Method and system for handling and transporting textile items

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for separating one or more heaps (10) of one or more tangled and / or intertwined and / or bundled items (20) of textile by means of one or more handling stations (1, 2, 3) receiving the heap(s) and / or the textile item(s) (20) and one or more transport devices (30, 32) for transporting each heap (10) and / or textile item (20) to and / or through and / or from and / or between the handling station(s). The disclosure further relates to a system (100) for separating one or more heaps (10) of one or more tangled and / or intertwined and / or bundled items (20) of textile.

Description

[0001] METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING TEXTILE ITEMS

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a method for separating one or more heaps of one or more tangled and / or intertwined and / or bundled items of textile by means of one or more handling stations receiving the heap(s) and / or the textile item(s) and one or more transport devices for transporting each heap and / or textile item to and / or through and / or from and / or between the handling station(s) and a system for separating one or more heaps of one or more tangled and / or intertwined and / or bundled items of textile.

[0004] Background art

[0005] There is known a lot of different types of systems for handling, sorting and transporting separate items and / or loosening up intertwined heaps and / or bundles of laundry or cloth or textiles or linen, e.g., before and / or after wash, which laundry / cloth / textiles / linen have been emptied into handling stations, e.g., stations for transport and / or sorting the laundry before and / or after washing by means of motorized and automated systems. An example of transporting, handling and preparation of textile items by loosening up and / or separating heaps of tangled / intertwined / bundled textile items into separate items is disclosed in EP 3 715 526 Al.

[0006] A problem with the solutions of the prior art is that manual filling of one or more heaps or piles of tangled and / or intertwined and / or bundled items or articles of linen or cloth or clothes or textiles in general or laundry into a chute and / or into a handling station for further transport into subsequent handling stations is time consuming and not sufficiently efficient as for example a sorting or handling station can only receive and handle / process a certain amount of heaps or piles of such bundled items or articles as those heaps are cumbersome to handle, loosen up or stretch out to be able to separate the individual items therein from each other and the heaps and to transport the individual items by moving the items through the station until each item reaches a second end of the station to be loaded onto a further transport device, such as further conveyors and / or via transfer chutes, as the first handling station has a limited capacity or volume for receiving and loosening up the heaps of intertwined articles and / or items to separate the plurality of bundled items / articles from each other and the heaps, wherefore the first and / or second station may form "bottle necks" or chokepoints for the whole handling system. There is thus a need for improving the handling of heaps of intertwined and bundled items or articles of fabric / textile and the separation of the individual items from any heap in each handling station but also for the whole automatic system with one or more such handling stations. There is a problem with some prior art systems being too complex and requiring too much maintenance. There is a problem with some prior art systems being too rough, i.e. having a heavy-handedness when processing / kneading heaps of intertwined and bundled items of fabric / textile for separating the items from the heaps.

[0007] It is an object of the present disclosure to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies and disadvantages in the prior art and solve at least the above-mentioned problem. According to a first aspect there is provided a method for separating one or more heaps of one or more tangled and / or intertwined and / or bundled items of textile by means of one or more handling stations receiving the heap(s) and / or the textile item(s) and one or more transport devices for transporting each heap and / or textile item to and / or through and / or from and / or between the handling station(s), the method comprising receiving the heap(s) at a handling station; moving the received heap(s) into an inlet of the handling station; moving the heap(s) in the inlet of the handling station along and at least partly in contact with an inclined surface of the inlet extending at a receiving angle between the horisontal and vertical planes until at least a first part of the heap(s) and / or one or more textile items of the heap(s) at least partly comes into contact with a transport device of the handling station while the heap(s) still has the first part and / or another part and / or one or more of the same and / or other textile items at least partly in contact with the inclined inlet surface; moving at least the first part of the received heap(s) and / or the textile item(s) being at least partly in contact with the transport device of the handling station away from the inclined inlet surface along and via / on the transport device towards and to an outlet of the handling station at a transport angle between the horisontal and vertical planes and directed or facing away from the receiving angle while peeling off one or more textile items from the heap(s), and moving the peeled off textile item(s) out of the outlet of the handling station to be received in another subsequent handling station.

[0008] According to another aspect there is provided a method for separating one or more heaps of one or more tangled and / or intertwined and / or bundled items of textile by means of one or more handling stations receiving the heap(s) and / or the textile item(s) and one or more transport devices for transporting each heap and / or textile item to and / or through and / or from and / or between the handling station(s), the method comprising filling a first handling station with the received heap(s) directly by hand and / or by emptying one or more containers comprising the heap(s) into the first handling or filling station; moving the heap(s) via an outlet from the first filling station into an inlet of a subsequent handling station upstream of the first filling station; moving the heap(s) in the inlet of the second handling station along and at least partly in contact with an inclined surface of the inlet extending at a receiving angle between the horisontal and vertical planes until at least a first part of the heap(s) and / or one or more textile items of the heap(s) at least partly comes into contact with a transport device of the second handling station while the heap(s) still has the first part and / or another part and / or one or more of the same and / or other textile items at least partly in contact with the inclined inlet surface; moving at least the first part of the received heap(s) and / or the textile item(s) being at least partly in contact with the transport device of the second handling station away from the inclined inlet surface along and via / on the transport device towards and to an outlet of the second handling station at a transport angle between the horisontal and vertical planes and directed or facing away from the receiving angle while peeling off one or more textile items from the heap(s); and moving the peeled off textile item(s) out of the outlet of the second handling station to be received in another subsequent handling station.

[0009] This increases the capacity of the whole handling and separation system as a handling station and / or a filling station in itself / themselves add / -s both handling and filling and / or intermediate storage capacity but also prepares each heap filled into an inlet of the handling and / or filling station for the coming separation by spreading out each heap somewhat as a first preparation step before the separation of any individual items from each heap starts, which handling, intermediate storage capacity and separation preparation provided by the handling and / or filling station further increases the effectiveness of the subsequent actual separation of individual items from the heaps in the handling station and / or any subsequent or a second handling station receiving the heaps. It also creates a better separation of the individual items from a heap as one part of a heap is in contact with one inlet surface while another part of the heap is moved away from the inlet surface enabling stretching out the heap more effectively improving the peeling off of one or more items from the associated heap. Moreover, the establishment using this solution is provided with a better ability of optimizing and avoiding bottlenecks much later in the pipeline / transport system and the whole system by getting an overview early on and a higher throughput of peeled off individual items.

[0010] According to some embodiments, the method comprises arranging the inlet of the subsequent or a second handling station below an outlet of a first handling or filling station. According to some embodiments, the method comprises arranging one or more of the transport devices below the inlet and / or outlet of one or more of the handling station(s). According to some embodiments, the method comprises arranging one or more of the transport devices below the inlet(s) and / or outlet(s) of one or more of first and / or second handling station(s).

[0011] According to some embodiments, the method comprises arranging at least one first transport device in the handling station below the inlet of the handling station, and arranging at least one second transport device in the handling station as a heap receiving part and surface and transport path of the inlet above / upstream the at least one first transport device. According to some embodiments, the method comprises arranging at least one first transport device in a first and / or a second handling station below the inlet of the first and / or second handling station, and arranging at least one second transport device in the first and / or second handling station as a heap receiving part and surface and transport path of the inlet above / upstream the at least one first transport device.

[0012] According to some embodiments, the method comprises arranging the inlet of the handling station at / with the receiving angle deviating from the horisontal plane at between about 15° and 55°, or between about 20° and 50°, or preferred between about 30° and 45°, or more preferred between exactly 30° and exactly 45° as measured from the horisontal plane clockwise or counter clockwise. According to some embodiments, the method comprises arranging the inlet of a first and / or a second handling station at / with the receiving angle deviating from the horisontal plane at between about 15° and 55°, or between about 20° and 50°, or preferred between about 30° and 45°, or more preferred between exactly 30° and exactly 45° as measured from the horisontal plane clockwise or counter clockwise.

[0013] According to some embodiments, the method comprises arranging the transport device(s)of the handling station inclined with the transport angle being about 20° or about 30°, or being between about 20° and 30°, or being exactly 20° or being exactly 30°, or being between exactly 20° and exactly 30° as measured from the horisontal plane counter clockwise or clockwise. According to some embodiments, the method comprises arranging one or more of the transport devices of a first and / or a second handling station inclined with the transport angle being about 20° or about 30°, or being between about 20° and 30°, or being exactly 20° or exactly 30°, or being between exactly 20° and exactly 30° as measured from the horisontal plane counter clockwise. According to some embodiments, the method comprises arranging the inlet at / with the receiving angle and the transport device(s) of the handling station inclined with the transport angle as the legs of an obtuse intermediate angle for embracing each received heap at least partly from below as a gaping heap collector formed by the obtuse intermediate angle. According to some embodiments, the method comprises arranging the inlet(s) at / with the receiving angle and one or more of the transport devices of a first and / or a second handling station inclined with the transport angle as the legs of an obtuse intermediate angle for embracing each received heap at least partly from below as a gaping heap collector formed by the obtuse intermediate angle.

[0014] According to some embodiments, the method comprises filling a first handling or filling station with the received heap(s) directly by hand and / or by emptying one or more containers comprising the heap(s) into the first and / or the second inlet of the first handling or filling station, moving the heap(s) from the first and / or the second inlet of the first handling or filling station to an outlet of the first handling or filling station while separating the textile item(s) from the heap(s) and moving the separated textile item(s) out of the outlet of the first handling or filling station into a second handling station for further handling and / or for transport to a third handling station for yet further handling and / or transport.

[0015] According to some embodiments, the method comprises filling a first handling station with the received heap(s) directly by hand and / or by emptying one or more containers comprising the heap(s) into the first handling or filling station, and moving the heap(s) via an outlet from the first filling station into the inlet of a subsequent or second handling station upstream of the first filling station before moving the textile item(s) out of the outlet of the second handling station. According to some embodiments, the method comprises filling one or more handling stations with the received heap(s) directly by hand and / or by emptying one or more containers comprising the heap(s) into the handling or filling station(s). According to some embodiments, the method comprises moving the heap(s) via one or more outlets from the first filling station(s) into one or more inlets of one or more subsequent or second handling stations upstream of the first filling station(s) before moving the textile item(s) out of one or more outlets of the second handling station(s).

[0016] According to a second aspect there is provided a system for separating one or more heaps of one or more tangled and / or intertwined and / or bundled items of textile, the system comprising one or more handling stations configured to receive the heap(s) and / or textile item(s), the handling station(s) being operatively connected with one or more transport devices configured to transport each heap and / or textile item to and / or through and / or from and / or between the handling stations, the system further comprising a handling station to be filled with the heap(s), which heap(s) are to be moved into and through an inlet of the handling station, and one or more transport devices with one or more ends arranged below the inlet, wherein the inlet of the handling station comprises an inclined surface configured to be in contact with at least a part of the heap(s) when moved through the inlet, which part of the heap(s) is at least a part of one or more textile items, wherein the inclined inlet surface is configured to extend at a receiving angle between the horisontal and vertical planes and at which the received heap(s) is / are moved downwards while in contact with the inclined inlet surface until the downward heap movement is stopped as the heap(s) comes at least partly into contact with at least one transport device of the handling station below the inclined inlet surface, and wherein the at least one transport device is configured to extend at a transport angle between the horisontal and vertical planes and directed or facing away from the receiving angle as another inclined surface and transport path configured to move the textile item(s) to an outlet at a second end of the handling station, such that the receiving angle and the transport angle define an obtuse intermediate angle of which the inclined inlet surface forms one leg and the at least one inclined transport device forms the other leg as a gaping collector embracing the heap(s) received therein at least partly from below creating contact between the inclined surface of the at least one transport device and at least one or more parts of the textile item(s) of the received heap(s), which contact enables the at least one transport device to peel off one or more textile items from the heap(s) and moving the peeled off textile item(s) to the outlet and out to be received in another and subsequent handling station.

[0017] According to another aspect there is provided a system for separating one or more heaps of one or more tangled and / or intertwined and / or bundled items of textile, the system comprising one or more handling stations configured to receive the heap(s) and / or textile item(s), the handling station(s) being operatively connected with one or more transport devices configured to transport each heap and / or textile item to and / or through and / or from and / or between the handling station(s), the system further comprising a first handling station to be filled with the heap(s) before being moved out of an outlet of this first filling station and into and through an inlet at a first end of a subsequent handling station below the first filling station outlet, and one or more transport devices with one or more ends arranged below the first filling station outlet, wherein the inlet of the subsequent handling station comprises an inclined surface configured to be in contact with at least a part of the heap when moved through the inlet, which part of the heap is at least a part of one or more textile items, wherein the inclined inlet surface is configured to extend at a receiving angle between the horisontal and vertical planes and at which the received heap moves downwards while in contact with the inclined inlet surface until the downward heap movement is stopped as the heap comes at least partly into contact with at least one transport device of the subsequent handling station below the inclined inlet surface, and wherein the at least one transport device is configured to extend at an transport angle between the horisontal and vertical planes and directed or facing away from the receiving angle as another inclined surface and transport path configured to move the textile item to an outlet at a second end of the subsequent handling station, such that the receiving angle and transport angle define an obtuse intermediate angle of which the inclined inlet surface forms one leg and the at least one inclined transport device forms the other leg as a gaping collector embracing the heap received therein at least partly from below creating contact between the inclined surface of the at least one transport device and at least one or more parts of the textile item(s) of the received heap(s), which contact enables the at least one transport device to peel off one or more textile items from the heap(s) and moving the peeled off textile item(s) to the outlet and out to be received in another subsequent handling station.

[0018] According to some embodiments, the obtuse intermediate angle between the inclined inlet surface and the inclined at least one transport device is between about 100° and 145°, or not less than about 100°, or not larger than about 145°.

[0019] According to some embodiments, the inlet of the handling station is arranged with the receiving angle deviating from the horisontal plane at between about 15° and 55°, or between about 20° and 50°, or preferred between about 30° and 45°, or more preferred between exactly 30° and exactly 45° as measured from the horisontal plane clockwise or counter clockwise. According to some embodiments, the inlet of the second handling station is arranged with the receiving angle deviating from the horisontal plane at between about 15° and 55°, or between about 20° and 50°, or preferred between about 30° and 45°, or more preferred between exactly 30° and exactly 45° as measured from the horisontal plane clockwise or counter clockwise.

[0020] According to some embodiments, the transport device(s) of the handling station is configured to be inclined with the transport angle being about 20° or about 30°, or being between about 20° and 30°, or being exactly 20° or being exactly 30°, or being between exactly 20° and exactly 30° as measured from the horisontal plane counter clockwise or clockwise. According to some embodiments, one or more of the transport devices of the first and / or the second handling station is configured to be inclined with the transport angle being about 20° or about 30°, or being between about 20° and 30°, or being exactly 20° or being exactly 30°, or being between exactly 20° and exactly 30° as measured from the horisontal plane counter clockwise or clockwise.

[0021] According to some embodiments, the handling station comprises at least one first transport device arranged below the heap receiving inlet surface of the handling station, and at least one second transport device being part of the heap receiving surface and transport path arranged above / upstream the at least one first transport device. According to some embodiments, one or more of the first and / or the second and / or the third handling station comprises at least one first transport device arranged below the heap receiving inlet surface of any of the first and / or second and / or third handling station, and at least one second transport device being part of the heap receiving surface and transport path arranged above / upstream the at least one first transport device.

[0022] According to some embodiments, the first transport device and the second transport device are configured to move each heap and / or textile item towards the outlet of the handling station. According to some embodiments, the first transport device and the second transport device are configured to move each heap and / or textile item towards the outlet of the first and / or second handling station.

[0023] According to some embodiments, the first transport device is a conveyor with a belt movable by a motor, preferably an electric motor.

[0024] According to some embodiments, the second transport device is a conveyor with a belt movable by a motor, preferably an electric motor.

[0025] According to some embodiments, the upper or transport surface of the conveyor belt of the second transport device of the handling station comprises or forms the inclined inlet surface of the handling station. According to some embodiments, the upper or transport surface of the conveyor belt of the second transport device of one or more first and / or second and / or third handling stations comprises or forms the inclined inlet surface of the first and / or second and / or third handling station.

[0026] According to some embodiments, the inlet of the handling station comprises a stationary or fixed wall being the inclined inlet surface extending in a direction correlating with the receiving angle or is angled in correspondence with the receiving angle, the stationary angled wall being configured to be a heap receiving part and surface and transport path of the inlet arranged above / upstream the at least one first transport device. According to some embodiments, the inlet(s) of one or more first and / or second and / or third handling stations comprise(s) one or more stationary or fixed walls being the inclined inlet surface(s) extending in a direction correlating with the receiving angle or is angled in correspondence with the receiving angle, the stationary angled wall(s) being configured to be a heap receiving part and surface and transport path(s) of the inlet(s) arranged above / upstream the at least one first transport device.

[0027] According to some embodiments, a first handling and filling station comprises at least one other transport device arranged above / upstream the heap receiving inlet surface of a second handling station.

[0028] According to some embodiments, the at least one other transport device of the first handling and filling station is a conveyor with a belt movable by a motor, preferably an electric motor.

[0029] According to some embodiments, the at least one first transport device of the handling station extends somewhat past / beyond and slightly below the inlet of the handling station. According to some embodiments, the at least one first transport device of a subsequent or second handling station extends somewhat past / beyond and slightly below the inlet of the subsequent and second handling station.

[0030] According to some embodiments, the system further comprises a first handling station to be filled with the heap(s) before being moved out of an outlet of this first filling station and into and through the inlet at the first end of a subsequent or second handling station below the first filling station outlet, and one or more transport devices with one or more ends being arranged below the first filling station outlet and below the inclined inlet surface of the subsequent or second handling station and being configured to extend at the transport angle. According to some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more first handling stations to be filled with the heap(s) before the heap(s) are moved out of one or more outlets of the first filling station(s) and into and through one or more inlets at one or more of the first ends of one or more subsequent or second handling stations below the first filling station outlet^), and one or more transport devices with one or more ends being arranged below the first filling station outlet(s) and below the inclined inlet surface(s) of the subsequent or second handling station(s) and being configured to extend at the transport angle. Effects and features of the second aspect are to a large extent analogous to those described above in connection with the first aspect. Any embodiment mentioned in relation to the first aspect is largely compatible with anyone of the embodiments of the second and / or other aspects and vice versa as some embodiments of the system work according to the method.

[0031] This increases the separation capacity of the handling system even further but also the flexibility of the whole system as it enhances handling, filling, operational storage capacity and in particular the separation of any individual item from any associated heap of such bundled or intertwined items. An advantage with this solution is that it creates a high enough friction between the heap(s) and the textile / fa bric / c loth items and the inclined inlet surface and the transport device(s) where it needs to be high enough to drag any piece of item being in contact with the transport device(s) out of the heap, while the rest of the heap and its items rest on the angled, i.e. the inclined inlet surface. An advantage with this solution is that the transport device(s), e.g., conveyor(s) achieves a sufficient drag and peeling off effect on any heap and any items of a heap for both conveyor belts having a rubber surface with a regular linear pattern or conveyors with completely smooth rubber belts. An advantage with this solution is that the transport device(s), i.e. the conveyor(s) achieves a sufficient drag and peeling off effect on any heap and any items of a heap even if the heap is wet and / or comprising one or more wet items. An advantage with this solution is that the first conveyor extending past and slightly below the inlet prevent any textile / cloth item and / or heap getting stuck in between the inlet and the first conveyor. An advantage with this solution is that the receiving angle or inclination of the inlet surface creates a friction so that the heap(s) and / or item(s) does not get stuck or is held stationary against the inlet surface when being a stationary wall, but instead slides relatively slowly down the inlet surface towards the first conveyor, this is an important factor in the spreading effect on a heap enabling to separate the bundled together individual items from a heap. An advantage with this solution is that the transport angle or inclination of the first conveyor of the second handling station prevents the item(s) from rolling backwards on the first conveyor when running. An advantage with this solution is that the transport angle or inclination of the first conveyor of the second handling station enables the first conveyor to more effectively support the heap from below, which ensures that the heap(s) does not "flow" out too much onto the first conveyor when contact therewith is made and prevents the heap(s) from being moved away from the inlet surface and along the first conveyor without the first conveyor being able to peel off any item from the heap(s) individually and creates enough friction and thereby sufficient peeling off effect. An advantage with this solution is that it works effectively for both dry heaps and heaps with wet textile / cloth items or freshly tumbled ones, even though such wet and / or freshly tumbled ones have a higher inherent or inner friction between the bundled and / or intertwined individual items of the heap(s) that hitherto in prior art has decreased the efficiency of the spreading effect acting on heaps. The inventors have invented a synergistic cooperation between angled surfaces and / or angled conveyors that together form an adaptable yawning or gaping of one or more heaps of bundled or intertwined textile items when received in the space or gap between the angled surfaces and / or angled conveyors that enable a sufficient but not too strong or weak "holding" or keeping of at least partial contact between the contacting surfaces between the angled surfaces and / or angled conveyors and the one or more heaps of bundled or intertwined textile items in one or more handling stations that thereby provide an hitherto not achieved robust and controllable "peeling off"-effect improving the separation of items from any heap of such items. In other words, when a heap or pile of textile items is dropped into an inlet of a handling or filling station and / or a transport device, part of the heap / pile comes to rest on the back or back surface or back plate of the inlet. If the back surface of the inlet is too steep or "leans forward" too much or is vertical, then the inlet back surface will support the heap / pile and when the transport device, such as the belt on a conveyor or the like, moves or drives forward the transport surface, such as the upper surface of the conveyor belt, provides enough friction to the heap / pile, so that the heap or pile stays intact while following the transport surface. If the inlet back surface is angled backwards, then when the upper surface of the transport device, such as a conveyor belt, moves or is driven forward, the heap / pile topples backwards on or onto the inlet back surface or plate and spreads out (with part(s) of the heap / pile resting on the inlet back surface or plate) while the remaining part of the heap / pile moves with the transport surface, such as a conveyor belt. This happens because the heap / pile has space to topple back and the friction between the heap / pile and the inlet back surface or plate encourages this. If the inlet back surface or plate is too horizontal, i.e., "leans back" too far / much, then some part(s) of the heap or pile might be left on the inlet back surface or plate and not be driven forward at all. The exact angles depend on the application, on what type of textiles the heap comprises, i.e., how much friction the textile items and / or the whole heap incur, how wet the textile items and / or the heap are etc. Furthermore, besides the friction, there is also the effect of the inlet back surface or plate of a handling or filling station acting as a support (or not) and how much of a support for the heap / pile depending on gravity for enabling a desired "peeling off"-effect. Hence, it is to be understood that the herein disclosed disclosure is not limited to the particular component parts of the device described or steps of the methods described since such device and method may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. It should be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claim, the articles "a", "an", "the", and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements unless the context explicitly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a conveyor / station / system" or "the conveyor / station / system" may include several devices, in particular a system may comprise more than two handling stations and more than one, two or three transport devices, and the like. Furthermore, the words "comprising", "including", "containing" and similar wordings does not exclude other elements or steps.

[0032] Terminology: The terms "transport system / device" are to be interpreted as a system and / or device(s) comprising transport paths in the form of railing and / or conveyors enabling movement of entities and objects by motors, e.g. electric ones, and / or chutes enabling entities or objects to pass through by falling or sliding and / or other similar ways or combined ways of moving or transporting containers with or without items or articles made of textile or fabric and / or heaps of such intertwined / bundled items or articles and / or such items or articles individually / separately, i.e. when loosened / separated from such heaps with such items or articles within this field. The term "container / -s" is / are to be interpreted as one or more semiflexible or flexible containers, such as bags or sacks or the like, or hard containers, e.g., boxes or carts of metal and / or hard plastic and / or wood or the like, configured to receive items or articles, such as heaps of intertwined and / or bundled items or articles of textile / fabric and / or such individual items or articles when separated from the heap(s), at a top end and / or through an opening at this top end and to carry such items of laundry and being openable at a bottom end and / or tilted to be emptied of the items from the top end when required and closed at the bottom end and / or tilted back when required during the handling of the container(s) and their content of one or more items / heaps. A container can be a cart filled with dirty laundry that is manually emptied and / or emptied into a handling or filling station and / or into and / or onto a transport device, such as a conveyor, using a cart tipper. A container can be a plastic bag or a textile bag with clean or dirty laundry coming from a customer and / or the container(s) could be one or more bags coming from a bag system. A transport device could also be a movable cart and / or a bag with heaps of textile items transported to a handling and / or filling station. The terms "up- / downstream" is to be interpreted as directions of movement and / or transport of containers, heaps / piles and / or items being partly separated or fully separated from the heap(s) and relative positions between handling stations along the transport paths in the form of railing or conveyors or chutes or other ways of moving or transporting separate pieces and / or heaps of articles / items of textile / fabric and / or containers with one or more such articles / items within this field. The terms "clockwise" and "counter clockwise" is used for clarifying the orientation of angles but could be reverse directions if the conveyors are arranged inclined in a mirror-like layout. Moreover, the principal of using the disclosed and herein defined angles to achieve a desired "peeling-off" of items from heaps are within the tolerances of the technical field, wherefore if any conveyor(s) and / or angled surface(s) of the system and method are first arranged at the disclosed angles relative each other in one first standing position on a first part of a floor and then is / are moved into another standing position, e.g., on another part of the floor or any other surface being somewhat uneven compared to the first part of the floor, the angles are still applicable even though the angles may be somewhat different when measured from the horisontal plane at the other position compared to when measured from the horisontal plane in the first standing position.

[0033] Brief descriptions of the drawings

[0034] The above objects, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of example embodiments of the present disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0035] Figure 1 shows slightly from above a perspective view of a system for handling, transporting and separating heaps of bundled or intertwined textile / fabric / cloth items by means of handling stations and a transport system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figures 2, 3, 5, and 6 show perspective views of the system in fig. 1 from different angles, figs. 2, 3, and 5 are views slightly from above while fig. 6 is a view slightly from below.

[0037] Figure 4 shows a side view from an end of the system in figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 taken along line A - A in fig. 5. Figure 7 shows a side view in cross-section and in the longitudinal direction of the system in figs. 1 to 6 as taken along line B- B in fig. 4 to more clearly show the transport devices.

[0038] Figure 8A shows a side view in cross-section and in the longitudinal direction in a similar way as for the system in fig. 7 of a schematical system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] Figure 8B shows a side view in cross-section and in the longitudinal direction in a similar way as for the system in fig. 7 of a schematical system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] Figure 8C shows a side view in cross-section and in the longitudinal direction in a similar way as for the system in fig. 7 of a schematical system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] Figure 8D shows a side view in cross-section and in the longitudinal direction similar to the system in fig. 7 and 8B of a schematical system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] Detailed description

[0043] The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred example embodiments of the disclosure are shown in figures 1 to 8D. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in other forms and should not be construed as limited to the herein disclosed embodiments. The disclosed embodiments are provided to fully convey the scope of the disclosure to the skilled person. The straight and curved / bent white and / or black single and / or double arrows in solid and / or dotted lines in the figures visualize the directions of movement / transport of any heap or pile 10 and / or any item of textile / fabric 20 and / or angles as defined between different entities and / or the horizontal and / or the vertical planes.

[0044] The disclosure relates to a method and system 100 shown in figs. 1 to 8D for handling and transporting one or more heaps 10 comprising one or more tangled and / or intertwined and / or bundled items 20 of textile and one or more such items 20 when separated / after separation from one or more heaps 10 by means of one or more handling stations 1, 2, 3 and one or more transport devices 30, 31, 32, 33 for transporting each heap 10 and / or textile item 20 together and / or individually after separation from any heap to and / or through and / or from and / or between the handling stations. Optionally, one or more heaps 10 are transported to one or more handling stations 1 in semi-flexible or flexible or rigid, i.e. hard shell containers 40 with a top and a bottom, which could be openable at the top and bottom to be able to empty any heaps 10 from containers 40 automatically into one or more first handling stations 1 (see this optional filling from a container 40 in fig. 8A) instead of filling first handling station(s) 1 by hand with one or more heaps 10 directly. The handling and transport and separation of heaps 10 with bundled items 20 are achieved by means of at least two or more laundry handling stations 1, 2, 3 (see figs. 1 to 8D) interconnected with each other by being operatively connected to a transport system comprising one or more transport devices 30 for transporting heaps 10 and / or items 20 to and / or through and / or from and / or between the handling stations. In some embodiments, one or more handling stations 1, 2, 3 (see figs. 1 to 8D) use / -s one or more transport devices 30 in the form of conveyors 31, 32, 33 or conveyor belts to transport any heap 10 and individual items 20 when separated from any heap from a first end la, 2a, 31a, 32a, 33a to a second end lb, 2b, 31b, 32b, 33b of each handling station 1, 2 and / or conveyor 31, 32, 33.

[0045] The method comprises receiving one or more heaps 10 of one or more items 20 at one or more first handling stations 1 as seen in figs. 8A and 8D (this is not shown in figs. 1 to 7, 8B and 8C). The system 100 according to the disclosure comprises one or more first handling and filling stations 1 as shown in figs. 1 to 8D. Each first handling station 1 is configured to receive, at one or more first and / or second ends la, lb, one or more heaps 10 with bundled items 20 arriving from one or more containers 40 and / or from other sources comprising the heaps 10 being a pile of intertwined / bundled textile items 20 (any heap may also be filled directly by hand into the first filling station 1) that must be processed, similar to kneading and / or "peeling" to separate or "peel" off item by item 20 from the heap 10 to be able to handle each item 20 individually thereafter as shown in figs. 8A and 8D.

[0046] Figures 1 to 8D show a system 100 for separating a plurality of textile items 20 from heaps 10 in at least one handling station 2 according to the disclosure. In some embodiments of the system 100 of figs. 1 to 8D, there could also be two or more first handling stations 1 and / or two or more second and / or third handling stations 2, 3 utilized for handling, transporting, and separating items 20 of textile from a heap 10 to provide an increased and more robust filling and / or separating capacity of heaps 10 and items 20 in the system 100. In some embodiments of the system 100, there could also be two or more third handling stations 3 utilized for handling and transporting individual textile items 20 after separation from any heap 10 to provide an increased storage and handling capacity of textile items 20 in the system 100. The system 100 comprises in some embodiments (not shown) more than one first and / or second and / or third handling station 1, 2, 3 that adds to intermediate and common storage and / or buffering station 1 for heaps 10 and / or textile items 20 while one or more second and / or third handling stations 2, 3 adds capacity and work output as further processing stations separating more items 20 from more heaps 10 by peeling off more items while more heaps and / or items are moved through the further second handling station(s) 2 and into more third handling stations 3. In some embodiments, the first and / or second handling stations 1, 2 in the system 100 is / are made larger than the ones shown in figs. 1 to 8D, but could in some embodiments be individually increased in size, i.e. storage capacity and / or storage volume and / or separation capacity could be increased independently or in combination in further systems 100, e.g. by adding more conveyors 32, 33 in the second handling and separation station / -s 2, the same goes for the first handling and filling stations 1 and associated conveyors 31, and / or adding more width and / or length of the conveyors and / or inlet and / or outlet chutes lc, 2c, 2d, in the whole system 100 and / or in the transport system 30. In some embodiments, the system 100 may comprise only one handling station, i.e., the second handling station 2, which second handling station 2 then would be the first handling station also acting as a filling station as shown in figs. 8B, 8C and 8D. In some embodiments, the second handling station 2 works as a filling station receiving the heap(s) 10 from another source, e.g. via manual loading / dropping of heaps and / or from another conveyor and / or from one or more bags / sacks / bag drops from which the heap(s) are unloaded / dropped or the like directly into a filling or handling station 1, 2.

[0047] The method according to some embodiments comprises transporting each of the emptied containers 40 away from the filling station(s) 1. The system 100 according to the disclosure works according to the method of the disclosure. The first handling and filling station / -s 1 is / are configured to move and / or transport the received heaps 10 to one or more second ends lb of the filling station / -s 1 where the heaps 10 are unloaded or discharged out via one or more outlets lc and received at / in one or more first end / -s 2a of one or more second handling stations 2 as shown in figs. 8A and 8D. The system 100 according to the disclosure comprises at least one second handling station 2 arranged upstream of the filling station / -s 1 as shown in figs. 1 to 8D. Each second handling station / -s 2 is configured to receive the heap / -s 10 with one or more bundled textile items 20 arriving from the filling station / -s 1 as shown in figs. 8A and 8D. The system 100 according to the disclosure comprises at least one third handling station 3 arranged upstream of the second handling and separation station / -s 2 Y1 as shown in figs. 1, 2 and 7 to 8D. Each third handling station / -s 3 is configured to receive items 20 separated from heaps 10 and discharged from one or more second ends 2b and out of one or more outlets 2d of the second handling and separation station / -s 2 and into the third handling station / -s 3 as shown in fig. 8D.

[0048] The system 100 according to the disclosure comprises in some embodiments at least one third and / or fourth and / or fifth handling station 3 arranged upstream of the first and second handling station / -s 1, 2 as shown in figs. 1 to 8D. The third and / or fourth and / or fifth handling station / -s 3 is / are - in some embodiments - configured to receive one or more of the separated textile items 20 arriving from one or more of the second separation stations 2 and to further transport the individual textile item(s) 20 from one or more of the third / fourth / fifth etc. handling station(s) 3 for further handling, see fig. 8D. The system 100 comprises in some embodiments one or more different types of handling stations 1, 2, 3 as shown in figs. 1 to 8D. In some embodiments, the transport system 30 comprises one and the same type of conveyor(s) 31, 32, 33 and / or a combination of one or more different types of conveyors and / or one or more of the same type of conveyors for transporting heaps 10 and / or textile items 20 to, through and / or from and / or between the handling stations 1, 2, 3 (see figs. 1 to 8D). The system 100 comprises in some embodiments a combination of one or more different types of handling stations 1, 2, 3 and one or more handling stations of the same type and a transport system 30 for transporting the heaps 10 and / or textile items 20 via transport devices 31, 32, 33, such as conveyors, to, through and / or from and / or between the handling stations (see figs. 1 to 8D).

[0049] The functionality provided by the method and the system(s) 100 enable transporting one or more containers 40 and / or one or more heaps or piles 10 comprising a plurality of intertwined and / or bundled textile items 20 and / or one or more individual textile items 20 before and / or after being washed and / or before and / or after sorting between, to and from and between one or more or all of the handling stations 1, 2, 3 by usage of one or more devices and / or machines, power sources, electric motors etc. operatively controlled by one or more control units operatively connected to one or more sensors, this being known by the skilled person. In some embodiments, the method and the system 100 concerns one or more or all handling stations 1, 2, 3, where the heaps / piles 10 themselves received at / in the first end(s) 2a and inlet(s) 2c of the second handling station(s) 2 are formed or separated into smaller piles of one or more pieces and / or one or more individual items 20 by one or more machines, such as conveyors 32, 33, or robotic arms controlled by one or more control units operatively connected to sensors. This comprises examining the larger and / or smaller piles 10 of one or more articles 20 and / or the separated individual items 20 by one or more sensors (e.g. RFID scanners, cameras, etc.) operatively connected to one or more control units. However, instead of a sensor, a timer can be used as a conveyor can be driven for a certain time to ensure that the conveyor is emptied or empty or has a certain length of the transport surface then made ready or cleared to receive a further heap 10 and / or textile item 20. After this, the separated items 20 are in some embodiments transported by one or more conveyors 32, 33 into one or more third handling or sorting station(s) 3 to be temporarily stored in one or more containers of the sorting station(s) based on criteria in information gathered by said sensor(s) and control unit(s) and / or further handled and / or transported to further handling stations (not shown). In some embodiments, once a certain number of items 20 has been separated from any heap 10 and / or been sorted in or into any one transport or storage container and / or conveyor 32, 33, that container and / or conveyor will off-load the batch of now separated and / or sorted individual articles 20 and / or containers 40 with one or more items 20 onto one or more other transport devices, such as conveyors for transport and further handling. In some embodiments, other conveyor(s) of the third and / or sorting station(s) 3 transport / ^ the now separated and / or sorted articles 20 to other handling station(s) (not shown). Handling of heaps 10 and textile item 20 in any of the handling stations 1, 2, 3, i.e. the filling and / or buffering station(s) 1; the second separation station(s) 2; the third handling station(s) and / or storage(s) 3, and the transport system and devices 30, 31, 32, 33 is done in a corresponding way as for the third handling and / or sorting station(s) 3 by use of similar and / or corresponding equipment, such as one or more machines or robotic arms or cranes or robots, power sources, electric motors, pathways (such as railing and / or conveyors if not filling any handling station directly by hand) and by one or more sensors (e.g. RFID scanners, cameras, etc.) operatively connected to and controlled by one or more control units providing an autonomous and controllable functionality.

[0050] The basic separation process to remove any textile items 20 individually from a corresponding heap 10 can be explained in three steps below:

[0051] Step 1: As a heap 10 of textile / cloth items 20 enters the inlet 2c - as seen in figs. 8A and 8D - of the second handling station 2 with the first conveyor 32 the heap 10 is received and supported / rests on / against the angled inlet surface or back wall or inlet chute 2c while sliding down in contact with the inlet surface 2c until its movement is stopped after covering a certain distance when moved or slid down by contact with the first lower conveyor 32. Step 2: The contact area between the heap 10 and the first conveyor 32 is relatively small, and therefore the one or more or few individual pieces of textile / cloth items 20 in the heap 10 being at least partly in contact with the lower first conveyor 32 can be separated from the heap 10 by running the first conveyor 32 while touching and dragging / stretching the heap 10 out and the associated items 20 with it until one or more items 20 are separated from heap and moved with and along the first conveyor away from the heap and the inlet 2c towards and to the second end 2b of the second separation station 2.

[0052] Step 3: As these one or more individual pieces of textile / cloth items 20 are separated from the heap 10 by being peeled off therefrom while touching the moving first conveyor 32 and simultaneously being moved along with the first conveyor 32 towards the second end 2b, the associated heap 10 moves further down until its movement is stopped again against another part of the upper surface of the lower first conveyor 32, and the separation cycle repeats for the next heap 10 "in line" in the inlet 2c when a first heap is fully separated / peeled off.

[0053] The first aspect of this disclosure concerns a method for separating one or more heaps 10 of one or more tangled and / or intertwined and / or bundled items 20 of textile by means of one or more handling stations 1, 2, 3 receiving the heap / -s and / or the textile item / -s 20 and one or more transport devices 30, 31, 32, 33 for transporting each heap 10 and / or textile item 20 to and / or through and / or from and / or between the handling stations. The method comprises filling a first handling station 10 with the received heaps 10 directly by hand and / or by emptying one or more containers 40 comprising any heap 10 into the first handling or filling station 1. The method comprises moving any heap 10 via one or more outlets lc from the first filling station 1 into one or more inlets 2c of a subsequent separation station 2 upstream of the first filling station. The method comprises moving the heaps 10 in and through the inlet 2c of the second handling station 2 along and at least partly in contact with an inclined surface of the inlet 2c extending at a receiving angle a, ai, ct2 between the horisontal and vertical planes until at least a first part of the heaps 10 and / or one or more textile items 20 of the heaps at least partly comes into contact with at least one transport device 30 in the form of one or more conveyors 32, 33 of the second handling station while the heaps 10 still has the first part and / or another part and / or one or more of the same and / or other textile items 20 at least partly in contact with the inclined inlet surface 2c. The method comprising moving at least the first part of the received heaps 10 and / or the textile items 20 being at least partly in contact with the conveyor / -s 32 of the second handling station 2 away from the inclined inlet surface 2c along and via / on / in contact with the upper surface or transport path of the conveyor / -s 32 towards and to one or more outlets 2d of the second handling station at an inclination and transport angle P, Pi, Pz between the horisontal and vertical planes - as shown in the figs. - and being directed or facing away from the receiving angle a, ai, az while peeling off one or more textile items 20 from the associated heap / -s 10, and moving the peeled off textile items 20 out of the outlet / -s 2d of the second handling station 2 to be received in one or more other subsequent handling stations 3.

[0054] According to the disclosure, the method and system 100 according to any former and latter embodiment comprises arranging and / or designing the inlet(s) la, lb, 2c of the first (if only one handling or actually only a filling station 1 is applied) or the second handling station(s) 2 (if more than only a first handling or filling station is applied), i.e. the back wall of the inlet(s) 2c as shown in figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8A - 8D with an extension in a direction at / with an angle a that may be different angles ai, az deviating from the horisontal plane at between about 15° (see a, ai in figs. 8B and 8C) and about 55° (see a, az in figs. 8B and 8C), or between about 20° (see a, ai in figs. 8B and 8C) and about 50° (see a, az in figs. 8B and 8C), or between about 25° (see a, ai in figs. 8B and 8C) and about 52° (see a, az in figs. 8B and 8C), or between about 28° (see a, ai in figs. 8B and 8C) and 47° (see a, az in figs. 8B and 8C), or preferred between about 30° (see a, ai in figs. 8B and 8C) and about 45° (see a, az in figs. 8B and 8C), or more preferred between 30° (see a, ai in figs. 8B and 8C) and 45° (see a, az in figs. 8B and 8C), or most preferred between exactly 30° (see a, ai in figs. 8B and 8C) and exactly 45° (see a, az in figs. 8B and 8C) - as measured from the horisontal plane clockwise. Hence, these receiving / inclination angles a, ai, az could also be defined relative the unit circle as inclination or receiving angles a, ai, az being larger than 90° or n / 2 but smaller than 180° or n. In some embodiments, the method and system 100 according to the embodiments above in this same paragraph comprises arranging and / or designing the transport device(s) 30, 32, 33 of the second handling station(s) 2 to extend with an inclination - as shown in figs. 1 to 3 and 5 to 7, and 8A - 8D - at / with an angle 3 that may be different angles Pi, Pz being about 20° (see P, Pi in figs. 8B and 8C) or about 30° (see P, Pz in figs. 8B and 8C), or being between about 20° (see P, Pi in figs. 8B and 8C) and about 30° (see P, Pz in figs. 8B and 8C), or being exactly 20° (see P, Pi in figs. 8B and 8C) or exactly 30° (see P, Pz in figs. 8B and 8C), or being between exactly 20° (see P, Pi in figs. 8B and 8C) and exactly 30° (see P, Pz in figs. 8B and 8C) - as deviating and measured from the horisontal plane counter clockwise or clockwise. Hence, these transport angles P, Pi, Pz could be defined - in the same way as the receiving and inclination angles a, ai, az - relative the unit circle as inclination angles P, Pi, Pz being larger than 0° but smaller than 90° or n / 2. According to the disclosure, the method comprises arranging an inlet la, lb of a first handling or filling station 1 below an outlet of a container 40 or vice versa. According to the disclosure, the method comprises arranging an inlet 2c of a first handling or filling station 2 below an outlet of a container 40 or vice versa. According to the disclosure, the method comprises arranging an inlet 2c of a second handling station 2 below an outlet lc of a filling station 1. According to the disclosure, the method comprises arranging one or more of the transport devices 30, 32 below an inlet 2c of a second handling station 2. According to the disclosure, the method comprises arranging at least one first transport device 30 in the form of a first conveyor 32 in a second handling station 2 below an inlet 2c of the second handling station, and arranging at least one second transport device 30 in the form of a second conveyor 33 in the same second handling station 2 as a heap receiving part and surface and transport path of the inlet 2c above / upstream the at least one first transport device or conveyor 32. According to the disclosure, the method comprises arranging the inlet 2c of the second handling station 2 at / with the receiving angle a, ai, az deviating from the horisontal plane at between about 15° and 55°, or between about 20° and 50°, or preferred between about 30° and 45°, or more preferred between exactly 30° and exactly 45° as measured from the horisontal plane clockwise. According to the disclosure, the method comprises arranging the transport devices 30 in the form of conveyors 32, 33 in the second handling station 2 at an inclination with the transport angle P, Pi, P2 being about 20° or about 30°, or being between about 20° and 30°, or being exactly 20° or exactly 30°, or being between exactly 20° and exactly 30° as measured from the horisontal counter clockwise or clockwise. According to the disclosure, the method comprises arranging the inlet 2c at / with the receiving angle a, ai, az and the transport devices 30, 32, 33 of the second handling station 2 inclined with the transport angle P, Pi, P2 as the legs of an obtuse intermediate angle A, Ai, A2, A3, A4 for embracing each received heap 10 at least partly from below as a gaping heap collector formed by the obtuse intermediate angle. The obtuse intermediate angle A, Ai, A2, A3, A4 between the receiving angle a, ai, az and the transport angle P, Pi, P2 forms a gaping collector for heaps 10 with items 20 at / in the inlet(s) 2c of the second handling and separation station / -s 2. This obtuse intermediate angle A can be any angle between Ai, and A4 and / or many different or almost infinitely many different angles Ai, A2, A3, A4 but in figs. 8B and 8C only four different obtuse angles A, Ai, A2, A3, A4 are schematically shown as angle Ai between the smallest receiving angle ai and the smallest transport angle Pi, and as angle A2 between the largest receiving angle az and the smallest transport angle Pi, and as angle A3 between the smallest receiving angle ai and the largest transport angle P2, and as angle A4 between the largest receiving angle az and the largest transport angle P2. The second aspect of this disclosure concerns the system 100 for separating one or more heaps 10 of one or more tangled and / or intertwined and / or bundled items 20 of textile. The system 100 comprises handling stations 1, 2, 3 configured to receive heaps 10 and / or textile items 20. The handling stations 1, 2, 3 are operatively connected with one or more transport devices 30 in the form of conveyors 31, 32, 33 to transport each heap 10 and / or textile item 20 to and / or through and / or from and / or between the handling stations. The system optionally further comprises a first handling or filling station 1 to be filled with any heap 10 before being moved out of an outlet lc of this first filling station and into and through an inlet 2c at a first end 2a of a subsequent or second handling and separation station 2 below the first filling station outlet lc if more than one station 1, 2 is applied. In some aspects, one or more heaps 10 are dropped at the same time or one by one or sequentially from one or more containers 40 directly into an inlet la, lb, 2c at a first end la, 2a and / or a second end lb, 2b of a first and / or second handling or filling station 1, 2 also being a separation station 1, 2 arranged below the container 40. The system 100 comprises the one or more transport devices 32, 33 having one or more ends 32a, 33a arranged below the first filling station outlet lc. The inlet 2c of the subsequent handling station / -s 2 comprises an inclined surface configured to be in contact with at least a part of the heaps 10 when moved through the inlet. This surface contacting part of the heaps 10 is at least a part of one or more textile items 20. According to the disclosure, the inclined inlet surface 2c extends at the receiving angle a, ai, a2 at which each received heap 10 then moves along downwards while in contact with the inclined inlet surface until the downward heap movement is stopped when the heap comes at least partly into contact with the upper surface of at least one conveyor 32 of the second handling station 2 below the inclined inlet surface 2c. According to the disclosure, the at least one lower transport device 30, 32 extends at the inclination or transport angle P, Pi, P2 between the vertical and horisontal planes and being directed or facing away from the receiving angle a, ai, 02 as another inclined surface and transport path to move the textile items 20 to an outlet 2d at a second end 2b of the second handling station 2, such that the receiving angle a, ai, 02 and the transport angle P, Pi, P2 define the obtuse intermediate angle A, Ai, A2, A3, A4 of which the inclined inlet surface 2c forms one leg and the at least one inclined conveyor 32 forms the other leg as a gaping collector embracing each heap 10 - when received in the inlet 2c - at least partly from below to create sufficient contact between the inclined upper and transport surface of the at least one conveyor 32 and at least one or more parts of the textile items 20 of the received heaps, which contact enables the at least one conveyor to peel off one or more textile items from each heap by at least partly a sliding touch while running and then moving any peeled off textile item to the outlet 2d of the separation station 2 and out to be received in any subsequent handling station 3.

[0055] According to the disclosure, the obtuse intermediate angle A, Ai, Az, A3, A4 between the inclined inlet surface 2c and the inclined at least one transport device 30, 32 is between about 100° and 145°, or not less than about 100°, or not larger than about 145°. According to the disclosure, the inlet 2c of the second handling station 2 is arranged with the receiving angle a, ai, az deviating from the horisontal plane at between about 15° and 55°, or between about 20° and 50°, or preferred between about 30° and 45°, or more preferred between exactly 30° and exactly 45° as measured from the horisontal plane clockwise. According to the disclosure, the transport devices 30 or conveyors 32, 33 of the second handling station 2 extend inclined with the transport angle 3, Pi, P2 being about 20° or about 30°, or being between about 20° and 30°, or being exactly 20°, or being exactly 30°, or being between exactly 20° and exactly 30° as measured from the horisontal plane counter clockwise or clockwise. According to the disclosure, the second handling station 2 comprises at least one or two or more first transport devices 32 arranged below the heap receiving inlet surface 2c of the second handling station, and at least one or two or more second transport devices 33 being part of the heap receiving surface 2c and transport path arranged above / upstream the first transport device / -s 32. According to the disclosure, at least one first transport device 32 and at least one second transport device 33 are configured to move each heap 10 and / or textile item 20 towards at least one outlet 2d of the second handling station 2. According to the disclosure, at least one of the first transport devices 32 is a conveyor with a belt movable by a motor, preferably an electric motor. According to the disclosure, at least one of the second transport devices 33 is a conveyor with a belt movable by a motor, preferably an electric motor. According to the disclosure, at least the upper or transport surface of the conveyor belt of at least one of the second transport devices 33 of the second handling station 2 comprises an inclined inlet surface 2c of the second handling station. According to the disclosure, at least one inlet 2c of the second handling station 2 comprises a stationary or fixed wall being the inclined inlet surface 2c extending in a direction correlating with the receiving angle a, ai, az or is angled in correspondence or in parallel with the receiving angle a, ai, a?. According to the disclosure, the stationary angled wall 2c is configured to be a heap receiving part and surface and transport path of the inlet 2c arranged above and / or upstream at least one of the first transport devices 32. According to the disclosure, one or more of the first handling and filling stations 1 comprises at least one other or third transport device 31 arranged above and / or upstream the heap receiving inlet surface 2c of the second handling station 2. According to the disclosure, the at least one other or third transport device 31 of one or more of the first handling and filling stations 1 is a conveyor with a belt movable by a motor, preferably an electric motor. The third handling station 3 is only schematically shown with dotted lines in figs. 1, 2, 7 , 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D as a cylinder in fig. 1; a rectangular parallelepiped in fig. 2 and rectangles in figs. 7 to 8D. As disclosed, the obtuse intermediate angle A, Ai, A2, A3, A4can be adaptable, the same goes for the receiving angle a, ai, a? and the transport angle P, Pi, P2 between the above disclosed angles in dependence of type of textile that items 20 of the heaps 10 are made of and / or how dirty or clean those items are and / or how wet and / or moist those items and therefore the heaps are and / or how dense the heaps are and / or how much the heaps weigh, whereby the "peeling-off"-items-from-the heaps effect are also adaptable accordingly in more controllable and robust way.

[0056] Reference numbers:

[0057] 1. First station / system / machine for receiving / ha ndling / fi Hing of one or more heaps 10 with separate but bundled soft items 20 of textile / fabric / linen / clothes / laundry / cloth. la. First end / inlet of first handling or filling station(s) 1. lb. Second end / inlet of first handling or filling station(s) 1. lc. Outlet / Outfeed / Drop chute of first handling or filling station(s) 1.

[0058] 2. Second station / system / machine for handling heap(s) 10 of bundled soft items 20 from first handling or filling station(s) 1 at first end 2a and configured to continuously loosen up / stretch each heap while moving / stretching out at least a part of each heap and / or peeling off / removing one or more - from the heap(s) - thereby individual textile / fabric items 20 towards and to second end 2b for further handling by one or more other / third handling stations 3.

[0059] 2a. First end of second handling station(s) 2.

[0060] 2b. Second end of second handling station(s) 2.

[0061] 2c. Inlet / lnfeed chute and / or back / receiving surface / wall of second handling station(s) 2 and / or transport surface / path of a transport device 30, 33.

[0062] 2d. Outlet / Outfeed chute of second handling station(s) 2.

[0063] 3. Third station / system / machine for receiving / automatically transporting and / or sorting textile items 20 arriving from second handling stations 2.

[0064] 10. Heap / Pile of bundled / tangled / intertwined items / articles 20 of fabric and / or textile and / or linen and / or laundry and / or cloth and / or clothes.

[0065] 20. Separate / lndividual items / articles of fabric / textile / linen / laundry / cloth / clothes.

[0066] 30. Transport system / device, e.g. drop chute lc / slidi ng surface 2c / transport path of conveyor, for moving heap / pile / -s 10 and / or Items / articles 20 to / from / between handling station(s) 1, 2, 3.

[0067] 31. One or more third conveyors with belt(s) in the first handling station 1.

[0068] 31a. One / first end of the third conveyor 31.

[0069] 31b. Another / Second end of the third conveyor 31.

[0070] 32. One / First conveyor with belt in the second handling station 2.

[0071] 32a. One / first end of the first conveyor 32.

[0072] 32b. Another / Second end of the first conveyor 32.

[0073] 33. Another / Second conveyor with belt in the second handling station 2.

[0074] 33a. One / first end of the other / second conveyor 33.

[0075] 33b. Another / Second end of the other / second conveyor 33.

[0076] 40. One or more optional containers comprising one or more heaps 10.

[0077] 100. System for handling both heap(s) 10 with separate but bundled together soft items 20 and each item 20 when individually separated / removed / peeled off from associated heap(s). a, ai, a2: Angle of back / receiving wall of inlet / infeed chute of second handling station 2 and / or angle of extension / inclination of optional second conveyor 33 in second handling station relative horizontal plane.

[0078] P, Pi, p2: Angle of extension of first transport conveyor 32 in second handling station 2 relative horizontal plane.

[0079] A, Ai, A2, A3, A : Angle between angles a, ai, a2and p, Pi, p2forming a gaping collector of inlet(s) 2c-.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method for separating one or more heaps (10) of one or more tangled and / or intertwined and / or bundled items (20) of textile by means of one or more handling stations (1, 2, 3) receiving the heap(s) and / or the textile item(s) (20) and one or more transport devices (30, 31, 32, 33) for transporting each heap (10) and / or textile item (20) to and / or through and / or from and / or between the handling station(s), the method comprising:- receiving the heap(s) (10) at a handling station (1, 2),- moving the received heap(s) (10) into an inlet (la, lb, 2c) of the handling station (1,2,3),- moving the heap(s) (10) in the inlet (la, lb, 2c) of the handling station (1, 2) along and at least partly in contact with an inclined surface of the inlet (la, lb, 2c) extending at a receiving angle (a, ai, az) between the horisontal and vertical planes until at least a first part of the heap(s) and / or one or more textile items (20) of the heap(s) at least partly comes into contact with a transport device (30, 31, 32, 33) of the handling station while the heap(s) still has the first part and / or another part and / or one or more of the same and / or other textile items at least partly in contact with the inclined inlet surface (la, lb, 2c),- moving at least the first part of the received heap(s) (10) and / or the textile item(s) (20) being at least partly in contact with the transport device (30, 31, 32) of the handling station (2) away from the inclined inlet surface (la, lb, 2c) along and via / on the transport device towards and to an outlet (lc, 2d) of the handling station at a transport angle ((3, (3i, (3z) between the horisontal and vertical planes and directed or facing away from the receiving angle (a, ai, az) while peeling off one or more textile items (20) from the heap(s), and- moving the peeled off textile item(s) (20) out of the outlet (lc, 2d) of the handling station (1, 2) to be received in another subsequent handling station (3).

2. The method according to claim 1 comprising arranging the inlet (la, lb, 2c) of the subsequent or a second handling station (2) below an outlet (lc) of a first handling or filling station (1).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2 comprising arranging one or more of the transport devices (30, 31, 32) below the inlet (la, lb, 2c) and / or outlet (lc, 2d) of one or more of the handling station(s) (1, 2).

4. The method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 comprising:- arranging at least one first transport device (30, 31, 32) in the handling station (1, 2) below the inlet (la, lb, 2c) of the handling station, and- arranging at least one second transport device (30, 33) in the handling station (1, 2) as a heap receiving part and surface and transport path of the inlet (la, lb, 2c) above / upstream the at least one first transport device (31, 32).

5. The method according to any preceding claim comprising arranging the inlet (la, lb, 2c) of the handling station (1, 2) at / with the receiving angle (a, ai, az) deviating from the horisontal plane at between about 15° and 55°, or between about 20° and 50°, or preferred between about 30° and 45°, or more preferred between exactly 30° and exactly 45° as measured from the horisontal plane clockwise or counter clockwise.

6. The method according to claim 5 comprising arranging the transport device(s) (30, 31, 32, 33) of the handling station (1, 2) inclined with the transport angle ((3, (3i, (3z) being about 20° or about 30°, or being between about 20° and 30°, or being exactly 20°, or being exactly 30°, or being between exactly 20° and exactly 30° as measured from the horisontal plane counter clockwise or clockwise.

7. The method according to any preceding claim comprising arranging the inlet (la, lb, 2c) at / with the receiving angle (a, ai, az) and the transport device(s) (30,32,33) of a handling station (1,2) inclined with the transport angle (P,Pi,(3z) as the legs of an obtuse intermediate angle (A,AI,AZ,A3,A4) for embracing each received heap (10) at least partly from below as a gaping heap collector formed by the obtuse intermediate angle.

8. The method according to any preceding claim comprising- filling a first handling or filling station (1, 2) with the received heap(s) (10) directly by hand and / or by emptying one or more containers (40) comprising the heap(s) (10) into the first and / or the second inlet (la, lb, 2c) of the first handling or filling station (1, 2),- moving the heap(s) (10) from the first and / or the second inlet (la, lb, 2c) of the first handling or filling station (1, 2) to an outlet (lc, 2d) of the first handling or filling station(1, 2) while separating the textile item(s) (20) from the heap(s) (10) and moving the separated textile item(s) (20) out of the outlet (lc, 2d) of the first handling or filling station (1, 2) into a second handling station (2) for further handling and / or for transport to a third handling station (3) for yet further handling and / or transport.

9. The method according to any preceding claim comprising- filling a first handling or filling station (1) with the received heap(s) (10) directly by hand and / or by emptying one or more containers (40) comprising the heap(s) (10) into the first handling or filling station (1), and- moving the heap(s) (10) via an outlet (lc) from the first filling station (1) into the inlet (2c) of a subsequent or second handling station (2, 3) upstream of the first filling station before moving the textile item(s) (20) out of the outlet (2d) of the second handling station (2).

10. A system (100) for separating one or more heaps (10) of one or more tangled and / or intertwined and / or bundled items (20) of textile, the system comprising one or more handling stations (1, 2, 3) configured to receive the heap(s) and / or textile item(s) (20), the handling station(s) being operatively connected with one or more transport devices (30, 31, 32, 33) configured to transport each heap and / or textile item to and / or through and / or from and / or between the handling stations, the system further comprising a handling station (1, 2) to be filled with the heap(s) (10), which heap(s) are to be moved into and through an inlet (la, lb, 2c) of the handling station (1, 2), and one or more transport devices (30, 31, 32, 33) with one or more ends (31a, 32a, 33a) arranged below the inlet (la, lb, 2c), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the inlet (la, lb, 2c) of the handling station (1, 2) comprises an inclined surface configured to be in contact with at least a part of the heap(s) (10) when moved through the inlet, which part of the heap(s) is at least a part of one or more textile items (20), that the inclined inlet surface (la, lb, 2c) is configured to extend at a receiving angle (a, ai, az) between the horisontal and vertical planes and at which the received heap(s) (10) is / are moved downwards while in contact with the inclined inlet surface until the downward heap movement is stopped as the heap(s) comes at least partly into contact with at least one transport device (30, 31, 32) of the handling station (1, 2) below the inclined inlet surface (la, lb, 2c), andthat the at least one transport device (30, 31, 32) is configured to extend at a transport angle (P, Pi, 2) between the horisontal and vertical planes and directed or facing away from the receiving angle (a, ai, 02) as another inclined surface and transport path configured to move the textile item(s) (20) to an outlet (lc, 2d) at a second end (lb, 2b) of the handling station (1, 2), such that the receiving angle (a, ai, 02) and the transport angle ( , Pi, P2) define an obtuse intermediate angle (A, Ai, A2, A3, A4) of which the inclined inlet surface (la, lb, 2c) forms one leg and the at least one inclined transport device (30, 31, 32) forms the other leg as a gaping collector embracing the heap(s) (10) received therein at least partly from below creating contact between the inclined surface of the at least one transport device (30, 31, 32) and at least one or more parts of the textile item(s) (20) of the received heap(s) (10), which contact enables the at least one transport device to peel off one or more textile items from the heap(s) and moving the peeled off textile item(s) to the outlet (lc, 2d) and out to be received in another and subsequent handling station (3).

11. The system (100) according to claim 10, wherein the obtuse intermediate angle (A, Ai, A2, A3, A4) between the inclined inlet surface (la, lb, 2c) and the inclined at least one transport device (30, 31, 32) is between about 100° and 145°, or not less than about 100°, or not larger than about 145°.

12. The system (100) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the inlet (la, lb, 2c) of the handling station (1, 2) is arranged with the receiving angle (a, ai, 02) deviating from the horisontal plane at between about 15° and 55°, or between about 20° and 50°, or preferred between about 30° and 45°, or more preferred between exactly 30° and exactly 45° as measured from the horisontal plane clockwise or counter clockwise.

13. The system (100) according to claim 12, wherein the transport device(s) (30, 31, 32, 33) of the handling station (1, 2) is configured to be inclined with the transport angle (P, Pi, P2) being about 20° or about 30°, or being between about 20° and 30°, or being exactly 20°, or being exactly 30°, or being between exactly 20° and exactly 30° as measured from the horisontal plane counter clockwise or clockwise.

14. The system (100) according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the handling station (1, 2) comprises at least one first transport device (31, 32) arranged below the heap receiving inlet surface (la, lb, 2c) of the handling station, and at least one second transportdevice (33) being part of the heap receiving surface and transport path arranged above / upstream the at least one first transport device (31, 32).

15. The system (100) according to claim 14, wherein the first transport device (32) and the second transport device (33) are configured to move each heap (10) and / or textile item (20) towards the outlet (lc, 2d) of the handling station (1, 2).

16. The system (100) according to any of claims 10 to 15, wherein the first transport device (31, 32) is a conveyor with a belt movable by a motor, preferably an electric motor.

17. The system (100) according to claim 16, wherein the second transport device (33) is a conveyor with a belt movable by a motor, preferably an electric motor.

18. The system (100) according to claim 17, wherein the upper or transport surface of the conveyor belt of the second transport device (33) of the handling station (1, 2) comprises or forms the inclined inlet surface (la, lb, 2c) of the handling station.

19. The system (100) according to any of claims 10 to 17, wherein the inlet (la, lb, 2c) of the handling station (1, 2) comprises a stationary or fixed wall being the inclined inlet surface extending in a direction correlating with the receiving angle (a,ai,az) or is angled in correspondence with the receiving angle (a, ai, az), the stationary angled wall (la, lb, 2c) being configured to be a heap receiving part and surface and transport path of the inlet (la, lb, 2c) arranged above / upstream the at least one first transport device (32).

20. The system (100) according to any of claims 10 to 19, wherein a first handling and filling station (1) comprises at least one other transport device (31) arranged above / upstream the heap receiving inlet surface (2c) of a second handling station (2).

21. The system (100) according to claim 20 wherein the at least one other transport device (31) of the first handling and filling station (1) is a conveyor with a belt movable by a motor, preferably an electric motor.

22. The system (100) according to any of the preceding claims 10 to 21, wherein the at least one first transport device (32) of the handling station (1, 2) extends somewhat past / beyond and slightly below the inlet (la, lb, 2c) of the handling station.

23. The system (100) according to any of the preceding claims 10 to 22, further comprising:- a first handling station (1) to be filled with the heap(s) (10) before being moved out of an outlet (lc) of this first filling station and into and through the inlet (2c) at the first end (2a) of a subsequent or second handling station (2) below the first filling station outlet (lc), and - one or more transport devices (30, 32, 33) with one or more ends (32a, 33a) being arranged below the first filling station outlet (lc) and below the inclined inlet surface (2c) of the subsequent or second handling station (2) and being configured to extend at the transport angle ((3, (3i, ph).

Images