Clothes folding machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clothes folding machines require multiple stages for longitudinal and transverse folding, leading to increased height and size due to the need for separate loading, folding, and unloading processes, and struggle with folding various clothing sizes and types efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A clothes folding machine with a longitudinal-line folder integrated at the loading stage, featuring movable sub-boards that can slide and rotate to accommodate different clothing sizes, allowing simultaneous longitudinal folding of both sleeves without interference, and a compact design by eliminating the need for multiple folding stages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple stacked conveyers are used for separate loading, folding, and unloading processes, then the folding function is achieved, but the height and size of the folding machine are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the loading unit and longitudinal-line folder into a single integrated stage, allowing both functions to occur simultaneously at the same level rather than requiring separate stacked stages. This merging of functions reduces the vertical space needed while maintaining full folding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated stage serves multiple functions: it acts as both a loading platform and a longitudinal folding mechanism. The movable sub-boards enable the same structure to perform both garment intake and initial folding operations, eliminating the need for dedicated separate stages for each function.
2Device complexity
If a fixed longitudinal-line folder is used for primary longitudinal-line folding, then the folding process is simplified, but the folder cannot accommodate various clothing sizes and types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed longitudinal-line folder into a dynamic structure with movable sub-boards that can adjust their position. The sub-boards are equipped with driving mechanisms that allow them to move horizontally along guide rails, enabling the folder to adapt to different garment widths, sleeve lengths, and body sizes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed is a clothes folding machine, which includes a case, a loading unit disposed at an upper portion of the case, having a plurality of grippers, and conveying a clothes item gripped by the grippers into the case, a folding unit including a longitudinal-line folder folding both sleeves of the clothes item along longitudinal line to overlap and a transverse-line folder configured to fold the clothes item along a transverse line to overlap, and an unloading unit disposed at a lower portion of the case and conveying the clothes item folded by the folding unit outside the case.