Method for determining the shorter and/or longer edge of pieces of laundry and for feeding pieces of laundry into a laundry treatment device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the longer and shorter edges of rectangular laundry items with unequal lengths are not fully automatic, relying on manual identification and are not suitable for imaging devices, limiting the ability to automatically feed these items to laundry treatment devices.
Innovation Solution
A method that automatically determines the longer and/or shorter edge of rectangular laundry items by measuring angles and lengths starting from a freely hanging corner, using edge regions that run in a straight line or ideally in a straight line, allowing for reliable differentiation and assignment of edges, which can be implemented using imaging devices and edge detection systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If imaging devices are used to detect corners of laundry items, then corner detection is improved, but the ability to determine longer and shorter edges automatically is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the laundry item detection process into two distinct phases: first detecting corner points using imaging devices, then determining edge orientations by analyzing the geometric relationships between these corner points. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently, achieving both precise corner detection and automatic edge determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical identification of edges with an automated optical-mechanical system. Imaging devices capture the laundry item, and computational algorithms automatically determine edge orientations by analyzing corner point coordinates, eliminating the need for manual intervention in edge identification.
2Measurement precision
If manual identification of edges is used, then edge determination is achieved, but productivity is reduced due to manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation where the imaging device and computational algorithms work together to automatically determine edge orientations without human intervention. The system processes laundry items autonomously, maintaining accurate edge identification while significantly improving processing throughput by eliminating manual steps.
3Manufacturing precision
If imaging devices detect corners for feeding, then feeding accuracy is improved, but automatic determination of longer and shorter edges is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary detection of all four corner points using imaging devices before determining which edges are longer or shorter. This preliminary action provides the geometric data needed to calculate edge orientations and identify the correct feeding direction, enabling both precise feeding alignment and automatic edge determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the imaging device to continuously monitor and adjust the feeding process. By analyzing the positions of detected corner points, the system determines edge orientations and provides feedback control to ensure accurate alignment of the longer or shorter edge with the feeding direction.
Data Source
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AI summary
The fully automatic feeding of laundry items (10) to, for example, an input machine (11) is carried out selectively with either the long edge (14) or the short edge (15) of the respective laundry item (10) running transversely to the feeding direction (13). For this to work, it is necessary to know which edge of the laundry item (10) is the long edge (14) or the short edge (15). The invention enables the automatic identification of the long edge (14) or the short edge (15) of the laundry item (10) by determining the lengths or angles of the edge regions (26, 27) of the laundry item (10) extending from a lower corner (25) of the laundry item (10). From the determined angles or lengths of the edge regions (26, 27) it can be deduced whether the respective edge region (26, 27) belongs to the long edge (14) or to the short edge (15) of the piece of laundry (10).With this information, a targeted transverse or longitudinal feed of rectangular laundry items (10) to a subsequent input machine (11) can be carried out.