Improved device for raising and/or drawing fabric handworks, particularly linen articles

Abstract

 An improved device (1) for raising and/or drawing fabric articles, particularly linens, comprising a support frame facing a supply shelf (3) accessible to the operator and which receives a stacked pile of fabric articles, and catching means (4), operatively connected to first moving means (5) and coupled with the support frame (2), suitable for firmly grasping and draw the fabric articles from the supply shelf (3) to make them available to a subsequent work station. The improved device (1) includes suction means (6) operatively connected to second moving means (7) and cooperating with the catching means (4) during drawing of the fabric articles from the supply shelf (3) so as to act on the stacked pile of fabric articles before the catching means (4), raising at least partly, one by one, the fabric articles from the stacked pile and making the fabric article just partly raised available to the action of the catching means (4).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved device for raising and/or drawing fabric articles, particularly linens, to be managed in an industrial laundry. The present invention further concerns an operating machine for the separation and/or handling of fabric articles using said improved device for raising and/or drawing the latter.

[0002] As is well known, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, nursing and rest homes, military barracks, municipal or private swimming pools or equivalent facilities deliver linens such as sheets, pillowcases, stain guards, tablecloths, napkins, towels or cloths, even in huge amounts, for laundering and often for ironing.

[0003] The linens to be washed which reach industrial laundries are first temporarily stacked or stored in sacks, also in bulk, if the linens are of an identical type, in order to be subsequently handled by operators for washing in industrial washing machines.

[0004] To ensure effective washing, the goods must be subdivided first of all according to type so as to separate the various linens according to the use thereof, i.e. napkins from sheets, tablecloths, towels and so forth. Moreover, within each category of linens, e.g. tablecloths, the operator of the industrial laundry further subdivides the articles based on the type of cloth or material they are made from in order to reach the highest degree of separation possible. As a result, operators create piles of linens whose number is equal to that of the types of fabric articles to be processed and, for each of these types, the number of types of cloth or material. In the industrial laundry sector, such operations of subdividing the various types of fabric articles are at present mainly performed manually by operators, who separate the articles visually inspecting and directly handling each of them. Recently, however, industrial machines have been offered on the market which automatically recognize and/or select the linens with minimal manual intervention.

[0005] In brief, these industrial machines comprise a supporting framework which stands upon a reference surface, such as the floor of a plant, first conveyance and supply means, e.g. a conveyor belt, coupled with the supporting framework and suitable for receiving the fabric articles, loosely disposed or stacked one on top of the other. The industrial machines in question moreover include second conveyance means, coupled with the supporting framework and cooperating with the first conveyance means from which they receive the fabric articles one by one, as well as sensing means facing the second conveyance means and suitable for acquiring an image of the fabric articles.

[0006] Finally, the industrial machines considered comprise means for identifying and assigning the aforesaid image, and which divide the fabric articles based on type, and collection means, situated downstream of the second conveyance means, suitable for receiving the fabric articles divided according to type by the identifying and assigning means. Specifically, in regard to what is most relevant to the present invention, the most common and widely used second conveyance means comprise a device for raising and/or drawing the fabric articles which in turn includes a support frame facing the first conveyor and supply means and receives the stacked or loose pile of fabric articles.

[0007] The device for raising and/or drawing the fabric articles further comprises catching means, operatively connected to first moving means and coupled with the support frame: said catching means are driven so as to firmly grasp and draw the fabric articles from the first conveyor and supply means in order to make them available to a subsequent work station, for example the sensing means.

[0008] In particular, the catching means have the function of grasping and drawing a single fabric article at a time from the stacked pile and conveying it to the next work station.

[0009] However, the action of the catching means of the aforesaid devices does not always prove effective in this respect, as the catching means themselves often grasp and pick up more than one article at a time from the stacked pile of fabric articles present on the first conveyor and supply means.

[0010] This clearly represents a major limitation to the actual efficacy of the operations, which, in an industrial laundry, must be carried out on the fabric articles downstream of the raising and/or drawing device, for example recognition and/or selection of the fabric articles by the sensing means of the operating machine.

[0011] It is in fact extremely complicated if not improbable for such industrial machines to proceed correctly and efficiently in recognizing and selecting fabric articles, such as linens, if more than at least two articles reach the sensing means simultaneously.

[0012] The present invention aims to obviate at least the aforementioned limitation of the prior art.

[0013] In particular, the main object of the invention is to realize an improved device for raising and/or drawing fabric articles, in particular linens stacked or piled on a generic supply shelf, which offers absolute or in any case greater guarantees than known equivalent devices of picking up a single, well-defined fabric article at a time from the supply shelf itself.

[0014] Stated differently, the primary object of the invention is to create an improved device for raising and/or drawing fabric articles, particularly linens, which is more effective than known devices in drawing a single article at a time from the supply shelf. Within the scope of said object, the task of the present invention is to conceive an improved device for raising and/or drawing fabric articles, particularly linens, which, compared to the prior art, increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the operations which, in an industrial laundry, must be performed on the fabric articles downstream of the device itself, before proceeding to wash them or deliver them back to the customer.

[0015] Another task of the present invention is to provide an improved device for raising and/or drawing fabric articles, particularly linens, which limits the intervention of an operator to resolve or fix problems causing machine downtimes or to correct errors in the pickup from the supply shelf on the one hand and to select and/or sort the fabric articles on the other. The aforesaid objects are achieved by means of an improved device for raising and/or drawing fabric articles, particularly linens, according to claim 1 appended hereto, to which reference is made for the sake of brevity. Further detailed technical characteristics of the improved device of the invention are set forth in the corresponding dependent claims. An integral part of the present invention is also an operating machine for the separation and/or handling of fabric articles, particularly linens, as per claim 11, to which reference is again made for the sake of illustrative simplicity. Other constructive details of the operating machine of the invention are contained in the associated dependent claims.

[0016] Advantageously, the improved device of the invention raises and/or draws a single fabric article at a time from the supply shelf on which, in an industrial laundry, numerous fabric articles, particularly linens, are stacked, eliminating or at least drastically reducing, as compared to the present state of the art, the risk that each drawing manoeuvre gather more than one fabric article. Again advantageously, the improved device for raising and/or drawing fabric articles, particularly linens, to which the invention relates is more effective and reliable than similar known devices in relation to the function for which it is intended. This is thanks to the presence of suction means which cooperate with the catching means during drawing of the fabric articles from the stacked pile present on the supply shelf, acting operatively on the heaped articles in any case before the catching means. Equally advantageously, the improved device of the present invention decidedly improves, compared to the prior art, the efficacy of the operations which, in an industrial laundry, must be performed on the fabric articles downstream of the device itself.

[0017] Advantageously, moreover, the high capacity of the improved device of the invention to draw from the supply shelf a single, precise fabric article each time it is called upon to operate avoids or significantly limits, compared to the prior art, the intervention of an operator to resolve or fix problems causing machine downtimes or to correct errors in the drawing from the supply shelf and select and/or sort the fabric articles. Said objects and advantages, as well as others that will come to light below, will be more apparent from the approximate, illustrative, but non-limiting description that follows of a preferred embodiment of the improved device and of the operating machine of the invention, in relation to the appended drawings where:

• figure 1 is a first axonometric view of the improved device of the invention, installed in an operating machine which is likewise within the scope of protection of the present invention;
• figure 2 is a second axonometric view of the improved device and of the operating machine of figure 1;
• figure 3 is an enlarged view of several construction details of figure 1;
• figure 4 is a partial front view of figure 3.

[0018] The improved device for raising and/or drawing fabric articles, particularly linens, which arrive at an industrial laundry to be cleaned is shown in applicative conditions in figures 1 and 2, where it is denoted as a whole by 1.

[0019] It may be observed that the improved device 1 comprises:

• a support frame, denoted as a whole by 2, which is facing a supply shelf 3 accessible to the operator and receives a stacked pile of fabric articles, not illustrated;
• catching means, denoted as a whole by 4, operatively connected to first moving means, denoted as a whole by 5, and coupled with the support frame 2, suitable for firmly grasping and drawing the fabric articles from the supply shelf 3 in order to make them available to a subsequent work station. According to the invention, the improved device 1 includes suction means, denoted as a whole by 6, operatively connected to second moving means, denoted as a whole by 7 and cooperating with the catching means 4 during drawing of the fabric articles from the supply shelf 3 so as to act on said stacked pile of fabric articles before the catching means 4, raising at least partly, one by one, the fabric articles themselves from the stacked pile and making the fabric article just raised available to be acted upon by the catching means 4. In particular, preferably, the suction means 6 and the first and second moving means 5 and 7 are coupled with the support frame 2.

[0020] In greater detail, preferably but not exclusively, the suction means 6 comprise:

• a movable tubular element 8 defining a longitudinal axis Y along which it is made to slide by second moving means 7 and having at a first end 8a an inlet 9, directly facing the fabric articles, and at a second end 8b, opposite the first end 8a, an outlet 10 away from the fabric articles;
• a fan, not shown in the drawings, coupled with the support frame 2 and communicating with the outlet 10 of the movable tubular element 8. During operation, the movable tubular element 8 is continuously driven by the second moving means 7 for a predefined stroke between:
• an operating position, visible in figures 2-4, wherein the inlet 9 of the movable tubular element 8 is brought near until being disposed almost adjacent to the fabric articles and the fan is activated so that one of the fabric articles is raised from the stacked pile, blocks up the inlet 10 and is graspable on at least a surface portion by the catching means 4;
• a rest position, visible in figure 1, wherein the inlet is removed away from the fabric articles and the suction action of the fan is inhibited so that the surface portion of the fabric article just raised remains grasped only by the catching means 4.

[0021] In the operating position defined above, therefore, the first end 8a of the movable tubular element 8 is closer to the fabric articles than the catching means 4, while in the aforesaid rest position the first end 8a of the movable tubular element 8 is set at a distance from the fabric articles that is equal to or greater than the catching means 4.

[0022] Preferably but not restrictively, the predefined stroke of the movable tubular element, both when it is moving toward and away from the shelf 3 accommodating the fabric articles, has a value in the range of 2-5 cm. Furthermore, the movable tubular element 8, which has for example a diameter of 30 mm, is contained in a lightened box-like structure 11, which extends along the longitudinal axis Y and belongs to the support frame 2, as can be better seen from figures 3 and 4. In relation to the second moving means 7, they preferably comprise a main linear actuator 12 coupled with the tubular element 8 at the second end 8b and fixed to the support frame 2. The improved device 1 further comprises a solenoid valve system, not illustrated, cooperating with the fan in order to inhibit the suction action thereof when the movable tubular element 8 assumes the rest position described earlier.

[0023] Preferably but not necessarily, the catching means 4 comprise a pair of shaped clamps 13, 14 positioned opposite each other and symmetrically disposed relative to the longitudinal axis Y of the movable tubular element 8, which is thus between said shaped clamps 13, 14, as can be clearly observed in figure 4.

[0024] The shaped clamps 13, 14 are moved by rotation by the first moving means 5 between:

• an open position, taken when the movable tubular element 8 assumes the operating position as per figures 2-4, wherein the shaped clamps 13, 14 define an inner space 15 suitable for receiving the surface portion of the fabric article raised from the stacked pile; a closed position, not visible in the figures which follow, taken in any case when the movable tubular element 8 assumes the rest position, wherein the shaped clamps 13, 14 grasp the surface portion of the fabric article raised from the stacked pile present on the supply shelf 3.

[0025] More specifically, the shaped clamps 13, 14 are arranged at the first end 8a of the movable tubular element 8.

[0026] It remains understood that in other embodiments of the invention, not accompanied by reference drawings, the catching means may comprise a number of shaped clamps other than two, that number being able to vary from one up, based on constructive requirements.

[0027] With regard to the first moving means 5, they are, purely by way of example, of the same type as the second moving means 7 and comprise a pair of auxiliary linear actuators16, 17, one for each of the shaped clamps 13, 14, coupled with the support frame 2 and symmetrically disposed relative to the longitudinal axis Y.

[0028] It is clear that, as for the shaped clamps, the number of secondary linear actuators can be other than two in other in constructive solutions, that number being able to vary from one up, according to design choices.

[0029] As already mentioned, the present invention also relates to an operating machine for the separation and/or handling of fabric articles, particularly linens: said operating machine is shown in figures 1 and 2, wherein it is denoted as a whole by 20.

[0030] As may be observed in said figures 1 and 2, the operating machine 20 comprises:

• a base framework 21 standing upon a reference surface, typically the floor of an industrial laundry, and in which there is defined a supply shelf 3 accessible to the operator and suitable for receiving the stacked pile of the fabric articles;
• the improved device 1 for raising and/or drawing fabric articles, which, as already previously seen, comprises:
  • the support frame 2 facing the supply shelf 3 and coupled with the base framework 21;
  • the catching means 4, operatively connected to the first moving means 5 and coupled with the support frame 2, suitable for firmly grasping and drawing the fabric articles from the supply shelf 3 in order to make them available to a subsequent work station.

[0031] In accordance with the invention, the improved device 1 of the operating machine 20 includes suction means 6 operatively connected to and cooperating with the catching means 4 during drawing of the fabric articles from the supply shelf 3 so as to act on said stacked pile of fabric articles before the catching means 4 intervene, raising at least partly, one by one, the fabric articles themselves from the stacked pile and making the fabric article just raised available to be acted upon by the catching means 4. According to the preferred embodiment described here of the operating machine 20 of the invention, the support frame 2 is coupled with the base framework 21 through guide means, denoted as a whole by 22. Moreover, the support frame 2 is operatively connected to motorization means, denoted as a whole by 23, which are fixed to the base framework 21 and suitable for moving the support frame 2 relative to the base framework 21 along a longitudinal axis Y, in general vertical, which is defined by the suction means 6, and here particularly by the movable tubular element 8 belonging thereto.

[0032] More precisely, the guide means 22 comprise a series of sliding rollers 24 defining rotation axes X orthogonal to the longitudinal axis Y and coupled with the support frame by means of a pair of lateral plates 25, 26, which are facing and opposite each other.

[0033] The guide means 22 further comprise a pair of lateral tracks 27, 28 of the base framework 21 on which the sliding rollers 24 rotate, on the one hand bringing the support frame 2 near to the supply shelf 3, according to a typical downward movement, and on the other taking the support frame 2 away from the supply shelf 3, according to an opposite upward movement. In this case, therefore, the supply shelf 3 is disposed beneath the catching means 4 and suction means 6 of the improved device 1 and includes any mechanical conveyance means selected from the group consisting of a conveyor belt 29, movable cart and the like which are suitable for receiving the fabric articles and feeding them toward the improved device 1 along a linear direction Z.

[0034] Preferably, the operating machine 20 also includes a central processing and control unit, not shown, electrically connected to the motorization means 23 and to the first and second moving means 5 and 7 of the improved device 1 so as to control the operation thereof in an automated manner. Based on what has been described above, it may be understood how the improved device for raising and/or drawing fabric articles, as well as the operating machine for the separation and handling of fabric articles, particularly linens, both forming the subject matter of the invention, achieve the objects and provide the advantages mentioned previously.

[0035] At the executive stage, modifications can be introduced to the improved device of the invention, consisting, for example, in catching means different from the previously described ones.

[0036] Moreover, in other unillustrated embodiments of the improved device claimed, the suction means can be different from the ones described herein and illustrated in the drawings that follow, without affecting the advantage brought by the present invention.

[0037] In addition, the support frame can be of another type and composition in other embodiments of the improved device of the invention. Furthermore, also in additional embodiments of the operating machine of the invention, not yet represented, the base framework can have a constructive conception different from the one illustrated in the figures that follow.

[0038] It should be further pointed out that other embodiments of the operating machine of the invention, not yet illustrated, may envisage that the supply shelf, e.g. a conveyor belt, is disposed, relative to the improved device and to the base framework, on the side opposite the one shown in the appended figures; the supply shelf can also be located at any height from the reference surface, chosen based on specific requirements.

[0039] It is clear, finally, that numerous other variants may be introduced to the improved device and operating machine in question, without departing from the principles of novelty inherent in the inventive idea, just as it is clear that, in the practical implementation of the invention, the materials, shapes and dimensions of the details illustrated can be any whatsoever, according to need, and may be replaced with other technically equivalent ones. Where the constructive and technical features mentioned in the subsequent claims are followed by reference marks or numbers, said reference marks have been introduced for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims themselves and, consequently, they shall not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified, purely by way of example, by said reference marks.

Claims

1. Improved device (1) for raising and/or drawing fabric articles, particularly linens, comprising:

- a support frame (2) suitable to be facing a supply shelf (3) accessible to the operator and which receives a stacked pile of said fabric articles;

- catching means (4), operatively connected with first moving means (5) and coupled with said support frame (2), suitable for firmly grasping and drawing said fabric articles from said supply shelf (3) in order to make them available to a subsequent work station, characterized in that it includes suction means (6) operatively connected with second moving means (7) and cooperating with said catching means (4) during drawing of said fabric articles from said supply shelf (3) so as to act on said stacked pile of said fabric articles before said catching means (4) raising at least partly, one by one, said fabric articles from said stacked pile and making said raised fabric handwork available to the action of said catching means (4).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1) characterized in that said suction means (6) include:

- a movable tubular element (8) defining a longitudinal axis (Y) along which it is made to slide by said second moving means (7) and having at a first end (8a) an inlet (9), directly facing said fabric articles, and at a second end (8b), opposed to said first end (8a), an outlet (10) away from said fabric articles;

- at least one fan coupled with said support frame (2) and communicating with said outlet (10) of said movable tubular element (8).

3. Device (1) according to claim 2) characterized in that said movable tubular element (8) is continuously driven by said second moving means (7) for a predefined stroke between:

- an operating position wherein said inlet (9) of said movable tubular element (8) is at least brought near to said fabric articles and said fan is driven so that one of said fabric articles is raised from said stacked pile up to block said inlet (9) and is graspable for at least a surface portion by said catching means (4);

- a rest position wherein said inlet (9) is removed away from said fabric articles and said fan the inhibited so that said surface portion of said fabric articles just raised remains grasped only by said catching means (4).

4. Device (1) according to claim 3) characterized in that said predefined stroke has a value in the range of 2-5 cm.

5. Device (1) according to claim 3) or 4), characterized in that, in said operating position, said first end (8a) of said movable tubular element (8) is closer to said fabric articles than said catching means (4) while in said rest position said first end (8a) of said movable tubular element (8) is placed at a distance from said fabric articles equal to or higher than said catching means (4).

6. Device (1) according to any of the claims from 2) to 5) characterized in that said second moving means (7) includes a main linear actuator (12), coupled with said movable tubular element (8) near to said second end (8b) and fixed to said support frame (2).

7. Device (1) according to any of the claims from 4) to 6) characterized in that it comprises a solenoid valves system, cooperating with said fan in order to inhibit the sucking action thereof when said movable tubular element (8) assumer said rest position.

8. Device (1) according to any of the claims from 4) to 7), characterized in that said catching means (4) include at least one shaped clamp (13, 14) suitable to be moved by rotation by said first moving means (5) between:

- an open position, taken when said movable tubular element (8) assumes said operating position, wherein said shaped clamp (13, 14) defines an inner space (15) suitable to receive said surface portion of said fabric articles raised from stacked pile;

- a closed position, taken when said movable tubular element (8) assumes said rest position, wherein said shaped clamp (13, 14) grasps said surface portion of said fabric handwork raised from said stacked pile.

9. Device (1) according to claim 8) characterized in that said shaped clamp (13, 14) is arranged at said first end (8a) of said movable tubular element. (8).

10. Device (1) a2 Claim 8) or 9) characterized in that said first moving means (5) include at least one auxiliary linear actuator (16, 17.) coupled with said shaped clamp (13, 14) and fixed to said support frame (2)

11. Operating machine (20) for the separation and handling of fabric articles, particularly linens, including:

- a base framework (21) suitable to stand on a reference surface and in which a supply shelf (3) is defined accessible to the operator and suitable to receive a stacked pile of said fabric articles;

- at least one improved device (1) for raising and/or drawing said fabric articles which includes;

• a support frame (2) facing to said supply shelf (3) and coupled with said base framework (21);

• catching means (4), operatively connected with first moving means (5) and coupled with said support frame (2), suitable for firmly grasping and draw said fabric articles from said supply shelf (3) in order to make them available to a subsequent work station, characterized in that said improved device (1) includes suction means (6) operatively connected with second moving means (7) and cooperating with said catching means (4) raising at least partly, one by one, said fabric articles from said stacked pile and making said raised fabric handwork available to the action of said catching means (4).

12. Machine (20) according to claim 11) characterized in that said support frame (2) is coupled with said base framework (21) through guide means (22) and is operationally connected with motorization means (23) fixed to said base framework (21) and suitable to move said support frame (2) with respect to said base framework (21) along a longitudinal axis (Y) defined by said suction means (6).

13. Machine (20) according to claim 11) or 12) characterized in that said supply shelf (3) is arranged below said catching means (4) and said means (6) and includes any mechanical conveyance means selected from the group consisting of a conveyor belt (29), movable cart or similar suitable to house said fabric articles and to move them towards said improved device (1).

Drawing