Apparatus for separating laundry articles

An apparatus for positioning a laundry truck containing at least one laundry article for gripping by a laundry separator, the system comprising:

• a frame;
• and
• a drive operatively connected with the laundry truck, the drive operable to moveably position the laundry truck relative to the frame;
• wherein the laundry truck is positionable in a first position away from the frame and in a second position adjacent the frame.

A laundry separation method for positioning a laundry truck containing at least one laundry article for gripping, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing the at least one laundry article in the laundry truck;
• (b) placing the laundry truck from a first position spaced away from a gripping device to a second position adjacent the gripping device;
• (c) moving the laundry truck relative to movement of the gripping device;
• and
• (d) releasably clamping the laundry truck to a moveable carriage mounted to a frame, the gripping device operatively connected with the frame;
• wherein step (c) comprises moving the moveable carriage relative to the frame.

A laundry separation method for positioning a laundry truck containing at least one laundry article for gripping, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing the at least one laundry article in the laundry truck;
• (b) placing the laundry truck from a first position spaced away from a gripping device to a second position adjacent the gripping device;
• and
• (c) moving the laundry truck relative to movement of the gripping device;
• wherein:
• step (b) comprises moving the laundry truck along at least one rail;
• and
• step (c) comprises moving the laundry truck along the at least one rail.

A laundry separation method for positioning a laundry truck containing at least one laundry article for gripping, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing the at least one laundry article in the laundry truck;
• (b) placing the laundry truck from a first position spaced away from a gripping device to a second position adjacent the gripping device;
• and
• (c) moving the laundry truck relative to movement of the gripping device;
• wherein (c) comprises moving the laundry truck both forward and in reverse relative to the gripping device in the second position.

A conveyor apparatus for separating at least one article of laundry from a bundle of laundry articles, the conveyor system comprising:

• a frame;
• a conveyor comprising a shaft pivotably connected with the frame;
• a nip formed with the conveyor;
• a means for oscillating the conveyor and the nip about the shaft;
• a clamp operable to move an article of laundry between the bundle and the conveyor;
• a moveable carriage;
• a releasable clamp operatively connected with the moveable carriage and adapted to hold a laundry truck in a position adjacent a path of travel of the clamp;
• and
• a moving means operable to move the carriage relative to the clamp, wherein the laundry truck moves in response to the movement of the carriage.

A laundry separating apparatus for separating an article of laundry from a bundle of laundry, said apparatus comprising:

• a grip device mounted for guided movement towards and away from the bundle of laundry;
• a drive for lifting the grip device away from said bundle;
• and
• a sensor for determining the lowermost point of the movement of the grip device towards the laundry so as to actuate the grip device to grip an article of laundry and to actuate the drive to lift the grip device and the gripped article away from the bundle of laundry, the grip device having first and second pairs of gripping jaws, the first pair gripping a small part of the article of laundry and the second pair gripping a larger part of the article after the grip device has been moved a predetermined distance away from the bundle of laundry;
• wherein the bundle of laundry articles and the path of movement of the grip device are movable relative to each other so that the grip device can contact different areas of the bundle.

A laundry separating apparatus for separating an article of laundry from a bundle of laundry, said apparatus comprising:

• a grip device mounted for guided movement towards and away from the bundle of laundry;
• a drive for lifting the grip device away from said bundle;
• and
• a sensor for determining the lowermost point of the movement of the grip device towards the laundry so as to actuate the grip device to grip an article of laundry and to actuate the drive to lift the grip device and the gripped article away from the bundle of laundry, the grip device having first and second pairs of gripping jaws, the first pair gripping a small part of the article of laundry and the second pair gripping a larger part of the article after the grip device has been moved a predetermined distance away from the bundle of laundry;
• wherein the bundle of laundry is located, in use, in a truck which has associated moving means for causing the truck to move beneath the grip device during the operation of the apparatus.

A laundry separating apparatus for separating an article of laundry from a bundle of laundry articles, the apparatus comprising:

• a grip device mounted for guided movement towards and away from said bundle to extract said article of laundry from said bundle;
• a conveyor mounted adjacent the path of movement of said grip device;
• a nip roller mounted adjacent the conveyor to define therebetween a nip;
• transfer means for transferring a portion of said article of laundry into said nip;
• and
• control means for actuating the transfer means and actuating said grip device so as to release said article of laundry which is then conveyed by said conveyor
• wherein the bundle of laundry articles and the path of movement of the grip device are movable relative to each other so that the grip device can contact different areas of the bundle.

A laundry separating apparatus for separating an article of laundry from a bundle of laundry articles, the apparatus comprising:

• a grip device mounted for guided movement towards and away from said bundle to extract said article of laundry from said bundle;
• a conveyor mounted adjacent the path of movement of said grip device,
• a nip roller mounted adjacent the conveyor to define therebetween a nip;
• transfer means for transferring a portion of said article of laundry into said nip;
• and
• control means for actuating the transfer means and actuating said grip device so as to release said article of laundry which is then conveyed by said conveyor;
• wherein the bundle of laundry is located, in use, in a truck which has associated moving means for causing the truck to move beneath the grip device during the operation of the apparatus.

A clamp apparatus for separating at least one article of laundry from a bundle of laundry articles, the clamp apparatus comprising:

• a casing;
• a first clamp having first jaws, the first clamp mounted in the casing;
• a second clamp having second jaws, the second clamp mounted in the casing;
• moveable carriage;
• a releasable clamp operatively connected with the moveable carriage and adapted to hold a laundry truck in a position adjacent the first and second clamps;
• and
• a moving means operable to move the carriage relative to the first and second clamps,
• wherein the laundry truck moves in response to the movement of the carriage;
• wherein the first jaws are in a substantially fixed position relative to the second jaws.

A method for separating at least one article of laundry from a bundle of laundry articles, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) moving first and second clamps to a position adjacent the bundle, the first clamp is in a substantially fixed position relative to the second clamp;
• (b) gripping the at least one article of laundry with the first clamp;
• (c) moving the first and second clamps away from the bundle of laundry articles;
• (d) gripping the at least one article of laundry with the second clamp, the second clamp gripping around the first clamp after step (c);
• (e) further extracting the at least one article of laundry from the bundle of laundry articles after step (d);
• (f) clamping a laundry truck with a moveable carriage;
• and
• (g) moving the moveable carriage and the laundry truck relative to the first and second clamps in response to operation of the first and second clamps;
• wherein the bundle is within the laundry truck.