Monotony.ai, Inc.

Madeline R Hickman

Jesse Sielaff

Benjamin D Bixby

Samuel Duffley

Wilson J Mefford

Elliot Sinclair Pennington

Stuart Eric Schechter

Noa More Rensing

Kevin M LeBlanc

Kayla M Swiston

Carter J Ithier

Laura E Schwartz

Hannah S Siemens

Samuel M Felton

Susan Bachrach Coney

Benjamin Beckvold

Marissa A Bennett

Ross O Schlaikjer

John Appleberry

Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously shuffling a plurality of platters through a plurality of tiered folding bays are described. Each of the platters includes a platter coupling, and the plurality of tiered folding bays each include a bidirectionally driven receiving coupling, at least one of a sliding folding rod and blade, and a lifting mechanism configured to separate the platter coupling from the receiving coupling. The system includes a loading elevator for loading a platter and unfolded laundry article disposed thereon into a bay, and an unloading elevator for lowering a platter and a folded laundry article thereon to an unloading station for handing off to packing. A return conveyor returns each emptied platter to a repositioning station for receiving another spread laundry article for folding. The loading elevator, unloading elevator and each of the plurality of folding bays includes a pair of driven conveyors for transferring platters.

Autonomous tiered laundry folding devices, systems, and methods of use

Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously queueing a plurality of folded laundry articles in a packing queue are described. A packing system includes a packing queue platform configured to receive a folded laundry article into one of a plurality of packing queue locations disposed along a length of the platform, a double ended conveyor, one or more sensors configured to detect a packing queue location, and a controller. The double ended conveyor includes a retrieving end and a depositing end. The conveyor is configured to be mounted to a one or more fixed rails for traveling along the length of the queue platform and cantilevering the depositing end over the packing queue platform for depositing the folded laundry article onto either a surface of the packing queue platform or another previously deposited folded laundry article of the plurality of folded laundry articles.

Autonomous devices, systems, and methods for queuing folded laundry

A device for autonomously folding a plurality of laundry article types to a plurality of combinable target rectangle sizes includes a rotatable platform configured to receive a laundry article on a surface thereof and at least one elongation configured to fold the laundry article on the platform to one of the combinable target rectangle sizes. Each of the plurality of combinable target rectangle sizes are configured to fit alone or in side by side stacking positions within a container. At least one sensor is configured to detect the laundry article on the rotatable platform. A controller in operable communication with the at least one elongation, a drive of the rotatable platform, and the at least one sensor is configured to instruct at least one of the drive of the rotatable platform to rotate the platform and the elongation to fold the laundry article at one or more fold lines.

Autonomous laundry folding devices, systems, and methods of use

Autonomously operated systems and methods of packing unbound folded laundry articles are described. A system of stacking a plurality of folded laundry articles onto a receiving surface includes two or more side-by-side parallel extendable surfaces configured to extend at least one of independently and simultaneously, at least one sensor configured to detect a presence of one or more folded laundry articles on at least one of the surfaces, and a controller in operative communication with at least one drive of the two or more surfaces and the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to extend a loading end of at least one of the surfaces out upon receiving a signal from the at least one sensor, and retract the loading end to deposit the one or more folded laundry articles atop at least one of the receiving surface and one or more previously deposited folded laundry articles.

Autonomous devices, systems, and methods for packing folded laundry

A robotic system includes a movable platform disposed at a bottom of a work volume, the movable platform being configured to transit outside the work volume, at least three lifters disposed about a perimeter of the work volume, two or more sensors disposed at fixed locations about the work volume, and a memory including a neural network. A controller is in operative communication with the memory, the two or more sensors, and the lifters. The controller is configured to receive output signals from the two or more sensors, determine, based processing on the received signals with the neural network, whether the deformable laundry article suspended by two lifters is repositioned, and instruct, based on a determination of the deformable laundry article being repositioned, the lifters to lower the repositioned deformable laundry article onto the movable platform.

Robotic laundry devices and methods of use

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 each of which associated with a single customer and a plurality of pushers configured to push each one of the containers past a front end of the array. An elevator abuts the front end of the array to receive one or more containers from at least one of the array and a vehicle side access portal, and to deliver one or more containers to one or more of the plurality of flow racks from the portal. The elevator comprises a plurality of loading pushers configured to push a container off of the movable carriage and onto the array. A controller is operable communication with a plurality of pusher drives, an elevator drive motor, and one or more elevator position sensors.

Autonomous multi-tier racking and retrieval system for delivery vehicle

Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously packing unfolded laundry articles into a box are described. The system includes a box configured to receive the laundry articles, a movable surface for receiving the box, and at least one actuator for imparting at least one of a shaking, twisting, vibrating, oscillating, shushling, and tilting motion to the box. A plunger is configured to compress the articles within the box and at least one sensor is configured to detect that the mass of articles is flattened and substantially level across a top surface. A controller in communication with drive motors, actuators, and at least one sensor is configured to determine whether the articles are flattened sufficiently for delivery to a packing station for receipt of folded laundry articles placed atop the plurality of unfolded laundry articles.

Autonomous devices, systems, and methods for packing unfolded laundry articles

An autonomous system for washing and drying household laundry includes a plurality of autonomous combination washer and dryers each including a perforated drum disposed within a tub mated thereto at a drive end opposite an opening. A first air orifice is disposed through the tub. A detachable door includes a second air orifice configured to receive an air conduit such that air flows through the first and second air orifices during a drying cycle while the door seals the opening. A controller is configured to instruct a drive motor to spin the drum about a spin axis extending between the drive end and the opening. A driven carrier in operable communication with the controller slides along a raised rail disposed adjacent the plurality autonomous combination washer and dryers and retrieves, holds, and reseats a door in an opening of one of the plurality of autonomous combination washer and dryers.

Autonomous laundry washing and drying devices, systems, and methods of use

Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously separating a mass of clean laundry into single articles for folding and/or packing include autonomous separating device. The device includes a platform including a plurality of sequential work volumes and a stationary floor extending between an inlet end and an outlet end of the platform, a plurality of arms disposed in series along the platform 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 laundry articles and passing the at least one laundry article to an adjacent work volume for grasping and hoisting by an adjacent arm. The device includes a bin, platform, conveyor and/or repositioning robot adjacent the outlet end for receiving each single article one at a time as each separate article passes beyond the outlet end.

Robotic laundry separating and repositioning devices, systems, and methods of use

A device for autonomously folding a deformable article includes a rotatable platform configured to receive the deformable article and at least one movable elongation in operable communication with at least one elongation drive. The at least one movable elongation is configured to raise and lower from the surface of the rotatable platform, move parallel to the surface, and manipulate the deformable article to thereby fold the deformable article at one of the one or more fold lines. The device includes a table drive configured to rotate the rotatable platform about a central axis such that the at least one elongation aligns with one of the one or more fold lines, and at least one sensor configured to detect the deformable article position and orientation on the rotatable platform. A controller is in operable communication with the at least one elongation drive, the table drive, and the at least one sensor.

Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously queueing a plurality of folded household laundry articles in a packing queue are described. A packing system includes a rotating platform configured to rotate a folded laundry article for directional placement in the packing queue, at least one packing queue platform receiving the folded laundry article into a packing queue disposed thereon, and a double ended conveyor. The double ended conveyor includes a retrieving end and a depositing end. The conveyor is configured to be mounted to a gantry for traveling along the length of the queue platform and cantilevering the retrieving end over the rotating platform for retrieving the folded laundry article and the depositing end over the packing queue platform for depositing the folded laundry article onto either a surface of the packing queue platform or another folded laundry article of the plurality of household laundry articles.

An autonomously operated system is configured to load at least one unbound deformable article into a container. The system includes a refillable cartridge configured to receive therein the article, at least one extendable conveyor being configured to extend into the refillable cartridge and deposit the article within the refillable cartridge, a driven lifter configured to selectively lower and raise the refillable cartridge relative to the at least one extendable conveyor, one or more sensors configured output a signal indicative of a fill height of the refillable cartridge, and at least one controller configured to, in response a received signal form the one or more sensors, instruct the driven lifter to at least one of raise and lower the refillable cartridge to at least one of one or more loading heights for receiving the article, and lower the refillable cartridge to an unloading position within the container.

Devices, systems, and methods for repositioning a deformable laundry article are described. For example, a robotic device includes a conveyor configured to transfer the deformable laundry article outside of a work volume, two or more lifters including grippers individually anchored about the perimeter of the work volume, two or more sensors disposed at fixed locations about the work volume, and a memory storing data indicative of repositioned deformable laundry articles. A controller is in operative communication with the memory, the two or more sensors, and the two or more lifters. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the sensors, identify grip points on the deformable laundry article suspended above the conveyor, instruct a lifter to grip and lift an identified grip point to the suspension height, determine whether the deformable laundry article is repositioned, and instruct the lifters to lower the repositioned deformable laundry article onto the conveyor.

Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously folding a deformable laundry article are described. A folding device includes a rotatable platform configured to receive the article. A rotatable blade is suspended above the surface and a clamp rod is disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the blade. The clamp rod is configured to raise and lower from a surface of the rotatable platform, slidably move parallel to the surface, and clamp the deformable article to the surface in a lowered position. The blade is configured to raise and lower from the surface of the rotatable platform, slidably move parallel to the surface, slide under an unclamped portion of the article, lift the unclamped portion above the clamp rod, pass the unclamped portion over the clamp rod, and lower the free end to a resting position atop another portion of the article to fold the article.

Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously packing folded laundry articles into a container are described. A packing system includes a refillable cartridge, a queue conveyor having one or more folded laundry articles and stacks of folded laundry articles disposed thereon, at least one retractable conveyor loading end between the refillable cartridge and the queue conveyor for loading the folded laundry articles into the refillable cartridge, a driven lifter for selectively raising and lowering the into and out of the container, and a controller in operative configuration with processors and drives of all of the foregoing and one or more sensors detecting a fill height of the refillable cartridge. The refillable cartridge includes a removable receiving surface that moves from a closed position to an open position during loading of the folded laundry by the retractable conveyor and unloading of the folded laundry into the container.

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Arlington, MA, United States of America

Madeline R Hickman