Method and plant for treating textile articles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial laundries face inefficiencies in textile article treatment methods, particularly the need for large storage spaces and manual handling, which increase costs and reduce flexibility in processing and prioritizing deliveries.

Innovation Solution

A method that includes a control and command unit to coordinate the treatment process, allowing for 'just in time' processing and eliminating the need for storage by separating, counting, washing, drying, ironing, and packaging textile articles based on priority delivery orders, with automated counting and packaging to directly compose delivery orders.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If textile articles are processed in homogeneous batches according to client type, then washing performance is optimized, but storage space requirements increase and handling time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewashing performanceVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary sorting of textile articles by type before washing, and prepares washing programs in advance based on predicted article types. This allows articles to be processed continuously without intermediate storage, as the sorting and program preparation happen beforehand, eliminating the need for large storage areas while maintaining batch washing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements continuous processing where articles flow directly from sorting to washing to drying to packaging without interruption. The system coordinates multiple washing machines operating in parallel on different article types, ensuring continuous utilization of equipment and eliminating idle storage periods, thereby reducing storage space requirements while maintaining washing quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Measurement precision

If manual counting and separation of textile articles is performed, then accuracy is improved, but labor costs increase and processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecounting accuracyVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual counting and separation operations with automated optical detection systems and robotic sorting mechanisms. Sensors and cameras detect article types and count items automatically, while robotic arms or conveyor systems sort articles into appropriate batches, achieving both high accuracy and high speed simultaneously, eliminating the trade-off between manual precision and automated speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If textile articles are stored temporarily before delivery, then delivery flexibility is improved, but storage costs increase and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery flexibilityVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic scheduling where washing programs and delivery timelines are continuously adjusted based on real-time article availability and client requirements. The system can prioritize certain article types for faster processing and delivery while maintaining flexibility to adapt to changing demands, eliminating the need for fixed storage areas while preserving delivery adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If multiple washing programs are run in parallel for different article types, then processing efficiency is improved, but equipment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidequipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the laundry operation into separate processing lines for different article types (e.g., linens, garments, delicate items), with each line having specialized washing equipment optimized for that category. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple article types without requiring a single complex multi-functional machine, thereby achieving high productivity while keeping individual equipment units relatively simple and manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3091122B1Method and plant for treating textile articles
Publication Date: 2017.12.13 GHINI DAMIANO
  • EP3091122B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3091122B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Treatment plant and method for treating textile articles, whereby the method comprises a reception step (90) for receiving textile articles from a plurality of clients (X, Y), a step of processing a temporal program of delivery orders of the textile articles to the clients (X, Y) with identification of a priority treatment order of the textile articles of the clients (X, Y); a separating step (91) of the textile articles of the clients (X, Y) into types (A, B); a washing step (92), a drying step (93) and an ironing step (94) of the textile articles; a second counting step (95) of the textile articles, to divide them into groups of articles (A3, A5, B4, B6) to be sent to each of the clients (X, Y); a packaging step (96) for each group of articles (A3, A5, B4, B6) into packages bearing an indication of the destination to one of the clients (X, Y) and a composition step (97) to make up a delivery order for each client (X, Y) during which the packages are allocated to the specific delivery order as a function of said destination indication.