Autonomous devices, systems, and methods for queuing folded laundry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laundry processing systems rely heavily on human intervention, leading to inefficiencies, increased costs, and potential contamination of clean laundry.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous robotic system that autonomously arranges and packs folded household laundry into an ordered packing queue, using a conveyor system with sensors and controllers to efficiently deposit articles based on size, orientation, and type.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If human operators manually handle laundry intake, sorting, and folding at laundromats, then laundry processing can be performed, but time consumption, labor costs, and risk of contamination increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of laundry processingVSAvoidcomplexity of laundry processing system

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The laundry processing system is divided into distinct functional modules: intake mechanism for receiving laundry, sorting mechanism for categorizing items, folding mechanism for processing, and conveyor system for transport. Each module operates independently but coordinates with others, enabling full automation while managing complexity through functional decomposition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The robotic system integrates multiple functions into a single automated platform that can perform intake, sorting, folding, and packing operations. The conveyor system serves multiple purposes by transporting laundry between different processing stations, reducing the need for separate dedicated equipment for each function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of time

If laundromat services are used for laundry processing, then time is saved for customers, but operational costs and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime for laundry processingVSAvoidenergy consumption of laundry system

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The automated system operates continuously without interruption, with the conveyor system maintaining constant motion to transport laundry between processing stages. Multiple washing machines and dryers can operate simultaneously in sequence, eliminating idle time between cycles and maximizing energy utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

Laundry items are sorted and prepared in advance during the washing cycle, with the robotic system pre-positioning items for folding and packing before the drying cycle completes. This preliminary organization reduces post-processing time and energy requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If human employees handle laundry at laundromats, then laundry processing can be performed, but contamination risk and privacy concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination of clean laundryVSAvoidease of laundry handling

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts the handling function entirely from human operators, using robotic arms and conveyor systems to transport and process laundry. This physical separation eliminates direct human contact with customer belongings, removing the source of contamination while maintaining operational capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The robotic system acts as an intermediary between the washing/drying processes and the final packing stage. The automated conveyor and robotic manipulators serve as mediators that transfer laundry without human intervention, preserving cleanliness while enabling processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250187856A1Autonomous devices, systems, and methods for queuing folded laundry

Publication Date: 2025.06.12 MONOTONY AI INC

AI summary

Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously stacking and compressing a plurality of unbound folded laundry articles in a packing queue are described. A method includes receiving output signal from one or more sensors determinative of the height of an unbound folded laundry article disposed on a conveyor configured to deposit the unbound folded laundry article atop one or more previously deposited one or more unbound folded laundry articles disposed on the packing queue platform; receiving an output signal determinative of a height of the previously deposited one or more unbound folded laundry articles; calculating a final stack height; depositing in a stack the folded laundry article atop the previously deposited one or more folded laundry articles upon determining the final stack height will not exceed a threshold height; and compressing the stack to a final stack height at or below the threshold height for compact loading into a container.