Method measuring laundry items
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring laundry items are time-consuming and imperfect, particularly when scanning their entire area, which hampers high throughput and reliable sorting.
Innovation Solution
A method using a measuring device to determine the sag and loop of laundry items held by clamp carriages, with the deepest point and width calculated from the slack or loop, allowing for reproducible measurements and identification based on a ratio of these values, enabling efficient sorting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the entire area of laundry items is scanned to measure them, then measurement completeness is improved, but measurement time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential measurement information needed for sorting (sag depth and lowest point) from the complete laundry item area, eliminating the need to scan the entire surface. This selective extraction of critical measurement points resolves the contradiction by providing sufficient measurement data without the time cost of complete scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing complete area scanning (excessive action), the patent applies partial action by measuring only specific critical points (sag depth and lowest point) that are sufficient for laundry classification. This partial measurement approach achieves the necessary measurement precision while dramatically reducing measurement time.
2Reliability
If clamp carriages are introduced individually into the latch conveyor, then sorting accuracy is improved, but throughput rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement and sorting process into distinct stages: measurement occurs while items are on the inclined conveyor, then items are sorted into different storage sections based on measured characteristics. This segmentation allows continuous processing without individual introduction delays, maintaining throughput while ensuring accurate sorting through dedicated measurement and sorting zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary measurement of all laundry items on the inclined conveyor before sorting begins. This preliminary action ensures that sorting accuracy is maintained while allowing items to be sorted in sequence without individual introduction delays, thereby improving throughput rate.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the distance between clamp carriages is varied to accommodate different laundry sizes, then adaptability is improved, but measurement reproducibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent measures laundry items in the vertical dimension (sag depth and lowest point relative to the inclined conveyor) rather than relying on horizontal spacing between clamp carriages. This dimensional change allows consistent vertical measurement references regardless of horizontal distance variations, maintaining measurement reproducibility while accommodating different laundry sizes through the inclined conveyor's adaptive geometry.
Data Source
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AI summary
The method involves displacing clip carriages (22) along a rail (17) by drivers (28), which are moved along the rail. The clip carriages are supplied to the driver by a separating device (30) at a starting position (16) of the rail. The adjacent clip carriages of successive laundry articles (10) are supplied to a respective driver in pairs by the separating device in each case. Retaining adjacent corners (25) of two successive laundry articles are advanced along the rail together one behind the other by the driver preferably in the direction of upward slope of an obliquely running rail. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for measuring laundry articles (2) a device for transportation of laundry articles.