Ironing Roller Feed Guidance for Even Laundry Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ironing machines and mangles face issues with uneven loading due to consistent feeding of small-format laundry at the same input position, leading to increased wear on components, inefficient energy use, and inconsistent finish quality.
Innovation Solution
An ironing machine or mangle equipped with a sensor system that detects the occupancy of the ironing or mangle area using temperature sensors or other sensor types, integrated in the feed area, providing an optical or acoustic display to guide operators in evenly distributing laundry across the roller width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If small-format items of laundry are always supplied to the same input position for convenience, then ease of operation is improved, but the ironing roller experiences increased wear and service life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a sensor system with multiple sensor elements arranged across the width of the ironing roller to detect the actual loading position. This detection information is fed back to the control device, which then provides guidance signals to the operator via display or acoustic output, creating a closed-loop feedback system that directs operators to distribute laundry evenly across the roller width, thereby reducing localized wear while maintaining operational ease
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical instruction methods (such as physical labels or stickers on the machine) with an electronic sensor-based detection and guidance system. The sensor elements electronically monitor loading positions and the control device electronically guides operators, substituting mechanical wear-prone labeling systems with a durable electronic feedback mechanism that achieves the same operational guidance function
2Ease of operation
If small-format items of laundry are always supplied to the same input position, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision of laundry finish is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system continuously monitors the loading position across the ironing roller width and provides real-time feedback to the control device. This feedback enables the system to guide operators in distributing laundry items evenly, ensuring that each item receives consistent ironing treatment regardless of size, thereby maintaining uniform finish quality while preserving operational convenience
3Ease of operation
If the ironing or mangle unit is partially loaded due to consistent feeding at one position, then ease of operation is improved, but use of energy is worsened due to unnecessary heating
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor elements detect which portions of the ironing roller are actually occupied by laundry items. This detection information is processed by the control device to identify underutilized heated zones. The system then guides operators to distribute subsequent laundry items into these underutilized areas, ensuring more uniform energy utilization across the heated surface and reducing waste energy while maintaining operational ease
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter of laundry distribution pattern from fixed (always same position) to variable (distributed across different positions). By dynamically adjusting where laundry items are placed on the roller based on sensor feedback, the system optimizes energy utilization across the heating elements, ensuring that heated areas are consistently occupied and energy is not wasted on empty heated zones
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Extends the service life of the roller covering, maintains higher ironing performance, and ensures consistent laundry finish quality by preventing partial loading and optimizing energy use.
Implementation Method 1
temperature sensors detect the temperature differences that result from the area occupied when ironing an item of laundry compared to the free area without an item of laundry
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to an ironing machine or mangle (1) with a control device (4) for controlling the ironing or mangle operation, and with an ironing trough (3) and a rotating ironing roller (2) which, during the ironing and mangle process, transported to missing items of laundry (9) from the input area (7) to the output area (10) of the device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating such an ironing machine or mangle. In the embodiment according to the invention, it is provided that the ironing machine or mangle (1) comprises a sensor system (6), which is arranged in the input area (7) for the items of laundry (9), that the sensor system (6) when an ironing or ironing process detects the input position of an item of laundry (9) and/or the ironing or ironing area not occupied by the item (9) of laundry, and that the sensor system (6) is connected to a display device (7) for control purposes, the display device (7) a display can be shown which relates to the input position occupied by the item of laundry (9) and/or to the ironing or ironing area not occupied by the item of laundry (9). With an ironing machine or mangle designed in this way, the operator is instructed by a visual display to enter the laundry evenly distributed over the entire width of the roller, which has a positive effect on the regular maintenance service and also on the finish result of the ironing and mangle.