Laundry Feeding Conveyor Pre-Spreading for Faster Mangle Input

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for feeding laundry into a mangle are time-consuming as they require spreading clamps to move apart over the entire width of the laundry, which slows down the feeding process.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that pre-spread the laundry using conveyor sections with varying distances to reduce the amount of spreading needed by the clamps, allowing for partial pre-spreading before transferring to the spreading device, thereby reducing cycle times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the spreading clamps move apart over the entire width of the laundry, then the laundry is fully spread out, but the feeding process becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespreading completenessVSAvoidfeeding cycle time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor device performs preliminary spreading of the laundry by transporting it between guide surfaces that are spaced apart, preparing the laundry for final spreading by the spreading clamps. This preliminary action reduces the distance the spreading clamps must travel, resolving the contradiction between complete spreading and time efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The spreading process is divided into two segments: preliminary spreading by the conveyor device with guide surfaces, and final spreading by the spreading clamps. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function more efficiently, with the conveyor handling the bulk of the spreading distance and the spreading clamps completing the process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If the spreading clamps are moved apart over the entire width of the laundry, then the laundry is properly spread, but the feeding capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelaundry spreading qualityVSAvoidfeeding capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor device with spaced guide surfaces performs the preliminary spreading action before the laundry reaches the spreading clamps. This preliminary spreading ensures the laundry is properly prepared and positioned, allowing the spreading clamps to complete the process quickly without compromising spreading quality, thus maintaining high feeding capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The guide surfaces on the conveyor device act as an intermediary that begins the spreading process. These guide surfaces prepare the laundry by creating initial separation, which then facilitates the final spreading action by the spreading clamps, ensuring both quality and efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2045391B1Method and device for feeding laundry items into a laundry treatment device, in particular a mangle
Publication Date: 2015.03.25 HERBERT KANNEGIESSER GMBH & CO
  • EP2045391B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2045391B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2045391B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method involves transferring laundry items at stretched clamps (15) of a stretching mechanism (14) by a conveyer system (17). The laundry items are stretched by the stretching mechanism for further transportation of the stretched laundry items from a feeding conveyor (12) into a laundry treatment device. The laundry items are stretched to a large extent by the conveyer system, and the stretched laundry items are passed at the stretched clamps and/or are taken over by the stretched clamps. The laundry items are stretched with two adjacent corners at transportation clips (19). An independent claim is also included for a device for feeding laundry items into a laundry treatment device.