Abstract: A width folder is configured for width-folding an article of laundry, and especially lateral excess portions thereof. The width folder includes male and female members stacked along a vertical direction. The male member includes two opposite first folding edges which extend along a laundry article motion direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and further includes opposite male top and bottom surfaces each of which extends between the first folding edges. The female member being located at least partially beneath the male member and includes two opposite second folding edges which converge in the motion direction. The female member further includes opposite female top and bottom surfaces. The female member further includes opposite folding protrusions which extend outwardly therefrom in a direction away from the female top surface.

Abstract: An article clip for article folding machines includes a body which includes opposite body front and rear ends and a body intermediate portion which extends therebetween. The body front end includes a front body pivot and the body intermediate portion includes an intermediate body pivot. The clip further includes a base jaw located at the front end and a clamping jaw located opposite the base jaw at the body front end, connected to the body via the front body pivot. The clip further includes a clamping recess formed in the body front end. The clip further includes an elongated driver configured to transfer forces from the body rear end to the clamping jaw. The driver is connected to the clamping jaw via a front floating pivot which is not connected to the body, and is connected to the intermediate body pivot via a pulling mechanism.

Abstract: An active width folder system configured for article folding within compact article folding machines and includes a holding member with two opposite holding edges which extend in an article motion direction, a conveyor configured for conveying articles in the motion direction and a pair of actuated folding members, each configured for lifting and folding at least a portion of the article. Wherein, each folding member has a retractable lifting surface which has a variable length at least in the width direction which is perpendicular to the motion direction.

Abstract: An active width folder system configured for article folding within compact article folding machines and includes a holding member with two opposite holding edges which extend in an article motion direction, a conveyor configured for conveying articles in the motion direction and a pair of actuated folding members, each configured for lifting and folding at least a portion of the article. Wherein, each folding member has a retractable lifting surface which has a variable length at least in the width direction which is perpendicular to the motion direction.

Abstract: A laundry device has a drive system. The drive system contains a plurality of actuators for executing synchronized adjusting actions, a plurality of decentralized control modules assigned to the respective actuators and are connected to one another via a data bus, and a central controller for controlling the actuators via the data bus and the decentralized control modules. The central controller is configured to send a preconditioning message with information relating to preconditioning an adjusting action of at least one portion of the actuators via the data bus to the decentralized control modules. The central controller or one of the decentralized control modules is configured to send a trigger signal to the decentralized control modules via a trigger line after the sending of the preconditioning message. The trigger signal prompts the decentralized control modules to control the actuators in a temporally synchronized manner according to the preconditioned adjusting action.

Abstract: A folding device (14?, 14?) includes a driven contact device (15?, 15?) configured for continuously creating a fold in a moving article (12) during an operative folding mode of the folding device. In the operative folding mode, the article moves along a base plane in a motion direction (MD). The folding device includes a support structure (54) connected to, and configured for supporting, the contact device. The contact device includes a peripheral surface (48) which extends at least partially about at least one rotation axis. The peripheral surface includes multiple fingers (44) which protrude outwardly away therefrom. In the operative folding mode, the fingers consecutively and incrementally engage and fold the article starting at an edge (28) defining an outline thereof.

Abstract: A domestic compact article folding machine (10) configured for autonomous article folding includes first, second and third primary conveyors (CI, C2, C3), at least two of which in a stacked formation, each includes two primary rollers (32) and a primary belt (34) which extends thereabout. First and second holding conveyors (U1, U2), each includes at least three holding rollers (32) and a holding belt (34) which extends thereabout. Each of the holding conveyors engages each of the first and second primary conveyors respectively. The folding machine further includes at least a first width-folder (38) which is configured for creating a width-fold in the article and at least a first length-folder (64) which is configured for creating a length-fold in the article.

Abstract: A width folder is configured for width-folding an article of laundry, and especially lateral excess portions thereof. The width folder includes male and female members stacked along a vertical direction. The male member includes two opposite first folding edges which extend along a laundry article motion direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and further includes opposite male top and bottom surfaces each of which extends between the first folding edges. The female member being located at least partially beneath the male member and includes two opposite second folding edges which converge in the motion direction. The female member further includes opposite female top and bottom surfaces. The female member further includes opposite folding protrusions which extend outwardly therefrom in a direction away from the female top surface.

Abstract: A folding device (14?, 14?) includes a driven contact device (15?, 15?) configured for continuously creating a fold in a moving article (12) during an operative folding mode of the folding device. In the operative folding mode, the article moves along a base plane in a motion direction (MD). The folding device includes a support structure (54) connected to, and configured for supporting, the contact device. The contact device includes a peripheral surface (48) which extends at least partially about at least one rotation axis. The peripheral surface includes multiple fingers (44) which protrude outwardly away therefrom. In the operative folding mode, the fingers consecutively and incrementally engage and fold the article starting at an edge (28) defining an outline thereof.

Abstract: An active width folder system (10) configured for article folding within compact article folding machines and includes a holding member (12) with two opposite holding edges (20) which extend in an article motion direction, a conveyor (16) configured for conveying articles in the motion direction and a pair of actuated folding members (14), each configured for lifting and folding at least a portion of the article. Wherein, each folding member has a retractable lifting surface (24) which has a variable length at least in the width direction which is perpendicular to the motion direction.

Abstract: A domestic compact article folding machine (10) configured for autonomous article folding includes first, second and third primary conveyors (CI, C2, C3), at least two of which in a stacked formation, each includes two primary rollers (32) and a primary belt (34) which extends thereabout. First and second holding conveyors (Ul, U2), each includes at least three holding rollers (32) and a holding belt (34) which extends thereabout. Each of the holding conveyors engages each of the first and second primary conveyors respectively. The folding machine further includes at least a first width-folder (38) which is configured for creating a width-fold in the article and at least a first length-folder (64) which is configured for creating a length-fold in the article.

Abstract: An article clip for article folding machines includes a body which includes opposite body front and rear ends and a body intermediate portion which extends therebetween. The body front end includes a front body pivot and the body intermediate portion includes an intermediate body pivot. The clip further includes a base jaw located at the front end and a clamping jaw located opposite the base jaw at the body front end, connected to the body via the front body pivot. The clip further includes a clamping recess formed in the body front end. The clip further includes an elongated driver configured to transfer forces from the body rear end to the clamping jaw. The driver is connected to the clamping jaw via a front floating pivot which is not connected to the body, and is connected to the intermediate body pivot via a pulling mechanism.

Abstract: A system for conveying a substrate includes a noncontact support platform for supporting the substrate. A vacuum wheel is located adjacent to the support platform. A rim of the vacuum wheel includes perforations that open between an exterior of the rim and an interior of the vacuum wheel. A fixed suction surface is interior to the vacuum wheel and includes an opening of a conduit that is connectable to a suction source. A chamber is formed by the suction surface, walls of the vacuum wheel, and a section of the peripheral rim that is adjacent to the suction surface and that extends outward from the support platform. When suction is applied to the conduit, the suction is applied via the chamber to the perforations in the rim section so as to exert a pull on the substrate toward the rim such that rotation of the vacuum wheel conveys the substrate.

Abstract: A system for conveying a substrate includes a noncontact support platform for supporting the substrate. A vacuum wheel is located adjacent to the support platform. A rim of the vacuum wheel includes perforations that open between an exterior of the rim and an interior of the vacuum wheel. A fixed suction surface is interior to the vacuum wheel and includes an opening of a conduit that is connectable to a suction source. A chamber is formed by the suction surface, walls of the vacuum wheel, and a section of the peripheral rim that is adjacent to the suction surface and that extends outward from the support platform. When suction is applied to the conduit, the suction is applied via the chamber to the perforations in the rim section so as to exert a pull on the substrate toward the rim such that rotation of the vacuum wheel conveys the substrate.

Abstract: A wafer transport system includes a substantially horizontal non-contact support platform for supporting a wafer substantially horizontally at a substantially fixed vertical distance from the platform. A wafer gripping device includes wafer grippers to grip a surface of the wafer that is opposite the non-contact support platform. Each of the wafer grippers is mounted on a vertically flexible holder to enable the wafer gripper to adapt to a height of the wafer above the wafer gripping device while maintaining a substantial horizontal rigidity of the vertically flexible holder so as to prevent horizontal motion of the wafer relative to the wafer gripping device.

Abstract: A wafer transport system includes a substantially horizontal non-contact support platform for supporting a wafer substantially horizontally at a substantially fixed vertical distance from the platform. A wafer gripping device includes wafer grippers to grip a surface of the wafer that is opposite the non-contact support platform. Each of the wafer grippers is mounted on a vertically flexible holder to enable the wafer gripper to adapt to a height of the wafer above the wafer gripping device while maintaining a substantial horizontal rigidity of the vertically flexible holder so as to prevent horizontal motion of the wafer relative to the wafer gripping device.

Abstract: An independently driven symmetric cam individually opens and closes two different gripper shafts attached to an impression surface to grip and release leading edges of two different media sheets. Also disclosed is a single drive system for controlling multiple independent gripper shafts includes an impression cylinder, at least two gripper shafts on the impression surface of the impression cylinder to hold at least two media sheets to the impression surface, a dynamic cam to independently actuate each of the at least two gripper shafts, and a single drive motor to mechanically rotate the dynamic cam with respect to the impression surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for enabling reliable, consistent alignment of a beam of light eating the end of an optical fiber, which has been cut at a non-perpendicular angle, with a collimating lens. The method involves utilizing a spherical shape to generate two bores in the object which intersect the center at a predetermined angle. The predetermined angle is equivalent to the angle of the light beam exiting the end of the optical fiber.