Laundry Feeding Clamps for Straight Mangle Entry Without Creasing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry feeding machines face inefficiencies due to loading clamps impeding the movement of spreading clamps after transferring laundry, leading to reduced performance and increased risk of creases and warping.
Innovation Solution
The spreading clamps are lowered after transferring the laundry from loading clamps, allowing them to move freely while the loading clamps remain in their transfer position, and the expanding clamps are raised to position the laundry edge above the conveyor, ensuring a straight feed and minimizing contact with the conveyor to prevent creases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the loading clamps remain in the transfer position after transferring laundry to spreading clamps, then the spreading clamps can immediately move to spread the laundry, but the loading clamps impede the movement of spreading clamps
Solution Approach 1:
The loading clamps are designed to be movable between a transfer position and a retracted position. After transferring the laundry corners to the spreading clamps, the loading clamps are retracted out of the way, allowing the spreading clamps to move freely without obstruction. This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptable to different operational phases.
2Speed
If the spreading clamps move immediately after transfer, then feed rate increases, but the loading clamps obstruct the spreading clamps movement
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp system is segmented into two independent functional units: loading clamps for corner pickup and spreading clamps for laundry spreading. The loading clamps can be independently retracted after transfer, clearing the path for spreading clamps to move at full speed without obstruction. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function without interfering with the other.
3Ease of manufacture
If the laundry front edge contacts the conveyor during feeding, then the feed process is simpler, but creases and warping occur in the laundry
Solution Approach 1:
The spreading clamps are positioned above the conveyor belt rather than in direct contact with it. The clamps hold the laundry corners elevated, creating a gap between the laundry front edge and the conveyor surface. This vertical dimensionality change prevents contact-induced creases while the conveyor still provides horizontal transport support.
4Productivity
If the spreading clamps are lowered to move freely after transfer, then performance increases, but the laundry may contact the conveyor causing creases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt serves as an intermediary support structure beneath the laundry. While the spreading clamps are lowered to improve movement freedom and performance, the laundry remains suspended above the conveyor by the clamps, using the conveyor only as a reference plane and support for the laundry body, not in direct contact at the critical front edge area.
Data Source
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AI summary
The device has a spreading device (14) arranged in a feeding direction (10) of a laundry article prior to a feeding conveyer (11). Two spreading clamps (17) are movable and pivotable transverse to the feed direction. A loading station (19) is arranged in the feeding direction before the spreading device, and comprises loading clamps (21) holding two opposite corners of a forward edge of the laundry article. The spreading clamps are pivoted about two parallel pivotal axes and connected with spreading clamp carriers (18) over a pivotal arm (26). An independent claim is also included for a method for supplying laundry articles into a mangle.