EP2113606A2 - Method and device for sorting, separating and/or transferring laundry items - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves determining a sorting criterion e.g. color and/or structure, on items of linen hanging from a transportation device (11) by image recognition. The image recognition is carried out in a darkened region along the transportation device during continuous onward transportation of the respective item of linen. The items of linen are individually transferred to a distributor conveyor (57) via an intermediate conveyor (56) after determining the criterion. The items of linen are moved away from the distributor conveyor by compressed air. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for singling out items of linen (2) a method for transferring an individual item of linen to a conveyor (3) a device for singling out items of linen, comprising a sensor (4) a device for transferring an item of linen to a subsequent conveyor, comprising a gripper (5) a device for sorting items of linen to be washed, comprising a transportation device.

Description

The invention relates to a method for sorting items to be washed according to the preamble of claim 1 or 4, a method for separating laundry items according to the preamble of claim 6 and a method for transferring laundry according to the preamble of claim 8. Furthermore The invention relates to a device for separating articles of laundry according to the preamble of claim 14, a device for transferring items of laundry according to the preamble of claim 16 and a device for sorting items of laundry according to the preamble of claim 19 and 20, respectively.

The washing of laundry is preceded by several treatments. The laundry, for example, in laundry bags delivered dirty laundry is in a heap usually different laundry items. It can be a mess of white linen and colorful linen, especially a mix of clothing and flat linen. The laundry items must first be individually removed from the laundry pile before they can be sorted according to different sorting criteria in order to then be able to wash them in the requirements of the way.

The separation and sorting of the laundry is done so far partly automated, partly manually. The manual activities are partly because the laundry items must be handed over several times to different facilities for the mechanization of separation and sorting.

Based on the above, the present invention seeks to provide a method and an apparatus, with which laundry items to be washed (dirty laundry) can be automatically prepared for the laundry.

A method for achieving this object comprises the measures of claim 1. According to this, it is provided that, when sorting dirty laundry, the color or structure representing a sorting criterion, if appropriate also the color and structure, of the respective item of laundry can be determined by image recognition. The image recognition scans contactlessly a part of the respective laundry article, which is sufficient to make statements about the color or structure of the laundry article. The structure, in particular of the surface of the item of laundry, makes it possible to draw conclusions about the type of fabric so that the respective item of laundry can be sorted according to the treatment required for the type of fabric, in particular laundry. Similarly, based on the color, for example, the laundry can be sorted by coloreds and white laundry, which also requires different washing treatments.

Furthermore, it is procedurally provided to perform the image recognition in a darkened area. As a result, scattered light influencing is avoided in the area of the image recognition, whereby the reliability and quality of the determination of the respective structure and / or color of the laundry item subjected to the image recognition is ensured.

According to a particular embodiment of the method, it is provided to transfer the items of laundry after determining their at least one sorting criterion, preferably via a transfer conveyor to a distribution conveyor. Preferably, the laundry items are dropped from the conveyor system on the transfer conveyor, which deposits them one by one, each individually, on the distribution conveyor. It is thus possible for each individual piece of laundry to be supplied in a targeted manner to the respective individual treatment according to the determined sorting criterion by the distributor conveyor or to be converted into a respectively suitable store for items of laundry with sorting criteria which permit the same treatment. In particular, compressed air is used for this purpose. Thus, a sorting of the laundry items can be done quickly and easily by the distribution conveyor the relevant item of laundry is blown off at the appropriate location from the distribution conveyor so to speak.

Another method for achieving the above-mentioned object, which may also be a further development of the method described above, comprises the measures of claim 4. Accordingly, each individual laundry item is transferred with a corner to a transport clamp of the transport device. Preferably, at least one sorting criterion of the item of laundry is determined in the state of the item of laundry hanging on the transporting clip. Subsequently, if appropriate, the respective individual item of laundry is deposited on a distributor conveyor and transported away from the distributor conveyor pneumatically at a location corresponding to the ascertained sorting criterion. This procedure permits a chain of pretreatments of the laundry items, all of which are automatic, ie without manual intermediate steps.

It is preferably provided that the respective item of laundry is checked according to several sorting criteria along the conveying path of the transport device, in particular according to the structure and / or color of the respective item of laundry. The color is important for sorting according to coloreds and whites, while the structure allows conclusions about the type of fabric of the respective laundry. It can be sorted the laundry items sorted the required post-treatment can be supplied. In this case, it is also possible to differentiate within a sorting criterion, for example by coloreds also being sorted according to specific types of fabric. The sorting then takes place after a specific combination of several sorting criteria.

Another method for solving the above-mentioned problem comprises the measures of claim 6. This method can also be a development of the previously described methods. In this method, it is provided that the gripper for separating the items of laundry is moved into the laundry pile before a single item of laundry from the laundry heap by a predetermined amount, in particular a certain immersion depth. Due to the targeted driving in of the gripper in the laundry heap reaches only a part, and preferably any part of a piece of laundry in the region of the gripper, which ensures that this usually takes only a single piece of laundry and this by pulling out of the Laundry heaps isolated. It is preferably provided to detect the depth of immersion of the gripper in the laundry pile by a proximity sensor when driving the laundry gripper into the laundry pile. If the proximity sensor detects that the gripper is driven by a certain predetermined amount in the laundry pile, so the overhead laundry he can reliably grasp and lift a single piece of laundry to pull it out of the laundry pile and thereby singulate.

Another method for solving the above-mentioned problem comprises the measures of claim 8. The method according to claim 8 can be developed by a method described above or also several prescribed methods. In the method according to claim 8 it is provided that the laundry item is transferred from a conveyor to a subsequent conveyor, wherein the conveyor before the subsequent conveyor is preferably formed by at least one belt conveyor on which a single, preferably previously separated, laundry at least partially rests , On such a belt conveyor, the laundry item can be reared by lying with an upper portion on the upper strand of the conveyor belt of the belt conveyor from which the adjacent parts of the laundry item hang down laterally, preferably on both sides. Such an orientation of the item of laundry is particularly suitable for reliable automatic transfer of the same to the subsequent conveyor, which may be any conveyor.

Preferably, the laundry article is brought over the belt conveyor by a pneumatic means, in particular at least one blowing nozzle. This blows the laundry as it were on the belt conveyor. It does not matter how the laundry is previously oriented. In the simplest case, it hangs with an arbitrary position on a gripper of a separating device.

A further embodiment of the method provides that the laundry item is transported between the belt conveyor and a pressure means assigned to it. By pressing the laundry item is pressed against the conveyor belt of the belt conveyor, so that the laundry, which hangs down to a large extent before the belt conveyor, does not slip down by the weight of the belt conveyor, but is frictionally entrained in the peripheral drive of the conveyor belt of the belt conveyor. In this case, a compulsory pulling over of the laundry item takes place via the belt conveyor.

A further preferred embodiment of the method provides that an end or an end region of the item of laundry, preferably a rear corner and / or a rear corner region of the item of laundry, is determined on the conveyor before the subsequent conveyor by at least one detection means. When pulling the laundry over the belt conveyor reliably forms a defined rear Area of the laundry, in particular always a rear corner region thereof, from. This makes it possible to selectively transfer a specific location, especially a corner, of the laundry item to the subsequent conveyor.

According to the method, it is further provided that when the detection means has determined the end, in particular the corner of the item of laundry on the conveyor, in particular the belt conveyor, the further transport of the item of laundry in the transport direction of the conveyor is stopped. In the simplest case, the drive of the conveyor is stopped. Preferably, however, is provided by a fixing member, such as a clamping means to fix the end of the laundry item on the conveyor. This ensures that the item of laundry, which rests on the conveyor with only one end, preferably a corner region or a corner, is not pulled down by the conveyor, in particular the upper strand of the belt conveyor, by the weight of the remaining part of the item hanging behind the conveyor becomes. The garment is fixed so reliably on the stopped conveyor.

The transfer of the end portion of a respective item of laundry, in particular a rear corner thereof, in the subsequent conveyor is made according to a proposal of the invention of a sword-like transfer means. The transfer means is seen in the transfer direction in front of the preceding conveyor, in particular belt conveyor, hanging down laundry. By forward movement of the sword-like transfer means, a rear part of the laundry article settles around the sword-like transfer means, whereby this can be handed over the garment with the rear corner region to the subsequent conveyor. It is preferably provided that the subsequent conveyor has successive transport clamps. The sword-like transfer means can then push the surrounding itself around the rear corner region of the laundry item targeted in a transport clamp, whereby a simple and reliable transfer of the rear corner region of the respective laundry article to the subsequent conveyor, namely a transport clamp of the same is guaranteed.

An apparatus for achieving the object mentioned has the features of claim 14. In this device, a sensor is associated with a gripper for extracting a single item of laundry from a laundry pile, which determines the immersion depth of the gripper in the laundry pile. This allows the gripper to dive to a certain extent in the laundry pile, and just so far that he can reliably grab a single piece of laundry and pull it out of the laundry pile.

Preferably, the sensor is designed as a proximity sensor, which controls the lowering of the gripper in the laundry heap so that when reaching a predetermined depth of immersion of the gripper in the laundry heap, the downward movement of the gripper is stopped and the gripper with him come into contact laundry is taken. The gripper is always pushed so deep into the laundry pile that specifically the top garment, bringing the gripper comes into contact, so far can move into the mouth of the gripper that only this piece of laundry from the laundry pile from the gripper can be raised and isolated becomes. Because the gripper is always moved by the proximity device with the same immersion depth in the laundry heap, only the top garment is moved into the mouth of the gripper to the same extent, so that under all circumstances, only a single piece of laundry is taken.

Another device for solving the above-mentioned object, which may also be a preferred embodiment of the device described above, has the features of claim 16. Accordingly, a belt conveyor for the removal of the separated laundry item at the rear end in the conveying direction, ie the end to which the laundry item is transported by the belt conveyor, associated with a detection means. This detection means is used to determine a rear end region, in particular a rear corner, of the laundry item transported across the belt conveyor in the conveying direction. Since the rear end region thereof is always formed by a rear corner of the item of laundry in the piece of laundry suspended above the belt conveyor, a specific point of the item of laundry is reliably detectable by the detection means. It is thus ensured that always this particular point of the laundry item, preferably the rear corner of the same, is detected. This allows the garment always be passed with this specific location to the subsequent conveyor, and automatically.

According to a development of the device, a fixing member is associated with the rear end of the belt conveyor. This serves to clamp the rear end region, in particular the rear corner region, of the laundry item on the belt conveyor. The fixing member can be activated by the detection means by then fixing the rear end portion of the laundry item, when it has been detected by the detection member and the belt conveyor is stopped or was stopped. When fixing it can be actuated in the simplest case by one of a pneumatic cylinder or the like Stopper act, which is driven against the upper run of the belt conveyor and thereby clamps the end, in particular the rear corner of the laundry on the upper run of the belt conveyor.

Furthermore, it is provided to assign a sword-like or tongue-like transfer means to the rear end of the belt conveyor. Preferably, the transfer means is arranged below the rear end region of the belt conveyor and displaceable in the conveying direction of the belt conveyor over the end region thereof. The laundry item passes in the transport direction in front of the sword-like transfer means when it is transported by the belt conveyor in the direction of the subsequent conveyor, in particular a transport device. When a rear corner of the garment is fixed to the rear end of the belt conveyor, the rear end portion of the garment is in front of the sword or tongue-like transfer means. By forward movement of the transfer means to the subsequent conveyor, the rear end of the laundry article sets around a plate-like tongue of the sword-like transfer means, whereby the rear end of the laundry item is selectively and reliably transferred to the subsequent conveyor. Preferably, for this purpose the sword-like transfer means is assigned to the rear end of the belt conveyor such that the sword-like transfer means the rear end portion, in particular a rear corner portion of the laundry item in an open transport bracket of the subsequent conveyor, in particular the transport device is inserted.

The claim 19 relates to a further device for solving the above-mentioned object, which may also be a preferred embodiment of the devices described above. This device is designed in such a way that a transport device forming the following conveyor has at least one image capture device, with which at least one sorting criterion of the laundry articles can be determined. By the image capture device but can also reliably detect complex sorting criteria, for example, the color of the laundry items and / or the structure thereof, which conclusions about the type of tissue are possible.

Another device for solving the above-mentioned problem has the features of claim 20. This device can also be a development of the devices described above. The claim 25 provides to associate the transport device preferably designed as a belt conveyor distribution conveyor, wherein associated next to the distribution conveyor in the conveying direction of the same successive discharge points or storage for the sorted laundry items are. On the distribution conveyor, the items of laundry can be stored one after the other, after the determination of their sorting criteria, and be passed by the successive discharge points or stores. In this case, each item of laundry is sorted according to at least one ascertained sorting criterion by being selectively transferred from the distribution conveyor to the intended discharge station or the corresponding store at the point provided for the at least one sorting criterion.

A preferred embodiment of the device provides, the distribution conveyor, preferably at the discharge points or the storage opposite side of the same, allocate tuyeres. The nozzles are used to transfer the respective item of laundry from the distribution conveyor to the respective discharge point or the relevant memory. For this purpose, at least one tuyere is provided at each discharge point or in the region of each store. With the tuyeres a simple and reliable transfer of each item of laundry to the intended memory or the discharge point is possible. In particular, the tuyere allow rapid transfer of the laundry items to the storage or discharge points.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that between the transport device and the distribution conveyor, in particular in the region of its beginning, a transfer device is arranged. The transfer device is associated with a defined point of the transport device, namely a point that follows the determination of the last sorting criterion along the conveying path of the transport device. The transfer device transfers a single piece of laundry released from a transport clamp of the transport to the transfer conveyor. As a result of the transfer device of the distribution conveyor may have any spatial assignment to the transport device by the transfer device, the distance and especially height differences between the transport device and the distribution conveyor can be bridged. The transfer device also ensures that the items of laundry arrive one after the other without any overlap on the distribution conveyor, so that they are reliable and unique sortable along the distribution conveyor.

Fig. 1

eine Draufsicht auf die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht eines Teils der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung, nämlich im Bereich der Vereinzelung der Wäschestück und Übergabe vereinzelter Wäschestücke an eine Transporteinrichtung, und

Fig. 3

eine vergrößerte Einzelheit III aus der Fig. 2.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. In this show:

Fig. 1

a top view of the device according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a side view of a portion of the device according to the invention, namely in the field of separation of the laundry item and transfer of individual items of laundry to a transport device, and

Fig. 3

an enlarged detail III from the Fig. 2 ,

The device shown here is used for automatic separation and sorting of laundry items to be washed. The laundry items are not shown in the figures.

The device has a separating device 10, a subsequent transport device 11 and a sorting station 12 arranged downstream of the transport device 11. In the Fig. 1 is the singulator 10 only symbolically represented (by a dot-dashed rectangle). Detailed show the Fig. 2 and 3 the separating device 10. The separating device 10, the transport device 11 and the sorting station 12 are designed and linked with each other so that a fully automatic preparation, in particular sorting, of the laundry items to be washed, namely dirty laundry, takes place for the subsequent washing process.

The separating device 10 has a frame 13 with a hopper 14 for receiving a laundry pile. The oblique side walls having, in particular pyramidal or conical shaped, funnel 14 may at its narrowing lower end a in the Fig. 3 shown catcher bag 15 for falling out of the laundry items, such as disposable syringes from medical gowns have.

Above the hopper 14 a along a vertical trajectory 18 up and down movable gripper 16 is arranged. The gripper 16 is located at the lower end of a fixedly mounted on the top of the frame 13 of the singulator 10 lifting member, which may be, for example, a pneumatic cylinder 17. Other linear drives, such as spindle drives or pulleys, are conceivable. The gripper 16 is associated with a sensor, which may be, for example, a proximity sensor, not shown in the figures. The sensor is moved up and down together with the gripper 16 by the pneumatic cylinder 17. With the proximity sensor, the immersion depth of the open gripper 16 in the laundry heap in the hopper 14 is determined. The sensor is associated with a controller which interrupts the downward movement of the gripper 16 in the laundry pile in the hopper 14, as soon as the proximity switch has detected a predetermined depth of immersion of the open gripper 16 in the laundry pile. The control also activates this at a certain immersion depth Successful closing of the gripper 16 and the subsequent lifting of the gripper 16 with a piece of laundry taken by this.

On one side next to the vertical trajectory 18 of the gripper 16, a belt conveyor 19 is arranged. The belt conveyor 19 is based on the illustration in the Fig. 2 at a slight distance to the left of the path of movement 18, specifically below the maximum raised gripper 16. The belt conveyor 19 extends substantially horizontally. In the exemplary embodiment shown, an upper strand 20 of the belt conveyor 19 rises slightly in the conveying direction, namely in the direction of the transport device 11. The length of the belt conveyor 19 is dimensioned such that it ends next to the frame 13 of the sorting station 12. A (seen in the conveying direction) rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19, which points to the subsequent transport device 11, thus located outside the range of the sorting station 12th

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the front end 22 of the belt conveyor 19 facing the movement path 18 is assigned a pressure means 23. This is according to the representation of the Fig. 2 around a non-driven, freely rotatable pressure roller, which extends over at least part of the width of the belt conveyor 19, preferably the same width. The pinch roller is seen as seen in the conveying direction just behind a driven pulley at the front end 22 of the belt conveyor 19. The pressure roller of the pressure means 23 can be pressed against the upper run 20 of the belt conveyor 19 with a predetermined force, for example spring-loaded.

In the region of the rear end 21, the belt conveyor 19 is associated with a preferably non-contact detection means. The detection means not shown in the figures determines the rear end, preferably a rear corner, of the laundry article passing by the detection means in the area of the rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19.

The area of the rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19 is assigned a fixing device 24 at a distance above the upper strand 20 thereof. In the conveying direction of the belt conveyor 19, the fixing member 24 is behind the detection means for the trailing end of the laundry article. In the illustrated embodiment, the fixing member 24 on a clamping plate 25 which is movable by a fixedly mounted on the frame 13 linear drive, such as a pneumatic cylinder on a perpendicular to the upper strand 20 trajectory against the upper run 20 of the belt conveyor 19 for temporary Clamping a rear end, in particular a rear corner, of the laundry item on the belt conveyor 19th

The rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19 is further assigned a sword-like transfer means 26. The transfer means 26 is mounted under the belt conveyor 19. The transfer means 26 is formed from a flat, plate-like tongue 27, which is fastened with its side facing the front end 22 of the belt conveyor 19 to a linear drive, in particular a pneumatic cylinder 28. From the pneumatic cylinder 28, the tongue 27 on a parallel under the upper strand 20 of the belt conveyor 19 extending path of movement 29 toward the transport device 11 and away from this wegbewegbar. When the tongue 27 is moved back completely by the transport device 11, a free end 30 thereof is located below the foremost point of the rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19.

On the opposite side of the belt conveyor 19, in addition to the vertical trajectory 18 of the gripper 16, a feed means 31 is provided, which serves to transfer the suspended from the gripper 16, individual items of laundry to the belt conveyor 19. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the feed means 31 is formed by a blowing nozzle 32. However, it is also possible to use a plurality of blowing nozzles 32, in particular a row of juxtaposed blowing nozzles 32, for forming the pneumatic feeding means 31. Alternatively, the supply means 31 may also be formed by mechanical slides or the like. The at least one tuyere 32 is fixed to the frame 13, with a blowing direction on the upper run 20 at the front end 22 of the belt conveyor 19. In the illustrated embodiment, in which over the front end 22 of the belt conveyor 19, the roller having a pressure means 23 itself is located, the blowing jet of at least one tuyere 32 is directed into a gap between the pressure roller of the pressure means 23 and the driven deflection drum at the front end 22 of the belt conveyor 19.

Under the laterally adjacent to the frame 13 rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19 and the transfer means 26 under the belt conveyor 19, a return conveyor 33 is fixedly arranged laterally next to the frame 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the return conveyor 33 is formed as a belt conveyor with slightly inclined to the frame 13 towards increasing upper run 34. The circulating conveyor belt of the return conveyor 33 is driven so that the upper run 34 a falling upon transfer from the belt conveyor 19 to the subsequent transport device 11 laundry bag and transported it back into the hopper 14 of the singulator 10. For this purpose ends a rear end 35 of the return conveyor facing the funnel 14, in the region of an edge of the funnel 14, preferably projects slightly beyond the edge of the funnel 14 towards the center thereof.

The transport device 11 has a circumferential, endless conveyor track, which is formed from interconnected rail sections. The rail sections form a peripheral conveyor rail 36, in which a plurality of carriages 37 are movable. Each carriage 37 carries a transport clamp 38 into which an edge region of a laundry item, in particular a corner region of a laundry item, can be clamped. The transport brackets 38 are transported by the carriage 37 along the conveyor rail 36, and in part driven and partly undriven. In descents of the transport device 11, the carriages 37 are movable with or without hanging laundry items without drive. Along other sections of the conveyor rail 36, in particular along horizontal or rising sections, there is a drive of the carriage 37 with the underlying transport clamps 38 by, for example, a circumferentially driven transport chain. In the illustrated embodiment, only selected sections of the conveyor rail 36 peripheral drives 39, 40, 41 are assigned. Each drive 39, 40, 41 has a circulating conveyor chain, which is moved by, for example, an electric motor. The conveyor chain has at regular intervals on drivers, such as transport pawls 50, which come into contact with each carriage 37 or the attached transport clamp 38 and thereby move the carriage 37 with the transport clamp 38 disposed thereon in the transport direction 42 along the conveyor rail 36. The distance of the carrier of the conveyor chain of the drives 39, 40 and 41 simultaneously determines the distance with which the carriage 37 with the transport brackets 38 along the conveyor rail 36 are moved.

The transport device 11 has a in the Fig. 2 In the area of this loading station 43, the conveyor rail 36 has a U-shaped course with two parallel, vertical sections, one of the singulator 10 facing down conveyor section 44 and an underlying upward conveying section 45. At the lower end of the loading station 43 are the downward conveying section 44 and the upward conveying section 45 are connected by a semicircular arc section 46. By the drive 39, the carriage 37, each with a transport clamp 38 spaced from each other transported by the loading station 43. A lower end region of the downward conveying portion 44 of the loading station 43 is located at a small distance in front of the rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19 of the singulator 10. As a result, in each case a single transport clamp 38 can be positioned at a loading point 47 in front of the loading end 43 facing the rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19. The transport brackets 38 are arranged on the respective carriage 37, that at the loading point 47, the open side of a clamp mouth 48 of the respective transport bracket 38 to the rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19, in such a way that the movement path 29 of the tongue 27 of the transfer means 26 in the clamp mouth 48 of the respective held at the loading point 47 transport clamp 38 is directed.

The subsequent to the loading station 43 section of the transport device 11 may have any gradients. It can also be provided branches to form a plurality of memory links. The part of the transport device 11 adjoining the loading station 43 can run horizontally in one plane, but also in changing planes with ascending and descending paths. In the Fig. 1 only a schematic course of the conveying path of the transport device 11 is shown, namely an elongated oval. However, the inventions are not limited thereto. The oval of the conveyor line has an elongated, in plan view straight section in which the loading station 43 is located. A parallel, straight portion is provided with the drives 40 and 41, which are separated from each other, wherein the drive 41 extends over a majority of the length of the conveyor rail 36 of the associated track section.

Along the straight portion of the conveyor rail 36 of the transport device 11, to which the drives 40 and 41 are associated, various means for determining the sorting criteria of the laundry extend. In the exemplary embodiment shown, these are devices for determining the weight, the size, the color and the structure of the laundry items. For each of the mentioned sorting criteria a separate device is provided, these devices in the transport direction 42 along the straight conveyor section immediately and / or closely follow one another. Between the drives 40 and 41 of the conveyor rail 36 is associated with a singler 49, which separates the carriage 37 with the transport brackets 38 and the laundry articles hanging down there, namely to a defined distance from each other. This is followed by the drive 41 with spaced-apart transport pawls 50, which transports the carriages 37 with the transporting clamps 38 and the items of laundry hanging thereon at always the same distance through the region of the determination of the sorting criteria. As seen in the transport direction 42, the separator 49 is followed by a weighing device 51, which has a short section of the conveyor rail 36, which is separated from the preceding and subsequent part of the conveyor rail 36. The short section of the conveyor rail 36 in the region of the weighing device 51 is attached to a balance with preferably at least one electronic weight sensor. This short section of the conveyor rail 36 in the region of the weighing device 51 is designed such that there is always only one carriage 37 with a transporting clamp 38 and a piece of laundry hanging thereon. Due to the known weight of the short section of the conveyor rail 36, the carriage 37 and the transport clamp 38, the weight of each hanging on the transport clamp 38 laundry item can be determined individually.

On the weighing device 51 follows in the transport direction 42, a length measuring device 52. This preferably has an elongated, vertical sensor rod, whereby the lower end, in particular a lower corner of the freely suspended by the transport clamp 38 laundry item is detected without contact. From the position of the sensor, which detects the lower corner of the laundry article, the length of the laundry article in the region of the length measuring device 42 can then be calculated.

The length measuring device 52 is followed by a color measuring device 53 as seen in the transporting direction 42 and a structure measuring device 54 immediately thereafter. The color measuring device 53 and the structure measuring device 54 have imaging detection means, in particular digital cameras. The images captured by the digital cameras of the color measuring device 53 and the structure measuring device 54 are preferably evaluated separately from each other. This evaluation takes place in such a way that the images obtained during the image acquisition allow conclusions to be drawn about the color of the item of laundry in the color measuring device 53 and the structure of the item of laundry in the structure measuring device 54. As a result, it can be recognized whether the respective item of laundry is coloreds or white linen and what structure the respective items of laundry have, from which conclusions can be drawn about the material, in particular the fabric, of the respective item of laundry. It is conceivable to provide only one common digital camera for the color measuring device 53 and the structure measuring device 54. Then practically the color measuring device 53 and the structure measuring device 54 move together spatially. The jointly captured image is only evaluated or further processed separately according to the color and the structure of the respective item of laundry.

Both in the area of the color measuring device 53 and in the area of the structure measuring device 54 is a box-like cover or a tent-like curtain present, whereby the respective laundry is at least laterally and optionally surrounded from above. This creates a measuring space formed in the interior of the housing or the tent-like curtain, which seals off the at least one camera of the color measuring device 53 and the structure measuring device 54 from the ambient light or other external influences. This makes it possible, even without disturbing external influences, especially daylight, to record meaningful images of the particular item of laundry.

After the sorting criteria of each individual hanging down on the transport brackets 38 laundry items have been determined in the transport device 11, each individual piece of laundry is gradually released from the holding this transport clip 38 and dropped onto an intermediate conveyor 56 at an Abwurfstelle 55 behind the structure measuring device may be provided at the discharge point 55 at the location of the intermediate conveyor 56 and a chute. The intermediate conveyor 56 transports the discarded individual items of laundry transversely to the transport direction 42 of the transport device 11 to a distribution conveyor 57 arranged next to the transport device 11. The intermediate conveyor 57 optionally bridges a height difference between the discharge point 55 and the preferably horizontally extending distributor conveyor 57. The distribution conveyor is preferably located 57 on a comparison with the discharge point 55 lower level, so that at the discharge point 55 freely hanging on the transport bracket 38 laundry suspended on the intermediate conveyor 56 and can be placed by this on the top of the distribution conveyor 57.

The distributor conveyor 57 is preferably designed as a belt conveyor, on whose upper strand 58 preferably a plurality of successively spaced laundry items can be transported simultaneously in the sorting direction 59. The sorting direction 59 can - as in the Fig. 1 shown - parallel to the transport direction 42 of the laundry items on the straight portion of the conveyor rail 36, where the sorting criteria are determined run, but also anti-parallel or transverse thereto. The distribution conveyor 57 has a sufficient length to order on one side next to the same so many laundry storage or other discharge points can, as required for the sorting. In the exemplary embodiment shown, four preferably identical laundry stores 60, 61, 62, 63 are arranged on one side next to the distribution conveyor 57. The laundry stores 60 to 63 follow each other at the same distance in the sorting direction 59. The laundry stores 60, 61, 62 and 63 may be laundry carts, laundry bags or the like. But it is also conceivable, at the point of laundry storage 60 to 63 in addition to the distribution conveyor 57 to provide a conveyor system, from which the sorted laundry items of the respective subsequent treatment device, for example, different washing machines, are supplied. The laundry storage 60, 61, 62, 63 each take laundry for a similar treatment, in particular a same laundry on. These are items of laundry that meet the same sorting criteria. The invention is not limited to four laundry stores 60, 61, 62 and 63 adjacent to the distribution conveyor 57. If more than one sorting criterion is to be met, more than four laundry stores 60, 61, 62, 63 may be arranged next to the then correspondingly longer distribution conveyor 57. It is also conceivable, in addition to the distribution conveyor 57 less than four laundry storage 60, 61, 62 and 63 to be arranged.

On the laundry tanks 60, 61, 62 and 63 opposite longitudinal side of the distribution conveyor 57, a number of nozzles 64 is arranged. In each case at least one blowing nozzle 64 is opposite a laundry storage 60, 61, 62 and 63, in that a blast air jet emerging from the respective blowing nozzle 64 is directed centrally onto the respective laundry storage 60, 61, 62 and 63, respectively. In height, the blowing nozzles 64 are arranged next to the distributor conveyor 57 such that the compressed air jets issuing from the blowing nozzles 64 flow past the upper run 58 of the distributor conveyor 57 closely, thereby transferring the respective laundry item across the distribution conveyor 57 into the designated laundry store 60, 61, 62 or 63 bubbles.

The methods according to the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the apparatus described above for automatically separating, transferring and sorting items of laundry:

The separation according to the invention with the singulator 10 begins with the extraction of a piece of laundry from the laundry pile. The clothes heap is located in the hopper 14 of the singulator 10. The garments are fed continuously to the hopper 14 by a conveyor or discontinuously, namely, by the way. From the laundry pile forming in the funnel 14, a single item of laundry is picked out individually by the gripper 16 which can be moved up and down. For this purpose, the gripper 16 is moved from an upper starting position vertically from the pneumatic cylinder 17 down, and indeed until the gripper 16 associated proximity sensor or the like detects a certain immersion depth of the front end or the tip of the gripper 16 in the laundry pile. The immersion depth is determined beforehand by tests, namely determined so that with the greatest possible reliability at a certain immersion depth of the gripper always only grabbing a single piece of laundry. If this particular immersion depth is detected by the proximity sensor, the downward movement of the gripper 16 is stopped and the gripper 16 is closed. In this case, grabbed by the gripper 16, a single piece of laundry at any point and then raised by the pneumatic cylinder 17 of the gripper 16 with the single piece of laundry hanging thereon.

The gripper 16 and held by this single piece of laundry are moved when lifting along the movement path 18 between the belt conveyor 19 and its associated pressure means 23 on the one hand and the feed means 31, namely the tuyere 32, on the other side. When the laundry item is fully raised, the middle or the end of the first third thereof is approximately between the belt conveyor 19 and the tuyere 32. The blowing jet of the tuyere 32 directed into the gap between the front end 22 of the belt conveyor 19 and the pressure means 23 will now be Laundry item between the front end 22 of the belt conveyor 19 and the pressure means 23 moves. The laundry item is then frictionally conveyed into the gap between the belt conveyor 19 and the pressure means 23. In this case, it comes to pulling the garment on the belt conveyor 19, namely by the laundry with a front end portion ahead about U-shaped hanging over the belt conveyor 19, with a middle portion of the laundry is on the upper run 20 of the belt conveyor 19. Once the garment has been drawn so far into the gap between the belt conveyor 19 and the pressure means 23 that it can no longer fall off the belt conveyor 19, the gripper 16 leaves the gripped upper end, which is anywhere on any edge of the Laundry can act, go.

The laundry item is moved further from the belt conveyor 19 to the rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19. A front part of the laundry item passes over the rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19 as seen in the transport direction, so that it is in front of the rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19, namely behind the belt conveyor 19, free hanging down.

A detection means preferably determines contactlessly the rear end of the laundry article on the upper strand 20 of the belt conveyor 19. This is always a rear corner or a rear corner region of the laundry article. The rear corner is detected shortly before it reaches or has passed the rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19 facing the transport device 11. It is then stopped the drive of the belt conveyor 19 and the fixing member 24, the rear end and the rear corner of the Garment fixed just before the rear end of the belt conveyor 19. In this case, the rear corner region or the rear corner of the laundry article between the upper strand 20 at the rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19 and the clamping plate 25 is clamped so that the now largely dangling before the rear end 21 laundry does not slip off the belt conveyor 19.

Below the rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19, the return conveyor 33 is provided, which catches a possibly falling laundry item and transports it back into the hopper 14 of the singulator 10. The return conveyor 33 conveys such a piece of laundry back, which has not been properly transferred to the subsequent transport device 11. Even if the gripper 16 exceptionally should have taken two pieces of laundry at the same time, the second piece of laundry from the return conveyor 33 to the hopper 14 is fed again. Optionally, the return conveyor 33 may also serve to support a lower portion of the laundry hanging down from the rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19 which has been fixed to the rear corner on the upper run 20 of the belt conveyor 19 just before the rear end 21.

The method according to the invention further provides for automatically transferring the laundry provided with the rear corner in the region of the rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19 to the transport device 11, in each case into a transporting clamp 38. The purpose of a transfer means 26, which enters the rear end region, in particular the rear corner region of the item of laundry clamped at the rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19, from the belt conveyor 19 into the transport clamp 38.

The plate-like tongue 27 of the transfer means 26 is on a rectilinear, in the embodiment shown slightly to the transport bracket 28 rising toward movement path 29 back and forth. The movement path 29 opens into the open clamping mouth 48 of the transporting clamp 38, which is currently kept waiting to be transferred in front of the transfer means 26. The rear corner region of the hanging down before the rear end 21 laundry settles when advancing the tongue 27 in the direction of the transport clamp 38 with the rear facing away from the transport bracket 38 back to the free end 30 of the tongue 27. In the further forward movement of the tongue 27 enters the open staple mouth 48, wherein the rear corner portion of the garment partially wrapped around the tongue 37 comes into contact with the clamping surfaces of the staple mouth 48 of the transporting staple 38 and is clamped in the automatically closing stapling mouth 48 of the transporting staple 38 when the front portion moved into the stapling mouth 48 the tongue 27 is moved back into the The free end 30 of the tongue 27 is formed by a preferably straight edge of the tongue 27, which is perpendicular to the movement path 29 and at least as wide as the transport bracket 38th

With the moving back of the tongue 27 of the transfer means 26 to the starting position under the rear end 21 of the belt conveyor 19, the transfer of the rear corner region or the rear corner of the laundry article to a transporting clamp 38 of the transport device 11 is completed.

Along the transport device 11, a plurality of identical transporting clamps 38 are arranged, in each of which a transfer item from the separating device 10 is transferred by the transfer means 26. The laundry items which are held by the transporting clamps 38 at a rear corner and are suspended continuously are moved continuously along a conveying rail 36, which is usually formed from a plurality of sections. The conveyor rail 36 determines the course of the conveying path of the transport device 11, which can be arbitrary. Due to the plurality of transport brackets 38, the transport device 11 also serves as a temporary storage for a plurality of individual items of laundry. Some sections of the conveyor rail 36, the drives 39 to 41 are assigned. The drive 39 in the region of the loading station 43 of the transport device 11 serves to transport the empty transporting clamps 38 at a specific distance from one another on the downwards conveying section 44 to the loading point 47 and to stop there for a short time to transfer a piece of laundry from the singling device 10. At the same time, the drive 39 always stops an empty transporting clamp 38 at the loading point 47 for a short time. The drive 39 is the only one, the transport brackets 38 with short interruptions, that is discontinuous, drives. Incidentally, the transport brackets 38 are driven continuously. A rear corner of a laundry item is pushed by the tongue 27 of the transfer means 26, which is moved on the movement path 29 into the open clamp mouth 48, into the open clamp mouth 48 of the transport clamp 38 that is momentarily stationary at the loading point 47. After hanging a piece of laundry in the respective transport clamp 38 at the loading station 43 is the drive 39, the respective loaded transport clamp 38 moves up the conveying section 45 and brought to such a height level that the loaded transport brackets 38 below automatically, so without a drive, via a Most of the conveyor rail 36 of the transport device 11 can move on.

From the drive 40 in front of a singler 49 in the course of the conveyor rail 36, the loaded transport clamps 38 are fed to the singler 49. The loaded transport clamps 38 follow each other tightly, if appropriate with any distance.

In the area of the separator 49, the transport clamps 38 with the laundry items hanging thereon are gradually introduced into the subsequent region of the conveyor rail 36 and transported further by the transport pawls 50 of the drive 41 with a predetermined defined distance from one another. During this further transport, in each case a transporting clamp 38 with a piece of laundry hanging down freely therefrom passes into the area of the weighing device 51, which determines the weight of the item of laundry hanging on the transporting clamp 38. Following the weight determination, the transport clamp 38 is transported past the item of laundry at the length measuring device 52. Here is determined by a preferably vertical sensor bar, the length of hanging down from the transport clamp 38 laundry. After the length measurement, the laundry item is transported by a color measuring device 54 and the subsequent structure measuring device 54. In both, the color and the structure of the respective piece of laundry hanging down from the transport clamp 28 are determined contact-free by at least one imaging method, preferably only qualitatively. So it is sufficient for the color measurement, that is recognized, whether it is a light (white) laundry or a dark laundry (coloreds). In the structure measurement of the laundry item, the differences in height between the highest and lowest areas of the fabric are determined, from which conclusions can be drawn on a coarse-structured garment (for example terry cloth) or a finely structured garment (for example flat linen). The transport clamps 38 are transported with the laundry items hanging thereon with a uniform spacing that is sufficient for the measurements without interrupting the movement, ie continuously, by the weighing device 51, the length measuring device 52, the color measuring device 53 and the structure measuring device 54.

The measured weight of each individual item of laundry, the length, the color and the structure represent sorting criteria for the subsequent sorting of the items of laundry. The sorting can be carried out according to individual sorting criteria, but also after a combination of several sorting criteria. For example, the sorting is done after color washing and white washing. It can be distinguished between large and heavy items of laundry and small and light items of laundry. For example, then sorted by small coloreds and large coloreds and small and large table linen. A special sorting can be done according to special tissues, such as large structured fabrics such as terry. Terry cloths can also be sorted into white and colored items of laundry and / or large and small items of laundry.

The sorting of the items of laundry takes place according to a special method according to the invention in the sorting station 12. This takes place on the determination of the last sorting criterion, ie in the exemplary embodiment shown on the structure measuring device 54.

Each individual piece of laundry is - after the sorting criteria have been determined - during the continuous movement along the conveyor rail 36 of the transport clamp 38 released and dropped at the discharge point 55 to an intermediate conveyor 56. The discharge of successive laundry items from the transport clamps 38 takes place with such a distance, that the items of laundry arrive one by one at the intermediate conveyor 56.

From the intermediate conveyor 56, the respectively dropped laundry item in the illustrated embodiment is transported transversely to the course of the conveyor rail 36 from the discharge point 55 to the distribution conveyor 57. The intermediate conveyor 56 can transport the respective laundry horizontally or also rising or falling as needed, depending on which Height level of the distribution conveyor 57 is located.

The distributor conveyor 57 transports the respective item of laundry in the sorting direction 59, which runs parallel to the section of the conveyor rail 36 in the region of the discharge point 55 in the exemplary embodiment shown, past the individual sorting points. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the upper run 58 of the distributor conveyor 57 lies in a horizontal plane and runs in a straight line in the sorting direction 59. On one side next to the distributor conveyor 57 several successive sorting points are arranged, which in the exemplary embodiment shown are designed as laundry stores 60, 61, 62 and 63. On four laundry storage 60 to 63, the invention is not limited. Depending on how many criteria the laundry items are to be sorted, a corresponding number of laundry stores 60 to 63 or other sorting points are arranged on one side next to the distributor conveyor 57. On the longitudinal side of the distributor conveyor 57 lying opposite the laundry tanks 60 to 63, there are by far successive blast nozzles 64. The blast nozzles 64 blow the respective laundry item during the continuous further transport of the distributor conveyor 57 perpendicular to the sorting direction 59 from the distributor conveyor 57 down into the designated laundry storage 60, 61, 62 or 63. For example, if the respective laundry satisfies the sorting criteria for laundry in the laundry storage 63, it is from the distribution conveyor 57 in the sorting direction 59 at the laundry tanks 60, 61, 62 transported over to the laundry storage 63. When the item of laundry in question is located in front of or next to the laundry storage 63, the blower nozzle 64 is activated, which moves the laundry item transversely to the sorting direction 59 from the upper run 58 of the distribution conveyor 57, namely blown down, into the laundry storage 63. At the same time, several items of laundry may be on the distribution conveyor 57. However, these items of laundry at a distance sufficient to selectively transfer only a single item of laundry in the designated laundry storage 60, 61, 62 or 63.

The invention is characterized by a plurality of independently protectable methods and devices, which have been described above together. Protection is claimed for an overall system, both a method and a device, but also for the individual methods and devices for separating the items of laundry, for transferring the separated items of laundry to the transport device 11, for determining the sorting criteria of the items of laundry and for sorting the laundry items.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

separating device

11

transport means

12

sorting station

13

frame

14

funnel

15

Collection bag

16

grab

17

pneumatic cylinder

18

trajectory

19

Belt conveyors

20

obertrum

21

rear end

22

front end

23

pressure means

24

fixing member

25

clamp

26

Transfer means

27

tongue

28

pneumatic cylinder

29

trajectory

30

free end

31

feeding

32

blow nozzle

33

return conveyor

34

obertrum

35

rear end

36

conveyor rail

37

carriage

38

transport clamp

39

drive

40

drive

41

drive

42

transport direction

43

loading

44

Downstream conveyor section

45

Upstream conveyor section

46

arc section

47

Loading point

48

clamp mouth

49

separating

50

transport pawl

51

weighing System

52

Length measuring device

53

Color measurement device

54

Structure measuring device

55

Intercept position

56

intermediate conveyor

57

distribution conveyor

58

obertrum

59

sort direction

60

underwear store

61

underwear store

62

underwear store

63

underwear store

64

blow nozzle

Claims (21)

Method for sorting laundry items to be washed, wherein at least one sorting criterion is determined on the laundry items hanging on at least one transporting device (11), characterized in that the color and / or structure of the respective item of laundry representing a sorting criterion is determined by an image recognition. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the image recognition is carried out in a darkened area along the transport device (11), preferably during the continuous further transport of the respective item of laundry through the region of the image recognition. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the laundry items are determined after determining their at least one sorting criterion preferably via an intermediate conveyor (56) to a distribution conveyor (57) individually, in particular individually on the distribution conveyor (57) are dropped and / or sorted by compressed air, the laundry items are moved away from the distribution conveyor (57) according to at least one previously determined sorting criterion. Method for sorting items to be washed, wherein a single item of laundry is picked out of a laundry pile, transferred to a transport device and sorted, in particular according to one of the other claims, characterized in that the single item of laundry is transferred with a corner to a transporting clamp (38), and / or at least one sorting criterion of the respective item of laundry is determined in the state hanging on the transporting clip (38), and / or the item of laundry is deposited on a distributor conveyor (57) and removed from the distributor conveyor (57) at a location corresponding to the sorting criterion. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that along a conveying path of the transport device (11) each item of laundry is checked for several sorting criteria and the sorting takes place in dependence on a sorting criterion or a combination of several sorting criteria. A method for separating pieces of laundry, wherein from a laundry pile a single item of laundry by an up and down movable gripper (16) is picked out, in particular according to one of the other claims, characterized in that the gripper (16) before grasping a single item of laundry from the Drier heap by a certain amount (immersion depth) will drive into the laundry pile. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the immersion depth of the gripper (16) in the laundry heap is determined by a proximity or distance sensor. Method for transferring a single item of laundry to a conveyor, in particular a transport device (11), wherein the item of laundry is transferred by a transfer means (26) from a preceding conveyor to the subsequent conveyor, in particular the transport device (11), in particular one of the others Claims, characterized in that the preceding conveyor is designed as a belt conveyor (19) on which the respective laundry item rests at least partially. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective item of laundry is placed over the belt conveyor (19), preferably pneumatically by means of at least one tuyere (32), or the respective item of laundry between the belt conveyor (19) and a pressure means associated therewith (23) is transported through in the direction of the subsequent conveyor, in particular the transport device (11). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the preceding conveyor, in particular at the belt conveyor (19), one end of the laundry item, preferably a rear corner or a rear corner area of the laundry item is determined by at least one detection means. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that , when the at least one detection means determines the end of the laundry item on the preceding conveyor, in particular belt conveyor (19), the further transport of the laundry item in the transport direction of the preceding conveyor, in particular belt conveyor (19), stopped and preferably by a fixing member (24) the end or the rear corner or the rear corner region of the respective laundry article on the preceding conveyor, in particular belt conveyor (19) is fixed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the region of the rear end (21) of the preceding conveyor, in particular belt conveyor (19), viewed in the conveying direction of a sword-like transfer means (26) the laundry with a rear area, in particular the rear corner area , from the preceding conveyor, preferably from the belt conveyor (19), to the subsequent conveyor, in particular the transport device (11), and / or from the transfer means (26) a rear end portion of the respective item of laundry from the preceding conveyor, in particular belt conveyor (19) , in a transport clamp (38) of the subsequent conveyor, in particular the transport device (11) is passed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sword-like transfer means (26) the respective laundry item, preferably with the still located on the preceding conveyor, in particular belt conveyor (19), rear end portion, preferably rear corner area, in a clamp mouth (48 ) is pushed ready for transfer currently before the transfer means (26) ready transport chamber (38). Device for separating articles of laundry, with a gripper (16) which can be moved up and down for gripping a single item of laundry from a laundry pile, characterized in that the gripper (16) is associated with a sensor which determines the immersion depth of the gripper (16) in the laundry pile. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the sensor is designed as a proximity or distance sensor, which controls the lowering movement of the gripper (16) in the laundry heap such that upon reaching a predetermined depth of the gripper (16) in the laundry heap, the downward movement of the gripper (16) is haltable and the gripper (16) engages a brought into contact with him laundry item. Device for transferring a laundry article to a downstream conveyor, with an upwardly and downwardly movable gripper (16) for gripping a single item of laundry from a laundry pile and a conveyor for further transport of the laundry article to a subsequent conveyor, in particular according to one of the other claims, characterized in that a detection means for determining a rear end region of the laundry item further transported by the conveyor in the conveying direction is assigned to a rear end (21) of the conveyor in the conveying direction. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear end (21) of the conveyor, a fixing member (24) for clamping the end portion of the laundry item on the conveyor, in particular an upper run (20) thereof, assigned, wherein the fixing member (24 ) is preferably activated by the detection means, if the latter has determined the rear end region, preferably the rear corner, of the laundry article on the rear end (21) of the conveyor. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sword-like transfer means (26) is associated with the rear end (21) of the conveyor, preferably the sword-like transfer means (26) is associated with the rear end (21) of the conveyor such that the sword-like Transfer means (26) the respective laundry item with a rear end portion, preferably the rear corner region, in a transport clamp (38) of the subsequent conveyor, in particular a transport device (11), can be inserted. Device for sorting laundry items to be washed with a transport device (11) for hanging further transport of the laundry items and with at least one device associated with the transport device (11) for determining at least one sorting criterion of the respective item of laundry, in particular after at least one of the other claims, characterized in that the transport device (11) is associated with at least one image capture device for determining at least one sorting criterion. Device for sorting laundry items to be washed with a transport device (11) for hanging further transport of laundry items and at least one device associated with the transport device (11) for determining at least one sorting criterion of the laundry item, in particular according to at least one of the other claims, characterized in that the transport device ( 11) is associated with a distribution conveyor (57), and are arranged next to the distribution conveyor (57) in the conveying direction of the same successive discharge points for sorted laundry items. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distribution conveyor (57) preferably on the opposite side dispensing nozzles associated with blowing nozzles (64) for transferring a single piece of laundry from the distributor conveyor (57) to the respective output point, preferably each output point at least one Is associated with the blowing nozzle (64), and / or between the transport device (11) and the distribution conveyor (54), in particular in the region of the beginning of the distribution conveyor (57), arranged a discharge point (55) for items to be sorted on the distribution conveyor (57) is.

Images