Textile gripper
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing textile grippers struggle with varying friction conditions due to different laundry types, fabric thickness, and environmental factors, requiring multiple attempts and increased space for handling, especially with dirty or unfolded laundry.
Innovation Solution
A textile gripper with rotatable gripping members featuring protruding elements that deform the fabric to create a wrinkle, allowing for gripping through counter-rotation and adjustable distance between axes, reducing reliance on friction and enhancing gripping efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If friction-based gripping is used with rollers, then gripping force is generated, but gripping effectiveness deteriorates with varying laundry types and dirty laundry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the gripping mechanism from friction-based to deformation-based by introducing protruding elements that physically deform the fabric to create wrinkles. This parameter change in the gripping approach makes it independent of friction coefficients, thereby resolving the reliability issue with varying laundry types and dirty laundry while maintaining effective gripping force
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the friction-based mechanical gripping system with a deformation-based system using protruding elements. This replacement eliminates dependency on friction (the mechanical property that fails with dirty laundry) and uses fabric deformation instead, which remains effective across different laundry conditions
2Reliability
If multiple grippers are arranged in series, then gripping reliability improves, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple gripping functions into a single gripper by equipping one gripper with multiple protruding elements that can independently engage with different parts of the laundry. This consolidation achieves the reliability of multiple grippers while reducing device complexity and space requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The single gripper is designed with multi-functionality through multiple protruding elements that can simultaneously or sequentially engage with different laundry pieces or different parts of the same laundry, making one gripper perform the work of multiple grippers
3Reliability
If multiple gripping attempts are made, then gripping success rate improves, but handling time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protruding elements perform a preliminary action by deforming the fabric and creating wrinkles before the actual gripping occurs. This preliminary deformation ensures that the gripping surfaces are properly engaged on the first attempt, eliminating the need for multiple retry attempts and reducing handling time
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
The gripper achieves improved gripping results with varying laundry types, requiring fewer attempts and ensuring a higher chance of gripping a single piece, even with dirty or unfolded laundry, while being compact and efficient.
Implementation Method 1
the gripping members (30, 33) are provided with one or more protruding gripping elements (5) that extend radially outwards from the first and/or second gripping surface (31, 34), that are arranged with respect to each other to engage with the fabric of a laundry piece and are configured to, with the counter-rotation, provide a wrinkle in the fabric that is gripped between the first and second surfaces
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~4C
Figure 5A~6
AI summary
Textile gripper for handling laundry, e.g. in a collection or dispensing system, comprising a mounting section configured to be attached to a gripper mover to move the textile gripper between at least a laundry input position and a laundry output position; a gripping section attached to the mounting section and comprising a first gripping member having a first gripping surface that is rotatable about a first rotation axis and a second gripping member having a second gripping surface that is rotatable about a second rotation axis; and a drive unit coupled to the gripping section and configured to drive the first gripping member and the second gripping member with respect to each other; wherein the first gripping member and the second gripping member are counter-rotatable in opposite directions with respect to each other, such that the counter-rotation allows a piece of laundry to be gripped between the first and second surfaces, characterised in that the gripping members are provided with one or more protruding gripping elements that extend radially outwards from the first and/or second gripping surface, that are arranged to engage with the fabric of a laundry piece and are configured to, with the counter-rotation, provide a wrinkle in the fabric that is gripped between the first and second surfaces.