Flow Rack Container Retrieval for Mixed Laundry Delivery Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laundry processing systems, both domestic and industrial, rely heavily on human intervention, leading to inefficiencies, increased costs, and potential contamination risks due to the need for manual handling and sorting of laundry, which limits their ability to handle mixed loads and maintain customer privacy.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous racking system integrated with a mobile delivery vehicle, featuring an array of flow racks, an elevator, and a controller, allows for the automated loading and unloading of containers, eliminating human contact and optimizing the handling of mixed laundry loads through intelligent positioning and retrieval mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If human operators manually handle and sort laundry in laundromats and industrial services, then laundry processing can be performed, but contamination risks increase and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service through automated container handling, where containers are automatically transported, positioned, and processed without human intervention. The robotic pushers and elevators create a self-operating system that eliminates manual handling while maintaining continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical handling by human operators is replaced with an automated mechanical system consisting of robotic pushers, elevators, and controlled container transport mechanisms. This substitution eliminates human contact while maintaining the physical handling functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If human operators are used for laundry intake and sorting, then mixed loads can be processed, but time consumption and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically manages mixed load processing through intelligent container routing and positioning. The controller directs robotic pushers to move containers to appropriate destinations without human decision-making or intervention, enabling rapid processing of diverse laundry types.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated system handles multiple laundry types and container configurations through a single unified mechanism. The robotic pushers and elevators can process various container sizes and laundry categories without requiring different equipment or manual sorting procedures.
3Extent of automation
If traditional racking systems are used in delivery vehicles, then container storage is provided, but automated retrieval and positioning are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The racking system is divided into modular flow racks with individual container positions. Each rack segment can be independently controlled by robotic pushers, allowing selective retrieval and positioning of specific containers without moving the entire racking structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates dynamic elements including movable robotic pushers that can traverse along racks, elevators that adjust container heights, and stop gates that can be selectively positioned. These dynamic components enable automated retrieval while adapting to different retrieval patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous racking system for use with a mobile delivery vehicle includes an array of flow racks configured to receive thereon a plurality of containers associated with a plurality of households. A plurality of rollers disposed continuously along a length of each one of the flow racks are configured to roll one or more of the plurality of containers disposed thereon toward a front end of the array. Each one of a plurality of unloading pushers is disposed at a back end of a plurality of containers disposed on each one of the flow racks and are configured to push containers past a front end of the array. A controller is operable communication with the plurality of pushers and a memory configured to store an initial location of each container and an updated location of one or more remaining containers pushed toward the front end of the array.