The problem: Inaccurate quality controls
Laundry and hotel staff often work under great time pressure. Stains and holes are often only discovered by the hotel guests, thus leaving a lasting negative impression of the received service.
Our solution: Quantex
Quantex offers automatic, end-to-end quality control of flatwork on Kannegiesser ironer lines. The scan system checks every piece of linen and guarantees highest quality, individually tailored to the needs of each customer. State-of-the-art camera technology mounted on the folding machine detects stains and holes on both sides of every piece and automatically separates rejected items. Quality criteria can be determined individually for each type of linen and each customer, thus guaranteeing optimally customized quality. The scanning system reduces the workload in quality control, speeds up the feeding process, and lowers the error rate.
Here are six Quantex benefits
- Precise hole detection for single and multi-layered pieces
e.g. in duvet covers for the detection of hidden holes - Reliable stain detection
of the top and bottom side of the linen - Real-time detection of wrong alignments and wrinkles
as well as edge irregularities - Optional disregard of item areas
e.g. logos that should not be scanned - Clear, intuitive user interface
for adjustments to changing requirements - Comprehensive statistical evaluation for each criteria
Daily, weekly and monthly data for each linen type and kind of error
Individual control criteria
As diverse as customers' quality requirements may be, Quantex gives textile service providers the opportunity to meet all their demands. For each article, a customized quality level can easily determined.
However, experience has shown that the selected quality level may exceed the actual quality requirements. If even linen with even minimal flaws is sorted out due to overly strict control criteria, the rejected amount of items could become too high. To prevent this, Quantex offers the option of limiting the maximum rejected amount with the automatic reject system.
How are flawed pieces sorted out?
Depending on the textile service providers' requirements, flawed items can be sorted out in various ways. Rejected pieces can be sorted out separately depending on the type of flaw. For example, items with holes or tears will be separated for disposal. However, items with stains, bad alignment, or wrinkles can be separated for a rewash.
Large pieces, such as bed sheets and tablecloths, are optionally discharged via the rear take-off table or at the side by a stacker. Small pieces, such as pillowcases or napkins, can be discharged via the rear take-off table or a conveyor belt with discharge at the side, or via the separate HMK-A discharge module. The discharge module can discharge laundry items separately by two criteria. A distinction can be made between articles for rewash or disposal.
What happens with the rejected items?
The reintegration of rejected pieces into the laundry process can be flexibly adapted to the laundry's needs:
- Vectura collects folded rejects in a central location
The folding machine is equipped with an additional stacker for the rejected pieces. Belt conveyors of the Vectura stack management system transport all the rejected stacks to a central point. - Conveyor belts transport the rejected items
Using an additional sorting function of the folding machine, rejected items are collected by a conveyor system from each ironer line to be transported to a central point. Unlike with Vectura, the linen is not transported in stacks but loosely. - AERO vacuum transport back to the soiled sorting area
Rejected pieces can be collected by a conveyor system from each ironer line to be transported to a central point and suctioned back to the soiled sorting area or other destinations via the Kannegiesser AERO system.
Quantex at a glance
- Large items in 1- and 2-lane operation
- Small items in up to 6-lane operation
- Scanning with up to 60 m/min ironer speed
- Principle: transmitted light/reverse light
- For large item folding machines: CFM, SFM und RFM
- Für small item folding machines: RFL, RFL-J, RFS
Conclusion
With the Quantex Scan system, we enable our customers to automatically check the quality of flat linen items throughout the entire process. It detects stains or holes on both sides of the laundry item. By adapting the quality criteria to the type of laundry, the delivery quality is decisively improved. The laundry staff is relieved in terms of quality control, the delivery process is accelerated and the error rate is reduced at the same time.