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US 2026/0062856 A1Published application
Tidying robot for folding laundry
AssigneeClutterbot, Inc.
InventorJustin David Hamilton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for folding laundry is provided, where a robot approaches the clothes, identifying the type of clothing and key points for folding the clothing with a camera, and then uses a scoop and pusher pad assemblies to grab and manipulate the articles of clothing. The robot uses gripper arms and pinch grippers to grasp and move the clothing items, with the help of a camera that guides the folding process by guiding the manipulation devices to the key points on the clothing. The robot then moves the folded clothing items to a desired location using the scoop.
Claims16
A method comprising:
- approaching a pile of clothing including articles of clothing, located on a surface, with a tidying robot, wherein the tidying robot includes:
- a chassis with at least one of at least one wheel and at least one track for mobility of the tidying robot;
- a scoop mounted on the tidying robot;
- a pair of pusher pad assemblies, each including a pusher pad and a pinch gripper;
- a pair of pusher pad arms, each pusher pad of the pair of pusher pad assemblies mounted on one pusher pad arm, each pusher pad arm attached to the scoop and configured to move the pusher pad into a position to grasp the articles of clothing;
- the pinch gripper, on the tip of each pusher pad, configured to grip an article of clothing;
- a gripper arm attached to the scoop and configured to grasp items;
- at least one camera configured to identify a type of clothing and key points on the type of clothing, wherein the key points facilitate manipulation of the articles of clothing;
- grabbing, with the pusher pad assembly, a selected article of clothing from the pile of clothing located on the surface;
- aligning a front edge of the scoop parallel to the front edge of the surface;
- and
- moving the selected article of clothing, with the pusher pad assembly, from the pile of clothing to an area of the surface in front of the front edge of the scoop.
9 more elements
A method comprising:
- approaching an article of clothing, located on a surface, with a tidying robot, wherein the tidying robot includes:
- a chassis with at least one of at least one wheel and at least one track for mobility of the tidying robot;
- a scoop mounted on the tidying robot;
- a first pusher pad assembly and a second pusher pad assembly, each including a pusher pad and a pinch gripper;
- a first pusher pad arm and a second pusher pad arm;
- each pusher pad of each pusher pad assembly mounted on a pusher pad arm, each pusher pad arm attached to the scoop and configured to move the pusher pad assembly into a position to grasp the article of clothing;
- the pinch grippers, one on a tip of each pusher pad, configured to grip the article of clothing;
- a gripper arm attached to the scoop and configured to grasp items;
- at least one camera configured to identify a type of clothing and key points on the type of clothing, wherein the key points facilitate manipulation of the articles of clothing;
- and
- identifying, using the at least one camera, a first set of key points on the article of clothing representing first manipulation locations, the first manipulation locations including at least one first fold hold point and at least one first fold grip point.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.