A conveying belt for an automated folding machine

Abstract

This application relates to the field of smart home appliance technology and discloses a conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine, including a side plate, a first conveying mechanism, a second conveying mechanism, a third conveying mechanism, and a control unit. A first gap exists between the second conveying mechanism and the first conveying mechanism. One end of the third conveying mechanism extends below the first gap and forms a second gap with the second conveying mechanism. The control unit is configured to control the first and second conveying mechanisms to rotate simultaneously toward the first gap when the clothes to be folded are partially located on the first conveying mechanism and partially on the second conveying mechanism, thereby performing a first fold; and to control the second and third conveying mechanisms to rotate simultaneously toward the second gap when the clothes to be folded are partially located on the second conveying mechanism and partially on the third conveying mechanism, thereby performing a second fold. The conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine disclosed in this application is small in size and provides good folding effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of smart home appliance technology, such as a conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous advancement of science and technology, people's living standards have gradually improved. Whether it is the production of clothing in factories or the storage of clothing at home, people have gradually adopted mechanical folding operations. Through automated folding machines, clothes that need to be stored can be folded quickly, which not only frees people's hands, but also improves the folding efficiency and folding effect.

[0003] In existing technologies, some automated folding machines are in the form of a linear assembly line, the length of which is several times the length of the clothes to be folded. The conveyor belt of the folding machine transports the clothes to different positions of the folding machine, and the clothes are folded left and right, front and back, etc. under the action of multiple flippers.

[0004] In the process of implementing the embodiments of this disclosure, at least the following problems were found in the related art:

[0005] Flip-type automated clothes folding machines are bulky and inconvenient for daily use because they need to leave space for the flipping mechanism when folding clothes. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a brief summary is given below. This summary is not intended as a general commentary, nor is it intended to identify key / important components or describe the scope of protection of these embodiments, but rather as a prelude to the detailed description that follows.

[0007] This disclosure provides a conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine to solve the problem of how to enable the clothes folding machine to perform the clothes folding function in a smaller volume.

[0008] In some embodiments, the conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine includes side plates, a first conveying mechanism, a second conveying mechanism, and a control unit. The side plates are disposed opposite each other on both sides of the clothes folding machine. The first conveying mechanism is disposed between the side plates. The second conveying mechanism is disposed between the side plates, with a first gap between the second and first conveying mechanisms. A third conveying mechanism is disposed between the side plates and its conveying direction is parallel to the side plates. One end of the third conveying mechanism extends below the first gap, and a second gap exists between the third and second conveying mechanisms. The control unit is configured to, when a portion of the garment to be folded is located on the first conveying mechanism and a portion on the second conveying mechanism, simultaneously control the first and second conveying mechanisms to rotate towards the first gap to perform a first fold along the first gap. When a portion of the garment to be folded is located on the second conveying mechanism and a portion on the third conveying mechanism, simultaneously control the second and third conveying mechanisms to rotate towards the second gap to perform a second fold along the second gap.

[0009] In this embodiment, side panels are arranged opposite and parallel to each other on both sides of the folding machine. The side panels can be plate-shaped or the sides of a frame. The conveying directions of the first, second, and third conveying mechanisms are parallel to the side panels. Here, the conveying direction refers to the direction in which the first, second, and third conveying mechanisms move the clothes to be folded horizontally. That is, when the first conveying mechanism conveys, the trajectory of a point on the first conveying mechanism is a curve parallel to the side panel; when the second conveying mechanism conveys, the trajectory of a point on the second conveying mechanism is a curve parallel to the side panel; and when the third conveying mechanism conveys, the trajectory of a point on the third conveying mechanism is also a curve parallel to the side panel. There is a first gap between the first and second conveying mechanisms. The first and second conveying mechanisms can be spliced ​​or overlapped. When the first and second conveying mechanisms are spliced ​​together, the first end of the first conveying mechanism is located above the first end of the second conveying mechanism, and the first end of the first conveying mechanism partially overlaps with the first end of the second conveying mechanism in the horizontal direction. Thus, when the first and second conveying mechanisms simultaneously convey in the same direction, the clothes to be folded can move from the first conveying mechanism to the second conveying mechanism. Here, "direction" refers to the direction in which the conveying mechanism displaces the clothes in the horizontal direction. When the first and second conveying mechanisms are spliced ​​together, the first ends of the first and second conveying mechanisms are flush, and the first gap between the first and second ends of the first and second conveying mechanisms is small. Thus, when the first and second conveying mechanisms convey in the same direction, the clothes to be folded can move from the first conveying mechanism to the second conveying mechanism. When the clothes to be folded are partially located in the first conveying mechanism and partially in the second conveying mechanism, the control unit controls the first and second conveying mechanisms to simultaneously convey the clothes to be folded towards the gap. Thus, the clothes to be folded are recessed downwards from the gap, and under the continuous conveying of the first and second conveying mechanisms, the first fold is completed.

[0010] One end of the third conveyor extends below the first slit. Thus, the garment, after its first fold, comes into contact with the third conveyor via the first slit. The first, second, and third conveyors rotate simultaneously, positioning part of the garment to be folded on the second conveyor and part on the third. The control unit controls the second and third conveyors to simultaneously convey the garment towards the second slit. Under the combined action of the second and third conveyors, the garment completes its second fold via the second slit. Here, "conveying towards the second slit" means that, horizontally, the portion of the garment on the second conveyor carrying the garment is on one side of the second slit, and the portion on the third conveyor carrying the garment is on the other side. Both portions move towards the slit simultaneously. The portion of the garment at the slit moves downwards under the influence of gravity and friction, while the portions on either side of the slit move towards the slit along with the first and second conveyors. In this way, an automated garment folding machine uses a conveyor belt to perform a second fold on the garment.

[0011] In some embodiments, the conveyor belt for the automated clothes folding machine further includes a first guillotine mechanism disposed between the side plates. The guillotine mechanism is used to press out a first crease in the clothes to be folded. The control unit is also configured to control the first conveyor mechanism and the second conveyor mechanism to convey the clothes to be folded in the same direction so that the first crease is located in the first gap before controlling the first conveyor mechanism and the second conveyor mechanism to move simultaneously toward the first gap.

[0012] In some embodiments, the conveyor belt for the automated folding machine further includes a second guillotine mechanism disposed between the side plates. The guillotine mechanism is used to press out a second crease in the clothes to be folded. The control unit is also configured to control the second conveying mechanism and the third conveying mechanism to convey the clothes to be folded in the same direction so that the second crease is located in the second seam before controlling the second conveying mechanism and the third conveying mechanism to move simultaneously toward the seam.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first gate mechanism includes a first slide groove, a first gate plate, and a first drive assembly, wherein the first slide groove is formed on the side plate, and the extension surface of the first slide groove is perpendicular to the intersection line of the first conveying mechanism or the second conveying mechanism; the first gate plate is slidably connected to the first slide groove; and the first drive assembly is used to drive the first gate plate to slide relative to the first slide groove.

[0014] In some embodiments, the second gate mechanism includes a fixed shaft, a second gate plate, and a drive assembly, wherein the fixed shaft is disposed on the side plate; the second gate plate is rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft, and the rotation direction of the second gate plate is parallel to the side plate; the drive assembly is used to drive the gate plate to rotate, and the free end of the second gate plate can rotate between a first position pressed into the second gap and a second position away from the second gap.

[0015] In some embodiments, the first conveying mechanism includes a first roller, a second roller, a third roller, a fourth roller, a fifth roller, a first belt, and a second belt, wherein the first roller is fixed to the front end of the side plate; the second roller is fixed to the rear end of the side plate; the third roller is fixed to the side plate and located behind the second roller; the fourth roller is fixed to the side plate and located below the first roller and the second roller, and the fourth roller is located horizontally between the first roller and the second roller; the fifth roller is fixed to the side plate, and the fifth roller is located below the fourth roller and is located horizontally between the second roller and the fourth roller; the first belt surrounds the first roller, the second roller, and the fifth roller, and the portion of the first belt located between the second roller and the fifth roller is concave inward under the compression of the fourth roller; the second belt surrounds the third roller and the fourth roller, and the second belt is concave inward under the compression of the second roller.

[0016] In some embodiments, the second conveying mechanism includes a sixth roller, a seventh roller, and a third belt, wherein the sixth roller is fixed to the side plate and located below the fifth roller, and the sixth roller extends forward beyond the fifth roller; the seventh roller is fixed to the side plate and located behind the sixth roller; the third belt surrounds the sixth roller and the seventh roller, and the third belt is rotatable in both directions.

[0017] In some embodiments, the third conveying mechanism includes an eighth roller, a ninth roller, and a fourth belt, wherein the eighth roller is fixed to the side plate and located below the first roller, and the eighth roller is located in front of the fifth roller in the horizontal direction; the ninth roller is fixed to the side plate and located below the sixth roller, and the ninth roller is located behind the sixth roller in the horizontal direction; and the fourth belt surrounds the eighth roller and the ninth roller.

[0018] In some embodiments, the conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine further includes a No. 10 roller, a triangular fixing plate, a No. 11 roller, and a No. 12 roller. The No. 10 roller is fixed to the side plate and located above the No. 9 roller, extending forward beyond the No. 5 roller. The triangular fixing plate is parallel to the side plate, and its first end is rotatably connected to the No. 10 roller. The No. 11 roller is parallel to the No. 10 roller and rotatably connected to the second end of the triangular fixing plate, causing the fourth belt to be recessed inward. The No. 12 roller is parallel to the No. 11 roller and rotatably connected to the third end of the triangular fixing plate, causing the fourth belt to be recessed inward. A fifth belt surrounds the No. 10 roller, the No. 11 roller, and the No. 12 roller, and the No. 11 roller and the No. 12 roller can rotate around the No. 10 roller along with the triangular fixing plate.

[0019] In some embodiments, the conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine further includes a fixed groove, an adjusting screw seat, and an adjusting screw. The fixed groove is formed in the side plate, and the end of the No. 12 roller can slide in the fixed groove. The adjusting screw seat is fixed to the third end of the triangular fixed plate, and the adjusting screw has a bolt hole with the axis of the bolt hole parallel to the fixed groove. The adjusting screw is installed in the bolt hole and its end abuts against the end of the No. 12 roller.

[0020] The conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine provided in this embodiment can achieve the following technical effects:

[0021] The clothes are conveyed through a first, second, and third conveying mechanism. A combination of rotations in different directions of these mechanisms causes the clothes to undergo a first fold through a first seam and a second fold through a second seam. Folding the clothes via the conveying mechanism eliminates the need for a flip plate, thus reducing the machine's size. Furthermore, the conveying mechanism compresses the clothes tightly within the seams, resulting in a smoother, more even fold.

[0022] The above general description and the description below are exemplary and illustrative only and are not intended to limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0023] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. These illustrations and drawings do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements having the same reference numerals in the drawings are shown as similar elements. The drawings are not to be scaled. And wherein:

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine provided in this embodiment;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine provided in this embodiment;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of a conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine provided in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0028] Figure label:

[0029] 100: Side plate; 101: Roller No. 1; 102: Roller No. 2; 103: Roller No. 3; 104: Roller No. 4; 105: Roller No. 5; 106: Roller No. 6; 107: Roller No. 7; 108: Roller No. 8; 109: Roller No. 9; 110: Roller No. 10; 111: Roller No. 11; 112: Roller No. 12;

[0030] 210: First belt; 220: Second belt; 230: Third belt; 240: Fourth belt; 250: Fifth belt;

[0031] 310: First knife gate mechanism; 311: First slide groove; 312: First gate plate; 313: First drive assembly; 320: Second knife gate mechanism;

[0032] 401: Fixing slot; 402: Adjusting screw seat; 403: Adjusting screw. Detailed Implementation

[0033] To provide a more detailed understanding of the features and technical content of the embodiments of this disclosure, the implementation of the embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the embodiments of this disclosure. In the following technical description, for ease of explanation, several details are used to provide a full understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, one or more embodiments may still be implemented without these details. In other cases, well-known structures and devices may be simplified in their depiction to simplify the drawings.

[0034] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this disclosure are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate for the embodiments of this disclosure described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0035] In this disclosure, the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "middle," "outer," "front," and "rear," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for better description of the embodiments of this disclosure and their implementations, and are not intended to limit the indicated devices, elements, or components to having a specific orientation, or to require them to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Furthermore, some of the aforementioned terms may be used to indicate other meanings besides orientation or positional relationship; for example, the term "upper" may in some cases indicate a dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in the embodiments of this disclosure according to the specific circumstances.

[0036] Furthermore, the terms "set up," "connect," and "fix" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be an internal connection between two devices, components, or parts. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this disclosure according to the specific circumstances.

[0037] Unless otherwise stated, the term "multiple" means two or more.

[0038] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the character " / " indicates that the objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B.

[0039] The term "and / or" describes an association between objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B means: A or B, or A and B.

[0040] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in the present disclosure can be combined with each other.

[0041] Combination Figure 1-4As shown, this embodiment of the present disclosure provides a conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine, including side plates 100, a first conveying mechanism, a second conveying mechanism, and a control unit. The side plates 100 are disposed opposite each other on both sides of the clothes folding machine; the first conveying mechanism is disposed between the side plates 100; the second conveying mechanism is disposed between the side plates 100, with a first gap between the second and first conveying mechanisms; a third conveying mechanism is disposed between the side plates 100 and its conveying direction is parallel to the side plates 100, with one end of the third conveying mechanism extending below the first gap, and a second gap between the third and second conveying mechanisms; the control unit is configured to, when a portion of the clothes to be folded is located on the first conveying mechanism and a portion on the second conveying mechanism, simultaneously control the first and second conveying mechanisms to rotate towards the first gap to perform a first fold along the first gap; and when a portion of the clothes to be folded is located on the second conveying mechanism and a portion on the third conveying mechanism, simultaneously control the second and third conveying mechanisms to rotate towards the second gap to perform a second fold along the second gap.

[0042] In this embodiment, side panels 100 are arranged opposite and parallel to each other on both sides of the folding machine. The side panels 100 can be plate-shaped or the side of a frame. The conveying directions of the first, second, and third conveying mechanisms are parallel to the side panels 100. Here, the conveying direction refers to the direction in which the first, second, and third conveying mechanisms move the clothes to be folded horizontally. That is, when the first conveying mechanism conveys, the trajectory of a point on the first conveying mechanism is a curve parallel to the side panel 100; when the second conveying mechanism conveys, the trajectory of a point on the second conveying mechanism is a curve parallel to the side panel 100; and when the third conveying mechanism conveys, the trajectory of a point on the third conveying mechanism is also a curve parallel to the side panel 100. There is a first gap between the first and second conveying mechanisms. The first and second conveying mechanisms can be spliced ​​together or overlapped. When the first and second conveying mechanisms are spliced ​​together, the first end of the first conveying mechanism is located above the first end of the second conveying mechanism, and the first end of the first conveying mechanism partially overlaps with the first end of the second conveying mechanism in the horizontal direction. Thus, when the first and second conveying mechanisms simultaneously convey in the same direction, the clothes to be folded can move from the first conveying mechanism to the second conveying mechanism. Here, "direction" refers to the direction in which the conveying mechanism displaces the clothes in the horizontal direction. When the first and second conveying mechanisms are spliced ​​together, the first ends of the first and second conveying mechanisms are flush, and the first gap between the first and second ends of the first and second conveying mechanisms is small. Thus, when the first and second conveying mechanisms convey in the same direction, the clothes to be folded can move from the first conveying mechanism to the second conveying mechanism. When the clothes to be folded are partially located in the first conveying mechanism and partially in the second conveying mechanism, the control unit controls the first and second conveying mechanisms to simultaneously convey the clothes to be folded towards the gap. Thus, the clothes to be folded are recessed downwards from the gap, and under the continuous conveying of the first and second conveying mechanisms, the first fold is completed.

[0043] One end of the third conveyor extends below the first slit. Thus, the garment, after its first fold, moves through the first slit and comes into contact with the third conveyor. The first, second, and third conveyors rotate simultaneously, positioning part of the garment to be folded on the second conveyor and part on the third. The control unit controls the second and third conveyors to simultaneously convey the garment towards the second slit. Under the combined action of the second and third conveyors, the garment completes its second fold through the second slit. Here, "conveying towards the second slit" means that, horizontally, the portion of the garment to be folded on the second conveyor is located on one side of the second slit, and the portion on the third conveyor is located on the other side. Both portions simultaneously move towards the slit. Thus, the portion of the garment to be folded located at the slit moves downwards under the influence of gravity and friction, while the portions on either side of the slit move towards the slit along with the first and second conveyors. In this way, an automated garment folding machine uses a conveyor belt to perform a second fold on the garment.

[0044] The clothes are conveyed through a first, second, and third conveyor mechanism. A combination of rotations in different directions of these mechanisms causes the clothes to be folded to undergo a first fold via a first seam and a second fold via a second seam. No flip-top is needed, thus eliminating the need for space for flipping, resulting in a smaller overall size for the folding machine. Simultaneously, the conveyor belt folds the clothes through the conveyor mechanism, allowing them to be compressed tightly within the seams, resulting in a smoother fold.

[0045] Optionally, a conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine further includes a first guillotine mechanism 310, which is disposed between the side plates 100. The guillotine mechanism is used to press out a first crease in the clothes to be folded. The control unit is also configured to control the first and second conveyor mechanisms to move in the same direction before simultaneously moving towards the first seam, so that the first crease is located in the first seam. The first guillotine mechanism 310 can press out a first crease in the clothes to be folded. When the clothes have a crease, the crease is thinner, and compared with other parts, the force required to fold the clothes along the crease is smaller, making it easier to fold the clothes along the crease. Controlling the first and second conveyor mechanisms to move in the same direction means that the first and second conveyor mechanisms move the clothes to be folded in the same direction and at the same speed. Once the first crease is located in the first seam, the control unit controls the first and second conveyor mechanisms to simultaneously move the clothes to be folded towards the first seam. In this way, the clothes to be folded complete the first fold under the action of gravity and friction. Setting the first guillotine mechanism 310 to press out the first crease on the clothes to be folded can make the folding of the clothes on the conveyor belt of an automated clothes folding machine smoother and make the clothes to be folded neater.

[0046] Optionally, a conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine further includes a second guillotine mechanism 320, which is disposed between the side plates 100. The guillotine mechanism is used to press out a second crease in the clothes to be folded. The control unit is also configured to control the second and third conveyor mechanisms to convey the clothes to be folded in the same direction before controlling the second and third conveyor mechanisms to move simultaneously towards the seam, so that the second crease is located in the second seam. The second guillotine mechanism 320 can press out a second crease in the clothes to be folded. When the clothes have a crease, the crease is thinner, and compared with other parts, the force required to fold the clothes along the crease is smaller, thus making it easier to fold the clothes along the crease. The control unit controls the second and third conveyor mechanisms to rotate in the same direction, meaning that in the horizontal direction, the second and third conveyor mechanisms transport the clothes to be folded in the same direction and at the same speed. When the second crease is located at the second seam, the control unit controls the second and third conveyor mechanisms to simultaneously transport the clothes to be folded towards the second seam. In this way, under the action of gravity and friction, the clothes to be folded complete the second fold through the second seam. The addition of a second gate mechanism 320 to press out the second crease on the clothes makes the folding of the clothes in an automated folding machine smoother and neater.

[0047] Optionally, the first gate mechanism 310 includes a first slide groove 311, a first gate plate 312, and a first drive assembly 313. The first slide groove 311 is formed on the side plate 100, and the intersection line between the extended surface of the first slide groove 311 and the first or second conveying mechanism is perpendicular to the side plate 100. The first gate plate 312 is slidably connected to the first slide groove 311. The first drive assembly 313 drives the first gate plate 312 to slide relative to the first slide groove 311. When the first gate plate 312 is in a first position on the first slide groove 311, the first gate plate 312 is raised, and the clothes to be folded pass under the gate plate. When the first gate plate 312 is in a second position on the first slide groove 311, the first gate plate 312 is lowered, pressing a first crease into the clothes to be folded. The first gate plate 312 can cooperate with the first conveying mechanism to press a first crease into the clothes to be folded, or it can cooperate with the second conveying mechanism to press a first crease into the clothes to be folded.

[0048] Optionally, the first gate mechanism includes a fixed shaft, a first gate plate, and a drive assembly. The fixed shaft is disposed on the side plate, the first gate plate is rotatably connected to the fixed shaft, and the drive assembly is used to drive the first gate plate to rotate around the fixed shaft. During rotation, the first gate plate is positioned to abut against the first or second transmission mechanism.

[0049] Optionally, the second gate mechanism 320 includes a fixed shaft, a second gate plate, and a drive assembly. The fixed shaft is disposed on the side plate 100; the second gate plate is rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft, and the rotation direction of the second gate plate is parallel to the side plate 100; the drive assembly is used to drive the gate plate to rotate, and the free end of the second gate plate can rotate between a first position pressed into the second gap and a second position away from the second gap. When the second gate plate is in the first position of the second slide, the first gate plate 312 is raised, and the clothes to be folded can pass under the second gate plate; when the second gate plate is in the second position, the second display plate is lowered, cooperating with the third conveying mechanism to press the clothes to be folded into a second crease.

[0050] Optionally, the first conveying mechanism includes a first roller 101, a second roller 102, a third roller 103, a fourth roller 104, a fifth roller 105, a first belt 210, and a second belt 220. The first roller 101 is fixed to the front end of the side plate 100; the second roller 102 is fixed to the rear end of the side plate 100; the third roller 103 is fixed to the side plate 100 and located behind the second roller 102; the fourth roller 104 is fixed to the side plate 100 and located below the first roller 101 and the second roller 102, and the fourth roller 104 is horizontally positioned between the first roller 101 and the second roller 105. Between rollers 102; roller 105 is fixed to side plate 100, and is located below roller 104 and between rollers 102 and 104 in the horizontal direction; first belt 210 surrounds rollers 101, 102 and 105, and the portion of first belt 210 between rollers 102 and 105 is concave inward under the pressure of roller 104; second belt 220 surrounds roller 3 and roller 104, and is concave inward under the pressure of roller 102.

[0051] The portion of the first belt 210 located between roller 101 and roller 102 is used to load clothes to be folded. Roller 101 is located at the front end of the folding machine, and roller 102 is located at the rear end. The clothes can be pulled from the front to the rear end of the folding machine using a traction device, laying them flat on the portion of the first belt 210 between rollers 101 and 102 during this process. Alternatively, the clothes can be laid flat on the portion of the first belt 210 between rollers 101 and 102 manually; no specific limitation is made here. The control unit controls the first belt 210 to rotate counterclockwise, driving the clothes from the front to the rear end of the folding machine. After the head of the clothes exceeds roller 102, it hangs down under gravity and comes into contact with the second belt 220. Here, clockwise and counterclockwise refer to... Figure 3The direction of the folding clothes is as follows: The control unit controls the first belt 210 to rotate counterclockwise, and the second belt 220 to rotate clockwise simultaneously. When the head of the folding clothes enters between the first belt 210 and the second belt 220, it becomes thinner under the compression of the first belt 210 and the second belt 220, and moves towards the front end of the folding machine by turning around the second roller 102 under the clamping and feeding of the first belt 210 and the second belt 220. Since the fifth roller 105 is lower than the fourth roller 104 and extends backward beyond the fourth roller 104 in the horizontal direction, the part of the first belt 210 located between the fourth roller 104 and the fifth roller 105 tilts backward. After the head of the folding clothes extends beyond the fourth roller 104, it is compressed by the fourth roller 104 and becomes thinner. At the same time, under the clamping and feeding of the first belt 210 and the second belt 220, it is turned by the fourth roller 104 and moves towards the rear end of the folding machine along the part of the first belt 210 located between the fifth roller 105 and the fourth roller 104. The first conveying mechanism is configured to include a first belt 210 and a second belt 220, causing the clothes to be folded to undergo two folds within the first conveying mechanism. This results in an S-shaped cross-section of the clothes in the folding machine. This design allows the folding machine to be equal to or even smaller than the length of the clothes to be folded, even less than one-third of the length, enabling miniaturization. Furthermore, the clothes are compressed twice by rollers 102 and 104, reducing their thickness and allowing for neater folding. Additionally, the clothes bend in a first direction at roller 102 and in a second direction at roller 105. For example, at roller 102, the upper surface of the clothes bends downwards with the front end facing down, while at roller 105, the upper surface faces down with the front end bending downwards. This double bending (positive and negative) ensures the clothes are flatter.

[0052] Optionally, the second conveying mechanism includes a sixth roller 106, a seventh roller 107, and a third belt 230. The sixth roller 106 is fixed to the side plate 100 and located below the fifth roller 105, extending forward beyond the fifth roller 105. The seventh roller 107 is fixed to the side plate 100 and located behind the sixth roller 106. The third belt 230 surrounds the sixth roller 106 and the seventh roller 107 and is bidirectionally rotatable. Here, "front" and "rear" refer to the front and rear of the folding machine; the end used to load clothes is the front end, and the other end is the rear end. The first belt 210, located at the end of the fifth roller 105, is the first end of the first conveying mechanism. The third belt 230, located at the end of the sixth roller 106, is the first end of the second conveying mechanism. The gap between the first and second conveying mechanisms is located between the fifth roller 105 and the sixth roller 106. Roller 106 is positioned below and extends horizontally beyond roller 105. This arrangement ensures that the portion of the first belt 210 between rollers 104 and 105 horizontally overlaps with the third belt 230. The purpose of this arrangement is to allow the second belt 220 to partially overlap with the first belt 210. The head of the garment to be folded moves backward along the portion of the first belt 210 between rollers 104 and 105, extending beyond roller 105, and then hangs down under gravity, contacting the third belt 230. The control unit rotates the first belt 210 counterclockwise, the second belt 220 clockwise, and the third belt 230 counterclockwise, so that part of the garment to be folded rests on the first belt 210 and part rests on the second belt 220. The guillotine mechanism presses creases into the clothes to be folded. The control unit controls the first belt 210, the second belt 220, and the third belt 230 to rotate synchronously, adjusting the creases of the clothes to be folded between roller 5 105 and roller 6 106. The control unit controls the first belt 210 to rotate counterclockwise, the second belt 220 to rotate clockwise, and the third belt 230 to rotate clockwise, so that the head and rear end of the clothes to be folded move simultaneously towards the crease. The clothes to be folded pass through the gap under the clamping action of the first belt 210 and the second belt 220 from the crease, thus being folded. In this process, the first guillotine 312 can cooperate with the third belt 230 to press creases into the clothes to be folded. The first guillotine 312 can also cooperate with the part of the first belt 210 located between roller 4 104 and roller 5 105 to press creases, or it can press into the gap to form creases into the clothes to be folded.

[0053] Optionally, the third conveying mechanism includes an eighth roller 108, a ninth roller 109, and a fourth belt 240. The eighth roller 108 is fixed to the side plate 100 and located below the first roller 101, and is horizontally positioned in front of the fifth roller 105. The ninth roller 109 is fixed to the side plate 100 and located below the sixth roller 106, and is horizontally positioned behind the sixth roller 106. The fourth belt 240 surrounds the eighth roller 108 and the ninth roller 109. Here, "in front" refers to the forward-facing end of a conveyor belt in an automated clothes folding machine. Figure 3 The image shows the right end of a conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine. Roller 9 (109) is located below and behind roller 6 (106) in the horizontal direction. Thus, the end of belt 4 (240) on roller 9 (109) is lower than the end of belt 3 (230) on roller 6 (106). Furthermore, belts 3 (230) and 4 (240) overlap at least partially in the horizontal direction. When the clothes to be folded are folded for the first time through the first seam, they are suspended downwards by gravity after passing roller 6 (106) and come into contact with the end of belt 4 (240) on roller 9 (109). Belt 1 (210) rotates counterclockwise, belt 220 rotates clockwise, belt 3 (230) rotates clockwise, and belt 4 (240) rotates clockwise, causing the clothes to be folded to move forward along belt 4 (240). When the portion of the garment to be folded is located on the fourth belt 240 and the portion on the third belt 230, the second gate plate, in conjunction with the fourth belt 240, presses the garment through the first fold to create a second crease. Alternatively, the second gate plate presses the garment into the second slit. The first belt 210 rotates counterclockwise, the second belt 220 rotates clockwise, the third belt 230 rotates clockwise, and the fourth belt 240 rotates counterclockwise, causing both ends of the garment to move towards the second slit. Under the influence of gravity and friction, the garment undergoes a second fold through the second slit. After two folds, the garment's shortest folded length is one-quarter of its original length. The first and second creases are located at one-third and two-thirds of the garment's length, respectively, resulting in a folded length of one-third of the original length. Alternatively, the first and second creases are located at one-quarter and three-quarters of the garment's length, resulting in a folded length of one-half of the original length. Furthermore, the layered sections at the head and tail of the garment are folded neatly into the middle of the folded garment.

[0054] For clothes that only need to be folded once, they can be folded once by the first and second conveyor mechanisms. Then, the first belt 210 rotates counterclockwise, the second belt 220 rotates clockwise, the third belt 230 rotates clockwise, and the fourth belt 240 rotates counterclockwise, causing the folded clothes to leave the folding machine through the second crease. Alternatively, the first conveyor rotates counterclockwise, the second belt 220 rotates clockwise, the third belt 230 rotates clockwise, the second gate presses the clothes into a second crease, the first conveyor rotates counterclockwise, the second belt 220 rotates clockwise, the third belt 230 rotates clockwise, and the fourth belt 240 rotates counterclockwise, causing the clothes to be folded once through the second crease and leave the folding machine. This configuration allows an automated folding machine to fold clothes once or twice in various ways according to folding needs, greatly improving the applicability of the folding machine and enriching its application scenarios.

[0055] Optionally, a conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine further includes a No. 10 roller 110, a triangular fixing plate, a No. 111 roller 111, and a No. 12 roller 112. The No. 10 roller 110 is fixed to the side plate 100 and located above the No. 9 roller 109, extending forward beyond the No. 5 roller 105. The triangular fixing plate is parallel to the side plate 100, and its first end is rotatably connected to the No. 10 roller 110. The No. 111 roller 111 is parallel to the No. 10 roller 110 and rotatably connected to it. Attached to the second end of the triangular fixed plate, roller 111 causes the fourth belt 240 to be recessed inward; roller 112, parallel to roller 111 and rotatably connected to the third end of the triangular fixed plate, also causes the fourth belt 240 to be recessed inward; the fifth belt 250 surrounds rollers 10, 111, and 112, which can rotate around roller 10 with the triangular fixed plate. The triangular fixed plate can rotate around roller 10 parallel to the side plate 100. Rollers 111 and 112 are fixed to the two outer ends of the triangular fixed plate, respectively, thus the relative positions of rollers 10, 111, and 112 are fixed. The fifth belt 250 is wrapped around rollers 10, 111, and 112. In this way, the portion of the fifth belt 250 located between rollers 111 and 112 contacts the fourth belt 240 and presses against the fourth belt 240, causing the fourth belt 240 to be concave inward. Roller 110 is higher than roller 109. Therefore, the portion of the fifth belt 250 located between rollers 110 and 111 and the portion of the fourth belt 240 located between rollers 109 and 111 have a certain angle. The distance between the fourth belt 240 and the fifth belt 250 gradually decreases from roller 109 to roller 111. When the fourth belt 240 rotates clockwise to convey the clothes to be folded forward, the clothes can smoothly enter between the fourth belt 240 and the fifth belt 250 and then be squeezed and shaped at roller 111. The portion of the fifth belt 250 located between rollers 111 and 112 is a flat plane. The portion of the fourth belt 240 located between rollers 111 and 112 is also a flat plane under the compression of the fifth belt 250. The clothes to be folded pass between the two planes and are squeezed flat. This configuration has two advantages: firstly, it creates a space between the fifth belt 250 and the fourth belt 240 to temporarily store clothes to be folded, effectively improving the folding machine's operational capacity; secondly, the fourth belt 240 and the fifth belt 250 flatten the clothes, allowing them to be folded more neatly. Because rollers 111 and 112 can rotate, the fourth belt 240 can adapt to the thickness of the clothes to be folded, whether they are thick or thin, resulting in better folding.In addition, the fifth belt 250 can keep the fourth belt 240 taut, thereby enabling more accurate control of the belt travel distance of an automated folding machine conveyor belt.

[0056] Optionally, a conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine further includes a triangular fixing plate spring, one end of which is fixed to the side plate 100, and the other end is connected to a triangular fixing plate, which is pulled downwards. This allows the triangular fixing plate to be held in its initial position, and the tension of the spring is transmitted to the fourth belt 240 through the triangular fixing plate, which allows the fourth belt 240 to maintain a suitable tension.

[0057] Optionally, the triangular fixing plate has multiple tension adjustment holes, each at a different distance from the first end of the spring. The other end of the spring is hooked into one of these tension adjustment holes. This allows for different tension forces to be applied to the triangular fixing plate by hooking the second end of the spring into different tension adjustment holes, thereby further adjusting the tension of the fourth belt 240. This enables controlled adjustment of the tension of the fourth belt 240, making the control of the conveyor belt in an automated clothes folding machine more convenient.

[0058] Optionally, a conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine further includes a fixed groove 401, an adjusting screw seat 402, and an adjusting screw 403. The fixed groove 401 is located on the side plate 100, and the end of the twelfth roller 112 can slide within the fixed groove 401. The adjusting screw seat 402 is fixed to the third end of a triangular fixed plate. The adjusting screw 403 has a bolt hole, the axis of which is parallel to the fixed groove 401. The adjusting screw 403 is installed in the bolt hole, and its end abuts against the end of the twelfth roller. The adjusting screw 403 has external threads. By rotating the adjusting screw 403, the length of the adjusting screw 403 extending beyond the adjusting screw seat 402 can be adjusted, thereby changing the position of the end of the twelfth roller 112 in the fixed groove 401. Thus, by rotating the adjusting screw 403, the position of the twelfth roller 112 on the triangular fixed plate can be adjusted, thereby adjusting the tension of the fifth belt 250. This allows for better compression and flattening of the clothes to be folded, and also facilitates the adjustment and maintenance of the conveyor belt used in automated clothes folding machines.

[0059] Optionally, a conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine further includes a sensor fixed to the conveyor belt for detecting whether there are clothes at its location. The control unit is also configured to determine the length of the clothes based on the detection signal from the sensor, by measuring the duration of the signal indicating the presence of clothes displayed by the sensor and the distance traveled by the first conveyor mechanism during that duration, and to determine the location of the clothes based on the length of the clothes and the distance traveled by the first and second conveyor mechanisms.

[0060] Optionally, the sensor is also configured to control a conveyor belt of an automated clothes folding machine to perform the following clothes folding method:

[0061] The control unit controls the first belt 210 to rotate counterclockwise, so that the head of the clothes to be folded touches the second belt 220;

[0062] The control unit controls the first belt 210 to rotate counterclockwise and the second belt 220 to rotate clockwise, so that the head of the clothes to be folded touches the third belt 230;

[0063] The control unit controls the first belt 210 to rotate counterclockwise, the second belt 220 to rotate clockwise, and the third belt 230 to rotate counterclockwise, so that the clothes to be folded are conveyed backward, so that part of the clothes to be folded are on the first belt 210 and part are on the third belt 230.

[0064] The control unit controls the first gate to move downwards, pressing the clothes to be folded into the first crease;

[0065] The control unit controls the first belt 210 to rotate counterclockwise, the second belt 220 to rotate clockwise, and the third belt 230 to rotate counterclockwise, so that the crease of the clothes to be folded is located in the first gap between the first belt 210 and the third belt 230.

[0066] The control unit controls the first belt 210 to rotate counterclockwise, the second belt 220 to rotate clockwise, and the third belt 230 to rotate clockwise, so as to fold the clothes to be folded along the first crease.

[0067] The control unit controls the first belt 210 to rotate counterclockwise, the second belt 220 to rotate clockwise, the third belt 230 to rotate clockwise, and the fourth belt to rotate clockwise, so that part of the clothes to be folded is located on the third belt and part is located on the fourth belt;

[0068] The control unit controls the second gate to rotate, pressing the clothes to be folded to create the second crease;

[0069] The control unit controls the first belt 210 to rotate counterclockwise, the second belt 220 to rotate clockwise, the third belt 230 to rotate clockwise, and the fourth belt to rotate counterclockwise, so that the clothes to be folded complete the second fold along the second crease and through the second seam.

[0070] The foregoing description and accompanying drawings fully illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments may include structural and other changes. The embodiments represent only possible variations. Individual components and functions are optional unless explicitly required, and the order of operation may vary. Parts and features of some embodiments may be included or substituted for parts and features of other embodiments. Embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes may be made without departing from its scope. The scope of the present disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine, characterized in that, include: Side panels are positioned opposite each other on both sides of the folding machine; A first conveying mechanism is disposed between the side plates; A second conveying mechanism is disposed between the side plate and the first conveying mechanism, and there is a first gap between the second conveying mechanism and the first conveying mechanism. A third conveying mechanism is disposed between the side plates and the conveying direction is parallel to the side plates. One end of the third conveying mechanism extends to the bottom of the first gap. There is a second gap between the third conveying mechanism and the second conveying mechanism. The control unit is configured to control the first conveyor and the second conveyor to rotate simultaneously toward the first seam when the clothes to be folded are partially located in the first conveyor and partially located in the second conveyor, so as to fold the clothes to be folded along the first seam for the first fold. When part of the clothes to be folded is located in the second conveying mechanism and part of the clothes are located in the third conveying mechanism, the second conveying mechanism and the third conveying mechanism are controlled to rotate simultaneously in the direction of the second seam so that the clothes to be folded are folded a second time along the second seam. A first guillotine mechanism is disposed between the side plates. The guillotine mechanism is used to press the clothes to be folded into a first crease. The control unit is further configured to control the first conveying mechanism and the second conveying mechanism to convey the clothes to be folded in the same direction so that the first crease is located in the first gap before controlling the first conveying mechanism and the second conveying mechanism to move simultaneously toward the first gap.

2. The conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A second guillotine mechanism is disposed between the side plates. This guillotine mechanism is used to press the clothes to be folded into a second crease. The control unit is further configured to control the second and third conveying mechanisms to convey the clothes to be folded in the same direction before controlling the second conveying mechanism and the third conveying mechanism to rotate simultaneously toward the second seam, so that the second crease is located in the second seam.

3. The conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first switch mechanism includes: A first slide groove is constructed on the side plate, and the extension surface of the first slide groove is perpendicular to the intersection line of the first conveying mechanism or the second conveying mechanism. The first gate is slidably connected to the first slide groove; A first driving component is used to drive the first gate to slide relative to the first slide groove.

4. The conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second switch mechanism includes: A fixed shaft is provided on the side plate; The second gate is rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft, and the rotation direction of the second gate is parallel to the side plate; A drive assembly for driving the gate to rotate. The free end of the second gate can rotate between a first position pressed into the second gap and a second position away from the second gap.

5. The conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first transmission mechanism includes: Roller No. 1 is fixed to the front end of the side plate; Roller No. 2 is fixed to the rear end of the side plate; Roller No. 3 is fixed to the side plate and located behind Roller No. 2; Roller No. 4 is fixed to the side plate and located below Roller No. 1 and Roller No.

2. Roller No. 4 is located between Roller No. 1 and Roller No. 2 in the horizontal direction. Roller No. 5 is fixed to the side plate. Roller No. 5 is located below Roller No. 4 and is positioned horizontally between Roller No. 2 and Roller No.

4. The first belt surrounds the first roller, the second roller, and the fifth roller. The portion of the first belt located between the second roller and the fifth roller is concave inward under the pressure of the fourth roller. The second belt, which surrounds the third and fourth rollers, is concave inward under the pressure of the second roller.

6. The conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second transmission mechanism includes: Roller No. 6 is fixed to the side plate and located below roller No. 5, with roller No. 6 extending forward beyond roller No. 5; Roller No. 7 is fixed to the side plate and located behind roller No. 6; The third belt surrounds the sixth and seventh rollers and can rotate in both directions.

7. The conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine according to claim 6, characterized in that, The third transmission mechanism includes: Roller No. 8 is fixed to the side plate and located below Roller No.

1. Roller No. 8 is located in front of Roller No. 5 in the horizontal direction. Roller No. 9 is fixed to the side plate and located below Roller No.

6. Roller No. 9 is located behind Roller No. 6 in the horizontal direction. The fourth belt surrounds the eighth and ninth rollers.

8. The conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine according to claim 7, characterized in that, Also includes: Roller No. 10 is fixed to the side plate and located above Roller No. 9, with Roller No. 10 extending forward beyond Roller No. 5; A triangular fixing plate, parallel to the side plate, has its first end rotatably connected to the No. 10 roller; Roller No. 11 is parallel to roller No. 10 and rotatably connected to the second end of the triangular fixed plate. Roller No. 11 causes the fourth belt to be recessed inward. Roller No. 12 is parallel to roller No. 11 and rotatably connected to the third end of the triangular fixed plate. Roller No. 12 causes the fourth belt to be recessed inward. The fifth belt wraps around rollers number ten, eleven, and twelfth. Among them, rollers eleven and twelfth can rotate around roller ten along with the triangular fixed plate.

9. A conveyor belt for an automated clothes folding machine according to claim 8, characterized in that, Also includes: A fixing groove is provided in the side plate, and the end of the No. 12 roller can slide in the fixing groove; An adjusting screw seat is fixed to the third end of the triangular fixing plate. The adjusting screw has a bolt hole, and the axis of the bolt hole is parallel to the fixing groove. The adjusting screw is installed in the bolt hole and its end abuts against the end of the No. 12 roller.

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