Automated Laundry System
AssigneeSears Brands, L.L.C.
InventorMichael Saubert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to an automated laundry system. The system includes a number of perforated clothes drums, each of which holds a single load of laundry, and a washer/dryer unit. The washer/dryer unit includes a loading rack for queuing the drums for subsequent washing, a clothes washing component adapted to sequentially receive the drums from the loading rack and wash the respective loads of laundry therein, a clothes drying component adapted to sequentially receive the drums from the clothes washing component and dry the loads of laundry therein, and a holding rack for sequentially receiving the drums from the clothes drying component and holding the drums for a period of time.
Claims22
An automated laundry system comprising:
- a plurality of perforated clothes drums, each of the drums for holding a single load of laundry;
- and
- a washer/dryer unit comprising:
- a loading rack for queuing the drums for subsequent washing;
- a clothes washing component adapted to sequentially receive the drums from the loading rack and wash the respective loads of laundry therein;
- a clothes drying component adapted to sequentially receive the drums from the clothes washing component and dry the loads of laundry therein;
- and
- a holding rack for sequentially receiving the drums from the clothes drying component and holding the drums for a period of time.
An automated laundry system comprising:
- a loading component for queuing at least two individual, separated loads of laundry;
- a washing component for receiving from the loading component, and washing, in succession, each of the at least two loads;
- and
- a drying component for receiving from the washing component, drying, and ejecting from the drying component, in succession, each of the at least two loads.
In an automated laundry system having a washer and a dryer, a method for washing multiple loads of laundry, comprising:
- providing a memory for storing washing/drying settings corresponding to each of the loads;
- providing a user interface having a display;
- receiving first washing/drying settings corresponding to a first load of laundry via the user interface;
- storing the first washing/drying settings in the memory;
- receiving second washing/drying settings corresponding to a second load of laundry via the user interface;
- storing the second washing/drying settings in the memory;
- washing the first load of laundry according to the first washing/drying settings;
- drying the first load of laundry according to the first washing/drying settings;
- washing the second load of laundry according to the second washing/drying settings;
- and
- drying the second load of laundry according to the second washing/drying settings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.