GB2081749A - Apparatus for Feeding Pieces of Washing to a Washing Treatment Machine Such as an Ironing Machine or the Like - Google Patents

Abstract

In apparatus for feeding large pieces of washing (W1), such as sheets and other bed linen, to an ironing machine (1), an article is held by its leading edge and allowed to hang before a continuously driven feeder device (9, 11, 13) and spread out and then its front end is laid on the feeder device (at 11). In the region of the laying on end of the feeder device, two transverse oppositely running stretching belts (21) are provided and a distance below the laying on end of the feeder device there is a driven feed and spreading roll (19) which is movable between a position below the feeder device (as in Figure 2, not shown) and a position somewhat in front of the feeder device (to lie next roller 18 and drive the piece of washing between them). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for Feeding Pieces of Washing to a Washing Treatment Machine Such as a Mangle or the Like This invention relates to a device for feeding pieces of washing into a washing treatment machine such as a mangle or the like. In particular, the invention relates to such apparatus for feeding large pieces of washing such as sheets and other bed linen or the like.

Devices for feeding pieces of washing, particularly large pieces of washing such as sheets, bed linen or the like are known which have a plurality of feed stations in each of which two clamps are provided in which in each case one corner of a piece of washing to be fed in is hung or clamped. At a given point in time this pair of clamps carrying the piece of washing is guided centrally in front of and above the laying on end of a continuously driven feeder device.Since the piece of washing hanging downwardly from the clamps follows the movement of the pair of clamps into the noted position, in the path which is followed by the piece of washing during the movement noted of the pair of clamps, there is a transport device, preferably in the form of a friction belt, brush belt or the like, with which the hanging down part of the piece of washing, during the noted movement of the pair of clamps, comes to engage, by means of which a transport movement is exercised on the hanging down part of the piece of washing. The result is that the part of the piece of washing hanging down practically follows the movement of the pair of clamps.

After the end of the movement noted into the position centrally in front of and above the laying on end of the feed device both the clamps of the pair of clamps are moved in opposite directions i.e. away from one another by means of which the piece of washing is spread out. The end of this movement of the two clamps, the piece of washing is located spread out and hanging freely in front of the feeder device, wherein the front edge or upper edges of the piece of washing are located in a position in front of and above the laying on end of the feeder device.

From this position of the piece of washing, the front edge of the piece of washing is laid on to the feeder device. This can take place, for example, in that simultaneously with release of the clamps the front edge of the piece of washing is blown on to the laying on end of the feeder device by means of an air blast device. However, this can be effected in that the clamps may be guided a certain distance over the laying on end of the feeder device, following which the front edge of the piece of washing can then be made to fall on to the laying on end of the feeder device by sirnply opening the clamps.

In the known devices, during the spreading of the piece of washing by moving the clamps apart, the piece of washing enters into a slot between two transverse sweeping devices. Each of these two transverse sweeping devices is located essentially below the laying on end of the feeder device and each of these devices has two oppositely lying brush belts or similar spreading out belts which extend substantially from the middle of the feeder device up to the respective side edge of the feeder device. The two transverse sweeping devices are driven in mutally opposite directions in such a way that if a piece of washing is arranged between the sweeping out belts of both transverse sweeping devices, a sweeping out action is exerted on the piece of washing from its centre outwardly in the direction towards both sides.

A disadvantage of such known devices consists in that if bed linen is being treated, particularly duvet covers and the like, the closure of the cover can be opened by the transverse spreading action described. As a result of this, the bed linen may be in practice somewhat distorted and it then runs in distorted condition into the subsequently arranged washing treatment machine which conventionally is a mangle.

Accordingly, the distorted condition is then fixed in the mangle which, inter alia, has the result that properfolding of the bed linen is no longer possible.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for feeding pieces of washing to a washing treatment machine such as a mangle or the like in which a piece of washing in the region of its upper or front edge is held and allowed to hang in front of a continuously driven feed device and is spread out and thereafter its front end is laid on to the feed device, whereafter the piece of washing is fed to the mangle or the like, wherein, in the region of the laying on end of the feed device, two transverse spreading belts which are arranged transversely and running in opposite directions are provided, and wherein the apparatus includes, at a distance below the laying on end of the feed device, a driven feed and spreading roll which is movable between a position below the infeed device and a position somewhat in front of the infeed device.

With such an arrangement, if a spread piece of washing hangs in front of the feeder device, the feed and spreading roller moves into the position in front of the feeder device. Because of this, this roller contacts the lower part of the piece of washing and feeds this to the other or inner side with reference to the total device of the feeding and spreading roller. The feeding and spreading roller is then moved back into its starting position below the laying on end of the feed device and by means of the further drive of this feeding and spreading roller, there is applied to the piece of washing which, in its front part is already being fed, by the feeder device, a combined longitudinal stretching force and a transverse spreading force.

The lateral spreading action generated by this is not sufficient to open the closure of a duvet cover.

The invention is illustrated by way of example with reference to preferred embodiments which are described herein below and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic front view of an apparatus according to the invention, i.e. a view seen from that side of the device from which the pieces of washing are given to the feeder device, Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the apparatus according to Figure 1 seen from the side on the left in Figure 1 looking towards the right, Figure 2a is a view similar to Figure 1 for illustrating the mode of operating of the device, Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, likewise for illustrating the mode of action of the apparatus, Figures 3a, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are views similar to that of Figure 2 at various points in time during the working cycle of the apparatus, and Figures 10 to 14 show in diagrammatic side view an optional additional device to facilitate feeding, in an alternative embodiment.

For the purposes of simplification, the parts shown in Figure 1 are only the important parts of the apparatus necessary for understanding the invention. It is to be understood that these parts are arranged in a normal machine frame.

According to Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus is arranged relative to a mangle 1 which is represented by the mangle roller illustrated.

Arranged in front of the mangle 1 is a feeder 2 which consists in known fashion of a plurality of belts which run in the direction illustrated in Figure 2 by means of an arrow. The feeder 2 is also referred to herein as a mangie-feed feeder. It runs with a somewhat lower speed than the mangle 1.

The device is furthermore provided with a feeding device which according to Figure 2 has an endless belt feeder 13 which lies to the right as seen in this Figure, the belts of which run over reversing rolls 9 and 1 The drive direction of the belt feeder 13 is indicated in Figure 2 by means of an arrow. Arranged relative to belt feeder 13 is a pressure roll 12 which can either be driven with the same speed as the belt feeder 13 or which is driven by the belt feeder 13 itself, if it is in contact therewith. By means of the pressure roll 12 in practice an automatic feeding of a piece of washing is obtained once this is located between the pressure roll 12 and the belt feeder 13.For improving this automatic feed action there can be provided, arranged relative to the pressure 12 in the interior of the belt feeder 1 3. a counter-roller, which is designated by 12a in Figure 2.

Behind the belt feeder 1 3, in the feed direction of the pieces of washing, there is located a further belt feeder 5, the belts of which run over rolls 3 and 4. The drive direction of the belt feed 5 is again indicated in Figure 2 by means of an arrow.

Above the belt feeder 5 is located a further belt feeder 8 the belts of which run over rolls 6 and 7.

The direction of movement of the belt feeder 8 is likewise indicated in Figure 2 with an arrow. The slot between the belt feeder 5 and belt feeder 8 is adjustable and it is so chosen that in practice a feed action is exerted on a piece of washing located between the belt feeds 5 and 8, but no automatic feed action. The reason for this is explained below.

The belt feeders 5 and 8 run with the same speed. This speed is somewhat lower than the feed speed of mangle 1, for example, by about 5 per cent.

The speed of the belt feeder 13 is again somewhat lower than the speed of the belt feeders 5 and 8, for example by about 5 per cent lower.

From Figure 2 it is further evident that the pieces of washing are fed from the belt feeder 5 to the mangle infeed feeder 2 and thereafter inserted into the mangle 1.

From Figures 1 and 2 it is evident that in the embodiment illustrated, three pairs of clamps 15 are provided. In Figure 1 the rest position or starting position of the three pairs of clamps 1 5 is shown. For clarity three pieces of washing, W1, W2 and W3 are also indicated in Figure 1 , which in each case are hung up or clamped by means of their corners in the clamps of a clamp pair 1 5.

It is to be understood that the middle pair of clamps 15, as seen in Figure 1, lie a greater distance from the front end, i.e. the right-hand end as seen in Figure 2 of the feeder device than, for example, the left-hand pair of clamps as seen in Figure 1.

As is evident from Figures 1 and 2, before the right-hand end as seen in Figure 2, which is referred to subsequently simply as the laying on end, of the belt feeder 13 and lying lower than this there is arranged a transport device. This transport device has two substantially box-shaped housings, for example of sheet metal, in each of which an endless brush belt 17 is arranged, the right-hand run of which as seen in Figure 2 projects outwardly from the box-shaped housing, while the left-hand run as seen in Figure 2 runs within the box-shaped housing. As is evident from Figure 1, two such brush belts 17 are provided which are arranged on both sides of the centre of the apparatus.The projecting runs of the brush belts 1 7 which project from the plane of the drawing as seen in Figure 1 and which also project from the box-like housings are driven in a direction from the respective side of the apparatus in a direction towards the centre.

On both box-shaped housings there is in each case a freely rotatable roll 18 mounted, and these are mounted on downwardly projecting mounting arms attached to the respective box-like housings.

The object of these rolls 18 is explained below.

The outer surface of the rolls 18 consists appropriately of a material which on contact with a piece of washing generates a certain frictional force. Suitable is, for example, an outer surface of rolls 18 made of a foam fabric.

Furthermore the device has below the laying on end of the belt feeder 13 two oppositely driven transverse spreading brush belts 21. These brush belts 21 start essentially in the centre of the apparatus as is evident from Figure 1 and they extend up to the respective side edge. The brush belts 21 are so driven that the bristles projecting to the right, as seen in Figure 2, in each case from the centre of the device run in the direction to the respective side edge. In this way a lateral transverse stretching out action is exerted on a piece of washing.

The brush belts 21 are suitably so arranged that the bristles acting on the piece of washing lie in a plane slightly in front of the laying on end of the belt feeder 13, as is evident from Figure 2.

Below the brush belts 21 is a so-calied stretching bow 22, which on its right-hand edge as seen in Figure 2, has an arcuate form, as is known in the field here under discussion. This stretching bow serves to exert a longitudinal stretching action and a transverse stretching action on a piece of washing which is pulled over it under tension.

Below the spreading bow 22 is located a feed and spreading roll 19, which in the position illustrated in Figure 2 is located essentially below the laying on end of the belt feeder 13. The feed and stretching roll 19 is driven counterclockwise as seen in Figure 2 and it has preferably two ribs or strips projecting therefrom which run, starting from the centre of roll 19 to its lateral ends. As is evident from Figure 1 , these ribs or strips 1 9a are arranged obliquely so that they run helically. A preferred helix angle amounts to about 450 relative to the axis of roll 19.

The feed and spreading out roll 19 is mounted on a swinging mounting and it is swingable to and fro between the position illustrated in Figure 2 and that illustrated in Figure 4. The purpose of this swinging movement is later described in detail. It is, however, to be observed that the feeder and spreading roll 19 in the position illustrated in Figure 4 comes into contact with freely running roll 18 if no piece of washing is present between the roll 19 and rolls 18.

As is further evident from Figure 2, the device comprises light gates to control the mode of operation, mainly a light gate consisting of light source 14 and reflector 1 4a which is arranged in the centre of the apparatus and above the belt feeder 13 and light gates 20, 20a, which are arranged essentially below the belt feeder 13.

The reflector 1 4a is fixed to a bar to which a plurality of blast nozzles 16 is fixed.

Each light gate 20, 20a consists of a light source 20 and a reflector 20a. The light sources 20 are located, as evident from Figure 2, below the belt feeder 13 and the reflectors 20a are in each case mounted projected downardly on one of the box-like housings which carry the brush belts 17. As evident from Figure 1, the light gates 20, 20a are located essentially in the region of the inner end of the respective brush belt 1 7.

In each case preferably two light gates consisting of light source 20 and reflector 20a are provided because the time during which each of these light gates is free between successively following pieces of washing varies very substantially depending on the feed speed.

Accordingly, it is appropriate to use one of both these light gates at low feed speeds from about 5 to 15 m/min. and the other light gate at higher feed speeds of about 16 to 30 m/min.

The blast nozzles 16 mentioned above are arranged in a position in front of and somewhat above the laying on end of the belt feeder 1 3 and directed to the left as seen in Figure 2. In the embodiment illustrated (Figure 1) three tubes are provided with a plurality of blast nozzles 16.

The mode of operation of the device so far described is as as follows: One starts from the position that as a first piece of washing, that piece of washing is to be fed into the mangle 1 which hangs on the pair of clamps 15 which is illustrated on the left-hand side of Figure 1. This is piece of washing W1.

First the pair of clamps 15 carrying the piece of washing W1 are moved from the left lateral position illustrated in Figure 1 to the right as seen in Figure 1 into a position in the middle of the width of the apparatus. During this movement the piece of washing comes to be in contact with the brush belt 17 on the left, as seen in Figure 1 (Figures 2, 2a) so that also the lower part of the piece of washing W1 is transported in the direction towards the middle of the device. When the pair of clamps 15 in question has reached the central position, the piece of washing W1 is in a position which is designated in Figure 1 with W2.

From this position, both clamps are then moved apart from one another until the piece of washing is fully spread out as is illustrated in Figure 3. At this stage the piece of washing W1 hangs in the shape as illustrated in Figures 3 and 3a.

During the spreading out of the piece of washing W1, its front edge is also increasingly stretched and at a particular point in time the front edge crosses the path defined by light gate 14, 1 4a which, as is evident for example from Figure 1, is arranged in the middle of the width of the device.

Furthermore, during spreading out of the piece of washing, the two light gates 20, 20a arranged both below the belt feeder 13 are crossed. The position of the light gates 20, 20a is clearly evident from Figures 1 and 2. In particular, the light gates lie substantially at the "inner" ends of the box-like housings carrying the brush belts 17.

As soon the front edge of the piece of washing W1, during the stretching, crosses the light gate 14, either immediately or with a delay dependent on the apparatus the blowing device 16 is .brought into action whereon simultaneously the clamps 15 are opened. The front edge of the piece of washing W1 thus freed is then blown by the blast of air on to the feeder belt 13. At a time slightly before the activation of the blowing device 16, the press roll 12 is lifted from the belt feeder 13 but immediately set again on to the belt feeder 13 as soon as the front end of the piece of washing W1 has been blown on to the belt feeder 13.

Simultaneously, with the replacement of the press roll 12 on the belt feeder 13 or immediately thereafter, the feed and spreading roll 19 is swung into the position illustrated in Figure 4, in which the piece of washing is clamped between the roll 19 and both of the free-running rolls 18.

Since the roll 19 is driven in the counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 4, as soon as the roll 19 reaches the position illustrated in Figure 4 feeding of the piece of washing W1 takes place in such a way as is illustrated in Figure 5. The feeding of the piece of washing W1 in the fashion described is guaranteed particularly by the contact between the roll 19 and the free-running rolls 18 because by means of the clamping places constituted between the roll 19 and the rolls 18, a certain feed action is exercised on the piece of washing W1.

Shortly before the beginning of the feeding of the piece of washing W1 by means of the roller 19, if the piece of washing W1 has reached substantially the position illustrated in Figure 5, the feed and spreading roll 19 is again swung back into its starting position. The piece of washing W1 then takes up the position which is represented in Figure 6. It is evident that the piece of washing is now automatically pressed against the stretching bow 22 and against the brush belt 21, so that at these components a desired longitudinal and transverse stretching out action is obtained.

Additionally as a result of the fact that the feed and spreading roll 19 is driven in the counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 6, also by means this roll 19 a stretching action is exerted on the piece of washing W1 . This stretching action has a component in the so-called longitudinal direction i.e. in the direction of forward movement of the piece of washing W1, but oppositely directed to this. Additionally the stretching action also has a transverse component which is exerted by the strips or ribs 1 9a of roll 19. This stretching action is wholly effective since the front end of the piece of washing W1 as a result of the grip between the pressure roller 12 and the belt feeder 13 is practically forcibly fed.

It has surprisingly been found that with the construction and arrangement of the feed and spreading roll 1 9 described, not only sufficient longitudinal stretching but also a sufficient transverse stretching is promoted in such a way that the piece of washing Wi, when this is a duvet cover, is indeed spread out sufficiently in the transverse direction but the closure of the duvet cover is, however, not opened.

The front end of the piece of washing arrives on further feeding between the belt feeders 5 and 8. Since these feeders 5 and 8 run faster than the belt feeder 13, any creasing or folding or the like which may be located at the front end of the piece of washing W1 is spread out forwardly. This position of the piece of washing is illustrated in Figure 7. The piece of washing is accordingly spread out satisfactorily both in the longitudinal direction and also in the transverse direction.

During the feed of the piece of washing W1 in the direction towards the mangle 1 the following piece of washing which in the example here under consideration should be piece of washing W3 is already brought into the position which piece of washing W2 has taken up in the illustration of Figure 1. The position which the piece of washing W3 takes up during the movement from the side of the apparatus to its centre is illustrated in Figure 8. During the movement of the clamp pair 15 to the left according to Figure 1 the piece of washing is transported by the transport belt 17 to the right as seen in Figure 1. After reaching the central position, the second piece of washing W3 is spread out and this takes place in the same fashion as happened for piece of washing W1.

As soon as the rear edge of the piece of washing W1 has freed the light gates 20, 20a, (Figure 8), after a time delay dependent on the apparatus, the front end of the following piece of washing W3 is blown on to the belt feeder 13 and this automatically at such a point in time that it still comes to lie on the rear end of the previous running out piece of washing W1, in connection with which naturally previously the pressure roller 12 is lifted up for a short time. This condition is illustrated in Figure 9. Figure 9 shows also that, after the blowing of the front end of the subsequent piece of washing W3 on to the belt feeder, the feed and spreading roll 19 is again swung into position in which the feed of the piece of washing W3 begins between the roll 1 9 and free running rolls 18.

The overlapping which is present as seen in Figure 9 between the preceding piece of washing W1 and the subsequent piece of washing W3 is avoided at the entry into the mangle 1 , this as a result of the fact that the mangle 1 runs about 10 per cent faster than the belt feeder 13.

Accordingly, the pieces of washing run practically head to tail into the mangle 1.

It is to be understood that the mangle 1, the infeed conveyor 2 and belt conveyors 5, 8 and 13 are driven continuously. Also the brush belt 17 and 21 are suitably driven continuously. It is also however possible to drive these brush belts intermittently if this is seen to be desirable.

Also the feed and spreading roll 19 is suitably driven continuously. However, it can also be driven intermittently, if this should be desired.

It is furthermore to be understood that during the period in which the piece of washing W3 is being fed, the piece of washing W2 already hanging in the centre is spread out. Its front end is then blown in analogous fashion at the appropriate point in time on to the rear end of the piece of washing W3. In the mean time already new pieces of washing can be hung on to the three pairs of clamps 15.

It should also be noted that between the belt feeder 13 and the belt feeder 5, support fingers are provided in order to guarantee trouble-free feed of the front end of a piece of washing from the belt feeder 13 on to the belt feeder 5. In similar fashion support fingers are provided between the left-hand end of the belt feeder 5 as seen in Figure 2 and the mangle infeed feeder 2.

Preferably the apparatus according to the invention comprises an additional device by means of which the laying of the leading end of the piece of washing Won to the belt feeder 1 3 is facilitated and improved. This device is shown in Figures 10 to 14 in which only those portions of the apparatus are shown which are necessary for the understanding of the additional device.

The belt feeder 13 is different from the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 9 in that it comprises only reversing rolls 9 and 11 at its discharge end and laying-on end, respectively.

The additional device comprises furthermore a hollow polygonal section beam 23 which in its rest position, which is shown in Figure 10, is disposed slightly above the front reversing roll 11 of the belt feeder 1 3. The length of beam 23 corresponds substantially to the width of the belt feeder 13.

As shown, the upper surface of the beam 23 extends inclined downwardly towards the layingon end of the belt feeder 1 3, i.e. towards the piece of washing W hanging in front of the belt feeder 13.

At each lateral end the beam 23 is connected with a mounting device which consists of two rods 24a and 24b which are pivotally connected to each other. The upper ends of rods 24a are pivoted at the frame of the apparatus at 25. The lower ends of rods 24b are pivotally connected to the rear upper corner of beam 23.

At a position 26b between the ends of rod 24b there is pivotally connected one end of a pistoncylinder unit 26, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to the frame of the apparatus at 26a.

At each lateral end of the beam 23 there are rolls 31 which are mounted on braces which, as can be seen from Figure 10, extend from the beam 23 downwardly. The two rolls 31 roll on a guide track 32 which is shown in Figure 10 as a broken line. Rod 24b also carries a roll 31 mounted on a downwardly extending brace or mounting. Also this roll 31 rolls on the guide track 32.

Furthermore each lateral end of the beam 23 is connected to a flexible tube 27 which is in communication with the suction side of a fan 29, in the discharge conduit of which there is arranged a valve flap 28 which in Figure 10 is shown in a position in which it closes the said discharge conduit, and which can be rotated into an open position which is shown in Figure 11.

The beam 23 comprises at least in its front face, the right hand vertical surface as seen in Figure 10, a plurality of slots 30, as can be seen from Figure 14.

In some embodiments it can be convenient to provide slots or openings also in the vertical surface of the beam 23 which as seen in Figure 10 is the left vertical surface. As the case may be, there can be formed slots or openings also in the upper surface of the beam 23.

If the valve flaps 28 of the two fans 29 are in their open position and when the two fans 29 are driven or actuated, there is a suction effect applied to the beam 23 so that air is sucked through the slots 30.

It should further be noted that the beam 23 is pivoted to rod 24b in such a manner that it can freely pivot, as seen in Figure 10 counterclockwise. Pivoting or rotating of the beam 23 clockwise as seen in Figure 10 is limited by a stop (not shown) provided on rod 24b so that the beam 23 can only assume the limiting position as shown in Figure 13.

The apparatus shown in Figures 10 to 14 operates as follows: Figure 10 shows the positions of the several components at the time at which a piece of washing W held by the clamps 15 is fully spread and is hanging in front of the belt feeder 13. At this time by corresponding operation of the two piston-cylinder units 26 the beam 23 hanging on the rods 24a and 24b is moved to the right as seen in Figure 10 until its right vertical surface in which there are provided slots 30 engages the piece of washing W. At the same time the valve flaps 28 are rotated to the open position so that a suction effect is applied to the beam 23 which in turn sucks the piece of washing W against its right vertical surface. This position is shown in Figure 11.

It should be noted that the two fans 29 are continuously driven when the apparatus is in use.

At the time at which the position shown in Figure 11 is reached, the clamps 15 are opened, and at the same time an air jet is discharged by the blowing device 1 6, so that the leading end or front end of the piece of washing W is laid around the beam 23 as it is shown in Figure 12. Now the piston-cylinder units 26 are actuated in opposite directions so that the beam 23 moves to the left as seen in Figure 12 to the position which is shown in Figure 13. During this movement the beam 23 is guided by means of the rolls 31 which are in enga'gement with the guide track 32. As a consequence of the particular structure of the mounting rods 24a and 24b during the last portion of the movement of the beam 23 according to Figure 12 to the left beam 23 rises and, due to its pivoting connection with rod 24b, assumes the position which is shown in Figure 13.Furthermore during the movement of the beam 23 to the left as seen in Figure 12 the valve flaps 28 are rotated to the closed position so that there is no longer a suction effect applied to the beam 23. Therefore, the front or leading edge of the piece of washing W slides off the beam 23 and will be led onto the belt feeder 13.

After the laying of the front and/or leading end of the piece of washing W on to the belt feeder 13 the beam 23 is brought to the position shown in Figure 10 by corresponding actuation of the piston-cylinder units 26. The valve flaps 28 remain, however, in the closed position. The device is now ready to lay the leading end of the next piece of washing on to the belt feeder 13. At the beginning of the next laying-on operation at first the valve flaps 28 will be rotated to the open position.

It is possible to provide that the belt feeder 13 is stopped during the time interval during which the leading end or front end of a piece of washing W slides from the beam 23 on to the belt feeder 13. This, however, is not necessary.

By the particular embodiment of the mounting rods 24a and 24b it is obtained that even with a relatively considerable movement of the beam 23 along the belt feeder 13, the beam 23 does not reach a position too high above the belt feeder 13, so that the leading end or front end of the piece of washing W has to slide only a short distance from the beam 23 on to the belt feeder 13.

Claims (20)

Claims

1. Apparatus for feeding pieces of washing to a washing treatment machine such as a mangle or the like in which a piece of washing in the region of its upper or front edge is held and allowed to hang in front of a continuously driven feed device and is spread out and thereafter its front end is laid on to the feed device, whereafter, the piece of washing is fed to the mangle or the like, wherein, in the region of the laying on end of the feed device, two transverse spreading belts which are arranged transversely and running in opposite directions are provided, and wherein the apparatus includes, at a distance below the laying on end of the feed device, a driven feed and spreading roll which is movable between a position below the infeed device and a position somewhat in front of the infeed device.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the feed and spreading roll has on its outer surface helical profiles of opposite inclination, each of which extends from the centre of the roll up to one end of the roll.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the helical profile is constituted by a strip or rib.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the helical profile runs at an angle of inclination of about 450 to the axis of the roll.

5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and including means to drive the feed and spreading roll in the direction of forward movement of the pieces of washing.

6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and including at least one freely rotatable roller which cooperates with the feed and spreading roll when this is moved or swung into its position somewhat in front of the feed device.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the at least one freely rotatable roll has a frictional surface.

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the feed device has two successively arranged separate belt feeders of which the rear belt feeder, seen relative to the direction of movement of the piece of washing, is driven with a higher speed than the front belt feeder.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the rear belt feeder, relative to the direction of movement of the piece of washing, has two separate sets of feed belts arranged one above the other, means for adjusting the gap between them and means for driving them with the same speed.

10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the infeed device comprises a pressure roll which can selectively be brought into or out of contact with the upper run of a set of feed belts.

11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and including an additional device for facilitating the laying-on of the front end of a piece of washing on to the belt feeder.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the additional device comprises a hollow beam extending across the width of the belt feeder and arranged a distance above the belt feeder, the beam being movable back and forth in parallel to the belt feeder and being provided with openings and connected to a suction source.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the beam in its front surface is provided with openings in form of slots and is connected at each lateral end through a flexible tube to a fan.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 and including means for switching the fan on and off or for intermittently rendering it ineffective to suck air through the slots.

15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the beam is at each lateral end pivotally connected to a holding rod means the opposite ends of which are pivotally connected to the frame of the apparatus, and wherein there are provided means for moving the holding rod means, and connected thereto at a position between the ends of the holding rod means.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein each holding rod means comprises two rods which are pivotally connected to each other at one end and which at their other ends are connected respectively to the frame of the apparatus and to the beam.

17. Apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 1 5 wherein the upper surface of the beam is inclined downwardly in a direction opposite to that of the movement of the belts of the belt feeder.

18. Apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 17 wherein the beam carries at each lateral end downwardly projecting guide rolls which are in engagement with a guide track, one of which is mounted on each side of the belt feeder.

19. Apparatus for feeding pieces of washing, e.g. to a mangle, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.

20. Apparatus for feeding pieces of washing, e.g. to a mangle, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 10 to 14 of the accompanying drawings.