Laundry Mangle Feed Method to Prevent Edge Sag and Creasing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for feeding laundry to a mangle result in an increase in the sag of the front edge of items like bed linen and table linen, leading to creases and deterioration in mangle quality due to the depositing strip coming into contact with the residual sag of the stretched edge.

Innovation Solution

A method where the depositing strip is moved vertically under the edge strip of the laundry at a distance, avoiding contact with the central lowest point of the residual sag, and then gradually reducing this distance to ensure the edge strip is deposited flat on the strip without increasing the sag, thereby preventing creases during transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the depositing strip is moved under the edge strip to accept the laundry, then the laundry can be transferred to the feed conveyor, but the residual sag of the front edge comes into contact with the depositing strip causing increased sag and creases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelaundry transfer efficiencyVSAvoidmangle quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the depositing strip movement, allowing it to move not only horizontally to accept the laundry but also vertically to clear the path under the sagging edge strip. This dimensional change enables the depositing strip to pass underneath the laundry without contact, preventing sag increase while maintaining transfer efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The depositing strip performs a preliminary vertical movement to clear its path before horizontally moving to accept the laundry. This preliminary action of moving vertically upward prevents any contact with the sagging edge strip during the subsequent horizontal transfer motion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Shape

If the spreading clamps hold the corner regions moved apart to stretch the front edge, then the laundry is spread out, but a residual sag remains that causes contact with the depositing strip

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefront edge flatnessVSAvoidresidual sag

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the vertical movement of the depositing strip as an intermediary action that mediates between the stretched front edge and the depositing surface. This intermediary vertical motion allows the depositing strip to pass under the residual sag without contact, preventing the harmful effect of sag increase while maintaining the spread shape

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11761144B2Method for feeding items of laundry to a mangle or the like

Publication Date: 2023.09.19 HERBERT KANNEGIESSER GMBH & CO

AI summary

Laundry items are spread out by a spreading device during which a front edge of the laundry item is stretched out. Subsequently, a front edge strip of the stretched-out front edge is transferred onto a depositing strip which deposits the edge strip onto a feed conveyor which feeds it to a mangle. This front edge typically has a residual sag. In larger laundry items, the depositing strip can collide therewith as it moves down under the edge strip, impairing the mangling quality. Making provision to space the depositing strip from the edge strip, prior to the movement under the latter, to an extent that the edge strip does not collide with the depositing strip as the latter moves down results in the depositing strip accepting the edge strip with a rectilinear front edge and then the laundry item is fed to the mangle and inserted into the latter.