JPWO2007007591A1 - Clothing folding machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The garment folding machine of the present invention includes a folding mechanism including a width-direction folding portion and a length-direction folding portion that folds clothes hung on a hanger so as to have a predetermined size in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. The folding unit includes a pair of clamps that pinch both ends in the horizontal direction of the garment hung on the hanger, and a pair of fold width determination units, and the clamp determines the fold width in a state where the garment is pinched. And the garment is folded so as to be folded along the folding width determining portion.

Description

  The present invention relates to a clothing folding machine capable of automatically folding clothing.

  Folding work of clothing at home is listed as one of the relatively stressful housework. Various household appliances have been developed and are in common use, but machines for automatically folding clothing have not yet been put into practical use. For this reason, domestic workers are eager to develop products that reduce the work of folding clothing.

  On the other hand, as a business use, a device for folding clothes for cleaning business, particularly shirts is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a device that folds a hanging part on both sides of a garment by spreading the garment upward and on both sides in a state where the garment is suspended and sliding a folding plate below the garment from the side. Is disclosed. Patent Document 2 discloses a device that folds clothing on both sides by spreading the clothing on a table divided into three in a downward direction and moving the divided tables on both sides upward of the clothing. Such devices are mainly used in actual cleaning operations.

  However, in such a configuration, it is necessary to provide a machine with a wide work table for spreading clothes on a horizontal plane. For this reason, the floor area which a machine occupies becomes large. Also, the work of spreading the shirt on the table is inefficient because it requires manual labor.

On the other hand, Patent Document 3 hangs a garment on an inclined plate, blows air on both sides of the garment, and rearwardly slides the folding plate from the side to the garment rear in order to reduce the floor area. An apparatus for folding clothing is disclosed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-68798 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-70499 JP-A-8-143015

  However, the apparatus for folding a garment disclosed in Patent Document 3 requires an apparatus such as a compressor that blows air in order to lift the garment backward.

  For this reason, the conventional apparatus for folding clothes as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 requires a wide installation place or requires a compressor that emits a large operating noise, and is used in a cleaning factory. Was suitable but not suitable for home use.

  An object of the present invention is to solve such problems of the prior art and to provide a clothing folding machine suitable for use at home.

  The garment folding machine according to the present invention includes a folding mechanism that folds a garment hung on a hanger so as to have a predetermined size in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

  In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of hangers hung on the clothesline and hung on the clothes are sequentially moved to a predetermined position, and the clothes hung on each hanger are folded by the folding mechanism.

  In a preferred embodiment, the folding mechanism includes a width direction folding part and a length direction folding part.

  In a preferred embodiment, the width direction folding portion includes a pair of clamps that pinch both ends in the horizontal direction of the garment hung on the hanger, and a pair of fold width determination portions, and the clamp includes the garment. The fold width determining unit is rolled up in a pinched state, and is rotated so as to fold the garment along the fold width determining unit.

  In a preferred embodiment, each of the pair of folding width determining portions has an edge portion extending in a vertical direction that defines a position at which the garment is folded, and each of the pair of clamps is in the vicinity of the edge portion of the clamp. Rotate around a vertical axis through

  In a preferred embodiment, when the pair of clamps rotate by pinching both ends of the garment, each of the pair of clamps moves upward by 1 cm or more from before the rotation.

  In a preferred embodiment, the pair of clamps sandwich the garment hung on the hanger at a position where it does not interfere with the hanger.

  In a preferred embodiment, the garment folding machine further includes a hanger folding unit that gives the hanger a command to fold the hanger so that the garment can be removed from the hanger.

  In a preferred embodiment, the garment folding apparatus further includes a garment holding body that holds the garment inside the pair of fold width determination units.

  In a preferred embodiment, the garment holder holds the garment so as not to interfere with the hanger when the hanger is folded.

  In a preferred embodiment, the lengthwise folding portion includes a folding length determining portion having a horizontal bar in contact with the garment, and a lower portion of the garment is folded upward at the position of the folding length determining portion. And a folded-up part that lifts up.

  In a preferred embodiment, the folding portion moves upward after approaching the clothing from the side opposite to the folding length determining portion with respect to the clothing and passing below the folding length determining portion. .

  In a preferred embodiment, the folded-up portion has a roller rotatably provided at the tip thereof, and an outer periphery of the roller is in contact with the clothing.

  In a preferred embodiment, the width direction folding portion holds a center holding portion that holds a center portion of the clothes hung on the hanger, and holds both outer sides in the horizontal direction from the center portion held by the center holding portion. In a state including a pair of outer holding portions, each of the central holding portion and the outer holding portion holding the clothing, the outer holding portion is bent toward the central holding portion, whereby the clothing is folded in the horizontal direction.

  In a preferred embodiment, the central holding portion includes a central support body having a concave portion and a convex portion formed on a surface facing the garment, and a central presser for pressing the garment against a bottom portion of the concave portion, and the outer holding portion. Each of the parts includes an outer support body having a concave portion and a convex portion formed on a surface facing the garment, and an outer presser that presses the garment against the bottom of the concave portion, and the outer holding portion is on the central holding portion side. The garment is sandwiched between the convex portion of the outer support and the convex portion of the central support in a state where the garment is bent.

  In a preferred embodiment, the concave portions of the central support and the outer support have a groove shape extending in the vertical direction, and the central presser and the outer presser have a comb-teeth shape extending in the vertical direction. .

  In a preferred embodiment, each of the central holding portion and the outer holding portion includes a plane in contact with the garment, and a plurality of air suction holes provided in the plane.

  In a preferred embodiment, the lengthwise folding portion includes a folding length determining portion configured by a lower end of the central holding portion or the outer holding portion, and a lower portion of the garment of the folding length determining portion. And a folded-up portion that folds up and lifts upward at the position.

  In a preferred embodiment, the garment folding machine further includes a stocker for storing the garment, and a transfer unit for transferring the folded garment to the stocker.

  In a preferred embodiment, the transfer unit has a support surface for holding the folded garment in a substantially vertical state, and the garment is moved on the support surface by inclining the support surface. Drop clothing into the stocker.

  In a preferred embodiment, the transfer unit removes the support surface from below the garment while the vicinity of the tip of the inclined support surface is in contact with a standing wall in the stocker, and the garment is removed from the stocker. Let fall.

  In a preferred embodiment, the transfer unit moves above the stocker in a state where the support surface is in a horizontal state, and removes the support surface from the lower surface of the clothing, thereby leaving the clothing in the stocker in a horizontal state. Drop into.

  In a preferred embodiment, the transfer unit sequentially drops a plurality of clothes into the stocker vertically and stores the clothes in a line in the stocker.

  In a preferred embodiment, the garment folding machine further includes a sensor that detects a dry state of the garment hung on a hanger suspended from the clothesline, and operates the folding mechanism based on a detection result of the sensor. .

  In a preferred embodiment, the clothes folding machine transmits a first sensor that detects a dry state of the clothes on a hanger hung on the clothesline, and transmits a detection state of the sensor to an external communication device, And a communication unit that receives a command for folding the clothing from the communication device.

  In a preferred embodiment, the clothes folding machine includes a hanger moving unit that moves the hanger along the clothesline, a roof that covers the clothesline, and a second sensor that detects rainfall. Based on the detection result of the second sensor, the hanger moving part moves the hanger below the roof part.

  In a preferred embodiment, the folding mechanism further includes a steam generating part for generating water vapor, and the steam generated by the steam generating part immediately before the folding operation is ejected toward the clothing at the folding part. .

  The hanger of the present invention includes a suspension part suspended on a clothesline, a pair of arm parts that support clothing, a state switching part that shifts the arm part from a horizontally opened state to a folded state, and And at least a part of the state switching unit is exposed to the outside in a state where the clothing is hung.

  In a preferred embodiment, each of the pair of arm portions is in a state of being opened in a horizontal direction, and is in contact with clothing and supports the support portion, and the connection that connects the support portion and is positioned below the support portion. The pair of arm portions are in a state of hanging downward with respect to the suspension portion in the folded state.

  In a preferred embodiment, each of the pair of arm portions has a support portion provided at the tip and a connection portion adjacent to the tip.

  In a preferred embodiment, each of the pair of arm portions is rotatable to a vertical portion so that a vertical portion having an edge extending in a vertical direction and a horizontally extended state and a vertically suspended state can be taken. And a supported tip.

  In a preferred embodiment, the edge of the vertical portion defines a folding position in the width direction of the garment to be hung on the hanger in a state in which the tip portion hangs down.

  In a preferred embodiment, at least a part of the pair of arm parts has a retractable link structure, and the link structure is driven by moving a part of the arm part, and the whole arm part is directed toward the center. Shrink.

  According to the garment folding machine of the present invention, it is possible to fold a garment that is hung on a hanger. For this reason, an installation area is small compared with the apparatus which expands and folds clothing horizontally. Moreover, since it can fold in the state hung on the hanger, it is possible to dry the clothes after washing, and automatically convey the clothes to the clothes folding machine as it is without putting human hands, so that the clothes can be folded. .

1 is a perspective view schematically showing a first embodiment of a clothes folding machine and a hanger according to the present invention. It is a side view which shows typically the structure of the clothing folding machine by this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the hanger of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the clothing holding body of the clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the hanger of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the hanger of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a front view which shows the holding | maintenance state of the clothing in the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a front view which shows the characteristic structure in 2nd Embodiment of the clothes folding machine and hanger by this invention. It is a front view which shows operation | movement of the hanger of 2nd Embodiment. It is a front view which shows the characteristic structure in 3rd Embodiment of the clothes folding machine and hanger by this invention. It is a front view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 3rd Embodiment. It is a front view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 3rd Embodiment. It is a front view which shows operation | movement of the hanger of 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the characteristic structure in 4th Embodiment of the clothes folding machine and hanger by this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the width direction folding part of the clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the hanger and width direction folding part of 4th Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a partial top view which shows operation | movement of the clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a partial top view which shows operation | movement of the clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a partial top view which shows operation | movement of the clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a partial top view which shows operation | movement of the clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a partial top view which shows the other structure of the clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a partial top view which shows the other structure of the clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a partial top view which shows the other structure of the clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows roughly the other structural example of the clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Clothes 110 Clothes hanger 121 Hanger carrier 200, 2200, 3200, 4200 Hanger 201h State switching part 202, 203, 2202, 2203, 3202, 3203, 4202 Arm part 202c, 202h, 203c, 203h Connection part 400 Folding part 411, 412 Clamp arm 421, 422 Folding width determining section 430 Base 440 Hanger folding section 450 Folding length determining section 460 Transfer section 477, 478 Sensor 473 Communication control section 480 Stocker 490 Case 500 Clothing folding machine 501 Folding mechanism 502 Width direction folding section 503 Length Folding portion 504 Clothing holder 2203t State switching unit 3203t State switching unit 4430 Clothing support 4411, 4412 Outer support 4400 Center pressed 4401, 4402 Outer presser 4401t, 4402t Comb teeth 4430s, 4411s, 4412s Plane 4430h, 4411h, 4412h Air intake hole

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a clothes folding machine according to the present invention and a first embodiment of a hanger used in a clothes folding machine will be described. The garment folding machine according to the present invention can fold a garment hung on a hanger. For this reason, the clothes folding machine according to the present invention can be suitably folded and stored in the stocker after the clothes are dried on the hanger after washing. The present invention may be used as a clothing folding system combining a clothing folding machine and a hanger.

  FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a garment folding machine 500, and FIG. 1B is a schematic side view for explaining components of the garment folding machine 500. FIG.

  As will be described in detail below, the clothes folding machine 500 includes a folding mechanism 501 that folds clothes hung on a hanger so as to have a predetermined size in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. In the present specification, the direction in which the clothes hung on the hanger hang down due to gravity is the vertical direction, and the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction is the horizontal direction. The vertical direction and the horizontal direction are also referred to as a length direction and a width direction of the clothes hung on the hanger, respectively.

  In the present embodiment, the clothes folding machine 500 includes a clothes rack 110 for drying the washed clothes. The laundry basket 110 is held at a predetermined height by the clothes rack 101. A plurality of hanger carriers 121 are attached to the clothes rack 110, and the hangers 200 are suspended from the hanger carriers 121. As will be described in detail below, the hanger carrier 121 is movable in the directions of arrows 120A and 120B.

  The clothes hung on the clothes hanger 110 are hung and dried. For this reason, it is preferable that the clothing folding machine 500 is installed outdoors. When the clothing folding machine 500 is installed outdoors, the folding mechanism 501 preferably includes a case 490 having a roof 490a so that the folded clothing does not get wet in the rain. Case 490 is arranged such that a part of clothes drying basket 110 covers roof 490a. The folding mechanism 501 is provided inside the case 490.

  The case 490 includes a sensor 478 for detecting rain, a sensor 477 for detecting the degree of dryness of clothes, a drive unit 472 for driving the folding mechanism 501, a control unit 471 for controlling the folding mechanism 501, and transmission / reception of information to / from an external communication device. A communication control unit 473 may be provided. These elements will be described in detail later.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a hanger carrier 121 attached to the clothes rack 110 and a hanger 200 suspended from the hanger carrier 121.

  The clothes rack 110 is provided with a rack 112 along the axial direction. The hanger carrier 121 has a bearing part 121m, a drive part 121d, a hole part 121u, and a pinion gear (not shown). The bearing portion 121m has a hole through which the clothes hanger 110 penetrates, and the clothes hanger 110 is inserted into the through hole so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow 120A or 120B along the axial direction of the clothes hanger 110. The pinion gear of the hanger carrier 121 meshes with the rack 112 of the clothes rack 110. The hanger 200 is suspended from the hole 121u.

  The drive unit 121d rotationally drives the pinion gear according to a command from the control unit 471 of the clothing folding machine 500. For this reason, the hanger carrier 121 can be freely moved along the clothes rack 110 in the directions of the arrows 120A and 120B (FIG. 1A). The rack 112 and the hanger carrier 121 constitute a hanger moving part.

  The hanger 200 includes a main body 201, arm portions 202 and 203, a cover portion 204, and a hook 201f. The arm portions 202 and 203 are rotatably supported by the main body 201, and when the garment 10 is hung, the arms are fixed so as to extend in a substantially horizontal direction. Thereby, the arms 202 and 203 support the garment 10 in the horizontal direction. The arm 202 includes support portions 202a, 202b, and 202e that support the garment 10, and connection portions 202c and 202h that connect the support portions and are positioned below the support portions. Similarly, the arm 203 includes support portions 203a, 203b, and 203e that support the garment 10, and connection portions 203c and 203h that connect the support portions and are positioned below the support portions.

  The cover 204 protects the main body 201 from rain or the like. The hook 201f is attached to the main body. The hook 201 is hung on the hole 121 u of the hanger carrier 121, whereby the hanger 200 is suspended from the clothes rack 110 via the hanger carrier 121.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the folding mechanism 501. The folding mechanism 501 includes a width direction folding part 502 and a length direction folding part 503.

  The width direction folding unit 502 includes clamps 411 and 412, folding width determination units 421 and 422, and a clothing holder 504.

  The clamps 411 and 412 pinch both ends in the horizontal direction of the garment 10 hung on the hanger 200. The folding width determining units 421 and 422 are arranged so as to extend in the vertical direction, and the vertical edge parts 421e and 422e are arranged on the outer sides thereof.

  The clamp 411 is attached to a clamp arm 411 that rotates around a vertical axis 411a passing through the vicinity of the vertical edge portion 421e. The clamp 412 is attached to a clamp arm 412 that rotates about a vertical axis 412a passing through the vicinity of the vertical edge portion 422e.

  The clamps 411 and 422 rotate around the shafts 411a and 412a so as to wind the folding width determination units 421 and 422 in a state in which the garment 10 is picked, so that the vertical edge portions 421e and 422e of the folding width determination units 421 and 422 are obtained. The clothes 10 are folded.

  The clothing holder 504 holds the clothing by sandwiching the clothing 10 in cooperation with the folding width determination units 421 and 422. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of the garment holder 504. The clothing holder 504 includes a base 430 and columnar protrusions 431, 432, 433, and 434 provided on the base 430. As shown in FIG. 3, the convex portions 431 and 433 sandwich the garment 10 in cooperation with the folding width determination unit 421. Further, the convex portions 432 and 434 sandwich the garment 10 in cooperation with the folding width determination unit 422.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the garment 10 is picked by the clamps 411, 412 and the garment 10 is held by the garment holder 504, the connection parts 202h, 203h, The shapes of 202c and 203c are located below the support portions 202a, 202b, 202e, 203a, 203b, and 203e. In other words, the clamps 411 and 422 and the clothing holder 504 hold the clothing 10 so as not to interfere with the hanger 200.

  The base 430 is provided with notches 430u and 430b. The notches 430u and 430b are hangers in which the hanger 200 does not collide with the support 504 when the hanger 200 or the support 504 moves with the hanger 200 folded, and the inside of the notches 430u and 430b is folded. 200 passes.

  The length direction folding unit 503 includes a folding length determination unit 450 and a folding unit 461. The folding length determination unit 450 has a bar shape extending in the horizontal direction, and an edge portion 450e is disposed below. The folded-up portion 461 has a plate shape, and an edge portion 461e is disposed on the upper portion.

  The folding unit 461 constitutes a part of the transfer unit 460 that transfers the folded clothes 10. Specifically, the folded-up portion 461, the bottom portion 462, and the side surface 463 constitute a transfer portion 460 having a rectangular space in which a pair of opposing side surfaces and an upper surface are open. In the following, as will be described in detail, the folding length determination unit 450 and the folding unit 461 cooperate to fold the garment 10 in the vertical direction.

  As will be described in detail below, these components of the folding mechanism 501 can approach or retreat the garment 10 at an appropriate timing under the control of the control unit 471. The drive mechanism for the component to approach or retreat from the garment can be realized by combining known mechanical mechanisms and machine elements.

  For example, the movement of the clamp 411 and the folding width determination unit 421 and the movement of the clamp 412 and the folding width determination unit 422 rotate around a vertical axis (not shown) so as to close the double-open door, and the clothes hung on the hanger 200 This can be realized by a configuration that approaches and is positioned.

  The opening / closing operation of the clamps 411 and 412 can be realized by a component gripping mechanism of an industrial machine used for assembling components or an operation mechanism of a robot arm that has made remarkable technological progress in recent years.

  In addition, the clothes holder 504 can be moved along the clothes rack 110 by using an existing linear drive mechanism such as a rack and pinion, a linear motor, or a wire.

  Next, the folding mechanism of the hanger 200 will be described. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing the structure of the main body 201 of the hanger 200 in detail. The arm portions 202 and 203 have the same shape, and a gear 202g and a projection 202t and a gear 203g and a projection 203t are provided at the end portions, respectively. Holes are respectively provided at the rotation centers of the gears 202g and 203g, and the arm portions 202 and 203 are rotatably supported by the main body 201 by being inserted into shafts 201a and 201c provided in the main body 201.

  The gears 202g and 203g mesh with each other through the hole 201u provided in the main body 201, so that the arm portions 202 and 203 rotate in conjunction with each other. An urging spring 205 is provided on the rotation shaft 301 c of the arm part 203, and one end is hooked on the spring hook 201 k of the main body 201 and the other end is hooked on the arm part 203. The urging spring 205 urges the arm portion 203 in a direction in which the arm portion 203 is folded from the horizontal state as indicated by an arrow 203D. Due to the engagement of the gears 202g and 203g, the arm portion 202 is also urged to rotate in the direction of the arrow 202D.

  When the arm portion 203 is lifted to near horizontal, the projection 203t of the arm portion 203 is hooked on the claw 201h provided on the main body portion 201, and the arm portion 203 is stopped from further rotating in the direction of the arrow 203D. At this time, the arm unit 203, the gear 203g, and the arm unit 202 linked with the gear 202g are also lifted to near horizontal, and the arm units 202 and 203 are opened in the horizontal direction.

  In this state, the clothes 10 are hung on the hanger 200 and dried. The cover 204 indicated by a broken line protects the connecting portion of the main body 201 and the arm portions 202 and 203 from rain, and is provided with a hole 204u.

  The cam part 440h at the tip of the hanger folding part 440 penetrates from the hole 204u and enters the gap between the claw 201h and the main body 201, and the cam part 440h rotates to lift the claw 201h and engage the claw 201h with the projection 203t. Is released.

  The arm portion 203 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 203D by the force of the urging spring 205, and the arm portion 202 interlocked therewith also rotates in the direction of the arrow 202D. As a result, both the arm portions 202 and 203 hang down and are folded.

  A claw 201h is a state switching unit that shifts the hanger 200 from a side opened state to a folded state. The claw 201h is exposed to the outside even when the garment 10 is hung, so that the hanger folding portion 440 can enter. When the garment is an outer garment, the claw 201h is preferably provided at a position that can be seen from the neck portion or the like.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the garment folding apparatus 500 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 7 to 18.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1A, the operator hangs the garment 10 on which the laundry is finished on the hanger 200 with the arm portions 202 and 203 opened, and hangs the hanger 200 on the hanger carrier 121 provided on the clothesline 110. At this time, since the hanger carrier 121 is provided so as to be freely slidable on the clothesline 110, the operator can arbitrarily set intervals between the plurality of clothes 10.

  When the operator finishes hanging an arbitrary number of clothes 10 in this manner, the clothes 10 are dried over time by the heat of sunlight so as to hang ordinary laundry. When the operator who has finished wearing the garment 10 turns on a power supply (not shown) of the garment folding machine, the sensor 477 detects the dry state of the garment 10 closest to the folding mechanism 501 and continues to send the information to the folding control unit 471. As the sensor 477 for detecting the dry state of the clothing 10, for example, a moisture meter using microwaves or infrared rays can be used.

  The sensor 477 outputs a signal corresponding to the dry state of the garment 10. When clothing 10 reaches a predetermined dry state and a signal having a value corresponding to the predetermined dry state is output from sensor 477, control unit 471 instructs drive unit 472 to start folding operation to folding mechanism 501. Output.

  First, the hanger carrier 121 closest to the folding mechanism 501 is self-propelled in the direction of the arrow 120A, enters the case 490, and stops. At this time, when the sensor 477 is located on the travel route of the garment 10, the garment 10 is avoided by moving in the direction of the arrow 477D as shown in FIG. Then, it may move in the direction of the arrow 477U to return to the original position, and the dryness of the next garment 10 may be detected.

  Alternatively, assuming that all the clothes 10 of the clothes rack 110 are in the same dry state, and the sensor 477 detects that the clothes 10 closest to the folding mechanism 501 is dry, all the clothes 10 may be stored. Good. Further, the sensor 477 may be installed outside the travel route of the garment 10.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the garment 10 moves to a predetermined position, the folding width determination units 421 and 422 descend from above in the direction of the arrow 410D and stop at the predetermined position. Next, the hanger carrier 121 self-travels in the direction of the arrow 120 </ b> B until the garment 10 is applied to the folding width determination units 421 and 422. At the same time, the garment holder 540 moves in the direction of the arrow 430B, the protrusions 431 and 433 are pressed against the folding width determining unit 421, and the clothing holding bodies 432 and 434 are pressed against the folding width determining unit 422 via the garment 10, Hold.

  At this time, the hanger folding part 440 also moves in the direction of the arrow 430B, and the cam part 440h at the tip penetrates into the main body part 210 of the hanger 200. The hanger 200 may be fixed by engaging the hanger 200 with the cam portion 440h of the hanger folding portion 440 moved together with the clothes holder 504 at this time so that the hanger 200 does not move unnecessarily.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the clamp arms 411 and 412 descend in the directions of arrows 411D and 412D along the shafts 421d and 422d provided in the folding width determination units 421 and 422, respectively. Subsequently, the clamps 411m and 412m are closed to sandwich the left and right shoulders of the garment 10. In this state, the garment 10 is held by the garment folding mechanism as shown by hatched portions 411j, 412j, 431j, 432j, 433j, and 434j as shown in FIG.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the cam portion 440 h at the tip of the hanger folding portion 440 rotates to suspend the arm portions 202 and 203 downward. As a result, the hanger 200 is folded.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the clamp arms 411 and 412 are rotated about 180 degrees in the directions of arrows 411L and 412L around the vertical axes 411a and 412a, respectively, and the left and right shoulders of the garment 10 being held are inward. Move to rotate. As a result, the garment 10 is folded around the folding width determination portions 421 and 422, and the garment 10 is inwardly aligned along the vertical edge portions 421e and 422e of the folding width determination portions 421 and 422 that approximately coincide with the vertical axes 411a and 412a. It is folded. In this way, the folding operation of the garment 10 in the width direction is completed. Thereafter, the folding length determination unit 450 moves in the direction of the arrow 450A and is set near the garment 10 below the folding width determination units 421 and 422.

  Next, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the transfer unit 460 moves toward the garment 10 from the direction opposite to the folding length determination unit 450 with respect to the garment 10 as indicated by an arrow 460B direction. The edge portion 461e of the folding plate 461 passes under the edge portion 450e of the folding length determination unit 450, and the garment 10 is between the folding length determination unit 450 and the folding plate 461 as shown in FIG. Is folded into an S shape.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 12, when the transfer unit 460 is moved upward as indicated by an arrow 460U, the lower half of the garment 10 is scooped up by the edge portion 461e of the folding plate 461, while the folding length determining unit It is bent upward at the edge portion 450e of 450. As shown in FIG. 14, when the bottom part 462 of the clothing transfer hand part 460 approaches to a position 1 to 2 cm below the edge part 450 e of the folding length determination part 450, the transfer part 460 stops. At this time, the portion 10w longer than the folding plate 461 in the lower half of the folded garment 10 is bent at the edge portion 450e of the folding length determination unit 450 and hangs down. In this way, the garment 10 is folded twice in the length direction only by the movement of the garment transfer hand portion 460 in two directions. Thereby, folding in the length direction is completed.

  After completing the folding operation of the garment 10 as described above, an operation of removing each element of the folding mechanism 501 from the garment 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the clamps 411m and 412m are opened, and the holding of the shoulder portion of the garment 10 is released. Further, the clamp arms 411 and 412 move up as indicated by arrows 411U and 412U, and then rotate outward as indicated by arrows 411H and 412H. Thereby, the clamps 411m and 412m and the clamp arms 411 and 412 return to the initial state shown in FIG.

  The clothes holder 504 and the hanger folding part 440 are also separated from the clothes as indicated by an arrow 430A, and the holding of the clothes 10 is released. In this way, the garment 10 is supported only by the transfer unit 460.

  Next, the transfer unit 460 and the folding length determination unit 450 are moved downward as indicated by an arrow 460D. Thereby, the folded garment 10 is moved downward, and the folding width determination units 421 and 422 and the hanger 200 are extracted from the garment 10. At this time, even if there is a slight frictional resistance between the garment 10 and the folding width determination units 421 and 422 and the hanger 200, the folded portion of the garment 10 is held by the folding length determination unit 450. Therefore, it moves downward together with the transfer unit 460 and the folding length determination unit 450 without losing frictional resistance.

  The garment 10 thus placed in the transfer unit 460 rotates as the transfer unit 460 is indicated by an arrow 460R as shown in FIG. 16, so that the folding plate 461 that is the support surface of the garment 10 is inclined. The garment 10 becomes movable to the stocker 480. The folding length determination unit 450 moves away from the garment 10 as indicated by an arrow 450L, and is extracted from the garment 10, and the garment 10 falls into the stocker 480 as indicated by the arrow 10D direction.

  As shown in FIG. 17, when one piece of clothing 10 is folded as described above, the hanger folding portion 440 moves downward as indicated by an arrow 440D, and the notch provided in the base 430 of the clothing holding body 504 It fits into the part 430b and creates a path for the hanger 200. Thereafter, the hanger 200 extracted from the garment 10 is moved in the direction of the arrow 120A by the hanger carrier 121, passes through the notch 430u of the base 430 of the garment holder 504, and moves to the back. In this way, the folding operation for one piece of clothing 10 is completed.

  Next, when the sensor 477 detects that the garment 10 close to the garment folding mechanism 501 has reached a predetermined dry state, the hanger carrier 121 on which the garment 10 is applied is self-propelled in the direction of the arrow 120A, and the inside of the case 490 Enter and stop. In this way, the folding operation is sequentially performed, and the clothes 10 are sequentially dropped into the stocker 480 and stacked. When the folding operation of the garment 10 on the clothes rack 110 is completed, the sensor 477 detects that the garment 10 is not present, and stops the operation at the same time as the last garment 10 is sent to the stocker 480. Since a series of these folding operations are always performed only in the case 490, there is no influence of the swing of the garment 10 due to wind.

  Thus, according to the clothes folding machine of this embodiment, the clothes hung on the hanger can be folded. For this reason, an installation area is small compared with the apparatus which expands and folds clothing horizontally. In addition, since it can be folded while hung on a hanger, the clothes after washing are dried and automatically conveyed to the clothes folding machine of this embodiment without any human intervention, and the clothes are folded. Is possible. Thereby, it becomes possible to fold a plurality of clothes continuously and automatically, and the burden of domestic work can be reduced.

  Note that the garment folding machine of the present embodiment folds the garment 10 within the case 490. Therefore, the case 490 may be used to store the clothing 10 in the case 490 so that the clothing 10 does not get wet when it rains. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1A, a sensor 478 for detecting rainfall is installed in a portion exposed to rain when it rains, and the output of the sensor 478 is input to the control unit 471.

  When the clothes 10 are put on the clothes rack 110 and the operator turns on the clothes folding machine, the sensor 478 starts detecting rain. When the sensor 477 detecting the degree of dryness of the clothing 10 detects the presence of the clothing 10 and the sensor 478 detects rain, the folding control unit 471 sends the rainfall and clothesline to the home gateway (not shown) through the communication cable 474. Send out information that clothing remains in the bag. A home gateway (not shown) passes this information to an external communication device such as an operator's mobile phone or personal computer through a general communication network such as the Internet. In response to this, the operator transmits information for instructing to take in clothes, and when this is transmitted to the control unit 471 through the home gateway and the communication cable 474, the control unit 471 instructs the drive unit 472 to take in clothes. All the hanger carriers 121 are stored in the case 490.

  In order to store all the clothes 10 in the case 490, as shown in FIG. 1B, the length L of the case 490 in the direction in which the clothes basket 110 extends is the length m of the hanger carrier 121 and the number of the hanger carriers 121. Is preferably greater than the product of Thereby, all the clothes 10 are stored in the case 490 and do not get wet in the rain. In this way, by adding a sensor function and a communication function, it is possible to capture the clothes so that the clothes do not get wet when the user is out and when it rains.

  In FIG. 11, when the clamp arms 411 and 412 are rotated approximately 180 degrees, and the left and right shoulders of the garment 10 being held are rotated and moved inward, the clamp arms 411 and 412 have a certain height ( The rotation operation is performed at fixed positions on the shafts 421d and 422d provided in the folding width determination units 421 and 422). However, if the position in the height direction of the clamp arms 411 and 412 is increased by at least 1 cm after the rotation by 180 degrees, the clothes 10 can be pulled in the vertical direction. Although depending on the material of the garment 10, the movement of the clamp arms 411 and 412 in the height direction is preferably 1 cm or more and 5 cm or less. Thereby, even when the garment 10 is a shirt and the button below the shirt is not hung, the garment 10 from the folding width determination units 421 and 422 can be prevented or reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the clothes holder 504 includes four protrusions 431, 432, 433, and 434. However, in order to reduce the manufacturing cost of the clothes folding machine, only the protrusions 431 and 432 may be provided. Good. In this case, although some disturbance occurs when the garment 10 is folded in the width direction, a basic folding operation is possible, and almost the same effect can be obtained.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the communication control unit 473 transmits and receives information via the communication cable 474, but the communication control unit 473 may transmit and receive information wirelessly.

  Further, the clothes folding mechanism can fold the clothes 10 hung on the hanger 200 with high accuracy, and the hanger 200 does not move by reaction even if the cam part 440h at the tip of the hanger folding part 440 rotates. In order to fix the position of the hanger 200 with respect to the clothing folding mechanism, a positioning pin may be inserted into the main body 201 or the main body 201 may be attracted and fixed with a magnet.

  In this embodiment, the sensor 477 detects the moisture content of the garment 10 in order to know the dry state of the garment 10. However, the weight detection unit is provided in the hanger carrier 121, and the weight is reduced by the garment 10 being dried. May be detected. Further, the operator may check the dry state of the clothing 10 himself and start the folding operation according to the operator's judgment.

  Moreover, the clothes folding machine of this embodiment may be further provided with the steam generation part. In this case, the garment 10 may be wrinkled by applying the steam generated by the steam generating unit to the garment 10 immediately before the holding operation of the garment 10 shown in FIG.

  Further, a rotatable roller may be provided on the edge 461e of the folded-up portion 461 so as to avoid frictional resistance and catching when the edge 461e scrubs the hem of the garment 10.

  In the present embodiment, the transfer length 460 is extracted after the transfer section 460 is rotated and tilted downward. The folded garment 10 may be moved to the stocker 480 by other procedures. For example, before the transfer unit 460 is rotated, the folding length determination unit 450 is extracted and the stocker 480 is moved. As shown in FIG. 18, by rotating the transfer unit 460, the transfer unit 460 is inclined downward, and the edge 461 e of the folded-up unit 461 comes into contact with the inside of the standing wall 481 of the stocker 480. The garment 10 slides down on the inclined folded-up portion 461, and one end of the garment 10 hits the inside of the standing wall 481 of the stocker 480.

  Thereafter, as indicated by an arrow 480D, the stocker 480 is moved in a direction parallel to the inclination of the folded-up portion 461 of the transfer unit 460, so that the garment 10 remains in a state where one end is in contact with the standing wall 481 of the stocker 480. When the fold-up portion 461 supporting the garment 10 disappears from the lower surface of the garment 10, the 480 moves in the direction in which the garment 10 advances, and falls into the stocker 480. Thereby, the garment 10 can be stored in the stocker 480.

  Alternatively, after the folded garment 10 is inserted into the transfer unit 460, the transfer unit 460 is rotated until the folded-up unit 461 of the transfer unit 460 becomes horizontal, and the transfer unit 460 is moved directly above the stocker 480. Then, the garment 10 may be dropped into the stocker 480 with the folded-up portion 461 as a double door.

  Further, the clothes 10 may be stacked and stored in the stocker 480 sequentially in a horizontal manner, or the clothes 10 may be stored side by side in a vertical state.

(Second Embodiment)
2nd Embodiment of the hanger used for the clothing folding machine and clothing folding machine by this invention is described.

  FIG. 19 is a front view showing a place where the garment 10 hung on the hanger 2200 is held in the garment folding apparatus of the present embodiment. In FIG. 19, since components other than the clothing holder are the same as the components of the clothing folding machine (FIGS. 1 to 18) of the first embodiment, the same numbers are assigned and description thereof is omitted. The hanger 2200 of this embodiment includes arms 2202 and 2203 each having a magic hand-like link mechanism as shown in FIG. Since the arms 2202 and 2203 have a link mechanism, they extend and contract simultaneously. In addition, the arms 2202 and 2203 can be expanded and contracted by driving the switching unit 2203t provided in a part of the link mechanism in the direction of the arrow 2203L or the reverse direction.

  In the present embodiment, the clothes holder includes protrusions 432j, 431j, 2433j, and 2434j, and the protrusions 2433j and 2434j have a shape extending in the vertical direction as compared with the protrusions 433 and 434 of the first embodiment. This is different from the first embodiment.

  The operation of the hanger 2200 of this embodiment and the garment folding machine of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20. As in the first embodiment, the state switching unit 2203t is driven in the direction of the arrow 2203L by a driving mechanism (not shown) provided in the folding unit 400 while the garment 10 is held by the garment holder as shown in FIG. . As a result, as shown in FIG. 20, the arm portions 2202 and 2203 contract, take a folded state, and become a size that can be extracted from the garment 10.

  The hanger 2200 can take a folded state and an open state by the arms 2202 and 2203 extending and contracting in the horizontal direction. For this reason, in order to fold the hanger 2200, the area | region to which the arm parts 2202, 2203 move can be small, and the area | region of the part in which the protrusion of a clothing holding body hold | maintains the clothing 10 can be correspondingly expanded.

  As a result, the protrusions 2433j and 2434j having a large area can be provided, and clothes can be held more firmly, and a better folding finish can be obtained.

  However, even if the area of the protrusions 2433j and 2434j of the clothing holder is the same as that of the clothing holders 433j and 434j of the first embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the first embodiment. It is.

(Third embodiment)
3rd Embodiment of the hanger used for the clothing folding machine and clothing folding machine by this invention is described.

  FIG. 21 is a front view showing a portion where the garment 10 hung on the hanger 3200 is held in the garment folding apparatus of the present embodiment. In FIG. 19, since components other than the hanger 3200 are the same as the components of the clothing folding machine (FIGS. 1 to 18) of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the garment folding machine of this embodiment is different from the garment folding machine of the first embodiment in that the folding width determination units 421 and 422 and the clothing holding body 504 are not provided.

  The hanger 3200 includes arm portions 3202 and 3203. The arm portion 3202 has a tip portion 3202p, a vertical portion 3202v, and a connecting portion 3202k, and the arm portion 3203 has a tip portion 3203p, a vertical portion 3203v, and a connecting portion 3203k. The vertical portion 3202v and the connecting portion 3202k constitute a link structure, and are attached to the main body 3201b by two rotating shafts. Further, the vertical portion 3203v and the connecting portion 3203k also constitute a link structure, and are attached to the main body 3201b by two rotating shafts. The tip portions 3202p and 3203p are supported by the vertical portions 3202v and 3203v so as to be rotatable. A state switching portion 3203t is provided in one of the connecting portions 3203k that is rotatably supported by the main body 3201b. Furthermore, gears 3202g and 3203g that mesh with each other are provided at the connecting portions 3202k and 3203k that are rotatably supported by the main body 3201b.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the hanger 3200 of the embodiment and the garment folding machine of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 21, the clamp arms 411 and 412 sandwich the shoulders of the garment 10 while the garment 10 is hung on the hanger 3200. However, in the present embodiment, the garment folding machine does not include the folding width determination units 421 and 422 and the garment holder 504, and thus the garment 10 is only held by the clamp arms 411 and 412.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the tip portions 3202p and 3203p of the arm portions 3202 and 3203 are released from the horizontally extended state by a drive mechanism (not shown) and rotate inward as indicated by arrows 3202pD and 3203pD. Accordingly, the tip portions 3202p and 3203p hang down in the vertical direction, and the tip portions 3202p and 3203p substantially overlap the vertical portions 3202v and 3203v. As a result, vertical edges 3202e and 3203e due to the vertical portions 3202v and 3203v of the arm portions 3202 and 3203 appear at both ends of the hanger 3200. In this state, the garment 10 is supported by the clamp arms 411 and 412 in addition to the regions 411j and 412j held by the support portions 3202j and 3203j which are the upper ends of the vertical portions 3202v and 3203v of the arm portions 3202 and 3203. . For this reason, it is possible to maintain a state in which the garment 10 is suspended vertically without the folding width determination units 421 and 422 and the garment holder 504 of the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 22, the vertical edges 3202e and 3203e by the vertical portions 3202v and 3203v are located outside the vertical edge portions 3202e 'and 3203e' of the tip portions 3202p and 3203p, respectively, but the vertical edge portions 3202e 'and 3203e' The vertical edges 3202e and 3203e may be positioned so that the vertical edge portions 3202e 'and 3203e' overlap with each other. In any case, the garment 10 is folded with reference to the vertical edge portion located outside.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 23, the clamp arms 411 and 412 are rotated about 180 degrees inward as indicated by arrows 411L and 412L around the vertical axes 411a and 412a, respectively, and left and right of the garment 10 being sandwiched Rotate and move the shoulders inward. Here, since the vertical axes 411a and 412a substantially coincide with the vertical edges 3202e and 3203e, the garment 10 is folded inward along the vertical edges 3202e and 3203e. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the vertical edges 3202e and 3203e formed by the vertical portions 3202v and 3203v of the arm portions 3202 and 3203 function as a folding width determination unit.

  After the folding in the width direction is completed in this way, the folding in the longitudinal direction is performed by the same operation as that of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14, and the folding operation is completed. .

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 24, the state switching unit 3203t located near the hanger hook 3201f is moved in the direction of the arrow 3203L by a mechanism (not shown) provided in the folding unit 400. As a result, the vertical portion 3203v of the arm portion 3203 rotates inward as indicated by the arrow 3203vD while maintaining the vertical posture by the link structure of the connecting portion 3203k, and extends in the vertical direction. Here, the connecting portions 3202k and 3203k of the arm portions 3202 and 3203 are provided so as to rotate in conjunction with each other by the meshing of the gears 3202g and 3203g. Therefore, the vertical portion 3202v of the arm portion 3202 is also linked to the connecting portion 3202k. The structure rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow 3202 vD while maintaining the vertical posture, and extends in the vertical direction. In this way, the hanger 3200 is folded. Thereafter, as described in the first embodiment with reference to FIG. 15, when the garment 10 is moved downward as indicated by an arrow 460 </ b> D, the hanger 3200 folded from the garment 10 is easily extracted.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22, the tips 3202p and 3203p of the hanger 3200 are suspended and pulled into the vertical portions 3202v and 3203v, but the vertical edges 3202e of the suspended tips 3202p and 3203p are suspended. Even if '3203e' protrudes outside the vertical edges 3202e and 3203e of the vertical portions 3202v and 3203v, the vertical edges 3202e 'and 3203e' serve as folding width determining portions, and the same effect is obtained. be able to.

  According to this embodiment, the hanger itself can be used as the fold width determination unit of the garment, and there is no need to provide a structure such as a garment holder that separately supports the garment. For this reason, the structure and configuration of the clothing folding machine can be simplified, and the cost of the clothing folding machine can be reduced.

(Fourth embodiment)
4th Embodiment of the hanger used for the clothes folding machine and clothing folding machine by this invention is described.

  FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing the main part of the hanger 4200 of the present embodiment and the garment folding machine of the present embodiment. Since the constituent elements other than those shown in FIG. 25 are the same as the constituent elements of the garment folding apparatus (FIGS. 1 to 18) of the first embodiment, the same numbers are given and the description thereof is omitted.

  The hanger 4200 includes a hook 4201 and an arm portion 4202 that can take the shape of an arm that supports the garment 10 by filling a fluid such as gas or liquid inside.

  The garment folding machine of the present embodiment includes a width direction folding portion 502 ′. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the width-direction folding portion 502 ′, and FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing the width-direction folding portion 502 ′ at an angle different from that in FIG. 25. The structure of the width direction folding portion 502 ′ will be described with reference to FIGS. 25 to 27.

  The width direction folding portion 502 ′ includes a center holding portion 510 and outer holding portions 511 and 512.

  The center holding portion 510 includes a central support 4430 having a plurality of protrusions 4430p extending in the vertical direction and a plurality of grooves 4430g formed by the plurality of protrusions 4430p, and a plurality of comb teeth 4400t extending vertically. And a center presser 4400.

  The outer holding portion 511 includes an outer support 4411 having a plurality of convex portions 4411p extending in the vertical direction and a plurality of groove portions 4411g formed by the plurality of convex portions 4411p, and a plurality of comb teeth 4401t extending vertically. And an outer presser 4401. Similarly, the outer holding portion 512 includes an outer support body 4412 having a plurality of protrusions 4412p extending in the vertical direction and a plurality of grooves 4412g formed by the plurality of protrusions 4412p, and a plurality of comb teeth extending vertically. And an outer presser 4402 having 4402t.

  The outer supports 4411 and 4412 respectively have bosses 4411b and 4412b having holes into which shafts 4430d1 and 4430d2 provided on both sides of the central support 443 are inserted. Further, the outer pressers 4401 and 4402 respectively have bosses 44401b and 4402b having holes into which shafts 4400d1 and 4400d2 provided on both sides of the central presser 4400 are inserted.

  The center support 4430 and the outer supports 511 and 512 and the center presser 4400 and the outer pressers 4401 and 4402 sandwich the garment 10 while fitting the comb teeth and grooves. At this time, the rotation shafts 4430d1 and 4430d2 of the outer supports 4411 and 4412 are arranged coaxially with the shafts 4400d1 and 4400d2 (4401a) of the outer pressers 4401 and 4402, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 27, the convex portions 4430p of the central support 4430, the convex portions 4411p and 4412p of the outer supports 4411 and 4412, the comb teeth 4400t of the center presser 4400, and the comb teeth 4401t and 4402t of the outer pressers 4401 and 4402, respectively. The upper end of the hanger 4200 extends just below the arm portion 4202 of the hanger 4200.

  The lower ends of the center support 4430, the outer supports 4411 and 4412, and the outer pressers 4401 and 4402 are substantially at the same height, and the length from the lower end position to the arm portion 4202 is the length of the garment 10. It matches the folding size in the length (length) direction. In addition, an inclined surface 4400s that descends toward the garment 10 at the root of the comb teeth 4400t of the center presser 4400, and an inclination that also descends toward the garment 10 at the roots of the comb teeth 4401t and 4402t of the outer pressers 4401 and 4402. Surfaces 4401s and 4402s are provided, respectively. As a result, the garment 10 hangs smoothly between the upper half of the garment 10 that is sandwiched and the lower half of the garment 10 that is not sandwiched, so that the garment 10 is less likely to wrinkle.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the hanger 4200 of the present embodiment and the garment folding machine of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 25 and 28 to 30.

  The operation until the hanger 4200 on which the garment 10 is hung by the operator moves into the case 490 by the self-propelled hanger carrier 121 is the same as that of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 25, the center support 4430 and the outer supports 4411 and 4412 move in the direction of the arrow 4430C, and the center presser 4400 and the outer pressers 4401 and 4402 move in the direction of the arrow 4400C, and as shown in FIG. 29A under the hanger 4200 The garment 10 is sandwiched between the two.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 28, the fluid inside is extracted from the arm portion 4202 of the hanger 4200 by a mechanism (not shown) to squeeze the arm portion 4202, and then the center support 4430, the outer supports 4411 and 4412, and the center presser 4400. The entire outer pressers 4401 and 4402 are moved downward as indicated by an arrow 4430D with the garment 10 sandwiched therebetween, and the hanger 4200 squeezed from the neck of the garment 10 is extracted. In this state, the garment 10 is sandwiched and held by the center support 4430, the outer supports 4411 and 4412, the center press 4400, and the outer presses 4401 and 4402, and therefore does not fall.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 29B, the outer support 4411 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 4411L around the shaft 4411a, the outer support 4412 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 4412L around the shaft 4412a, and the convex portion 4411p of the outer support 4411 and The convex portion 4412p of the outer support 4412 is brought into pressure contact with the convex portion 4430p of the garment support 4430 through the garment 10. At this time, the outer presser 4401 rotates about the shaft 4401a in the direction of the arrow 4411L, and the outer presser 4402 rotates about the shaft 4402a in the direction of the arrow 4412L. However, since the shaft 4401a is coaxial with the shaft 4411a and the shaft 4402a is coaxial with the shaft 4412a, the comb teeth 4401t of the outer presser 4401 are sandwiching the garment 10 with the outer support 4411, and the comb teeth 4402t of the outer presser 4402 are The garment 10 is rotated with the outer support 4412 interposed therebetween.

  Here, since the shaft 4401a (4411a) and the shaft 4402a (4412a) are provided near the two ends of the comb teeth 4400t, the garment 10 is folded back in the width direction at the two ends of the comb teeth 4400t. It is. That is, the two comb teeth 4400t each function as a fold width determination unit for clothing.

  After folding the garment 10 in the width direction in this way, as shown in FIG. 29C, the comb teeth 4400t are moved in the direction of the arrow 4400R, the comb teeth 4401t are moved in the direction of the arrow 4401R, and the comb teeth 4402t are moved in the direction of the arrow 4402R. Release the pinch. Thereby, the garment 10 is in a state of being sandwiched only by the convex portions 4411p and 4412p and the convex portion 4430p.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 30, the center presser 4400 and the outer pressers 4401 and 4402 are lowered in the direction of the arrow 4400D, and are removed from the garment 10, the central support 4430, and the outer supports 4411 and 4412. Thereafter, folding in the length (length) direction of the garment 10 is performed as in the first embodiment. Accordingly, the lower edges 4411e and 4412e of the outer supports 4411 and 4412 function as folding length determining portions. Thereafter, the holding of the central support 4430 and the outer supports 4411 and 4412 is released, and the garment 10 is transferred to the stocker 480 by the same procedure as in the first embodiment.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, the clothing is held on the surface and the folding operation is performed. For this reason, even when a plurality of clothes are folded, the size variation of the folded clothes is small, and the size of the folded clothes is stable. In addition, clothes can be folded with high quality.

  In this embodiment, the comb teeth 4400t, 4401t, and 4402t have a cylindrical shape, and correspond to the grooves 4430g, 4411g, and 4412g, respectively. However, as shown in FIG. 31A, two comb teeth 4401t ′ may be provided in one groove 4411g ′, and the same effect as described above can be obtained by sharpening the tip of the convex portion as indicated by 4411p ′. Obtainable.

  In the present embodiment, the comb teeth 4400t, 4401t, and 4402t are fixedly provided on the center presser 4400 and the outer pressers 4401 and 4402. For this reason, the center presser 4400 and the outer pressers 4401 and 4402 are moved to release the press contact with the garment 10. However, as shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B, the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the comb teeth 4401t ′ and 4400t ′ is made anisotropic, and the press contact is released by rotating the comb teeth 4401t ′ and 4400t ′. Also, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  Further, the comb teeth 4400t, 4401t, and 4402t except for the comb teeth 4421 and 4422 are provided so as to be contracted or lowered downward with respect to the center presser 4400 and the outer pressers 4401 and 4402, and the comb teeth 4421 and 4422 are moved from the state shown in FIG. By removing the comb teeth 4400t, 4401t, and 4402t, the state shown in FIG. 32A may be obtained. Thereafter, the comb teeth 4421 are moved in the direction of the arrow 4421R and the comb teeth 4422 are moved in the direction of the arrow 4422R to remove the slack by applying tension to the garment 10. As shown in FIG. 30, the garment presser 4400 and the outer pressers 4401 and 4402 are moved. If it is removed and folded in the length direction, wrinkles on the garment 10 can be reduced, which is effective.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the convex part and the groove part were formed in the surface which touches the clothing 10 of the center support body 4430 and the outer side support bodies 4411 and 4412. However, as shown in FIG. 33, the surface in contact with the garment 10 is constituted by planes 4430s, 4411s, and 4412s, and air is sucked from air suction holes 4430h, 4411h, and 4412h provided on the plane by a suction device such as a pump (not shown). The clothes 10 to be sucked may be attached to the flat surfaces 4430s, 4411s, and 4412s. In this case, the center presser 4400 and the outer pressers 4401 and 4402 are unnecessary, and even if such a configuration is adopted, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  The garment folding machine of the present invention is suitably used for an apparatus for folding garments for various uses. In particular, it is suitably used for a small clothing folding machine that does not require a large installation area, and is suitable for a household clothing folding machine.

  The present invention relates to a clothing folding machine capable of automatically folding clothing.

  Folding work of clothing at home is listed as one of the relatively stressful housework. Various household appliances have been developed and are in common use, but machines for automatically folding clothing have not yet been put into practical use. For this reason, domestic workers are eager to develop products that reduce the work of folding clothing.

  On the other hand, as a business use, a device for folding clothes for cleaning business, particularly shirts is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a device that folds a hanging part on both sides of a garment by spreading the garment upward and on both sides in a state where the garment is suspended and sliding a folding plate below the garment from the side. Is disclosed. Patent Document 2 discloses a device that folds clothing on both sides by spreading the clothing on a table divided into three in a downward direction and moving the divided tables on both sides upward of the clothing. Such devices are mainly used in actual cleaning operations.

  However, in such a configuration, it is necessary to provide a machine with a wide work table for spreading clothes on a horizontal plane. For this reason, the floor area which a machine occupies becomes large. Also, the work of spreading the shirt on the table is inefficient because it requires manual labor.

On the other hand, Patent Document 3 hangs a garment on an inclined plate, blows air on both sides of the garment, and rearwardly slides the folding plate from the side to the garment rear in order to reduce the floor area. An apparatus for folding clothing is disclosed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-68798 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-70499 JP-A-8-143015

  However, the apparatus for folding a garment disclosed in Patent Document 3 requires an apparatus such as a compressor that blows air in order to lift the garment backward.

  For this reason, the conventional apparatus for folding clothes as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 requires a wide installation place or requires a compressor that emits a large operating noise, and is used in a cleaning factory. Was suitable but not suitable for home use.

  An object of the present invention is to solve such problems of the prior art and to provide a clothing folding machine suitable for use at home.

  The garment folding machine according to the present invention includes a folding mechanism that folds a garment hung on a hanger so as to have a predetermined size in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

  In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of hangers hung on the clothesline and hung on the clothes are sequentially moved to a predetermined position, and the clothes hung on each hanger are folded by the folding mechanism.

  In a preferred embodiment, the folding mechanism includes a width direction folding part and a length direction folding part.

  In a preferred embodiment, the width direction folding portion includes a pair of clamps that pinch both ends in the horizontal direction of the garment hung on the hanger, and a pair of fold width determination portions, and the clamp includes the garment. The fold width determining unit is rolled up in a pinched state, and is rotated so as to fold the garment along the fold width determining unit.

  In a preferred embodiment, each of the pair of folding width determining portions has an edge portion extending in a vertical direction that defines a position at which the garment is folded, and each of the pair of clamps is in the vicinity of the edge portion of the clamp. Rotate around a vertical axis through

  In a preferred embodiment, when the pair of clamps rotate by pinching both ends of the garment, each of the pair of clamps moves upward by 1 cm or more from before the rotation.

  In a preferred embodiment, the pair of clamps sandwich the garment hung on the hanger at a position where it does not interfere with the hanger.

  In a preferred embodiment, the garment folding machine further includes a hanger folding unit that gives the hanger a command to fold the hanger so that the garment can be removed from the hanger.

  In a preferred embodiment, the garment folding apparatus further includes a garment holding body that holds the garment inside the pair of fold width determination units.

  In a preferred embodiment, the garment holder holds the garment so as not to interfere with the hanger when the hanger is folded.

  In a preferred embodiment, the lengthwise folding portion includes a folding length determining portion having a horizontal bar in contact with the garment, and a lower portion of the garment is folded upward at the position of the folding length determining portion. And a folded-up part that lifts up.

  In a preferred embodiment, the folding portion moves upward after approaching the clothing from the side opposite to the folding length determining portion with respect to the clothing and passing below the folding length determining portion. .

  In a preferred embodiment, the folded-up portion has a roller rotatably provided at the tip thereof, and an outer periphery of the roller is in contact with the clothing.

  In a preferred embodiment, the width direction folding portion holds a center holding portion that holds a center portion of the clothes hung on the hanger, and holds both outer sides in the horizontal direction from the center portion held by the center holding portion. In a state including a pair of outer holding portions, each of the central holding portion and the outer holding portion holding the clothing, the outer holding portion is bent toward the central holding portion, whereby the clothing is folded in the horizontal direction.

  In a preferred embodiment, the central holding portion includes a central support body having a concave portion and a convex portion formed on a surface facing the garment, and a central presser for pressing the garment against a bottom portion of the concave portion, and the outer holding portion. Each of the parts includes an outer support body having a concave portion and a convex portion formed on a surface facing the garment, and an outer presser that presses the garment against the bottom of the concave portion, and the outer holding portion is on the central holding portion side. The garment is sandwiched between the convex portion of the outer support and the convex portion of the central support in a state where the garment is bent.

  In a preferred embodiment, the concave portions of the central support and the outer support have a groove shape extending in the vertical direction, and the central presser and the outer presser have a comb-teeth shape extending in the vertical direction. .

  In a preferred embodiment, each of the central holding portion and the outer holding portion includes a plane in contact with the garment, and a plurality of air suction holes provided in the plane.

  In a preferred embodiment, the lengthwise folding portion includes a folding length determining portion configured by a lower end of the central holding portion or the outer holding portion, and a lower portion of the garment of the folding length determining portion. And a folded-up portion that folds up and lifts upward at the position.

  In a preferred embodiment, the garment folding machine further includes a stocker for storing the garment, and a transfer unit for transferring the folded garment to the stocker.

  In a preferred embodiment, the transfer unit has a support surface for holding the folded garment in a substantially vertical state, and the garment is moved on the support surface by inclining the support surface. Drop clothing into the stocker.

  In a preferred embodiment, the transfer unit removes the support surface from below the garment while the vicinity of the tip of the inclined support surface is in contact with a standing wall in the stocker, and the garment is removed from the stocker. Let fall.

  In a preferred embodiment, the transfer unit moves above the stocker in a state where the support surface is in a horizontal state, and removes the support surface from the lower surface of the clothing, thereby leaving the clothing in the stocker in a horizontal state. Drop into.

  In a preferred embodiment, the transfer unit sequentially drops a plurality of clothes into the stocker vertically and stores the clothes in a line in the stocker.

  In a preferred embodiment, the garment folding machine further includes a sensor that detects a dry state of the garment hung on a hanger suspended from the clothesline, and operates the folding mechanism based on a detection result of the sensor. .

  In a preferred embodiment, the clothes folding machine transmits a first sensor that detects a dry state of the clothes on a hanger hung on the clothesline, and transmits a detection state of the sensor to an external communication device, And a communication unit that receives a command for folding the clothing from the communication device.

  In a preferred embodiment, the clothes folding machine includes a hanger moving unit that moves the hanger along the clothesline, a roof that covers the clothesline, and a second sensor that detects rainfall. Based on the detection result of the second sensor, the hanger moving part moves the hanger below the roof part.

  In a preferred embodiment, the folding mechanism further includes a steam generating part for generating water vapor, and the steam generated by the steam generating part immediately before the folding operation is ejected toward the clothing at the folding part. .

  The hanger of the present invention includes a suspension part suspended on a clothesline, a pair of arm parts that support clothing, a state switching part that shifts the arm part from a horizontally opened state to a folded state, and And at least a part of the state switching unit is exposed to the outside in a state where the clothing is hung.

  In a preferred embodiment, each of the pair of arm portions is in a state of being opened in a horizontal direction, and is in contact with clothing and supports the support portion, and the connection that connects the support portion and is positioned below the support portion. The pair of arm portions are in a state of hanging downward with respect to the suspension portion in the folded state.

  In a preferred embodiment, each of the pair of arm portions has a support portion provided at the tip and a connection portion adjacent to the tip.

  In a preferred embodiment, each of the pair of arm portions is rotatable to a vertical portion so that a vertical portion having an edge extending in a vertical direction and a horizontally extended state and a vertically suspended state can be taken. And a supported tip.

  In a preferred embodiment, the edge of the vertical portion defines a folding position in the width direction of the garment to be hung on the hanger in a state in which the tip portion hangs down.

  In a preferred embodiment, at least a part of the pair of arm parts has a retractable link structure, and the link structure is driven by moving a part of the arm part, and the whole arm part is directed toward the center. Shrink.

  According to the garment folding machine of the present invention, it is possible to fold a garment that is hung on a hanger. For this reason, an installation area is small compared with the apparatus which expands and folds clothing horizontally. Moreover, since it can fold in the state hung on the hanger, it is possible to dry the clothes after washing, and automatically convey the clothes to the clothes folding machine as it is without putting human hands, so that the clothes can be folded. .

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a clothes folding machine according to the present invention and a first embodiment of a hanger used in a clothes folding machine will be described. The garment folding machine according to the present invention can fold a garment hung on a hanger. For this reason, the clothes folding machine according to the present invention can be suitably folded and stored in the stocker after the clothes are dried on the hanger after washing. The present invention may be used as a clothing folding system combining a clothing folding machine and a hanger.

  FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a garment folding machine 500, and FIG. 1B is a schematic side view for explaining components of the garment folding machine 500. FIG.

  As will be described in detail below, the clothes folding machine 500 includes a folding mechanism 501 that folds clothes hung on a hanger so as to have a predetermined size in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. In the present specification, the direction in which the clothes hung on the hanger hang down due to gravity is the vertical direction, and the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction is the horizontal direction. The vertical direction and the horizontal direction are also referred to as a length direction and a width direction of the clothes hung on the hanger, respectively.

  In the present embodiment, the clothes folding machine 500 includes a clothes rack 110 for drying the washed clothes. The laundry basket 110 is held at a predetermined height by the clothes rack 101. A plurality of hanger carriers 121 are attached to the clothes rack 110, and the hangers 200 are suspended from the hanger carriers 121. As will be described in detail below, the hanger carrier 121 is movable in the directions of arrows 120A and 120B.

  The clothes hung on the clothes hanger 110 are hung and dried. For this reason, it is preferable that the clothing folding machine 500 is installed outdoors. When the clothing folding machine 500 is installed outdoors, the folding mechanism 501 preferably includes a case 490 having a roof 490a so that the folded clothing does not get wet in the rain. Case 490 is arranged such that a part of clothes drying basket 110 covers roof 490a. The folding mechanism 501 is provided inside the case 490.

  The case 490 includes a sensor 478 for detecting rain, a sensor 477 for detecting the degree of dryness of clothes, a drive unit 472 for driving the folding mechanism 501, a control unit 471 for controlling the folding mechanism 501, and transmission / reception of information to / from an external communication device. A communication control unit 473 may be provided. These elements will be described in detail later.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a hanger carrier 121 attached to the clothes rack 110 and a hanger 200 suspended from the hanger carrier 121.

  The clothes rack 110 is provided with a rack 112 along the axial direction. The hanger carrier 121 has a bearing part 121m, a drive part 121d, a hole part 121u, and a pinion gear (not shown). The bearing portion 121m has a hole through which the clothes hanger 110 penetrates, and the clothes hanger 110 is inserted into the through hole so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow 120A or 120B along the axial direction of the clothes hanger 110. The pinion gear of the hanger carrier 121 meshes with the rack 112 of the clothes rack 110. The hanger 200 is suspended from the hole 121u.

  The drive unit 121d rotationally drives the pinion gear according to a command from the control unit 471 of the clothing folding machine 500. For this reason, the hanger carrier 121 can be freely moved along the clothes rack 110 in the directions of the arrows 120A and 120B (FIG. 1A). The rack 112 and the hanger carrier 121 constitute a hanger moving part.

  The hanger 200 includes a main body 201, arm portions 202 and 203, a cover portion 204, and a hook 201f. The arm portions 202 and 203 are rotatably supported by the main body 201, and when the garment 10 is hung, the arms are fixed so as to extend in a substantially horizontal direction. Thereby, the arms 202 and 203 support the garment 10 in the horizontal direction. The arm 202 includes support portions 202a, 202b, and 202e that support the garment 10, and connection portions 202c and 202h that connect the support portions and are positioned below the support portions. Similarly, the arm 203 includes support portions 203a, 203b, and 203e that support the garment 10, and connection portions 203c and 203h that connect the support portions and are positioned below the support portions.

  The cover 204 protects the main body 201 from rain or the like. The hook 201f is attached to the main body. The hook 201 is hung on the hole 121 u of the hanger carrier 121, whereby the hanger 200 is suspended from the clothes rack 110 via the hanger carrier 121.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the folding mechanism 501. The folding mechanism 501 includes a width direction folding part 502 and a length direction folding part 503.

  The width direction folding unit 502 includes clamps 411 and 412, folding width determination units 421 and 422, and a clothing holder 504.

  The clamps 411 and 412 pinch both ends in the horizontal direction of the garment 10 hung on the hanger 200. The folding width determining units 421 and 422 are arranged so as to extend in the vertical direction, and the vertical edge parts 421e and 422e are arranged on the outer sides thereof.

  The clamp 411 is attached to a clamp arm 411 that rotates around a vertical axis 411a passing through the vicinity of the vertical edge portion 421e. The clamp 412 is attached to a clamp arm 412 that rotates about a vertical axis 412a passing through the vicinity of the vertical edge portion 422e.

  The clamps 411 and 422 rotate around the shafts 411a and 412a so as to wind the folding width determination units 421 and 422 in a state in which the garment 10 is picked, so that the vertical edge portions 421e and 422e of the folding width determination units 421 and 422 are obtained. The clothes 10 are folded.

  The clothing holder 504 holds the clothing by sandwiching the clothing 10 in cooperation with the folding width determination units 421 and 422. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of the garment holder 504. The clothing holder 504 includes a base 430 and columnar protrusions 431, 432, 433, and 434 provided on the base 430. As shown in FIG. 3, the convex portions 431 and 433 sandwich the garment 10 in cooperation with the folding width determination unit 421. Further, the convex portions 432 and 434 sandwich the garment 10 in cooperation with the folding width determination unit 422.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the garment 10 is picked by the clamps 411, 412 and the garment 10 is held by the garment holder 504, the connection parts 202h, 203h, The shapes of 202c and 203c are located below the support portions 202a, 202b, 202e, 203a, 203b, and 203e. In other words, the clamps 411 and 422 and the clothing holder 504 hold the clothing 10 so as not to interfere with the hanger 200.

  The base 430 is provided with notches 430u and 430b. The notches 430u and 430b are hangers in which the hanger 200 does not collide with the support 504 when the hanger 200 or the support 504 moves with the hanger 200 folded, and the inside of the notches 430u and 430b is folded. 200 passes.

  The length direction folding unit 503 includes a folding length determination unit 450 and a folding unit 461. The folding length determination unit 450 has a bar shape extending in the horizontal direction, and an edge portion 450e is disposed below. The folded-up portion 461 has a plate shape, and an edge portion 461e is disposed on the upper portion.

  The folding unit 461 constitutes a part of the transfer unit 460 that transfers the folded clothes 10. Specifically, the folded-up portion 461, the bottom portion 462, and the side surface 463 constitute a transfer portion 460 having a rectangular space in which a pair of opposing side surfaces and an upper surface are open. In the following, as will be described in detail, the folding length determination unit 450 and the folding unit 461 cooperate to fold the garment 10 in the vertical direction.

  As will be described in detail below, these components of the folding mechanism 501 can approach or retreat the garment 10 at an appropriate timing under the control of the control unit 471. The drive mechanism for the component to approach or retreat from the garment can be realized by combining known mechanical mechanisms and machine elements.

  For example, the movement of the clamp 411 and the folding width determination unit 421 and the movement of the clamp 412 and the folding width determination unit 422 rotate around a vertical axis (not shown) so as to close the double-open door, and the clothes hung on the hanger 200 This can be realized by a configuration that approaches and is positioned.

  The opening / closing operation of the clamps 411 and 412 can be realized by a component gripping mechanism of an industrial machine used for assembling components or an operation mechanism of a robot arm that has made remarkable technological progress in recent years.

  In addition, the clothes holder 504 can be moved along the clothes rack 110 by using an existing linear drive mechanism such as a rack and pinion, a linear motor, or a wire.

  Next, the folding mechanism of the hanger 200 will be described. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing the structure of the main body 201 of the hanger 200 in detail. The arm portions 202 and 203 have the same shape, and a gear 202g and a projection 202t and a gear 203g and a projection 203t are provided at the end portions, respectively. Holes are respectively provided at the rotation centers of the gears 202g and 203g, and the arm portions 202 and 203 are rotatably supported by the main body 201 by being inserted into shafts 201a and 201c provided in the main body 201.

  The gears 202g and 203g mesh with each other through the hole 201u provided in the main body 201, so that the arm portions 202 and 203 rotate in conjunction with each other. An urging spring 205 is provided on the rotation shaft 301 c of the arm part 203, and one end is hooked on the spring hook 201 k of the main body 201 and the other end is hooked on the arm part 203. The urging spring 205 urges the arm portion 203 in a direction in which the arm portion 203 is folded from the horizontal state as indicated by an arrow 203D. Due to the engagement of the gears 202g and 203g, the arm portion 202 is also urged to rotate in the direction of the arrow 202D.

  When the arm portion 203 is lifted to near horizontal, the projection 203t of the arm portion 203 is hooked on the claw 201h provided on the main body portion 201, and the arm portion 203 is stopped from further rotating in the direction of the arrow 203D. At this time, the arm unit 203, the gear 203g, and the arm unit 202 linked with the gear 202g are also lifted to near horizontal, and the arm units 202 and 203 are opened in the horizontal direction.

  In this state, the clothes 10 are hung on the hanger 200 and dried. The cover 204 indicated by a broken line protects the connecting portion of the main body 201 and the arm portions 202 and 203 from rain, and is provided with a hole 204u.

  The cam part 440h at the tip of the hanger folding part 440 penetrates from the hole 204u and enters the gap between the claw 201h and the main body 201, and the cam part 440h rotates to lift the claw 201h and engage the claw 201h with the projection 203t. Is released.

  The arm portion 203 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 203D by the force of the urging spring 205, and the arm portion 202 interlocked therewith also rotates in the direction of the arrow 202D. As a result, both the arm portions 202 and 203 hang down and are folded.

  A claw 201h is a state switching unit that shifts the hanger 200 from a side opened state to a folded state. The claw 201h is exposed to the outside even when the garment 10 is hung, so that the hanger folding portion 440 can enter. When the garment is an outer garment, the claw 201h is preferably provided at a position that can be seen from the neck portion or the like.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the garment folding apparatus 500 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 7 to 18.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1A, the operator hangs the garment 10 on which the laundry is finished on the hanger 200 with the arm portions 202 and 203 opened, and hangs the hanger 200 on the hanger carrier 121 provided on the clothesline 110. At this time, since the hanger carrier 121 is provided so as to be freely slidable on the clothesline 110, the operator can arbitrarily set intervals between the plurality of clothes 10.

  When the operator finishes hanging an arbitrary number of clothes 10 in this manner, the clothes 10 are dried over time by the heat of sunlight so as to hang ordinary laundry. When the operator who has finished wearing the garment 10 turns on a power supply (not shown) of the garment folding machine, the sensor 477 detects the dry state of the garment 10 closest to the folding mechanism 501 and continues to send the information to the folding control unit 471. As the sensor 477 for detecting the dry state of the clothing 10, for example, a moisture meter using microwaves or infrared rays can be used.

  The sensor 477 outputs a signal corresponding to the dry state of the garment 10. When clothing 10 reaches a predetermined dry state and a signal having a value corresponding to the predetermined dry state is output from sensor 477, control unit 471 instructs drive unit 472 to start folding operation to folding mechanism 501. Output.

  First, the hanger carrier 121 closest to the folding mechanism 501 is self-propelled in the direction of the arrow 120A, enters the case 490, and stops. At this time, when the sensor 477 is located on the travel route of the garment 10, the garment 10 is avoided by moving in the direction of the arrow 477D as shown in FIG. Then, it may move in the direction of the arrow 477U to return to the original position, and the dryness of the next garment 10 may be detected.

  Alternatively, assuming that all the clothes 10 of the clothes rack 110 are in the same dry state, and the sensor 477 detects that the clothes 10 closest to the folding mechanism 501 is dry, all the clothes 10 may be stored. Good. Further, the sensor 477 may be installed outside the travel route of the garment 10.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the garment 10 moves to a predetermined position, the folding width determination units 421 and 422 descend from above in the direction of the arrow 410D and stop at the predetermined position. Next, the hanger carrier 121 self-travels in the direction of the arrow 120 </ b> B until the garment 10 is applied to the folding width determination units 421 and 422. At the same time, the garment holder 540 moves in the direction of the arrow 430B, the protrusions 431 and 433 are pressed against the folding width determining unit 421, and the clothing holding bodies 432 and 434 are pressed against the folding width determining unit 422 via the garment 10, Hold.

  At this time, the hanger folding part 440 also moves in the direction of the arrow 430B, and the cam part 440h at the tip penetrates into the main body part 210 of the hanger 200. The hanger 200 may be fixed by engaging the hanger 200 with the cam portion 440h of the hanger folding portion 440 moved together with the clothes holder 504 at this time so that the hanger 200 does not move unnecessarily.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the clamp arms 411 and 412 descend in the directions of arrows 411D and 412D along the shafts 421d and 422d provided in the folding width determination units 421 and 422, respectively. Subsequently, the clamps 411m and 412m are closed to sandwich the left and right shoulders of the garment 10. In this state, the garment 10 is held by the garment folding mechanism as shown by hatched portions 411j, 412j, 431j, 432j, 433j, and 434j as shown in FIG.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the cam portion 440 h at the tip of the hanger folding portion 440 rotates to suspend the arm portions 202 and 203 downward. As a result, the hanger 200 is folded.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the clamp arms 411 and 412 are rotated about 180 degrees in the directions of arrows 411L and 412L around the vertical axes 411a and 412a, respectively, and the left and right shoulders of the garment 10 being held are inward. Move to rotate. As a result, the garment 10 is folded around the folding width determination portions 421 and 422, and the garment 10 is inwardly aligned along the vertical edge portions 421e and 422e of the folding width determination portions 421 and 422 that approximately coincide with the vertical axes 411a and 412a. It is folded. In this way, the folding operation of the garment 10 in the width direction is completed. Thereafter, the folding length determination unit 450 moves in the direction of the arrow 450A and is set near the garment 10 below the folding width determination units 421 and 422.

  Next, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the transfer unit 460 moves toward the garment 10 from the direction opposite to the folding length determination unit 450 with respect to the garment 10 as indicated by an arrow 460B direction. The edge portion 461e of the folding plate 461 passes under the edge portion 450e of the folding length determination unit 450, and the garment 10 is between the folding length determination unit 450 and the folding plate 461 as shown in FIG. Is folded into an S shape.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 12, when the transfer unit 460 is moved upward as indicated by an arrow 460U, the lower half of the garment 10 is scooped up by the edge portion 461e of the folding plate 461, while the folding length determining unit It is bent upward at the edge portion 450e of 450. As shown in FIG. 14, when the bottom part 462 of the clothing transfer hand part 460 approaches to a position 1 to 2 cm below the edge part 450 e of the folding length determination part 450, the transfer part 460 stops. At this time, the portion 10w longer than the folding plate 461 in the lower half of the folded garment 10 is bent at the edge portion 450e of the folding length determination unit 450 and hangs down. In this way, the garment 10 is folded twice in the length direction only by the movement of the garment transfer hand portion 460 in two directions. Thereby, folding in the length direction is completed.

  After completing the folding operation of the garment 10 as described above, an operation of removing each element of the folding mechanism 501 from the garment 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the clamps 411m and 412m are opened, and the holding of the shoulder portion of the garment 10 is released. Further, the clamp arms 411 and 412 move up as indicated by arrows 411U and 412U, and then rotate outward as indicated by arrows 411H and 412H. Thereby, the clamps 411m and 412m and the clamp arms 411 and 412 return to the initial state shown in FIG.

  The clothes holder 504 and the hanger folding part 440 are also separated from the clothes as indicated by an arrow 430A, and the holding of the clothes 10 is released. In this way, the garment 10 is supported only by the transfer unit 460.

  Next, the transfer unit 460 and the folding length determination unit 450 are moved downward as indicated by an arrow 460D. Thereby, the folded garment 10 is moved downward, and the folding width determination units 421 and 422 and the hanger 200 are extracted from the garment 10. At this time, even if there is a slight frictional resistance between the garment 10 and the folding width determination units 421 and 422 and the hanger 200, the folded portion of the garment 10 is held by the folding length determination unit 450. Therefore, it moves downward together with the transfer unit 460 and the folding length determination unit 450 without losing frictional resistance.

  The garment 10 thus placed in the transfer unit 460 rotates as the transfer unit 460 is indicated by an arrow 460R as shown in FIG. 16, so that the folding plate 461 that is the support surface of the garment 10 is inclined. The garment 10 becomes movable to the stocker 480. The folding length determination unit 450 moves away from the garment 10 as indicated by an arrow 450L, and is extracted from the garment 10, and the garment 10 falls into the stocker 480 as indicated by the arrow 10D direction.

  As shown in FIG. 17, when one piece of clothing 10 is folded as described above, the hanger folding portion 440 moves downward as indicated by an arrow 440D, and the notch provided in the base 430 of the clothing holding body 504 It fits into the part 430b and creates a path for the hanger 200. Thereafter, the hanger 200 extracted from the garment 10 is moved in the direction of the arrow 120A by the hanger carrier 121, passes through the notch 430u of the base 430 of the garment holder 504, and moves to the back. In this way, the folding operation for one piece of clothing 10 is completed.

  Next, when the sensor 477 detects that the garment 10 close to the garment folding mechanism 501 has reached a predetermined dry state, the hanger carrier 121 on which the garment 10 is applied is self-propelled in the direction of the arrow 120A, and the inside of the case 490 Enter and stop. In this way, the folding operation is sequentially performed, and the clothes 10 are sequentially dropped into the stocker 480 and stacked. When the folding operation of the garment 10 on the clothes rack 110 is completed, the sensor 477 detects that the garment 10 is not present, and stops the operation at the same time as the last garment 10 is sent to the stocker 480. Since a series of these folding operations are always performed only in the case 490, there is no influence of the swing of the garment 10 due to wind.

  Thus, according to the clothes folding machine of this embodiment, the clothes hung on the hanger can be folded. For this reason, an installation area is small compared with the apparatus which expands and folds clothing horizontally. In addition, since it can be folded while hung on a hanger, the clothes after washing are dried and automatically conveyed to the clothes folding machine of this embodiment without any human intervention, and the clothes are folded. Is possible. Thereby, it becomes possible to fold a plurality of clothes continuously and automatically, and the burden of domestic work can be reduced.

  Note that the garment folding machine of the present embodiment folds the garment 10 within the case 490. Therefore, the case 490 may be used to store the clothing 10 in the case 490 so that the clothing 10 does not get wet when it rains. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1A, a sensor 478 for detecting rainfall is installed in a portion exposed to rain when it rains, and the output of the sensor 478 is input to the control unit 471.

  When the clothes 10 are put on the clothes rack 110 and the operator turns on the clothes folding machine, the sensor 478 starts detecting rain. When the sensor 477 detecting the degree of dryness of the clothing 10 detects the presence of the clothing 10 and the sensor 478 detects rain, the folding control unit 471 sends the rainfall and clothesline to the home gateway (not shown) through the communication cable 474. Send out information that clothing remains in the bag. A home gateway (not shown) passes this information to an external communication device such as an operator's mobile phone or personal computer through a general communication network such as the Internet. In response to this, the operator transmits information for instructing to take in clothes, and when this is transmitted to the control unit 471 through the home gateway and the communication cable 474, the control unit 471 instructs the drive unit 472 to take in clothes. All the hanger carriers 121 are stored in the case 490.

  In order to store all the clothes 10 in the case 490, as shown in FIG. 1B, the length L of the case 490 in the direction in which the clothes basket 110 extends is the length m of the hanger carrier 121 and the number of the hanger carriers 121. Is preferably greater than the product of Thereby, all the clothes 10 are stored in the case 490 and do not get wet in the rain. In this way, by adding a sensor function and a communication function, it is possible to capture the clothes so that the clothes do not get wet when the user is out and when it rains.

  In FIG. 11, when the clamp arms 411 and 412 are rotated approximately 180 degrees, and the left and right shoulders of the garment 10 being held are rotated and moved inward, the clamp arms 411 and 412 have a certain height ( The rotation operation is performed at fixed positions on the shafts 421d and 422d provided in the folding width determination units 421 and 422). However, if the position in the height direction of the clamp arms 411 and 412 is increased by at least 1 cm after the rotation by 180 degrees, the clothes 10 can be pulled in the vertical direction. Although depending on the material of the garment 10, the movement of the clamp arms 411 and 412 in the height direction is preferably 1 cm or more and 5 cm or less. Thereby, even when the garment 10 is a shirt and the button below the shirt is not hung, the garment 10 from the folding width determination units 421 and 422 can be prevented or reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the clothes holder 504 includes four protrusions 431, 432, 433, and 434. However, in order to reduce the manufacturing cost of the clothes folding machine, only the protrusions 431 and 432 may be provided. Good. In this case, although some disturbance occurs when the garment 10 is folded in the width direction, a basic folding operation is possible, and almost the same effect can be obtained.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the communication control unit 473 transmits and receives information via the communication cable 474, but the communication control unit 473 may transmit and receive information wirelessly.

  Further, the clothes folding mechanism can fold the clothes 10 hung on the hanger 200 with high accuracy, and the hanger 200 does not move by reaction even if the cam part 440h at the tip of the hanger folding part 440 rotates. In order to fix the position of the hanger 200 with respect to the clothing folding mechanism, a positioning pin may be inserted into the main body 201 or the main body 201 may be attracted and fixed with a magnet.

  In this embodiment, the sensor 477 detects the moisture content of the garment 10 in order to know the dry state of the garment 10. However, the weight detection unit is provided in the hanger carrier 121, and the weight is reduced by the garment 10 being dried. May be detected. Further, the operator may check the dry state of the clothing 10 himself and start the folding operation according to the operator's judgment.

  Moreover, the clothes folding machine of this embodiment may be further provided with the steam generation part. In this case, the garment 10 may be wrinkled by applying the steam generated by the steam generating unit to the garment 10 immediately before the holding operation of the garment 10 shown in FIG.

  Further, a rotatable roller may be provided on the edge 461e of the folded-up portion 461 so as to avoid frictional resistance and catching when the edge 461e scrubs the hem of the garment 10.

  In the present embodiment, the transfer length 460 is extracted after the transfer section 460 is rotated and tilted downward. The folded garment 10 may be moved to the stocker 480 by other procedures. For example, before the transfer unit 460 is rotated, the folding length determination unit 450 is extracted and the stocker 480 is moved. As shown in FIG. 18, by rotating the transfer unit 460, the transfer unit 460 is inclined downward, and the edge 461 e of the folded-up unit 461 comes into contact with the inside of the standing wall 481 of the stocker 480. The garment 10 slides down on the inclined folded-up portion 461, and one end of the garment 10 hits the inside of the standing wall 481 of the stocker 480.

  Thereafter, as indicated by an arrow 480D, the stocker 480 is moved in a direction parallel to the inclination of the folded-up portion 461 of the transfer unit 460, so that the garment 10 remains in a state where one end is in contact with the standing wall 481 of the stocker 480. When the fold-up portion 461 supporting the garment 10 disappears from the lower surface of the garment 10, the 480 moves in the direction in which the garment 10 advances, and falls into the stocker 480. Thereby, the garment 10 can be stored in the stocker 480.

  Alternatively, after the folded garment 10 is inserted into the transfer unit 460, the transfer unit 460 is rotated until the folded-up unit 461 of the transfer unit 460 becomes horizontal, and the transfer unit 460 is moved directly above the stocker 480. Then, the garment 10 may be dropped into the stocker 480 with the folded-up portion 461 as a double door.

  Further, the clothes 10 may be stacked and stored in the stocker 480 sequentially in a horizontal manner, or the clothes 10 may be stored side by side in a vertical state.

(Second Embodiment)
2nd Embodiment of the hanger used for the clothing folding machine and clothing folding machine by this invention is described.

  FIG. 19 is a front view showing a place where the garment 10 hung on the hanger 2200 is held in the garment folding apparatus of the present embodiment. In FIG. 19, since components other than the clothing holder are the same as the components of the clothing folding machine (FIGS. 1 to 18) of the first embodiment, the same numbers are assigned and description thereof is omitted. The hanger 2200 of this embodiment includes arms 2202 and 2203 each having a magic hand-like link mechanism as shown in FIG. Since the arms 2202 and 2203 have a link mechanism, they extend and contract simultaneously. In addition, the arms 2202 and 2203 can be expanded and contracted by driving the switching unit 2203t provided in a part of the link mechanism in the direction of the arrow 2203L or the reverse direction.

  In the present embodiment, the clothes holder includes protrusions 432j, 431j, 2433j, and 2434j, and the protrusions 2433j and 2434j have a shape extending in the vertical direction as compared with the protrusions 433 and 434 of the first embodiment. This is different from the first embodiment.

  The operation of the hanger 2200 of this embodiment and the garment folding machine of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20. As in the first embodiment, the state switching unit 2203t is driven in the direction of the arrow 2203L by a driving mechanism (not shown) provided in the folding unit 400 while the garment 10 is held by the garment holder as shown in FIG. . As a result, as shown in FIG. 20, the arm portions 2202 and 2203 contract, take a folded state, and become a size that can be extracted from the garment 10.

  The hanger 2200 can take a folded state and an open state by the arms 2202 and 2203 extending and contracting in the horizontal direction. For this reason, in order to fold the hanger 2200, the area | region to which the arm parts 2202, 2203 move can be small, and the area | region of the part in which the protrusion of a clothing holding body hold | maintains the clothing 10 can be correspondingly expanded.

  As a result, the protrusions 2433j and 2434j having a large area can be provided, and clothes can be held more firmly, and a better folding finish can be obtained.

  However, even if the area of the protrusions 2433j and 2434j of the clothing holder is the same as that of the clothing holders 433j and 434j of the first embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the first embodiment. It is.

(Third embodiment)
3rd Embodiment of the hanger used for the clothing folding machine and clothing folding machine by this invention is described.

  FIG. 21 is a front view showing a portion where the garment 10 hung on the hanger 3200 is held in the garment folding apparatus of the present embodiment. In FIG. 19, since components other than the hanger 3200 are the same as the components of the clothing folding machine (FIGS. 1 to 18) of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the garment folding machine of this embodiment is different from the garment folding machine of the first embodiment in that the folding width determination units 421 and 422 and the clothing holding body 504 are not provided.

  The hanger 3200 includes arm portions 3202 and 3203. The arm portion 3202 has a tip portion 3202p, a vertical portion 3202v, and a connecting portion 3202k, and the arm portion 3203 has a tip portion 3203p, a vertical portion 3203v, and a connecting portion 3203k. The vertical portion 3202v and the connecting portion 3202k constitute a link structure, and are attached to the main body 3201b by two rotating shafts. Further, the vertical portion 3203v and the connecting portion 3203k also constitute a link structure, and are attached to the main body 3201b by two rotating shafts. The tip portions 3202p and 3203p are supported by the vertical portions 3202v and 3203v so as to be rotatable. A state switching portion 3203t is provided in one of the connecting portions 3203k that is rotatably supported by the main body 3201b. Furthermore, gears 3202g and 3203g that mesh with each other are provided at the connecting portions 3202k and 3203k that are rotatably supported by the main body 3201b.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the hanger 3200 of the embodiment and the garment folding machine of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 21, the clamp arms 411 and 412 sandwich the shoulders of the garment 10 while the garment 10 is hung on the hanger 3200. However, in the present embodiment, the garment folding machine does not include the folding width determination units 421 and 422 and the garment holder 504, and thus the garment 10 is only held by the clamp arms 411 and 412.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the tip portions 3202p and 3203p of the arm portions 3202 and 3203 are released from the horizontally extended state by a drive mechanism (not shown) and rotate inward as indicated by arrows 3202pD and 3203pD. Accordingly, the tip portions 3202p and 3203p hang down in the vertical direction, and the tip portions 3202p and 3203p substantially overlap the vertical portions 3202v and 3203v. As a result, vertical edges 3202e and 3203e due to the vertical portions 3202v and 3203v of the arm portions 3202 and 3203 appear at both ends of the hanger 3200. In this state, the garment 10 is supported by the clamp arms 411 and 412 in addition to the regions 411j and 412j held by the support portions 3202j and 3203j which are the upper ends of the vertical portions 3202v and 3203v of the arm portions 3202 and 3203. . For this reason, it is possible to maintain a state in which the garment 10 is suspended vertically without the folding width determination units 421 and 422 and the garment holder 504 of the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 22, the vertical edges 3202e and 3203e by the vertical portions 3202v and 3203v are located outside the vertical edge portions 3202e 'and 3203e' of the tip portions 3202p and 3203p, respectively, but the vertical edge portions 3202e 'and 3203e' The vertical edges 3202e and 3203e may be positioned so that the vertical edge portions 3202e 'and 3203e' overlap with each other. In any case, the garment 10 is folded with reference to the vertical edge portion located outside.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 23, the clamp arms 411 and 412 are rotated about 180 degrees inward as indicated by arrows 411L and 412L around the vertical axes 411a and 412a, respectively, and left and right of the garment 10 being sandwiched Rotate and move the shoulders inward. Here, since the vertical axes 411a and 412a substantially coincide with the vertical edges 3202e and 3203e, the garment 10 is folded inward along the vertical edges 3202e and 3203e. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the vertical edges 3202e and 3203e formed by the vertical portions 3202v and 3203v of the arm portions 3202 and 3203 function as a folding width determination unit.

  After the folding in the width direction is completed in this way, the folding in the longitudinal direction is performed by the same operation as that of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14, and the folding operation is completed. .

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 24, the state switching unit 3203t located near the hanger hook 3201f is moved in the direction of the arrow 3203L by a mechanism (not shown) provided in the folding unit 400. As a result, the vertical portion 3203v of the arm portion 3203 rotates inward as indicated by the arrow 3203vD while maintaining the vertical posture by the link structure of the connecting portion 3203k, and extends in the vertical direction. Here, the connecting portions 3202k and 3203k of the arm portions 3202 and 3203 are provided so as to rotate in conjunction with each other by the meshing of the gears 3202g and 3203g. Therefore, the vertical portion 3202v of the arm portion 3202 is also linked to the connecting portion 3202k. The structure rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow 3202 vD while maintaining the vertical posture, and extends in the vertical direction. In this way, the hanger 3200 is folded. Thereafter, as described in the first embodiment with reference to FIG. 15, when the garment 10 is moved downward as indicated by an arrow 460 </ b> D, the hanger 3200 folded from the garment 10 is easily extracted.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22, the tips 3202p and 3203p of the hanger 3200 are suspended and pulled into the vertical portions 3202v and 3203v, but the vertical edges 3202e of the suspended tips 3202p and 3203p are suspended. Even if '3203e' protrudes outside the vertical edges 3202e and 3203e of the vertical portions 3202v and 3203v, the vertical edges 3202e 'and 3203e' serve as folding width determining portions, and the same effect is obtained. be able to.

  According to this embodiment, the hanger itself can be used as the fold width determination unit of the garment, and there is no need to provide a structure such as a garment holder that separately supports the garment. For this reason, the structure and configuration of the clothing folding machine can be simplified, and the cost of the clothing folding machine can be reduced.

(Fourth embodiment)
4th Embodiment of the hanger used for the clothes folding machine and clothing folding machine by this invention is described.

  FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing the main part of the hanger 4200 of the present embodiment and the garment folding machine of the present embodiment. Since the constituent elements other than those shown in FIG. 25 are the same as the constituent elements of the garment folding apparatus (FIGS. 1 to 18) of the first embodiment, the same numbers are given and the description thereof is omitted.

  The hanger 4200 includes a hook 4201 and an arm portion 4202 that can take the shape of an arm that supports the garment 10 by filling a fluid such as gas or liquid inside.

  The garment folding machine of the present embodiment includes a width direction folding portion 502 ′. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the width-direction folding portion 502 ′, and FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing the width-direction folding portion 502 ′ at an angle different from that in FIG. 25. The structure of the width direction folding portion 502 ′ will be described with reference to FIGS. 25 to 27.

  The width direction folding portion 502 ′ includes a center holding portion 510 and outer holding portions 511 and 512.

  The center holding portion 510 includes a central support 4430 having a plurality of protrusions 4430p extending in the vertical direction and a plurality of grooves 4430g formed by the plurality of protrusions 4430p, and a plurality of comb teeth 4400t extending vertically. And a center presser 4400.

  The outer holding portion 511 includes an outer support 4411 having a plurality of convex portions 4411p extending in the vertical direction and a plurality of groove portions 4411g formed by the plurality of convex portions 4411p, and a plurality of comb teeth 4401t extending vertically. And an outer presser 4401. Similarly, the outer holding portion 512 includes an outer support body 4412 having a plurality of protrusions 4412p extending in the vertical direction and a plurality of grooves 4412g formed by the plurality of protrusions 4412p, and a plurality of comb teeth extending vertically. And an outer presser 4402 having 4402t.

  The outer supports 4411 and 4412 respectively have bosses 4411b and 4412b having holes into which shafts 4430d1 and 4430d2 provided on both sides of the central support 443 are inserted. Further, the outer pressers 4401 and 4402 respectively have bosses 44401b and 4402b having holes into which shafts 4400d1 and 4400d2 provided on both sides of the central presser 4400 are inserted.

  The center support 4430 and the outer supports 511 and 512 and the center presser 4400 and the outer pressers 4401 and 4402 sandwich the garment 10 while fitting the comb teeth and grooves. At this time, the rotation shafts 4430d1 and 4430d2 of the outer supports 4411 and 4412 are arranged coaxially with the shafts 4400d1 and 4400d2 (4401a) of the outer pressers 4401 and 4402, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 27, the convex portions 4430p of the central support 4430, the convex portions 4411p and 4412p of the outer supports 4411 and 4412, the comb teeth 4400t of the center presser 4400, and the comb teeth 4401t and 4402t of the outer pressers 4401 and 4402, respectively. The upper end of the hanger 4200 extends just below the arm portion 4202 of the hanger 4200.

  The lower ends of the center support 4430, the outer supports 4411 and 4412, and the outer pressers 4401 and 4402 are substantially at the same height, and the length from the lower end position to the arm portion 4202 is the length of the garment 10. It matches the folding size in the length (length) direction. In addition, an inclined surface 4400s that descends toward the garment 10 at the root of the comb teeth 4400t of the center presser 4400, and an inclination that also descends toward the garment 10 at the roots of the comb teeth 4401t and 4402t of the outer pressers 4401 and 4402. Surfaces 4401s and 4402s are provided, respectively. As a result, the garment 10 hangs smoothly between the upper half of the garment 10 that is sandwiched and the lower half of the garment 10 that is not sandwiched, so that the garment 10 is less likely to wrinkle.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the hanger 4200 of the present embodiment and the garment folding machine of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 25 and 28 to 30.

  The operation until the hanger 4200 on which the garment 10 is hung by the operator moves into the case 490 by the self-propelled hanger carrier 121 is the same as that of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 25, the center support 4430 and the outer supports 4411 and 4412 move in the direction of the arrow 4430C, and the center presser 4400 and the outer pressers 4401 and 4402 move in the direction of the arrow 4400C, and as shown in FIG. 29A under the hanger 4200 The garment 10 is sandwiched between the two.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 28, the fluid inside is extracted from the arm portion 4202 of the hanger 4200 by a mechanism (not shown) to squeeze the arm portion 4202, and then the center support 4430, the outer supports 4411 and 4412, and the center presser 4400. The entire outer pressers 4401 and 4402 are moved downward as indicated by an arrow 4430D with the garment 10 sandwiched therebetween, and the hanger 4200 squeezed from the neck of the garment 10 is extracted. In this state, the garment 10 is sandwiched and held by the center support 4430, the outer supports 4411 and 4412, the center press 4400, and the outer presses 4401 and 4402, and therefore does not fall.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 29B, the outer support 4411 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 4411L around the shaft 4411a, the outer support 4412 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 4412L around the shaft 4412a, and the convex portion 4411p of the outer support 4411 and The convex portion 4412p of the outer support 4412 is brought into pressure contact with the convex portion 4430p of the garment support 4430 through the garment 10. At this time, the outer presser 4401 rotates about the shaft 4401a in the direction of the arrow 4411L, and the outer presser 4402 rotates about the shaft 4402a in the direction of the arrow 4412L. However, since the shaft 4401a is coaxial with the shaft 4411a and the shaft 4402a is coaxial with the shaft 4412a, the comb teeth 4401t of the outer presser 4401 are sandwiching the garment 10 with the outer support 4411, and the comb teeth 4402t of the outer presser 4402 are The garment 10 is rotated with the outer support 4412 interposed therebetween.

  Here, since the shaft 4401a (4411a) and the shaft 4402a (4412a) are provided near the two ends of the comb teeth 4400t, the garment 10 is folded back in the width direction at the two ends of the comb teeth 4400t. It is. That is, the two comb teeth 4400t each function as a fold width determination unit for clothing.

  After folding the garment 10 in the width direction in this way, as shown in FIG. 29C, the comb teeth 4400t are moved in the direction of the arrow 4400R, the comb teeth 4401t are moved in the direction of the arrow 4401R, and the comb teeth 4402t are moved in the direction of the arrow 4402R. Release the pinch. Thereby, the garment 10 is in a state of being sandwiched only by the convex portions 4411p and 4412p and the convex portion 4430p.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 30, the center presser 4400 and the outer pressers 4401 and 4402 are lowered in the direction of the arrow 4400D, and are removed from the garment 10, the central support 4430, and the outer supports 4411 and 4412. Thereafter, folding in the length (length) direction of the garment 10 is performed as in the first embodiment. Accordingly, the lower edges 4411e and 4412e of the outer supports 4411 and 4412 function as folding length determining portions. Thereafter, the holding of the central support 4430 and the outer supports 4411 and 4412 is released, and the garment 10 is transferred to the stocker 480 by the same procedure as in the first embodiment.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, the clothing is held on the surface and the folding operation is performed. For this reason, even when a plurality of clothes are folded, the size variation of the folded clothes is small, and the size of the folded clothes is stable. In addition, clothes can be folded with high quality.

  In this embodiment, the comb teeth 4400t, 4401t, and 4402t have a cylindrical shape, and correspond to the grooves 4430g, 4411g, and 4412g, respectively. However, as shown in FIG. 31A, two comb teeth 4401t ′ may be provided in one groove 4411g ′, and the same effect as described above can be obtained by sharpening the tip of the convex portion as indicated by 4411p ′. Obtainable.

  In the present embodiment, the comb teeth 4400t, 4401t, and 4402t are fixedly provided on the center presser 4400 and the outer pressers 4401 and 4402. For this reason, the center presser 4400 and the outer pressers 4401 and 4402 are moved to release the press contact with the garment 10. However, as shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B, the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the comb teeth 4401t ′ and 4400t ′ is made anisotropic, and the press contact is released by rotating the comb teeth 4401t ′ and 4400t ′. Also, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  Further, the comb teeth 4400t, 4401t, and 4402t except for the comb teeth 4421 and 4422 are provided so as to be contracted or lowered downward with respect to the center presser 4400 and the outer pressers 4401 and 4402, and the comb teeth 4421 and 4422 are moved from the state shown in FIG. By removing the comb teeth 4400t, 4401t, and 4402t, the state shown in FIG. 32A may be obtained. Thereafter, the comb teeth 4421 are moved in the direction of the arrow 4421R and the comb teeth 4422 are moved in the direction of the arrow 4422R to remove the slack by applying tension to the garment 10. As shown in FIG. 30, the garment presser 4400 and the outer pressers 4401 and 4402 are moved. If it is removed and folded in the length direction, wrinkles on the garment 10 can be reduced, which is effective.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the convex part and the groove part were formed in the surface which touches the clothing 10 of the center support body 4430 and the outer side support bodies 4411 and 4412. However, as shown in FIG. 33, the surface in contact with the garment 10 is constituted by planes 4430s, 4411s, and 4412s, and air is sucked from air suction holes 4430h, 4411h, and 4412h provided on the plane by a suction device such as a pump (not shown). The clothes 10 to be sucked may be attached to the flat surfaces 4430s, 4411s, and 4412s. In this case, the center presser 4400 and the outer pressers 4401 and 4402 are unnecessary, and even if such a configuration is adopted, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  The garment folding machine of the present invention is suitably used for an apparatus for folding garments for various uses. In particular, it is suitably used for a small clothing folding machine that does not require a large installation area, and is suitable for a household clothing folding machine.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing a first embodiment of a clothes folding machine and a hanger according to the present invention. It is a side view which shows typically the structure of the clothing folding machine by this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the hanger of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the clothing holding body of the clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the hanger of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the hanger of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a front view which shows the holding | maintenance state of the clothing in the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 1st Embodiment. It is a front view which shows the characteristic structure in 2nd Embodiment of the clothes folding machine and hanger by this invention. It is a front view which shows operation | movement of the hanger of 2nd Embodiment. It is a front view which shows the characteristic structure in 3rd Embodiment of the clothes folding machine and hanger by this invention. It is a front view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 3rd Embodiment. It is a front view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 3rd Embodiment. It is a front view which shows operation | movement of the hanger of 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the characteristic structure in 4th Embodiment of the clothes folding machine and hanger by this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the width direction folding part of the clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the hanger and width direction folding part of 4th Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a partial top view which shows operation | movement of the clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a partial top view which shows operation | movement of the clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a partial top view which shows operation | movement of the clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of the hanger and clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a partial top view which shows operation | movement of the clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a partial top view which shows the other structure of the clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a partial top view which shows the other structure of the clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a partial top view which shows the other structure of the clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows roughly the other structural example of the clothing folding machine of 4th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 Clothes 110 Clothes hanger 121 Hanger carrier 200, 2200, 3200, 4200 Hanger 201h State switching unit 202, 203, 2202, 2203, 3202, 3203, 4202
Arm part 202c, 202h, 203c, 203h Connection part 400 Folding part 411, 412 Clamp arm 421, 422 Folding width determining part 430 Base 440 Hanger folding part 450 Folding length determining part 460 Transfer part 477, 478 Sensor 473 Communication control part 480 Stocker 490 Case 500 Clothing folding machine 501 Folding mechanism 502 Width direction folding part 503 Length direction folding part 504 Clothes holder 2203t State switching part 3203t State switching part 4430 Clothes support 4411, 4412 Outer support 4400 Central press 4401, 4402 Outside Presser 4401t, 4402t Comb teeth 4430s, 4411s, 4412s Plane 4430h, 4411h, 4412h Air suction hole

Claims (33)

  A clothes folding machine provided with a folding mechanism that folds clothes hung on a hanger to a predetermined size in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction.   The clothes folding machine according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of hangers hung on a clothes rack and hung on the clothes are sequentially moved to a predetermined position, and the clothes hung on each hanger are folded by the folding mechanism.   The folding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the folding mechanism includes a width direction folding part and a length direction folding part. The width direction folding portion includes a pair of clamps that pinch both ends in the horizontal direction of the clothing hung on the hanger, and a pair of folding width determination portions,
The garment folding machine according to claim 3, wherein the clamp winds the fold width determining unit while pinching the garment, and rotates to fold the garment along the fold width determining unit.   Each of the pair of folding width determining portions has an edge portion extending in a vertical direction that defines a position at which the garment is folded, and each of the pair of clamps is a vertical axis passing through the vicinity of the edge portion of the clamp. The garment folding machine according to claim 4, wherein the garment folding machine is rotated around the center.   The clothes folding machine according to claim 5, wherein each of the pair of clamps moves upward by 1 cm or more before rotation when the pair of clamps rotate by pinching both ends of the clothes.   The garment folding machine according to claim 6, wherein the pair of clamps sandwich the garment hung on the hanger at a position where it does not interfere with the hanger.   The clothes folding machine according to claim 7, further comprising a hanger folding unit that gives a command to the hanger to fold the hanger so that the clothes can be removed from the hanger.   The clothes folding machine according to claim 8, wherein the width-direction folding unit further includes a clothing holder that holds the clothing inside the pair of folding width determination units.   The garment folding machine according to claim 9, wherein the garment holder holds the garment so as not to interfere with the hanger when the hanger is folded.   The length direction folding unit includes a folding length determination unit having a horizontal bar that contacts the clothing, and a folding unit that folds and lifts the lower part of the clothing upward at the position of the folding length determination unit. The garment folding machine according to claim 10, comprising:   The said folding part approaches the said clothing from the opposite side to the folding length determination unit with respect to the clothing, and moves upward after passing below the folding length determination unit. Clothing folding machine.   The clothes folding machine according to claim 12, wherein the folding portion has a roller rotatably provided at a tip thereof, and an outer periphery of the roller is in contact with the clothes. The width direction folding portion includes a central holding portion for holding a central portion of the clothes hung on the hanger, and a pair of outer holding portions for holding both outer sides in the horizontal direction from the central portion held by the central holding portion. Including
The garment folding machine according to claim 3, wherein the garment is folded in a horizontal direction by folding the outer holding part toward the central holding part in a state where the central holding part and the outer holding part hold the garment. The central holding portion includes a central support body having a concave portion and a convex portion formed on a surface facing the clothing, and a central presser that presses the clothing against the bottom of the concave portion,
Each of the outer holding portions includes an outer support body having a recess and a protrusion formed on a surface facing the garment, and an outer presser that presses the garment against the bottom of the recess,
The garment folding machine according to claim 14, wherein the garment is sandwiched between the convex portion of the outer support and the convex portion of the central support in a state where the outer holding portion is bent toward the central holding portion.   The concave portions of the central support and the outer support have a groove shape extending in a vertical direction, and the central presser and the outer presser have a comb-teeth shape extending in a vertical direction. Clothing folding machine.   The garment folding machine according to claim 14, wherein each of the central holding portion and the outer holding portion includes a plane in contact with the garment and a plurality of air suction holes provided in the plane.   The length-direction folding part is configured to fold back a lower part of the clothing at a position of the folding length determination part and a folding length determination part constituted by a lower end of the central holding part or the outer holding part. The garment folding machine according to claim 14, further comprising a folding part for lifting. A stocker for storing the clothing;
A transfer unit for transferring the folded clothing to the stocker;
The garment folding machine according to claim 11 or 18, further comprising:   The transfer unit has a support surface for maintaining the folded garment in a substantially vertical state, and by tilting the support surface, the garment is moved on the support surface and the garment is dropped into the stocker. 20. A clothes folding machine according to claim 19.   21. The transfer unit removes the support surface from below the garment in a state in which the vicinity of the tip of the inclined support surface is in contact with a standing wall in the stocker, and drops the garment onto the stocker. Clothing folding machine as described in 1.   The transfer unit moves to the upper side of the stocker in a state where the support surface is in a horizontal state, and removes the support surface from the lower surface of the clothing, thereby dropping the clothing into the stocker in a horizontal state. Clothing folder as described.   The clothes folding machine according to claim 19, wherein the transfer unit sequentially drops a plurality of clothes vertically into a stocker, and stores the clothes arranged side by side in the stocker.   The garment folding machine according to claim 19, further comprising a sensor that detects a dry state of the garment hung on a hanger suspended from the clothesline, and operating the folding mechanism based on a detection result of the sensor. A first sensor for detecting a dry state of the clothes on a hanger hung on the clothesline;
The clothing folding machine according to claim 19, further comprising: a communication unit that transmits a detection state of the sensor to an external communication device, and receives a command for folding the clothing from the external communication device. A hanger moving part for moving the hanger along the clothesline;
A roof covering the clothesline;
A second sensor for detecting rainfall;
With
The clothes folding machine according to claim 19, wherein the hanger moving part moves the hanger below the roof part based on a detection result of the second sensor.   The said folding mechanism is further equipped with the steam generation part for generating water vapor | steam, The water vapor | steam generate | occur | produced in the said steam generation part immediately before the said folding operation spouts toward the said clothing in a folding part. Clothing folding machine. A suspension part suspended on a clothesline;
A pair of arms that support clothing;
A state switching unit that shifts the arm part from a horizontally opened state to a folded state;
And at least a part of the state switching unit is exposed to the outside in a state where the clothing is hung. Each of the pair of arm portions is
In a state opened in the horizontal direction, it has a support part that contacts and supports clothing, and a connection part that connects the support part and is positioned below the support part,
29. The hanger according to claim 28, wherein the pair of arm portions are in a state of hanging downward with respect to the suspension portion in a folded state.   30. The hanger according to claim 29, wherein each of the pair of arm portions includes a support portion provided at a distal end and a connection portion adjacent to the distal end. Each of the pair of arm portions is
A vertical portion having an edge extending in a vertical direction;
The hanger according to claim 28, further comprising: a tip portion rotatably supported by the vertical portion so as to be able to take a state of extending in a horizontal direction and a state of hanging in a vertical direction.   32. The hanger according to claim 31, wherein an edge of the vertical portion defines a folding position in a width direction of the garment to be hung on the hanger in a state in which the tip portion hangs down.   29. At least a part of the pair of arm parts has a retractable link structure, the link structure is driven by moving a part of the arm part, and the whole of the arm part contracts toward the center. The hanger described in 1.

Images