Automated Laundry Storage Retrieval System for Eco-Friendly Service
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry Service Providers (LSPs) face challenges in offering convenient and cost-effective services while minimizing environmental impact, as consumers often need to travel long distances for eco-friendly services, leading to increased costs and environmental harm due to inefficient drop-off and courier services.
Innovation Solution
A modular, automated storage and retrieval system (LASRS) that allows for the secure, efficient, and convenient drop-off and pick-up of garments at any hour, using a multi-layer conveyor system with machine-readable totes and a human-interface system for customer interaction, enabling flexible location placement and reducing the need for traditional facilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If LSPs establish traditional drop-off facilities and courier services to improve convenience, then consumer accessibility is improved, but environmental impact worsens due to increased travel distances and resource consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The automated storage and retrieval system enables consumers to independently drop off and pick up garments without requiring courier services or staffed facilities. The system automatically handles garment storage, retrieval, and tracking, eliminating the need for human intermediaries and reducing travel distances. Consumers can access the system during extended hours without staff, significantly reducing the environmental impact of LSP operations while maintaining high consumer accessibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If LSPs expand courier services to reach more consumers, then client base growth is improved, but cost and liability risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system eliminates the need for courier employees by enabling consumers to self-serve garment drop-off and pick-up operations. This removes the liability risks associated with employing couriers, including theft, damage, and safety concerns, while still allowing the system to serve a broad client base through automated access points located in convenient positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated storage and retrieval system acts as an intermediary between consumers and the laundry processing facility. Instead of requiring direct interaction between couriers and consumers or staffed facilities, the automated system mediates the transaction, handling garment transfer and tracking automatically. This intermediary approach reduces liability risks while maintaining service accessibility.
3Ease of operation
If LSPs operate traditional facilities with staffed counters and automated conveyors, then service functionality is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the most complex elements of traditional LSP facilities: staffed counters, manual evaluation stations, and large-scale automated conveyors. The system retains only the essential automated storage and retrieval functionality, significantly reducing facility complexity while maintaining core service capabilities. The simplified design requires much less space and resources compared to traditional facilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage unit for the drop-off, delivery, and pick-up of personal garments includes a plurality of apparel totes, each sized to enclose a plurality of apparel items on hangers, each including a machine-readable medium carrying a tote identifier code, and each configured with an access panel to allow deposit and retrieval of apparel items on hangers. A multi-layer conveyor system selectively moves apparel totes to and from a pre-defined customer access position and to and from a plurality of storage positions on each of at least two horizontal storage layers.