Autonomous Washer-Dryer Door Handling for Contamination-Free Laundry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laundry processing technologies rely on human intervention, leading to inefficiencies, contamination risks, and high costs due to the need for manual sorting, loading, and handling of laundry, which also raises privacy concerns and introduces potential bio-contaminants.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous washing and drying device that uses pivot shafts to rotate a drum through various orientations, allowing for automated loading, washing, drying, and unloading without human contact, utilizing sensors and motors to execute washing and drying routines based on detected characteristics of the laundry, and communicating with other robots for efficient processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If human operators manually sort, load, and handle laundry, then the process can be completed with simple equipment, but human intervention introduces contamination risks, bio-contaminants, and privacy concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service through autonomous robotic devices that automatically sort, load, wash, dry, and fold laundry without human intervention. The robotic devices detect laundry characteristics using sensors and execute washing routines autonomously, eliminating the need for human operators while maintaining contamination-free processing throughout the entire laundry process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical handling with automated robotic systems equipped with sensors, motors, and control algorithms. The robotic devices use mechanical arms, conveyors, and automated drum mechanisms to perform all laundry operations, substituting human physical interaction with programmable mechanical systems that eliminate contamination risks
2Productivity
If laundromat facilities process laundry with multiple loads, then resource utilization improves, but human intervention at every transition increases time consumption and operational costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous useful action by automatically transferring laundry between washing and drying processes without human intervention. The robotic devices continuously monitor and manage multiple laundry loads through the entire workflow, eliminating idle time and manual handling delays that occur in traditional laundromat operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces robotic devices as intermediaries between different laundry processing stages. These autonomous agents mediate the transfer and management of laundry loads between washing, drying, and folding operations, replacing human operators and enabling seamless continuous processing across multiple loads
3Productivity
If industrial laundry services process large volumes of standardized items, then economies of scale reduce costs, but the services are not available to individual households and require human operators for each item
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universality by designing a single autonomous robotic device that can handle diverse laundry items of varying sizes, shapes, and materials. The robotic devices use sensors to detect laundry characteristics and adapt their handling and washing parameters accordingly, enabling them to process both standardized and customized laundry loads for individual households with industrial-level efficiency
4Loss of time
If traditional washers and dryers process single loads sequentially, then the equipment design is simple, but the time required to complete laundry processing is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the washing and drying functions into a single integrated autonomous robotic device. The system combines a washing drum, drying chamber, and folding mechanism within one unit, allowing seamless transition between washing and drying cycles without requiring separate appliances or manual intervention, thereby reducing total processing time while maintaining manageable device complexity
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 solution enables efficient, contamination-free, and cost-effective processing of laundry without human intervention, reducing energy consumption and eliminating the risk of bio-contaminant introduction, while ensuring privacy by automating the entire laundry process from sorting to folding and packaging.
Implementation Method 1
A pivot motor is configured to operably engage one of the pair of pivot shafts to rotate the rigid frame about the pivot axis such that the opening of the drum suspended therein moves bidirectionally through the range of rotational angles from the upturned orientation to the inverted orientation
Implementation Method 2
A bidirectional drive motor is configured to operably engage the drive shaft for spinning the drum about a spin axis extending from the drive end to the front end
Implementation Method 3
Two or more springs are configured to extend between an outer surface of the tub and the rigid frame and suspend the connected tub and drum within the rigid frame
Implementation Method 4
a pair of pivot shafts affixed to opposite sides of a rigid frame in axial alignment with a pivot axis. The pair of pivot shafts are configured to suspend the rigid frame from a support structure, and the suspended rigid frame rotates about the pivot axis
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous system for washing and drying household laundry includes a plurality of autonomous combination washer and dryers each including a perforated drum disposed within a tub mated thereto at a drive end opposite an opening. A first air orifice is disposed through the tub. A detachable door includes a second air orifice configured to receive an air conduit such that air flows through the first and second air orifices during a drying cycle while the door seals the opening. A controller is configured to instruct a drive motor to spin the drum about a spin axis extending between the drive end and the opening. A driven carrier in operable communication with the controller slides along a raised rail disposed adjacent the plurality autonomous combination washer and dryers and retrieves, holds, and reseats a door in an opening of one of the plurality of autonomous combination washer and dryers.