Methods, programs and systems are provided for arranging in correct delivery sequence a plurality of individual garments from multiple delivery routes. A first of two sorting operations utilizes predicted wearer data to create a wearer-rail association where a selection of a plurality of sequenced sorting rails is designated to receive garments according to a set number of predicted wearers/placeholder-wearers, and where the garments of the batch are distributed about the rails based on at least two or more levels of garment designation, including route, stop, customer and/or wearer. The second sort assembles, rail-by-rail, the garments from each of the respective sequenced rails into groups according to wearer which produces a correct delivery order for the batch of garments after only two scan/sort operations and where each garment moves along a non-repeating path.

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.

Methods and systems for spreading out and folding a suspended laundry article are described. A robotic system for spreading out and folding a laundry article includes at least three lifters disposed about a perimeter of a surface, two or more sensors disposed at fixed locations about the surface, and a controller in operative communication with the two or more sensors and the at least lifters. The controller is configured to receive output signals from the two or more sensors, determine whether the laundry article suspended by at least two lifters of the at least three lifters is spread out, and instruct, based on a determination of the laundry article being spread out, one or more of the at least three lifters to fold the spread out laundry article one or more times.

A method operates a gripping device for separating laundry items from a laundry pile. The gripping device has a suction nozzle unit for suctioning a laundry item lying on the pile that has a nozzle assembly with at least one nozzle and a device for generating a vacuum at the suction nozzle unit opening. The gripping device has gripping elements, which are closed in cooperation so that the gripping elements grip the laundry item in the closed state. The suction nozzle unit opening has a distance from the laundry pile greater than 0 when suction of a laundry item begins. The gripping elements close when a laundry item has been sucked up by the suction nozzle unit so that the suction nozzle unit opening is covered by the laundry item. The laundry item is only partially lifted from the laundry pile when the gripping elements close.

A method operates a gripping device for separating laundry items from a laundry pile. The gripping device has a suction nozzle unit for suctioning a laundry item lying on the pile that has a nozzle assembly with at least one nozzle and a device for generating a vacuum at the suction nozzle unit opening. The gripping device has gripping elements, which are closed in cooperation so that the gripping elements grip the laundry item in the closed state. The suction nozzle unit opening has a distance from the laundry pile greater than 0 when suction of a laundry item begins. The gripping elements close when a laundry item has been sucked up by the suction nozzle unit so that the suction nozzle unit opening is covered by the laundry item. The laundry item is only partially lifted from the laundry pile when the gripping elements close.

The invention relates to a garment sorting system and method for sorting garments arranged on garment carriers. The system comprises a first transporting conveyor arrangement (5) arranged to receive a garment carrier from a pairing station which transports the garment carriers to an identification and sorting arrangement on a second conveyor arrangement comprising an identification device arranged to identify a garment carrier from an identification code for further sorting. For each garment carrier, a sorting rail address is requested by the identification and sorting arrangement from a garment identification database. The identified garment carrier is transported to a plurality of sorting rails, where the second transporting conveyor arrangement comprises a sorting interface for each sorting rail such that the identified garment carrier is moved from the second transporting conveyor arrangement to the correct sorting rail by operation of the corresponding sorting interface.

The invention relates to a garment sorting system and method for sorting garments arranged on garment carriers. The system comprises a first transporting conveyor arrangement (5) arranged to receive a garment carrier from a pairing station which transports the garment carriers to an identification and sorting arrangement on a second conveyor arrangement comprising an identification device arranged to identify a garment carrier from an identification code for further sorting. For each garment carrier, a sorting rail address is requested by the identification and sorting arrangement from a garment identification database. The identified garment carrier is transported to a plurality of sorting rails, where the second transporting conveyor arrangement comprises a sorting interface for each sorting rail such that the identified garment carrier is moved from the second transporting conveyor arrangement to the correct sorting rail by operation of the corresponding sorting interface.

Systems and methods for autonomously placing and rearranging a plurality of unbound folded laundry articles in an ordered queue for ordered packing in a container are described. The system includes a plurality of tiered platforms configured to receive thereon folded laundry articles, the platforms comprising at least one placer conveyor configured to load the articles in an order into a container. At least two cantilevering, bi-directional conveyors transit along opposite sides of the platforms configured to place, retrieve and stack folded laundry articles on the plurality of tiered platforms and the placer conveyor. At least one controller is in operable communication with drives and sensors of the system, a memory, and a communication network, the at least one controller being configured to instruct the bi-directional conveyors to deposit, retrieve, and stack together the folded laundry articles on the placer conveyor.

Systems and methods for autonomously placing and rearranging a plurality of unbound folded laundry articles in an ordered queue for ordered packing in a container are described. The system includes a plurality of tiered platforms configured to receive thereon folded laundry articles, the platforms comprising at least one placer conveyor configured to load the articles in an order into a container. At least two cantilevering, bi-directional conveyors transit along opposite sides of the platforms configured to place, retrieve and stack folded laundry articles on the plurality of tiered platforms and the placer conveyor. At least one controller is in operable communication with drives and sensors of the system, a memory, and a communication network, the at least one controller being configured to instruct the bi-directional conveyors to deposit, retrieve, and stack together the folded laundry articles on the placer conveyor.