Laundry Feeding Layout With Alternating Spreader Clamp Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing input machines for feeding laundry to a mangle often result in long travel paths for spreader clamps, particularly when handling large or multi-lane items, making them impractical for efficient operation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves transferring laundry items to spreading clamps in a regular alternation between different halves or sides of the input machine, combining the 'First in - First out' principle with alternating tracks, ensuring continuous operation and efficient feeding by positioning input stations and spreader clamps to minimize idle travel and maximize input power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If items of laundry are transferred from the same web to spreader clamps according to first-in-first-out principle, then the transfer process is simple to control, but the spreader clamps have to travel very long paths particularly when items are transferred from opposite outer input stations
Solution Approach 1:
The input machine is divided into multiple independent webs (first web and second web), each with its own input stations. This segmentation allows spreader clamps to serve items from different webs alternately, reducing the need for long travel paths across the entire machine width while maintaining FIFO control within each web.
Solution Approach 2:
The spreader clamps operate with periodic action by alternating between serving items from the first web and second web in regular succession. This periodic alternation pattern optimizes the travel path by systematically switching between webs rather than continuously traversing the full machine width.
2Length of moving object
If items of laundry are transferred from feeder stations to the nearest spreader clamps, then the travel path is minimized, but this method is impractical for multi-lane feeding machines and large items of laundry
Solution Approach 1:
The spreader clamps are designed with multi-functionality to handle both small items (served from single lanes) and large items (requiring multiple lanes). The system can adaptively switch between serving patterns: nearest-clip serving for small items and alternating-web serving for large items, making the system versatile for different laundry types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts its serving strategy based on item size and web configuration. For large items spanning multiple webs, the spreader clamps alternately serve from different webs; for small items, they serve from the nearest web, providing dynamic optimization for different operational conditions.
3Productivity
If the feed conveyor has to wait for the spreader clamps to return from long travel paths, then input power is reduced, but changing the serving pattern increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The control system implements periodic alternation between serving from the first web and second web, creating a predictable and rhythmic operation pattern. This periodic control simplifies the logic compared to complex real-time optimization, while significantly reducing idle wait time for the feed conveyor by keeping spreader clamps continuously productive.
Solution Approach 2:
The alternating web serving pattern ensures continuous useful action by preventing spreader clamps from returning empty to the center position. Each clamp alternates between serving items from different webs, eliminating idle travel and maintaining continuous productive operation, thereby maximizing input power without requiring complex control mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
The method involves arranging spreading clamps (18-21). The input units (22-25) of different halves (15,17) are arranged corresponding to spreading clamps to pass the input power. The spreading clamps (18,19) are moved transverse to the input direction (10) for spreading the laundry articles along the feed conveyor (11).