To provide a fabric type identifying apparatus and a fabric type identifying method enabling to stably identify a type of fabric with high accuracy. A fabric type identifying apparatus A for identifying a type of a fabric F provided with a color thread T at an edge portion includes a camera 51 for photographing the fabric F, and an image processing apparatus 52 for receiving an image input and photographed by the camera 51. The image processing apparatus 52 acquires a color value of the color thread T from the received image of the fabric F, and identifies the type of the fabric F on a basis of the color value. Since the type of the fabric F is identified on the basis of the color of the color thread T, the type of the fabric F is enabled to be stably identified with high accuracy regardless of stretching and shrinking of the fabric F.

To provide a fabric type identifying apparatus capable of photographing an identifier of fabric with high resolution to correctly recognize the identifier. A fabric type identifying apparatus A for identifying a type of a fabric F provided with an identifier I includes a camera 51 for photographing the fabric F, a traversing device 53 for moving the camera 51 crosswise in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the fabric F, and an image processing apparatus 52 for receiving an image input and photographed by the camera 51. The image processing apparatus 52 identifies the type of the fabric F on a basis of the identifier I included in the input image of the fabric F. The position of the camera 51 is adjustable so that the identifier I passes through a photographing area, thereby enabling to bring the camera 51 closer to the fabric F to photograph the small identifier I with high resolution, resulting in recognizing the identifier I correctly.

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.

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.

A device for the automatic loading of hangers in an apparatus for ironing shirts or similar items includes a storage configured to support a plurality of hangers and an arm comprising a gripping and releasing. The arm is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the gripping and releasing end is close to the storage to pick up or receive a hanger from the storage, and in the second position, the gripping and releasing end is placed above the manikin placed upstream of a loading station of the apparatus, to release the hanger, previously picked up, into the seat of the manikin.

A laundry system includes a robotic singulator. The robotic singulator includes an articulating arm and an end effector configured to grasp an item of laundry from a loading zone and to transport the item of laundry to a destination location. A camera is positioned in proximity to the end effector and configured to obtain at least one laundry image representing the item of laundry. A controller is configured to receive the at least one laundry image and create a point-cloud from the at least one image. A peak of the point-cloud is selected in reference to a reference point. The end effector is controlled to close on a predetermined position relative to the peak of the point-cloud to grasp the item of laundry. The articulating arm and effector are operated to release the item of laundry at the destination location.

A laundry system includes a robotic singulator. The robotic singulator includes an articulating arm and an end effector configured to grasp an item of laundry from a loading zone and to transport the item of laundry to a destination location. A camera is positioned in proximity to the end effector and configured to obtain at least one laundry image representing the item of laundry. A controller is configured to receive the at least one laundry image and create a point-cloud from the at least one image. A peak of the point-cloud is selected in reference to a reference point. The end effector is controlled to close on a predetermined position relative to the peak of the point-cloud to grasp the item of laundry. The articulating arm and effector are operated to release the item of laundry at the destination location.

Systems for autonomously batching a plurality of separated laundry articles into sorted loads for washing and drying are described. For example, each one of a plurality of collection bins is configured to receive a sorted load of separated articles including at least one common one of one or more washing and drying characteristics. A plurality of conveyors are configured to receive thereon the bins and position one bin into a loading position adjacent to an exit orifice of a sorting surface. At least one sensor disposed at least one of on, adjacent to, and within the surface is configured to detect the washing and drying characteristics. A controller in operable communication with a drive of the plurality of conveyors and the at least one sensor is configured to instruct the conveyors to move the bins to batch each separated laundry article into a bin matching the washing and drying characteristics.

Systems for autonomously batching a plurality of separated laundry articles into sorted loads for washing and drying are described. For example, each one of a plurality of collection bins is configured to receive a sorted load of separated articles including at least one common one of one or more washing and drying characteristics. A plurality of conveyors are configured to receive thereon the bins and position one bin into a loading position adjacent to an exit orifice of a sorting surface. At least one sensor disposed at least one of on, adjacent to, and within the surface is configured to detect the washing and drying characteristics. A controller in operable communication with a drive of the plurality of conveyors and the at least one sensor is configured to instruct the conveyors to move the bins to batch each separated laundry article into a bin matching the washing and drying characteristics.

A daily operation data recording matrix device for visually presenting and accumulating daily visual Icon data descriptive of process operations in the order of operational events in a continuous processing system. An array includes a two-dimensional matrix array made up of rows and columns, one of the rows and columns in the matrix array being divided in hour units of a daily length of an operation and the other rows and columns being divided by a time span based on the length of one batch time of an operation work. The rows and columns form respective batch cells for indication of each of the process operations, and the batch cells are used to visually accumulate by the visual Icons in the matrix array all the operation works in the order of the operational events.