EP2180959B1 - Device and method for processing objects having information attached thereto - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for processing objects, the articles having optically detectable information on at least one side. For individual transport of the objects through the device, the device comprises a conveying path and on the conveying path a reading device is provided for the contactless detection of information on all sides of the objects.

The invention further relates to a method for processing objects with such a device.

From the prior art it is known to use devices to process articles such as postal packets by being visually scanned while being transported on a conveyor line. In the case of postal parcels, usually applied destination information is recorded in order to control the further transport of the parcels. Also, for any other items such as packaged goods or newspaper bundles such devices can be used on conveyor lines.

Typically, this CCD cameras are used, which detect the surface of an object. The recorded images are evaluated, for example, by OCR technology, wherein both handwritten information and machine-readable information such as barcodes can be evaluated in a connected data processing unit. Become handwritten information is evaluated, for example, a barcode can be generated by the data processing unit, which is applied for the downstream processing and further transport of the object on a particular page of the object.

In addition, labels can be applied in which routing information is encrypted. For example, the international patent application discloses WO 02/057030 A1 a system for reading and evaluating information on packets, in which packets are stored on a conveyor belt so that their destination information is visible to a camera. The captured images are evaluated by a data processing system, where they are compared with stored customer or Lexikadaten to reduce the Fehlarquote. In addition, a routing label is applied to the respective package.

In order to capture graphical information on an object, it usually has to be aligned on a conveyor track so that the page on which the information is located can be optically detected. For this purpose, objects can be manually placed on the conveyor line from the outset so that they have the required orientation. However, this requires a lot of manual labor. Alternatively, incorrectly aligned objects can be detected if their target information could not be detected by the optical detection means. These objects are then manually or mechanically rotated so that they have the correct orientation and can be fed back to the optical detection means. However, this is also associated with a lot of effort and requires multiple conveyor and sorting lines.

The US patent US 3,592,326 for example, discloses such a system in which mail packets are singled out over several conveyor belts and one side of the packets is scanned. If there is no information to capture on the scanned page, the package is ejected and rotated until the information you want to capture is on the correct page.

Furthermore, it is known from the prior art to optically detect all sides of the object during the transport of an object on a conveying path, so that applied target information is always detected without the object having to have a specific orientation. This is done, for example, with CCD cameras on all sides of a conveyor belt. The information thus acquired may be used for subsequent routing of the item via further conveyor and sorting lines from a controller of the conveyor system. However, in order to recapture an item on further intermediate stations of a conveyor system, an all-side scan of the item is required at each of these intermediate stations. If one wants to announce these, then again a correct alignment of the objects must take place.

A device according to the preamble of claim 1 is for example made DE-A-39 42 932 known.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a device for processing objects with applied information on a conveyor line, which allows the repeated detection of this information in a simple manner, without the objects must be brought into a specific orientation.

The object of the invention is also the provision of a method for operating such a device.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device having the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous developments of the device will become apparent from the dependent claims 2-9. The object is further achieved by a method according to claim 10. Advantageous embodiments of the method emerge from the dependent claims 11-18.

The device according to the invention for processing articles which have optically detectable information on at least one side, sees a conveying path for the isolated transport of the objects through the device in front. On the conveyor line a reading device for contactless detection of information on all sides of the objects is provided. According to the invention, the reading device is connected to a data processing unit which has means for receiving and evaluating the acquired information from all sides of the objects. The evaluation of this information in the data processing unit comprises at least the determination of that side of an object on which information was acquired. The data processing unit further comprises means for duplicating the acquired information and means for transmitting the duplicated information to a printing unit. The printing unit in turn has means for applying the duplicated information to a fixed reading side of the objects, the specification of the reading side being stored in the data processing unit.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reading device has at least six detection means which are arranged so that they can detect all sides of articles transported past them on the conveying path. The reading device may comprise, for example, CCD cameras. The conveying path preferably has a transparent area in the region of the reading device and, in the conveying direction in front of this transparent area, an acceleration device for accelerating the objects over the transparent area.

The detection means are used for optical detection of information. A preferred example of an optical detection means is a reading device, for example a camera, a scanner, an optical scanning device or an image sensor. An image sensor is a device for taking two-dimensional images of light by electrical or mechanical means.
Technical solutions for taking a picture in the visible range to the infrared often based on two-dimensional arrays of radiation sensors whose signals are read out electronically. Examples of image sensors are charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensors or CMOS sensors.

The data processing unit comprises means for reading out information from the images of the cameras, whereby the read-out information is duplicated. The data processing unit may have means for optical character recognition, such as OCR and / or ICR recognition.

The printing unit may include means for printing the duplicated information on a sticker and means for applying the sticker to a fixed read side of the articles.

The data processing unit further comprises means for determining the position and orientation of an object on the conveyor line, wherein the data processing unit uses the image of a camera above the conveyor line. The data processing unit comprises means for transmitting the determined position and orientation of an object to the printing unit, wherein the printing unit comprises means for implementing this information about the position and orientation of an object in order to apply the duplicated information selectively to an object.

The invention also encompasses a method for processing objects with the device according to the invention. In this case, the reading device transmits the acquired information from all sides of the objects to a data processing unit which evaluates the acquired information, wherein the evaluation of this information in the data processing unit comprises at least the determination of the side on which information was acquired. The data processing unit duplicates the captured information and transmits it to a printing unit that applies the duplicated information to a designated read side of the items.

The data processing unit can read the information from the images of the cameras, whereby the information read out is duplicated. For this purpose, the data processing unit can evaluate the images of the cameras, for example with an optical character recognition such as an OCR and / or ICR recognition.

The fixed read side of the articles is preferably the top of the articles. The data processing unit determines from the information acquired by the reading device that side of an item on which the information has been acquired, and the data processing unit compares this page with the designated reading side. If this page matches the specified read page, the captured information is not duplicated because it is already on the read side of an item.

The data processing unit further determines the position and orientation of an object on the conveyor line, using the image of a camera above the conveyor line. The data processing unit sends the thus determined position and orientation of an object to the printing unit, which converts this information about the position and orientation of an object and selectively applies the duplicated information to an object.

The invention has the advantage that information can be repeatedly detected by an object without the article having to be previously brought into a specific orientation. The items must therefore be isolated on a conveyor line only to be recorded individually. The information is simply duplicated and applied to the correct read page. In this case, the method according to the invention represents a simple method, which nevertheless differs fundamentally from previous methods for achieving the object of the invention.

Further advantages, features and expedient developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description of a possible embodiment of the invention with reference to the figure Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention, consisting of a conveyor line 30, are transported on the articles 20 in the arrow direction. For example, the items are Postal packages, packaged goods or newspaper bundles, which may be provided on one side with a destination address or an identification of the respective item. The destination address, like parcels, can not only be postal addresses, but also destinations within a logistics system. For example, packaged shipments may be provided with information about a destination to which a commodity is to be transported in order, for example, to pick further goods into the packaging or to use the packaged object in a production process. In addition, objects can be provided with unique identifications with which they can be identified at several stations within a transport system.

The information applied can be applied both in plain text and in encrypted form. For example, barcodes or matrix codes can be used as encryption. Further, the information may be printed directly on the article or a label / label is applied to which the information is applied. Clear text information and encrypted information may also be present in combination on an object. For example, a parcel shipment may be provided with an affixed parcel label which has been described by a consignor with a recipient address in plain text, while the label further comprises a bar code with an encrypted number sequence over which the consignment is uniquely identifiable in the shipping system.

The articles 20 are preferably transported individually on the conveyor line 20. For the separation, known methods and devices can be used, for example in the form of conveyor belts with different speeds or slides, which move the objects in a targeted manner from one layer to another. The singulation can be carried out with or without the assistance of a sensor which detects the position of objects on the conveyor line.

At the conveyor line 30 there is a reading device 40, with which all sides of the articles 20 passed individually past them can be scanned. Preferably, at least six optical detection means are used for this all-side scanning, which are arranged so that they can detect all sides of an object guided past them.

A preferred example of the optical detection means is a reading device, for example a camera, a scanner, an optical scanning device or an image sensor. The cameras are, for example, CCD cameras, and the simultaneous acquisition of information on multiple pages of an object can be accomplished by conventional methods and arrangements of cameras known to those skilled in the art.

It is also convenient to use one or more mirrors. For example, when using a mirror, it is possible for a detection means to receive deflected optical signals via the mirror and thus to perform the function of two detection means together with the mirror.

In order to also be able to detect the underside of an object 20, the region 31 of the conveying path 30, in which the scanning of the objects takes place, is preferably transparent, so that a detection means, for example a camera, can be positioned below the conveying path. This may be, for example, a transparent plate which is arranged between two conveyor belts. In front of this transparent area there is preferably a means for accelerating the objects over the transparent area. The objects are for this purpose, for example, transported by a first conveyor belt to the transparent plate, which is directly in front of the plate another conveyor belt 32, which has a much higher speed than the first conveyor belt. The articles are accelerated by this fast conveyor belt and slide over the transparent plate 31 until they are taken up again by a conveyor belt arranged behind it and transported further.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the conveying path 30 in the region of the reading device 40 is inclined slightly downwards in the conveying direction, so that the objects slip over the transparent plate 31 due to gravity until they are picked up again by a conveyor belt arranged behind it and transported further.

The images recorded by the reading units (cameras) of the reading device 40 are fed to a data processing unit 50, which carries out an evaluation of the images. This evaluation involves at least the determination of the page of an item on which information was collected. This can be done on the basis of the image information and the defined arrangement of the reading units (cameras). If only the lower reading unit (camera) could detect information, this means that the searched information is located on the underside of the object.

The data processing unit 50 now performs a comparison of the page thus determined with information with a fixed read page. The read side is stored in the data processing unit 50. The read side is the side of objects on which the information must reside in order to be detected by subsequent reading devices. If it is provided on the further conveyor and distribution line that information is always captured from above, the fixed read side, for example, the top of the items. However, it can also be provided that reading devices are located, for example, in the conveying direction to the right of the conveying path, so that the fixed reading side is the right side of an object.

Since, according to the invention, an imprint or a label with an imprint is applied to the fixed read side, it has proved to be advantageous that the upper side of the articles is determined as the reading side. So the imprint can or apply a label without the item shifting. Furthermore, the position and orientation of an object over the top is better defined than is the case over lateral surfaces, as isolated objects always lie flat on the conveyor line, so that their top is substantially parallel to the conveyor line and can be printed well. Side surfaces may, however, depending on the position of the object are inclined to a printhead, which can reduce the print quality or even make a print or the application of a label impossible. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, therefore, the fixed read side of the articles is the top of the articles.

In this case, above the conveying path 30 there is a printing unit 60 which can print directly on objects or produce a label 70 which can be applied to the objects. The printing unit 60 is in communication with the data processing unit 50, which evaluates the images of the reading device 40 and compares it with the specification for the reading side. If only the reading unit (camera) below the conveyor track could capture information, the comparison with the specified read page reveals that the two sides do not match. The data processing unit therefore sends a signal to the printing unit 60 to apply a print or label to the top of the next item. If, on the other hand, the top side has been detected as the side on which information is located, the data processing unit does not send a signal for printing to the printing unit, since no additional application of information is required. Rather, the article is already in the correct orientation and the information can be detected by a reading device above the conveyor line.

If the data processing unit 50 sends a signal for printing to the printing unit 60, this takes place together with the transmission of a duplicate of the ascertained information. The data processing unit duplicates all or only part of the acquired information. If barcode scanning is required for further processing, a captured barcode is duplicated and placed on top of an object. Furthermore, if the detection of a receiver address is required in order to subsequently generate a sort code for the conveyor line, for example, the receiver address is duplicated. In this case, the detected receiver address can be extracted by the data processing unit 50 by OCR and / or ICR techniques and recreated. Alternatively, the area with the receiver address is cut out of the image recorded by a reading unit (camera) and applied to the object without further processing.

Even a detected barcode can be recreated or printed only as a copy of the captured image. In order to increase the read rates of downstream processes, however, it has proven advantageous to extract information from the captured images and to duplicate the information by recreating it. In this way, deficiencies in the original information can be corrected. If a recipient address, for example, handwritten or applied in a pale color, it can now be applied in black print. However, the data processing unit does not add information to the acquired information, but merely duplicates it. In the simplest case, only the relevant information areas are cut out of the recorded image of a reading unit, preferably a camera, and applied in color or black and white to the fixed reading side of the object.

The data processing unit 50 further evaluates the image of the reading unit, preferably the camera, above the conveying path 30 in order to determine the position and orientation of the object 20 on the conveying path. These data are also transmitted to the printing unit 60 so that it can apply a print targeted to an object. Thus, the position of an object between the reading device 40 and the printing unit 60 does not change significantly, the mechanism for transporting the objects across the transparent plate 32 should therefore be designed accordingly.

Alternatively, means for positioning the articles in a specific printing position can be provided behind the reading device 40. This may be, for example, baffles that lead the objects in a central location that allows a print. This procedure is particularly suitable for objects of similar size and shape. In the case of articles of widely varying size and shape, as is the case, for example, with postal parcels, a reliable orientation is difficult to realize, so that it can be supplemented or replaced by the described evaluation of the image of the upper reading unit, preferably the camera.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

processing device

20

Object, parcel, packaging, goods

30

Conveyor line, conveyor belt

31

Transparent area

32

Accelerator, acceleration belt

40

reader

50

Data processing unit

60

Pressure unit, pressure medium

70

label

Claims (18)

1. A device (10) for processing objects (20), whereby the objects (20) have optically detectable information on at least one side, and the device comprises a conveying line (30) for the individuated transport of the objects (20) through the device (10), and a reading means (40) for the contact-free detection of information on all sides of the objects (20) is provided on the conveying line (30), whereby the reading means (40) is in communication with a data processing unit (50) that has means for receiving and evaluating the information detected from all sides of the objects (20), whereby the evaluation of this information in the data processing unit (50) comprises at least the determination of the side of an object (20) on which the information was detected,
   characterized in that
   the data processing unit (50) has means to duplicate the detected information as well as means for transmitting the duplicated information to a printing unit (60), and in that the printing unit (60) has means for applying the duplicated information onto a predefined reading side of the objects (20), whereby the specification of the reading side is stored in the data processing unit (50).
2. The device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the reading means (40) comprises at least six detection means that are arranged in such a way that they can detect all sides of the objects (20) that are being transported on the conveying line (30) past said reading means (40).
3. The device according to claim 2,
   characterized in that
   in the area of the reading means (40), the conveying line (30) has a transparent area (31), and, in the conveying direction, upstream from this transparent area (31), it has an acceleration means (32) for accelerating the objects (20) past the transparent area (31).
4. The device according to one of claims 2 and 3,
   characterized in that
   the data processing unit (50) comprises means for reading out information from the images of the detection means, whereby the read-out information is duplicated.
5. The device according to claim 4,
   characterized in that
   the reading means (40) comprises cameras.
6. The device according to one of claims 4 and 5,
   characterized in that
   the data processing unit (50) has means for optical character recognition.
7. The device according to claim 6,
   characterized in that
   the data processing unit (50) uses OCR and/or ICR recognition.
8. The device according to one of claims 1 to 7,
   characterized in that
   the printing unit (60) has means for printing the duplicated information onto a sticker (70) and means for applying the sticker (70) onto a predefined reading side of the objects (20).
9. The device according to one of claims 2 to 7,
   characterized in that
   the data processing unit (50) comprises means for determining the position and the orientation of an object (20) on the conveying line (30), whereby the data processing unit (50) uses the image from a reading unit above the conveying line (30), and in that the data processing unit (50) comprises means for transmitting the determined position and orientation of an object (20) to the printing unit (60), whereby the printing unit (60) comprises means for converting this information about the position and the orientation of an object (20), in order to systematically apply the duplicated information onto an object.
10. A method for processing objects (20), whereby the objects (20) have optically detectable information on at least one side, and the objects - individuated on a conveying line (30) - are transported through the device (10), and information on all sides of the objects (20) is detected contact-free on the conveying line (30) by a reading means (40), whereby the reading means (40) transmits the information detected from all of the sides of the objects (20) to a data processing unit (50) that evaluates the detected information, whereby the evaluation of this information in the data processing unit (50) comprises at least the determination of the side on which the information was detected, and whereby the data processing unit (50) duplicates the detected information and transmits the duplicated information to a printing unit (60), and whereby the printing unit (60) applies the duplicated information onto a predefined reading side of the objects (20).
11. The method according to claim 10,
    characterized in that
    the information of the reading means (40) is detected by at least six reading units, whereby the reading units detect all sides of the objects (20) on the conveying line (30) that are being transported past said reading means (40).
12. The method according to claim 11,
    characterized in that
    the data processing unit (50) reads out the information from the images of the reading units, whereby the read-out information is duplicated.
13. The method according to claim 12,
    characterized in that
    the data processing unit (50) evaluates the images of the reading units by means of optical character recognition.
14. The method according to claim 13,
    characterized in that
    the data processing unit (50) uses OCR and/or ICR recognition.
15. The method according to one of claims 10 to 14,
    characterized in that
    the printing unit (60) prints the duplicated information onto a sticker (70) and applies the sticker (70) onto a predefined reading side of the objects (20).
16. The method according to one of claims 10 to 15,
    characterized in that
    the predefined reading side is the top of the objects (20).
17. The method according to one of claims 10 to 16,
    characterized in that,
    on the basis of the information detected by the reading means (40), the data processing unit (50) determines the side of an object (20) on which the information was detected, and in that the data processing unit (50) compares this side to the predefined reading side and does not duplicate the detected information if this side corresponds to the predefined reading side.
18. The method according to one of claims 11 to 17,
    characterized in that
    the data processing unit (50) determines the position and the orientation of an object (20) on the conveying line (30), whereby it uses the image of a reading unit above the conveying line (30), and in that the data processing unit (50) transmits the thus determined position and orientation of an object (20) to the printing unit (60), which converts this information about the position and the orientation of an object (20) and applies the duplicated information onto an object.

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