US 12,291,815 B2
Method for operating a gripping device for separating laundry items from a laundry pile
Bernd Thielen, Oberkail (DE)
Assigned to Thielen Automation GmbH, Badem (DE)
Appl. No. 18/561,504
Filed by Thielen Automation GmbH, Badem (DE)
PCT Filed May 23, 2022, PCT No. PCT/DE2022/100392
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 16, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/242808, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 24, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2021 113 345.9 (DE), filed on May 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0240386 A1, Jul. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. D06F 93/00 (2006.01); D06F 95/00 (2006.01)
CPC D06F 93/00 (2013.01) [D06F 95/00 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a gripping device (1) for separating laundry items from a laundry pile (5),
wherein the gripping device (1) has a suction nozzle unit (2) for sucking up a laundry item lying on the laundry pile (5),
wherein the suction nozzle unit (2) has a nozzle assembly, which consists of at least one nozzle,
wherein the suction nozzle unit (2) has a device for generating a vacuum at the opening (6) of the suction nozzle unit (2),
wherein the gripping device (1) has gripping elements (3, 4), which are closed in cooperation in such a way that the gripping elements (3, 4) grip the laundry item in the closed state,
wherein
the opening (6) of the suction nozzle unit (2) has (201) a distance (X) from the laundry pile (5) that is greater than “0” when suction of a laundry item begins,
the gripping elements (3, 4) close when a laundry item has been sucked up by the suction nozzle unit (2) in such a way that the opening (6) of the suction nozzle unit (2) is covered by the laundry item, and
the laundry item is only partially lifted from the laundry pile (5) when the gripping elements (3, 4) close, and
wherein
the suction nozzle unit (2) and the gripping elements (3, 4) can be moved relative to one another such that the distance (X) from the suction nozzle unit (2) to the laundry pile (5) can be changed relative to the distance from the gripping elements (3, 4) to the laundry pile (5):
from a first position, in which the distance (X) from the opening (6) of the suction nozzle unit (2) to the laundry pile (5) is less than the distance from the gripping elements (3, 4) to the laundry pile (5),
to a second position, in which the distance from the opening (6) of the suction nozzle unit (2) to the laundry pile (5) is greater than the distance from the gripping elements (3, 4) to the laundry pile,
wherein a gripping process is performed with the following steps:
First step: In the first position, a vacuum is generated in the suction nozzle unit (2) and the gripping elements (3, 4) are open,
Second step: After sucking up a laundry item, a transition into the second position occurs, in which second position the suction nozzle unit (2) in the gripping device (1) is moved away from the laundry pile (5) relative to the gripping elements (3, 4),
Third step: The gripping elements (3, 4) are closed.