A clothes separating device and a clothes processing apparatus including the clothes separating device according to this disclosure are provided with a separator that operates to grip clothes in a washing tub and to separate, from the gripped clothes, another item of clothes entwined with the gripped clothes. In this manner, a user does not need to separate a plurality of individual items of clothes before folding the clothes. Hence, it is possible to provide the clothes separating device that contributes to reducing a burden of work related to laundry and a clothes processing apparatus including the clothes separating device.

A clothes separating device and a clothes processing apparatus including the clothes separating device according to this disclosure are provided with a separator that operates to grip clothes in a washing tub and to separate, from the gripped clothes, another item of clothes entwined with the gripped clothes. In this manner, a user does not need to separate a plurality of individual items of clothes before folding the clothes. Hence, it is possible to provide the clothes separating device that contributes to reducing a burden of work related to laundry and a clothes processing apparatus including the clothes separating device.

A system for separating and spreading apart an amassed plurality of deformable articles includes an elongated platform configured to receive thereon adjacent an inlet end the amassed plurality of deformable articles. A plurality of arms is disposed in series along the platform. Grippers of each of the plurality of arms are configured to grasp in sequence at least one of the amassed plurality of deformable articles and move the at least one article toward an outlet end opposite the inlet end. The system includes a surface adjacent the outlet end and a last arm in the series of the plurality of arms delivers a separated deformable article into a repositioning work volume above the surface adjacent the elongated platform. Two or more repositioning arms are disposed about the work volume at individually anchored positions for spreading apart and lowering onto the surface the spread apart deformable article for folding.

A system for separating and spreading apart an amassed plurality of deformable articles includes an elongated platform configured to receive thereon adjacent an inlet end the amassed plurality of deformable articles. A plurality of arms is disposed in series along the platform. Grippers of each of the plurality of arms are configured to grasp in sequence at least one of the amassed plurality of deformable articles and move the at least one article toward an outlet end opposite the inlet end. The system includes a surface adjacent the outlet end and a last arm in the series of the plurality of arms delivers a separated deformable article into a repositioning work volume above the surface adjacent the elongated platform. Two or more repositioning arms are disposed about the work volume at individually anchored positions for spreading apart and lowering onto the surface the spread apart deformable article for folding.

Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously separating and sorting a plurality of individual articles from a pile of laundry articles into two or more sorted loads for washing are described. For example, an autonomous sorting and separating system includes a stationary surface configured to receive thereon at a first location the pile of laundry articles. A plurality of actuatable grippers are disposed at spaced apart positions adjacent the stationary surface and comprise a first actuatable gripper configured to grasp, hoist, and deposit at a second location at least one of the plurality of individual articles within reach of a second actuatable gripper. A terminal gripper comprising at least one of the second actuatable gripper and another actuatable gripper is configured to release an individual article into one of the two or more sorted loads. At least one controller is in operable communication with the grippers.

Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously separating and sorting a plurality of individual articles from a pile of laundry articles into two or more sorted loads for washing are described. For example, an autonomous sorting and separating system includes a stationary surface configured to receive thereon at a first location the pile of laundry articles. A plurality of actuatable grippers are disposed at spaced apart positions adjacent the stationary surface and comprise a first actuatable gripper configured to grasp, hoist, and deposit at a second location at least one of the plurality of individual articles within reach of a second actuatable gripper. A terminal gripper comprising at least one of the second actuatable gripper and another actuatable gripper is configured to release an individual article into one of the two or more sorted loads. At least one controller is in operable communication with the grippers.

A method operates a gripping device for separating laundry items from a laundry pile. The gripping device has a suction nozzle unit for suctioning a laundry item lying on the pile that has a nozzle assembly with at least one nozzle and a device for generating a vacuum at the suction nozzle unit opening. The gripping device has gripping elements, which are closed in cooperation so that the gripping elements grip the laundry item in the closed state. The suction nozzle unit opening has a distance from the laundry pile greater than 0 when suction of a laundry item begins. The gripping elements close when a laundry item has been sucked up by the suction nozzle unit so that the suction nozzle unit opening is covered by the laundry item. The laundry item is only partially lifted from the laundry pile when the gripping elements close.

A method operates a gripping device for separating laundry items from a laundry pile. The gripping device has a suction nozzle unit for suctioning a laundry item lying on the pile that has a nozzle assembly with at least one nozzle and a device for generating a vacuum at the suction nozzle unit opening. The gripping device has gripping elements, which are closed in cooperation so that the gripping elements grip the laundry item in the closed state. The suction nozzle unit opening has a distance from the laundry pile greater than 0 when suction of a laundry item begins. The gripping elements close when a laundry item has been sucked up by the suction nozzle unit so that the suction nozzle unit opening is covered by the laundry item. The laundry item is only partially lifted from the laundry pile when the gripping elements close.

A method for preparing and/or monitoring the wet treatment of items of laundry wherein the items of laundry are counted using their electronic data carriers. An electronic data carrier of the item of laundry is determined. If more than a single electronic data carrier is detected, this indicates that there are multiple connected items of laundry which do not permit washing. The electronic data carriers can be used to determine the number of items of laundry loaded into a washing machine and the number of items of the same unloaded batch of laundry. If the unloaded batch of laundry has a lower number of electronic data carriers than during loading, this indicates that not all the items have been unloaded from the washing machine and there is a risk of the washing machine becoming blocked.

The automatic sorting of laundry items requires a knowledge of all sorting criteria. One strives to read these out from data storage media attached to the laundry items. The problem is when laundry items lack data storage media, or they are not readable because they have been damaged, for example. The invention calls for deriving sorting criteria which cannot be otherwise obtained from at least one imaging recording of an imaging device, such as a 3D-camera. Such sorting criteria, which cannot be derived from the picture or recording of the 3D-camera, are derived from supplemental information which can be obtained in different ways. Thus, it is also possible to sort laundry items without data storage medium or with damaged data storage media in a fully automatic or at least largely automatic manner.