Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F95/00—Laundry systems or arrangements of apparatus or machines; Mobile laundries 

Definitions

• the invention relates to a method of optimizing the production in an industrial laundry for the processing of textiles, wherein the textiles are received in carts, bags or the like and are sorted manually and/or automatically into a number of categorized batches, said sorting being performed in response to the processing process to be carried out, following which some of the categorized batches of textiles are fed to the industrial laundry, and wherein the production in the industrial laundry is performed by means of machine and/or human resources or groups thereof which consist of a number of areas for sorting, a number of areas for pre-processing, a number of washing machines (WE), a number of washing pipes (CBW), a number of presses (EP), a number of centrifuges (EC), a number of tumblers (TD), a number of terry folders (TF), a number of ironer lines (I), such as feeders, ironers, folders and stackers, a number of uniform tunnels (GF), one or more areas
• MF for manual folding
• MF for manual folding
• a number of areas for finish-processing a number of areas for out-sorting, and other corresponding resources as well as optionally various storages and intermediate storages of the batches and/or carts, bags or the like of textiles fed to the industrial laundry, said number of the individual resources, storages and intermediate storages varying from 0 and upwards.
• an unbalanced capacity utilization of an industrial laundry system has manifested itself in so-called bottlenecks, i.e. when one type of machines, e.g. the drying machines, have utilized their entire capacity, the washing machines have had to run at reduced capacity, since after a completed washing process they have been forced to be on standby until the drying machines were ready to receive a new batch of textiles from the washing machines.
• the textiles to be processed in the industrial laundry system may have very different requirements with respect to the individual washing processes in the various machines of the laundry system.
• some textiles require a long washing time and a short drying time, while other textiles require a short washing time and a long drying time.
• These conditions in particular for the processing in the washing machines, may vary greatly for the same type of textiles, since, as will be known, textiles may be used in highly different surroundings with a consequent need for thorough or not quite so thorough washing.
• the system of the US patent uses a control system in which a given washing process may be pre-programmed, with a given amount of textiles being automatically conveyed through the compartments of the laundry system, depending on the washing course to which the given amount of textiles is to be subjected.
• the program control thus takes place in that when given textiles are to be subjected to a washing process step, a machine set precisely for this washing process step is selected.
• an object of the invention is to plan a total processing process from the moment the textiles are received until they leave a laundry system, so that a number of batches of textiles having various washing requirements and other procesing steps may be conveyed through the laundry system in the most optimum manner.
• the object of the invention is achieved in that characteristic parameters for one or more of the machine and/or human resources and/or storages used in the production are fed to a calculating unit which calculates how the sequence, the route through the system and the allocation of operators for the processing of the batches of textiles are to be organized, so that the total processing process of the batches of textiles fed to the system is performed in the production system in such a manner that the total production is optimized on the basis of user-specific criteria.
• This preparation may be made even more effective if the method is performed, as stated in claim 3, such that when the contents of the carts, the bags or the like are known completely, the carts, the bags or the like whose contents of textiles best match a desired optimum production are selected for the sorting. It should be observed in this connection that complete knowledge of the contents of the carts, the bags or the like may be obtained by equipping each individual piece of textile in a cart with an electronic tag (electronic identification) which may be identified.
• Examples of resources here include capacity, process times, operator qualifications and cost parameters.
• the calculating unit is adapted to calculate how many, how and which machine and/or human resources are to be used in the execution of a given supply of batches of textiles given the machine and/or human resources available to the system, it is possible also to plan in connection with systems where some resources are not operational, or where some human resources are not available. Thus, it is possible to handle machine and/or human resources when the machine resources are subjected to maintenance, or when the human resources have pauses.
• fig. 1 schematically shows a typical structure of an industrial laun- dry system
• fig. 2 schematically shows an example illustrating various steps in a planning process according to the invention.
• the industrial laundry system which is shown schematically in fig. 1 , is capable of receiving textiles, where the textiles may e.g. be fed in carts, bags or the like from various customers. These textiles are subjected to a pre-processing, shown symbolically at 1 , whose implementation will be ex- plained later.
• the textiles are subjected to up to three processing processes, as shown at 2, 3 and 4.
• the textiles are received in carts, bags or the like from a plurality of customers, following which they are sorted into categories at 6a.
• This sorting comprises dividing the textiles into batches, so that textiles to be subjected to a specific washing process are gathered in each batch. This washing process may be boiling, fine washing, coloured washing, etc.
• a planner based on some criteria given to him, may select which batches he wishes to feed to the laundry system, and, when this has been done, use a calculating unit to calculate, on the basis of predetermined criteria, in which sequence the batches are to be fed to the laundry system.
• This sequence may be used as a precondition for the calculation of the sequence in which the batches are to be fed to the laundry system on the ba- sis of customer orders, including special wishes and order prognoses with various textile storages deducted, i.e. storages of textiles at any location having an associated processing step.
• the situation is that the planner knows beforehand what some of the carts, the bags or the like contain, based on his experience with the customers. He can use this knowledge for selecting some carts, bags or the like for sorting, which means that the batches now being made ready will have a composition that enables the planner to select batches which more precisely match the batches which satisfy the customers' requirements with respect to time of delivery, etc.
• the planner can begin his planning already at the receipt of the carts, the bags or the like, as already prior to sorting he can feed the information on the textiles to the calculating unit which is to calculate the optimum sequence of how the batches are to be fed to the laundry system, thereby meeting the customer's requirement with respect to time of delivery, etc.
• a 1st processing which comprises being fed to either a washing pipe 7 or a more traditional washing machine 8, it being observed that, usually, several washing pipes and washing machines running in parallel are provided.
• the textiles are fed either to a press 9 or a centrifuge 10, of which there may also be several that run in parallel. If storage is needed prior to the feeding to presses or centrifuges, the textiles may be fed to suitable storage areas.
• the textiles have then completed the 1st processing step where they have been washed clean and been made ready for a 2nd processing, shown at 3, where they are fed to a tumbler 11 , of which, of course, there may also be more than one.
• the textiles are transferred from the tumbler 11 to a 3rd processing in which they are either fed to an ironer line 11 , a terry folder 13, an area for manual folding or a so-called uniform tunnel 15 where the textiles are hung on hangers.
• the 3rd processing may include up to several units that run in parallel.
• finish-processing of the finish-washed textiles takes place in the laundry system, which consists in packing, shown at 16, and further transport to storage.
• washing pipes CBW
• Such a washing pipe may be divided into 5 - 30 compartments, which are in turn divided into three sections for prewash, wash and rinsing, respectively.
• Each section is connected to the same water supply, which means that different batches require different processing with respect to temperature, chemical composition, rinsing, etc.
• the capacity of the washing pipes thus depends on the combination of batches which are present at any time in the pipe.
• This figure shows a block diagram which illustrates the principles of optimizing a washing process in a laundry system which is constructed e.g. as shown in fig. 1.
• set shift it is determined which resources are normally available at the given point of time.
• the availability of these resources may depend on which time of day or night a process is to be carried out. For example, there may be three different shifts in the twenty-four hour, i.e. work in three shifts, where particularly the availability of human resources may vary. In connection with this, allowance is also made for breaks for the individual machine and/or human resources.
• the plurality of batches of textiles from the total product mix to be processed are selected at 24.
• a pre-prioritized sequence is selected in which the batches of textiles are to be subjected to processing, among the batches of textiles selected at 24.
• one or more criteria are selected which create the precondition for the plan to be made. These criteria may be the shortest possible throughput time in the system, lowest possible labour costs, minimum consumption of water and chemicals, minimum consumption of energy, combinations thereof or minimum operating costs.
• a start time is selected and at 31 an end time for the performance of the process. These times affect the plan to be made, since e.g. an advanced start time may have significance for the influence of an earlier plan on a new plan.
• the period of time is selected which may be spent by a calculating unit on finding an optimum plan with the parameters used in the preceding steps.
• plan If the plan is OK, it is accepted at 36, and the plan is made ready for implementation at 37, which means that operators are placed at 38. In addition, surveys are distributed to the operators at 39 so that they are fully aware how the washing process is to be executed.
• washing sequence In the event that the washing sequence is changed en route significantly relative to the plan, it is interrupted, and a new plan is made.
• the objective is that the plan is to show the optimum, simultaneous organization of the production in an industrial laundry system, so that the utilizat- tion of the production machinery and the allocation of the operators to the working processes are carried out optimally, e.g. with minimum costs or according to a priority.
• the production model is dynamic in the sense that changes are constantly made in the real production apparatus which are to be reflected in the planning model to ensure valid conditions and thus valid plans. Examples of such changes are illness, courses, leave, late-comers, machine breakdown, shortage of raw materials, etc.
• the first step of the planning is therefore to validate the production shift and then to ensure that the system has valid data for calculation, i.e. checking the operator and resource surveys of the system against the real operator presence and resource availability.
• the task which the system is to face in the planning must be concretized. This means that the planner must realize what his need is, which batches of textiles will fulfil this need, and ensure that the data of all relevant batches of textiles are entered into the system.
• a new plan is made for which the selection may take place and with which all the planning results may be associated.
• the batches of textiles are selected in the category mix which best utilize the capacity of the laundry.
• the weight of all selected batches of textiles may be checked, and the batches of textiles which do not fulfil the weight requirements may be picked out for recirculation on op- tional conveyor belts. If there are batches of textiles which are to receive urgent processing, these must be given special priority.
• the start time of the plan is in direct extension of a plan previously executed, the status of this earlier plan must be respected, so that the current, subsequent plan can identify all work in progress in the laundry. If the current plan is the first plan of the day, all the uncompleted work in progress of the day before at all work places must be entered into the system, so that corresponding restrictions may be imposed on the capacity utilization of the resources and the operators.
• the objective which the planner wants to have fulfilled with his plan must be concretized, which takes place through his selection of optimization cri- terion for the planning.
• the optimization criteria are divided into time and cost components which may each be given mutual weight, on which the planner decides at the same time.
• the plan is then incorporated in a temporal context so that the start and end times of the activities of the plan are synchronized with those of real life in that the planner sets an exact plan start time. If the planner wants to cut off the plan before its last activity has been carried out (e.g. in connection with going-home time), he also sets a plan end time. At the same time he must decide the amount of time which he will allow the system to spend on searching for the optimum plan (search time limit).
• the planner must decide whether he will give the system access to all possible process routes for each category involved, or whether he wants to restrict this access to thereby simplify the task and shorten the time of calculation.
• the planner When this process has been successfully completed, the planner then performs a quality assessment of the plan result, and unless he has cause to suspect errors in conditions or task, he accepts the plan.
• the approved plan is then to be implemented in the production of real life. This is concretely done in that the batches of textiles incorporated in the plan are called off well in advance of plan start, and the operators involved are informed about their positions at the relevant work places before the plan is commenced. The planner then sees to it that the entire plan course is carried out as planned, synchronously and in agreement with the sequences, times and positions which are indicated in the plan.
• the planner may optionally distribute written surveys of the activities planned for each work place and/or each operator.
• plan should be broken.
• the resource(s) and operator(s) concerned are then made unavailable for planning, and the plan is re-opti- mized, i.e. the steps described above are repeated in the stated sequence.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Accessory Of Washing/Drying Machine, Commercial Washing/Drying Machine, Other Washing/Drying Machine (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8160895

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (1)

• 2001
  • 2001-12-13 DK DK200101865A patent/DK200101865A/da not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2002
  • 2002-12-10 AU AU2002351725A patent/AU2002351725A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-12-10 WO PCT/DK2002/000833 patent/WO2003050342A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2002-12-10 EP EP02787442A patent/EP1527227A1/en not_active Withdrawn

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