Laundry Feed Conveyor Alignment Using Vision-Guided Gripping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for separating and feeding laundry items to further treatment devices, such as mangles or folding machines, are only partially automated, making it difficult to determine the optimal point for grasping and aligning items for reliable and efficient processing.
Innovation Solution
The use of imaging devices to control the grasping and alignment of laundry items, combined with a gripper movable in three axes, allows for fully automated separation and feeding by determining the most favorable grasping point and aligning the items with the feed conveyor, ensuring precise and efficient transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual separation and feeding methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but automation extent and productivity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical separation and feeding operations with an automated system comprising imaging devices (cameras), coordinate extraction units, and controlled grippers. The imaging devices capture images of laundry items, the coordinate extraction unit processes these images to determine optimal grasping points and alignment, and the gripper executes the separation and feeding actions automatically, eliminating the need for manual intervention.
2Manufacturing precision
If partial automation is used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision and reliability of grasping point determination deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback loop where imaging devices continuously capture images of the laundry items, the coordinate extraction unit processes these images to determine the optimal grasping point and alignment, and this information is fed back to control the gripper's positioning and movement. This closed-loop feedback system ensures high precision in determining grasping points and aligning items with the feed conveyor, while the modular architecture keeps device complexity manageable.
3Productivity
If multiple items are gripped simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but separation reliability and alignment precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a selective gripping strategy where the system determines whether to grip one or multiple laundry items based on their configuration and the processing requirements. The imaging device and coordinate extraction unit analyze the laundry pile to identify optimal grasping opportunities, allowing the system to grip multiple items simultaneously when favorable conditions exist (improving productivity) while maintaining the capability to separate and align each item reliably (maintaining separation reliability).
Data Source
AI summary
The isolating and feeding of pieces of laundry (20) to a feed conveyor (21) requires gripping, transfer and alignment processes. In known devices and methods, said processes cannot be reliably automated. The invention relates to the isolating of pieces of laundry from a pile of laundry by an imaging apparatus. An additional imaging apparatus serves for the aligned uptake of a front edge region of the piece of laundry onto the feed conveyor. Furthermore, the gripping of corners or also edges, in particular the alignment thereof, can be detected by an imaging apparatus. Based on the positions and edge profiles of the pieces of laundry determined by the imaging apparatuses, the gripping and aligning thereof can be controlled or regulated. A reliable, fully automatic isolating of pieces of laundry and/or fully automatic, targeted feeding of pieces of laundry to a folding machine or other laundry subsequent handling apparatus is thus ensured.