EP3575481B1 - Device and method for smoothing textile objects - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for smoothing textile objects according to the preamble of claim 1 and a device for smoothing textile objects according to the preamble of claim 9.

Textiles, especially textile objects such as items of clothing, are smoothed with tunnel finishers. Smoothing takes place in tunnel finishers by spraying the textile objects with hot steam and then drying the textile objects. The textile objects to be smoothed are transported through the tunnel finisher hanging on carriers, preferably transport hangers.

Different textile objects are usually smoothed unsorted in tunnel finishers. The procedure is such that the drying time is based on those textile objects that have to be dried most intensively and/or for the longest. Pants, in particular, have to be dried particularly intensively because of the multi-layered fabric, particularly in the crotch area. In contrast, other items of clothing, such as thin shirts and overalls, can be dried more quickly. Because the drying process is based on textile objects that are to be dried more intensively and longer, such as trousers, for example, other items of clothing are dried longer and more intensively than is necessary. This can not only lead to overheating of the textile objects; on the contrary, the finishing treatment of such items of clothing takes longer than necessary and unnecessary energy is lost.

From the JP 2863723 B2 a single tunnel finisher is known through which extends part of an endless conveyor line. The conveying path is formed by a revolving chain conveyor with hooks spaced apart from one another. Transport brackets, each with a textile item to be found, hang on the hooks of the chain conveyor. The finished textile object is removed from the respective transport bracket behind the tunnel finisher.

From the US2006/0272178 A1 a modular tunnel finisher is known. This tunnel finisher has two end modules, between which an extension module can be arranged if required. Part of a circulating conveying path for transporting textile objects to be finished through the tunnel finisher also extends through this known tunnel finisher.

The invention is based on the object of creating a method and a device for smoothing textile objects which allow drying of all or at least a large part of the textile objects as required.

A method for solving this problem has the measures of claim 1. Provision is therefore made for textile objects to be dried that are heavier, in particular longer and/or more intensively, to be dried in several passes through the single tunnel finisher or with several successive tunnel finishers. On the other hand, lighter textile objects, especially those that can be dried more quickly, can be dried sufficiently in a single pass or in just a few passes. As a result, there is a need-based smoothing, in particular finishing, of the textile objects, regardless of their type and size. Excessive drying is thereby avoided, which reduces the duration of the smoothing, in particular the finishing treatment, of the textile objects and saves energy.

One possibility for an advantageous further development of the method is to operate the only tunnel finisher or the first tunnel finisher in such a way that, in a first run, it only sufficiently dries those textile objects which are dried most easily and/or fastest compared to the other objects and the other textile objects that are more difficult to dry, can be finally dried in at least one further run through the single tunnel finisher or in at least one subsequent tunnel finisher. Thus, textile objects, in particular items of clothing, which due to their type, their weight and/or the thickness of the fabric have to be dried more intensively because they are more difficult to dry, can be dried in stages as a result of several passes. The number of passes depends on the amount of moisture that has to be removed from the respective textile object by drying.

Provision is preferably made for textile objects which have to be dried in several passes through the same or in successive tunnel finishers to be dried with steam only during the first pass, in particular in the first tunnel finisher are applied and thereby moistened. Textile objects that require at least one further run through a tunnel finisher in order to be finally dried are then no longer subjected to steam in the subsequent, at least one run, and as a result no moisture is supplied to the textile objects to be dried in the second or further runs. In a finishing treatment and drying of the textile objects in a single tunnel finisher, the steam spray zone, in which the textile objects are subjected to steam, is then deactivated for these additional runs in the second and possible subsequent passage of the laundry item in question through this single tunnel finisher. In the case of several successive tunnel finishers, in which additional passages are made in at least one tunnel finisher following the first tunnel finisher, it can be provided that the second and, if applicable, each further tunnel finisher no longer has any steam spray zone for subjecting the textile articles to steam.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the method, sufficiently dried textile objects are transported along the conveying path directly to the subsequent treatment in the first run through a first tunnel finisher. On the other hand, textile objects that have not yet been sufficiently dried in the first tunnel finisher are transported along a return conveyor section branching off from the conveyor section to a point on the conveyor section in front of the first tunnel finisher. The return section thus forms a kind of bypass, which makes it possible to transport textile objects that have not yet been sufficiently dried in a second or possibly further run through the same single tunnel finisher. After the first tunnel finisher, textile objects that have not yet dried sufficiently during the first passage through the same are diverted to the return section and from this back into the conveyor section before the tunnel finisher by means of a switch and a corresponding control.

It is preferably provided that the return conveyor section also serves as a storage section. In this case, several textile objects that have not yet dried sufficiently can first be stored in the area of the return conveyor section before they are guided back onto the conveyor section for one or more further runs in front of the tunnel finisher and are then transported through the tunnel finisher again.

In the case of several consecutive tunnel finishers, the method is preferably designed in such a way that the textile objects are transported along the conveyor section through the tunnel finisher and sufficiently dried textile objects are discharged from the conveyor section before the subsequent, possibly last, tunnel finisher even before they have passed through all the tunnel finishers. Such already Textile objects sufficiently dried before the last tunnel finisher are then transported away by a discharge line branching off from the conveying line, preferably to a subsequent station or further processing.

A preferred embodiment of the method provides for determining the type of textile objects, preferably all textile objects, and/or measuring the size of the textile objects, in particular all textile objects, before the first tunnel finisher. The type and/or size of the textile objects is then used to determine how many runs the respective textile object requires through the single tunnel finisher or how many consecutive tunnel finishers must be run through in order to be able to dry the textile objects sufficiently. This determination of the number of runs is carried out by a controller which, if necessary, procures the necessary information from a database that is necessary to be able to determine how many runs the respective textile object, in particular the respective piece of clothing, requires through the single tunnel finisher or how many consecutive tunnel finishers it has to go through.

According to a further possible embodiment of the method, it is provided that after each passage of a textile object through the same tunnel finisher or at least one subsequent tunnel finisher, it is determined whether the respective textile object has dried sufficiently. On the basis of this, it can be determined whether the textile object in question needs another run through the same or a subsequent tunnel finisher in order to be finally dried.

Adequate drying of the respective item of laundry, in particular each individual item of laundry, is preferably determined by at least one suitable sensor, in particular an infrared sensor and/or at least one imaging device that works on an infrared basis, for example at least one infrared camera. The moisture values supplied by the measuring devices mentioned are then compared with target values and accordingly the respective textile object is transported further along the conveyor section by a controller, routed to a discharge section and/or transported back via a return conveyor section representing a bypass to the single or preceding tunnel finisher.

Provision is preferably made to develop the method in such a way that, based on data read from a data carrier of each textile item or each carrier holding a textile item, preferably a transport bracket carrying a textile item, it is determined how many passes the respective textile item has passed through the single tunnel finisher requires or how many consecutive tunnel finishers it must go through. From the disks can directly it can be read how many passes the respective textile object has completed through the at least one tunnel finisher or how many consecutive tunnel finishers it has already passed through. However, it is also conceivable for data belonging to the respective textile object to be read from the data carriers, from which data it is possible to derive how many passes are required. This can be, for example, the type, size and/or material and possibly the color of the textile item in question. From this, the information can be obtained, derived and/or calculated from a database, directly or with the help of further data belonging to the textile object in question, which allows a reliable determination of the number of passes of the respective textile object through the single tunnel finisher or several successive tunnel finishers.

A device for solving the task mentioned at the outset has the features of claim 9 . In this device, the conveying path of the conveyor has at least one return path for a single tunnel finisher. In the case of several successive tunnel finishers, the conveying section that extends through all the tunnel finishers has a discharge section between successive tunnel finishers that branches off from the conveying section. The textile object to be dried again or several times can be transported back in front of the inlet of the single tunnel finisher either through the at least one return conveyor section, which represents a bypass, or textile objects that are difficult to dry are successively processed by several tunnel finishers or all of them in succession tunnel finisher. Textile objects that do not require drying in all subsequent tunnel finishers are discharged from the conveyor section before or the last tunnel finisher and are fed to a subsequent station via the discharge section without having passed through all subsequent tunnel finishers.

The at least one return conveyor section branches off from the conveyor section behind the single tunnel finisher and rejoins the conveyor section before the single tunnel finisher. Thus, the return path can create a conveyor circuit as a bypass for the repeated and/or multiple passage of the same textile object, in particular an item of clothing, through the single tunnel finisher.

If there are several consecutive tunnel finishers, all of the consecutive tunnel finishers are linked to the conveyor line. The individual textile objects can then be transported from the conveyor line through all the consecutive tunnel finishers one after the other and all textile objects are dried if they are difficult-to-dry objects that have to pass through all the consecutive tunnel finishers for adequate drying. For textile Objects that do not have to pass through all the successive tunnel finishers in order to be dried sufficiently, it is intended in particular to provide the removal sections branching off from the conveyor line between successive tunnel finishers for the removal of sufficiently dried textile objects, in that such removal sections are routed directly to a subsequent station, for example.

One possible embodiment of the device provides for arranging a measuring device for determining the type and/or the size of each textile object in front of the tunnel finisher or the first tunnel finisher on the conveyor section. This measuring device determines relevant data from each item of laundry, after which it can be decided how many passes through the single tunnel finisher the item of laundry needs to dry sufficiently or how many consecutive tunnel finishers the textile item must first pass through in order to be sufficiently dried.

In the case of the device with only one tunnel finisher, it is preferably provided that the at least one measuring device is provided behind a junction of the at least one return conveyor section with the conveyor section running through the tunnel finisher. Thus, before the repeated passage of a textile object through the single tunnel finisher, it can be determined whether the repeated passage is the last passage through the tunnel finisher based on the determined type and/or size of the relevant textile object. Then, for example, a switch behind the tunnel finisher can be set in such a way that the textile item leaving the tunnel finisher is transported further on the conveyor line to a subsequent station or is transported back again over the return conveyor line in front of the tunnel finisher in order to be sufficiently dried with at least one further run will.

Another possible embodiment of the device provides that one or one residual moisture measuring device is assigned to the conveying section behind the single tunnel finisher or between successive tunnel finishers. The at least one residual moisture measuring device preferably controls a diverter the conveying path in such a way that sufficiently dried textile objects can be conveyed away or textile objects that have not yet been sufficiently dried can be supplied again to the same tunnel finisher or to a subsequent tunnel finisher. Depending on the degree of drying, the at least one diverter guides the respective textile object transported along the conveyor line onto the right path, so to speak, in that the respective textile object is either transported further on the conveyor line, transported away to another station or - if it is not yet sufficiently dry - is to be transported back via the return path serving as a bypass in front of the preferably single tunnel finisher.

Another possible development of the device provides for assigning at least one reading device to the conveying section. The reading device is used to read out relevant data from a data carrier or data memory on the respective textile object or a carrier, in particular a transport hanger, on which the textile object in question hangs, without contact. Such data are preferably read out which allow conclusions to be drawn about the number of times the respective textile object has passed through the single tunnel finisher or a corresponding number of consecutive tunnel finishers. As a result, without any measurements at the beginning of the finishing treatment, the number of passes of the respective textile object through the single or consecutive tunnel finisher is known.

The device can also be further developed in such a way that preferably at the end of the finish web treatment, when the respective textile object has dried sufficiently, the residual moisture is measured at critical points of the textile object and/or the color, the degree of whiteness, the presence of all Buttons, reflective strips or the like is detected. In this way, the quality of the respective textile object, in particular the integrity, but also the condition of the same, can also be determined. It is also conceivable for the functions mentioned to be carried out by at least one imaging device before the first tunnel finisher and for those textile objects which have not been found to be in order to be ejected even before they are smoothed.

Finally, a possible further development of the device is conceivable, in which at least one signaling device is assigned to the conveying section, on which the data carrier or data memory of the respective textile object or its carrier or transport bracket is recorded each time it passes through the same or another tunnel finisher generates a signal that is stored on the corresponding data carrier or data storage medium of the textile article or its carrier. This counts the runs. Consequently, the controller of the device is informed of the number of times each individual textile article has passed through the same tunnel finisher or subsequent tunnel finishers. Because of this, the number of consecutive finishing treatments of each item of laundry is also known. It is conceivable to provide a reading device behind the single tunnel finisher or each tunnel finisher, which reads out the number of runs of the respective item of clothing through the tunnel finisher or the number of consecutive drying or finishing processes stored in the respective data carrier or data memory and with the specified number which compares the finishing processes or passes to be carried out. If this comparison establishes that the respective textile object has completed the specified number of finishing treatments or runs through the tunnel finisher or tunnel finishers, the textile object is transported away to a subsequent station, for example. If, on the other hand, it is determined that the respective textile object has not yet completed the specified number of finishing treatments or runs, the textile object is transported back via the return conveyor line in front of the inlet area of the single tunnel finisher or conveyed along the conveyor line to the next tunnel finisher and transported through it.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine Vorrichtung mit einem einzigen Tunnel-finisher und den Verlauf einer Förderstrecke eines Förderers,

Fig. 2

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel der Vorrichtung in einer Darstellung analog zur Fig. 2,

Fig. 3

ein drittes Ausführungsbeispiel der Vorrichtung in einer Darstellung analog zu den Fig. 1 und 2, und

Fig. 4

ein viertes Ausführungsbeispiel der Vorrichtung mit drei aufeinanderfolgenden Tunnelfinishern und einer diese verketteten Förderstrecke.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the device are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. In this show:

1

a schematic plan view of a device with a single tunnel finisher and the course of a conveyor section of a conveyor,

2

a second embodiment of the device in a representation analogous to 2 ,

3

a third exemplary embodiment of the device in a representation analogous to that in FIG Figures 1 and 2 , and

4

a fourth exemplary embodiment of the device with three successive tunnel finishers and a conveyor section linked to them.

The tunnel finishers 10, 11 and 12 shown in the figures have a tunnel-like housing in which an inlet zone 13 with an upright inlet opening 14, a treatment zone 15 and an outlet zone 16 with an outlet opening 17 are arranged or formed. All tunnel finishers 10, 11, 12 shown in the figures are the same; but they can also be designed differently. The textile objects shown only in outline in some figures, which are items of clothing 18 in the exemplary embodiment shown, are transported hanging on carriers (not shown), in particular transport hangers, in the transport direction 19 indicated by arrows through at least a few tunnel finishers 10, 11 or 12. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the items of clothing 18 are transported through the tunnel finishers 10, 11 and/or 12 transversely to the transport direction 19. The transport direction 19 then runs perpendicular to the surface or to the width of the respective item of clothing 18. However, the invention is not limited to such an orientation of the items of clothing 18 when passing through the tunnel finisher 10, 11, 12.

A conveyor, preferably designed as a continuous conveyor, runs through the tunnel finisher 10, 11 and 12, namely the housing of the same. In the embodiment shown, the conveyor is a rail conveyor. Of this rail conveyor, only conveying sections, return conveying sections and/or removal sections are shown in the figures. At least in the area of the tunnel finishers 10, 11, 12, these run horizontally in the ceiling area of the same. Transport carriages or carriages, for example, can be moved by a circulating conveyor line along the respective conveyor section, return conveyor section or removal section of the conveyor or its conveyor rail. The transport brackets can be moved on the carriages or transport hooks along the conveyor section, the return conveyor section and/or the removal section. The items of clothing 18 to be finished hang down from the respective transport hanger.

The treatment zone 15 of all the tunnel finishers 10, 11 and 12 shown in the figures is composed of three modules 24 which are of the same size in the exemplary embodiment shown. At least some of these modules 24 have different tasks. For example, the first module 24 of the treatment zone 15 in the transport direction 19 serves to spray the garments 18 to be finished with steam or superheated steam, hot air also being located in this module 24 and/or hot air being supplied. The items of clothing 18, which may still have residual moisture from their previous treatment, are sprayed at least from above with steam or superheated steam and in this way the items of clothing 18 are moistened or become even more moist. In the two subsequent modules 24 is a drying of the still damp and/or moistened items of clothing 18 with preferably hot air, in particular only hot air. The invention is not limited to a treatment zone 15 with three consecutive modules 24 of the same size. The treatment zone 15 can have a larger or smaller number of modules 24 . The modules 24 can also be of different sizes.

the Figures 1 to 4 each show different exemplary embodiments of the device. These exemplary embodiments are each described individually below:
The device of 1 has a single tunnel finisher 10. A conveyor section 20 of the conveyor for transporting the items of clothing 18 hanging on transport hangers through the tunnel finisher 10 runs, seen in the transport direction 19, through the inlet opening 14 into the inlet zone 13, successively through the individual modules 24 of the treatment zone 15 and finally through the outlet zone 16 in order to leave the tunnel finisher 10 at the outlet opening 17 thereof.

Behind the outlet opening 17 of the tunnel finisher 10, ie when the treated items of clothing 18 have passed through the tunnel finisher 10, the conveyor section 20 has a switch 25. A return conveyor section 22 branches off from the conveyor section 20 in the area of the diverter 25 . In the area of the return conveyor section 22, the items of clothing 18 are transported back in a return transport direction 26 running opposite to the transport direction 19 in front of the inlet opening 14 of the tunnel finisher 10. For this purpose, at a distance in front of the inlet opening 14, there is another switch 27 or just a simple threading point. In the area of the switch 27 or threading, the end of the return conveyor section 22 arrives again at the area of the conveyor section 20 located in front of the tunnel finisher 10. In FIG 1 some items of clothing 18 are symbolically shown in the section of the conveying path 20 between the switch 27 and the inlet opening 14 of the tunnel finisher 10 .

A measuring device, with which the type and/or the size of each individual item of clothing 18 can preferably be determined, is assigned to that section of the conveying path 20 which is located behind the switch 27 and in front of the inlet opening 14 of the tunnel finisher 10 . The one in the 1 The measuring device shown is designed as a light barrier 28 . This consists of a transmitter and a receiver on the opposite side, or a transmitter serving simultaneously as a transmitter and receiver on one side and a reflector on the opposite side. Instead of the light barrier 28, a light sensor could also be provided on just one side or light sensors on both sides be. The light barrier 28 is provided on opposite sides of the conveyor section 20 in front of the inlet opening 14 of the tunnel finisher 10 in such a way that a preferably horizontal sensor axis 29 of the light barrier 28 runs transversely to the transport direction 19 by 90°. The front and back of a respective item of clothing 18 then successively pass through a vertical plane which extends through the sensor axis 29 and which is intersected at right angles by the transport direction 19 .

The type and/or size of the items of clothing 18 can also be determined with other suitable detection means instead of with the light barrier 28, in particular with at least one light sensor or an imaging device that has at least one camera. The respective item of clothing 18 can be detected in more detail by such an imaging device, as a result of which a plurality of characteristic information items of the respective item of clothing 18 can be detected in front of the tunnel finisher 10 than with the light barrier 28.

In order not to falsify the measurement results, the section of the conveyor line 20 located in front of the inlet opening 14 of the tunnel finisher 10 has a retaining device for subsequent items of clothing 18, so that there is always only a single item of clothing 18 in the area of influence of the measuring device.

The embodiment of 2 differs from that of 1 only in that a reading device is provided in the region of the conveyor section 20 in front of the inlet opening 14 of the tunnel finisher 10 instead of the measuring device. Otherwise, the device corresponds to 2 that of 1 , Which is why the same reference numbers are used for the same parts.

The tunnel finisher 1 corresponds to that of 2 . The conveyor line 20 and the return line 22 of the device 1 corresponds to that of 2 .

Approximately where in the embodiment of 1 the light barrier 28 is provided, is located in the embodiment of 2 the reading device. In the exemplary embodiment shown, an antenna 30 is provided next to the section of the conveyor section 20 located between the inlet opening 14 of the tunnel finisher 10 and the switch 27 . The antenna 30 is located next to the conveying path 20 in such a way that the items of clothing 18 can run past the antenna 30 for contactless Reading data from the items of clothing 18 passing the at least one antenna 30.

Also the device 3 has only a single tunnel finisher 10, which is constructed exactly like that in the Figures 1 and 2 tunnel finisher 10 shown. For this reason, the same reference numerals are again used for the same parts.

In the embodiment of 3 but a conveyor section 31 and a return section 32 are provided with a different course. These differ from those of Figures 1 and 2 only in that they have a different course behind the outlet opening 17 of the tunnel finisher 10 . Also in the device of this embodiment ( 3 ) Behind the tunnel finisher 10 there is a switch 33 for branching off the return conveyor section 32 from the conveyor section 31 and in front of the tunnel finisher 10 there is a switch 34 or a branch for the junction of the return conveyor section 32 and the conveyor section 31.

In the device of 3 a moisture measuring device is assigned to the conveying section 31 behind the tunnel finisher 10 . This is preferably located between the outlet opening 17 of the tunnel finisher 10 and the switch 33 at which the return line 32 branches off from the conveying line 31 .

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the moisture measuring device is formed by infrared cameras 35 assigned to two opposite surfaces, namely the front and the back, of the respective item of clothing 18 . These scan at least a large part, preferably the upper part, of the respective item of clothing 18 with regard to residual moisture. The infrared cameras 35 can be two-dimensional infrared cameras, especially color cameras. However, it is also conceivable to assign a single infrared camera to only one side of the item of clothing 18, which is then expediently a three-dimensional infrared camera. If there is only one infrared camera, it is assumed that the moisture distribution on one side is the same as on the other side of the garment 18.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the two opposite sides of the infrared cameras 35 assigned to the conveying path 31 are located on an imaginary axis, in particular a horizontal axis, which perpendicularly intersects the transport direction 19 . The item of clothing 18 is rotated by 90° by means of a carrier and/or transport hanger rotated relative to the direction of passage through the tunnel finisher 10, so that the flat sides (front and back) of the item of clothing 18 run in the transport direction 19 and/or in the course of the conveying section 31 or parallel thereto.

In the embodiment of 4 three consecutive tunnel finishers 10, 11 and 12 are provided. These three tunnel finishers 10, 11 and 12 are identical in the embodiment shown. However, they can be different, in particular different in size or length. The three consecutive tunnel finishers 10, 11, 12 are arranged in the same direction one behind the other at a slight distance. However, it is also conceivable for the tunnel finishers 10, 11 and 12 to follow one another with different relative arrangements. For example, the three tunnel finishers 10, 11 and 12 can be arranged next to one another with a slight spacing. Also, the in the 4 device shown have more than three identical or different tunnel finishers or only two tunnel finishers 10 and 11. The tunnel finishers 10, 11, 12 can have different numbers of modules 24. Finally, the tunnel finishers 11, 12 do not necessarily have to have modules 24 for spraying the items of clothing 18 with steam.

The conveyor line 36 occurs in the device 4 through the inlet opening 14 into the first tunnel finisher 10 at the front in the transport direction 19 and leaves the last (third) tunnel finisher 12 through its rear outlet opening 17. As a result, the conveyor section 36 links all three consecutive tunnel finishers 10, 11 and 12 with one another. At the outlet openings 17, the conveyor section 36 leaves the first tunnel finisher 10 or the second tunnel finisher 11, in order to then open again into the inlet opening 14 of the subsequent second tunnel finisher 11 or third tunnel finisher 12.

Between each two adjacent tunnel finishers 10 and 11 or 11 and 12, the conveying section has a switch 37, 38 in each case. By means of the respective switch 37, 38, the items of clothing 18 - if they are sufficiently dried - can be discharged from the conveyor section 36 onto a discharge section 39. The discharge section 39 extends from the switch 37 behind the first tunnel finisher 10 to preferably a point at the smoothed and finished items of clothing 18 or other textile objects are subjected to further treatment, for example folded or packaged. The discharge section 39 starts at the switch 38 between the second tunnel finisher 11 and the third tunnel finisher 12 , from where it opens into the section of the discharge section 39 coming from the first tunnel finisher 10 . Behind the last tunnel finisher 12, the conveyor section 36 continues until it joins the discharge section 39.

In the device of 4 can the conveyor line 36 just before the inlet opening 14 in the first tunnel finisher 10 in the 1 shown and previously described measuring device according to 1 exhibit. If necessary, an identical or different measuring device of the conveying section 36 can also be arranged in front of the second tunnel finisher 11 and/or in front of the third tunnel finisher 12 . The same applies to the reading device 2 . Such can also be provided only in front of the first tunnel finisher 10, but possibly also in front of the second tunnel finisher 11 and/or the third tunnel finisher 12 on or next to the conveyor section 36. one in the 3 Moisture measuring device shown, which is formed by at least one infrared camera 35, can in the device of 4 be associated with all three consecutive tunnel finishers 10, 11 and 12 respectively behind their outlet openings 17. A respective moisture measuring device is preferably assigned only to those sections of the conveyor section 36 behind the tunnel finishers 10 and 11 which are located between the outlet opening 17 and the switch 37 or 38, respectively. There does not need to be a moisture measuring device behind the third tunnel finisher 12 because the outlet opening 17 of the third tunnel finisher 12 can only leave sufficiently finished and dried items of clothing 18, namely items of clothing 18 that are difficult to smooth and finish, which all three tunnel finishers 10, 11 and 12 have to go through gradually in order to be sufficiently dried.

It is conceivable to arrange moisture measuring devices in the respective tunnel finisher 10, 11 and 12 or only in some of these tunnel finishers 10, 11 and/or 12, which determine the moisture or residual moisture at particularly critical points of the items of clothing 18, in particular of each item of clothing 18. This makes it possible to carry out a 100% complete quality check of all items of clothing 18 and preferably also to document the test results. This documentation is preferably done individually for each item of clothing 18 and can optionally be stored individually in the data carrier of the respective item of clothing 18 .

It is also conceivable to provide at least one imaging device in at least one tunnel finisher 10, 11 and/or 12, preferably in its outlet zone 16 or just behind the outlet opening 17, which image captures each item of clothing 18. In particular, loss of color, loss of whiteness or loss of tensile strength can be determined. However, it can also be the degree of detection of light strips on such Garments 18 are determined or the degree of smoothness achieved during finishing. These measurement results can also be used for re-finishing certain items of clothing 18 or for sorting out those items of clothing 18 that require a different after-treatment, a repair or possibly a sorting out.

It is also conceivable to assign a counting device to the return path 22 or 32, which determines the passage of each item of clothing 18 or the associated wearer and thus in the exemplary embodiments of FIG Figures 1 to 3 the number of repeated runs of the garments 18 through the single tunnel finisher 10 is determined. The runs can be stored individually on the data carrier of the respective item of clothing 18 or of the wearer assigned to it. In the embodiment of 4 with several consecutive tunnel finishers 10 to 12, such a counting device, for example a presence sensor, is expediently arranged in front of the inlet opening 14 of each tunnel finisher 10, 11 and 12. This also makes it possible to determine and possibly also store on the data carrier of the respective item of clothing 18 and/or the wearer wearing it, which of the three tunnel finishers 10, 11, 12 the respective item of clothing 18 has passed through.

The one in the 1 The light barrier 28 shown or alternatively at least one light sensor can also be arranged behind the tunnel finisher 10 instead of in front of the tunnel finisher 10 . This is possible because the items of clothing 18 have to run through the tunnel finisher 10 for the first time anyway. It is therefore sufficient if the items of clothing 18 are measured or surveyed by the light barrier 28 or the at least one light sensor before any further passage. The same applies to the at least one antenna 30 of the embodiment of FIG 2 .

Also in the embodiment of 4 it is conceivable that a light barrier 28 or at least one light sensor or the at least one antenna 30 are not arranged in front of the tunnel finishers 10, 11 and 12, but behind them.

The method according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the devices described above:
According to the method according to the invention, it is provided that different textile objects, in particular items of clothing 18, are sufficiently dried by such items of clothing 18 that are more difficult to dry, in particular that require a longer drying time, are transported through the same, then preferably single, tunnel finisher 10 several times in succession in several passes. As a result of the multiple passes, such items of clothing 18, in particular trousers that are more difficult to dry, are dried several times in succession, ie transported through the same tunnel finisher 10 as often as necessary until they have a sufficient degree of drying.

Items of clothing 18 that are easy to dry, such as in particular items of outer clothing, which are to be dried sufficiently in one pass through the tunnel finisher 10, are transported through the tunnel finisher 10 only once.

The multiple drying through multiple passes of the difficult-to-dry item of clothing 18 in the same tunnel finisher 10 takes place in that the conveyor section 20 transporting the items of clothing 18 through the tunnel finisher 10 in the transport direction 19 is assigned a return conveyor section 22 forming a bypass. This transports the items of clothing 18 that require at least one further run from the switch 25 or 33 behind the outlet opening 17 of the tunnel finisher 10 in the return transport direction 26 back to the switch 27 or 34 or the junction with the section of the conveyor line 20 or 31 located in front of the tunnel finisher 10 Such items of clothing 18 can then be transported again through the tunnel finisher 10 in the transport direction 19 . Depending on the type and size of the items of clothing 18, such a return transport can take place once or more than once. Accordingly, such items of clothing 18 are dried or post-dried in two or more than two passes in succession in the same tunnel finisher 10 . As a result, items of clothing 18 that are particularly difficult to dry are dried step by step in several passes. The return conveyor section 22 is preferably used at the same time as a storage section for items of clothing 18 that are to be dried several times.

In the embodiment of 1 the measuring device, embodied, for example, as a light barrier 28, determines at least the type and/or size of the unsorted successive items of clothing 18. For example, it can be determined in this way whether the trousers require a longer drying time or items of outer clothing that need to be dried more quickly, such as smocks, blouses or the like . Then, for example, the trousers that are more difficult to dry are transported through the tunnel finisher 10 in at least two runs by passing the reverse path 22 once, but items of outer clothing that are easy to dry only with a single one be transported through the tunnel finisher 10 and then, without being transported back via the return path 22, which represents a bypass, transported away directly via the discharge path 23 to a subsequent station, for example a folding station or packaging station for the items of clothing 18.

In the device of 2 the single antenna 30 (or possibly also several antennas 30) arranged in front of the single tunnel finisher 10 next to the conveyor section 20 is used to read data from a data carrier or data memory of each individual item of clothing 18 or the carrier or transport hanger receiving it. The data belonging to the item of clothing hung on it have previously been stored on the data carrier or data memory of the carrier or transport hanger, namely data that allow a decision to be made as to whether the respective item of clothing 18 is to be dried sufficiently in a single pass or several passes required are. In the latter case, it is necessary to transport the item of clothing 18 in question back at least once in the return transport direction 26 via the return conveyor section 22, which serves as a bypass, in front of the tunnel finisher 10.

If the at least one antenna 30 of the reading device in front of the tunnel finisher 10 is to count the number of passages of the respective item of clothing 18 through the tunnel finisher 10, the data carrier or data memory before each transport of the respective item of clothing 18 into the tunnel finisher 10 documents that this undergoes a finishing treatment and/or drying.

After the outlet of the respective item of clothing 18 from the tunnel finisher 10 can of one in the 2 Not shown device can be read from the data carrier or data memory of the item of clothing 18 or the wearer how many passes the relevant item of clothing 18 has completed through the tunnel finisher 10. When the number of passes read out by the at least one antenna 30 and stored in the data memory has been reached, the item of clothing 18 in question is transported away via the removal path 23 to the downstream station.

In the embodiment of 3 A moisture measurement or residual moisture measurement of each item of clothing 18 leaving the tunnel finisher 10 takes place behind the single tunnel finisher 10 . This residual moisture measurement takes place directly behind the outlet opening 17 of the tunnel finisher 10, specifically without contact.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the moisture is measured by infrared cameras 35 that scan at least part of two opposite sides of the item of clothing 18, or if necessary just a single infrared camera 35. The at least one infrared camera 35 is preferably designed and arranged in such a way that it covers the areas of each different garment 18 measures in terms of their residual moisture. If it is determined during the residual moisture measurement that the item of clothing 18 in the area of the at least one infrared camera 35 is sufficiently dry, it is immediately conveyed to a downstream station via the removal path 23 . If, on the other hand, it is determined that the item of clothing 18 has not yet been sufficiently dried, particularly in a critical area, it is subsequently dried. For this purpose, the switch 33 of the conveyor section 31 following the at least one infrared camera 35 is switched by a controller in such a way that this item of clothing 18 reaches the return conveyor section 32, is transported back by it in the return transport direction 26 at the point of the switch 34 or a threading point and to a section of the conveying path 31 located in front of the inlet opening 14 of the tunnel finisher 10. This item of clothing 18 is then transported again through the same, single tunnel finisher 10 and at least once more dried in it, in particular post-dried. If the item of clothing 10 is not yet sufficiently dry after passing through the tunnel finisher 10 twice, it is transported back at least one more time via the return conveyor section 32, which serves as a bypass or represents a bypass, from the outlet opening 17 to the inlet opening 14 of the tunnel finisher 10.

In the embodiment of 4 three consecutive tunnel finishers 10, 11 and 12 are provided. Here, items of clothing 18 that dry quickly, such as items of outer clothing, for example, are only dried in one pass through the first tunnel finisher 10 and are then fed to a downstream station via the removal path 39 . Other items of clothing 18 can be dried a second time, first in the tunnel finisher 10 and then in the subsequent tunnel finisher 11. After that, sufficiently dried items of clothing 18 are then bypassed by the third tunnel finisher 12 directly from the outlet opening 17 of the second tunnel finisher 11 via the discharge line 39 subsequent station, for example for folding and/or packaging of the respective smoothed and sufficiently dried item of clothing 18. Items of clothing 18 that are particularly difficult to dry, such as trousers, can be dried or post-dried in all three tunnel finishers 10, 11 and 12. Such items of clothing 18 then pass through all three or possibly also further tunnel finishers 10, 11 and 12 in a total of three or more than three runs, before they are also fed to a subsequent station via the discharge section 39 .

At least in the treatment zone 15 of the first tunnel finisher 10, the items of clothing 18 are first sprayed with steam, in particular superheated steam. As a result, the items of clothing 18 become damp or even damper. A first subsequent drying of the items of clothing 18 with preferably hot air then takes place immediately in the first tunnel finisher 10 . If this is not sufficient, in the subsequent tunnel finishers 11 and 12 the items of clothing 18 to be dried in the second and/or third run are only dried with preferably hot air, but are not moistened again with steam or superheated steam.

The determination and control of the number of passages of the items of clothing 18 through only one tunnel finisher 10, two tunnel finishers 10 and 11 or three tunnel finishers 10, 11 and 12 takes place with the inclusion of a measuring device 1 , reading device of the 2 and/or a moisture measuring device 3 . This work in the device according to 4 with three consecutive tunnel finishers 10, 11, 12 in principle the same as before in connection with the device having only a single tunnel finisher 10 Figures 1 to 3 described. But it is conceivable that the light barrier 28 or the at least one light scanner 1 or the antenna 30 of 2 in front of or alternatively also behind some selected or even each tunnel finisher 10, 11 and 12 is arranged. On the other hand, the moisture measuring device measures the 3 preferably only behind the first tunnel finisher 10 and the second tunnel finisher 11 the residual moisture of the items of clothing 18, because it can be assumed that such items of clothing 18 that have been dried with three passes, namely once through each tunnel finisher 10, 11 and 12, are sufficiently dry are.

Using the devices of all exemplary embodiments, the method described above enables a complete control of all items of clothing 18 to be smoothed with regard to a degree of drying that corresponds to the specifications due to possibly multiple drying in the single tunnel finisher 10 or single drying in one, several or possibly all subsequent tunnel finishers 10, 11 and /or 12.

With each of the devices described above, the method can be developed to the effect that at least one imaging device is provided in which it for example, it is a camera that optically determines quality data of each individual item of clothing 18 in the visible light range. The quality data are preferably the degree of whiteness, the color fastness and the degree of reflection of retroreflective strips. The surface structure of the items of clothing 18 can also be determined, from which conclusions can be drawn about the finish quality, in particular the smoothness of the items of clothing 18 to be smoothed or other textile objects. The images recorded by the at least one camera can be compared with ideal images of the quality data mentioned above. If this comparison reveals deviations that go beyond a predetermined tolerance level, this can be an indicator of deficiencies in the relevant item of clothing 18 or an item of clothing 18 that has been subject to heavy wear. Such items of clothing 18 are then sorted out, preferably before the finishing treatment in the first tunnel finisher 10.

The at least one imaging camera can also determine the condition of the respective item of clothing 18, for example holes, tears, soiling, missing buttons or the like. Such items of clothing 18 can be discarded or possibly subjected to repairs or other special treatments before they are smoothed and dried by a tunnel finisher 10 or more tunnel finishers 11 and 12 according to the method according to the invention in one of the devices according to the invention described above.

If it is not intended to use a residual moisture measurement at the end of the respective finishing treatment to determine how much residual moisture is left in the respective item of clothing 18, particularly in critical areas, an infrared camera or other residual moisture measuring device can also be used, for example, to measure the residual moisture in each item of clothing 18 To determine residual moisture before deciding that this item of clothing 18 is sufficiently dry or it requires at least one more drying. <b>List of reference characters:</b> 10 tunnel finisher 37 soft 11 tunnel finisher 38 soft 12 tunnel finisher 39 discharge line 13 run-in zone 14 inlet opening 15 treatment zone 16 run-off zone 17 outlet opening 18 garment 19 transport direction 20 conveyor line 22 return line 23 discharge line 24 module 25 soft 26 return transport direction 27 soft 28 Photoelectric barrier 29 sensor axis 30 antenna 31 conveyor line 32 return line 33 soft 34 soft 35 Infrared camera 36 conveyor line

Claims (12)

1. Method for smoothing textile items in at least one tunnel finisher (10, 11, 12), wherein the textile items are successively transported in an unsorted state by a conveyor, so as to be suspended thereon, along the conveying section (20, 31, 36) through the at least one tunnel finisher (10, 11, 12) and herein are impinged with steam and dried with warm air, characterized in that textile items which are difficult, or comparatively difficult, to dry and cannot be sufficiently dried in one pass through the single tunnel finisher, or not only in the first tunnel finisher (10), are dried in a plurality of passes through the same single tunnel finisher (10), or in each case one pass through successive tunnel finishers (10, 11, 12).
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the single or the first tunnel finisher (10, 11) is operated such that the textile items requiring least drying are sufficiently dried in a first pass, and the other textile items are finally dried in at least one further pass through the single tunnel finisher (10) or, in the case of a plurality of successive tunnel finishers (10, 11, 12), are finally dried in at least one downstream tunnel finisher (11, 12).
3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the textile items that are repeatedly dried in the same tunnel finisher (10) or in another tunnel finisher (11, 12) are impinged with steam, in particular moisturized with steam, only in the first pass, preferably in the first or single tunnel finisher (10).
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that textile items that are sufficiently dried in a first pass through the single tunnel finisher (10) are transported along the conveying section (20, 31) to the next treatment for further processing, while textile items that are not yet sufficiently dried are transported along a return conveying section (22, 32) back to a location of the conveying section (20, 31) ahead of the single tunnel finisher (10).
5. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, in the case of a plurality of successive tunnel finishers (10, 11, 12), the textile items are transported along the conveying section (36) through the tunnel finishers (10, 11, 12), and textile items that are already sufficiently dried before passing through all tunnel finishers (10, 11, 12) are diverted from the conveying section (36) ahead of the downstream tunnel finisher (11, 12) .
6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the type and/or size of the textile items, preferably of all textile items, is determined ahead of the single or first tunnel finisher (10, 11), and it is established by means of the determined type and/or size of the textile items whether the respective textile item has to be dried in one or a plurality of passes through the single tunnel finisher (10) or in one or a plurality of the successive tunnel finishers (10, 11, 12).
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the residual moisture of the textile items, preferably of all textile items, is determined at least after the first pass of the textile items through the single tunnel finisher (10) or first tunnel finisher (10), and textile items not sufficiently dried are once again transported through the single tunnel finisher (10) or at least one downstream tunnel finisher (11, 12).
8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is determined by means of corresponding data of a data carrier, or a data storage medium, respectively, pertaining to each textile item, or to each carrier receiving a textile item, preferably to a transport hanger carrying each textile item, how many passes through the single tunnel finisher (10) the respective textile item requires, or in how many of the successive tunnel finishers (10, 11, 12) the respective textile item has to be dried and/or post-dried.
9. Device for smoothing textile items, having at least one tunnel finisher (10, 11, 12) in which impinging with steam and drying of each individual textile item is performed, and having a conveyor for the suspended transport of the textile items along a conveying section (20, 31, 36) to the at least one tunnel finisher (10, 11, 12), through the latter, and for discharging the smoothed, sufficiently dried textile item along a discharge section (23, 39), characterized in that the conveying section (20, 31) of the conveyor, in the case of a single tunnel finisher (10), has at least one return conveying section (22, 32) which branches off from the conveying section (20, 31) behind the single tunnel finisher (10) and merges with the conveying section (20, 31) again ahead of the single tunnel finisher (10), and the conveying section (20, 31) behind the single tunnel finisher (10) has a turnout (25, 33) assigned to said conveying section (20, 31), by way of which not yet sufficiently dried textile items are able to be re-supplied to the same tunnel finisher (10), or in the case of a plurality of successive tunnel finishers (10, 11, 12) all successive tunnel finishers (10, 11, 12) are linked by the conveying section (36), and discharge sections (39), branching off from the conveying section (36), for delivering sufficiently dried textile items are provided between successive tunnel finishers (10, 11, 12), wherein the conveying section (36) extending through all tunnel finishers (10, 11, 12) between two respective adjacent tunnel finishers (10, 11, 12) has in each case one discharge section (39) branching off from said conveying section (36) and in each case one turnout (37, 38) assigned to said conveying section (36), by way of which not yet sufficiently dried textile items are able to be supplied to a downstream tunnel finisher (11, 12).
10. Device according to Claim 9, characterized in that at least one measuring installation for determining the type and/or size of each textile item is disposed on the conveying section (20, 31, 36) ahead of the single or the first tunnel finisher (10), the measuring installation preferably being provided behind a merging point of the return conveying section (22) and the conveying section (20).
11. Device according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the conveying section (20, 31, 36) is assigned at least one scanning installation for scanning at least such data of a data carrier or data storage medium on the respective textile item, or a carrier, in particular a transport hanger, carrying said textile item, that permit conclusions to be drawn in terms of the number of passes of the textile items through the same tunnel finisher (10), or the passes through one, a plurality, or all of the downstream tunnel finishers (10, 11, 12).
12. Device according to Claim 11, characterized in that the conveying section (20, 31, 36) is assigned at least one signalling installation which emits to the data carrier or data storage medium of the respective textile item, or the carrier, or transport hanger, respectively, carrying this textile item a signal during each pass of the textile item and the carrier, or transport hanger, respectively, through the single tunnel finisher (10), or one of the plurality of tunnel finishers (10, 11, 12), said signal being able to be stored on the corresponding data carrier or data storage medium.

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