GB2588923A

GB2588923A - Laundry lift system

Info

Publication number: GB2588923A
Application number: GB1916560.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stalley Daniel; Smith Andy
Original assignee: Clean Linen Services Ltd
Current assignee: Clean Linen Services Ltd
Priority date: 2019-11-14
Filing date: 2019-11-14
Publication date: 2021-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-14
Also published as: GB2588923B; GB201916560D0

Abstract

The laundry lift system 1 is for use in a commercial laundry pit (18, Figure 10). A height adjustable framework 6 supports a top plate 2, for preventing laundry items falling on to a pit floor of the laundry pit. A controller is operable on the framework to move the top plate between a lowered position within the pit to allow laundry to hang down into the pit, and a raised position level with a floor at a top of the pit to allow retrieval of any fallen laundry items from the top plate. The top plate may be mounted to the framework by a releasable fastening means such as a magnetic strip. The top plate may comprise transparent sheet to allow visual inspection of the pit and framework. A flexible seal such as a brush seal may be used at outer edges 5 of the top plate. The framework may comprise a scissor lift 7 with a hydraulic actuator drive means 14. The system allows an operator to manoeuvre the lift system from the bottom of the laundry pit to the top, thus effecting an easy, safe and hygienic method of retrieving laundry from the laundry pit.

Description

LAUNDRY LIFT SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a laundry lift system for use in a commercial laundry and more particularly to a laundry lift system for use in conjunction with a laundry pit to allow safe retrieval of laundry items from the pit.

BACKGROUND

Commercial laundries provide an essential service to the hospitality, catering and healthcare industries, typically involving collecting soiled items, such as bedding, towels, tablecloths and workwear (often referred to collectively as "linen"), laundering the items, and delivering the laundered items back to site. The laundries that house the apparatus for washing, drying and finishing the items are required to maintain high standards of cleanliness to ensure that laundered items can be reliably returned in a clean and hygienic condition.

The machines used in commercial laundries include industrial washers, dryers and finishers, all capable of high volume throughput. The finishers may comprise one or more feeders which feed laundered items to respective ironers from where the ironed items may proceed to folders to complete the finishing process.

The feeders may each have one or more feeding stations, for example to feed items such as sheets in a single lane, or in multiple lanes, to the ironers. Feeders may include a vacuum mechanism to assist in smoothing the items before they enter the ironer, as well as providing suction through the feeding belts to help guide the flattened items into the ironer. In use, one or more operatives may stand in front of each feeder and attach the leading edge of an item to be ironed at two or more spaced apart locations, such as at adjacent corners thereof, to clamps on the feeder which clamps then move apart to spread the item for flat entry to the ironer. Some feeders do not utilise clamps, relying solely upon the skill of the operative to spread the items as they are manually introduced onto the feeder. Manual input to the feeders is suitable for small items such as towels, but not generally for larger items such as bedlinen.

Since much of the linen that is handled in commercial laundries has a length in the feeding direction that exceeds the feeding height of the machine, it is customary for a linen pit to be provided in front of the feeder to accommodate the hanging length of the items being processed as they are introduced into the feeder. Linen pits are important for ensuring that the laundered items are maintained in a hygienic condition by avoiding contact with the laundry floor as well as reducing the risk of being trodden on by operatives. Ideally the depth of such linen pits should be sufficient to avoid the items coming into contact with the pit floor as they are clamped or otherwise introduced into the feeder. For example, it is common for linen pits to have a depth in excess of 1.5m.

For health and safety reasons, a barrier must be installed between the linen pit and where operatives stand at the feeder in order to prevent operatives accidentally falling in to the pit. However, the provision of a barrier does not prevent linen falling into the pit, which can happen for example when items are not properly secured to the feeder clamps such that they are not able to support the weight of the item, or when manually fed items are inadvertently dropped.

This means that it is often necessary for an operative to enter the pit in order to retrieve dropped linen. Given the depth of the pit, this involves use of ladders which need to be secured within the pit (either permanently, or by temporary fixing) to enable the operative to descend safely to the pit floor. However, use of ladders, secured or otherwise, invariably is not without risk of accident and potential injury.

Moreover, to reduce loss of production time, fallen linen items are often allowed to accumulate in the pit before being retrieved. This can mean lifting of heavy and bulky loads which adds to the safety risk when being carried up the ladders to exit the pit.

Additionally, there is a further problem that when personnel descend into the pit to retrieve fallen linen, it can be difficult to avoid stepping on the items thereby compromising the hygiene of the linen which may require re-laundering as a result.

As well as the need to retrieve fallen items therefrom, linen pits require regular cleaning, particularly because lint is generated in large volumes in a laundry environment and quantities of lint inevitably collect in the pits. Again, cleaning requires personnel climbing down into the pit to remove lint and any other debris that may end up on the pit floor.

It is an aim of the present invention to address one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages associated with the use of linen pits in commercial laundries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From a first aspect, the invention resides in a laundry lift system for a laundry pit, the system comprising: a top plate for preventing laundry items falling on a pit floor of the laundry pit; a height adjustable framework for supporting the top plate; and a controller operable mounted on the framework to move the supported top plate between a lowered position within the laundry pit to allow laundry to hang down into the laundry pit and a raised position substantially level with a laundry floor at a top of the laundry pit to allow retrieval of any fallen laundry items from the top plate; In this way, operatives can simply gather fallen items from the raised top plate removing the need for operatives to lean into or enter the pit to gather such items.

Thus the invention offers a significantly safer environment for laundry operatives.

It is intended that the system of the invention be used in conjunction with a barrier installed on the laundry floor to prevent operatives falling into the pit when feeding laundered items to a feeder in the finishing in front of the pit.

As will be appreciated, to prevent laundry from falling on to the pit floor, the top plate of the laundry lift system preferably has a footprint that substantially matches that of the pit floor in which it is to be used. However, since laundry pits may not always have walls that are perfectly true, the dimensions of the top plate are selected to permit unobstructed raising and lowering of the top plate in the pit and outer edges or side edges of the plate are preferably provided with a flexible seal for during use of the system, closing any gaps between the outer edges of the top plate and one or more walls of the laundry pit.

Not only does the use of a flexible seal along the outer edges of the top plate ensure that fallen items do not slip through any small gaps between the plate and one or more walls of the laundry pit, the flexible seal also assists in reducing the amount of lint and other debris that would otherwise gather on the pit floor.

Flexible seals suitable for use with the top plate include known rubber and plastics seals. However, to lessen the resistance of the seals against the pit walls as the top plate is lowered or raised, the use of brush seals is preferred. Brush seals may be affixed to the top plate in strips along each of the side edges of the plate. Such seals may be affixed for example by adhesive means, through interengagement via respective complementary male and female configurations on the plate side edges and seal strips, or by screw fitting to the upper or lower surface of the plate adjacent to the side edges. Typically the brush seals used may have a bristle length of up to 75mm.

To ensure that the top plate remains correctly positioned on the height adjustable framework and does not become displaced as the plate is raised and lowered thereon; the top plate is preferably secured to the supporting framework, preferably to a mounting of the framework, as opposed to simply resting thereon. More preferably, the top plate is demountably secured to the framework by releasable fastening means for enabling operatives to remove the plate periodically to permit cleaning of the pit (especially as lint is inclined to penetrate the pit even where seals are employed around the top plate side edges) and for occasional maintenance of the underlying support framework.

Advantageously, the top plate is demountably secured to the mounting of the support framework using a magnetic strip, which has the advantage of being able to hold the top plate securely in position whilst allowing easy release without use of tools or specialist equipment. Alternatively a hook and loop fastening system, such as Velcro® may be used. The use of a releasable fastening means also facilitates rapid replacement or reinstallation of the top plate once cleaning of the pit or maintenance of the lifting framework has taken place. This means of fastening also allows the surface of the top plate to remain substantially smooth, meaning laundry items are not susceptible to snagging on the surfaces of fastening items such as screws protruding from the surface of the top plate.

To allow operatives to carry out a visual inspection of the pit below the top plate, for example to determine whether the pit requires cleaning to remove gathered lint or to check that the height adjustable framework is functioning correctly, the top plate may be comprised of a transparent material, such as a polycarbonate or acrylic material.

The top plate may comprise a transparent section within the plate, such as in the form of a window in the plate, but more preferably the plate consists essentially of a transparent sheet, such as a polycarbonate sheet or a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) sheet, typically Perspex®.

In order to provide good visibility into the pit when the top plate is comprised of a transparent material, the mounting on the framework by which the plate is supported preferably takes the form of a mounting frame. Thus the plate may be supported by the frame sides allowing personnel to view the pit through the plate through the open centre of the frame, as well as through the edge regions of the plate, if the frame sides do not extend as far as the plate edge regions. The mounting frame may be provided with one or more struts extending between opposing side edges, preferably between the longer side edges when the mounting frame is rectangular. Such struts help strengthen the mounting frame and provide additional support for the floor plate without obscuring the view into the pit.

Use of a transparent top plate is also desirable as it ensures that operatives are fully aware of the existence of the pit and the lifting apparatus, namely the support framework, housed beneath the plate, and hence acts as a deterrent to persons who may otherwise be tempted to stand on or walk across the plate. In this regard, one or more warning signs advising personnel not to stand on the top plate may be affixed to the plate.

The top plate is primarily intended to support the weight of fallen laundry, and not to function as a platform to support persons standing thereon, therefore the depth and/or strength characteristics of the plate may be selected appropriately. As a guide, an operative might allow about 20kg of laundry items to fall on to the top plate before being retrieved, the maximum weight of laundry the top plate can hold is 50kg. A polycarbonate sheet having a thickness in the region of 6 -10 mm, such as about 8 mm, may be suitable for this purpose. Such a plate thickness offers strength to support such loads of fallen laundry items whilst at the same time is relatively lightweight, yet would still be able to support a much higher weight if needed. Use of strong but lightweight materials, such as polycarbonate, means that actuation of the height adjustable framework to raise the top plate operates efficiently since the plate itself does not contribute significantly to the weight that may need to be lifted.

Typically, the ideal weight of top plate is in the range of 8 to 12 kg, optimally around 10kg. Polycarbonate sheets and the like are highly durable and strong, and therefore are capable of supporting the weight of a person in the event that they were to stand or walk across the top plate, despite these activities being discouraged.

Polycarbonate or Perspex® sheets can be readily cut to the desired top plate size according to the dimensions of the floor pit where the laundry lift system is to be installed. Thus it is possible for the height adjustable support framework to be constructed as a universal mechanism suitable for installation in all or most laundry pits, and for the top plate to be customised according to the specific dimensions of the pit in which the system is to be used. Since the top plate is preferably demountable from the support framework, the latter can be re-used either in the laundry pit where it is initially installed or in another pit where it may be utilised with a different top plate, depending on the dimensions of the relevant pit. So, for example, if the support framework is removed from the pit in which it has been installed, such as may occur when it is subjected to maintenance or repair, it does not matter if it is subsequently re-installed in a different pit as it is only the top plate that is required to be of specific dimensions. In this way, the laundry lift system of the invention can be manufactured efficiently, since it is unnecessary to customise the support framework according to the installation location.

The height adjustable framework for supporting the top plate may comprise a base and a lift mechanism carried on the base for raising and lowering the height of the mounting (and hence the top plate) with respect to the pit floor under the action of the controller. The framework base is preferably rectangular; the length and width of the base selected to be smaller than the corresponding dimensions of a typical laundry pit to allow for easy installation. Again, the size of the base may be determined to permit universal use of the support framework in laundry pits of various dimensions. Advantageously, the framework base comprises a rectangular frame, preferably of metal, such as of aluminium or steel, to provide strength and rigidity.

Since the laundry lift system may be used in laundry pits of varying dimensions, the framework base may be provided with a mechanism capable of interacting with the pit floor to stabilise the system. Such a mechanism may include an additional tie that is welded to the pit base and bolted to the linen retrieval system (LRS) base plate.

Alternatively, the framework base may be provided with a mechanism capable of interacting with the pit side walls to stabilise the system. Such a mechanism may include a plurality of adjustable bracing arms that extend laterally from the base which arms in use may be adjusted such as to brace the base against the pit side walls and prevent lateral movement and/or twisting of the base under load. As well as adapting to pits of varying dimensions, such features provide stability when the pit walls are not perfectly true.

Further, since the system may also be installed on pit floors that might not be level, it is advantageous to provide the framework base with a plurality of adjustable levelling feet, preferably four such feet located at the corners of the base, which in use may be adjusted with respect to each other such as to ensure the framework base lies horizontal with respect to the pit floor, and hence assures vertical movement of the top plate under the action of the lift mechanism without risk of collision with the pit side walls.

The combination of bracing features and adjustable feet ensure that the system can be anchored in the desired position within the pit, so that when a load of fallen laundry is carried on the top plate, even if distributed unevenly thereon, the framework is held securely in position. Moreover, since the top plate is detachably mounted on the framework, access to the bracing features and adjustable feet when the framework is being installed in the pit is straightforward.

The lift mechanism of the height adjustable framework may comprise a scissor mechanism, preferably extending between the framework base and the mounting for the top plate, and drive means operable by the system controller for supplying an elevating force to the scissor mechanism. The scissor mechanism permits efficient use of space within a pit The scissor mechanism may include at least two scissor support members linked, such as by means of a scissor pin or the like, in a criss-cross "X" formation, at or about their respective midpoints. In use, the drive means may apply a force upon one said scissor support member at a position such that the linked scissor supports revolve in opposite directions about the link to bring the support ends or the respective supports closer together. Thus the support ends adjacent to the mounting and hence the mounting itself are raised with respect to the pit floor.

In a preferred arrangement, the elongate scissor support members comprise inner and outer rectangular support frames, one of said support frames having one end slidably coupled to the mounting for the top plate and the opposite end pivotably coupled to the base of the framework, and the other of said support frames having one end pivotably coupled to the mounting and the opposite end slidably coupled to the top plate. The respective pivotable couplings and the respective slidable couplings are preferably substantially vertically aligned, and remain in alignment irrespective of the height of the mounting with respect to the base. The inner and outer frame members are preferably linked in a scissor formation by a single scissor pin.

It will be understood that as the inner and outer scissor support frames rotate about the link in opposite directions to each other under the influence of the actuator, the slidable ends of each support frame slide along the mounting and base respectively with the opposite frame ends of each support frame pivoting with respect to the base and mounting respectively, but otherwise remaining at a fixed location thereon. In this way, the distance between the inner and outer frame ends carried on the mounting and between the inner and outer support ends carried on the base decreases thereby elevating the mounting. It will be understood that the frame ends of the linked support members may cooperate directly or indirectly with the mounting and base.

The slidable coupling may comprise a roller, or in the case of a support frame, a pair of rollers located at opposite edges of the sliding end of each frame. The pivotable coupling may comprise a pin, and in the case of a support frame this may be a single elongate pin that spans the pivotable end of each frame or a pair of pins located at opposite edges of the pivotable end of each frame.

Each of the mounting frames above the scissor mechanism and the framework base beneath is preferably provided with a pair of guide tracks on opposing frame sides for the slidable coupling on each of the support members. For example, the tracks may take the form of channels or rails for cooperating with the rollers on the support frames.

The scissor mechanism, or other lift mechanism, is preferably adapted to permit the top plate to be raised to an uppermost position which lies above the height of the laundry floor surrounding the laundry pit. More preferably, the uppermost position is sufficient to permit an operative, without entering the pit, to apply leverage to the top plate to permit demounting of the plate from the framework, such as may be applied when the top plate is mounted by means of magnetic strips or hook and loop fasteners. In this way, removal of the plate for cleaning of the pit is readily facilitated.

At such an uppermost position, the framework itself may also be readily lifted out of the pit, for example, by sliding a fork lift mechanism under the mounting that lies proud of the laundry floor and then raising the framework. Removal of the framework may be required periodically for maintaining and/or repairing the lift mechanism.

The drive means for elevating the scissor mechanism may comprise a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator system, more preferably a hydraulic pump system. The pump system includes an actuating cylinder with a reciprocating piston inside, the cylinder being connected to a pump liquid reservoir via a hydraulic hose. A first end of the cylinder may be fixed directly or indirectly to the framework base adjacent to the pivotable end of one support member with the distal end of the reciprocating cylinder rod rotatably coupled to the other support member at a position between the link and its pivotable end. When the support members are in the form of rectangular support frames the longitudinal axis of the actuator may lie substantially midway between the parallel side edges of the frame. The stroke length of the actuator is selected appropriately relative to the dimensions of the scissor support frame members to provide the desired lifting height of the scissor mechanism from a lowermost position to an uppermost position.

Preferably the rotatable coupling on the distal end of the cylinder rod is in the form of a bearing, most preferably a solid state bearing, especially an encapsulated bearing, including but not limited to NTN's solid state bearings. Solid state bearings are advantageous as they have excellent life spans and require little or no maintenance, and are self-lubricating. As will be understood, while the lift system may be used intermittently throughout the day, it is not subject to continuous movement; hence wear and tear on moving parts, such as bearings, is not significant.

The hydraulic actuator is operable by means of the controller such that in one operating mode the cylinder rod is advanced to raise the scissor lift and in another operating mode the cylinder rod is retracted to lower the lift. The retraction of the cylinder rod may be achieved under the own weight of the system, that is by the load that comprises the scissor lift and the top plate.

The maximum load for the laundry lift system is typically restricted according to the specification of the hydraulic actuator. In one embodiment, the system is selected such as to lift its own weight plus up to 100kg of linen, even though in practice such a linen weight will not be permitted to accumulate on the top plate. In a preferred arrangement, the hydraulic pump operates at a flow rate of about 1 litre/minute, and the cylinder may require 0.5 litres of oil to fully extend, thus providing a cycle time from the lowermost to uppermost position of about 30 seconds. The drive means, typically the hydraulic actuator, is preferably selected to achieve a lifting speed no greater than 150mm/second. Such a relatively slow lifting speed is intended to reduce pressure on the actuator and thereby avoid or reduce the risk of leaking of the pressurised cylinder fluid contained in the actuator.

The laundry lift system is preferably operated remotely from outside the laundry pit. Accordingly, the controller of system is preferably installed outside of the laundry pit, preferably adjacent to the pit such as to permit an operative to view the top plate as it is raised and lowered whilst actuating the controller, but without requiring the operative to lean over the pit. The controller may be electrically powered, for example using a standard 24V power supply, the mains supply for the complete system is a 415V three phase power supply. Any power cables and/or hydraulic hoses supplying the lift mechanism are routed with due regard to the safely of the operative(s) and to avoid interference with the moving parts of the lift mechanism.

The controller may comprise a switch, such as a two-way position switch which, when switched to a first position controls the drive means to raise the lift mechanism, and when switched to a second position controls the drive means to lower the lift mechanism. The switch may further have a neutral position intermediate to the first and second positions where the drive means is not powered, such that the lift mechanism remains stationary. Advantageously, the switch is key operated, preferably requiring the key to be rotated in one direction and held at a first switch position to raise the lift mechanism and rotated in the opposite direction to a second switch position where it is held in order to lower the mechanism. When the key is released the switch preferably reverts automatically to its neutral position, providing a failsafe mechanism to prevent movement of the top plate when there is no operative acting on the key.

The controller preferably includes visible signs adjacent the switch to guide an operative using the laundry lift system as to the switch positions for raising and lowering the lift mechanism.

In an alternative embodiment, the switch may include a plurality of settings such that the top plate is raised or lowered to pre-determined heights with respect to the pit floor or laundry floor. For example, one such setting may elevate the top plate to an uppermost position that is above the laundry floor (for example to allow the top plate to be removed and/or the lifting mechanism to be raised from the pit), and another such setting may elevate the top plate to a height that is approaching the top of the pit, but still below the laundry floor (for example, about 50cm or less below the laundry floor) to allow personnel to easily retrieve fallen linen from the plate whilst avoiding the individual items falling off the plate onto the laundry floor.

The controller of the laundry lift system may be standalone, or may be included as a component of the feeder machine control panel which controls operation of the feeder itself.

From another aspect, the invention resides in a laundry facility for washing, drying and finishing laundered items, wherein the facility is provided with at least one feeder for supplying laundered items to an ironer, and wherein the laundry floor is provided with a laundry pit adjacent the feeder for permitting laundered items to hang down as they are fed by the feeder to the ironer, characterised in that the laundry further comprises a laundry lift system according to said first aspect of the invention. Optionally, the laundry facility may further comprise a safety barrier between the laundry pit and where operatives stand at the feeder. The laundry pit may further comprise a cover, wherein the cover can act as a barrier while the laundry lift system is in use and can optionally lie substantially flat with the surrounding floor while the laundry lift system isn't in use, such that the operator can stand on it and not be burdened with standing behind the safety barrier unnecessarily.

From a yet further aspect, the invention resides in a method of retrieving fallen laundry from a laundry pit, said method comprising retrieving fallen laundry from the top plate of a laundry lift system. The laundry lift being installed in a laundry pit and the method comprising: raising the top plate from the lowered position within the laundry pit to the raised position; retrieving the fallen laundry items from the top plate; and lowering the top plate from the raised position to the lowered position.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a laundry lift system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a front view of the height adjustable framework and top plate of the system of Figure 1 in a lowered position; Figure 3 shows a front view of the height adjustable framework and top plate of the system of Figure 1 in a raised position; Figure 4 shows a left hand side view of the height adjustable framework and top plate of the system of Figure 1 in a raised position; Figure 5 shows a right hand side view of the height adjustable framework and top plate of the system of Figure 1 in a raised position; Figure 6 shows a left hand side view of the height adjustable framework and top plate of the system of Figure 1 in a lowered position; Figure 7 shows a right hand side view of the height adjustable framework and top plate of the system of Figure 1 in a lowered position; Figure 8 shows an underside view of the laundry lift system of Figure 1; Figure 9 shows an aerial view of the laundry lift system of Figure 1; Figure 10 shows the laundry lift system in use within a laundry pit with a safety barrier surrounding the side of the pit proximal to the operator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general terms embodiments of the invention relate to a laundry lifting system for use in a laundry pit. The laundry lift system allows for the safe removal of fallen laundry items from a pit of an industrial laundry machine, for example, an industrial ironing machine. The laundry system comprises a top plate movable between a lowered position in which the top plate is positioned at the bottom of the pit and a raised position in which the top is positioned substantially level with a laundry floor at the top of the laundry pit. Beneficially, the laundry lift system enables laundry items to be easily removed from the laundry pit without the need for an operative to enter the pit to retrieve said laundry items. Additionally, the laundry lift system ensures that laundry items do not come into contact with the laundry floor therefore keeping them clean.

It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present application.

A laundry lift system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying Figure 1. Figure 1 shows a laundry lift system 1 suitable for use in a laundry pit 18. The laundry lift comprises a top plate 2 mounted on a height adjustable framework 6. The height adjustable framework 6 allows the top plate 2 to be moved between the lowered and raised positions.

The top plate 2 may be a transparent top plate to enable the operator to have a clear view of the pit 18 beneath the top plate 2. The top plate 2 is supported on a rectangular mounting frame 3 which has a plurality of strengthening struts 4 extending between opposing frame sides. Such struts 4, help to strengthen the mounting frame 4 while supporting the top plate 2. Additionally, the struts 4 do not obscure the view into the pit 18. The upwardly directed surface of the mounting frame 3 and the underside of the top plate 2 are provided with magnetic strips (not shown) to enable the top plate 2 to be readily detachable from the mounting frame 3. A readily detachable top plate facilitates cleaning of the pit (especially as lint is inclined to penetrate the pit even where seals are employed around the top plate side edges) and occasional maintenance of the underlying support framework. Brush seal strips (not shown) are affixed to the outer edges 5 of the top plate 2 to provide a seal with the side walls of the laundry pit when the top plate 2 is installed in the pit. The dimensions of the top plate 2 substantially match the dimensions of the laundry pit 18 such that laundry cannot fall underneath the top plate 2. The skilled reader will understand that the dimensions of the top plate 2 will vary depending on the size of the laundry pit 18.

The height adjustable framework 6 is a scissor lift mechanism 7 comprising inner 11 and outer 12 rectangular scissor support frames, a mounting frame 3 and a base 8.

The height adjustable framework 6 is configured such that it is suitable for use in laundry pits of varying sizes. The mounting frame 3 of the height adjustable framework 6 is compatible with top plates of various dimensions such that the rectangular mounting frame 3 may or may not match the dimensions of the top plate 2.

The base 8 stabilise the height adjustable framework 6 and provides a substantially level platform from which the top plate 2 can be moved between the lowered and raised positions. The base 8 has levelling feet 9 extending from the underside of the base 8 which in use are used to ensure that the lift mechanism 7 provides true vertical movement and remains stable during operation. In a preferred embodiment, the levelling feet 9 are adjustable through the use of a threading screw mechanism. The base 8 additionally comprises strengthening struts 22.

The scissor lift mechanism 7 permits the movements of the top plate 2 from the raised position to the lowered position through the use of a hydraulic actuator 14. The scissor lift mechanism 7 has inner 11 and outer 12 rectangular scissor support frames rotatably linked around their mid-point by scissor pin 13. One end of the inner support frame 11 is pivotably linked to the mounting frame 3 and the opposite end is provided with a pair of rollers 10 that slide along the base, while the outer support frame 12 is pivotably linked at one end to the base 8 and the opposite end is provided with a pair of rollers 15 that slide along the mounting frame 3.

Attached to the external faces along the length of the inner 11 and outer 12 rectangular scissor support frames are reinforcing elements 19. In a preferred embodiment the reinforcing elements 19 are designed such that they adopt a diamond shape and are cool welded. These reinforcing elements allow the overall system 1 to withstand shear stress and prevent the outward buckle or collapse of the height adjustable framework 6.

The hydraulic actuator 14 is an actuating cylinder 20 with a reciprocating piston 21 inside, the cylinder 20 being connected to a pump liquid reservoir via a hydraulic hose (now shown). A first end of the actuator 14 may be fixed directly or indirectly to the base 8 adjacent to the pivotable end of the inner scissor support frame 11 with the distal end of the reciprocating piston 21 rotatably coupled to the outer scissor support frame 12 at a position between the scissor pin 13 and the base 8. The longitudinal axis of the actuator 14 lies substantially midway between the parallel side edges of the outer scissor support frame 12. The stroke length of the actuator 14 is selected appropriately relative to the dimensions of the inner and outer scissor support frame members to provide the desired lifting height of the scissor mechanism from lowered position to the raised position. The transition of the hydraulic actuator 14 from the retracted position of Figure 2 to the extended position of Figure 3 occurs through the actuation of an external controller. In other embodiments, the hydraulic actuator 14 may be replaced with, e.g., an electric actuator.

Figure 2 shows a front view of the height adjustable framework 6 and top plate 2 of the system 1 in a lowered position; the scissor lift mechanism 7 is not activated and the hydraulic actuator 14 is in the retracted position with only the cylinder 20 visible. This is typically how the system 1 will remain in the pit to receive fallen laundry items. The support rods 16 are in a substantially vertical position such that they abut they mounting frame 3 providing additional stability to the system.

Referring now to Figure 3 which shows a front view of the height adjustable framework 6 and top plate 2 of the system 1 in a raised position; the scissor lift mechanism 7 is activated and the hydraulic actuator 14 is in the extended position with the reciprocating piston 21 visible. This is typically how the system 1 will present when the user retrieves fallen laundry items from the top plate 2.

Additionally, in Figure 3 the support rods 16 can be seen to be connected to the distal ends of the inner and outer support frames 11 and 12 respectively. The support rods 16 are positioned in an outward rotated position such that the movement of the system 1 into the lowered position will facilitate the rotation of the rods 16 into a substantially vertical position such that they abut the mounting frame 3.

Figures 4 and 5 show the height adjustable framework 6 and top plate 2 of the system 1 in a raised position from the left hand side view and the right hand side view respectively; The rollers 15 attached to the outer support 12 are visible. Typically these rollers are housed in tracks such as channels or rails.

Figures 6 and 7 show the height adjustable framework 6 and top plate 2 of the system 1 in a lowered position from the left hand side and the right hand side respectively; it is apparent that the system 1 is designed in such a fashion to permit space efficiency within the height adjustable framework 6.

Figure 8 shows an underside view of the laundry lift system 1. The levelling feet 9 are positioned at the outer corners of the base 8 of the height adjustable framework 6. Figure 8 shows the top plate 2 extending beyond the termini of the base 8. It will be appreciated the top plate 2 can vary in size and that the distance between the termini of the base 8 and the termini of the top plate 2 can vary accordingly.

Figure 9 shows an aerial view of the laundry lift system 1. Specifically, Figure 9 shows The top plate 2 attached to the rectangular framework 3. The top plate 2 being a transparent material readily allows for the operator to see through the plate 2 into the area beneath the footprint of the top plate 2.

Figure 10 shows the laundry lift system 1 in use within a laundry pit 18 with a safety barrier 17 surrounding a side of the pit proximal to the operator. It will be apparent that the perimeter of the top plate 2 is substantially the same size as the perimeter of the pit.

The system 1 may be operated through the use of a controller external to the pit 18.

The controller may be configured in a number of ways. In one embodiment the controller is actuated by an operator from an 'off position whereby the system 1 is in the lowered configuration shown in Figure 2 within the pit to an 'on' position whereby the system is in the raised position of Figure 3 and the top plate is substantially level with the top of the pit. In another embodiment actuation of the controller by the operator may permit for the continuous movement of the system 1 to any desired position between the raised position of Figure 3 and the lowered position of Figure 2 such that the operator visually deduces the optimum height of the system.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A laundry lift system for a laundry pit, the system comprising: a top plate for preventing laundry items falling on to a pit floor of the laundry pit; a height adjustable framework for supporting the top plate; and a controller operable on the framework to move the supported top plate between a lowered position within the laundry pit to allow laundry to hang down into the laundry pit and a raised position substantially level with a laundry floor at a top of the laundry pit to allow retrieval of any fallen laundry items from the top plate.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the framework is provided with a mounting for the top plate, preferably a mounting frame.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the top plate is secured to the mounting by releasable fastening means, such as by a magnetic strip system.
4. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the top plate comprises a transparent sheet for, during use of the system, allowing visual inspection of the laundry pit and the support framework below the plate from outside the laundry pit.
5. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein outer edges of the top plate are provided with a flexible seal for, during use of the system, closing any gaps between the outer edges of the top plate and one or more walls of the laundry pit.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the flexible seal comprises a brush seal.
7. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the height adjustable framework comprises a base and a lift mechanism carried on the base, and the base is provided with a mechanism capable of interacting with the pit floor to stabilise the system.
8. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the height adjustable framework comprises a scissor lift.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the scissor lift comprises inner and outer rectangular support frames.
10. The system of claim 8, further comprising drive means operable by the controller for supplying an elevating force to the scissor lift.
11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the drive means comprises a hydraulic actuator. 10
12. A method of retrieving fallen laundry from the top plate of a laundry lift system according to any one of the preceding claims, the laundry lift being installed in a laundry pit and the method comprising: raising the top plate from the lowered position within the laundry pit to the raised position; retrieving the fallen laundry items from the top plate; lowering the top plate from the raised position to the lowered position.