EP0505318B2 - Folding device for clothes - Google Patents

Abstract

The folding device for laundry articles comprises a laundry feed conveyor (1), a first folding station (2) for folding the laundry longitudinally to the direction of entry, a second folding station (3) for folding the laundry transversely relative to the direction of entry, a laundry discharge device (4) and a control unit (5). The first folding station (2) is divided in three longitudinally relative to said direction of entry, into a middle part (6) and two side parts (7, 8) arranged laterally and raised relative to the latter. The second folding station comprises, furthermore, two folding templates (9, 10), extending longitudinally relative to the direction of entry, adjustable transversely to this and spaced from one another, and two folding slides (11, 12) which are arranged underneath the side parts (7, 8) and which are displaceable towards the respective folding templates. A sensing device (13) for detecting the width of a laundry article to be introduced for folding is provided on the laundry feed conveyor (1). Depending on the width of the laundry article to be folded which is detected by the sensing device, the spacing of the folding templates (9, 10) and an initial position of the folding slides (11, 12) are set by the control unit (5). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a Folding device for laundry items according to the Preamble of claim 1.

For folding devices of this type is after known type, the first folding station along the input direction the laundry in three parts, in one Middle part and two of this middle part each overlapping laterally Side panels. The side parts are opposite the middle section is mounted offset in height. Either the middle part as well as the side parts are with circumferential Belts for transporting laundry items Mistake. The side parts are with their conveyor belts relative to the middle part and across to the above Entry direction slidably arranged. The belts slide along their deflection rollers, causing them to wear out quickly. Longitudinal two extend over the middle section Folding templates. These are perpendicular to the input direction the laundry items spaced apart. The distance is adjustable. To bring laundry items with you different widths in the longitudinal direction must fold before feeding an appropriate one Piece of laundry in the first folding station first the distance between the two folding templates accordingly the width of this piece of laundry to be folded must be adjusted and then the side panels to be delivered to the folding templates. The piece of laundry to be folded is later under the stencils on the middle part and opposite the middle part inflated two side parts on. One each for the intended longitudinal folding Favorable angle of attack for immediately below the side parts of the folding slider is through the height offset and the distance between one of the folding templates and the neighboring one delivered Side part defined. The later on the side panels overlying edge areas of the to be folded Items of laundry can then be moved the folding slide mentioned crosswise to the input direction towards the middle of the first folding station placed over the stencils and so in the Be folded lengthways. Only after the aforementioned Adjustment and delivery operations can the laundry is fed to the first folding station will. It is then in this for longitudinal folding optimally. It is also a programmable logic controller Control available, in which under other setting and delivery data for various Widths of laundry items to be folded lengthways are stored and so setting and delivery operations based on a manual prefix can be. Not for everyone the item to be entered is the template spacing must be changed, the laundry items pre-sorted according to their type or width. Similar items of laundry are successively folded with the settings specific to them. Then the settings are changed to one fold second group of laundry items. This The process is repeated depending on the number of formed groups of laundry items.

This known folding device is not for this suitable for folding laundry items unsorted. It wouldn't just have to be entered practically in front of everyone Item of laundry an appropriate area code to set the templates, but it has also been shown that by constantly adjusting the side panels wear the belts attached to it too much would, causing unwanted interference and Would lead to absenteeism. In addition, for one such way of working the pneumatically acting Adjustment mechanism for the folding templates and too slow for the side parts. These mentioned adverse effects are desirable high laundry throughput.

It is the object of the present invention the folding device of the type mentioned to improve in that when typing of unsorted laundry items the above Disadvantages, like the practically continuous one manual preselection of suitable settings the first folding station for laundry items different Width and excessive wear of the Transport straps no longer occur. Also the Laundry throughput is to be increased.

This task is accomplished with a folding device, which in the characterizing part of the claim 1 features listed, solved.

Due to the presence of the scanner in the laundry feed conveyor the width becomes one determined to fold laundry, and the distance between the folding templates becomes automatic adapted to the item of laundry to be folded. Thereby, that the folding slide is now a double task have to fulfill and no longer just for Fold the on the side parts of the first folding station overlying laundry items around the Folding templates are intended, but also to do so are provided even before feeding the folding laundry into a suitable starting position relative to the location of the folding templates It is essentially not to be set more necessary, the side parts as before often move. Rather, you will be in one of held several pre-adjustable positions. Thereby the transport belts are spared and the mentioned Wear and tear is avoided. The Piece of laundry, as before on the middle part and on the excessively arranged side parts lying on top, underneath the folding templates, is inserted into the first folding station the favorable angle of attack for longitudinal folding no longer due to the height offset and the distance between the folding template and the delivered one adjacent side part. The angle of attack is now due to the height offset and the distance between a folding template and the set one Starting position of the delivered neighboring Folding slide defined. Leave the folding slide come up faster than the side parts before, because they have no circulating conveyor belts.

A preferred embodiment provides that in the laundry feed conveyor transversely to the input direction of the item of laundry three light barriers are staggered and together form the said scanning device. A the light barrier is advantageously in the middle of the feed conveyor or on the longitudinal axis the folding device mounted. Depending on the width a piece of laundry placed on the feed conveyor speak one or more of the light barriers on. The control unit is capable of using of the signals received by the light barriers the distance between the folding templates and the starting position adjust the folding slide appropriately. This starting position is expedient set so that the distance between an inner end edge of each of the folding slides and an outer edge of this Slider adjacent folding template independently constant from the distance between the two folding templates is held.

By adjusting the folding templates and the folding slide over with a reversible Electric motor driven spindles with one each counter feed thread can occur desired setting of the folding templates and the folding slide can be made quickly.

Around the widest possible latitude of laundry to be folded over , the side panels have proven to be an advantage to arrange slidably. For extremely wide or extremely narrow items of laundry can the side panels between an outer End position or an inner end position slightly be moved sideways.

Around uniform longitudinal folds and stackable To get folded laundry items, the too folding items of laundry through the scanner and the control unit in one of several Assigned to groups with uniform longitudinal folding. Look for each of the groups in the control unit stored specifications will then be appropriate Distances of the folding templates and starting positions the folding slide is selected. There one preferred embodiment of the folding device three laundry conveyors, has itself proven to be useful, requirements for three To provide groups, with all default values in advance the folding of an unemployed adjustable are.

Fig. 1

eine isometrische Ansichtsdarstellung einer erfindungsgemässen Faltvorrichtung, ohne Wäschestück,

Fig. 2

die Faltvorrichtung gemäss der Fig. 1 mit einem der ersten Faltstation zuzuführenden Wäschestück,

Fig. 3

eine isometrische Darstellung des Verstellmechanismus der Faltschablonen und der Seitenteile der ersten Faltstation, und

Fig. 4

eine isometrische Darstellung des Verstellmechanismus der Faltschieber der ersten Faltstation.

A preferred embodiment of the folding device according to the invention is described in more detail below with reference to figures, for example. Show it

Fig. 1

2 is an isometric view representation of a folding device according to the invention, without items of laundry,

Fig. 2

1 with a piece of laundry to be fed to the first folding station,

Fig. 3

an isometric view of the adjustment mechanism of the folding templates and the side parts of the first folding station, and

Fig. 4

an isometric view of the adjustment mechanism of the folding slide of the first folding station.

1 and 2, the basic Structure of the folding device according to the invention for Described items of laundry and its mode of action be explained.

With the reference numeral 1 is a laundry feed conveyor referred to the laundry to be folded be put on. The laundry feed conveyor 1 is with circulating conveyor belts 38 equipped. The direction of rotation of the above Transport belts on the top of the laundry feed conveyor 1 corresponds to the input direction of Laundry items. In the direction of rotation mentioned or input direction of the laundry items to the The laundry feed conveyor 1 subsequently comprises the Folding device a first folding station 2. To this there is then a second folding station 3. The folding device is below the first folding station 2 with one or more laundry conveyors fitted. 1 and 2 are only the outlines of a single laundry conveyor drawn. A control unit 5, the embodiment shown arranged laterally from the laundry feed conveyor 1 is provided for controlling the folding device.

The first folding station 2, which for folding the Items of laundry determined along their input direction is, in the input direction mentioned in essentially divided into three and includes a central part 6 and two higher ones on the side Side parts 7 and 8. Each of these parts is different equipped with circulating conveyor belts 38 '. The direction of rotation of these latter belts 38 'corresponds the direction of rotation of the conveyor belts 38 of the laundry feed conveyor. Longitudinally over the middle part 6 extend two folding templates 9, 10, the transverse to the input direction of the laundry are spaced from each other. The distance between the two stencils is in 1 and 2 with the letter a. The two folding templates 9, 10 are transverse to mentioned input direction slidable, where the distance between the folding templates is symmetrical distributed to the longitudinal axis of the folding device. Of the the necessary displacement mechanism is in essentially in a traverse marked 69, which is always in the specified direction considered, at the beginning of the first folding station 2 extends across the folding device, housed. How the slide mechanism works is shown in another figure and described further below. The side parts 7, 8 are offset in height from the central part 6 or arranged too high and overlap the the latter sideways. Immediately among the above Side parts 7, 8 are each designated 11 and 12 Folding slide housed. The two folding slides 11, 12 are also transverse to the above Entry direction slidably arranged.

On the one facing away from the first folding station 2 Side of the laundry feed conveyor 1 is one with 13 designated scanner available, which in the preferred embodiment, three light barriers 15, 16, 17 includes. These light barriers are designed as reflective light barriers and in the transverse direction to the laundry feed conveyor 1 staggered. The first Light barrier 15 is essentially in the middle and the other two 16, 17 are to the side of it assembled. The light beams from the light barriers are one lying on the laundry feed conveyor Item 14 facing laundry. You step through one Gap between the housing of the laundry feed conveyor 1 and that of the first folding station 2 opposite end of the conveyor belts 38 is formed is through and meet one on the laundry feed conveyor 1 put on laundry 14. Due to the lateral offset of the three mentioned Light barriers 15, 16, 17 can be on the Laundry feed conveyor placed on laundry items divide into three groups with different widths, depending on whether only the first 15 or also the second 16 and third light barrier 17 is covered.

The operation of the folding device, in particular feeding a piece of laundry and its longitudinal folding is the following described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. A piece of laundry 14 is stretched along one of its sides and on the conveyor belts 38 of the laundry feed conveyor 1 hung up. The conveyor belts 38 are stopped briefly by the control device 5 and the laundry 14 is with a the figures not shown suction device held on the conveyor belts. With the Light barriers 15, 16, 17 are the width of the item of laundry certainly. Signals from each of the light barriers 15, 16, 17 inform the control unit 5 of whether the corresponding light barrier from the on-hook Item of laundry is covered or not. Based of specifications stored in the control unit 5 the distance a of the folding templates 9, 10 according to the width of the item of laundry or the value specified in the control unit 5 changed. Simultaneously with changing the distance a, the two folding slides 11, 12, which are located under the side panels, in one for longitudinally folding the laundry to be fed brought favorable starting position. The starting position of each folding slide 11, 12 is like this determines that the distance b is from an inner one End edge 18, 19 of a folding slide 11, 12 to an adjacent outer edge of one Folding template 9, 10 regardless of the distance a constant between the two folding templates 9, 10 is. The distance b is so great that the laundry item 14 supplied later in the area between the inner end edges 18, 19 and depending on the adjacent outer edge of the folding template 9, 10 opposite the surface of the central part 6 includes an angle of attack a of 30 ° - 60 °. After due to the width measurement the item of laundry with the scanner 13 the distance a between the folding templates 9, 10 and the starting position of the folding slides 11, 12 or the delivery of the latter to the folding templates 9, 10 is done, the conveyor belts 38 circulated again and the laundry 14 is fed to the first folding station 2 by it is taken from the conveyor belts 38 'of the latter and is transported on. The laundry is under the two folding templates 9, 10 passed. It's in his middle Area on the middle part 6 and with its edge areas on the side parts 7, 8. As soon as the item of laundry completely in the first folding station 2 is located, in a known manner, by a controlled further light barrier, not shown, the circulation of the conveyor belts 38 'stopped. One the folding slide 11, 12 after another now from the starting position, for example over actuated a pneumatic cylinder to the middle of the first Folding station 2 moved. The corresponding, lying on one of the side parts 7, 8 Edge area of the item of laundry to be folded lengthways 14 over at least one of the folding templates 9, 10 placed. After both folding slides 11, 12 are again in their starting position, is the supplied laundry in the example shown three-part longitudinally folded. The conveyor belts 38 'of the first folding station 2 are in again Circulated and the laundry would become Transverse folding of the second folding station 3 supplied. From there it then arrives at the laundry conveyor 4th

3 is the adjustment mechanism for Setting the distance a between the two Folding templates 9, 10 shown. The outline of the Laundry feed conveyor 1 of the first folding station 2 and the cover of the traverse 69 are in the Figure 3 shown in phantom. The folding templates 9, 10, which are essentially all over Length of the first folding station 2 are on their facing the laundry feed conveyor 1 Each end on an L-shaped template holder 29, 30 attached. These are transversal through which extending to the longitudinal direction of the folding templates 9, 10 Leg for adjusting the distance a by means of a first spindle 21, which has an opposing Feed threads 22a, 22b provided is, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the folding templates slidable.

The first spindle 21 is via a toothed belt 28 coupled to a second spindle 26. This is via a drive belt 27 by means of a reversible electric motor 20 drivable. On the second spindle 26 is also an opposing one Feed thread 34a, 34b available, which for Moving two support angles 39, 40 in the same direction as the aforementioned template carriers 29, 30 is determined. At these support angles 39, 40, on the one hand, guide plates 41, 42 are fastened, which are designed to always be the same inexpensive introduction of laundry items, independently from the position of the two folding slides 9, 10 to ensure each other. On the other hand, they are Support bracket 39, 40 intended to be on a Slide shaft 33 supports 31, 32 supported by one outer end position in an inner end position or vice versa to postpone. With the mentioned supports 31, 32 are the side parts described at the beginning 7, 8 of the first folding station 2. In 3 is only the side part 8, in its inner End position drawn or partially shown. On each of the named supports 31, 32 is further one guide comb 36, 37 each for lateral Perform the not shown in this figure Transport belts of said side parts 7, 8 are provided. 3 is also visible in FIG Part of a folding slide 12, the immediate is arranged below the one side part 8.

Let us assume the two spindles 21, 26 are driven by the electric motor 20 so that the distance a of the folding templates 9, 10 is increased is, on the one hand, the folding templates 29, 30 and on the other hand the support bracket 39, 40 each move their spindles 21, 26 away from each other, then at some point they come to the folding templates 9, 10 parallel legs of the Support bracket 39, 40 with the mentioned supports 31, 32 in touch and postpone the supports due to the further drive of the mentioned spindles outward. The side parts 7, 8 are in the outer end position shifted. If the distance a the folding slide 9, 10 is reduced, move due to the different direction of the spindle drive the template holder 29, 30 and the support bracket 39, 40 towards each other. The supports 31, 32 initially remain in their outer end position, until the support bracket 39, 40 each other so far have approximated that a drive plate 44 at each of the supports 31, 32 for concern comes, causing the latter to move towards each other the support bracket 39, 40 in the inner end position can be moved. Each of the drive plates 44, of which only in Fig. 3 one is visible, is above a driving rod 43 with the corresponding support bracket 39, 40 connected. Corresponding cutouts 45 to Perform the driving rods 43 are in the Supports 31, 32 available.

The inner and outer end positions will be for safety's sake, each with an inner limit switch 24 and an outer limit switch 25 monitors. The limit switches are cut across from the the folding templates 9, 10 extending Legs of the template holder 29, 30 actuated. On the toothed belt 28 facing away The end of the first spindle 21 is a counting device 23, 35 for counting the number of revolutions of the Spindle provided. This counting device exists from a probe, for example an inductive one Proximity switch 23 and one at the shaft end arranged and rotating with the shaft Position transmitter 35, for example opposite one the part protruding from the spindle shaft a ferromagnetic material. By means of the The pulses emitted can be the aforementioned control unit the current distance a of the two folding templates 9, 10 calculate.

The two support angles 39, 40 mentioned are furthermore also determined the starting position the aforementioned folding slide 11, 12 depending on the distance a between the two Folding templates 9, 10 set. An example of the The arrangement required for this is shown in FIG. 4 shown. There is essentially the first folding station 2 visible, on which, as already said, on one End of laundry feed conveyor 1 and at the other End of the second folding station 3 connects. The two tabular folding slides 11, 12 are on their each of the end edges 18, 19 already mentioned opposite sides with one side member each 55, 56 connected. These side members can for example, square tubes. On the one in the Fig. 4 left side members 55 are a front and a rear guide tube 50 each at points 57 attached at right angles to a side member 55. In extend the front and rear guide tubes 50 one front and one can be moved rear guide shaft 49 whose the guide tubes 50 facing end faces 53 each with the Machine frame of the folding device connected are. In the opposite direction, the right side member includes 56 a front and a rear guide tube 52, which guide tubes each have at positions 58 the right side member 56 also at right angles are connected. Protrude into these guide tubes 52 Guide shafts 51, which in turn on the guide tubes 52 facing end faces 54 with are connected to the machine frame. Through this Arrangement of guide tubes and guide shafts are the folding slides in the transverse direction first folding station 2 slidably mounted. Between the front and rear guide tubes or guide shafts are two pneumatic cylinders 59, 60 arranged. Each of the pneumatic cylinders is by means of a guide bushing 67, 68 on each Cylinder guide shaft 65, 66 transverse to the longitudinal direction the first folding station 2 slidably mounted. The Piston rod 61 of the first pneumatic cylinder with one attached to the left side member 55 Attachment bracket 62 connected. The piston rod 63 of the second pneumatic cylinder 60 is shown in Connection with a mounting bracket 64, which is arranged on the right side member 56. The two piston rods 61, 63 are in the extended position Waiting position drawn.

A cable 47, which has several pulleys 46, which are attached to the machine frame, is redirected several times, is on the one hand with a Rope clamp 48 connected to the support bracket 39 and is on the other hand at positions 70 and 71 Housing of the first and second pneumatic cylinder attached.

If the support bracket 39 to reduce the distance a between the two in this Fig. 4 not illustrated stencils 9, 10 with the Arrow A shifts direction indicated, shifts the housing of the first pneumatic cylinder 59 on the cylinder guide shaft 65, in the indicated with A ' Direction. The extended piston rod 61 of the first pneumatic cylinder moves the folding slide 11 also in the direction A 'to the center the folding station. The case of the second Pneumatic cylinder 60 is on the second cylinder guide shaft 66 moved in the direction of arrow A ". The extended second piston rod 63 serves as a driver for moving the folding slide 12 also in the direction A "against the Middle of the first folding station 2. This way become the starting positions of the folding slides 11, 12 set. Because the feeds of the support bracket 39, 40 and the template holder 29, 30 (Fig. 3) are the same, the distance b (Fig. 1 and 2) from the end edges 18, 19 to each of the neighboring folding templates 9, 10 constant.

To trigger the longitudinal folding process, as already described, from the set starting position the folding slide 11, 12 the pneumatic cylinder 59 and 60 operated one after the other. The first piston rod 61 of the first pneumatic cylinder 59 is retracted and the one folding slide 11 moves over the folding templates 9, 10 to Doing a longitudinal fold. After the a folding slide 11 back to the starting position has returned, is by pressing of the second pneumatic cylinder 60, the second piston rod 63 retracted and the other folding slide 12 executes the second longitudinal fold.

Thanks to the drive using a reversible electric motor and by means of spindle rods the setting or delivery movements of the folding templates or the folding slide should be carried out extremely quickly. Although these settings or deliveries often for the unsorted laundry items high laundry throughput is required reached. The transport belts are protected because an adjustment of the side parts of the first folding station only then is necessary and made is when on an extremely wide piece of laundry extremely narrow or vice versa follows.

Claims (9)

1. Folding apparatus for flatwork articles comprising a feed conveyor (1), a first folding station (2) for folding the article longitudinally with respect to the feed direction, a second folding station (3) for folding the article transversely with respect to the feed direction, an exit conveyor (4) and a control unit (5), the first folding station (2) being divided into three parts longitudinally with respect to the feed direction, i.e. into a middle section (6) and two laterally disposed and vertically offset side sections (7, 8), which middle section and which side sections are in the form of conveyors having revolving conveyor belts (38'), and the first folding station (2) having two folding templates (9, 10) extending parallel to the feed direction, being disposed over the middle section (6) and being adjustable transversely to said direction and being a distance apart, as well as two shuttle plates (11, 12) which are vertically offset with respect to the folding templates (9, 10), are disposed below the side sections (7, 8) and are each displaceable towards and away from the folding templates transversely to the feed direction,
   characterized in that a scanning device (13) for determining the width of a flatwork article to be fed for folding is provided on the article feed conveyor (1) and that the determining device (13) sends signals to the control unit (5) which are intended for adjusting the spacing (a) between the folding templates (9, 10), which spacing is adapted to the flatwork article to be folded, and for delivering the shuttle plates (11, 12) to the folding templates (9, 10), a setting angle α for the flatwork article to be folded consequently being formed between each folding template and the adjacent shuttle plate delivered to the relevant folding template, and the side sections (7, 8) interacting with the folding templates (9, 10) in such a way that, in the event of misadjustments thereof, they are then moved to an outer end position or to an inner end position if a minimum distance or a maximum distance between the folding template and the adjacent side section is reached.
2. Folding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the determining device (13) comprises a first scanning element (15) disposed centrally in the transverse direction with respect to the feed conveyor (1), and has at least one second scanning element (16, 17) disposed laterally offset with respect to the first scanning element (15).
3. Folding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the determining device (13) comprises three scanning elements and in that each of the scanning elements is designed as a reflecting photoelectric barrier (15, 16, 17).
4. Folding apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the distance (b) of an inner edge (18, 19) of each one of the sliders (11, 12) in the delivered state to an outer edge of the adjacent folding template (9,10) is essentially constant independently of a spacing (a) of the two folding templates from each other.
5. Folding apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the folding templates (9, 10) are adjustable symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the folding apparatus by means of a motor (20)-driven spindle (21) with an opposed feed thread (22a, 22b), and in that a contact element (23) for counting the revolutions of the spindle is provided to ascertain the spacing (a) of the folding templates (9, 10).
6. Folding apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the maximal range of adjustment of the folding templates (9, 10) is monitored by an inner (24) and an outer limit switch (25).
7. Folding apparatus according to one of the Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each of the side sections (7, 8) of the first folding station (2) is displaceably disposed transversely to the feed direction and is positioned in the outer end position for extremely wide flatwork articles and in the inner end position for extremely narrow flatwork articles.
8. Folding apparatus according to claim 7 characterized in that the said stop positions of the side sections (7,8) are controllable necessarily as a function of the spacing (a) of the folding templates.
9. Folding apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that on the basis of the signals delivered by the determining device (13) the control unit (5) is enabled to select a spacing (a) of the folding templates (9, 10) suitable for the article to be folded from several stored spacings.

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