US 12,077,903 B2
Autonomous devices, systems, and methods for packing unfolded laundry articles
Madeline R. Hickman, Arlington, MA (US); Wilson J. Mefford, Watertown, MA (US); Jesse Sielaff, Norfolk, MA (US); and Hannah S. Siemens, Jamaica Plain, MA (US)
Assigned to MONOTONY.AI, INC., Watertown, MA (US)
Filed by Monotony.ai, Inc., Allston, MA (US)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/172,481.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/312,614, filed on Feb. 22, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0265602 A1, Aug. 24, 2023
Int. Cl. D06F 93/00 (2006.01); B65B 5/06 (2006.01); B65B 25/20 (2006.01); B65B 43/54 (2006.01); B65B 57/14 (2006.01); B65G 69/04 (2006.01); D06F 95/00 (2006.01)
CPC D06F 95/00 (2013.01) [B65B 5/06 (2013.01); B65B 25/20 (2013.01); B65B 43/54 (2013.01); B65B 57/14 (2013.01); B65G 69/0425 (2013.01); B65G 69/045 (2013.01); D06F 93/00 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0233 (2013.01); B65G 2814/0258 (2013.01); B65G 2814/0276 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An autonomously operating system for packing unfolded laundry articles, comprising:
a container configured to receive a plurality of unfolded laundry articles dropped from a height above into the container;
a movable surface configured to receive the container thereon, the movable surface comprising at least one of a driven conveyor, driven pusher, and driven rollers;
at least one actuator configured to impart motion to the received plurality of unfolded laundry articles disposed in the container, the at least one actuator comprising at least one of a drive motor configured rotate the at least one of the driven conveyor, driven pusher, and driven rollers;
at least one plunger to compress the plurality of unfolded laundry articles within the container, the at least one plunger being operably connected to a linear actuator;
at least one sensor disposed proximate the movable surface, the at least one sensor being configured to detect one or more container fill heights along a top surface of the plurality of unfolded laundry articles disposed within the container; and
a controller in operable communication with the at least one actuator, the linear actuator of the at least one plunger, and the at least one sensor, the controller being configured to
instruct the at least one actuator to move the container back and forth two or more times,
instruct the at least one plunger to lower and compress the plurality of unfolded laundry articles,
receive an output signal from the at least one sensor indicative of one or more container fill heights along the top surface of the plurality of unfolded laundry articles,
analyze the received output signal to determine whether the container fill heights detected along the top surface of the plurality of unfolded laundry articles comprise a maximum height variation within a threshold range, and
based on an analysis indicative of the maximum height variation being within the threshold range, instruct the drive motor of the movable surface to transit the container to a packing station for receiving one or more folded laundry articles atop the compressed plurality of unfolded laundry articles.