Textile Object Feeding Using Corner Suspension and Loop Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handling and feeding rectangular textile objects, particularly laundry items, into processing devices is complex and unreliable due to the difficulty in identifying suitable gripping positions and orientations, making the process time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize a clamp to suspend textile objects at a corner, identify an upper loop using cameras and pattern recognition, and a gripper to grasp this loop while maintaining a synchronized movement with a conveyor, allowing for efficient and reliable feeding by aligning edges parallel to each other.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple gripping positions are considered and complex orientation identification is performed, then the reliability of gripping is improved, but the time required for the feeding process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and utilizes the naturally forming loop structure at the corner of the textile object as the gripping position. This loop structure inherently provides a reliable gripping point without requiring complex analysis of multiple potential positions, thus maintaining high gripping reliability while reducing the time needed to identify the gripping position.
Solution Approach 2:
The textile object itself creates the gripping loop through its own geometry and the clamping action, eliminating the need for external intervention to create or identify gripping positions. The loop forms naturally at the corner when clamped, providing a self-service solution that is both reliable and time-efficient.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple intermediate steps are used to position and orient the textile object, then the precision of alignment is improved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is positioned to engage the corner of the textile object in advance, which automatically establishes the correct orientation and alignment. This preliminary corner engagement eliminates the need for subsequent intermediate positioning steps, achieving high alignment precision while keeping the device simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention exploits the asymmetric corner geometry of the rectangular textile object to establish a unique and unambiguous gripping position. By targeting the corner rather than attempting to handle the entire object symmetrically, the system achieves precise alignment with minimal device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the gripper and clamp operate independently with multiple gripping actions, then the adaptability to different object positions is improved, but the productivity of the system decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper and clamp are synchronized to operate as a coordinated unit, with the gripper following the clamp's movement. This merging of operations eliminates the need for multiple independent gripping actions, maintaining adaptability to different object positions while significantly improving feeding productivity through streamlined, synchronized motion.
4Area of stationary object
If a compact rail system is used for transport, then the space requirement is reduced, but the complexity of controlling variable speed and rotation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex mechanical control systems with optical detection (cameras) and computational processing (pattern recognition algorithms) to manage the rail system's variable speed and rotation. This substitution maintains the compact space requirements while reducing mechanical complexity through the use of sensing and information processing technologies.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid, reliable, and space-saving automatic feeding of textile objects by minimizing the need for intermediate steps and ensuring consistent alignment without tearing or wrinkling, suitable for handling square or rectangular items.
Implementation Method 1
the textile object is captured by one, two, or more cameras, preferably a 3D camera, especially from different directions, and the upper loop of the hanging object is determined
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a method and a device for the rapid and reliable automatic feeding of textile objects to an input device. This is achieved by automatically feeding rectangular textile objects to an input device by grasping the individual textile objects at a section of one edge. Subsequently, the textile object is wound onto a conveyor (24) to transport it to a processing device. For this purpose, the textile object is first fed to a winding position (32) suspended by a clamp (31) at a corner (12), and in this winding position (32), an upper loop (14) of the suspended textile object is detected. This upper loop (14) of the object is grasped by a gripper (29), and the textile object suspended by the clamp (31) is stretched.The gripper (29) and the clamp (31) pull the stretched or to-be-stretched textile object over the conveyor (24) in a synchronized movement.