GB2091299A

GB2091299A - Apparatus for feeding laundry to an ironing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2091299A
Application number: GB8138299A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: HR CONTROL SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: HR CONTROL SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 1980-12-19
Filing date: 1981-12-18
Publication date: 1982-07-28

Abstract

An apparatus for feeding items of laundry into an ironing machine, comprising at least two gripping means whereby an item of laundry may be gripped, means for stretching said item of laundry between said gripping means, and a continuous belt 17 which feeds into the ironing machine and onto which the said gripping means are adapted to deliver and release an item of laundry to be ironed. Each gripping means comprises a pair of arms 6, 7, each arm being pivotal about a respective point 8, 9 and the arms being slidably linked together by a pin 11 in a slot 12 such that pivotal movement of one arm in one direction results in pivotal movement of the other arm in the opposite direction, spring tensioning or pneumatic means for pressing the two arms together to thereby grip an item of laundry, and means for lifting one said arm to open the gripping means and thereby release an item of laundry onto the continuous belt. A spring loaded latch device 15 is provided. Helical brushes, Figs. 4 and 5 (not shown), on rotatable shafts are provided for spreading out an item of laundry on the continuous belt, and the position of the gripping means may be controlled by pneumatically or mechanically driving carriages to which the gripping means are connected. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for feeding laundry to an ironing machine The present invention relates to apparatus for feeding laundry, for example sheets, to an ironing machine.

Large laundries cannot economically afford to have items of laundry dealt with manually, and this applies particularly where items of laundry are to be ironed. As a result automatic ironing machines are used. However, these automatic ironing machines require to be fed with the items of laundry to be ironed and in particular require to be fed with the items of laundry stretched flat and free of rucks.

In order to achieve this the front corners of each item of laundry are gripped between a pair of grippers which are moved apart to stretch flat the item of laundry at its leading edge.

In conventional ironing machine feeding apparatus the grippers are located to one side of a transport mechanism and must first be moved to a central datum position before the item is stretched. If this is not done accurately the item is not accurately aligned for subsequent equipment e.g. ironing and folding equipment.

In addition in conventional ironing machine feeding apparatus it is known for the item of laundry to be stretched, to be torn at its corners or to be snatched from the gripping mechanisms because of the nature of the gripping mechanism and transport mechanism.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ironing machine feeding mechanism in which the above mentioned problems are obviated or mitigated.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for feeding items of laundry into an ironing machine, comprising at least two gripping means whereby an item of laundry may be gripped, means for stretching said item of laundry between said gripping means, and a continuous belt which feeds into the ironing machine and onto which the said gripping means are adapted to deliver and release an item of laundry to be ironed, characterised in that each of said gripping means comprises a pair of arms, each arm being pivotal about a respective point and the arms being slidably linked together such that pivotal movement of one arm in one direction results in pivotal movement of the other arm in the opposite direction, means for pressing the two arms together to thereby grip an item of laundry, and means for lifting one said arm to open the gripping means and thereby release an item of laundry onto the continuous belt.

The invention also provides an apparatus for feeding items of laundry into an ironing machine, comprising at least two gripping means whereby an item of laundry may be gripped, means for stretching said item of laundry between said gripping means, and a continuous belt which feeds into the ironing machine and onto which the said gripping means are adapted to deliver and release an item of laundry to be ironed, characterised in that the stretching means comprises a track upon which run carriages, each of which is connected to a respective one of the gripping means, and each of which is movable along the track to stretch an item of laundry between said gripping means.

The invention further provides an apparatus for feeding items of laundry into an ironing machine, comprising at least two gripping means whereby an item of laundry may be gripped, means for stretching said item of laundry between said gripping means, a continuous belt which feeds into the ironing machine and onto which the said gripping means are adapted to deliver and release an item of laundry to be ironed, and means for spreading out an item of laundry released onto the continuous belt, characterised in that the spreading means comprises at least one rotatable shaft supporting helical brushes in contact with the continuous belt or an item of laundry on the continuous belt, the shaft being rotatable in a direction such that the brushes cause an item of laundry on the continuous belt to be spread out.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of the motive means, whereby an item of laundry is stretched, of an embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 2(a) to (c) show three side views of the gripping mechanism of an embodiment of the present invention, each showing the gripping mechanism at various stages in the operational cycle of the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows schematically a side view of an embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 4 and 5 show a helical brush suitable for use as a spreading device; Fig. 6 shows the positioning of the helical brush of Figs. 4 and 5; and Fig. 7 schematically illustrates an alternative device for controlling the positioning of the gripping means.

In order to simplify the description the embodiment of the present invention of the drawings will be described in respect of feeding a sheet into an ironing machine. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention may be employed to feed into an ironing machine any item of laundry which requires to be stretched flat before ironing.

Referring to Fig. 1 the motive means whereby an item of laundry, such as a sheet, is stretched comprises a hollow tube 1 in which two powerfully magnetised moles (not shown) are located one on either side of the middle of the tube 1. Each mole is movable back and forth within its respective half of the tube 1 by the introduction of compressed air into inlet/outlet pipes 2, 3 and 4. Air introduced into inlet/outlet pipe 2 causes the moles to be forced to respective ends of the tube 1. Air introduced into inlet/outlet pipes 3 and 4 causes the moles to be forced back to the middle of the tube 1. It will be appreciated that the pipes are referred to as inlet/out pipes because as well as admitting air to move the moles they also allow the release of the volume of air in front of the mole as it moves.

A satellite external annular carriage 5, also powerfully magnetised is provided in respect of each mole and is forced by the magnetic attraction of its respective mole to move back and forth along the outside of the tube 1 with its respective mole within the tube 1.

Each carriage 5 is connected by means, not shown to a respective gripping mechanism (see Figs. 2(a) to (c)). Thus as will be explained, hereinbelow, by loading respective corners of a sheet into the gripping mechanisms when the carriages 5 connected thereto are at the middle of the tube 1, the sheet may be easily stretched by driving the carriages 5 towards respective ends of the tube 1.

Referring now to Figs. 2(a) to (c) which show the gripping mechanism in respectively, the preloaded mode, the gripping mode and the release mode the gripping mechanism will be described.

The gripping mechanism comprises two arms 6 and 7, each of which is pivotally mounted about points 8 and 9 respectively to an arm 10 which in turn is connected to a respective one of carriages 5 (see Fig. 1). A slideable hinge is provided between the two arms 6 and 7 by means of a pin 11 in a slot 12.

Secured to the free end of arm 6 is a roller 13, whilst the free end of arm 7 is provided with a curved portion 14 which engages around a portion of the roller 13. A sheet loaded into the gripping mechanism is secured therein between the roller 13 and curved portion 14.

The effect of the above described arrangement of arms 6 and 7 is that movement of one of the arms in one direction causes movement of the other arm in the opposite direction. Thus in Fig. 2(a) where the arm 6 is sprung inwardly, the effect is to cause the arms 6 and 7 to move towards each other.

In order that a sheet can be easily loaded into the gripping mechanism, between the gripping portions of arms 6 and 7, the gripping mechanism is provided with a spring loaded latch device 15 which in the gripping mechanisms pre-loaded mode (Fig. 2(a)) acts to keep the gripping portion of arms 6 and 7 separated. A sheet can thus easily be drawn up between the roller 13 and curved portion 14, and the latch device 15 knocked out of the way with the leading edge of the sheet. Once the latch device 1 5 is knocked out of the way arms 6 and 7 move together under the spring tensioning means and the latch device 15 is prevented from returning to its pre-loaded position byalip 1 6 of the arm 7.

Fig. 2(b) shows the gripping mode of the gripping mechanism. Once the sheet is gripped the gripping mechanism is moved towards a continuous belt 17 (see Fig. 2(c)) onto which the sheet is released and fed into an ironing machine (not shown).

Referring to Fig. 2(c) the continuous belt 17 is arranged such that the roller 13, together with arm 6, is lifted as it moves further onto the continuous belt. The effect of lifting arm 6 is to cause arm 7 to move in the opposite direction and thus the gripping portions of the gripping mechanism move apart to release the sheet onto the continuous belt 17.

Referring now to Fig. 3 operation of the embodiment of the invention as a whole will be described. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3 the gripping mechanism is located in horizontal mode to facilitate loading of a sheet therein and is swung down through an arc onto the continuous belt onto which the sheet is released. It will be appreciated, however, that the gripping device may be moved along almost any trajectory onto the continuous belt, and in particular can be moved through a linear trajectory.

Initially the two carriages 5 (shown schematically) are located at the middle of the tube 1 and thus the gripping mechanisms 18 are adjacent each other. A single operator can thus easily load a sheet 19 into each of the gripping mechanisms 18 standing at the middle of the tube 1 (not shown). Once the sheet 19 is loaded into the gripping mechanisms 18 between the roller 13 and curved portion 14 of arm 7 compressed air is introduced into the middle pipe of the tube 1, thus forcing the moles therein and their respective carriages 5 to move towards respective ends of the tube 1. The leading edge of the sheet 1 9 is thus stretched between the two gripping mechanisms 1 8.

Once the sheet 19 has been stretched the gripping mechanisms 18 are swung down onto the continuous belt 17 which feeds into an ironing machine (not shown). The continuous belt 17 rises from the point where the gripping mechanisms 18 first make contact therewith and as a result the roller 13 and arm 6 rise thus opening the gripping mechanisms 18 and dropping the sheet onto the continuous belt 17 as explained hereinbefore.

At the same time as the sheet 1 9 is being fed along the continuous belt 17 a pair of continuous brush belts 20 located before the point of release of the sheet 1 9 by the gripping mechanisms 1 8 and on each side of the continuous belt 17, smooth out the rucks in the sheet 19. The brush belts 20 rotate in opposite directions so as to draw the side edges of the sheet 1 9, as it moves thereover, out towards the edges of continous belt 17. The brush belts 20 are mounted on a vertically movable assembly 21 so that they can be withdrawn below the level of the continuous belt if so desired.

As the leading edge of the sheet 1 9 is dropped onto the continuous belt 17 a vertically movable assembly 22 is raised from the continuous belt 17 to permit the leading edge of sheet 19 to pass thereunder. As soon as the sheet 19 passes under rollers 24 (as detected by a microswitch, for example) the assembly 22 towers onto the sheet 19 and the gripping mechanisms return to their initial positions. The roller 24 prevents the sheet 19 slipping off the continuous belt 1 7 and brush belts 23 smooth out any rucks in the sheet not clear by brush belts 20.

As the sheet passes through the feeder a new sheet is loaded into the gripping mechanisms.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, Fig. 4 is a side view of a short portion of a helical nylon-tufted brush 25 and Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the brush of Fig. 4. Two brushes are provided, one having a left hand helical brush and the other a right hand helical brush, to replace or supplement the action of a brush such as the brush 20 shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 6, which is an end sectional view similar to Fig. 3, the positioning of the brushes 25 of Figs. 4 and 5 is illustrated. The brushes 25, which may be for example approximately three feet long with a four inch outer diameter and four inch pitch, are mounted on a pivotal support 26 located above the continuous belt 27 onto which an article to be ironed is deposited. Each of the brushes is mounted on a common shaft 28 which is continuously rotated. The support is initially positioned away from the belt 27, but after an article is placed on the belt its presence beneath the brushes is sensed for example by a microswitch and the support 26 is pivoted down so that the brushes 25 bear against the upper surface of the article. As one brush has a left hand helix and the other a right hand helix the brushes spread out the article across the belt 27.

Referring now to Fig. 7, an alternative arrangement to that of Figs. 1 to 3 for positioning the grippers is schematically illustrated. The device comprises a continuously rotated shaft 29 against which rollers 30 bear. The rollers 30 are supported on arms 31 which are rotatable about axes 32. The arms 31 project from carriages 33 that are supported on a guide shaft (not shown) extending parallel to the shaft 29. The grippers (not shown) which are for example of the type shown in Figs. 1 to 3, are mounted on the carriages 33.

If the arms 31 are positioned such that the rotation axis of each roller 30 is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 29, then no movement is imparted to the carriages. If these axes are mutually inclined however the roller running along the surface of the shaft 29 causes its associated carriage 33 to move parallel to the shaft in one of the directions indicated by arrows 34. Thus by positioning the arms 31 appropriately the carriages can be caused to move together to enable an article to be gripped and then by adjusting the postitioning of the arms the carriages can be caused to move apart to stretch the article.

Claims

1. An apparatus for feeding items of laundry into an ironing machine, comprising at least two gripping means whereby an item of laundry may be gripped, means for stretching said item of laundry between said gripping means, and a continuous belt which feeds into the ironing machine and onto which the said gripping means are adapted to deliver and release an item of laundry to be ironed, characterised in that each of said gripping means comprises a pair of arms, each arm being pivotal about a respective point and the arms being slidably linked together such that pivotal movement of one arm in one direction results in pivotal movement of the other arm in the opposite direction, means for pressing the two arms together to thereby grip an item of laundry, and means for lifting one said arm to open the gripping means and thereby release an item of laundry onto the continuous belt.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the means for pressing the two arms together comprises spring tensioning means.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for pressing the two arms together are pneumatic.

4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein means are provided whereby said pair of arms are held apart until such time as an item of laundry is inserted therebetween.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the means for holding apart the pair of arms comprises a spring loaded latch device provided between the arms, which device holds the pair of arms apart, and which device can be knocked out of the way to, allow the pair of arms to close and springs back to its arm separating mode when the item of laundry is released from the gripping means on the continuous belt.

6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the means whereby said one arm is lifted to release the item of laundry comprises the continuous belt which is inclined so that, as the gripping means is moved into contact therewith, the said one arm is lifted.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the said one arm comprises a roller which rolls over the continuous belt as the gripping means is moved into contact therewith.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the other arm comprises a curved portion which engages around a portion of the said roller to provide a tight grip therebetween.

9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the stretching means comprises a track upon which run carriages, each of which is connected to a respective one of the gripping means, and each of which is movable along the track to stretch an item of laundry between said gripping means.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said track comprises a closed tube, and each of said carriages is propelled back and forth along the said tube by means of a respective magnetic mole located within the tube and to which each carriage is magnetically attracted, the magnetic mole being moved within the tube by introducing compressed air into the tube behind or in front of the mole.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the carriages each comprise a free-running wheel in engagement with a rotatable shaft, the angle of skew between the wheel and shaft being adjustable to control the speed and direction of movement imparted to the carriage by virtue of the contact between the shaft and roller.

12. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising means for spreading out an item of laundry released onto the continuous belt, wherein the spreading means comprises at least one rotatable shaft supporting helical brushes in contact with the continuous belt or an item of laundry on the continuous belt, the shaft being rotatable in a direction such that the brushes cause an item of laundry on the continuous belt to be spread out.

13. An apparatus for feeding items of laundry into an ironing machine, comprising at least two gripping means whereby an item of laundry may be gripped, means for stretching said item of laundry between said gripping means, and a continuous belt which feeds into the ironing machine and onto which the said gripping means are adapted to deliver and release an item of laundry to be ironed, characterised in that the stretching means comprises a track upon which run carriages, each of which is connected to a respective one of the gripping means, and each of which is movable along the track to stretch an item of laundry between said gripping means.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said track comprises a closed tube, and each of said carriages is propelled back and forth along the said tube by means of a respective magnetic mole located within the tube and to which each carriage is magnetically attracted, the magnetic mole being moved within the tube by introducing compressed air into the tube behind or in front of the mole.

1 5. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the carriages each comprise a freerunning wheel in engagement with a rotatable shaft, the angle of skew between the wheel and shaft being adjustable to control the speed and direction of movement imparted to the carriage by virtue of the contact between the shaft and roller.

1 6. An apparatus for feeding items of laundry into an ironing machine, comprising at least two gripping means whereby an item of laundry may be gripped, means for stretching said item of laundry between said gripping means, a continuous belt which feeds into the ironing machine and onto which the said gripping means are adapted to deliver and release an item of laundry to be ironed, and means for spreading out an item of laundry released onto the continuous belt, characterised in that the spreading means comprises at least one rotatable shaft supporting helical brushes in contact with the continuous belt or an item of laundry on the continuous belt, the shaft being rotatable in a direction such that the brushes cause an item of laundry on the continuous belt to be spread out.

1 7. An apparatus for feeding items of laundry into an ironing machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.