Automated Laundry Sorting Using 3D Imaging and Grip Point Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual and time-consuming process of sorting dirty laundry items, which involves separating and identifying them based on geometry, size, color, and fabric type, is inefficient and labor-intensive.
Innovation Solution
An automated method using surface profiling and imaging to determine optimal gripping points on laundry items, allowing for automatic separation and sorting through a detection system with fast servo axes and cameras, enabling three-dimensional imaging and electronic processing to identify suitable points for grasping and sorting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual separation and sorting of laundry items is performed, then sorting can be done based on geometry, size, color and fabric type, but the process becomes personnel and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical separation with an automated system using imaging devices to capture images of laundry items, electronic image processing to analyze the images, and automatic separation mechanisms. The detection means includes cameras and image processing systems that automatically identify sorting criteria (geometry, size, color, fabric type) without manual intervention, thereby reducing both personnel requirements and processing time while maintaining accurate sorting based on multiple parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The laundry items themselves provide the information needed for sorting through their visual characteristics. The imaging devices capture images that reveal geometry, size, color, and fabric type directly from the items, allowing the system to sort based on inherent properties of the laundry without requiring external information carriers or manual assessment
2Productivity
If manual sorting with information carriers is used, then sorting criteria can be captured, but operator intervention is required which reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces operator-based information gathering with automated imaging devices that capture images of laundry items. Electronic image processing automatically extracts sorting criteria (geometry, size, color, fabric type) from these images, eliminating the need for operators to manually read information carriers or assess items. This substitution significantly improves productivity by enabling continuous automated operation without reducing the accuracy of sorting criterion determination
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging devices create optical copies (images) of the laundry items, which are then processed electronically to extract sorting information. This copying approach allows multiple sorting criteria to be determined simultaneously from each image without requiring physical handling or manual inspection, thereby increasing sorting performance while eliminating operator intervention
3Measurement precision
If automated detection means are positioned accurately using surface profiling, then separation precision improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces imaging devices as intermediaries between the laundry items and the separation mechanism. These imaging devices capture images that provide precise information about item position, orientation, and characteristics. The image processing system acts as another intermediary, translating visual data into actionable separation commands. This intermediary approach achieves high measurement precision for detection points while managing system complexity through modular, software-based processing rather than complex mechanical positioning systems
Data Source
AI summary
The sorting of items of laundry, in particular dirty items of laundry (10), has hitherto largely been done manually. This is time consuming. High sorting performance can therefore only be achieved with a corresponding personnel effort. The invention provides for detecting the dirty laundry items (10) at the beginning of the sorting, namely during the separation and before further transport to the individual sorting points, by means of imaging measures and, by means of a corresponding image evaluation, places on the dirty laundry items (10) and/or or to determine at least some sorting criteria such as size and color. These measures lead to the greatest possible automation of the sorting process. The measures can go so far that fully automatic sorting is possible.