Autonomous laundry folding devices, systems, and methods of use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry processing methods, including both home appliances and laundromat services, rely heavily on human intervention, leading to inefficiencies, increased costs, and potential contamination of clean laundry.
Innovation Solution
The development of autonomous robotic devices and systems that can autonomously fold and process household laundry, eliminating the need for human interaction and reducing contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If autonomous robotic devices are used to fold laundry, then productivity and efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic folding system is divided into distinct functional modules: a rotatable platform for receiving articles, clamp rods for securing articles at fold lines, and sweep rods for guiding fabric movement. Each module operates independently but coordinates with others, allowing complex folding tasks to be broken down into manageable sequential actions that improve productivity while controlling overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp rods and sweep rods serve multiple functions within the system. The clamp rods both secure articles during folding and define fold lines through their positioning. The sweep rods guide fabric movement and can adapt to different article types. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, managing device complexity while maintaining high productivity across various laundry items.
2Loss of time
If human operators manually fold laundry, then device complexity is minimized, but loss of time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic folding system operates autonomously without requiring human intervention during the folding process. The controller automatically coordinates the rotatable platform, clamp rods, and sweep rods to complete folding tasks independently. This self-service capability eliminates the time loss associated with human operators while the automated control system manages complexity through programmed sequences rather than mechanical complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If human interaction is involved in laundry processing, then ease of operation is maintained, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces human manual operations with automated robotic mechanisms. The clamp rods mechanically secure articles at precise fold lines, and the sweep rods mechanically guide fabric movement, eliminating the need for human hands to touch the laundry. This mechanical substitution prevents contamination while the controller maintains ease of operation through automated coordination of these mechanical elements.
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous laundry folding system includes a folding device including a rotatable platform configured to receive a laundry article on a surface thereof and an elongation configured to fold the laundry article on the rotatable platform. The system includes a controller in communication with the folding device and a remote device running a user application for communicating instructions to the folding device to fold the laundry article. The user application includes a graphic display comprising one or more images of the laundry article being displayed on a display screen of the remote device to a user of the remote device, and a user input field configured to receive a user input comprising at least one of an article type identification and a folding preference.