METHOD FOR PREPARING AND / OR MONITORING THE WET TREATMENT OF LAUNDRY ITEMS

Abstract

Used laundry items (20) are often delivered to laundries in a condition that makes them unsuitable for washing, for example, because several items (20) are knotted together or because other items (20) are embedded inside double-layered items (20) such as pillowcases. Furthermore, there is a risk that not all items (20) in a batch will be completely unloaded from the washing machine. One or more items (20) may then remain in the washing machine, which can lead to blockages. The invention provides for counting the laundry items (20) based on their electronic data carriers. For this purpose, the electronic data carrier of each item (20) is identified. If more than one electronic data carrier is detected, this indicates that several items (20) are tangled together, preventing washing.Furthermore, the number of laundry items (20) loaded into a washing machine and the number of laundry items (20) from the same unloaded laundry batch can be determined using the electronic data carriers of the laundry items (20). If the unloaded laundry batch has fewer electronic data carriers than when loaded, this indicates that not all laundry items (20) of the respective batch have been unloaded from the washing machine and there is a risk of the washing machine becoming clogged.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for monitoring the wet treatment of laundry according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for preparing the wet treatment of laundry items according to the preamble of claim 6.

[0002] Used laundry, particularly in commercial areas such as hotels, restaurants, or care facilities, is sometimes knotted together, or double-layered items of laundry, such as pillows or duvet covers, contain other items of laundry (bed sheets, towels, or the like). In the latter case, the pillows, duvet covers, or other double-layered items of laundry essentially serve as a bag for other used laundry. In cases such as those described above, the laundry items cannot be prepared for actual wet treatment, such as washing, because they first have to be separated. This is often omitted for convenience. This can lead to disruptions during washing, but at the very latest, during subsequent treatments of the washed laundry, such as drying, mangling, and especially folding.

[0003] When washing multiple items of laundry in batches in washing machines, it can happen that not all of the washed items in the respective batch are unloaded. This can lead to what are known as "blockages" of laundry items in the washing machine, especially if several consecutive batches of laundry are not completely unloaded. Such blockages must be cleared manually, resulting in extended downtimes of the washing machine.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of creating methods for preparing and / or monitoring the wet treatment of laundry items, which avoid operational disruptions during the wet treatment and / or the subsequent treatment caused by connected laundry items or laundry items remaining in the washing machine.

[0005] A method for achieving this objective comprises the measures of claim 1. Accordingly, it is provided that the laundry items are counted using their electronic data storage devices prior to their treatment, in particular wet treatment. Such data storage devices represent or comprise electronic data storage devices.

[0006] In particular, when loading or unloading the washing machine, the number of items of laundry in the respective batch to be washed is determined using the electronic data carriers and the number of items of laundry determined during loading is compared with the number of items of laundry determined during unloading. If this comparison shows that the number of electronic data carriers determined during unloading is smaller than during loading, this indicates that not all items of laundry in the relevant batch have been unloaded from the washing machine. Items of laundry then remain in the washing machine and lead to blockages in the washing machine when subsequent batches are washed. This applies in particular if connected items of laundry have been left behind in the washing machine. According to the invention, impending blockages in the washing machine are therefore detected at an early stage with the help of electronic data carriers of the items of laundry.This allows countermeasures to be taken in good time and operational disruptions to be avoided.

[0007] In particular, using the electronic data storage devices of the laundry items, it is checked whether the number of laundry items in a given batch of laundry during unloading corresponds to the number of laundry items that the same batch of laundry contained when loaded. If the number of laundry items is the same during loading and unloading, all laundry items in the batch of laundry have been completely unloaded from the washing machine. Otherwise, a lower number of unloaded laundry items in the batch of laundry indicates that not all laundry items in this batch have left the washing machine, meaning that at least one item of laundry remained in the washing machine.

[0008] Preferably, both during loading and unloading of the washing machine, at least one reading device operating contactlessly by electromagnetic means, in particular by radio transmission, detects, preferably reads and / or at least partially reads the electronic data carriers of the laundry items, in particular of all laundry items of the respective batch.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the method, the contactless, electromagnetic detection and / or reading or at least partial reading of the electronic data carriers of the laundry items during loading and unloading of the washing machine by the respective reading device takes place in such a way that at least one value stored in the data carrier of the laundry item is read out. The value can be an identification number of the electronic data carrier of the laundry item, an identification number of the laundry item, or at least one other desired value of the electronic data carrier of the respective laundry item. Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the detection or determination of the respective electronic data carrier to take place by the respective electromagnetic reading device merely detecting a signal indicating the presence of the laundry item and / or an electronic data carrier.The aforementioned reading options for the electronic data carriers of the laundry items allow the number of laundry items in a given batch to be reliably and quickly determined during the loading and unloading process using electromagnetic means without contact, based on their electronic data carriers.

[0010] According to a particular, advantageous embodiment of the method, if fewer electronic data carriers are detected during unloading than during loading, this is to be interpreted as incomplete unloading of the respective item. In such a case, a signal indicating incomplete unloading is generated. This can be a simple acoustic and / or optical signal. Alternatively or additionally, in the case of electronic control and / or documentation of the washing process, the incomplete unloading can be stored in the control and / or documentation. If identification features of the item of laundry or the electronic data carrier are detected, preferably read or read out, by the relevant reading device during their detection, it can be documented which item of laundry is missing and / or has remained in the washing machine.

[0011] Furthermore, it is conceivable to decide, based on the number of unloaded laundry items, whether to immediately shut down the washing machine or to wait to see whether the missing item leaves the washing machine when the next batch of laundry is unloaded. This approach is particularly suitable if the difference between the number of detected electronic data carriers during loading and unloading is relatively small, for example, only a single item of laundry was not unloaded or a limit value of laundry items to be individually defined was not unloaded. If the remaining item(s) of laundry are then unloaded with the next batch of laundry when the next batch is unloaded, no action needs to be taken.If a log is created during the washing process, it can be used to determine which item of laundry was transferred to a subsequent batch and not unloaded with the corresponding batch. The respective item of laundry must then be reassigned to the correct batch after the washing process. This is best done during subsequent processing of the washed laundry, which requires the items to be separated, i.e., the batch of laundry to be disassembled. It is most effective to change the order of the separated items of laundry during further transport.

[0012] A method for preparing laundry items for wet treatment that serves to achieve this objective has the features of claim 6. Accordingly, during or in connection with the pretreatment, the laundry items are counted using their electronic data storage devices. Such data storage devices represent or comprise electronic data storage devices.

[0013] In particular, the electronic data storage devices of the laundry items are used to check whether, particularly after separation, several items of laundry are connected, for example, by knotting several items together or by at least containing another item of laundry within a double-layered item of laundry. If this is the case, a laundry item containing such additional items can be identified and only sent to the intended treatment after separation. Such connected laundry items cannot therefore cause operational disruptions during further processing and / or lead to damage to downstream laundry machines.

[0014] The method is based in particular on incorporating electronic data carriers, which can be read by reading devices contactlessly, electromagnetically and / or by radio technology, into the preparation of the laundry items for wet treatment. With this method, it is advantageous to determine the number of electronic data carriers for each item of laundry. Normally, each item of laundry has a single electronic data carrier. The following assumes this normal case. However, it is also conceivable to provide the laundry items with multiple electronic data carriers, with each item of laundry having the same number of electronic data carriers. Therefore, the invention is not limited to a single electronic data carrier per item of laundry.

[0015] If each item of laundry has a single electronic data storage device, the detection of multiple electronic data storage devices indicates that it is not just one item of laundry, but multiple items of laundry. This allows multiple connected, linked items of laundry to be identified even if only a single item of laundry is visually recognizable, for example, because at least one other item of laundry is located inside the double-layered item of laundry serving as a bag, or because multiple items of laundry are knotted together.

[0016] If, according to the method according to the invention, several electronic data carriers are detected in a visible item of laundry, this indicates the presence of several connected items of laundry that must not be treated together, and in particular can lead to problems during drying, mangling and / or folding after washing. Such problems can be prevented by removing an item of laundry that is visually recognizable as a single item of laundry, but for which it has been determined using the method according to the invention that there are actually several items of laundry, all of these items of laundry are removed together. Such items of laundry are then first separated from one another, preferably manually, before they are subjected to wet treatment. After the excluded items of laundry have been separated, they do not need to be prepared again according to the method according to the invention, in particular their electronic data carriers do not need to be identified again.

[0017] Preferably, before the initial treatment, in particular washing, it is provided to determine whether an individual item of laundry has only a single electronic data storage device that can be detected, preferably read, without contact by electromagnetic means, or whether it has multiple electronic data storage devices. If multiple electronic data storage devices are detected, this indicates that the respective item of laundry visually perceivable as a single item of laundry with an electronic data storage device contains at least one other item of laundry with an electronic data storage device or is knotted with at least one other item of laundry containing an electronic data storage device. If not only a single electronic data storage device is detected, in particular read, but multiple electronic data storage devices at the same time, this indicates multiple connected items of laundry that must not be processed further in this way.Such items of laundry are then only sent for further treatment after they have been separated from one another, preferably manually, as individual items of laundry.

[0018] An advantageous embodiment of the method provides for the laundry items to be transported one after the other, preferably individually or at least pre-separated, past at least one preferably electromagnetic reading device for contactless detection of the electronic data carriers of the laundry items. Preferably, the laundry items are transported past the at least one reading device before their processing or before their first treatment, in particular wet treatment. Thus, as the laundry items pass the at least one electromagnetic reading device, the reading device can continuously determine how many electronic data carriers each apparently individual and / or pre-separated item of laundry contains.Only such a laundry item for which the at least one reading device has identified only a single electronic data carrier is then passed on as a truly individual item for further processing, preferably the next washing treatment, in particular the wet treatment. Other laundry items can be removed and further processed.

[0019] The method according to the invention is characterized in particular by the fact that the number of electronic data carriers and thus also the number of laundry items can be determined through the contactless detection, in particular reading and / or readout, of the electronic data carriers, preferably during transport of the laundry items to the first and / or next treatment. A number of data carriers exceeding the intended number of electronic data carriers per item of laundry indicates that the item of laundry visually perceived as a single item of laundry is connected to at least one other item of laundry.

[0020] An advantageous further development of the method provides for at least one value, preferably an identification number of the respective item of laundry or an identification number of the respective electronic data storage device of the laundry, to be recorded contactlessly by electromagnetic means and / or wireless data transmission by reading the electronic data carrier of the respective item of laundry by at least one electromagnetic reading device.It is not absolutely necessary to read out all of the values ​​and / or data stored in the respective electronic data storage device in order to determine with sufficient reliability whether the respective item of laundry has only the intended single electronic data storage device or another intended number of electronic data storage devices or a larger number of electronic data storage devices, which indicates the presence not only of a single item of laundry but of at least one other hidden item of laundry that is invisibly located in a multi-layered item of laundry or is knotted with a piece of laundry.

[0021] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing: The only figure of the drawing shows schematically a part of a treatment line for preparing and monitoring the wet treatment in laundry items to a washing machine, but without downstream laundry machines for further treatment of the washed laundry items.

[0022] The initial section of the treatment line shown in the figure relates specifically to a washing line for laundry items. This figure shows, by way of example, a feed conveyor 10, a loading conveyor 11, and a washing machine. The washing machine shown is a conveyor-type washing machine 12. The feed conveyor 10, the loading conveyor 11, and the conveyor-type washing machine 12 follow one another in the direction 13 of treatment of the laundry items, preferably in a chain-like manner.

[0023] The tunnel-type washing machine 12 shown is used for washing laundry items batch by batch. For this purpose, several chambers 15 arranged consecutively in the treatment direction 13 are formed in the elongated drums 14. Each chamber 15 is used to wash a batch of a plurality of laundry items. The consecutive chambers 15 form a pre-wash zone, a final wash zone, and optionally a rinse zone and / or post-treatment zone in the drum 14. Each of these zones can have a different number of chambers 15. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the tunnel-type washing machine 12 shown with thirteen consecutive chambers 15.

[0024] The conveyor-type washing machine 12 is rotatably driven about its longitudinal central axis 16, which simultaneously forms the rotational axis of the cylindrical drum 14. Depending on the design of the conveyor-type washing machine 12, the drum 14 is driven in a rotating or pivoting manner during the treatment of the laundry items, with the drum 14 only performing partial rotations in alternating opposite directions.

[0025] Each chamber 15 of the conveyor-type washing machine 12 shown contains one load of laundry. In the conveyor-type washing machine 12 shown with thirteen consecutive chambers 15, thirteen loads of laundry are treated simultaneously in the individual chambers 15, namely pre-washed, rinsed, and optionally rinsed and / or post-treated.

[0026] When the treatment of the laundry items in the respective chamber 15 is completed, each complete batch of laundry is simultaneously transferred to the next chamber 15 in the treatment direction 13. For this purpose, the direction of rotation of the drum 14 is reversed or, in the case of a pivoting drum, the angle of rotation of the drum 14 is increased for transfer.

[0027] In front of the drum 14 and the first chamber 15 thereof there is a loading hopper 17 which serves to load the first chamber 15 with such a number of laundry items that serve to form the next batch to be washed, in particular laundry batch.

[0028] Behind the drum 14 and the last chamber 15 thereof there is a discharge chute 18. A washed batch of laundry leaves the conveyor washing machine 12 via the discharge chute 18, specifically the last chamber 15 thereof.

[0029] The loading conveyor 11 is located in front of the conveyor-type washing machine 12. This conveyor transports, for example, piles of laundry 19 shown in the figure in the treatment direction 13 into the loading hopper 17, preferably with a slight incline in the transport direction corresponding to the treatment direction. Additionally, liquid can be added to flush the piles of laundry 19 into the first chamber 15 of the conveyor-type washing machine 12. During each loading process of the conveyor-type washing machine 12, the number of piles of laundry 19 required to form a batch of laundry with a corresponding number of items 20 is fed into the loading hopper 17.

[0030] The feed conveyor 10 serves to feed individual laundry items 20 one after the other at a short distance into the initial area of ​​the loading conveyor 11. For this purpose, the loading conveyor 11 preferably remains stationary until a pile 19 consisting of several individual laundry items 20 has formed at the beginning of the loading conveyor 11. A sorting station (not shown in the figure) for delivered used laundry items 20 and / or a separation station for used laundry items 20 is preferably provided upstream of the feed conveyor 10, as seen in the treatment direction 13. It is also conceivable to arrange the feed conveyor 10 upstream of a sorting station.

[0031] The laundry items 20 are those that have at least one electronic data carrier. For the following description, it is assumed that each laundry item 20 has a single electronic data carrier. The data carrier can be a passive electronic chip, for example an RFID chip or a near-field chip (NFC). However, the invention is not limited to this. The decisive factor is that the data carriers can be read electromagnetically without contact. Each data carrier contains the information required for handling the laundry items 20 and preferably also information required for logistics, such as customer information. Furthermore, the data carrier can have its own identification feature and / or an identification feature of the respective laundry item 20. The respective identification feature can be a consecutive number.

[0032] The figure shows three reading devices 21, 22, and 23. The reading devices 21 to 23 are preferably of identical design. The reading device 21 is assigned to the feed conveyor 10 in such a way that it is located a slight distance above the laundry items 20 on the feed conveyor. The reading device 22 is arranged above the loading hopper 17. Finally, the reading device 23 is located above the discharge chute 18 at the end of the continuous-feed washing machine 12. Where a single reading device 21, 22, and 23 is shown in the drawing, it is also conceivable to provide several, possibly different, reading devices in order to increase the reliability of the detection of the electronic data carriers of the laundry items 20 and / or to accelerate the reading, in particular the readout, of the electronic data carriers. The reading devices 21, 22, and 23 can also be referred to as electronic scanners, preferably radio scanners, and / or operate in such a way.

[0033] The reading devices 21, 22, and 23 detect, identify, and / or read the electronic data carriers of the laundry items 20 electromagnetically. This allows the passive electronic data carriers, in particular chips, to be detected, identified, and / or read without contact or wireless communication.

[0034] The reading device 21 above the feed conveyor 10 serves to prepare laundry items for wet treatment. In particular, it serves to determine whether the separated laundry items 20 are connected to at least one other laundry item 20, for example, whether another laundry item 20 is located in a bag-like, double-layered laundry item 20 and / or whether several laundry items are tightly intertwined, for example, by knotting together.

[0035] The electronic reading devices 22 and 23 serve to monitor the wet treatment of laundry items 20. In the embodiment shown in the figure, the monitoring of the treatment process, preferably the loading and especially the unloading process, of the continuous-flow washing machine 12 takes place by the two reading devices 22, 23 arranged at the beginning and at the end of the same in order to detect blockages of laundry items 20 that have become caught in the continuous-flow washing machine 12 at an early stage.

[0036] The method according to the invention is explained below with reference to the illustration and the previously described figure of the drawing: Individual laundry items 20 delivered to laundries are first pretreated for subsequent treatment, in particular wet treatment and / or washing. First, the laundry items 20 are sorted individually after delivery or are immediately sorted and thus individually separated. It is also conceivable that the laundry items are only sorted individually after delivery and not sorted if the laundry items, due to their type and origin, do not require sorting or have already been sorted.

[0037] It happens that laundry items, such as bed linen, towels, and / or table linen, originating primarily from commercial areas such as hotels, restaurants, care facilities, or the like, cannot be separated because several items of laundry 20 are knotted together, connected in some other way, or are located in double-layered items of laundry, such as duvets or pillowcases of other items of laundry 20. In this case, a supposedly separated item of laundry 20 consists of two or more than two items of laundry 20. This can lead to serious problems such as malfunctions and even damage to the laundry machines during washing, but also during subsequent treatments such as drying, ironing, and / or folding.

[0038] According to the invention, when preparing the laundry items 20 for wet treatment, in particular washing, it is checked beforehand using their electronic data carriers whether the respective individual laundry item 20 is really a single laundry item 20 or at least one further laundry item 20. In the latter case, this indicates several laundry items 20 or the accommodation of at least one further laundry item 20 in a double-layered duvet cover or pillowcase.

[0039] The electronic reading device 21 determines, in a contactless and wireless manner, whether the item of laundry 20 transported past the reading device 21 has only a single electronic data carrier or whether multiple electronic data carriers are detected and / or identified by the electromagnetic reading device 21 in connection with this item of laundry 20. If this is the case, it is not a single, isolated item of laundry 20, but rather multiple items of laundry 20 that are connected to one another in such a way that they can be automatically detached from one another when separated.

[0040] If the electromagnetic reading device 21 detects more than one electronic data carrier among individual laundry items 20 transported past it, this indicates that there are multiple connected and / or interconnected laundry items 20 that are not suitable for further treatment, in particular wet treatment, and therefore should not and / or may not enter the conveyor-type washing machine 12. Such connected laundry items 20, which have been identified by the reading device 21 through the simultaneous detection of multiple electronic data carriers, are then ejected upstream of the conveyor-type washing machine 12. This can be done, for example, by pushing the item 20 sideways off the feed conveyor 10, but also by specifically grasping and transporting the item 20, which is connected to at least one other item 20, away from the feed conveyor 10.

[0041] The method for monitoring the wet treatment, preferably washing, is carried out in the conveyor-type washing machine 12 shown in the figure by wirelessly and contactlessly detecting the number of electronic data carriers of the respective laundry batch. The number of electronic data carriers of the respective laundry batch is determined by the electromagnetic reading device 22 during loading of the conveyor-type washing machine 12, and by the electromagnetic reading device 23 arranged behind the conveyor-type washing machine during unloading of the conveyor-type washing machine 12, which also determines the number of electronic data carriers of the same unloaded laundry batch in a contactless and wireless manner.With one electronic data carrier per item of laundry 20, the number of electronic data carriers of the respective item determined by the reading device 22 in front of the conveyor washing machine 12 and the reading device 23 behind the conveyor washing machine 12 corresponds to the number of items of laundry 20 of this item.

[0042] By comparing the number of laundry items of a respective laundry batch when loading the conveyor washing machine 12 and the number of laundry items 20 of the same laundry batch when unloading the conveyor washing machine 12, it can be determined whether a laundry batch and / or which laundry batch has left the conveyor washing machine 12 completely or incompletely after washing.If, for example, the reading device 22 in front of the conveyor washing machine 12 determines that a certain batch of laundry has seventy-five electronic data carriers and, after washing this batch of laundry, the reading device 23 behind the conveyor washing machine 12 determines that the same batch of laundry only contains seventy-two electronic data carriers, this is an indication that three electronic data carriers, i.e. three items of laundry, remain in the conveyor washing machine 12 and / or that the batch of laundry has not completely left the conveyor washing machine 12 after washing with all of the items of laundry 20, in the present example seventy-five items of laundry 20.

[0043] If the incomplete unloading of a batch of laundry is detected, different procedures can be followed: If only a few items of laundry 20 are missing from the unloaded batch of laundry, the number of which can be set individually as a limit value or based on detection values, the system can wait to see whether the reading device 23 detects a larger number of electronic data carriers in the next unloaded batch of laundry than this batch originally contained when loaded. If all items of laundry 20 missing from the previous batch (in the aforementioned example, three items of laundry 20) are then unloaded with the next batch of laundry, no individual items of laundry 20 remain in the conveyor-type washing machine 12.If, however, the reading device 23 behind the conveyor washing machine 12 detects that the unloaded batch of laundry is missing a number of electronic data carriers exceeding a predetermined limit, which indicates that a large number of laundry items 20 have remained in the conveyor washing machine 12, a visual and / or acoustic signal can be generated, indicating to the machine operator that too many laundry items 20 have not been unloaded. Based on this signal, the machine operator can then stop the conveyor washing machine 12 before it becomes jammed. It is also conceivable that if too many laundry items 20 remain in the conveyor washing machine 12, this is transmitted to the control system of the conveyor washing machine 12, which then automatically stops the conveyor washing machine 12.In particular, the control system then indicates to the machine operator that the continuous washing machine 12 has been stopped due to a blockage or an impending blockage of the drum 14 by laundry items 20 remaining therein.

[0044] The invention is also suitable for other machines for the wet treatment of laundry items 20 containing electronic data carriers. The invention is also not limited to the tunnel-type washing machine 12 shown in the figure. The invention is also suitable for other washing machines and washer-extractors with a drum that can be driven to rotate and currently holds only one load of laundry. In such washing machines, loading and unloading takes place through a closable opening in a front side or drum casing. In this case, it may be sufficient if only one electromagnetic reading device is assigned to the opening in the drum, first determining the number of electronic data carriers in each load of laundry and thereby the number of laundry items 20 comprising it when the drum is loaded, and then determining the number of laundry items 20 based on their electronic data carriers when unloading.

[0045] The above-described embodiment of the invention relates both to the preparation of the laundry items 20 for wet treatment and to the monitoring of the laundry items 20 during wet treatment, thus claiming protection for the preparation and monitoring in combination. However, protection is also claimed solely for the preparation of the laundry items and / or solely for the monitoring of the laundry items during wet treatment, particularly with washing machines of various types. List of reference symbols:

[0046] 10Feed conveyor 11Loading conveyor 12Conveyor washing machine 13Treatment direction 14Drum 15Chamber 16Longitudinal center axis (rotation axis) 17Loading hopper 18Discharge chute 19Laundry pile 20Laundry item 21Reading device 22Reading device 23Reading device

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the wet treatment of laundry items (20), wherein batches are formed from a plurality of laundry items (20), each having at least one electronic data carrier, and the laundry items (20) of the respective batch are at least washed together in a washing machine, characterized in that when loading and unloading the washing machine, the number of laundry items (20) of the respective batch is determined using their electronic data carriers and the number of laundry items (20) determined during loading is compared with the number of laundry items (20) determined during unloading.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that both when loading and unloading the washing machine, the electronic data carriers of all laundry items (20) of the respective batch are detected, recorded and / or read out without contact by at least one electromagnetic reading device (22, 23).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatat least one value, preferably an identification number of the item of laundry (20) or an identification number of the electronic data carrier of the item of laundry (20), is read out wirelessly and contactlessly by the at least one electromagnetic reading device (22, 23) from the electronic data carriers of the items of laundry of the respective batch, which are recorded during loading and unloading, in particular of all items of laundry (20) of the respective laundry batch.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of electronic data carriers of the laundry items (20) of each laundry batch when loading the washing machine and the number of electronic data carriers of the laundry items (20) of the same laundry batch when unloading the washing machine are determined by at least one reading device (22, 23) in front of and behind the washing machine.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatwhen the at least one electromagnetic reading device (22, 23) detects a different number of electronic data carriers of the same batch of laundry during unloading than during loading of the washing machine, a signal is generated indicating incomplete unloading of the batch of laundry in question.

6. Method for preparing the wet treatment of laundry items, preferably in washing machines, wherein the laundry items (20) each having at least one electrical data carrier are checked to determine whether they contain at least one other laundry item (20) or are connected to at least one other laundry item (20), characterized in that the number of electronic data carriers is determined for each item of laundry (20).

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in thatby detecting the electronic data carriers, it is determined whether at least one further item of laundry (20) is connected to an item of laundry (20), in particular by knotting several items of laundry (20) or by accommodating at least one further item of laundry (20) in a double-layered item of laundry (20).

8. Method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that by detecting the electronic data carriers it is determined whether and how many items of laundry (20) are connected, in particular knotted together or in a double-layered item of laundry.

9. Method according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the laundry items (20) are transported one after the other, preferably after at least one pre-separation, along at least one electromagnetic reading device (21) for contactless and wireless detection of the electronic data carriers of the laundry items (20), preferably before their wet treatment.

10. Method according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that by reading the electronic data carrier of the respective item of laundry (20) by the at least one electromagnetic reading device (21), at least one value, preferably an identification number of the respective item of laundry (20) or an identification number of the electronic data carrier of the respective item of laundry, is determined contactlessly and wirelessly by electromagnetic means.

11. Method according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the simultaneous detection of several readable electronic data carriers when each individual item of laundry (20) moves past the at least one reading device (21) is evaluated as being connected to at least one other item of laundry (20), which must first be separated from at least one connected item of laundry (20) by an additional treatment before the intended treatment, preferably a wet treatment.