Distributed networked laundry machine control and operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In commercial laundry facilities, many errors and malfunctions in laundry machines are false positives, leading to costly and time-consuming technician dispatches, as existing systems require manual intervention for troubleshooting.
Innovation Solution
A remote monitoring and control system that uses a network of servers and sensors to identify malfunctioning machines, initiate power cycles, and notify administrators, reducing the need for immediate technician intervention by automating the reset process for false positives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual technician dispatch is used to troubleshoot and repair laundry machines, then reliability of machine operation is improved, but loss of time and operational efficiency deteriorate due to false positive errors requiring unnecessary technician visits
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically detecting machine errors through sensors, diagnosing the nature of malfunctions, and executing appropriate corrective actions (power cycling, parameter adjustments) without requiring technician intervention. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability through automated correction while eliminating time loss from unnecessary technician dispatches for false positives
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensors monitor machine parameters, the control system analyzes sensor data to detect deviations from normal operation, and corrective actions are automatically applied based on the diagnosis. This feedback mechanism improves reliability by ensuring errors are addressed promptly while reducing time loss by eliminating the need for manual technician assessment and intervention
2Ease of operation
If technician dispatch is implemented for all machine errors, then ease of operation is maintained through professional intervention, but productivity and profitability deteriorate due to costly unnecessary dispatches
Solution Approach 1:
The automated diagnostic and correction system performs self-service by independently detecting errors, determining their nature, and executing appropriate fixes. This maintains ease of operation through intelligent automated intervention while dramatically improving productivity and profitability by eliminating costly unnecessary technician dispatches for false positive errors
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary diagnostic and corrective actions automatically before technician arrival would be necessary. By pre-identifying and resolving false positive errors through automated monitoring and power cycling, the system maintains operational ease while preventing productivity loss from unnecessary dispatches
3Productivity
If automated power cycling is implemented for error resolution, then productivity is improved by reducing technician dispatches, but device complexity increases due to additional control modules and power management systems
Solution Approach 1:
The control module serves multiple functions: it monitors sensor data, diagnoses error types, determines appropriate corrective actions, executes power cycling sequences, and manages communication with technicians. This multi-functionality improves productivity through automated error resolution while minimizing the increase in device complexity by consolidating multiple functions into a single integrated control module
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the diagnostic, decision-making, and corrective execution functions into an integrated automated control system. By combining sensor input processing, error diagnosis, power management, and communication capabilities into a unified control architecture, the system achieves high productivity through automation while managing device complexity through functional integration rather than separate components
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, system and apparatus for the monitor of laundry machines to identify malfunctioning laundry machines in a laundry facility. The system may initiate a power cycle procedure on the identified malfunctioning laundry machines, causing any errors to be cleared from the malfunctioning laundry machine. A determination may then be made as to whether the identification of a malfunction was a true positive or a false positive, and a technician may be dispatched if the malfunctioning machine does not return to normal operation after completing the power cycle procedure.