Autonomous devices, systems, and methods for sorting and packing folded household laundry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry processing systems, including laundromats and industrial services, rely heavily on human intervention, leading to inefficiencies, contamination risks, privacy breaches, and high costs, as they require manual sorting, folding, and handling of laundry items, which are not suitable for individual households.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous robotic system comprising tiered platforms, bi-directional conveyors, and driven support towers, equipped with sensors and controllers, intelligently sorts and stacks folded laundry articles for packing, eliminating human contact and optimizing the packing process for efficient, secure, and cost-effective household laundry return.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If human operators manually sort, handle, and fold laundry items in laundromats and industrial services, then the laundry processing can be completed, but contamination risks increase, privacy is breached, and operational costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation where robotic devices independently perform laundry sorting, folding, and packing operations without human intervention. The robotic arm autonomously manipulates laundry items, the folding mechanism automatically folds garments, and the packing system independently packs items into containers, eliminating the need for human operators and thereby preventing contamination and privacy breaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual human operations with an automated robotic system comprising a robotic arm, folding mechanism, and packing system. This mechanical substitution eliminates direct human contact with laundry items, preventing contamination while maintaining processing capability. The robotic system uses sensors, actuators, and control algorithms to perform tasks previously requiring human hands and eyes.
2Productivity
If traditional laundromat services use human operators for sorting and folding, then laundry processing can be performed, but processing time and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system operates continuously without interruption, performing sorting, folding, and packing operations in an unbroken sequence. Unlike human operators who require breaks, the automated system maintains continuous operation, keeping all components (robotic arm, folding mechanism, packing system) engaged in productive activity throughout the processing cycle, thereby increasing throughput and reducing total processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary sorting and organization of laundry items before the main folding and packing operations. The robotic arm pre-positions items, the folding mechanism pre-folds garments in preparation for final packing, and the system pre-arranges items by type and size. This preliminary action optimizes the subsequent packing process and reduces overall processing time.
3Productivity
If industrial laundry services process large volumes of standardized items, then economies of scale are achieved, but adaptability to diverse household laundry items is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system incorporates dynamic adaptability through sensors, adjustable robotic arm positioning, and flexible folding mechanisms that can accommodate various laundry item types, sizes, and shapes. The system dynamically adjusts its operations based on real-time detection of item characteristics, enabling it to handle diverse household laundry items while maintaining high processing speeds and volumes.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for autonomously placing and rearranging a plurality of unbound folded laundry articles in an ordered queue for ordered packing in a container are described. The system includes a plurality of tiered platforms configured to receive thereon folded laundry articles, the platforms comprising at least one placer conveyor configured to load the articles in an order into a container. At least two cantilevering, bi-directional conveyors transit along opposite sides of the platforms configured to place, retrieve and stack folded laundry articles on the plurality of tiered platforms and the placer conveyor. At least one controller is in operable communication with drives and sensors of the system, a memory, and a communication network, the at least one controller being configured to instruct the bi-directional conveyors to deposit, retrieve, and stack together the folded laundry articles on the placer conveyor.