U.S. patent number RE31,453 [Application Number 06/078,971] was granted by the patent office on 1983-12-06 for laundry feeding apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Beta S/A. Invention is credited to Niels J. Olsen, Henry J. Weir.
United States Patent |
RE31,453 |
Olsen , et al. |
December 6, 1983 |
Laundry feeding apparatus
Abstract
A loading station located at one side of a feeding conveyor,
into which the corners of a sheet can be loaded. The station
comprises two movable clamping devices supported on a track which
runs across the rear of the feeding conveyor. Each clamping device
is driven by an independent transmission system, the two
transmission systems are connected to a selfcentering interlock
mechanism. The centering mechanism is arranged to permit
independent movement of the two clamping mechanisms, whereby they
can move from the side position into a position in front of the
feeding conveyor. The centering mechanism will then automatically
control the tensioning and positioning of the leading edge of the
sheet which is held by the clamping devices irrespective of the
width of the sheet. This will result in the center of the sheet
being positioned in line with the required feeding center of the
feed conveyor.
Inventors: |
Olsen; Niels J. (Bornholm,
DK), Weir; Henry J. (Dublin, IE) |
Assignee: |
Beta S/A (Luxembourg,
LU)
|
Family
ID: |
8135679 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/078,971 |
Filed: |
September 25, 1979 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
610373 |
Sep 4, 1975 |
04050173 |
Sep 27, 1977 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
38/143 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F
67/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
D06F
67/00 (20060101); D06F 67/04 (20060101); D06F
067/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;38/143 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rimrodt; Louis
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wallenstein, Wagner, Hattis,
Strampel & Aubel
Claims
What is claimed is: .[.1. Apparatus for spreading and feeding
pieces of laundry, comprising:
a conveyor for receiving laundry from a spreading apparatus; said
conveyor having an upstream and a downstream end;
a spreading apparatus comprising at least one pair of clamping
devices; each said clamping device including means for holding a
piece of laundry; said clamping devices being positioned upstream
of said upstream end of said conveyor and above said conveyor;
clamping device moving means for moving said clamping devices of
said pair thereof apart and together crosswise to the motion of
said conveyor and always upstream of said conveyor;
a blade positioned further upstream from said conveyor than said
clamping devices and positioned above said conveyor; said blade
being movable toward said conveyor to contact the piece of laundry
held by said clamping devices and to move the piece of laundry onto
said conveyor..]. .[.2. Apparatus for spreading and feeding laundry
of claim 1, wherein said clamping device moving means comprise a
separate transmission for each said clamping device; the two said
transmissions for said pair of clamping
devices move said clamping devices together and apart..]. .[.3.
Apparatus for spreading and feeding laundry of claim 2, wherein
each said transmission comprises:.]..Iadd.Apparatus for spreading
and feeding pieces of laundry, comprising:
a conveyor for receiving laundry from a spreading apparatus;
said conveyor having an upstream and a downstream end;
a spreading apparatus comprising at least one pair of clamping
devices; each said clamping device including means for holding a
piece of laundry; said clamping devices being positioned upstream
of said upstream end of said conveyor and above said conveyor;
clamping device moving means for moving said clamping devices of
said pair thereof apart and together crosswise to the motion of
said conveyor and always upstream of said conveyor; said clamping
device moving means comprising a separate transmission for each
said clamping device; the two said transmissions for said pair of
clamping devices moving said clamping devices together and apart,
each said transmission comprising: .Iaddend.
a first group of stationary pulleys; a second group of movable
pulleys; a sliding bar; said second group of pulleys being mounted
on said sliding bar; each said sliding bar of each said
transmission of said pair of clamping devices being .[.slidable.].
.Iadd.movable .Iaddend.toward and away from said sliding bar of
said transmission of the other said clamping device of said pair;
means for .[.sliding.]. .Iadd.causing .Iaddend.said sliding bars to
move toward each other and apart;
each said transmission further comprising a cable loop passing
around both said first and said second pulley groups of said
transmission and also being attached to the respective said
clamping device, whereby said sliding bar and said clamping device
.[.moves.]. .Iadd.move .Iaddend.together.Iadd.; and
a blade positioned further upstream from said conveyor than said
clamping devices and positioned above said conveyor; said blade
being movable toward said conveyor to contact the piece of laundry
held by said clamping
devices and to move the piece of laundry onto said conveyor
.Iaddend.. 4. Apparatus for spreading and feeding laundry of claim
3, wherein said means for sliding said sliding bars comprises:
.[.a.]. respective pneumatic .[.cylinder attached to each said
clamping device.]. .Iadd.cylinders .Iaddend.for moving the said
clamping devices and for causing the respective said sliding bar
which is attached to each said clamping device to move toward the
other said sliding bar of the
other said clamping device of said pair. 5. Apparatus for spreading
and feeding laundry of claim 4, wherein one said cable loop of the
pair of said transmission cable loops of said pair of clamping
devices includes a crossing in the pathway of the one said cable
loop for causing motion of both said clamping devices of said pair
thereof in the same direction when
their said sliding bars are moving toward each other. 6. Apparatus
for spreading and feeding laundry of claim .[.2.].
.Iadd.3.Iaddend., further comprising a plurality of said pairs of
clamping devices; each said pair
of clamping devices having respective said moving means. 7.
Apparatus for spreading and feeding laundry of claim 6, wherein all
of said clamping device moving means further comprise two straight
parallel tracks extending crosswise of and being positioned above
and upstream of said conveyor; each said track supporting at least
one said clamping device
pair. 8. Apparatus for spreading and feeding laundry of claim 7,
wherein each said track has respective opposite end portions; each
said track supports two said pairs of clamping devices; each said
pair of clamping devices being positioned to start moving from a
respective said end
portion of its said track. 9. Apparatus for spreading and feeding
laundry of claim 7, wherein said blade comprises two separate blade
parts extending toward each other; a respective pivot arm
supporting each said blade part; a respective upright support for
each said pivot arm and each said pivot arm being pivotally
supported to pivot about its said upright support; each said blade
part being pivotable by its said pivot arm to
move through an arc toward and over said conveyor. 10. Apparatus
for spreading and feeding laundry of claim .[.1.].
.Iadd.3.Iaddend., wherein said blade comprises two separate blade
parts extending toward each other. A respective pivot arm
supporting each said blade part; a respective upright support for
each said pivot arm and each said pivot arm being pivotally
supported to pivot about its said upright support; each said blade
part being pivotable by its said pivot arm to move through an arc
toward and over said conveyor. .Iadd. 11. In a laundry handling
system including a conveyor for receiving laundry from an upstream
end thereof; the improvement in apparatus for first spreading and
then applying a piece of laundry in a spread-out condition upon the
upstream end of said conveyor, said apparatus comprising: at least
first and second pairs of laundry retaining means for spreading
laundry pieces, each pair of such means being mounted on a pair of
carriages movable on stationary track means in a path laterally
across the upstream end of said conveyor, said pairs of carriages
being initially positioned in contiguous relation at respective
laterally spaced laundry receiving stations, each of said pair of
laundry retaining means being adapted releasably to receive the
opposite corner portions of a piece of laundry like a sheet or the
like when the retaining devices are contiguous to one another at
the associated receiving station; moving means associated with each
pair of carriages for moving the carriages on said track means
laterally apart to spread the laundry piece opposite and above the
upstream end of said conveyor; and pushing means for applying a
force to the side of a spread apart piece of laundry facing away
from the conveyor when the pair of carriages involved have reached
spaced points where the laundry piece is completely spread apart
for pushing said spread apart laundry piece upon the upstream end
of said conveyor as the pair of retaining means involved release
the spread apart laundry piece, said means for pushing said spread
apart laundry upon said conveyor being the sole means for initially
moving the spread apart laundry piece upon said conveyor; and each
of said moving means returning the pair of spaced apart carriages
involved to contiguous positions opposite a receiving station when
the laundry piece involved is released therefrom. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
12. The laundry handling system of claim 11 wherein said laundry
receiving stations of said first and second pairs of laundry
retaining means are spaced substantially on opposite sides of the
center point of the upstream end of said conveyor, each of said
moving means first moving the associated pair of carriages from its
receiving station together to the approximate center point of the
upstream end of said conveyor, and the moving one of the carriages
past said center point to the opposite side of the conveyor while
reversing the direction of movement of the associated carriage, so
that the laundry piece is spread apart in a centered position
opposite the upstream end of said conveyor, each of said moving
means after release of said laundry piece from the associated pair
of laundry retaining means returning the associated pair of
carriages to the laundry receiving station from which it was
originally moved. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 13. The laundry handling system
of claim 12 wherein said laundry receiving stations for said pairs
of carriages are located beyond the side margins of said conveyor.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 14. The laundry handling system of claim 13 wherein
there is provided a third and fourth pair of laundry retaining
means and associated carriages and moving means like said first and
second pair of laundry retaining means and the associated carriages
and moving means, the carriages of said third and fourth pair of
laundry retaining means being respectively initially positioned in
confronting relation to the carriages of said first and second pair
of laundry retaining means, to provide four separate laundry
receiving stations beyond the side margins of said conveyor.
.Iaddend. .Iadd. 15. The laundry handling system of claim 11, 12,
13 or 14 wherein each of said laundry receiving stations is adapted
to have an operator stationed thereat who manually attaches the
corner portions of a laundry piece to the pair of laundry retaining
means thereat. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. The laundry handling system of
claim 11, 12, 13 or 14 wherein said pushing means are a pair of
confronting horizontally extending members initially extending
parallel to and across the upstream end of said conveyor where the
pushing members are also located behind and extend generally
parallel to the face of a spread apart piece of laundry facing away
from the upstream end of the conveyor, said pair of pushing members
being mounted for pivotal movement about pivot axes adjacent the
opposite sides of the upstream end of the conveyor so that the
pushing members can be pivoted forwardly against the face of said
spread apart laundry piece facing away from the upstream end of the
conveyor to push the same upon the conveyor. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 17.
The laundry handling system of claim 11, 12, 13 or 14 wherein said
moving means associated with each pair of carriages includes a
separate transmission for each carriage comprising stationary
pulley means, movable pulley means secured to a common member, a
flexible motion transmitting means extending between the stationary
and movable pulley means of each transmission and secured to the
associated carriage so that a given degree of movement imparted to
the associated common member will be multipled manyfold at the
point where the associated flexible motion transmitting means is
connected to the associated carriage, and a selectively operable
control device associated with each carriage and associated
transmission and having a first condition where the associated
carriage is located at the associated laundry receiving station and
a second condition where the associated carriage could be moved
past and beyond the center of the upstream end of said conveyor,
and control means movable by the common member of one of the
transmissions for reversing the condition of the control device
associated with the other transmission and the direction of
movement of the common member associated with the other
transmission when the associated carriage has reached the center
portion of said upstream end of said conveyor, to effect the
immediate reversal of direction of movement of the carriage
associated with the other transmission. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 18. For
use with a conveyor for receiving laundry from an upstream end
thereof; the improvement in apparatus for first spreading and then
applying a piece of laundry in a spread-out condition upon the
upstream end of said conveyor, said apparatus comprising: at least
first and second pairs of separately movable and feedable laundry
retaining devices for spreading laundry pieces and respectively to
be moved in paths laterally across the upstream end of said
conveyor and being respectively initially positioned at laundry
receiving stations spaced laterally on opposite sides of the center
point of the upstream end of said conveyor, each pair of laundry
retaining devices being adapted releasably to receive the opposite
corner portions of a piece of laundry like a sheet or the like when
the retaining devices are contiguous to one another at the
associated receiving station; and moving means associated with each
pair or retaining devices for first moving the associated pair of
laundry retaining devices from its receiving station together to
the approximate center point of the upstream end of said conveyor,
and then continuing without stopping to move one of the laundry
retaining devices past said center point to the opposite side of
the conveyor while immediately reversing the direction of movement
of the associated laundry retaining device, so that the laundry
piece is spread apart in a centered position opposite the upstream
end of said conveyor; and pushing means for engaging the side of a
spread apart piece of laundry facing away from the conveyor when
said pairs of retaining devices have reached a point where the
laundry piece is completely spread apart for pushing said spread
apart laundry piece upon the upstream end of said conveyor as the
pair of retaining devices involved release the spread apart laundry
piece, said means for pushing said spread apart laundry upon said
conveyor being the sole means for initially moving the spread apart
laundry piece upon said conveyor; and each moving means returning
the spaced apart pair of laundry retaining devices to contiguous
positions opposite its original receiving station when the laundry
piece involved is released therefrom. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. The
laundry handling system of claim 18 combined with said conveyor so
that said laundry retaining device moves across the upstream end of
said conveyor and wherein the laundry receiving stations for each
pair of laundry retaining devices are located beyond the side
margins of said conveyor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. The laundry handling
system of claim 19 wherein there is provided two pairs of said
laundry retaining devices initially located at separated laundry
receiving stations beyond each side of said conveyor and in
confronting relationship thereat, and separately and sequentially
operable moving means for said pairs of laundry retaining devices
like said moving means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. The laundry handling
system of claim 18 wherein said moving means associated with each
pair of laundry retaining devices includes a separate transmission
for each device comprising stationary pulley means, movable pulley
means secured to a common member, flexible motion transmitting
means extending between the stationary and movable pulley means of
each transmission and secured to the associated laundry retaining
device so that a given degree of movement imparted to the
associated common member will be multiplied manyfold at the point
where the associated flexible motion transmitting means is
connected to the associated laundry retaining device, and a
selectively operable control device associated with each retaining
device and associated transmission and having a first condition
where the associated laundry receiving station is located at the
associated laundry receiving station and a second condition where
the associated laundry retaining device would be moved past and
beyond the center of the upstream end of said conveyor, and control
means movable by the common member of one of the transmissions for
reversing the condition of the control device associated with the
other transmission and the direction of movement of the common
member associated with the other transmission when the associated
retaining device has reached the center portion of said upstream
end of said conveyor, to effect the immediate reversal of direction
of movement of the retaining device associated with said other
transmission. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. The laundry handling system of
claim 21 wherein each of said laundry retaining devices is
supported on a carriage movable along a stationary track extending
along the upstream end of said conveyor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 23. The
laundry handling system of claim 18 wherein said pushing means are
a pair of confronting horizontal members initially extending
parallel to and across the upstream end of said conveyor where the
pushing members are also located behind and extend generally
parallel to the face of a spread apart piece of laundry facing away
from the upstream end of the conveyor, said pair of pushing members
being mounted for pivotal movement about pivot axes adjacent the
opposite sides of the upstream end of the conveyor so that the
pushing members can be pivoted forwardly to sweep against the face
of said spread apart laundry piece facing away from the upstream
end of the conveyor to push the same upon the conveyor.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 24. For use with a conveyor for receiving laundry
from an upstream end thereof, the improvement in apparatus for
first spreading and then applying a piece of laundry in a
spread-out condition upon the upstream end of said conveyor, said
apparatus comprising: at least one pair of laundry retaining
devices for spreading laundry pieces and respectively to be moved
in a path laterally across the upstream end of said conveyor and
being respectively movably positioned at a laundry receiving
station spaced laterally from the center point of the upstream end
of said conveyor, each pair of laundry retaining devices being
adapted releasably to receive the opposite corner portions of a
piece of laundry like a sheet or the like when the retaining
devices are contiguous to one another at the associated receiving
station; and moving means associated with each pair of retaining
devices for first moving the associated pair of laundry retaining
devices from its receiving station together to the approximate
center point of the upstream end of said conveyor, and then
continuing without stopping to move one of the laundry retaining
devices past said center point to the opposite side of the conveyor
while immediately reversing the direction of movement of the
associated laundry retaining device, so that the laundry piece is
spread apart in a centered position opposite the upstream end of
said conveyor, said moving means associated with each pair of
laundry retaining devices including a separate transmission for
each device comprising stationary pulley means, movable pulley
measn secured to a common member, flexible motion transmitting
means extending between the stationary and movable pulley means of
each transmission and secured to the associated laundry retaining
means so that a given degree of movement imparted to the associated
common member will be multiplied manyfold at the point where the
associated flexible motion transmitting means is connected to the
associated laundry retaining device, and a selectively operable
control device associated with each retaining device and associated
transmission and having a first condition where the associated
laundry retaining device is located at the associated laundry
receiving station and a second condition where the associated
laundry retaining device is moved past and beyond the center of the
upstream end of said conveyor, and control means movable by the
common member of one of the transmissions for reversing the
condition of the control device associated with the other
transmission and the direction of movement of the common member of
the transmission associated with said other control device when the
associated retaining device has reached the center portion of said
upstream end of said conveyor, to effect the immediate reversal of
direction of movement of the retaining device associated with said
other control device. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 25. In an apparatus having a
conveyor for receiving laundry flat pieces, said apparatus
including at least first and second pairs of clamps for releasably
gripping respective laundry flat pieces at adjacent corners along a
top edge thereof, the improvement wherein said first pair of clamps
are initially positioned closed to each other at a first loading
station near one end of the apparatus at one side of the centerline
of the conveyor for the insertion of said corners of a first
laundry flat piece into said first pair of clamps by an operator
stationed there, and there is provided moving means for moving said
first pair of clamps simultaneously from said first loading station
laterally in one direction to positions close to each other midway
across the apparatus while continuing to grip said adjacent corners
of the second laundry flat piece, for thereafter spreading said
first pair of clamps apart laterally in opposite directions away
from the centerline of the conveyor while said second pair of
clamps continue to grip the adjacent corners of a second laundry
flat piece, whereby to return one clamp of the first pair toward
said first loading station while moving the other clamp of the
first pair farther away from said first loading station until the
laundry piece is fully spread apart, and thereafter for returning
said other clamp of the first pair to said first loading station
close to said one clamp of the first pair; said second pair of
clamps being initially positioned close to each other at a second
loading station near the opposite end of the apparatus at the
opposite side of the centerline of the conveyor for the insertion
of said corners of the second laundry flat piece into said second
pair of clamps by a second operator stationed there, and moving
means for moving said second pair of clamps simultaneously from
said second loading station laterally in the opposite direction to
positions close to each other midway across the apparatus while
continuing to grip said adjacent corners of a second laundry flat
piece, for thereafter spreading said second pair of clamps apart
laterally in opposite directions away from the centerline of the
conveyor while said second pair of clamps continue to grip said
adjacent corners of the second laundry piece, whereby to return one
clamp of said second pair toward said second loading station while
moving the other clamp of said second pair farther away from said
second loading station until the laundry piece is fully spread
apart, and thereafter for returning said other clamp of said second
pair to said second loading station close to said one clamp of said
second pair. .Iaddend..Iadd. 26. An apparatus according to claim 25
wherein each of said moving means include separate flexible means
operatively coupled respectively to each clamp to position the same
individually; and said flexible means extending transversely across
said conveyor and being offset from each other longitudinally of
the conveyor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 27. An apparatus according to claim
26 wherein each flexible means is operatively coupled individually
to a corresponding reversible drive unit
to have its operation controlled thereby. .Iaddend.
Description
The invention relates to an apparatus for spreading and feeding
pieces of laundry, such as sheets, on a conveyor. More
particularly, the apparatus comprises a number of paired clamping
devices, which feed and spread the pieces of laundry between the
front end of a belt conveyor and the apparatus further comprise a
substantially horizontally movable blade. Following release of the
clamping devices each of which is holding a corner of the piece of
laundry, the movable blade transfers the laundry to the belt
conveyor.
A known apparatus comprises three pairs of clamping devices, which
are positioned at each of three loading stations. The laundry is
transferred by the clamping devices to a pair of gripper fingers at
spreading section. The gripper fingers initially move apart in
front of a belt conveyor, spreading the sheet of laundry to its
full width. Then the gripper fingers move in the feeding direction
of the conveyor and over its front end and release the sheet. The
sheet is transported by the conveyor to for example an ironer.
This known apparatus has drawbacks. It is complicated in
construction, and it performs a number of operations, of which some
must be synchronized and others have to be coordinated in order to
evenly distribute the load on the three feeding stations. Because
of the complexity of its functions, this known apparatus is not
able to fully use the capacity of modern ironing machines.
Modern ironing machines often have an operational speed of more
than 1 m/sec. Such speed corresponds to a theoretical output of
1300-1800 pieces of laundry per hour, depending on the length of
each piece. A trained team of 4 or 5 operators is able to manually
feed up to 1000 pieces of laundry per hour, with the normal
production being 800-900 pieces per hour.
The operational speeds of known apparatus for spreading and feeding
laundry vary depending on the type and design of the apparatus. The
best results until now, however, has been a speed of approximately
1000 pieces per hour. The advantage gained until now through
automation of the laundry feeding process, therefore, is a
reduction in the number of operators involved in feeding laundry
and a reduction in the requirements as to their training and skill.
Another advantage is that the pieces of laundry can be exactly
centered, facilitating automation of a subsequent folding
process.
In the known laundry feeder referred to above the manual work is
distributed evenly between 2 or 3 operators, who have to insert 500
or 333 pieces of laundry per hour respectively in the clamping
devices. In the known apparatus the speed of laundry insertion is
limited by the conditions under which the operators have to work.
As the laundry normally is placed behind the apparatus, the
operators have to turn their bodies in order to insert the corners
of each sheet in the clamping devices of each station. This turning
requires ample space if the operators are not to disturb each
other.
The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for
spreading and feeding pieces of laundry on a conveyor at a speed
which substantially corresponds to the capacity of a modern ironer,
and which spreading apparatus is to be operated by up to four
operators working at four stations arranged in such a way that the
work areas of the operators do not interfere.
A further object of the invention is to provide a drive mechanism
for the clamping devices of the laundry feeding apparatus, which
clamping devices have small moments of inertia and are also able to
position laundry at the required feeding center of the feeding
conveyor.
A further object of the invention is to provide a blade mechanism
that performs a smoothing action on the leading edge of each piece
of laundry which is being released simultaneously with the
activation of the blade.
The apparatus of the invention spreads and feeds pieces of laundry
such as sheets, onto a conveyor. The apparatus comprises a number
of paired clamping devices, which feed the pieces of laundry from a
loading station and spreads them in a position between the front
end of a belt conveyor and a substantially horizontally movable
blade. The clamping devices each hold a corner of the piece of
laundry. Upon release of the clamping devices from a piece of
laundry, the movable blade transfers the piece of laundry to the
belt conveyor. Each clamping device is driven by an independent
transmission system. The two transmission systems in each pair of
clamping devices are connected to a selfcentering interlock wherein
further activation of the transmission system will move the
clamping devices apart, spreading the leading edge of the piece of
laundry before it is transferred to the conveyor.
In one embodiment of the invention each independent transmission
comprises cable loops threaded over a series pulleys. One pair of
groups of pulleys are mounted in a fixed position. Another pair of
groups of pulleys are mounted on a sliding bar. Each sliding bar is
driven by a pneumatic cylinder. One of the cable loops in a pair of
clamping divide has a crossing for driving the clamping means in
the same direction when the sliding bars are driven towards each
other.
In another embodiment of the invention the transmission systems are
arranged on two straight and parallel tracks running across and in
front of the conveyor. Each track supports two pairs of clamping
devices with the loading stations for the clamping devices being at
the ends of the tracks. The loading stations of the two tracks are
arranged face to face.
Preferably the blade comprises two blade parts each supported by a
pivotable arm. The arms are arranged to move the blade parts in an
arcuate outwardly directed movement over the conveyor.
Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from
the detailed description disclosing an embodiment of an apparatus
according to the invention.
In the drawings
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the feeding and spreading apparatus
in a perspective view,
FIG. 2 is a traverse section view along the center line of the
embodiment according to FIG. 1 and
FIG. 3 shows schematically the cable operating mechanism for each
pair of clamping devices.
The apparatus according to FIG. 1 comprises a conveyor 1 with two
spaced apart drums 2 and 3, around which a row of parallel belts is
driven. The conveyor 1 is placed in front of an ironer (not shown)
in such a way that pieces of laundry which have been spread on to
the conveyor 1 are fed into the ironer. At the front end of the
conveyor 1 two columns 38 and 39 are mounted. These carry two
tracks 6 and 7 which run parallel with and are above the front drum
3 and are in front of the conveyor. The tracks are somewhat longer
than the width of the conveyor and protrudes beyond the columns
.[.41, 42.]. .Iadd.38, 39 .Iaddend.at both sides. On each of the
tracks 6 and 7 are movably mounted two pairs of clamping devices 8,
9 and 10, 11, on track 6 and 8', 9' and 10', 11' on track 7. In
their non-activated positions the clamping devices rest in pairs at
the ends of the tracks. These devices define a total of four
loading stations placed pairwise front to front, a pair on each
side of the conveyor.
Each clamping device comprises a carriage 12, on which a pair of
spring-loaded gripping fingers 13 is mounted. The carriages include
means for enabling them to ride along and engage the tracks 6 and
7. The gripping fingers 13 are activated by means of insertion of a
corner of an article or a piece of laundry. The article is then
held by the fingers until the gripping fingers 13 are separated by
means of suitable releasing means, and the the article is released.
The separating means are to be described later.
Above the tracks 6, 7 a transmission described below for the
carriages 12 is arranged to make two distinct movements. In the
first movement the carriages will travel together from the loading
station to the centre of the track. Then in a second movement the
carriages will move apart in opposite directions until the article
suspended in the gripping fingers is spread and tensioned.
Preferably, this relative movement of the carriages is such that
the article is spread exactly symmetrically with respect to the
centre line of the conveyor. The transmission may also be arranged
in such a way that the spreading takes place symmetrically around
some other point across the conveyor permitting simultaneous
spreading of smaller articles side by side on each half of the
conveyor.
The transmission may be constructed in several ways. The preferred
embodiment is driven pneumatically and its movements are
transferred by means of cables which are threaded on a series of
narrow, grooved pulleys in such a way that a short movement of a
pneumatic piston cylinder combination is transformed into a long
fast movement, but with less power. In FIG. 3 the cable arrangement
for moving two clamping devices 8 and 9 is shown schematically. Two
pneumatic cylinders 41 and 42 are arranged to drive the pair of
carriages of the two clamping devices in such a way that each
cylinder drives one carriage in a separate transmission system. The
arrangement in FIG. 3 shows how two transmission systems are
arranged so that the relative movement spreading the article or
sheet is always symetrical with respect to a predetermined point on
the track, normally the centreline of the apparatus.
The cable arrangement comprises eight groups of pulleys 15, of
which four groups of pulleys 16, 17, 18, 19 are mounted in a fixed
position, the other four groups 20, 21, 22, 23 being movably
mounted. The groups 20 and 21 are mounted on a first sliding bar
25. The groups 22 and 23 are mounted on a second sliding bar 26.
Affixed to the first sliding bar 25 there is a loop of cable 27
which is connected to the carriage of the clamping device 9. The
loop 27 is threaded through pulleys 15, 16, 17, 21 and around a
number of pulleys 28 mounted at fixed positions. The other carriage
of the clamping device 8 is connected with a second loop of cable
29. Loop 29 is threaded through pulleys 18,19,22,23 and is guided
around pulleys 30 mounted at fixed positions. In the preferred
arrangement one of the loops 27 of cable at 31 has a crossing
having the effect that a movement of the two sliding bars 25,26 in
opposite directions will make the two carriages travel along the
track in the same direction. Extending between the two sliding bars
25, 26 there is a pushing rod 40 of a length corresponding to the
distance between the sliding bars in the predetermined centre
position with the carriages close together. The two carriages of
the clamping devices 8 and 9 are driven by separate respective
pneumatic cylinders 41 and 42.
The functioning of the arrangement is now described. With the two
carriages .[.8,9.]. close together at a starting position
corresponding to the loading station both pneumatic cylinders will
be activated simultaneously. The two sliding bars approach each
other as the carriages move side by side along the track in front
of the conveyor. When the predetermined position, normally the
centerline of the conveyor, is reached the sliding bars are in
contact through the pushing rod and cannot come closer to each
other. Now the cylinder moving the .[.carriage 9.]. .Iadd.carriage
associated with the clamping device 9 .Iaddend.is deactivated while
the other cylinder moving the carriage .[.8.]. associated with the
clamping device 8 is still activated. The sliding bar 25 pushes the
other sliding bar 26 by means of the pushing rod, whereby the two
carriages .[.8,9.]. .Iadd.associated with the clamping devices 8,9
.Iaddend.will move away from each other. This movement continues
until the edge of the piece of laundry by which it is suspended in
the clamping devices is fully stretched. This stretched condition
is sensed by means of a photo cell which activates the releasing
means and activates the pneumatic cylinders to move in the opposite
direction, whereby the clamping devices 8,9 return to the starting
position in the loading station. The force by which the edge of the
piece of laundry is stretched may be controlled, for example, by
regulating the air pressure in the pneumatic system.
For each pair of clamping devices a complete transmission mechanism
is provided comprising the above described pneumatic cylinders and
cables. Therefore, a subsequent laundry spreading cycle with
another pair of clamping devices may start its movement towards the
centre of the apparatus even before the first pair of devices has
returned to its starting position. This makes it possible to start
a new cycle 2 to 2.5 seconds after the previous cycle.
When a piece of laundry has been spread out in front of the
conveyor 1 it has to be transferred to the conveyor with the edge
by which it is suspended as the leading feed edge. This is
performed by means of a blade 32, arranged to perform a movement
between the track and the top of the conveyor. The arrangement of
the blade is seen in FIG. 2 showing a section through the
apparatus. Simultaneously with the activation of the blade 32 the
releasing means are also activated. The releasing means comprises a
rod of the same length as the width of the conveyor. The releasing
means is moved in such a way that the clipping fingers are opened
against the tension of the springs, the clipping fingers being held
open by means of a pawl, which may be released by inserting a piece
of laundry between the clipping fingers.
The blade is preferably made in two parts, which simultaneously
with the travel over the top run of the conveyor causes a brushing
movement outward from the centre line. As shown in FIG. 1 the blade
may comprise two telescopic parts 33,34 supported by pivoted arms
43,44 swinging around respective substantially vertical axes 45,46.
Each part of the blade may be supported by two pivoted arms, or the
blade may comprise telescopic parts as shown.
The blade and the releasing means are preferably driven from a
common pneumatic cylinder (not shown) being mechanically
interconnected in such a way that the clipping fingers are opened
exactly when the blade touches the suspended and spread piece of
laundry. The blade then transfers the piece of laundry to the
conveyor, at the same time brushing and spreading it on the
conveyor. The movement of the blade is quick, as the transfer of
the piece of laundry has to be faster than the speed of the
conveyor and as the blade has to return out of the way before the
next piece of laundry is centered and spread out in front of the
conveyor.
In each of the loading stations a contact is placed activating a
system of relays and switches which in a predetermined sequence or
in form of a queue activates the above described cycle. The
operator just inserts two corners of a piece of laundry in the
respective clamping devices and when it touches the pawl between
the clipping fingers, the spring is released and the piece of
laundry is held until the releasing means opens the clipping
fingers. Then the piece of laundry is released. When the operator
has inserted the two corners he activates the contact. The
apparatus then makes a work cycle returning to the starting
position ready for insertion of another piece of laundry. The
functions of the apparatus are controlled by means of two photo
cells, a first one sensing when the upper edge of the article is
fully stretched, the second one sensing when the trailing edge is
passing a predetermined point and activating the next cycle on the
apparatus.
In front of the conveyor 1 two belts 35,36 are arranged. These
belts have a spreading action on the pieces of laundry and spread
them out in front of the conveyor. The outer sides of the belts are
run in the direction towards the centre of the conveyor assisting
in centering the articles before the spreading.
In some cases it may be convenient to spread the laundry manually
on the conveyor. To overcome this problem the apparatus can have
the beam carrying the tracks arranged in such a way that the tracks
with the four loading stations are retracted over the feeding
conveyor giving access to the front drum of the conveyor.
* * * * *