Robotic laundry sorting devices, systems, and methods of use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laundry processing methods, including both household and industrial systems, rely heavily on human intervention, leading to inefficiencies, contamination risks, and increased costs due to the need for manual sorting, loading, and handling of laundry, which also raises privacy concerns and exposes workers to potential bio-contaminants.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous robotic sorting device equipped with an enclosed channel, multiple arms with actuatable grippers, sensors, and a controller to automate the sorting of deformable laundry articles based on their presence, location, and characteristics, eliminating the need for human interaction and enabling efficient processing and sorting of non-uniform laundry loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If human operators manually sort and handle laundry, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but contamination risks increase and processing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system performs self-service by autonomously detecting, sorting, and handling laundry articles without human intervention. Sensors automatically identify article characteristics, the controller determines sorting categories, and robotic arms execute the sorting actions, creating a fully self-sufficient system that eliminates contamination risks while maintaining high processing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical human hand and cognitive decision-making with an integrated sensor-controller-actuator system. Optical sensors and image processing algorithms substitute for human visual inspection, while robotic arms with grippers replace manual handling, achieving both contamination prevention and efficient processing through automated mechanical systems
2Productivity
If autonomous robotic systems are implemented, then processing efficiency and contamination prevention improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system achieves multi-functionality through a universal controller that manages diverse sensor inputs (optical, tactile) and coordinates multiple robotic arms with different gripper types. This universal control architecture handles various laundry article types and sorting criteria through a single integrated system, managing complexity through functional consolidation rather than proliferation of specialized components
Solution Approach 2:
The controller serves as an intermediary between the sensor array and robotic actuators, processing sensor data and generating coordinated control signals. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of coordinating multiple sensors and actuators, managing system complexity through hierarchical control while enabling efficient autonomous operation
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and arms are used for precise sorting, then sorting accuracy improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting system is segmented into multiple independent robotic arms, each equipped with its own sensor array and control system. This segmentation allows each arm to independently detect and sort articles based on specific criteria (color, fabric type, size), achieving high sorting accuracy through distributed sensing and actuation while managing complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
Different sensors are positioned at specific locations to detect local characteristics of laundry articles. Optical sensors detect color and pattern at the article surface, while tactile sensors detect fabric texture and stiffness at contact points. This localized sensing approach achieves comprehensive article characterization through distributed measurement points rather than requiring a single complex sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously sorting dirty laundry articles into batched loads for washing are described. For example, an autonomous sorting device includes an enclosed channel including a plurality of sequential work volumes and a stationary floor extending between an inlet end and an outlet end of the channel, a plurality of arms disposed in series along the enclosed channel for rotating, tilting, extending, and retracting a terminal gripper of each arm into an associated work volume for grabbing at least one of a plurality of deformable dirty laundry articles and passing the at least one deformable laundry article to an adjacent work volume for grasping and hoisting by an adjacent arm. The device includes an inlet orifice for receiving the dirty laundry articles into the enclosed channel and an outlet orifice adjacent the outlet end through which each separated deformable article exits the enclosed channel into sorting bins.