Autonomous devices, systems, and methods for packing unfolded laundry articles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry processing systems, including home washers and dryers, laundromats, and industrial laundry services, require human intervention, leading to inefficiencies, contamination risks, privacy breaches, and high costs, and are not suitable for processing diverse household laundry loads autonomously.
Innovation Solution
An autonomously operated system comprising a container, movable surface, actuators, and sensors that compress and pack unfolded laundry articles into a container without human intervention, using actuators to move and flatten the articles, and sensors to ensure uniform distribution, allowing for efficient packing of folded or unfolded laundry into shipping containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If human operators manually process laundry at laundromats or industrial facilities, then laundry can be cleaned and folded, but human contact introduces contamination risks, privacy breaches, and operational delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation where robotic devices autonomously perform laundry intake, sorting, washing, drying, folding, and packing without human intervention. The robotic laundry processor handles all operations independently, eliminating the need for human operators to physically handle laundry articles, thus preventing contamination while maintaining full operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with automated robotic systems. Sensors, actuators, and controllers substitute for human hands and eyes in detecting, manipulating, and processing laundry. The robotic arm with gripper, automated conveyor systems, and sensor-based sorting mechanisms eliminate direct human contact while performing complex manipulation tasks previously requiring human operators.
2Productivity
If traditional washers and dryers process laundry sequentially in homes, then laundry can be cleaned, but time consumption and energy usage increase due to sequential processing
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic laundry processing system enables continuous operation where washing, drying, folding, and packing occur in an integrated workflow without idle transitions. The robotic processor maintains continuous useful action by immediately transferring laundry between processing stages without human intervention delays, and can operate multiple loads sequentially without interruption, maximizing productivity while minimizing total time loss.
3Productivity
If industrial laundry services process large volumes of standardized laundry, then efficiency increases, but adaptability to diverse household laundry types decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic laundry processor is designed with universal functionality to handle diverse laundry types including clothes, sheets, towels, and delicate items. The system uses sensor-based detection to identify different fabric types, colors, and item categories, then automatically adjusts washing parameters, sorting criteria, and folding methods. The robotic gripper and manipulator can adapt their force and motion patterns to handle various textile materials, enabling high productivity across diverse household laundry without requiring specialized equipment for each laundry type.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters based on detected laundry characteristics. Sensors detect fabric type, color, weight, and item category, then the controller adjusts washing temperature, water flow rate, drying time, sorting groups, and folding patterns. This parameter adaptation allows the system to maintain high processing efficiency while accommodating the full range of household laundry varieties, from heavy towels to delicate garments.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system eliminates human contact, reduces contamination risks, minimizes delays, and optimizes resource consumption by autonomously processing diverse household laundry loads, ensuring efficient packing and delivery without human intervention.
Implementation Method 1
The system includes at least one plunger to compress the plurality of unfolded laundry articles within the container
Implementation Method 2
at least one actuator configured to impart motion to the received plurality of unfolded laundry articles disposed in the box
Implementation Method 3
The system includes at least one sensor disposed proximate the movable surface. The at least one sensor is configured to detect one or more container fill heights along a top surface of the plurality of unfolded laundry articles disposed within the container
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously packing unfolded laundry articles into a container are described. The system includes a container configured to receive the laundry articles, a movable surface for receiving the container, and at least one drive motor for imparting motion to the laundry articles in the container, including at least one of a shaking, twisting, vibrating, oscillating, shushling, and tilting. At least one sensor is configured to detect two or more container fill heights. A controller in communication with the at least one drive motor and the at least one sensor is configured to instruct the at least one drive motor to rotate at least one of a driven conveyor, driven pusher, and driven rollers and the container disposed thereon rapidly back and forth repeatedly until a maximum height variation in the two or more container fill heights falls within a threshold range.