Clothes folding machine
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clothes folding machines require multiple stages for longitudinal and transverse-line folding, leading to increased size and folding time, with conveyer-type machines being particularly bulky due to multiple conveyer layers and separate loading, folding, and unloading units.
Innovation Solution
A clothes folding machine design where primary and secondary transverse-line folders are compactly disposed at a single stage, with a push board and conveyers sharing a guide bar to minimize space and folding time, allowing multiple transverse-line folding within a minimal movement distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple conveyer layers are used for primary and secondary transverse-line folding, then folding function is improved, but machine size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines primary and secondary transverse-line folding operations into a single conveyer layer by disposing multiple transverse-line folders (first and second folders) at different positions along the conveyer path. This allows multiple folding functions to be performed sequentially on the same layer rather than requiring separate layers, thereby reducing the vertical space and overall machine size while maintaining complete folding functionality.
2Manufacturing precision
If longitudinal and transverse-line folding are performed at separate stages, then folding precision is improved, but machine size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a vertical stacking arrangement (multiple layers) to a horizontal sequential arrangement (single layer with multiple folders). By disposing the first and second transverse-line folders at different longitudinal positions along the conveyer path, the system performs multiple folding operations in sequence within the same layer, converting the spatial requirement from vertical to horizontal dimension while maintaining folding precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple conveyer layers are used for folding, then folding capability is improved, but folding time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous folding action by performing primary and secondary transverse-line folding operations in sequence on the same conveyer layer without requiring the clothes item to be transferred between layers. The clothes item moves continuously through the conveyer system, undergoing folding operations at different positions along the path, which eliminates idle transfer time and maintains continuous productive action throughout the folding process.
4Adaptability or versatility
If clothes are moved longer distance for folding on multiple layers, then folding function is improved, but clothes become disheveled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the folding function into multiple discrete transverse-line folders (first and second folders) positioned at different locations along the conveyer path. Each folder performs a specific folding operation at a designated position, segmenting the overall folding process into controlled stages. This segmentation allows for precise control of each folding action while minimizing unnecessary movement distance, as the clothes item is folded progressively at each position rather than being moved extensively between layers.
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 and conveying a clothes item gripped by grippers into the case, a folding unit including a longitudinal-line folder folding both sleeves of the clothes item conveyed by the loading unit in a width direction and a transverse-line folder longitudinally folding the clothes item several times, 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.