Light curtains in commercial laundries

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September 2005 Sensors & Transducers

The processing of commercial laundry has now become very automated and processing as much laundry as possible, as quick as possible, is very important.

Although some laundry batches are charged and processed by weight it is often necessary to sort and count the different items. In this application, besides weighing the sorted batches, the customer also needed to count the items. The various items of laundry are initially sorted manually and then thrown into what is called a 'transfer loading station'. The customer needs to count the items as they are thrown in. Once a pre-determined weight/quantity is reached the transfer sorting unit rises and discharges its load onto a conveyor.

The items of laundry vary in size and can be as small as a glove or as large as bed linen, it is important that the sensor detects all items regardless of size. Smaller items can present a problem because the opening in which they are thrown is approximately 1 m square so the item could be thrown and pass through any part of the opening so the whole area has to be scanned constantly.

This particular company designs, manufactures and installs an automated overhead monorail system that is used in the heavy-duty laundry industry for the handling and storage of linen.

A full demonstration using the SGT/R 1 085-016-05-3F was given to this customer who was impressed with the SG1. He particularly liked the simplicity and ease of use of the SG1 and the fact there was no adjustment necessary after power-up.

Although initial trials were successful it was thought that there could be instances where smaller items such as a glove, or similarly sized items of laundry, could, if thrown through the beams at a high relative speed, be too small and fast for the 16 beam unit to detect. It was felt that the solution to this potential problem would be to decrease the scan time of the SG1.

After consultation with Telco R&D, samples of an SG1 085 8 beam were produced and a programme of field trials were instigated. These trials proved successful and some 15 sets have since been supplied to two different customers.

Feedback so far has been positive and future orders are anticipated.

For more information contact Telco-Gail Norton, 031 701 4861.

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Light curtains in commercial laundries

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