Conveyor device for a folding apparatus for folding textiles

Abstract

A conveyor device for a folding apparatus for folding textiles includes an infeed region for a textile and an outfeed region for a folded textile. A first belt conveyor conveys the textile on a first conveyor plane from the infeed region to a first transfer unit, which feeds the textile to a second conveyor plane of a second belt conveyor. At least one second transfer unit and at least one additional belt conveyor having an additional conveyor plane are disposed downstream of the belt conveyor. At least two subassemblies, each configured as modular conveyor units are provided, into which one belt conveyor and at least one transfer unit are each integrated. The conveyor device is modularly configured, in that a plurality of modular conveyor units are disposed one atop the other and connected to each other.

Claims

1. A conveyor device for a folding apparatus for folding textiles, the conveyor device comprising: an infeed region for a textile and an outfeed region for a folded textile; a first transferer; a first belt conveyor defining a first conveyor plane and a second belt conveyor defining a second conveyor plane; said first belt conveyor conveying the textile on said first conveyor plane from said infeed region to said first transferer and said first transferer feeding the textile to said second conveyor plane of said second belt conveyor; at least one second transferer and at least one additional belt conveyor defining an additional conveyor plane, said at least one second transferer and said at least one additional belt conveyor being disposed downstream of said second belt conveyor; at least two subassemblies each configured as modular conveyor units, one of said belt conveyors and at least one of said transferers being integrated into each respective one of said at least two subassemblies; and said at least two subassemblies forming a plurality of modular conveyor units disposed atop one another, connected to one another and providing the conveyor device with a modular configuration.

2. The conveyor device according to claim 1, which further comprises at least one drive strap driving a plurality of said belt conveyors in common.

3. The conveyor device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one transferer of at least one of said modular conveyor units is pivotable relative to said at least one modular conveyor unit from an operating position into a service position.

4. The conveyor device according to claim 3, wherein said at least one transferer is under spring tension in said operating position.

5. The conveyor device according to claim 4, wherein each respective transferer includes one or more straps applying the spring tension.

6. The conveyor device according to claim 4, wherein one of said transferers and a corresponding belt conveyor form a gap therebetween, said gap widening in dependence on a thickness of a conveyed textile.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to illustrations of preferred exemplary embodiments. The attached drawing shows:

(2) FIG. 1 a schematic side view of a folding apparatus for folding textiles with a conveyor device,

(3) FIG. 2 a perspective view of the folding apparatus in FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 a side view of a further exemplary embodiment of a conveyor device before assembly,

(5) FIG. 4 a side view of the conveyor device in FIG. 3 in assembled state in a maintenance state,

(6) FIG. 5 a perspective view of the conveyor device in FIGS. 3 and 4 in operational state and

(7) FIG. 6 a side view of the conveyor device in FIG. 5 while transporting a textile.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) FIGS. 1 and 2 are side and perspective views of a first exemplary embodiment of a conveyor device according to the invention for a folding apparatus for folding textiles. The conveyor device comprises a feed or infeed region 1 for a textile 2 (in FIG. 1 only depicted schematically as a flat laundry item). A first belt conveyor 3 with a conveyor belt or conveyor band (hereinafter generally ‘conveyor strap’) 4 transports the laundry item 2 in the arrow direction 5. Herein, one single conveyor strap or a plurality of conveyor straps 4 can be provided, which rotates, or rotate, over a deflecting roller 6 and returns, or return, below a first conveyor plane 8 formed by the upper sides of the straps 4 in an approximately parallel plane 9 and is, or are, deflected around a driven deflecting roller (driving roller) 12. A drive of the driving roller 12 over a drive strap 14 is indicated schematically by a drive 15 of a drive motor that is not shown in greater detail. Herein, the deflecting rollers 6, 12 are mounted in two opposite side parts 16, 18.

(9) The belt conveyor 3 further conveys the laundry item 2 in the arrow direction 5 to a first transfer unit 20. The transfer unit has clamped conveyor straps 22, which rotate over a first deflecting roller 24 and an additional deflecting roller 25 to a driving roller 26. The rollers 25, 26 are mounted with each of their ends in a side plate 27, 28. A pivotable lever 30, 31 that can be pivoted about a pivot axis formed by two pivot points 32, 33 and in its operating position 34 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is in each case fixed by interlocking elements 37, 38 engaging behind pins is coupled to each side plate 27, 28.

(10) The straps 22 wrap round a partial circumference of the straps 4 of the first belt conveyor 3 running over the deflecting roller 6. Viewed in the drive direction 40 of the straps 22, the straps 22 are released again when the region of the deflecting roller 6 is exited. On the input side, in the region 42, they form an initially tapering minimum gap 43 with the straps 4. The straps 4 then run as far as the driving roller 26 and their upper sides form a second conveyor plane 45 for textiles. Below this, the straps run in a plane 46 to the deflecting roller 25. Thus, a second belt conveyor 48 is formed. Together with the transfer unit 20, as an integral component and firmly connected thereto, this forms a first subassembly 49. This subassembly 49 is self-contained and constitutes a first modular conveyor unit 50, which can be assembled in advance and tested.

(11) Herein, the transfer unit 20 can slightly spring back around the pivot points 32, 33 if a laundry item with a thickness greater than the minimum gap 43 formed between the belts 22 and the belts 4 enters this minimum gap. In order to make the region between the first belt conveyor 3 and the second belt conveyor 48, laterally from the left, and the conveyor plane 45 accessible, the interlocking elements 37, 38 are unlocked so that the transfer unit 20 can be swung open counterclockwise in the arrow direction 52.

(12) For better understanding, in FIG. 1 the further-transported laundry item 2 on the second conveyor plane 45 is indicated after it has between transferred from the first belt conveyor 3 over the transfer unit 20 to the second belt conveyor 48 and further transported on the conveyor plane 45 in the arrow direction 54 (for example to a first folding step that is not shown in further detail). In this position, the laundry item is designated 2′ for differentiation.

(13) On additional transport in the arrow direction 54, the laundry item 2′ enters the drawing-in region 56 of a second transfer unit 60. This has substantially the same design as the transfer unit 20. A plurality of straps 62 run over an upper deflecting roller 64, a lower deflecting roller 65 embodied as a driving roller and a third deflecting roller 66. Like the driving roller 12, the driving roller 65 is driven over the common drive strap 14 by the drive 15.

(14) In this way, the laundry item 2′ enters a minimum gap 68, which (as already explained above in connection with the transfer unit 20) springs back if the thickness of the textile 2′ necessitates this. Herein, the spring tension in the transfer units 20, 60 is created by the tension of the straps 22 or 62. The transfer unit 60 is connected to an additional belt conveyor 70 with conveyor belts or straps 72 which rotate over a deflecting roller 73 and a driving roller 74, wherein the rollers 73, 74 are mounted in opposite side plates 75, 76. For tensioning the strap and for changing a conveying gap 77 between the deflecting roller 66 and the roller 74, the roller 74 can be mounted so as to be displaceable in the arrow direction 79 against the force of a spring 78 and the force of an opposite additional spring, not visible here.

(15) In a similar way to that described above, the belt conveyor 70 and the second transfer unit 60 form a second modular conveyor unit 80 in that the above-described components 60, 70 are arranged integrally in a subassembly 81 and borne by the side plates 75, 76, such that they can be mounted as prefabricated modular assemblies that can be inspected in advance—as will be explained in more detail below—with additional modular conveyor units to the conveyor device according to the invention.

(16) The laundry item (in FIG. 1, only indicated schematically and designated 2″ for differentiation), which, in the course of the further transport, is trapped in the minimum gap 68, further transported over the strap 62 and finally deposited on a conveyor plane 86 of the belt conveyor 70, is first further transported in the arrow direction 79 toward the left. For further folding processes, not described in detail here, the drive of the belt conveyor 70 can be reversed so that, after a folding process, the laundry item 2″ is conveyed back toward the right against the direction of the arrow 79 and hereby enters the conveying gap 77 formed between the straps 62 and 72. Hence, (as only indicated in FIG. 1), the laundry item arrives on an additional conveyor plane 92 of an additional belt conveyor 93. The conveyor plane 92 is formed by upper sides of rotating straps 94, which run over a deflecting roller 95 and a driving roller 96. For differentiation, in this position on the conveyor plane 92, the laundry item is designated 2′″ and is conveyed in the arrow direction 97 toward the left in the direction of an additional transfer unit 98.

(17) The transfer unit 98 has substantially the same design as the transfer units 20, 60, as, for example, described in detail in connection with the modular conveyor unit 80. The transfer unit 98 is connected to an additional belt conveyor 99, wherein the transfer unit 98 and the belt conveyor 99—like the components of the belt conveyor 70 and the second transfer unit 60 forming the modular conveyor unit 80—form a modular conveyor unit 100 in that they are implemented as integral components of a subassembly 101. The transfer unit 98 comprises straps 105, which run over a driving roller 107 (driven by a drive strap 106 that is only indicated in the drawing) and deflecting rollers 108, 109.

(18) The straps 105 form with the straps 94 an additional drawing-in gap or minimum gap 110, which the laundry item 2′″ enters on further conveyance. The laundry item then arrives at straps 112 of the additional belt conveyor 99. The straps run over a driving roller 116 and a deflecting roller 114. The belt conveyor 99 has a similar design to that of the belt conveyor 70 of the modular conveyor unit 80. When required, the conveying gap 118 between the roller 107 and the deflecting roller 114 can be enlarged against the force of a pair of springs (only one spring 119 is visible). In FIG. 1, the laundry item that has arrived on a conveyor plane 120 formed by the upper sides of the belts 112 in FIG. 1 is designated 2″″ for differentiation. When the laundry item 2″″ has been conveyed in the arrow direction 123 toward the right as far as is necessary for any additional folding processes, a reversal of the direction of the driving roller 116 can cause the laundry item to be transported back against the direction of the arrow 123 so that it becomes engaged by the straps 105 running around the roller 109 on the one hand and the straps 112 running around the roller 114 on the other hand and is thus discharged downward to an outfeed region 130. There, the fully folded laundry item 2″″ is deposited or removed.

(19) As can be seen, in each case, a belt conveyor forms, together with in each case at least one transfer unit arranged integrally therewith in a respective subassembly in each case, a modular conveyor unit (50, 80, 100). Particularly preferably, the modular conveyor units (for example 80 and 100) can have approximately the same design.

(20) As FIGS. 1 and 2 further show, the individual modular conveyor units 50, 80, 100 are arranged one atop the other and connected to one another preferably detachably (for example by means of screws). This is achieved using spacer elements 140 that can also include adjusting mechanisms not shown in further detail here so that the subassemblies or the modular conveyor units formed thereby can be aligned and positioned relative to one another.

(21) FIG. 3 shows an additional conveyor device according to the invention in an exploded view before the assembly of individual modular conveyor units. FIG. 4 shows a corresponding side view. Arranged below an upper termination 200, there is a first belt conveyor 201 with a plurality of straps 204 extending in the parallel and running around a deflecting roller 205. Together with a driving roller 206, the deflecting roller 205 is in each case mounted in side plates 208, 209. On the right, an infeed region 210 with an infeed aid 211 designed for shirts, for example, is provided. The upper sides of the straps 204 form a first conveyor plane 212 on which a laundry item (not shown here, but see FIG. 6 in this regard) arrives from the infeed region 210 and is transported in the arrow direction 214.

(22) An additional belt conveyor 220 with straps 221 that rotate around a driving roller 224 and a deflecting roller 225 is provided in an underlying plane. The upper sides of the straps 221 form an additional conveyor plane 226 for a textile, not shown. The belt conveyor 220 and a transfer unit 229 are integral preassembled components of a conveyor unit 230 with a modular design. The transfer unit 229 includes a plurality of straps 231 that rotate over deflecting rollers 234, 235 and a driving roller 236 driven by a drive, not depicted. The transfer unit 229 is mounted pivotably about a pivot axis 238 formed by coupling points relative to the belt conveyor 220. In FIG. 3, the transfer unit 229 is shown in pivoted position (service position) 239.

(23) An additional modular conveyor unit 240 is arranged below the modular conveyor unit 230. This also comprises an additional belt conveyor 242 with a plurality of straps 244 running in parallel that run over a driving roller 245 and a deflecting roller 246 and form a conveyor plane 248 on their upper sides. Arranged opposite the roller 246, there is an additional transfer unit 250 with a plurality of rotating straps 251 and coupled pivotably about a pivot axis 252 as an integral component of the modular conveyor unit 240. As already explained in principle, the straps 251 run over deflecting rollers 254, 255 and 256 of which at least one is driven. Parts 260 of a bilaterally arranged folding mechanism to which a (not shown here) textile can be conveyed on the overlying conveyor plane 226 are only indicated.

(24) An additional conveyor unit 270 in the above-described modular design is arranged below the conveyor unit 240. This can have the same or a similar design as the above-described conveyor units 230 and 240 so that a multiplicity of the same elements can be used. The modular conveyor unit 270 includes a transfer unit 272 with the same design as the above-described transfer units and pivotably coupled with straps 273 that rotate over deflecting rollers 275, 276 and 277 of which at least one roller is driven. This is connected to an additional belt conveyor 280 with conveyor belts or straps 282 running in parallel that run over deflecting rollers 284, 285 and 286 of which at least one roller can be driven. The straps 282 form a conveyor plane 290 on their upper side 288. A textile located on the conveyor plane 290 is first conveyed in the arrow direction 291 in order then, by reversal of the drive and hence reversal of the conveying direction of the straps 282 against the arrow direction 291, to effect a folding or shaping of the textile and the conveyance thereof through a gap 292 formed between the straps 273 rotating around the deflecting roller 277 on the one hand and the straps rotating around the deflecting roller 284 on the other hand.

(25) Finally, an additional belt conveyor 300 is provided with straps 301 running in parallel and rotating over deflecting rollers 302 and 303 which pick up textiles conveyed through the gap 292 on the conveyor plane 305 formed by the upper sides of the straps 301 in order to optionally subject this to further folding or a depositing process. The fully folded textile passes through a deposition opening 401 into a receiving area 402 of a storage box 403 that forms an outfeed region 405 for the folded textile.

(26) As FIG. 4 shows, the individual modular conveyor units 230, 240 and 270, described above in detail, are mounted vertically one atop the other and aligned. For this purpose, the individual subassemblies are connected detachably to one another by assembly or fastening elements 500 so that the modular conveying units are so-to-speak in a stack arrangement one atop the other. Thus, when dismantling or repair work is necessary, it is easy to separate individual or multiple modular conveyor units from one another, wherein for the maintenance and/or repair work, the transfer units can be pivoted into a service position, such as depicted in FIG. 4 (in FIG. 4 by way of example only the service position 239 of the transfer unit 229 is explicitly provided with a reference character). In order to swing the transfer units 229, 250 and 272 into their respective service position, beforehand interlocking elements 502, 503, 504 that would otherwise hold the transfer units in their respective operating position (see FIG. 5) are released (unlocked).

(27) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of a conveyor device according to the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in assembled state. The transfer units 229, 250 and 272 are located in their respective operating position 508, 509, 510. The interlocking elements 502, 503, 504 are in interlocked state in that recesses of the respective interlocking elements engage behind interlocking pins. Herein, the interlockings can have play so that the transfer units can be easily sprung open against the spring tension created by the respective impinging straps in order to allow the passage of textiles with a greater thickness (as described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2).

(28) FIG. 6 shows the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 3 to 5 in side view; in this regard, reference is also made to the above description with respect to details. In the depiction shown in FIG. 6, the transfer units 229, 250 and 272 are swung into their respective operating position 508, 509, 510 and locked into these positions by means of the interlocking elements 502, 503, 504. FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of different phases of the conveyance of a textile 600 through the conveyor device according to the invention. When the textile 600 has been fed in over the infeed region 210 and collected by the belt conveyor 201 and transported in the arrow direction 214, the textile 600 enters the drawing-in region of the transfer unit 229 of the modular conveyor unit 230. In this position, the textile is designated 600a. The textile 600a then arrives at the conveyor plane 226 of the belt conveyor 220 of the conveyor unit 230 and is conveyed in the arrow direction 512 toward the right as far as the transfer unit 250. There, the textile arrives between the straps 221 and 251 in which position it is designated 600b. From the belt conveyor 242 of the conveyor unit 240, the textile is further conveyed in the arrow direction 514 until it arrives at the transfer unit 272 of the modular conveyor unit 270. In this position, the textile is designated 600c. The textile is further transported to be picked up by the transfer unit 272 and transferred thereby for deposition on the conveyor plane 290 of the belt conveyor 280; there the textile is designated 600d. It can then be conveyed in the arrow direction 515 toward the right until a desired folding region of the textile passes through the gap 292 present between the deflecting roller 277 of the transfer unit 272 one the one hand and the deflecting roller 284 on the other hand. Subsequent reversal of the drive of the belt conveyor 280 causes the textile to be conveyed against the arrow direction 515 and to arrive in the gap 292 so that, folded in the arrow direction 516 in the configuration designated 600e in the FIG. 6, it arrives at the conveyor plane 305 of the belt conveyor 300 and is first moved in the arrow direction 517. Then, there can be an additional conveyance in the arrow direction 518 until the textile (designated 600f in this position) passes through the deposition opening 401 and enters the storage space 402 or the outfeed region 405.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS

(29) 1 Infeed or feed region 2 Textile (laundry item) 2′ Textile (laundry item) 2″ Textile (laundry item) 2′″ Textile (laundry item) 2″″ Textile (laundry item) 3 First belt conveyor 4 Conveyor strap 5 Arrow direction 6 Deflecting roller 8 First conveyor plane 9 Plane 12 Driving roller 14 Drive strap 15 Drive 16 Side part 18 Side part 20 First transfer unit 22 Conveyor strap 24 First deflecting roller 25 Additional deflecting roller 26 Driving roller 27 Side plate 28 Side plate 30 Lever 31 Lever 32 Pivot point 33 Pivot point 34 Operating position 37 Interlocking element 38 Interlocking element 40 Drive direction 42 Region 43 Minimum gap 45 Conveyor plane 46 Plane 48 Belt conveyor 49 Subassembly 50 First modular conveyor unit 52 Arrow direction 54 Arrow direction 56 Drawing-in region 60 Transfer unit 62 Strap 64 Deflecting roller 65 Driving roller 66 Deflecting roller 68 Minimum gap 70 Belt conveyor 72 Belt 73 Deflecting roller 74 Driving roller 75 Side plate 76 Side plate 77 Conveying gap 78 Spring 79 Arrow direction 80 Second modular conveyor unit 81 Second subassembly 86 Conveyor plane 92 conveyor plane 93 Belt conveyor 94 Strap 95 Deflecting roller 96 Driving roller 97 Arrow direction 98 Transfer unit 99 Additional belt conveyor 100 Modular conveyor unit 101 Subassembly 105 Strap 106 Drive strap 107 Driving roller 108 Deflecting roller 109 Deflecting roller 110 Minimum gap 112 Conveyor strap 114 Deflecting roller 116 Driving roller 118 Conveying gap 119 Spring 120 Conveyor plane 123 Arrow direction 130 Outfeed region 140 Spacer elements 200 Termination 201 Belt conveyor 204 Strap 205 Deflecting roller 206 Driving roller 208 Side plate 209 Side plate 210 Infeed region 211 Infeed aid 212 Conveyor plane 214 Arrow direction 220 Belt conveyor 221 Strap 224 Driving roller 225 Deflecting roller 226 Conveyor plane 229 Transfer unit 230 Conveyor unit 231 Strap 234 Deflecting roller 235 Deflecting roller 236 Driving roller 238 Pivot axis 239 Service position 240 Conveyor unit 242 Belt conveyor 244 Strap 245 Driving roller 246 Deflecting roller 248 Conveyor plane 250 Transfer unit 251 Strap 252 Pivot axis 254 Deflecting roller 255 Deflecting roller 256 Deflecting roller 260 Parts 270 Conveyor unit 272 Transfer unit 273 Strap 275 Deflecting roller 276 Deflecting roller 277 Deflecting roller 280 Belt conveyor 282 Strap 284 Deflecting roller 285 Deflecting roller 286 Deflecting roller 288 Upper side 290 Conveyor plane 291 Arrow direction 292 Gap 300 Belt conveyor 301 Strap 302 Deflecting roller 303 Deflecting roller 305 Conveyor plane 401 Deposition opening 402 Storage area 403 Storage box 405 Outfeed region 500 Fastening elements 502 Interlocking element 503 Interlocking element 504 Interlocking element 508 Operating position 509 Operating position 510 Operating position 512 Arrow direction 514 Arrow direction 515 Arrow direction 516 Arrow direction 517 Arrow direction 518 Arrow direction 600 Textile 600a Textile 600b Textile 600c Textile 600d Textile 600e Textile 600f Textile