a device through which a damaged item of laundry is automatically eliminated from the normal workflow at an early stage is after the damage at the loading end "of the device has been recognized by an operator". "

According to the invention, this is achieved by a device for moving V / äs before items along a predetermined path, "a device adjacent to this path for applying a marking to an item of laundry, one at a distance from this" device and adjacent to it "A path arranged" device which responds to the presence of a mark on 'Iiiem' ^r '' item of laundry while it is moving along this predetermined path, a device for diverting an item of laundry away from this predetermined path when it is in an 'I junction is moved, means for-moving these ■ · guide means in a secondary position, depending on the "inputs" - "direction, responsive to the presence of a mark, after a mark of this device has been found« _ ³ _

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The control device according to the invention is suitable for a Variety of gate directions for the treatment of T / äs before pieces, with different markings applied to the piece of laundry can be used to indicate the specific nature of the damage.

In one embodiment of the invention, a distributor for markings made of paper is arranged above the conveyor belts of an ironing and drying device such as are used in laundries or the like. In Peststellung a damage that requires repair of the cloth, a buttonhole is formed by a loading dienungsperson%, which is at the object end, printed, is excited whereby a relay coil. The button is pressed after the towel has reached a switch located in the normal path of the towel. After the trailing end of the blanket leaves the switch, circuitry operates the manifold to place a mark on the trailing end of the moving blanket.

A photocell, which is arranged on the path of the cloth and axially aligned with the mark, the mark on the felt cloth and includes a circuit that is similar brought whereby a branching-off device in the working position. The branching device deflects the cloth from its normal path and directs it to a collection point where the damaged cloth containing the marking can be repaired, washed again and returned to the work cycle. The paper marking should be readily soluble in water and multiple distributors can be used to apply different colored markings indicating specific damage noted by the operator at the entrance end. The damaged cloth or the like is thus marked on the basis of visual observation and

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automatically removed from the workflow. Using different colored markings the corresponding distributor is operated. The device responding to the marking actuated. a branching device through which the damaged Item of laundry is taken out of the normal workflow and to a collection point, where it is repaired or is eliminated.

An example embodiment of the invention is provided below explained with reference to the drawing in which

Fig.1 schematically shows a side view of a \ combination of shows an ironing and folding device in which the control device according to the invention is used.

FIG. 2 shows, enlarged, a side view of a cloth on which a marking is attached, the cloth passing under a photocell which is an element of the invention Device represents.

Fig. 3 shows a side view of the conveyor belts of the ironing device and the distributor for the markings *.

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged view of the holding device for the marking from below, which is used in the distribution device shown in Pig. 3. .

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side view showing the branching device and represents the actuation mechanism for this.

6 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the inventive Control device.

In Figure 1 is a bracket device and a folding device for Ironing and folding large items of laundry, such as. e.g. cloths or the like. The ironing device 10 is Gas-heated and is sold under the model name GA 36 from the

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Chicago Dryer Company. The folding device .12, which allows folding in the transverse direction, is of the same Company under the model names MLC and SLC sold.

In normal operation, a washed item of laundry is placed by two operators on the conveyor belts 13 of the ironing device 10, which is indicated schematically in FIG. The conveyor belts move the cloth against the circumference of a master yoke cylinder, against which the cloth is pressed and tensioned in order to remove any wrinkles by the padded pressure rollers 16. The M ironed cloth can then be discharged from the der'Rückseite ironer 10 by a conveyor 18th The ironed cloth is then placed on the conveyor belts 20 of the folding device 12. The folding device 12 is a device for transverse folding, as is described in US Pat. No. 495,770. In the folding device 12, the cloth is folded four times and then transversely while it is moved over conveyors arranged one above the other before it is removed from the folding device through a discharge opening 22.

If one of the two workers, who usually place the item of laundry on the conveyor belts 13, notices damage to the Λ cloth placed on it, this cloth should of course be removed from the work cycle as early as possible in order to avoid unnecessary processing of the item of laundry . must be eliminated entirely. It is also desirable that such a torn, stained © or otherwise damaged towel be removed from the workflow to prevent it from being brought to a user where it is unfolded, noticed the damage, discarded the towel and requesting a new towel becomes, 'what great uncomfortable

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opportunities for the user "can mean Items of laundry should therefore be provided with a marking, e.g. an adhesive label or the like. This mark will then automatically sensed by a photocell of a control system, which in turn actuates a branch in the folding device 12, whereby the damaged item of laundry from the normal workflow is led to a collection point, where it is processed or eliminated if it is not is more repairable.

In Fig. 3 there are two distributors 24 and 26 for the markings shown having pneumatic cylinders having solenoid controlled reciprocating pistons, and which over the Conveyor belts 13 are arranged, on which a washed piece of V / ash, such as the cloth S, on the main bracket cylinder is to be transported, a pressure roller 16 also being shown in FIG. If there is a stain or a tear in the cloth S or some other damage is noticed, one of the two workers who lay the cloth on the belts 13, one of the two cylinders 24 and 26 actuated. A housing 28 is then opened to the underlying cloth S by the cylinder the conveyor belt below this is lowered too. In the area

P housing 28 of the cylinder 24, which is in the actuated or lower Position is shown, markings 30 are stacked vertically, which can be circles or small rectangles of paper about 5-8 cm (2-3 inches) in diameter. The markings 30 are arranged in the housing 28 so that a water-soluble, coated with an adhesive The lower surface is pressed against the wet wipes when the piston rod 32 of the cylinder 24 is moved downwards.

4 shows a view of a practically C-shaped bottom part

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34 of each housing 28 from below. From Fig. 4. it also emerges, that the markings 30 made of paper of three peripheral parts of the bottom 34 »which together have an O-shaped porm, be held, but that they are exposed along the edge 30 E. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the free edge 30 is facing each marking 30 in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, whereby the adhesive-coated surface of each marking 30 is drawn by the cloth S when it comes into contact therewith and is withdrawn from the housing 28, whereby the crimping of the marks on the cloths is supported with practically even pressure, since the number of marks J is consumed during normal operation. A spring 36 or some other resilient means (Pig.3) can be used to correctly position the markings 30 on the peripheral portion 34 " to hold each housing 28. Other manifolds that operate in the same way, i.e. the cylinders, may be used 24 and 26 are just an example.

The cloth S, which bears a marking 30, runs on the belts of the discharge conveyor 18 of the iron 10 and on the conveyor belts 20 of the folder 12. While it is off the conveyor belts 20 is worn, the marking, if there is one on the cloth S, runs under a photocell 38 j by, as in Fig.1 and more clearly in Fig.2 too see is. When a marker 30 is scanned by the photocell 38, an electrical relay is applied to an associated relay Impulse given and actuated a solenoid, which in turn actuates a pneumatic cylinder 40 (Fig.l and 5) to a Bring branch plate 42 into the position shown in phantom in Figure 5. By the junction plate 42 is the damaged Cloth containing a marking 30 is transported onto an auxiliary plate 44 (FIG. 1) and then onto an output table 46, v / o

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the damaged wipes are collected, checked and repaired or discarded when they can no longer be used.

As Fig.l and 2 show, several cylinders are provided, to make various markings to indicate the particular nature of the damage noticed by the worker who has placed this cloth on the conveyor belts 13 of the ironing device 10. If a tear is noticed in the cloth is actuated, the cylinder 24 is actuated, which emits, for example, green markings 30, whereas if there is stains or discoloration be noticed in the cloth, the cylinder 26 is actuated, which applies, for example, red markings 30 to the cloth. The markings can of course also differ in other ways, e.g. by their shape. The worker who puts the towels on the Output table 46 of the folding device 12 checks, knows due to the marking 30 applied to the cloth thus shows exactly in which way the cloth is damaged. It can be any many distribution cylinders are used. The two cylinders according to Fig.l and 3 are only an example.

The following shows the electrical relationship between the individual controls. In Fig.6 are connected in parallel Push buttons 48 on each side of the ironing machine 10 suitably positioned so that either normally workers present can press a button. With the normal feeding of a towel onto the conveyor belts 13 of the ironing machine 10, a switch 50 (Figure 3) is actuated by the weight of the towels when they hit the pawl 51 while they run on the conveyor belts 13, whereby the pawl is brought into the position shown in phantom in Figure 6. Since that Cloth is unfolded during its movement on the conveyor belts 13, the pawl 51 is actuated and any damage to the

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If, for example, a tear is found in the cloth, one of the two workers presses a pushbutton 48, which immediately energizes a coil 52 of a relay To return to the open position, a holding device is used on line 56 to hold coil 52 energized. Coil 52 then closes normally open contact 58, causing two lamps 60 (not shown in Figure 1). switched v / ground that are disposed on each side of the ironing machine 10 next to each operator line of lamps zeigt- the operator has not pressed a push button 48 on, that damage has already been established by the other operator.

By pressing the pushbuttons 48 v / ird the solenoid operated The piston of the cylinder 24 is not actuated until the cloth S has left contact with the pawl 51. if the cloth has lost contact with the pawl 51, this moves into the vertical shown in Pig.3 fully extended Position and in the position shown in Pig. 6 also in solid lines. In this situation a stream can become too the solenoid of cylinder 24 via the now closed,

flow Λ

normally open, contact 66 of relay 54 /. The solenoid I of cylinder 24 is energized to abv / arrts piston rod 32 to move and to press the lower marking 30 in the housing 28 on the underlying cloth S. The tension in the conveyor belts 13 is usually sufficient as a support to press the marking 30 onto the cloth. Palis desired, a support plate can be placed under the upper run of the conveyor belts 13 to form a stop surface against which the marking 30 can be printed on the cloth S when it is applied. As a result of the formation of the bottom of the housing

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(Pig. 4) the lowermost marking 30 can easily be removed from the housing 28 pulled out when the cloth is moved towards the main ironing cylinder of the ironing machine.

There is a microswitch between cylinders 24 and 26 (Fig. 3) 71 having switch arms 72 attached to opposite ends of the switch. The protruding tongues which are connected to the housing 28 are used to the neighboring To operate switching arm 72 during the downward stroke of the piston rod arranged in each cylinder. The moving tongue interrupts the holding circuit 56, switches off the coil 52 of the relay 54, whereby the control device is ready for another cloth.

From Pig. 6 it appears that the above description, the was given by means of the relay 54 and the cylinder 24, is also applicable to the relay 70, which controls the operation of the cylinder 26, v / whether the only difference is that the relay 70, in addition to controlling the cylinder, also controls the lamps 75 connected in parallel, the other Color than the lamps 60 have. The individual parts of the relay 70 have the same reference numerals as the comparable ones Parts of relay 54, however, are supplemented by an A in Pig. 6,

Pig.l shows that the cloth bearing the marking 30 denotes the Discharge promoter 18 of the ironing machine 10 leaves and on the Conveyor belts 20 of the folding device 12 is transported. As the cloth moves through the ironing machine and practically none on the conveyor belts of the pallet device Executes transverse movement, the photocell 38 is arranged on the folding device 12 so that a light source 74 of the photocell 38 (Pig.6) is aligned with the marking 30, if

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on the cloth moving under the photocell 38, one such is present. The facility for determining whether a mark 30 has been made on the cloth is provided by the Tri-Tronics Company Oakbrook, Illinois, manufactured and under the designation electro-reflex recording device with the ITr. AR-200 sold. In addition to the recording device, the measuring device has 38, which contains a photocell 76 and a light source 74, a power supply 78, which is an energy source 80 Relay 82 and a photocell input 84, and the sold by Tri-Tronics Company under the designation Model P-506.

When passing under the photocell 76, the change in the light intensity that the photocell 76 receives is measured, when the marking 30 is below the receiving device 38 moved past, causing a change in electrical resistance in the photocell 76, whereby a electrical signal is generated for a short predetermined period of time. The signal is received via line 81 from the relay 82 transmitted, whereby the coil 83 of the relay 86 is energized when the switch 88 is closed.

From Fig.l it can be seen that the Schaltarra 87 of the switch 88 is positioned between the belts of an upper conveyor 90 of the folding device 12 and the switch is closed, when a cloth moves over him. Has a marking 30 been determined by the receiving device 38 and If the cloth that bears this marking has closed the switch 88, the coil 83 of the relay 86 is energized. Next to the switch 88 of the folding device 12 is a switch 92 which is normally closed, unlike the switch 88, and which in the closed position allows current to pass through the now closed, normally

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open contact '94 of relay 86 (Pig.6) and to the solenoid of the cylinder 40 (Fig.l and 5) allows the location the junction plate 42 controls. The solenoid of the cylinder 40 is energized by the current, the one by the now closed Contact 94 and the line 96 flow to the branch plate 42 in the position shown by dashed lines in FIG move.

The current energizing the solenoid of cylinder 40 also flows through a selector switch 98 which has a movable contact 100 which can assume one of three positions. In the position shown in FIG. 6, the selector switch 98 is set to automatic operation in connection with the power supply unit 78 and the electrical receiving device 38 of FIG. If the movable contact 100 does not touch either of the two mating contacts, the selector switch is switched off and if the contact 100 touches the contact 102, the selector switch 98 enables manual actuation of the cylinder 40 »so that the excitation current flows to the power pack 78 and the electrical pickup device 38 bridged. If one of the parts of the electrical system used to transmit a signal to relay 86 to energize the solenoid of cylinder 40 fails, the selector switch can be placed in a position for manual operation, thereby removing the manifold 42 according to FIG. 5 can easily be brought into the lower branch position, namely by manual actuation of the switch, if damage is found on the cloth or item of laundry. 5 shows the solenoid 41 which is used together with the cylinder 40, the piston rod 43 pivoting the branch plate 42 via a linkage 45.

As mentioned above, the photocell 76 of the electrical Recording device 38 when detecting a mark

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generates a signal which is relayed by relay 82 and which is of short duration. The cloth S should accordingly the Close switch 88 located between the belts of conveyor 90 of folding device 12 during this Signal is given.

The switch 92 should normally be closed in order to establish that a cloth that is in front of a cloth S that the marking 30 bears, running through the folding device 12 does not touch the switch 92, so that it is in the path of the Branch plate 42 is when this is in the lower or branch position is brought.

When the cloth S reaches the switch 88 during the delivery of the signal from the relay 82, this signal being a may be short in duration, e.g., two seconds, the solenoid of cylinder 40 is not turned off to permit upward movement the junction plate 42 to allow up the holder 92 closed and not covered by a cloth. Upon termination of the signal from relay 82, the coil 83 of the relay 86 is not switched off, since this coil is still excited by the current flowing through the line 106, the selector switch 98, lines 108 and 110, the closed, normally open contact 112, line 114, switch 88 and line 116 flows. When a cloth S Leaving switch 88 is the circuit that controls the coil 83 excited, interrupted.

As stated above, the marking 30 is applied to the rear end of the cloth S, while the front edge is the normally open switch 88 is detected during the delivery of the signal from relay 82. As also stated above,

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the switch 92 prevents the cloth from jamming in the Alb branch plate 42. ·

The invention thus provides an automatic system for applying a marker to a cloth or other Item of laundry that is processed automatically by an ironing machine and an adjoining cooling machine. One automatic sensing device is provided to detect the presence a mark on a damaged cloth to determine »the junction plate in the desired junction position to swivel so that the damaged cloth that bears the mark is out of the normal workflow of the pallet device is taken out.

The marker 30 made by the electrical pick-up device 38 is scanned need not be made of paper, but other means can be used, which by a photocell can be scanned. For example, a water-soluble paint can be sprayed onto the cloth.

The invention is not restricted to the illustrated and described embodiments, but rather modifications possible without deviating from the claims.

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Claims (1)

A 36 831 b Iy -129 Nov 6, 1968 -3 * - Patent claims: 1. A method for removing damaged items of laundry from the work cycle of a laundry or the like, the items of laundry moving on a predetermined path, characterized in that a marking is applied to the damaged item of laundry while the item of laundry is moving on this path, that the marking while the piece of laundry moves on this path and that the defective piece of laundry from this web is automatically taken out after the label has been scanned is automatically sampled from. 2. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 1, characterized by a device for moving the items of laundry along a predetermined path, a device arranged next to this path for delivering a marking on an item of laundry, one next to this path and at a distance from it The latter device arranged device which responds to the presence of a marking on an item of laundry while this moves along this path, a device to guide an item of laundry from this path when it is guided into a branch position, a device for moving the The latter device is in a branch position depending on the device which responds to a marking after a marking has been detected by this device. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the device for dispensing the markings has a reciprocating piston through which a paper strip coated with an adhesive is pressed onto the item of laundry who can move along this path. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the -16-909842 / 0278 A 36 831 b Iy - 129 Nov 6, 1968 Piston has a housing that is open at the bottom, and the has an interrupted bar that attaches the paper strips part of its circumference, and that the bar on the edge of the strip is interrupted, which looks in the direction of movement of the item of laundry. 5 · Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the Adhesive-coated paper strips are easily water-soluble and that several dispensing devices are provided for to submit various types of markings. 6. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by at a distance arranged switches through which current flows to the device for moving the guide device arranged in this path, further by the fact that the switches, the closer * to this guide, usually are closed and that the switches, which are arranged further away from this guide device, are normally open, so that an item of laundry is between them in the Spaced switches located when the guiding device is moved into a branch position. 7. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by devices to initiate actuation of the dispensing device, which are arranged on both sides of this track, also by signal lamps, placed at each of these facilities to indicate that the actuation of the dispensing device has begun. 8. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the Facility »which responds to the presence of a marking, a photocell and a relay actuated by this photocell which emits an electrical signal a predetermined time after this marking has been scanned. 909842 / 0.278-. -..- .. A 36 831 b / f Iy - 129 Nov 6, 1968 9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the Means for moving the guide device comprises a pneumatic cylinder and a piston, which by a Solenoid valve are controlled and that the signal from this relay energizes the solenoid valve, causing the control device is moved into the branch position by the piston and the cylinder. 10. The device according to claim S, characterized by a selector switch with several positions and an energy source, whereby the piston and the cylinder can be operated manually independently of the photocell and the relay. 11. The device according to claim 2, characterized by markings, whose light deflection is different from that of one The item of laundry is further characterized in that an item of laundry which bears a marking, by the device from the predetermined Web can be branched off, which responds to the presence of a marking on the V / ash piece. 909842/02 78