The invention refers to the preamble of the patentclalm 1.

It is known that automatical capture in controlled ways of soft, flimsy articles as towels, sheets, shirts and other pieces of cloth is difficult. Often more than one article is captured or also more than one layer is gripped or the article turns up doublefolded. When executing the capture usually the articles are found in a disorderly heap or in a pile both varying in height which makes it still more difficult. For the continuing handling in many cases a lobe of the article has to be presented to for example a clamp and in a known position. All together this will then result in manual capture.

The purpose of the invention is to solve the problems above and to produce a device that automatically makes the capture and also at demand presents a grippable lobe of the article. How this is done is evident from the characterizing part of the patentclalm 1.

One execution of the invention is βchematicly shown In the enclosed drawing where figure 1 shows a topview, figure 2 shows part of the device as a frontviev and figure 3 a partmagnification of the latter.

According to figures 1 and 2 the device for automatical capture of soft flimey articles <1> consists of two endless belts <2,3> each stretched over a roller <4> and a shaft <5> which in turn are supported in a fork <6,7>.

The forks are movable in respect to each other. One of the forks <6> is fixed to a holder <β).

This holder is fastened to the positioπinggear of the device. Not shown.

The other fork (7) is springily suspended so that it is pressed against the fork (6) in a nut (9) which is movably supported in the holder <β> and displacable by a screw <10).

This arrangement will get the rollers and belts to press against each other and thus bring a holding force to the article when being between the belts. The springforce can be varied.

In lieu of screw and nut other mechanisms (10) to pull the rollers apart and together can be thought of. The one or the other fork can be fixed to the holder (8) and one or both of the forks movable. One belt (2) is to increase the grip of the article at least on a part of the outward surface designed for adhesion and/or with extra high friction so that at the time of capture only one layer of the article (1) will be captured or provided with elements (11), prickles, according to figure 3 shown in exaggerated scale.

The prickles are in this case springy. The belt itself acts as springs. The prickles are pressed out just enough to capture one layer only of the article <1> when passing the shaft (5) and are springing back when no longer anything is forcing them out. To prevent the prickles to be pressed out when passing the roller (4) this is provided with circumventing grooves having room for the head of the prickle. Another design of the elements (11) is of course possible as long as these are designed so that only one layer is captured. The elements (11) and the belt (2) are design so that the article will easily let go at the outlet of the belt. The design of the belt (2) £ov adhesion can be like touch- and close fasteners or in other ways prickly and/or of chemical nature. To prevent that the belt (3) unintentionally also brings a part of the article in between the belts the belt (3)

can be made with low surfacefrictlon or provided with a protection against contact with the article at the capture.

To one of the rollers (4) is a motor or another kind of rotationgear connected. The rotational movement is transferred from one of the rollers to the other by gearwheels (12). By chosing gearwheels of relatively big module they will still be in contact even if the rollers are pressed apart by the article. Because the belts (2,3) are stretched over the rollers (4) the belts will also rotate when the rollers rotate..

The device is further equipt with a sensor (13). This can be mechanical or electronical. In the case of mechanical the sensor is equipt with a measuringtip which can be moved in and out. The sensor detects the position of the article in the direction of movement of the positlonlnggear of the device and gives a signal to this to for example stop just when intercepting the article.

The rollers (4) can be provided with a reverse catch (not shown) to prevent the belts to rotate backwards should the load of the motor be too big.

On top of the forks sel locking attachments, flaps, (not shown) may be mounted preventing the article (1) to slip between the belts (2,3).

The device performs in the following way.

The device is positioned to the correct position. The prickles (11) or corresponding in the belt (2) are directed at the article. When the sensor detects the surface of the article a signal is given to the positlonlnggear to stop in a controlled way. In the

case of mechanical sensing the measuringtip of the sensor now withdraws. The prickles meet at a determined force precisely the surface of the article and the rotation of the belts starts. The prickles will now grip the surface of the article and one only layer and due to the rotation bring a small part of the article in between the belts. The positlonlnggear of the device starts its movement. The article is now brought forward between the belts and held fast by these. The rotation contlnous at demand until a grippable lobe (14) has been formed at the outlet of the belts. The lobe can be gripped by for instance a clamp. When this has closed or when the lobe shall be released, the forks (6,7) are separated by turning the screw (10) and the article is unloaded from the device. The belts rotate until the prickles or corresponding again are situated in captureposition, the forks are moved together and the procedure can be repeated.

The device is in first hand thought of for capture of soft,flimsy, flat articles such as towels, bathtowels, sheets etc. but also for garments and other pieces of cloth.