The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for sorting and stacking textile products.

The apparatus according the present disclosure comprises a first side arranged for feeding textile products to be sorted and stacked, by said apparatus, into said apparatus and a second side, opposite to said first side, arranged for outputting said textile products, sorted and stacked by said apparatus.

The present disclosure relies at least partly on the insight that professional laundry services, in particular those located in densely populated areas such as city centres, may be greatly restricted as regards the available floor space. A relative compact apparatus may therefore be beneficial and be realised by arranging the apparatus such that the textile products may, during use of the apparatus, be received and outputted at opposite sides of the apparatus. This allows for a plurality of sorting flows to be integrated in a single apparatus and realising a relative attractive product flow throughout the laundry.

The apparatus according to the present disclosure may comprise receiving arrangements arranged for receiving said textile products at said first side of said apparatus, wherein said receiving arrangements are distributed along a length of said apparatus and wherein said receiving arrangements define a first maximum size of said receivable textile products in a direction of said length of said apparatus.

The present disclosure, further at least partly relies on the insight that, in particular when said textile products are fed into a known apparatus using manual labour, the input rate of the textile products is relatively limited when only a relative small length of the first side is utilized for feeding the textile products into the apparatus. By distributing the receiving arrangements along the length, preferably along the full length, of the apparatus a relative large number of textile products may be received, by the apparatus, thereby allowing for realising a relative high output of sorted and stacked textile products while utilizing a relative small floor area. The apparatus may further comprise processing arrangements arranged for sorting, stacking and outputting said textile products, received by said receiving arrangements, wherein each one of said processing arrangements is associated with one of said receiving arrangements and wherein said processing arrangements are distributed along said length, preferably along the full length, of said apparatus.

By associating each one of the processing arrangements with one of the receiving arrangements a relative high output of sorted and stacked textile products may be realised while utilizing only a relative small floor area.

Preferably, each one of said processing arrangements is associated with only one of said receiving arrangements and wherein said processing arrangements are distributed along said length, preferably along the full length, of said apparatus.

Associating each one of said processing arrangements with only one of said receiving arrangements allows for a very cost effective and practical apparatus while allowing a relative high output of sorted and stacked textile products. By providing such a one-on-one association, textile products received by one of the receiving arrangements are only processed by the one associated processing arrangement. Since only one receiving arrangement is providing the textile products, the processing arrangements may operate at a relative reduced output rate as compared to the output rate of the known device, wherein in the known device a single processing arrangement may be coupled to multiple receiving arrangements. Moreover, associating each one of said processing arrangements with only one of said receiving arrangements allows for realising a relative short travel path of the textile products inside the apparatus. A relative short travel path of the textile products is beneficial for realising a relative compact apparatus.

Within the context of the present disclosure, textile products are to be understood as being linen used by professional organizations such as hotels and restaurants. More in particular, the apparatus according to the present disclosure is particularly beneficial when requiring to stack and sort small textile pieces such as pillow cases, napkins and/or towels.

Preferably, each respective one of said processing arrangements defines a second maximum size of said receivable textile products in said direction of said length of said apparatus and wherein said second maximum size, defined by a respective one of said processing arrangements, is equal or smaller than said first maximum size defined by said associated one of said receiving arrangements. This is beneficial for realising a relative compact apparatus. The present embodiment at least partly relies on the insight that by providing a bottleneck as regards size of the textile products in the direction of the length of the apparatus, downstream handling devices, such as the processing arrangements, may be limited as regards size relative to the first maximum size thereby avoiding use of scarce space in the apparatus that may result in a relative large apparatus.

In a very practical embodiment of the apparatus according to the present disclosure, a length of said first side is substantially equal to a length of said second side.

It is advantageous if a lower side of said apparatus is arranged for supporting said apparatus on a ground surface.

Preferably, each one of said processing arrangements is provided with an output device, wherein said output device is substantially at the same position, preferably at the same position, along said length of said apparatus, as said associated one of said receiving arrangements. Providing the output device at substantially the same position along the length of the apparatus, preferably, at the same position seen in the direction of the length of the apparatus, is beneficial for outputting, during use of the apparatus, a relative large number of textile products, by the apparatus, thereby allowing for realising a relative high output of sorted and stacked textile products while allowing to realise a relative short travel path of the textile products inside the apparatus. A relative short travel path of the textile products is beneficial for realising a relative compact apparatus. In this regard, it is beneficial if at least one of said output devices is arranged for outputting a first stack of sorted textile products at a first height above said ground surface and a second stack of sorted textile products at a second height above said ground surface. Outputting at different heights is beneficial for realising a relative compact apparatus.

In an embodiment, said at least one of said output devices is arranged for outputting a third stack of sorted textile products at a third height above said ground surface. Outputting a three different heights is beneficial for realising a relative compact apparatus.

In an alternative embodiment of the apparatus, the output devices are arranged for outputting a first stack of sorted textile and a second stack of textile at substantially the same height, preferably the same height. Outputting at the same height may be beneficial for coupling the output devices of the apparatus to a single transport device arranged for transporting the stacked and sorted textile away from the apparatus.

It is advantageous if said receiving arrangements are arranged for receiving said textile products only in an unfolded and flat condition or a folded condition. The apparatus is preferably arranged for stacking and folding cleaned textile products.

In an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present disclosure, a value of said first maximum size of said receivable textile products, defined by a respective one of said receiving arrangements, is larger than a value of said first maximum size of said receivable textile products, defined by another respective one of said receiving arrangements. This is beneficial for allowing textile products having different size in the direction of the length of the apparatus to be sorted and stacked while realising a relative compact apparatus.

Preferably, said apparatus further comprises: a control unit, communicatively coupled to said processing arrangements, arranged for receiving a characteristic of said textile products to be sorted and controlling said processing arrangements for sorting, stacking and outputting said textile products.

Preferably, said characteristic comprises at least one of: a length, width and/or thickness of said textile products; a colour of said textile products; a material of said textile products; a texture of said textile products.

In this regard, it is advantageous if said apparatus further comprises: a detection arrangement, communicatively coupled to said control unit, arranged for detecting said characteristic of said textile products.

It is beneficial if at least one of said processing arrangements comprises a folding device arranged for folding said textile products.

Preferably, all processing arrangements comprises a folding device arranged for folding said textile products.

In this regard, it is beneficial if said folding device of said at least one of said processing arrangements is arranged for folding said textile products along a fold line aligned with said direction of said length of said apparatus.

Preferably, all folding devices are arranged for folding said textile products along a fold line aligned with said direction of said length of said apparatus.

In an embodiment, said folding device is arranged for folding said textile products only along fold lines aligned with said direction of said length of said apparatus.

Preferably, all folding devices are arranged for folding said textile products only along fold lines aligned with said direction of said length of said apparatus. Preferably, said folding device comprises a first folder and a second folder that are both arranged for folding said textile products respectively along a first fold line and a second fold line, wherein both said first fold line and said second fold line are aligned with said direction of said length of said apparatus.

Preferably, said receiving arrangements are arranged for receiving said textile products in a receiving direction and/or wherein said processing arrangements are arranged for outputting said sorted and stacked textile products in an output direction, wherein said receiving direction and/or said output direction are substantially perpendicular, preferably perpendicular, to said direction of said length of said apparatus.

In a very practical embodiment of the apparatus a sum of the first maximum sizes of the receiving arrangements corresponds substantially to said length of said apparatus. This is beneficial for realising a relative high output of sorted and stacked textile products while utilizing a relative small floor area.

Preferably, said sorting devices are arranged for sorting said textile products in three different stacks.

The present disclosure will now be explained by means of a description of preferred embodiments of an apparatus according to the present disclosure, in which reference is made to the following schematic figures, in which:

Fig. 1 : a top view of an apparatus according to the present disclosure is shown;

Fig. 2: a cross section, in side view, of an apparatus according to the present disclosure is shown;

Fig. 3: a cross section, in side view, of an apparatus according to the present disclosure is shown.

Apparatus 1 is arranged for sorting and stacking textile products T. The textile products T that may be sorted and stacked by apparatus 1 are relative small textile products such as pillow cases and napkins in an unfolded and flat condition or a folded condition. At a lower side 13 thereof, the apparatus 1 is provided with support elements 19 arranged for supporting the apparatus 1 on a ground surface G. The support elements 19 may either be directly attached to a housing 21 of the apparatus 1 or to a supporting structure (not shown) of the apparatus 1.

Apparatus 1 comprises a first side 3 and a second side 5 both extending in a direction A of a length L of the apparatus 1. The first side 3 is at a side opposite to said second side 5 of said apparatus 1. At the first side 3, the apparatus 1 is arranged for feeding textile products T to be sorted and stacked into receiving arrangements 7 in a receiving direction RD. The receiving arrangements 7 are distributed along the length L of the apparatus 1. Preferably, the receiving direction RD is substantially perpendicular to the direction A. Each one of the receiving arrangements 7 is provided with a conveyor 23 arranged for receiving for instance from an operator or a robot unfolded flat or folded textile products T. The conveyor 23 defines a first maximum size FS of the textile products T in the direction A. In other words, a maximum size of the textile products T in the direction A is limited by a dimension of the conveyor 23 in the direction A. In an embodiment of the apparatus 1 , a sum of the first maximum sizes FS of the receiving arrangements 7 corresponds substantially to the length L of the apparatus 1.

The apparatus 1 comprises processing arrangements 9 for processing the textile products T. Each one of the processing arrangements 9 is associated with only one of the receiving arrangements 7. The processing arrangements 9 are also distributed along the length L. The distribution of the processing arrangement 9 and the distribution of the receiving arrangements 7 of apparatus 1 are substantially identical, preferably identical.

One of the processing activities, during use of the apparatus 1 , is outputting in an output direction OD, at the second side 5 of the apparatus 1 , the textile products T that are sorted and stacked by the apparatus 1. Preferably, the output direction OD is substantially perpendicular to the direction A. The outputting of the textile products is performed by output devices 11 being part of the processing arrangements 9. Each processing arrangement 9 is provided with such an output device 11 arranged for outputting textile products T that are received by a receiving arrangement 7 that is associated with the processing arrangement 9. The output device 11 comprises a first output conveyor 25 and a second output conveyor 27. The first output conveyor 25 is arranged for outputting a first stack of sorted textile products onto a first output position 29 at a first height H1 above the ground surface G. The second output conveyor 27 is arranged for outputting a second stack of sorted textile products T onto a second output position 31 at a second height H2 above the ground surface G. The textile products T are provided either on the first output conveyor 25 or on the second output conveyor 27 by a sorting device 33.

The sorting device 33 is part of the processing arrangements 9 and comprises a sorting conveyor 35 and a sorting lift device 37. The sorting conveyor 35 is arranged for transporting in two opposite directions. In a first direction of transportation of the sorting conveyor 35, the sorting conveyor 35 forwards the textile products T, via a handover device 39, to the second output conveyor 27 for outputting the textile product T onto the second output position 31. In a second direction of transportation of the sorting conveyor 35, the sorting conveyor forwards the textile products T, via a sorting lift device 37, to the first output conveyor 25 for outputting the textile product T onto the first output position 29. A support surface 41 of the sorting lift device 37 is arranged for supporting a stack of textile products T. The support surface 41 is movable in a height direction h for allowing the textile products T to be stacked on the support surface 41 and forwarding the stack of textile products T, in a lower position of the support surface 41 (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2) to the first output conveyor 25.

At least one of the first output conveyer 25, the second output conveyor 27, the sorting conveyor 35 and the handover over device 39 defines a second maximum size SS of the receivable textile products T in the direction A. In other words, the size of the textile products T that may be processed by the processing arrangement 9 may be defined by the second maximum size SS. Alternatively, it is conceivably, that another element of the processing arrangements 9 defines the second maximum size SS.

Apparatus 1 is provided with a control unit 15. The control unit 15 is communicatively coupled to the processing arrangements 9 and arranged for receiving a characteristic of a textile product T of said textile products T before or upon receipt, by the processing arrangements 7, of the textile product T. To this end, the control unit 15 is further directly or indirectly communicatively coupled to a detection arrangement 17. In an alternative embodiment of the apparatus 1 , the detection arrangement 17 is part of the apparatus 1. The control unit 15 is arranged controlling the sorting device 33 in dependence of the received characteristic of the textile product T.

Apparatus 101 differs mainly from apparatus 1 in that the processing arrangements of apparatus 101 comprise a folding device 103 arranged for folding the textile products T. Elements of apparatus 101 that are similar to elements of apparatus 1 are provided with a reference number equal to the reference number of the element in apparatus 1. In addition, in Fig. 3, the handover device 39 provided at opposite sides of the sorting conveyor 35 is shown in more detail. The folding device 103 comprises a first folder 105 and a second folder 107 that are both arranged for folding the textile products T respectively along a first fold line and a second fold line, wherein both the first fold line and the second fold line are aligned with direction A. The folding device 103 is arranged such, that the textile products T are folded after receipt of the textile products T, by the receiving arrangements 7, and before sorting the textile products, by the sorting device 33.