EP0954387B1 - Optically-guided indicia reader system - Google Patents
Optically-guided indicia reader system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0954387B1 EP0954387B1 EP98902706A EP98902706A EP0954387B1 EP 0954387 B1 EP0954387 B1 EP 0954387B1 EP 98902706 A EP98902706 A EP 98902706A EP 98902706 A EP98902706 A EP 98902706A EP 0954387 B1 EP0954387 B1 EP 0954387B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- scanner
- conveyor
- parcel
- image
- width
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
- B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
- B07C3/10—Apparatus characterised by the means used for detection ofthe destination
- B07C3/14—Apparatus characterised by the means used for detection ofthe destination using light-responsive detecting means
Abstract
Description
Claims (10)
- An optically-guided indicia reader system (10) comprising a conveyor (12) for transporting a parcel (14) from an upstream location (16) of the conveyor to a downstream location (18) of the conveyor, an illumination source (24), a scanner (32) located downstream of the illumination source, and a computer memory (42) for storing images captured by the scanner, CHARACTERISED BY;
the illumination source (24) positioned to define a static elongate strip (26) having a width that is narrower than the conveyor (14) to assist in positioning the parcel (14) on the conveyor (12);
the scanner (24) configured to capture an image of a region (34) that is aligned in the direction of conveyor travel with the static elongate strip (26) and has a width that is approximately equal to the width of the static elongate strip (26); and
means (41) for operating the scanner (32) and the computer memory (42) so as to capture an image of the region (34) as a parcel positioned on the conveyor travels through the region. - The optically-guided indicia reader system (10) of Claim 1, further comprising:a height sensor (28) located upstream of the scanner (32) and positioned to determine height data associated with the parcel (14);a communication link (30) for transmitting the height data from the height sensor (28) to the scanner (32); andmeans (33) for focusing the scanner (32) in response to the height data.
- The optically-guided indicia reader system (10) of Claim 1 or Claim 2, further comprising:a reflectivity sensor (28) located upstream of the scanner (32) and positioned to determine reflectivity data associated with the parcel (14);a communication link (30) for transmitting the reflectivity data from the reflectivity sensor (28) to the scanner (32); andmeans (33) for adjusting the gain of the scanner (32) in response to the reflectivity data.
- The optically-guided indicia reader system (10) of any preceding claim, further comprising means (41) for operating the computer memory (42) and the scanner (32) so as to store an image of a region having a width approximately equal to the width of the area (26).
- The optically-guided indicia reader system (10) of any preceding claim, further comprising:a proximity sensor (46) for detecting proximity data indicating the presence of the parcel (14) at a predefined position (50) along the conveyor (12); anda communication link (48) between the proximity sensor (46) and the scanner (32); andmeans (36, 41) for, in response to the proximity data, operating the computer memory (42) and the scanner (32) so as to store an image of a region having a width approximately equal to the width of the area (26) and a length approximately equal to the length of the parcel (14) in the direction of conveyor travel.
- A method for obtaining an image of indicia (20) on a parcel (14) using an optically-guided indicia reader system (10) comprising a conveyor (12) for transporting a parcel (14) from an upstream location (16) of the conveyor to a downstream location (18) of the conveyor, an illumination source (24), a scanner (32) located downstream of the illumination source, and a computer memory (42) for storing images captured by the scanner, CHARACTERISED BY THE STEPS OF;
positioning the illumination source (24) to define a static elongate strip (26) having a width that is narrower than the conveyor (14) to assist in positioning the parcel (14) on the conveyor (12);
positioning the parcel (14) on the conveyor so that the indicia (20) is located within the static elongate strip (26);
positioning the scanner (24) to capture an image of a region (34) that is aligned in the direction of conveyor travel with the static elongate strip (26) and has a width that is approximately equal to the width of the static elongate strip (26); and
operating the scanner (32) and the computer memory (42) so as to capture an image of the indicia (20) as the parcel travels through the region (34). - The method of Claim 6, further comprising the steps of:positioning a height sensor (28) upstream of the scanner (32);determining height data associated with the parcel (14) with the height sensor (28);transmitting the height data from the height sensor (28) to the scanner (32); andfocusing the scanner (32) in response to the height data.
- The method of Claim 6 or Claim 7, further comprising the steps of:positioning a reflectivity sensor (28) upstream of the scanner (32);determining reflectivity data associated with the parcel (14) with the reflectivity sensor;transmitting the reflectivity data from the reflectivity sensor (28) to the scanner (32); andadjusting the gain of the scanner (32) in response to the reflectivity data.
- The method of any of Claims 6-8, further comprising the step of operating the computer memory (42) and the scanner (32) so as to store an image of a region having a width approximately equal to the width of the area (26).
- The method of any of claims 6-9, further comprising the steps of:positioning a proximity sensor (46) for detecting proximity data indicating the presence of the parcel (14) at a predefined position (50) along the conveyor (12); andtransmitting the proximity data from the proximity sensor (46) to the scanner (32); andin response to the proximity data, operating the computer memory (42) and the scanner (32) so as to store an image of a region having a width approximately equal to the width of the area (26) and a length approximately equal to the length of the parcel (14) in the direction of conveyor travel.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP03020263A EP1371424B1 (en) | 1997-01-23 | 1998-01-23 | Optically-guided indicia reader system |
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US787974 | 1997-01-23 | ||
US08/787,974 US5920056A (en) | 1997-01-23 | 1997-01-23 | Optically-guided indicia reader system for assisting in positioning a parcel on a conveyor |
US08/788,852 US5923017A (en) | 1997-01-23 | 1997-01-23 | Moving-light indicia reader system |
US788852 | 1997-01-23 | ||
PCT/US1998/001366 WO1998032545A1 (en) | 1997-01-23 | 1998-01-23 | Optically-guided indicia reader system |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP03020263A Division EP1371424B1 (en) | 1997-01-23 | 1998-01-23 | Optically-guided indicia reader system |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0954387A1 EP0954387A1 (en) | 1999-11-10 |
EP0954387B1 true EP0954387B1 (en) | 2004-05-26 |
Family
ID=27120718
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP98902706A Expired - Lifetime EP0954387B1 (en) | 1997-01-23 | 1998-01-23 | Optically-guided indicia reader system |
EP03020263A Expired - Lifetime EP1371424B1 (en) | 1997-01-23 | 1998-01-23 | Optically-guided indicia reader system |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP03020263A Expired - Lifetime EP1371424B1 (en) | 1997-01-23 | 1998-01-23 | Optically-guided indicia reader system |
Country Status (8)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (2) | EP0954387B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP3476836B2 (en) |
AT (2) | ATE267649T1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2271063C (en) |
DE (2) | DE69824149T2 (en) |
DK (1) | DK0954387T3 (en) |
ES (2) | ES2271447T3 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1998032545A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP4251312B2 (en) * | 2002-03-08 | 2009-04-08 | 日本電気株式会社 | Image input device |
AU2003230403A1 (en) | 2002-05-16 | 2003-12-02 | United Parcel Service Of America, Inc. | Systems and methods for package sortation and delivery using radio frequency identification technology |
US6878896B2 (en) | 2002-07-24 | 2005-04-12 | United Parcel Service Of America, Inc. | Synchronous semi-automatic parallel sorting |
JP2005064633A (en) * | 2003-08-08 | 2005-03-10 | Hitachi Ltd | Business form reader |
ES2614553T3 (en) | 2010-05-06 | 2017-05-31 | Eurosort B.V. | Sorting device with tilting support element |
WO2014028204A1 (en) * | 2012-08-13 | 2014-02-20 | Laitram, L.L.C. | Parcel handling methods |
CN104307758B (en) * | 2014-09-25 | 2016-09-21 | 浙江海洋学院 | A kind of quick despatch sorter |
US10471478B2 (en) | 2017-04-28 | 2019-11-12 | United Parcel Service Of America, Inc. | Conveyor belt assembly for identifying an asset sort location and methods of utilizing the same |
CN108480222A (en) * | 2018-03-14 | 2018-09-04 | 郑州工程技术学院 | A kind of materials-sorting system and method |
DE102019128814B4 (en) * | 2019-10-25 | 2021-05-20 | Sick Ag | Camera for detecting an object flow and method for determining the height of objects |
JP7423979B2 (en) | 2019-10-28 | 2024-01-30 | 日本電気株式会社 | Transportation control device, transportation control method, program |
CN110795953B (en) * | 2019-11-19 | 2020-09-25 | 浙江华眼视觉科技有限公司 | Send a scanning and timely update system of commodity circulation information |
CN111301985A (en) * | 2020-03-09 | 2020-06-19 | 湖南城市学院 | Optical fiber sensing system based on optical fiber laser |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1270801A (en) * | 1968-03-06 | 1972-04-19 | Emi Ltd | Improvements relating to input apparatus for pattern recognition devices |
FR2657982B1 (en) * | 1990-02-02 | 1992-11-27 | Cga Hbs | METHOD FOR LOCATING AN ADDRESS ON SORTING ARTICLES, ADDRESSING LABEL AND DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD. |
US5202557A (en) * | 1992-04-06 | 1993-04-13 | Electrocom Automation L.P. | Method and apparatus for detecting overlapping products in a singulated product stream |
IL107265A0 (en) * | 1993-10-12 | 1994-01-25 | Galai Lab Ltd | Parcel sorting system |
-
1998
- 1998-01-23 CA CA002271063A patent/CA2271063C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1998-01-23 EP EP98902706A patent/EP0954387B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-01-23 AT AT98902706T patent/ATE267649T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1998-01-23 AT AT03020263T patent/ATE338589T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1998-01-23 DE DE69824149T patent/DE69824149T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-01-23 WO PCT/US1998/001366 patent/WO1998032545A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1998-01-23 DK DK98902706T patent/DK0954387T3/en active
- 1998-01-23 JP JP53216498A patent/JP3476836B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1998-01-23 EP EP03020263A patent/EP1371424B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-01-23 ES ES03020263T patent/ES2271447T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-01-23 ES ES98902706T patent/ES2221148T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-01-23 DE DE69835840T patent/DE69835840T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69824149D1 (en) | 2004-07-01 |
EP0954387A1 (en) | 1999-11-10 |
JP2000509655A (en) | 2000-08-02 |
EP1371424A3 (en) | 2004-04-28 |
ATE338589T1 (en) | 2006-09-15 |
DK0954387T3 (en) | 2004-09-27 |
EP1371424A2 (en) | 2003-12-17 |
EP1371424B1 (en) | 2006-09-06 |
ES2221148T3 (en) | 2004-12-16 |
ATE267649T1 (en) | 2004-06-15 |
ES2271447T3 (en) | 2007-04-16 |
CA2271063C (en) | 2003-05-20 |
DE69835840D1 (en) | 2006-10-19 |
DE69824149T2 (en) | 2004-10-28 |
JP3476836B2 (en) | 2003-12-10 |
WO1998032545A1 (en) | 1998-07-30 |
CA2271063A1 (en) | 1998-07-30 |
DE69835840T2 (en) | 2007-04-26 |
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