Method and apparatus for feeding rectangular textile articles to an intake device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handling and feeding rectangular textile articles, particularly laundry items like sheets and tablecloths, to intake or treatment devices is complicated due to difficulties in detecting and gripping suitable positions, which is time-consuming and unreliable.
Innovation Solution
A method involving gripping rectangular textile articles on a corner region, using a clamp and gripper system, where the article is stretched over a conveyor by synchronized movement, allowing for reliable and efficient feeding without additional gripping steps. This includes using cameras for loop detection, a robot arm for precise positioning, and a transport system with variable speed and movement control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple gripping operations are used to handle rectangular textile articles, then the reliability of gripping is improved, but the time required for feeding increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp performs a preliminary hanging action on the corner region before the gripper engages. By pre-positioning the textile article in a hanging configuration, the system eliminates the need for multiple gripping operations. The article is already oriented correctly when the gripper arrives, enabling a single successful gripping action and reducing overall feeding time while maintaining reliability
2Manufacturing precision
If the textile article is fed manually or with complex automatic operations, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp acts as an intermediary device between the transport system and the gripper. It simplifies the positioning task by passively forming the hanging configuration of the textile article during transport, eliminating the need for complex active positioning mechanisms. The clamp's simple mechanical design achieves accurate positioning without increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The textile article itself serves to create the hanging configuration through its own weight and geometry when suspended from the clamp. The system leverages the article's physical properties rather than requiring complex external positioning mechanisms, achieving accurate positioning with minimal device complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If the clamp and gripper move independently, then the flexibility of operation is improved, but the synchronization precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp and gripper are merged into a functionally integrated system where the clamp's movement on the rail system automatically coordinates with the gripper's positioning. The shared rail infrastructure and coordinated control enable the two components to move in synchronized fashion while retaining individual operational characteristics, achieving both flexibility and precision
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for rapidly and reliably feeding textile articles automatically to an intake device wherein, in order to automatically feed rectangular textile articles to an intake device, the separated textile articles are gripped on a portion of an edge. Subsequently, the textile article is pulled on over a conveyor, in order to transport the article to a processing device. To this end, the textile article is first of all fed in a hanging manner in a clamp on a corner region to a pull-on position, and an upper loop of the hanging textile article is determined in this pull-on position. This upper loop of the article is gripped by a gripper and the textile article hanging on the clamp is stretched. The gripper and the clamp pull the textile article, which is stretched or is to be stretched, in a synchronized movement over the conveyor.