Automatic Sheet folding and Ironing in Hospital Laundry
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Oh I want one of those!
Can it fold shirts too?
Dave
Can it fold shirts too?
Dave
askomiele
Well-known member
EUh not at all!
I work during holidays and in weekend in an industrial laundry facility. When I'm ironing, we stand with 2 persons at each side of the machine. We just have to put 2 corners lengthwis in clamps. The machine spreads, feeds, irons and folds the sheets. We each do a batch in 10 min (dunno how much kg, the tunnelwasher is a Lavatectunnelwasher, but have no idea how big the batches are, 20kg?)
It's a kannegieser feeder and folder and a Lapauw ironer.
The folder folds everything except aprons, delicate stuff and some napkins. All sheets and pilowcases are folded automaticly.
I work during holidays and in weekend in an industrial laundry facility. When I'm ironing, we stand with 2 persons at each side of the machine. We just have to put 2 corners lengthwis in clamps. The machine spreads, feeds, irons and folds the sheets. We each do a batch in 10 min (dunno how much kg, the tunnelwasher is a Lavatectunnelwasher, but have no idea how big the batches are, 20kg?)
It's a kannegieser feeder and folder and a Lapauw ironer.
The folder folds everything except aprons, delicate stuff and some napkins. All sheets and pilowcases are folded automaticly.
Lee, I've seen this at our laundry too!!!
Bob
Nothing out of the ordinary Quite common in most Hospital Laundries. If I remember right he has a 2 ironer system or did a number of years ago. And runs just as I do most of the time . Small pcs on one and large flatwork on the other.
Nothing out of the ordinary Quite common in most Hospital Laundries. If I remember right he has a 2 ironer system or did a number of years ago. And runs just as I do most of the time . Small pcs on one and large flatwork on the other.
whirlcool
Well-known member
That machine looks like it has a lot of places in which you would not want to place your fingers!
Do these machines ever malfunction and eat up a sheet or two?
From an engineering standpoint, it looks like timing is everything with the operaton of this machine.
Do these machines ever malfunction and eat up a sheet or two?
From an engineering standpoint, it looks like timing is everything with the operaton of this machine.
Absolutely fascinating ...
Thanks for the videos. I've never thought about how an industrial laundry might work and this certainly gives an insight.
Would these pieces be destined for surgery, or ward work? I noticed they were being handled normally (by unprotected hands) at the end of the process. Are surgical linens/coverings completely one-use nowadays?
Thanks for the videos. I've never thought about how an industrial laundry might work and this certainly gives an insight.
Would these pieces be destined for surgery, or ward work? I noticed they were being handled normally (by unprotected hands) at the end of the process. Are surgical linens/coverings completely one-use nowadays?
Allen
Nothing unusal at all for a sheet to get caught in the folder and have be "pulled" out.. most of the time at least 1 or 2 a day.. Only takes about 20 or 30 seconds to clear a jam.. but with the large numbers of pieces we run in a day nothing major.. There are 'safteys" all over both the Ironer and folder.. and If the ironer is not started in a certain order the safteys will shut the entire system down in less than 30 seconds.. Folder included. If the stop button is pushed on the folder the ironer stops too. Measureing is MOST improtant on the folder .Notice the measure wheel on the conveyer.. This is also in conjunction with 8 electric eyes. that also measure and decide where the folds are to be made.The "primary" folds are very simple they simply fold the items 1/2 and 1/2 again. then the cross folds are made. 2, 3 ,or 4 of them depending on the linen and what is programed into the computer for the measured size. folder keeps a count of all lanes (4) of them. and also the count of sheets it has folded and sent to the side. So actually there are 5 counts on the machine. Linens can be bypassed and sent to the operators unfolded,Or half folded,quarter folded, third folded, all with or without crossfolding.. usually small pieces are bypassed and not crossfolded. Just 3rd or a double half fold. Sometimes if there is a lot of patient gowns or Surgery gowns we run them to get them folded faster.
We normally run @75 fpm..(feet per min) and get around 10 sheets per min. If the work is wetter or cold we have to slow the ironer down. We can condition and run up to 120 fpm.. about 18 sheets per min. but the quality is not as I demand. but sometimes in a pinch have to look the other way.
Nothing unusal at all for a sheet to get caught in the folder and have be "pulled" out.. most of the time at least 1 or 2 a day.. Only takes about 20 or 30 seconds to clear a jam.. but with the large numbers of pieces we run in a day nothing major.. There are 'safteys" all over both the Ironer and folder.. and If the ironer is not started in a certain order the safteys will shut the entire system down in less than 30 seconds.. Folder included. If the stop button is pushed on the folder the ironer stops too. Measureing is MOST improtant on the folder .Notice the measure wheel on the conveyer.. This is also in conjunction with 8 electric eyes. that also measure and decide where the folds are to be made.The "primary" folds are very simple they simply fold the items 1/2 and 1/2 again. then the cross folds are made. 2, 3 ,or 4 of them depending on the linen and what is programed into the computer for the measured size. folder keeps a count of all lanes (4) of them. and also the count of sheets it has folded and sent to the side. So actually there are 5 counts on the machine. Linens can be bypassed and sent to the operators unfolded,Or half folded,quarter folded, third folded, all with or without crossfolding.. usually small pieces are bypassed and not crossfolded. Just 3rd or a double half fold. Sometimes if there is a lot of patient gowns or Surgery gowns we run them to get them folded faster.
We normally run @75 fpm..(feet per min) and get around 10 sheets per min. If the work is wetter or cold we have to slow the ironer down. We can condition and run up to 120 fpm.. about 18 sheets per min. but the quality is not as I demand. but sometimes in a pinch have to look the other way.
xraytech
Well-known member
We used to have a setup like this at our hospital until they outsourced the laundry serviceso it is no longer done in house.
As for Surgical Linens, there are some single use stuff but we still use primarily regular linens for OR and other Sterile Procedures, in our facility the OR linens are all misty green and some of the towels are royal blue. after washing ours go to our Central Supply department where they are wrapped and then the packages as well as the other sterile items are ran through the autoclave to sterilize it. Then the inside is sterile, so someone opens the package and then whoever is scrubbed in the case removes the sterileitem(s)for use.
Sam
As for Surgical Linens, there are some single use stuff but we still use primarily regular linens for OR and other Sterile Procedures, in our facility the OR linens are all misty green and some of the towels are royal blue. after washing ours go to our Central Supply department where they are wrapped and then the packages as well as the other sterile items are ran through the autoclave to sterilize it. Then the inside is sterile, so someone opens the package and then whoever is scrubbed in the case removes the sterileitem(s)for use.
Sam
When laundry is done in a tunnel is is done in mesh bags?
No, it is done loose.The mesh bags can only be used in conventional machine. The large net pins that used to close the bags or ties will get caught in the extractor. Which in most cases is a squeeze type that makes a large "cake" of the work it is then sent to the conditioning tumbler where it is broken up and prepared for shake out. this is also why shirts and uniforms do not do well in tunnel machines. Buttons, zippers, and sometimes even snaps and grips and velcro all have problems lasting very long. Also the washman must be very careful to keep all the work in proper order too. Or work will be worse when it comes out then when it went in.
Light soil must run 1st then med soil then heavy soil last. AS the water moves from back to front. So what is rinse water in one load will become wash water in the next load. Sort Room personnel must also be on their toes as any sharps or other objects that quite often end up in the linen can cause MAJOR damage to the linen and the machine in a tunnel machine.Much more so than a conventional washer. Most of the time a plant that has tunnel washers also has 2 or 3 conventional washers too, So high danger items are washed in those machines.. Also Contamination linen Cannot be run in a tunnel unless there is enough to run for at least 2 or three hours.. Some of the Mega Plants have 3 or 4 tunnels and seprate the work to the tunnel .. 1 tunnel for light 1 for surgery ect.. But the avg, hospital plant cannot run that way. I came very close to having a tunnel system here. but the way the work comes in and the way it must be segerated, I have to have many different size "wash pockets" to keep every hospital together. ie: one may have 150 or so lbs of white blankets and 80 or 90 lbs of colored blankets . Or 75 or 80 lbs of patient gowns and 50 lbs of surgery gowns.. there are over different classifications of work for each hospital.
That why for our use a tunnel would be out of the question.
No, it is done loose.The mesh bags can only be used in conventional machine. The large net pins that used to close the bags or ties will get caught in the extractor. Which in most cases is a squeeze type that makes a large "cake" of the work it is then sent to the conditioning tumbler where it is broken up and prepared for shake out. this is also why shirts and uniforms do not do well in tunnel machines. Buttons, zippers, and sometimes even snaps and grips and velcro all have problems lasting very long. Also the washman must be very careful to keep all the work in proper order too. Or work will be worse when it comes out then when it went in.
Light soil must run 1st then med soil then heavy soil last. AS the water moves from back to front. So what is rinse water in one load will become wash water in the next load. Sort Room personnel must also be on their toes as any sharps or other objects that quite often end up in the linen can cause MAJOR damage to the linen and the machine in a tunnel machine.Much more so than a conventional washer. Most of the time a plant that has tunnel washers also has 2 or 3 conventional washers too, So high danger items are washed in those machines.. Also Contamination linen Cannot be run in a tunnel unless there is enough to run for at least 2 or three hours.. Some of the Mega Plants have 3 or 4 tunnels and seprate the work to the tunnel .. 1 tunnel for light 1 for surgery ect.. But the avg, hospital plant cannot run that way. I came very close to having a tunnel system here. but the way the work comes in and the way it must be segerated, I have to have many different size "wash pockets" to keep every hospital together. ie: one may have 150 or so lbs of white blankets and 80 or 90 lbs of colored blankets . Or 75 or 80 lbs of patient gowns and 50 lbs of surgery gowns.. there are over different classifications of work for each hospital.
That why for our use a tunnel would be out of the question.
Lee,
I begin to understand your impatience with the young-dynamic-managers and their stupid, cost-cutting ideas.
I should think it would not be hard for a sharp-witted lawyer to make a case in front of a court that their patient suffered a serious harm because the hospital laundry was just barely skating by on the low side of all the standards...any jury is going to understand what that means.
Goodness, your knowledge and practical application of that knowledge is impressive!
I begin to understand your impatience with the young-dynamic-managers and their stupid, cost-cutting ideas.
I should think it would not be hard for a sharp-witted lawyer to make a case in front of a court that their patient suffered a serious harm because the hospital laundry was just barely skating by on the low side of all the standards...any jury is going to understand what that means.
Goodness, your knowledge and practical application of that knowledge is impressive!
Thanks Keven. But I am sorry to say that is all I hear each
How can we run cheaper? Patient saftey and comfort are my first priority. Admis. Is ONLY interested in how cheap the job can be done. Not saftey or ANY concern for the patient comfort. I assure you I have battles daily with adminstration, at least one or more of the hospitals. There are still a few that care but they are few and far between .
How can we run cheaper? Patient saftey and comfort are my first priority. Admis. Is ONLY interested in how cheap the job can be done. Not saftey or ANY concern for the patient comfort. I assure you I have battles daily with adminstration, at least one or more of the hospitals. There are still a few that care but they are few and far between .
