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    • 专利摘要:
    FIG. 4A Method for controlling a textile folding machine, provided, for example, when executed on a PLC of the textile folding machine or a control software therefor, provided with a calibration algorithm for setting limit values for distinguishing between imported textile pieces of different sizes and a setting algorithm for setting of a folding algorithm for folding the textile pieces of the different formats. To set the folding algorithm, the user is shown graphical representations of the various possible folding templates. FIG. 4A
    公开号:BE1022820B1
    申请号:E2015/5268
    申请日:2015-04-22
    公开日:2016-09-13
    发明作者:David WOLLANTS；Erwin VANSPAUWEN
    申请人:Texfinity；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    PLC for a textile folding machine and control software therefor Technical field
    The present invention relates to a method for controlling a textile folding machine, a PLC (programmable logic controller) for a textile folding machine and control software therefor.
    State of the art
    It is known to provide a control software in the PLC of a textile folding machine with which users can program or set a number of folding programs for textile pieces. This means that the user sets the dimensions of the textile pieces to be folded of different sizes, and how the textile pieces must be folded.
    In the laundry, usually one folding program is used for a plurality of foldable items from a particular customer. In addition, the dimensions of the textile pieces can be different per customer, as well as the desired folding method.
    With known textile folding machines, setting the folding programs is cumbersome and time-consuming, due to the multitude of parameters that must be set.
    Description of the invention
    It is an object of this invention to provide a method for controlling a textile folding machine with which the setting of folding programs can be considerably simplified.
    This object is achieved by means of a method for controlling a textile folding machine, which is provided, when executed on a PLC of the textile folding machine, to perform the following algorithms: a calibration algorithm for setting limit values for making a distinction between textile pieces (e.g. towels) of at least two different sizes, with the following steps: a) having a user insert a first textile piece of a first size into the textile folding machine; b) controlling detection means provided on the textile folding machine for detecting dimensions (e.g. length and / or width) of imported textile pieces, for detecting at least one first dimension of the imported first textile piece and storing (e.g. in an internal memory of the PLC) of the at least one first dimension detected by the detection means; c) having the user insert a second textile piece of a second format into the textile folding machine, the second format being different from the first format; d) controlling the detection means provided on the textile folding machine for detecting at least one second dimension of the introduced second textile piece and storing the at least one second dimension detected by the detection means; and e) determining a first limit value between the first dimension and the second dimension; and / or a setting algorithm for setting at least one folding algorithm for folding the textile pieces of the at least two different formats, with the following steps: a ') showing to the user, on a user interface provided on the textile folding machine, of a plurality of different folding templates that can be executed by the textile folding machine, wherein for each of the different folding templates a graphical representation is shown of the folding method achieved with the respective folding template; and b ') having the user select a folding template for use on textile articles of at least two different sizes to be imported.
    The control software can then be provided for executing folding programs as follows: a '') allowing the user to enter a textile piece of one of the at least two formats; b '') determining the size of the textile piece introduced in step a "" by controlling the detection means provided on the textile folding machine and comparing dimensions detected with the detection means with the first limit value determined by means of the calibration algorithm; c '') controlling folding means of the textile folding machine for folding the textile piece entered in step a "" according to the folding template, which is set for the format textile piece detected in step b "" by means of the setting algorithm.
    It is clear that the possibility of setting the limit values between the different formats by simply measuring imported textile pieces and / or setting folding templates for the different formats by simply selecting a graphic representation, setting the various folding programs of considerably simplifies a textile folding machine.
    In embodiments according to the invention, the calibration algorithm can be provided for setting limit values for making a distinction between textile pieces of at least three different formats. The calibration algorithm then further comprises the following steps: f) having the user input a third textile piece of a third format into the textile folding machine, the third format being different from both the first format and the second format; g) controlling the detection means provided on the textile folding machine for detecting at least one third dimension of the imported third textile piece and storing the at least one third dimension detected by the detection means; h) determining the first limit value between the first and second ranked of the first dimension, the second dimension and the third dimension arranged by size, and determining a second limit value between the second and third ranked of the first dimension, the second dimension and the third dimension arranged by size.
    In embodiments according to the invention, the steps for detecting dimensions of the imported textile pieces can be carried out several times, e.g. at least three times, and average values of the dimensions are determined and used in determining the limit values.
    For example, in embodiments according to the invention, the limit values can be set substantially in the middle between the detected dimensions.
    According to the invention, the method can be provided as control software in the PLC or made available for charging in a PLC, online (ie on a server for digital delivery via the internet) or on a data carrier.
    Brief description of the drawings
    The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings.
    FIG. 1 to 3 show successive screens of a control software according to embodiments of the invention.
    FIG. 4A-C show graphical representations of different towel folding templates, which are adjustable with the control software according to embodiments of the invention.
    FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a textile folding machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
    Embodiments of the invention
    The present invention will be described below with reference to specific embodiments and with reference to certain drawings, but the invention is not limited thereto and is only defined by the claims. The drawings shown here are only schematic representations and are not limitative. In the drawings, the dimensions of certain parts may be shown enlarged, which means that the parts in question are not shown to scale, and this only for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not necessarily correspond to the actual practical embodiments of the invention.
    In addition, terms such as "first", "second", "third", and the like are used in the description and in the claims to distinguish between similar elements and not necessarily to indicate a sequential or chronological order. The terms in question are interchangeable in the appropriate conditions, and the embodiments of the invention may operate in sequences other than those described or illustrated herein.
    In addition, terms such as "top", "bottom", "top", "bottom", and the like are used in the description and in the claims for descriptive purposes and not necessarily to indicate relative positions. The terms thus used are interchangeable in the appropriate conditions, and the embodiments of the invention may operate in orientations other than those described or illustrated herein.
    The term "comprising" and derived terms, as used in the claims, must or must not be interpreted as being limited to the means that are mentioned thereafter; the term does not exclude other elements or steps. The term is to be interpreted as a specification of the listed properties, integers, steps, or components referenced, without excluding the presence or addition of one or more additional properties, integers, steps, or components, or groups thereof. The scope of an expression such as "a device comprising the means A and B" is therefore not only limited to devices that consist purely of components A and B. What is meant, on the other hand, is that, with regard to the present invention, the only relevant components A and B.
    FIG. 1 to 3 show successive screens 81-83 of a control software according to embodiments of the invention, more particularly a fast programming mode of the control software. In addition to this fast programming mode, the control software may comprise a plurality of other screens and setting options, which are, however, known to those skilled in the art and therefore not described further herein.
    The textile articles 51-53 that can be folded by means of control software according to the invention can be one or more of the following: towels 51-53, sheets, blankets, clothing or others. In the following, an embodiment is described for folding towels 51-53.
    As shown in Figure 1, via a user interface 8 of the textile folding machine, the control software, by displaying a first screen 81, asks the user to enter a name for a folding program. This can be a new program or an existing program, already stored in the PLC's memory, for editing or overwriting. The name can, for example, correspond to or be linked to the name of a specific customer, for easy retrieval of the folding program in the list of stored folding programs. The user is also asked to indicate how many different sizes of textile pieces 51-53 are to be provided in the folding program. In figure 1 a value of “3” is specified for this.
    As shown in Figure 2, a second screen 82 is shown in a next step, for adjusting the dimensions 62-63 of a corresponding number of textile pieces 51-53, in this case three sizes of towels 51-53. The dimensions 62-63 are set by the user entering a towel 51-53 into the machine 1 one or more times for each format, after which the control software controls detection means provided on the machine 1 for measuring dimensions 61-63 of the input towel 51-53.
    In embodiments according to the invention, the width is measured by driving two width-displaceable sensors, which are provided for detecting edges of the towels 51-53, and a pulse counter that counts pulses according to the distance traveled by these sensors. These sensors are advantageously provided on the so-called "skis", elongated slats that move over the towels 51-53 during the folding process and are positioned for applying longitudinal folds ("LV" in Fig. 4). However, the detection means for measuring the width can also be designed in other ways known to those skilled in the art.
    In embodiments according to the invention, the length 61-63 is measured by driving a unit that performs a time measurement when an inputted towel 51-53 passes through this unit, e.g. comparing the measured time with a reference value around the length 6163 of to determine the towel 51-53. However, the detection means for measuring the length 61-63 can also be designed in other ways known to those skilled in the art.
    More in detail, the control software includes a calibration algorithm that interacts with the user via the screen 82 of Figure 2 and performs the following steps. Following the on-screen instructions, the user presses the letter "A" to set the first size and then enters a towel 51 of the first size. The control software then controls the detection means for measuring the length 61 and / or the width of the towel (s) 51. This can be done once or several times, in the latter case an average value being determined for the dimensions 61. The user then presses the letter "B" to set the second format, larger than the first format, and then enters a towel 52 of the second format. The control software then controls the detection means for measuring the length 62 and / or the width of the towel (s) 52. This can be done once or more than once, with an average value being determined for the dimensions 62 in the latter case. The user then presses the letter "C" to set the third format, larger than the second format, and then enters a towel 53 of the third format. The control software then controls the detection means for measuring the length 63 and / or the width of the towel (s) 53. This can be done once or several times, in the latter case an average value being determined for the dimensions 63. The control software then sets limit values 71, 72 for making a distinction between the different formats of towels 51-53. The distinction can be made on the basis of the length 61-63, more particularly a first limit value 71 between the length of the first format and the second format and a second limit value 72 between the length of the second format and the third format. On the other hand, the distinction can also be made based on width. The distinction based on width or length 61-63 can also possibly be a setting that the user can choose. The limit values 71, 72 lie, for example, in the center between the measured dimensions 61-63, but this can also be designed differently or can also be a setting that the user can influence.
    It should be clear here that the textile pieces 51-53 do not necessarily have to be introduced in order from the smallest size 61 to the largest size 63 in the textile folding machine 1, but that the textile pieces 51-53 also in random order in terms of dimensions 61- 63 can be introduced into the textile folding machine 1. If, for example, textile pieces of four different sizes are introduced in random order, the dimensions detected by the detection means are first ranked by size, and then a first limit value is established between the first and second ranked of the different dimensions, a second limit value is set between the second and third arranged of the different dimensions, and a third limit value is set between the third and fourth arranged of the different dimensions, etc. in the case of multiple textile pieces of different sizes were introduced.
    The next step in the setting of a folding program is a setting algorithm that is executed by the control software using the third screen 83 of FIG. 3. In this algorithm, the control software interacts with the user to select a folding template 9 for each of the formats "A", "B" and "C". More specifically, this includes the following steps. Upon selecting one of the formats, a new screen opens on which the user is shown a plurality of different possible folding templates 9, which can be executed by the textile folding machine 1. These folding templates 9 are graphically represented as in FIG. 4A-C, so that the user can easily see which folding method is achieved with the folding template 9. Optionally, a textual clarification is added below the graphic representation, as shown in Figs. 4A-C, for the longitudinal fold "LV" and the cross fold "KV". The user can make this setting for each of the "A" 51, "B" 52 and "C" 53 towel sizes.
    Once one or more folding programs have been set in the PLC of the textile folding machine 1, they can be executed. Executing a folding program includes the following steps. The user presses a start button and enters a towel 51-53 of one of the sizes "A", "B" or "C". By controlling the detection means (width and / or length) and comparing the measured dimensions 61-63 with the fixed limit values 71, 72, the control software determines the format of the introduced towel 51-53. The control software then controls the folding means of the textile folding machine 1 for folding the towel 51-53 according to the folding template 9, which is set for this format by means of the setting algorithm.
    The folding means generally comprise conveyor belts and different folding stations for applying the longitudinal and cross folds, e.g. by blowing and / or with folding knives. Such folding means are known to those skilled in the art and are therefore not described further herein. The invention considerably simplifies the adjustment of all these folding means to achieve a desired folding method for textile pieces 51-53 which are fed into the machine 1, by enabling the machine 1 to adjust the dimensions 61-63 of the textile pieces 51-53 to detect and set the limit values 71, 72 by measurements, and by allowing the user to select the desired folding method by means of graphical representations, whereafter the control software determines or retrieves the setting parameters for the folding means provided on the machine 1 from the memory, taking into account the detected format of the imported textile piece 51-53.
    In embodiments according to the invention, the control software can be provided with a security and, for example, require a hardware key, which must then be communicatively connected to the PLC.
    Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a textile folding machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
    The textile folding machine 1 is provided on the front side with an input part 2 which is provided by means of conveyor belts 21 for piece-by-piece feeding of textile pieces 51-53 to be folded into the textile folding machine 1. For feeding the textile pieces 51-53 a user of the textile folding machine 1 open a textile piece 51-53 on the conveyor belts 21. The latter then subsequently take the textile piece 51-53 into the interior of the textile folding machine 1.
    A textile piece 51-53 which has been introduced into the textile folding machine 1 through the input part 2, is subsequently taken over in the interior of the textile folding machine 1 by a conveyor belt system provided for this purpose. This conveyor system is, inter alia, provided to guide the textile piece 51-53 past the detection means for detecting dimensions 61-63 of textile pieces 51-53, and provided to guide the textile piece 51-53 past various folding stations 31, 32 which are provided with folding means for folding textile pieces 51-53.
    Furthermore, the textile folding machine 1 is provided with an output system 4 on which the folded textile piece 51-53 is delivered by the conveyor belt system after passage through the folding stations 31, 32. The output system 4 is provided for returning the folded textile pieces 51-53 to the user of the textile folding machine 1 located at the input part 2.
    List of reference numbers: 1 textile folding machine 2 input part 21 conveyor belts input part 31, 32 folding station 4 output system 51-53 first, second and third textile piece 61-63 first, second and third size 71, 72 first and second limit value 8 user interface 81-83 first, second and third screen user interface 9 folding template
    权利要求:
    Claims (15)
    [1]
    Conclusions
    A method for controlling a textile folding machine (1), characterized in that the method is provided for performing the following algorithms when executed on a PLC of the textile folding machine (1): a calibration algorithm for setting limit values (71) , 72) for distinguishing between textile pieces (51-53) of at least two different sizes, with the following steps: a) having a user insert a first textile piece (51) of a first size into the textile folding machine ( 1); b) controlling detection means provided on the textile folding machine (1) for detecting dimensions (61-63) of imported textile pieces (51-53), for detecting at least one first dimension (61) of the introduced first textile piece (51) and storing the at least one first dimension (61) detected by the detection means; c) having the user input a second textile piece (52) of a second format into the textile folding machine (1), the second format being different from the first format; d) controlling the detection means provided on the textile folding machine (1) for detecting at least one second dimension (62) of the introduced second textile piece (52) and storing the at least one second dimension (62) detected by the detection means; and e) determining a first limit value (71) between the first dimension (61) and the second dimension (62); a setting algorithm for setting at least one folding algorithm for folding the textile pieces (51 -53) of the at least two different formats, with the following steps: a ') showing to the user, on a user interface (8) that is on the textile folding machine (1) is provided with a plurality of different folding templates (9) that can be executed by the textile folding machine (1), wherein for each of the different folding templates (9) a graphic representation is shown of the respective folding template (9) ) folding method achieved; and b ') having the user select a folding template (9) for use on textile articles (51-53) to be imported of the at least two different formats; and executing the folding algorithms set in the PLC of the textile folding machine (1) with the following steps: a '') having the user input a textile piece (51-53) of one of the at least two formats; b '') determining the format of the textile piece (51-53) introduced in step a '' by controlling the detection means provided on the textile folding machine (1) and comparing dimensions detected with the detection means (61-63) with the first limit value (71) determined by means of the calibration algorithm; c '') controlling folding means of the textile folding machine (1) for folding the textile piece (51-53) entered in step a '' according to the folding template (9), which is set for the step in step by means of the setting algorithm b '' detected size of textile piece (51-53).
    [2]
    The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the calibration algorithm is provided for setting limit values (71, 72) for distinguishing between textile pieces (51-53) of at least three different formats and further comprising the following steps : f) having the user input a third textile piece (53) of a third format into the textile folding machine (1), wherein the third format is different from both the first format and the second format; g) controlling the detection means provided on the textile folding machine (1) for detecting at least one third dimension (63) of the imported third textile piece (53) and storing the at least one third dimension (63) detected by the detection means; h) determining the first limit value (71) between the first and second sized ones of the first dimension (61), the second dimension (62) and the third dimension (63) arranged by size, and determining a second limit value (72) between the second and third arranged of the first dimension (61), the second dimension (62) and the third dimension (63) arranged by size.
    [3]
    The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, when the calibration algorithm is performed on the PLC, the method is provided for performing steps a to d and, where appropriate, f to g, a number of times, the first (61), second (62) and optionally third (63) dimensions used for steps e and h are averages of the first (61) stored in steps a to d and, where appropriate, f to g second (62) and, if applicable, third (63) dimensions.
    [4]
    The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the method is provided for performing steps a to d and, if applicable, f to g, at least three times when performing the calibration algorithm on the PLC.
    [5]
    The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when the calibration algorithm is performed on the PLC, the method is provided for determining the first limit value (71) in step e substantially midway between the first dimension (61) and the second dimension (62), and if necessary in step h, to define the first limit value (71) substantially midway between the first and second arranged of the first dimension (61), the second dimension (62) and the third dimension (63) arranged by size and the second limit value (72) to be fixed substantially midway between the second and third ranked of the first dimension (61), the second dimension (62) and the third dimension (63) arranged by size.
    [6]
    The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method is provided for treating, inter alia, towels (51-53) as textile articles (51-53).
    [7]
    The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method is provided for controlling detection means that detect the width of imported textile pieces (51-53).
    [8]
    The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the method is provided for controlling two width-displaceable sensors for detecting edges of the textile articles (51-53) and a pulse counter that counts pulses according to the path traveled the sensors, as the detection means that detect the width of imported textile pieces (51-53).
    [9]
    The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method is provided for controlling detection means which detect the length of imported textile pieces (51-53).
    [10]
    The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the method is provided for controlling a unit that performs a time measurement when an input textile piece (51-53) passes along the unit, as the detection means that controls the length of input textile pieces ( 51-53).
    [11]
    The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method is secure and requires the presence of a hardware key communicatively connected to the PLC.
    [12]
    The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method is made available online as control software intended to be loaded into a PLC for controlling a textile folding machine (1).
    [13]
    A PLC for a textile folding machine (1) provided with a control software for controlling the textile folding machine (1) according to the method of any one of the preceding claims.
    [14]
    A textile folding machine (1) provided with the PLC according to the preceding claim, detection means according to any of claims 7-10 for detecting the length and / or the width of imported textile pieces (51-53) and a hardware key according to claim 11.
    [15]
    A data carrier on which a control software is stored, intended to be loaded into a PLC for controlling a textile folding machine (1 according to the method of one of claims 1-12.
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