Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F67/00—Details of ironing machines provided for in groups D06F61/00, D06F63/00, or D06F65/00
  • D06F67/04—Arrangements for feeding or spreading the linen

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an apparatus for loading flat items of laundry to a laundry processing unit, such as an ironer or a folder, flat items being understood to be tablecloths and items for household, hospital, hospitality, etc., such as tablecloths, napkins, sheets, towels, and others.
• a laundry processing unit such as an ironer or a folder
• flat items being understood to be tablecloths and items for household, hospital, hospitality, etc., such as tablecloths, napkins, sheets, towels, and others.
• the present invention also concerns a charging procedure capable of being implemented by the above apparatus.
• EP-A-0554205 describes one such loading apparatus, which comprises a frame with an entrance facing a receiving end of a conveyor belt and one or more loading stations located in front of said entrance.
• Each loading station is controlled and served by an operator, and comprises a first pair of clamps in which said operator can grasp ends of an article of flat clothing, and lifting means adapted to move said first pair of clamps, with the article of clothing hanging down, to a higher position where the first pair of clips transfers the ends of the article of clothing flat to a second pair of clips associated with an extension means mounted on the frame.
• the aforementioned extension means include a pair of carriages that run on respective guides that run above or near the receiving end of the conveyor mat transversely to the direction of transportation of the same.
• Each gripper of said second pair of grippers is mounted on a respective carriage of said pair of carriages, and actuation means are configured and arranged to independently move each carriage away from each other from positions facing the loading station , where the transfer has been carried out, until it is placed in suitable positions with respect to the center of the conveyor mat in order to sufficiently extend the article of flat clothing. In this position, the flat clothing item is held at its upper ends by the second pair of clips and hangs vertically. Blowing and suction means help deposit one end of the flat article of clothing on said receiving end of the conveyor mat while the second pair of clamps release the article.
• the path of said displacement of said first pair of clamps to a higher position is an inclined rectilinear path, with a load end located at a lower level and more external than the opposite, transfer end. That is to say, both clamps of the first pair of clamps simultaneously carry out translation movements along parallel paths from the loading position to the transfer position and subsequently some translation movements in the opposite direction back to the loading position.
• the arrangement described in the aforementioned patent EP-A-0554205 once represented an advantage in that the operators do not need to lift the flat clothing items to clip them directly to the second pair of clips, but rather they catch them to the first pair of clips and the lifting means carry out the lifting.
• this arrangement is subject to improvements concerning, for example, the speed of execution of the lifting means and the ergonomics of the loading stations.
• An objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for loading flat items of laundry to a laundry processing unit that includes the above improvements in speed and ergonomics.
• the foregoing and other objects and advantages are achieved in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention by providing an apparatus for loading flat items of laundry to a laundry processing unit, such as an ironer or a folder, of the type comprising a rack.
• the apparatus is characterized in that said lifting means for moving said first pair of grippers in the loading station comprise at least one pivoting arm that supports the first pair of grippers at one end and is pivotally connected to a slider slidably mounted on one or more rectilinear guides with one end higher than the other, with pivot arm turning actuation means and slide translation drive means adapted to displace the first pair of clamps in a combined translation and rotation path.
• the apparatus also comprises a suction device having a suction mouth located adjacent a lower part of the receiving end of the conveyor mat in order to draw the flat clothing article to the receiving end of the conveyor mat by means of a suction current. and towards a longitudinal roller located next to a lower edge of said suction mouth.
• This longitudinal roller is driven to rotate at a relatively high speed to cooperate with the vacuum device to quickly drag the hanging part of the article of clothing into a box of the device from where the article of clothing is dragged by the conveyor belt while some Movable brushes that move longitudinally in divergent directions next to the suction mouth eliminate possible wrinkles in the article of clothing.
• a method of loading flat items of laundry to a laundry processing unit, such as an ironer or a folder by an apparatus according to the invention comprising an inlet facing one end of reception of a transporter tapestry.
• the method comprises the conventional steps of: manually pinning the ends of a flat article of clothing onto a first pair of clips arranged in at least one loading station controlled by an operator; moving said first pair of clamps to a higher position by means of lifting means associated with said loading station; transferring the article of flat clothing to a second pair of clamps associated with an extension means that includes at least one pair of carriages that run by respective guides transverse to the transport direction of said conveyor mat, each clamp being of said second pair of calipers mounted on a respective carriage of said pair of carriages; extending the article of flat clothing by independently moving, by means of actuation means, the pair of carriages away from each other from positions facing the loading station, which is at least one, to positions symmetrical with respect to the center of the tapestry conveyor; and depositing one end of the extended flat article of clothing on said receiving end of the transport mat with the aid of blowing means.
• the method of the invention is characterized in that the mentioned step of moving the first pair of clamps to a higher position by means of said lifting means comprises moving the first pair of clamps in a combined translation and rotation path by means of at least one turn, actuated by means of turning actuation means of at least one pivoting arm that supports the first pair of clamps at one of its ends, and minus one translation, driven by translational driving means, of a slider mounted in a sliding manner on rectilinear guides and to which the pivoting arm is pivotally connected at its other end.
• the combined translation and rotation path performed by the first pair of grippers allows greater total displacement of the first pair of grippers than with just one translation or only one rotation, allowing the loading position to be further away from the transfer position and therefore further from the receiving end at the frame entrance. Furthermore, the largest displacement of the combined path can be done proportionally faster than an equivalent displacement with only translation. Also, the combined translation and rotation path allows the first pair of clamps to go past the second pair of clamps immediately after transferring the flat article of clothing to allow the second pair of clamps to start their movements without waiting for return. from the first pair of clamps to the loading position, which means additional time savings.
• the combined translation and rotation path allows the first pair of clamps to be held by holding the article of clothing in an elevated waiting position, after translation and before rotation, so that the article of clothing is away from influence. of the suction device associated with the conveyor mat.
• several functional groups of the apparatus of the present invention are incorporated in a series of modular groups provided with pivoting and / or folding actuation means to allow different modes of operation and also to allow folding which provides the apparatus with a volume suitable for packed in a box of disposable or reusable material, such as wood, adapted to be placed in a standard container.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to the present invention
• Fig. 2 is a schematic side view showing the apparatus of Fig. 1 in a loading mode suitable for loading large flat items of clothing using the lifting means
• Figs. 3A-3D are schematic side views showing a sequence of a cycle of operation of the lifting means
• FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 in another loading mode suitable for manually loading small size flat clothing items directly to the receiving end of the conveyor mat
• Fig. 5 is a schematic side view showing the apparatus of the
• Fig. 1 in a suitable mode of transport to place the device in a package inside a standard container.
• FIG. 1 the apparatus for loading flat items of laundry to a laundry processing unit, such as an ironer or a folder, in accordance with the present invention is shown.
• the apparatus comprises a frame 1 with an entrance facing a receiving end 31 of a conveyor mat 30 (see also Figs. 2, 4 and 5).
• a conveyor mat 30 see also Figs. 2, 4 and 5.
• three loading stations 2 each of which is prepared to be controlled and served by an operator.
• Each loading station 2 includes a first pair of clamps 3, 4 in which the corresponding operator can grasp adjacent ends of a flat article of clothing.
• Each of the clamps 5, 6 is mounted on a respective carriage of said pair of carriages 7, 8, and drive means are provided to independently move each of the carriages 7, 8 and respective second clamps 5, 6 thereto along its respective guide 9, 10.
• This displacement is carried out under the control of an electronic control programmed to displace the second clips 5, 6, in which respective ends of the article of clothing transferred from the first pair of clips 3 are attached, 4, moving them away from each other from positions facing the loading station 2 involved, where the transfer has been made, to suitable positions with respect to the center of the conveyor 30, so that the article of clothing is extended and vertically stretched . From this position, and thereafter, an upper end of the flat article of clothing is laid out on said receiving end 31 of the conveyor 30 with the aid of conventional blowing and aspiration means comprising a bar 61 mounted on pivoting arms and provided with suction holes and a stop bar 62 mounted on pivoting arms and provided with blowing nozzles.
• the apparatus includes only one pair of guides for a single second pair of clamps, according to the present invention it would be possible to incorporate two or more pairs of guides for as many pairs of second clamps suitable to serve independently different groups of cargo stations.
• the mentioned lifting means arranged to move said first pair of clamps 3, 4 in the loading station 2 comprise a pivoting arm 11 that supports at one end the first pair of clamps 3 , 4. This arm 11 is pivotally connected at the other end to a slide 12 slidably mounted on one or more rectilinear guides 13, generally inclined, with one end higher than the other.
• the lifting means include a turning drive means for making rotations of the pivoting arm 11 in both directions with respect to the slider 12 and a translational driving means for moving the slider 12 along the guides 13 in both directions.
• the rotation and translation drive means are adapted to move the first pair of grippers 3, 4 in a combined translation and rotation path.
• said combined path of the first pair of clamps 3, 4 during a loading cycle is described below.
• the slide 12 In a loading position shown in Fig. 3A, the slide 12 is located at the lower end of the guide 13 and the pivoting arm 11 is in an initial position extended downwards. In this loading position, the first pair of clamps 3, 4 (only one of which is shown in Figs.
• the pivot arm turning actuation means 11 and the slide translation drive means 12 are ready to start, under an order of the operator, a sequence of operations to carry out the following movements.
• the slide 12 performs a first translation, with the pivoting arm 11 in an initial position extended downwards, from a lower or loading position (Fig. 3A) to an upper or transfer position (Fig. 3B).
• Flat clothing item A is pulled up and hangs vertically.
• the pivoting arm 11 makes a first turn from the aforementioned initial position to a final position extended upwards and inwards (Fig.
• this first pivot arm turn occurs while the second pair of grippers 5, 6 is in a receiving position, which is in a relationship to the path of the first pair of grippers 3, 4 suitable for it to take place a transfer automatic of the flat clothing article A from the first pair of clamps 3, 4 to the second pair of clamps 5, 6 during said first rotation of the pivoting arm 11.
• the actuation of the first and second pairs of clamps during transfer is conventional and their description will be omitted.
• the transfer takes place in a predetermined position (indicated in dashed lines in Fig. 3C) during the first rotation of the pivot arm 11, when the pivot arm has made only part of its first turn.
• a pressure regulator regulates the operating pressure of cylinder 20 so that arm 11 and the first pair of calipers 3, 4 cannot cause harm to the operator. It may be the case that an operator issues an activation command for the lifting means while the second pair of grippers 5, 6 is busy servicing another loading station. In this case, the lifting means can stop the slide 12 in the transfer position, with the pivoting arm 11 in the initial position (Fig.
• the pivot arm rotation actuation means 11 comprise a fluid dynamic actuator 20, such as a pneumatic cylinder with rod mounted on the slider 12 and connected to the pivoting arm 11.
• a fluid dynamic actuator 20 such as a pneumatic cylinder with rod mounted on the slider 12 and connected to the pivoting arm 11.
• pneumatic cylinder with rod it could be used with identical purpose a pneumatic rotary vane actuator.
• the translational driving means of the slide 12 comprise a linear fluid-dynamic actuator 21, such as a pneumatic cylinder without a rod, which also functions as rectilinear guides 13.
• rectilinear guides 13 could be independent and cooperate with another type of linear fluid-dynamic actuator with an equivalent result.
• the translational drive means of the slide 12, including the rectilinear guides 13, are connected to a regulation means adapted to move up and down the entire set of the translational drive means of the slide 12, and with them the loading station 2, to position the first pair of clamps 3, 4 of the loading station 2 at a height from the ground adapted to the size of the operator.
• These regulating means comprise, in the shown embodiment, a linear, rodless fluid-dynamic actuator 27 to which the rodless pneumatic cylinder 21 that constitutes the translational driving means of the slide 12 is connected. said actuator 27 allows the user to adjust the height of the workstation at his convenience.
• Each loading station 2 incorporates, in a place easily accessible by the operator, controls 25 (not shown in Figs.
• the activation command comprises a photocell that is activated simply when the operator hands over or in front of him, which saves time and reduces operator fatigue.
• the electronic control establishes an order of precedence for the consecutive activation of the actuation means of the same according to programmed maximum efficiency parameters.
• the electronic control means controls the actuation means in such a way that the several first pairs of clips 3, 4 corresponding to the various loading stations 2 alternately transfer the corresponding articles of flat clothing to said second pair of clips 5, 6 (or second pairs of clamps 5, 6, when there are more than one) depending on the order of priority in which the operators have given the activation orders through their respective activation controls and eventually depending on other maximum parameters efficacy programmed in the control means.
• the apparatus comprises a suction device 50 having a suction mouth 51 located adjacent a lower part of the receiving end 31 of the conveyor mat 30 in order to draw the flat article of clothing to the receiving end by means of a suction current. 31 of the conveyor 30 and to a longitudinal roller 52 located next to a lower edge of said suction mouth 51.
• This longitudinal roller 52 is driven to rotate at a relatively high speed in order to quickly introduce the hanging part of the article of clothing inside the casing 53 of the spacing device.
• the conveyor mat 30 pulls the top of the article of clothing
• the part housed in the box 53 is dragged out and onto the mat while movable brushes 28 are moving longitudinally in divergent directions next to the suction mouth 51 eliminate possible wrinkles in the article of clothing.
• Figs. 1 and 2 show the apparatus of the invention in a loading mode suitable for loading large items of flat clothing using the lifting means associated with loading stations 2.
• another feature of the apparatus of the present invention is that it comprises a system that allows the conveyor mat 30 to be lowered to lower its receiving end 31 to a height suitable for direct manual loading of small items of flat clothing by at least one operator.
• Fig. 4 schematically shows the same apparatus as Figs. 1 and 2 in this charging mode suitable for manual charging.
• the conveyor mat 30 is mounted on a chassis 26 mounted so that it can pivot about an axis in relation to the frame 1
• the suction device 50 is mounted in a box 53 mounted so that it can pivot with respect to another axis, separated from the axis of pivoting of the conveyor 30, in relation to the frame 1.
• linking means are incorporated to releasably link a movement for pivoting the chassis 26 of the conveyor belt 30 with a pivoting movement of the box 53 of the suction device 50 maintaining a suitable relative position between the receiving end 31 and the suction mouth 51.
• linking means may be formed, by for example, by connecting rods 29.
• Actuating means 22, such as, for example, fluid-dynamic cylinders, are adapted to pivoting the conveyor mat 30.
• the pivoting of the conveyor mat drags the. suction device 50 for corresponding pivoting to switch between automatic loading mode (Fig. 2), in which the receiving end 31 is at a height suitable for loading large items of flat clothing using the lifting and extension means, and a manual loading mode (Fig. 4) in which the receiving end 31 is at a height suitable for the direct loading of small size flat clothing items by at least one operator.
• the linking means is deactivated, that is, when the connecting rods 29 are disconnected, the driving means 22 only pivot the conveyor mat 30 independently of the suction device 50.
• the apparatus can adopt a mode of maintenance (not shown) in which the conveyor mat 30 is in a position where its receiving end is raised to the maximum while the front end of the suction device 50 is in its lowest position in order to provide access to the lower part of the conveyor mat 30 and the upper part of the suction device 50 for cleaning and maintenance purposes.
• Said chassis pivot axis 26 is located at a rear end thereof, near a delivery end 32 of conveyor 30.
• Fluid-dynamic cylinders 22 connect the front end of chassis 26 with frame 1, in an extension or Retraction of the fluid-dynamic cylinders 22 tilts the chassis 26 with the entire assembly of the conveyor 30 in such a way that the delivery end 32 remains in substantially the same place.
• the loading stations 2 and the extension means 5, 6, 7, 8 are mounted on a mobile support structure 14 mounted in a sliding manner with respect to said frame 1 and associated with displacement means, for example, a motor or fluid-dynamic cylinders, which allow the loading stations 2 and the extension means 5, 6, 7, 8 to be moved backwards together behind and above the receiving end 31 of the conveyor belt 30, when the receiving end 31 is down.
• displacement means for example, a motor or fluid-dynamic cylinders
• the apparatus comprises retraction means that allow the loading stations 2 to be retracted upwards, in the direction of the rectilinear guides 13, until a lower end of the loading stations is arranged above the receiving end 31 of the mat.
• the apparatus comprises an outlet conveyor 40 with a receiving end 41 arranged to receive flat items of clothing from the delivery end 32 of the conveyor 30 and a delivery end adapted to load the flat items of clothing conveniently extended to a laundry processing unit, such as an ironer or a folder connected in series with the apparatus.
• the delivery end 32 remains in the same position when the conveyor 30 is folded, which facilitates the permanent link with the receiving end 41 of the exit conveyor 40.
• Said mobile support structure 14 is mounted on an upper chassis 15 articulated with respect to a structural element 16 of the frame 1.
• This upper chassis 15 can be lowered so that the mobile support structure 14 descends downwards and the loading stations 2 are withdrawn inwards, as shown in the Fig. 5, which reduces the overall volume of the apparatus. Since the rotation drive of the upper chassis 15 is carried out only very occasionally, no dedicated drive means are provided but instead the same fluid-dynamic cylinders 22 are used to drive the chassis 26 of the conveyor 30 by the temporary use of connecting rods or connecting rods (not shown) between the chassis 26 and the upper chassis 15.
• the output conveyor 40 is also installed on a rear chassis 43 mounted so that it can pivot about an axis with respect to the frame 1.
• This pivot axis of the rear chassis 43 of the exit conveyor 40 is located close to said reception end 41, so that the reception end 41 does not vary substantially in position when the exit conveyor 40 is pivoted.
• Pivot actuation means 23 enable the rear chassis 43 of the output conveyor 40 to be changed between an operating position, extended outwards, and a folded position, attached to the rear of the frame 1, the folded position of which, in addition to providing a Access to a laundry processing unit coupled in-line to the outlet of the appliance provides a reduction in the overall volume of the appliance.
• a folded position of said upper chassis 15 of frame 1 together with a folded position of the outlet conveyor 40, and the additional removal of some fairing elements 19, 24, provides the apparatus with a volume suitable for being packed by a box 17 of a disposable or reusable material, such as wood, said box 17 being adapted to be placed in a standard container 18, as shown in Fig. 5.
• the conveyor optionally comprises two parallel conveyor belts, or more usually two groups of parallel conveyor belts associated with independent drive means or at least provided with independent transmissions.
• the control means are adapted to jointly activate the drive of both bands or groups of bands to transport large items of flat clothing in a centered position, or independently activate the drive of both bands or group of bands in order to transporting medium or small size flat clothing items in each of these bands or groups of bands.
• the foregoing characteristic makes full sense when the apparatus comprises four loading stations 2 and two pairs of second clamps 5, 6 mounted on respective pairs of carriages 7, 8 arranged to run along the transverse guide 10.
• a pair of second clamps 5, 6 is adapted to service two of said work stations 2 located to the right of the apparatus and the other pair of second clamps 5, 6 is adapted to service the other two work stations 2 located to the left of the device.
• a detection means is arranged to detect the size of the article of clothing spread by each of the second pairs of clips 5, 6 and the control means are adapted to activate the joint actuation or independent of the bands or groups of bands of the conveyor mat 30 depending on the result of said detection.
• the apparatus includes one or more control boxes connected to give orders to a laundry processing unit coupled in line at the exit of the apparatus.
• This control box or boxes are arranged in the chassis 26 of the conveyor 30, near the receiving end 31, in a suitable position or positions so as not to interfere with any action or mechanism when the conveyor 30 is in said automatic loading mode, and to be comfortably available to the operator or operators when the conveyor 30 is in said manual loading mode.
• an operator can, for example, order different types of folding to a folder coupled in-line at the outlet of the apparatus depending on the type of article of clothing spread on the conveyor 30, or that the article is not folded when in An abnormality is observed, such as a stain.
• the apparatus according to the present invention heretofore described allows to implement a new method for loading flat items of laundry to a laundry processing unit, such as an ironer or a folder.
• the method comprises, as is conventional, the steps of manually pinning ends of an article of flat clothing on a first pair of clips 3, 4 arranged in at least one loading station 2 controlled by an operator; moving said first pair of clamps 3, 4 to a higher position by means of lifting means associated with said loading station 2; transferring the article of flat clothing to a second pair of clamps 5, 6 associated with an extension means that includes at least one pair of carriages 7, 8 that run by respective guides 9, 10 transverse to the transport direction of said tapestry conveyor 30; extending the article of flat clothing by independently moving the pair of carriages 7, 8 carrying the second pair of clamps 5, 6 away from each other from positions facing loading station 2, which is at least one, to positions suitable relative to the center of the conveyor mat 30; and depositing one end of the extended flat article of clothing on said end for receiving 31 the conveyor mat 30 with the help of a blowing means.
• the method of the present invention is characterized in that the mentioned step of moving the first pair of clamps 3, 4 to a higher position by means of said lifting means comprises moving the first pair of clamps 3, 4 in a combined translation and rotation path by means of at least one rotation, actuated by rotation actuation means, of at least one pivoting arm 11 that supports at one of its ends the first pair of clamps 3, 4; and at least one translation, driven by translational driving means, of a slider 12 slidably mounted on rectilinear guides 13 and to which the pivoting arm 11 is pivotally connected at its other end.
• the steps that this combined translation and rotation path correspond to the positions of the clamps 3, 4 described above in relation to Figs. 3A- 3D.
• the exemplary embodiment described and shown is merely illustrative and not limiting, and a person skilled in the art will be able to introduce changes and modifications thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Priority Applications (9)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=34429676

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (10)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 2003
  • 2003-10-10 DK DK03758114.7T patent/DK1683908T3/da active
  • 2003-10-10 WO PCT/ES2003/000516 patent/WO2005035860A1/es active Application Filing
  • 2003-10-10 AU AU2003274132A patent/AU2003274132A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-10-10 CN CN2003801107631A patent/CN1878902B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2003-10-10 EP EP03758114A patent/EP1683908B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-10-10 AT AT03758114T patent/ATE456698T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-10-10 DE DE60331178T patent/DE60331178D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-10-10 ES ES03758114T patent/ES2340923T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (4)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events