Garment Processing Personnel Safety Apparatus

Abstract

Commercial material processing machines such as garment laundering often entail conveyors and large containers (e.g., dryer drum, washer) that pose safety hazards to workers who work in proximity to the equipment, even safety procedures if followed would preclude the worker from inadvertently entering the machine. Having an interrogator antenna within the machine and a transmitter attached to the worker, such as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag provides a means for sensing when a worker is in a hazardous position. When sensed, safety circuitry shuts off actuators to prevent further conveying of material into the machine and movement of the large container (e.g., drum).

1 . A device for performing a fabric processing treatment, comprising:
 a container sized to receive a quantity of fabric through an opening, wherein the opening and container are sufficiently large to receive a substantial portion of a person who may inadvertently enter the opening;   an actuator coupled to the container operably configured to perform a fabric processing treatment on fabric encompassed by the container;   a transmitter attached to a worker in proximity to the device who is subject to inadvertent entry to the container;   a reader antenna positioned with respect to the container to sense the transmitter entering the container; and   safety control circuitry responsive to the reader antenna sensing the transmitter to deactivate the actuator.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an alarm, the safety control circuitry further responsive to the reader antenna sensing the transmitter to activate the alarm. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter further comprises a radio frequency identification tag. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a commercial garment washer. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a commercial garment dryer. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a conveyor aligned with the opening to move fabric into the container, the safety control circuitry further responsive to the reader antenna sensing the transmitter to deactivate the conveyor.