Self-service laundry system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coin-operated self-service laundry systems face issues such as coin jamming, theft concerns, incomplete cycle notifications, and reduced utilization due to user inconvenience, particularly affecting elderly and foreign users who may not have smartphones.
Innovation Solution
A self-service laundry system equipped with a controller that communicates with an information terminal installed in the facility, using a linkage unit to link the terminal to the laundry machine and operate it based on communication results, allowing users to control laundry functions without smartphones, with features like room key authentication and web-based communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users are required to use smartphones to operate laundry machines, then user convenience and control capability are improved, but accessibility for elderly and foreign users who do not have smartphones deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides multiple interfaces for operating laundry machines: traditional coin insertion slots for cash payments, smartphone application for digital payments and control, and information terminals installed in the facility. This multi-functional approach ensures that users with different preferences and capabilities can all access and operate the laundry machines effectively.
2Adaptability or versatility
If coin insertion slots are provided in laundry machines, then traditional payment methods are maintained, but coin jamming and theft risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary payment mechanism where coins are not directly inserted into the laundry machine but are instead deposited in a money-insertion machine that serves as a mediator. This intermediary device manages coin storage and distribution, preventing coin jamming in the laundry machine and reducing theft risks by securing coins in a controlled environment.
3Ease of operation
If users wait for laundry completion outside the facility, then they can engage in other activities, but they lose track of washing progress and utilization rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a notification mechanism that provides real-time feedback to users about the status of their laundry cycles. When washing or drying is complete, the system automatically notifies users through their smartphones or through information terminals in the facility, ensuring they are informed of completion status without needing to remain present at the machine.
4Loss of information
If female users can see through dryer glass windows, then they can monitor drying progress, but privacy concerns and theft risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The glass window of the dryer door is designed with dynamic transparency properties, allowing it to switch between transparent and opaque states. This enables the window to adapt to different operational phases: transparent when the dryer is idle or at the beginning of a cycle to allow users to load clothes, and opaque during the drying process to protect user privacy and prevent theft, then transparent again when completion is approached to facilitate easy retrieval.
Data Source
AI summary
A self-service laundry system that enhances user convenience and other benefits, installed in accommodation facility equipped with a plurality of laundry machines, each equipped with at least one of the washing and drying functions, and server that communicates with information terminal installed in accommodation facility, and operates and controls laundry machine according to the communication results. IC tag reader provided on at least one surface of the plurality of laundry machines. Server is equipped with a linkage means to link one information terminal to one laundry machine using IC tag reader, an operation command output means to output operation commands to laundry machine linked to the information terminal, after the linkage, based on the operation request signals from information terminal.