Laundry Machine Loading by Volume Feedback From Dewatering Press
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry machines often experience inefficiencies due to incorrect loading based on weight rather than volume, leading to potential blockages, malfunctions, and suboptimal capacity utilization, especially with varying types of laundry.
Innovation Solution
Determining the volume of laundry in a dewatering press and adjusting the weight of subsequent batches to match the machine's capacity, using volume measurements to calculate correction factors for optimal loading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the weight of laundry is used to determine batch size, then the loading process is simple, but the capacity utilization is insufficient for voluminous laundry
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the weight parameter for batch formation based on the measured volume of laundry. By adjusting the target weight according to volume measurements, the system adapts to different laundry types (voluminous vs. dense) while maintaining simple weight-based loading operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system measures the actual volume of loaded laundry and uses this feedback to adjust the target weight for subsequent batches. This closed-loop control ensures optimal capacity utilization by continuously adapting to the actual volumetric characteristics of different laundry types.
2Reliability
If the weight of laundry is reduced to prevent overloading, then blockages are avoided, but the machine capacity is underutilized
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the weight parameter dynamically based on volume measurements. For voluminous laundry, a lower target weight is set to prevent overloading, while for dense laundry, a higher target weight is allowed, maximizing capacity utilization while preventing blockages in both cases.
Solution Approach 2:
The batch weight target is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system adjusts the appropriate weight limit based on the measured volumetric characteristics of each laundry type, allowing optimal performance across different scenarios.
3Productivity
If the volume of laundry is measured to optimize capacity, then capacity utilization improves, but the measurement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dewatering press serves as an intermediary device that performs both dewatering and volume measurement functions. By utilizing existing equipment for dual purposes, the system avoids adding complex dedicated measurement devices while still achieving accurate volume data.
Solution Approach 2:
The dewatering press is used for multiple functions: dewatering the laundry and measuring its volume. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate measurement equipment, reducing overall system complexity while enabling volume-based optimization.
4Measurement precision
If the volume of laundry is measured in the dewatering press, then accurate volume data is obtained, but the loading process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The volume measurement is performed on previously washed laundry in the dewatering press before the next batch is loaded. This preliminary measurement provides data for optimizing the next batch's target weight without interfering with the current loading operation, maintaining process simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Volume measurement results are fed back to adjust the target weight for subsequent batches. This feedback mechanism uses precise volume data to simplify future loading operations by providing clear target weights, ultimately improving overall process efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
The method involves providing a laundry batch (31) with a pre-determined weight. A volume of the laundry batch is determined in a dewatering press (20) immediately after defined pressure of about 0.5-10 bar is exerted on the laundry batch, where the press is arranged upstream of a continuous washing machine (10). The determined volume of the laundry batch is compared with a retaining volume of the laundry equipment. The laundry batch is provided with larger weight and small weight when the volume of the laundry equipment falls below and exceeds the volume of the laundry batch, respectively.