EP1160370A2 - Method and device for feeding pieces of laundry to an ironing machine or similar - Google Patents

Abstract

The article is deposited on to the feed conveyor (11) in a continuous and/or transition-free manner from the pegs it has suspended by. The item is deposited on a top section (32) of a rotatingly driven conveyor belt (29) of the conveyor (11). During the process, at least a part of the lower peg halves (21) of the pegs (14) holding the item is in contact with the belt section.

Description

The invention relates to a method for feeding laundry to a mangle or the like according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, relates to Invention a device according to the preamble of claim 8.

The automatic feeding of laundry to a defect or other Laundry treatment facility is usually carried out with the help of a Spreading device and at least one feed conveyor. There will be one piece of laundry at a time with opposite corners manually in two brackets of the spreader mounted. By then moving apart transversely to the feed direction of the clamps the piece of laundry is stretched out and in the process between the two corners held by the brackets the upper edge of the Linen items tightened. With the taut upper edge, the item of laundry then becomes deposited by the clamps on an upper run of the feed conveyor.

The placing of the front edge of a piece of laundry on the upper strand of the Feed conveyor has so far been carried out with clamps spaced from the upper run, so that the border area of the same at the upper edge of the item of laundry on the Obertrum falls. This results in a contraction of the to put down the Clammy stretched top of the laundry. The result is that the front area of the item of laundry after hitting the feed conveyor Wrinkles on the upper run. With these folds, the front of the laundry item entered into the mangle, causing the laundry item to be wrinkled. The poor quality of the laundry item suffers from this.

Starting from the foregoing, the object of the invention is a method and to provide a device whereby the laundry items are substantially wrinkle free the defect or other laundry treatment facility can be supplied.

A method for solving this problem has the measures of claim 1. The fact that the respective item of laundry is essentially stepless from the clips and / or is placed seamlessly on the feed conveyor, the front edge of the Items of laundry no longer on the upper run of the feed conveyor. The whole laundry, and even the front edge of the same, is in the spread state when Put down on the upper run of the feed conveyor so that the upper area of the laundry with the upper edge of the same on the upper run of the feed conveyor when the clips release the laundry. That’s what happens when depositing the laundry on the upper run of the feed conveyor to none Contraction of the upper edge of the Items of laundry and the associated wrinkling because of this contraction when resting the front edge of the laundry on the upper run through the Friction between the upper run and the laundry is prevented. Yet a more reliable contraction of the stretched between the brackets upper edge of the piece of laundry in the case of stepless, seamless or paragraphless Avoid placing the same on the upper run of the feed conveyor if that Piece of laundry with negative pressure is fixed on the upper run.

It is preferably at least at the time when the respective item of laundry is put down on the upper run of the feed conveyor at least part of a bottom each lower bracket half of the brackets on the upper run of the feed conveyor. As a result, the item of laundry can be placed almost continuously and / or seamlessly on the Lay down the upper strand of the feed conveyor. A drop that is common in the prior art the front area of the item of laundry on the upper run of the feed conveyor does not take place.

According to a preferred development of the method, at least one front, lower part of the lower half of the clamp of each clamp for transferring the item of laundry moved up to the feed conveyor to the upper run of the same. This will the piece of laundry is gradually drawn onto the upper run of the feed conveyor until it finally at the time of removing the bracket from the leading edge with a front area rests smoothly on the upper run of the feed conveyor.

Furthermore, it is provided that for transferring the item of laundry to the Feed conveyor conveyor belts and clamps run in the same way the brackets are called and the feed conveyor is moved in at the same speed Direction of supply of the laundry to the ironer or the like, driven. The thereby given synchronism of the brackets to the upper run of the feed conveyor ensures a slip-free, gradual resting on at least the front part of the laundry on the upper run of the feed conveyor, causing wrinkling of the piece of laundry stretched by the clamps for transfer to the feed conveyor is avoided.

Furthermore, it is provided according to the invention that the clamps before and / or during the Place the respective item of laundry on the upper run of the feed conveyor swivel. This is expediently such that a free end of the lower half of the bracket on or against the upper run of the feed conveyor becomes. This results in a seamless fit of the lower half of the bracket on the upper run of the feed conveyor, which is a continuous, in particular paragraphless or stepless placement of at least the front edge of the respective item of laundry guaranteed on the upper run of the feed conveyor.

Preferably, the contact is at least the front free end of the bottom of the lower half of the clamp with the upper run of the feed conveyor at least during the placement of the laundry on the feed conveyor by a automatic adjustment of the inclination or the swivel angle of the brackets to the Maintain the course of the upper run. There is an automatic pivoting of the Clamp opposite the upper run of the feed conveyor, for example such that the front, free ends of the lower clamp halves on the upper run of the feed conveyor fit almost without gaps, which is at least a wrinkle-free, seamless deposit the front edge of the respective item of laundry on the upper strand of the Feed conveyor guaranteed.

Finally, it is procedurally provided that the clips after the placement of the front end of the laundry on the lower run of the feed conveyor and out of contact with the front edge of the laundry bring to. Here preferably keep at least the front ends of the lower Halves of the clamp their contact to the upper run of the feed conveyor. Thereby and by moving the clamps apart to release the corners of the The laundry becomes a contraction of the upper stretched by the clamps Avoid the edge of the laundry and, if necessary, the upper edge of the Items of laundry stretched again when loosening the clips from the corners.

A device for solving the aforementioned problems has the features of Claim 8 on. Because the clamps are relatively movable in relation to the feed conveyor, in such a way that at least a lower part of the clamps for storing the Pieces of laundry on the feed conveyor to the system with the upper run of the same, is the respective item of laundry without steps or stepless, namely sliding, so to speak depositable in the upper run. This causes a condition when the item of laundry is put down avoided, in which a front edge of the laundry uncontrolled on the Feed conveyor falls.

At least the lower clip halves of the clips are as thin tongues educated. This allows the brackets to be held in the brackets Move corner areas of the item of laundry close to the upper run of the feed conveyor, because the corner areas are only through the thin tongues of the lower halves of the bracket be separated from the lower run.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device, the clips are pivotably arranged on carriages which can be moved transversely in front of the feed conveyor. The clamps are preferably around a cross-section to the feed direction horizontal axis pivotable, preferably with respect to the slide. This allows the course of the undersides of the lower half of the bracket Change the clamps opposite the upper run of the feed conveyor. In particular, lets the pivotability of the clamps an adjustment of the bottom of the lower Halves of the clamp on the course of the upper run of the feed conveyor during the Placing the laundry item on the same.

It is also intended to assign the brackets pivoting means that the Swivel bracket. By means of the pivoting means it is possible, for example, that to manually enter the corners of the laundry into the brackets by for this purpose the clamps into an ergonomically favorable, in particular inclined, Position. Then the clamps are pivoted again so that they get into a convenient position for delivery and finally they can go through the pivoting means are pivoted so that they are at the time of delivery at least with a front free end of the lower half of the bracket on the Upper strand. The pivoting means are preferably designed such that they still allow free pivoting of the brackets, the pivoting means counteract this free pivotability only resiliently. This allows you to adjust the clamps automatically to the course of the upper run of the feed conveyor so lay down on it to put the laundry down.

According to a preferred development of the invention, one is provided To form the area of the feed conveyor in the feed direction inclined. In the sloping area of the feed conveyor, the front is put down Edge of the piece of laundry on the feed conveyor. The brackets are on Trajectories of movement can be moved in the feed direction, which is targeted with the oblique course of the front region of the feed conveyor corresponds, namely in such a way that the Path of movement of the clamps in the feed direction approaches the upper run. Thereby are at least the undersides of the clips on the upper run in a simple manner of the feed conveyor can be approached, which is the prerequisite for the invention continuous and / or seamless storage of laundry items on the Upper run of the feed conveyor is given.

Fig. 1

eine schematische, perspektivische Darstellung der Vorrichtung zum Zuführen von Wäschestücken zu einer Mangel oder dergleichen,

Fig. 2

einen Querschnitt durch die Vorrichtung mit einer Klammer in einer Stellung zum Einhängen einer Ecke eines Wäschestücks,

Fig. 3

die Vorrichtung in einer Darstellung analog zu den Fig. 2 in einer Zwischenstellung mit hochgeschwenkter Klammer, und

Fig. 4

einen Querschnitt durch die Vorrichtung analog zur Fig. 2 und 3 mit einer sich in Ablagestellung befindlichen Klammer.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawing. In this show:

Fig. 1

1 shows a schematic, perspective illustration of the device for feeding laundry items to a mangle or the like,

Fig. 2

2 shows a cross section through the device with a clip in a position for hanging in a corner of a piece of laundry,

Fig. 3

the device in a representation analogous to FIG. 2 in an intermediate position with pivoted bracket, and

Fig. 4

a cross section through the device analogous to FIGS. 2 and 3 with a clip in the storage position.

The device shown here is used to feed stretched items of laundry 12 to a defect or another not shown in the figures Laundry treatment machine. The device essentially has a Spreading device 10 and a feed conveyor 11 assigned to it. From the feed conveyor 11 is a single, spread out item of laundry 12 the shortage or the like can be supplied. It is also conceivable between the feed conveyor 11 and the Lack to provide a stretching conveyor not shown in the figures. One each Spread laundry 12 is then from the feed conveyor 11 to the stretch conveyor transferred and from this in a direction indicated by an arrow 13 to surrender the shortage. The spreader 10 and the feed conveyor 11 are on a common machine frame, which is only hinted at in FIG. 1 is shown.

The spreader 10 is located in relation to the feed direction 13 in front of the Feed conveyor 11. The spreading device 10 shown here has a pair of clamps from two identical clamps 14. The clamps 14 are transverse to Feed direction 13 in front of the feed conveyor 11 can be moved together and apart. Each Bracket 14 is attached to a carriage 15 which with rollers on a transverse to the feed direction 13 running horizontally in front of the feed conveyor 11 (on the machine frame) fixed rail 16 is movable. With clamps 14 moved together (FIG. 1) are an upper edge 17 of the laundry item 12 delimiting, opposite Corners 18 inserted into a bracket 14. By driving apart the clip 14, the piece of laundry 12 is spread or spread and the stretched upper edge 17 of the laundry 12. The laundry 12 is with stretched upper edge 17 of the clamps 14 of the spreader 10 in the feed direction 13 moves to the feed conveyor 11, namely along in the feed direction 13 extending horizontal tracks 19. Subsequently, the laundry 12 from hand over the clamps 14 to the feed conveyor 11.

Each of the identically designed clamps 14, of which only one of the in Figs. 2 to 4 brackets 14 lying one behind the other has an upper one Half of the clip 20 and a lower clip half 21. The two clip halves 20 and 21 are fixed relative to each other. Between the clamp halves 20 and 21 there is a clamp mouth 22 for receiving one corner of each item of laundry 12. The clamp mouth 22 is on a side facing away from the defect 23 (opposite the feed direction 13) open. The upper bracket half 20 is one in each of the figures Associated clamping means, not shown, which presses against the lower bracket half 21 and thereby clamps a corner 18 at the upper edge 17 of the laundry 12. By Moving up the respective clamping means can the corresponding corner 18 of her associated bracket 14 can be solved. The lower one is special Half of bracket 21 formed. It consists of a flat, elongated tongue 24 a thin sheet.

Each bracket 14 is pivotable relative to the carriage 15, in one vertical plane, which extends in the feed direction 13. This is a top in Feed direction 13 of the front corner region of the clamp 14 rotatable with an axis 25 stored under the slide 15 assigned to it. The axis 25 runs horizontally directed transversely to the feed direction 13 (Fig. 2 to 4). Furthermore, each bracket 14 is a Adjustment means 26 assigned. The adjusting means 26 engages with a lower end 27 a corner region of the clamp 14 lying below the axis 25 and with a upper end 28 on a lower region of the carriage 15. The articulation points of the Adjustment means 26 on the carriage 15 and one of the clamps 14 are positioned such that the adjusting means 26 is inclined in a vertical direction running in the feed direction 13 Level extends (Fig. 2 to 4). The adjusting means 26 is preferably a double-acting one Pneumatic cylinder trained. The pneumatic cylinder can do the respective Swing bracket 14 about axis 25 in the opposite direction automatically. The pneumatic cylinder also allows the bracket 14 in to freely pivot the vertical plane running along the feed direction 13 by compression the air in the pneumatic cylinder, which makes it resilient, especially spring-back.

The feed conveyor 11 has a circulating conveyor belt 29 which is so wide that it extends over the entire width of larger items of laundry 12. The Conveyor belt 29 can be designed as a single full-area belt, but also from one A large number of narrow belt strips lying next to one another at short intervals consist. The conveyor belt 29 is circumferential between two transverse to the feed direction 13 extending guide drums 30 and 31 out. A deflection drum 30 or 31 is drivable. An upper run 32 of the conveyor belt 29 is designed in a special way or led. For this purpose, a front region of the upper run 32 in the feed direction 13 is as an inclined area 33 is formed. This inclined area 33 runs in FIG Feed direction 13 increasing. The inclination of the inclined area 33 is 5 ° to 20 °, preferably about 10 °. The inclined area 13 includes in the feed direction 13 in substantially horizontal region 34 of the upper run 32. A bottom of the Upper run 32 is assigned a suction box 35, which extends over a large part of the extends oblique area 33 and can be acted upon by suction air. This can do that respective item of laundry 12 on the upper strand 33 of the conveyor belt having holes 29 held by negative pressure, namely be sucked in.

The inclined area 33 of the upper run 32 of the feed conveyor 11 and the horizontal Tracks 19 for moving the spreading device 10 run in the feed direction 13 converging to each other, that is, the distance between the oblique area 33 of the feed conveyor 13 and the horizontal tracks 19 of the spreading device 10 decreases in the feed direction 13. Otherwise, the tracks 19 have one Distance from the upper run 32 of the feed conveyor 11 that for storing the to upper edge 17 adjacent upper area of the laundry 12 on the oblique area 33 of the upper run 22 a bottom 37 of the tongue 24 of the lower Clip half 21 of each clip 14 at least partially, preferably completely System on the inclined area 33 of the upper run 32 arrives (Fig. 4). But it can it is also sufficient that only the one pointing to the open side 23 of the respective clip 14 free transverse edge 36 of the respective tongue 24 for depositing the laundry 12 on the Feed conveyor 11 rests on the inclined area 33 of the upper strand 22.

The method according to the invention is described below with reference to the preceding described device - without the method being limited to this - described:

A piece of laundry 12 is manually inserted into the two clamps 14 moved together its opposite corners 18 which delimit the upper edge 17. In this case, the transversely directed rail 16 carrying the clamps 14 and slide 15 outwards against the feed direction 13 with respect to the feed conveyor 11 drove up (Fig. 2). The clamp mouths 22 of the clamps 14 are open and the Brackets 14 are pivoted down so that the jaws 22 open Pages 23 are inclined downwards. In this inclined position (Fig. 2) Brackets 14 allow the corners 18 of the laundry 12 to be ergonomically special favorably by an operator in the clamp mouths 22 of the clamps 14 insert. Having manually opposite corners 18 of each Pieces of laundry 12 are inserted into the clamp mouths 22 of both clamps 14, they are herein reduced by lowering those associated with the upper bracket halves 20 Clamping means clamped, namely against the inside of the tongues 24 of the lower Clip halves 21 pressed.

After the clips 14 have been loaded with the corners 18 of the laundry 12, move the clips 14 apart to stretch out the laundry 12 and Tensioning the upper edge 17 of the same. Here or after stretching the Laundry 12, the clips 14 are pivoted back so that the flat tongues 24 of the lower clamp halves 21 are directed approximately horizontally (FIG. 3). The item of laundry 12 is lifted slightly.

The transfer of the stretched-out upper edge 17 to the clamps 14 held items of laundry 12 to the feed conveyor 11 is carried out by the method of Spreading device 10 along the horizontal tracks 19 in the feed direction 13 the clips 14 are pivoted again so that the undersides of the tongues 24 of the lower bracket halves 21 are slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal, namely seen increasing in feed direction 13. This inclination preferably corresponds to that Inclination of the inclined area 33 of the upper run 32 of the feed conveyor 11.

Because of the horizontally running tracks 19, the distance to the oblique Area 33 of the upper run 32 of the feed conveyor 11 in the feed direction 13 itself reduced, the inclined brackets 14 arrive at the process of Spreading device 10 on the horizontal tracks 19 in the feed direction 13 with the underside 37 of the tongues 24 forming the lower clip halves 21 for bearing on the inclined area 33 of the upper run 32 of the feed conveyor 11 (FIG. 4). The from the upper edge 17 starting upper area of the laundry 12 stepless and / or smoothly or smoothly on the inclined area 33 of the upper run 32 of the feed conveyor 11 stored. This is preferably done during a synchronous one Movement phase of the spreading device 10 with the clamps 14 relative to the Feed conveyor 11 in the feed direction 13. At least the upper region of the Items of laundry 12 with constant contact of the undersides 37 of the tongues 24 of the clamps 14 on the inclined area 33 of the upper run 32 onto the feed conveyor 11 because of the same (synchronous) speed of the brackets 14 and the upper run 32 of the feed conveyor 11 in the feed direction 13 without one significant slip of the laundry item 12 on or opposite the upper run 32.

After the stretched upper edge 17 of the laundry 12 is its intended Position on the inclined area 33 of the upper run 32 of the feed conveyor 11 reached has, the clamps 14 by moving the clamping means in the upper Clip halves 20 opened and moved apart so far that they the corners 18 of the Release the upper edge 17 of the laundry item 12. The corners 18 of the laundry item 12 slide laterally out of the clamp jaws 22 of the clamps 14, namely if necessary with a slight further stretching of the upper edge 17 of the laundry item 12. Die Brackets 14 are then again against the spreading device 10 Feed direction 13 advanced and moved together. It can then be manually next item of laundry 12 with opposite corners 18 in the clips 14 be hung up.

When placing the front area of the adjoining the upper edge 17 Items of laundry 12 on the inclined area 33 of the upper run 32 of the feed conveyor 11 is the upper area of the laundry item 12 in the oblique area 33 on the Upper run 32 fixed by applying a vacuum to the suction box 35, whereby the front area of the laundry item 12 through the holes in the conveyor belt 29 in the inclined area 33 of the upper run 32 on the conveyor belt 29 of the feed conveyor 11 is sucked tight, with a wrinkle formation when storing, especially when loosening and moving the clips 14 away from the corners 18 of the garment 12 is avoided.

Reference symbol list :

10th

Spreader

11

Feed conveyor

12th

Laundry

13

Feed direction

14

Bracket

15

carriage

16

rail

17th

upper edge

18th

corner

19th

train

20th

upper half of the bracket

21

lower half of the bracket

22

Clip mouth

23

open side

24th

tongue

25th

axis

26

Adjusting means

27

lower end

28

top end

29

Conveyor belt

30th

Deflection drum

31

Deflection drum

32

Obertrum

33

sloping area

34

horizontal area

35

Suction box

36

free transverse edge

37

bottom

Claims (14)

Method for feeding laundry items to a mangle or the like, wherein a laundry item with adjacent corners is hung in two brackets of a spreader, stretched by the clips of the laundry item and transferred to a feed conveyor that transports the laundry item to mangle or the like, characterized in that The item of laundry (12) is deposited on the feed conveyor (11) essentially continuously and / or seamlessly by the clamps (14). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the item of laundry (12) is deposited essentially continuously and / or seamlessly on an upper run (32) of a conveyor belt (29) of the feed conveyor (11) which can be driven in a rotating manner. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the item of laundry (12) under contact with at least a portion of the (half) clamp halves (21) of the clips (14) holding the item of laundry (12) from below on the upper run (32) of the feed conveyor (11) is filed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a front part of the lower clamp halves (21) of the clamps (14) for continuously depositing the laundry item (12) on the feed conveyor (11) to the upper run (32) of the feed conveyor (11 ) is moved up, preferably with at least partial contact of the underside (37) of the lower bracket half (21) on the upper run (32) of the feed conveyor (11), preferably at least until the laundry item (12) has been placed on the upper run (32) of the Feed conveyor (11), the clamps (14) are driven in the same direction, in particular at the same speed, to the upper run (32) of the feed conveyor (11). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clips (14) are pivoted before depositing the respective item of laundry (12) on the feed conveyor (11), preferably in such a way that at least one free transverse edge (36) of the respective clip half (21 ), preferably the entire underside (37) of the same, is lowered onto or against the upper run (32) of the feed conveyor (11). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact of at least the free transverse edge (36) of each lower clamp half (21) of the clamps (14) with the upper run (32) of the feed conveyor (11) at least while the laundry item (12 ) is maintained on the feed conveyor (11) by automatically adjusting the inclination of the at least lower clamp halves (21) of the clamps (14) to the course of the upper run (32), preferably by automatically pivoting at least the lower clamp halves (21) of the clamps (14) opposite the upper run (32) of the feed conveyor (11). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamps (14) are brought apart from contact with the item of laundry (12) by being moved apart, the lower clamp halves (21) at least partially resting against the upper strand during the spreading apart of the clamps (14) (32) of the feed conveyor (11) maintained. Device for feeding laundry items to a mangle or the like, with a feed conveyor leading to the mangle or the like and a spreading device which has at least two clamps for holding opposite corners of the laundry item, the clips extending the laundry item and transferring it to the feed conveyor, characterized in that that the clamps (14) are relatively movable in relation to the feed conveyor (11) in such a way that they can be placed on at least part of their lower clamp halves (21) for depositing the laundry (12) on the feed conveyor (11) for abutment on an upper run (32) of the feed conveyor (11). Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the lower clip halves (21) of the clips (14) are designed as thin tongues (24). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamps (14) can preferably be pivoted about horizontal axes (25) running transversely to the feed direction (13), in particular pivotably on slides (15) for moving the clamps (14) transversely in front the feed conveyor (11) are arranged. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamps (14) are automatically pivotable by means of adjusting means (26), preferably in opposite directions. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamps (14) can be pivoted freely, the adjusting means (26) counteracting the free pivotability in a resilient, in particular resilient manner. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper run (32) of the feed conveyor (11) in an area (inclined area 33) lying forward in the feed direction (13) of the item of laundry (12) on which the respective item of laundry (12) is placed on the clamps (14), is inclined or inclined to the horizontal, preferably the inclined region (33) rises in the feed direction (13), the clamps (14) in particular being pivotable into such a position in the underside (37) of the lower clamp halves (21) run at least in part, preferably completely, parallel to the inclined area (33) of the upper run (32) of the feed conveyor (11). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamps (14) can be moved on at least one movement path (path 19) which converges in the direction of feed (13) of the laundry items into the ironer or the like to the (front) oblique region (33) the upper run (32) of the feed conveyor (11) runs.

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