The disclosure provides a washing machine including a drum, a container for holding items to be washed, a weight sensor for sensing the weight of items in the container, and a transfer mechanism configured to automatically transfer the items from the container to the drum when the weight sensed by the weight sensor reaches a pre-determined threshold. The disclosure also provides a method for washing items using a washing machine.

The disclosure provides a washing machine including a drum, a container for holding items to be washed, a weight sensor for sensing the weight of items in the container, and a transfer mechanism configured to automatically transfer the items from the container to the drum when the weight sensed by the weight sensor reaches a pre-determined threshold. The disclosure also provides a method for washing items using a washing machine.

Aspects of the present disclosure involve an apparatus, systems, and methods for providing intelligent laundering alerts. Example embodiments involve an intelligent garment tag that may be affixed to garments, and may store and provide information about the garment to which it is affixed. The information stored thereon describes various aspects of the garment including color, fabric, and laundering information. The intelligent garment tags further include an alert component for providing laundering alerts (e.g., a flashing or colored light, a warning noise, or a vibration) based on, for example, garment color compatibility or laundering device (e.g., washing machine or clothes dryer) compatibility.

Aspects of the present disclosure involve an apparatus, systems, and methods for providing intelligent laundering alerts. Example embodiments involve an intelligent garment tag that may be affixed to garments, and may store and provide information about the garment to which it is affixed. The information stored thereon describes various aspects of the garment including color, fabric, and laundering information. The intelligent garment tags further include an alert component for providing laundering alerts (e.g., a flashing or colored light, a warning noise, or a vibration) based on, for example, garment color compatibility or laundering device (e.g., washing machine or clothes dryer) compatibility.

The present application is directed to an identification system that is configured to be attached to an object. The identification system includes one or more tags that can be manipulated to uniquely identify the object. The manipulation can include removing one or more of the tags and/or marking one or more of the tags.

A laundry sorting and evaluation system includes a housing having an opening and defining a laundry path. First and second platforms are positioned within the housing, each operably connected to a motor. First and second cameras are respectively associated with the platforms and are configured to acquire at images of an item of laundry on each of the first and second platforms. A controller is configured to receive the images and produce an evaluation of a condition of the item of laundry based upon the received images.

A laundry sorting and evaluation system includes a housing having an opening and defining a laundry path. First and second platforms are positioned within the housing, each operably connected to a motor. First and second cameras are respectively associated with the platforms and are configured to acquire at images of an item of laundry on each of the first and second platforms. A controller is configured to receive the images and produce an evaluation of a condition of the item of laundry based upon the received images.

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.

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.

Disclosed are a tag for managing laundry and a method of classifying and transferring laundry using the same. The tag for managing laundry includes a tag portion, a box number portion, a laundry number portion, and a barcode part. The tag portion includes another tag portion and is attached to each piece of laundry classified by customer. The box number portion for distinguishing between the laundry shops is formed by printing a unique number on one surface of each of the tag portions. The laundry number portion for checking the number of pieces of laundry left by customers is formed by printing the number of pieces of laundry left by the customers on one surface of the tag portion. The barcode part for facilitating transfer of laundered laundry from the laundry plant to the laundry shops is formed by printing a barcode including information of the box number portion and the laundry number portion on one surface of the tag portion. The method of classifying and transferring laundry includes a step of collecting at least one piece of laundry left by customers at the laundry shops; a step of respectively attaching the tag portion to laundry left by the customers; a step of transferring the tag portion-attached laundry to a laundry plant; a step of scanning the barcode part of the tag portion respectively attached to the laundry by means of a barcode scanner when washing of the laundry transferred to the laundry plant is completed; and a step of classifying the laundry by laundry shop according to scanned information and transferring the classified laundry to the laundry shops.