GB2347768A

GB2347768A - Identifying articles

Info

Publication number: GB2347768A
Application number: GB9905213A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence R Jones
Original assignee: Grattan PLC
Current assignee: Grattan PLC
Priority date: 1999-03-08
Filing date: 1999-03-08
Publication date: 2000-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-08
Also published as: GB2347768B; GB9905213D0

Abstract

Apparatus for identifying articles provided by a dispensing apparatus including a moving surface 10 for conveying the articles, comprises means (barcode reader 23) for identifying the articles and display means 30 for displaying indications identifying the articles each in a location bearing a predetermined spatial relationship to the instantaneous position of the corresponding article on the moving surface.

Description

MEIHQD AND APPARATS FOR IDENTIFYING ARTICLES The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for identifying articles, and in particular to methods and apparatus for identifying articles provided by a dispensing apparatus, such as a conveying or transporting system or the like.

Many activities require the dispensing and identification of articles. Common examples include the withdrawal of articles from a warehouse, sorting of parcels for distribution from a distribution depot, the distribution of passengers'luggage to or from aircraft, or the identification of particular batches of a product during a manufacturing operation. Although such activities are typically highly automated, there commonly remains an element of manual sorting. In smaller sorting operations, it may not be economically justifiable to provide fully automated sorting.

Typically, articles are automatically selected according to predetermined criteria, and are placed on a dispensing apparatus, such as a conveyor belt or the like. A person for whom an article is destined must then visually identify their article among the articles present on the dispensing apparatus. This may not be a particularly onerous task in the case of retrieving personal luggage, as the article is likely to be fairly distinctive, and well known to the person. However, when withdrawing articles from a warehouse or the like, or when sorting parcels for distribution from a distribution depot, the article in question may be very similar to other articles on the dispensing apparatus, and may be previously unknown to the person.

In such case, the person must visually inspect each article on the dispensing apparatus, each of which typically carries an identifying label, until the person identifies an article intended for them. This can be a tedious operation, especially if a large number of articles are present, or if the person wishes to collect a large number of articles.

The present invention aims to facilitate the identification of articles presented on a dispensing apparatus.

Accordingly, the present invention provides apparatus for identifying articles provided by a dispensing apparatus including a moving surface for conveying the articles.

The apparatus comprises means for identifying the articles; and display means for displaying indications identifying each of the articles, wherein the display means includes a display screen and means for displaying, on the display screen, the indications identifying each article, each in a location bearing a predetermined spatial relationship to the instantaneous position of the corresponding article on the moving surface.

The articles are preferably identified automatically.

The indications may be comprised of characters selected from data generated by the means for identifying the articles.

The means for identifying articles may provide data which is used to select a corresponding indication from a lookup table.

The display screen is preferably elongate in the direction of conveying the articles.

The display means preferably includes means for measuring the displacement of the moving surface, and for causing corresponding displacement of the indications on the display screen.

A periodic signal may be commonly applied to the means for displaying, and to the dispensing apparatus, wherein both the indications and the moving surface are each arranged to move by a predetermined distance per a predetermined multiple or sub-multiple of the periodic signal. The periodic signal may be a clock signal. The periodic signal may be an AC supply voltage. The periodic signal may be derived from other processes upstream or downstream of the conveying or transporting system.

The display screen may comprise a plurality of adjacent, predetermined, character positions.

The display screen may comprise a plurality of adjacent character positions variable in position pixel-by-pixel, or character by character. The display screen may include a number of separate display screens, placed around the path of the moving surface, separated by gaps.

The indications relating to the articles may be stored in a sequence of buffers and display registers, whereby indications are stored in a buffer, and not displayed, when the corresponding article is positioned on a portion of the moving surface not having a corresponding portion of display screen; and indications are stored in a display register, and displayed on a corresponding portion of display screen, when the corresponding article is positioned on a portion of the moving surface having a corresponding portion of display screen.

The moving surface may comprise a plurality of straight sections, each provided with at least one display screen, and a number of intermediate sections joining the straight sections. The intermediate sections may be curved or straight and may or may not have an associated display screen.

The moving surface may comprise articulated sections forming a continuous circuit of straight and curved sections. Alternatively, the moving surface may be not formed as a continuous circuit.

The means for identifying articles is preferably placed at a location corresponding to a portion of the moving surface having no corresponding display screen. The means for identifying articles may be placed adjacently after a position for the loading of articles, in the direction of conveying the articles.

The means for identifying articles preferably identifies all articles passing by, whether newly loaded, or passing by a second or further time after completing a circuit of the moving surface.

A transfer pulse generating means may be provided, placed at or after the means for identifying articles, in the direction of conveying the articles so as to initiate the entry of the identity to the series of displays and buffers.

The present invention also provides a method for identifying articles provided on a moving surface for conveying the articles. The method comprises the steps of identifying the articles; and displaying indications identifying the articles, wherein the method further comprises the step of displaying the indications identifying the articles on a display screen, each in a location bearing a predetermined spatial relationship to the instantaneous position of the corresponding article on the moving surface.

The step of identifying the articles preferably comprises automatically identifying the articles.

Automatic identification of articles includes use of hand held bar code readers or the like, where some manual operation is required, but the reading of bar codes etc. and the identification of articles is performed automatically, and also includes fully automatic means for identification of articles.

The step of displaying preferably comprises the steps of storing the indications in a first buffer, prior to their display on the screen; storing the indications in a display register while they are displayed on the screen; and clocking the indications through adjacent positions in the buffer and the register, at a rate corresponding to a rate of conveying the articles along the moving surface.

The displaying step preferably includes the steps of measuring the displacement of the moving surface; and causing corresponding displacement of the indications on the display screen.

A periodic signal may be commonly applied to the means for displaying, and the dispensing apparatus, whereby both indications and the moving surface are each arranged to move by a predetermined amount per a predetermined multiple or sub-multiple of the periodic signal. The periodic signal may be a clock pulse signal. The periodic signal may be an AC supply voltage. The periodic signal may be derived from other processes upstream or downstream of the conveying or transporting system.

The display screen may include a number of separate display screens, placed around the path of the moving surface, separated by gaps, and the method may include displaying, on each display screen, indications stored in a corresponding register, and wherein each of a number of buffers stores indications corresponding to articles located within a corresponding gap.

The method may include the step of automatically identifying all articles passing by, whether newly loaded, or passing by a second or further time after completing a circuit of the moving surface.

Within the present description, and for the purposes of the appended claims, the term"moving surface"should be taken to include any positive drive conveying means. Such means may not comprise a surface as such upon which articles rest. For example, positive drive conveying means may simply comprise a pair or more of chains, resilient bands or the like, placed in parallel and moved in synchronism. Articles may be placed upon such positive drive conveying means so as to rest on portions of each of the chains, bands or the like, to be conveyed by them.

Grids may be added to such conveying means, being rigid bars of metal or the like, joining corresponding portions of the chains, bands or the like, and providing a grid for supporting and conveying articles, particularly articles whose dimensions are inferior to the spacing between the parallel chains, bands or the like.

A roller conveyor, in which a number of adjacent rollers are rotated in synchronism, could also provide the positive drive conveying means, for articles resting on, and being conveyed by, upper portions of the rollers. Use of such conveying means would be dependent upon an appropriate choice of material for the roller surfaces, to avoid slippage of the articles with respect to the roller surfaces. Alternatively, if the slippage was regular and predictable, the slippage could be taken into account and compensated for, in the method and apparatus of the present invention.

Certain embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows apparatus for identifying articles according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows an operator's view of the apparatus of Fig.

1; Fig. 3 shows the operation of display registers and buffers of apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 4 shows a flow diagram of the operation of apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

An embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to Figs. 1-3.

A moving surface such as a conveyor belt 10 is provided, for conveying the articles to be identified. The conveyor belt comprises first and second straight sections 12,14 and first and second intermediate sections 16,18, such as curved sections of the conveyor, linking the straight sections, to form a complete circuit.

Loading positions 20,22 are placed around the conveyor belt, at the end of each curved section, in this embodiment. Immediately after each loading position, in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, a means for identifying the articles is placed. Preferably, automatic means for identifying the articles are used.

For example, this may be a barcode reader (scanner) 23, 24. Other means, such as an optical character recogniser, a magnetic strip reader, image recognition device, radio-frequency tag reader, could be used according to the identification marks used on the articles. Use of barcode identification marks is now very common, and this example will be used throughout the following description.

In an alternative embodiment, an operator may read identification marks on the articles and enter data using a keyboard. Alternatively, the operator may use a manual barcode reader etc. to read the identification marks.

Each loading position comprises a loading belt 25,26 for loading articles onto the conveyor belt 10, a mechanical loader 27,28 or a loading operator, for loading articles onto the loading belt, and a mechanical facer 29,30, or a facing operator, which ensures that the articles on the conveyor belt are arranged in the correct orientation for the scanner 23,24 to read the barcode. Provision of the facers 29,30 is optional, and the system could operate without the facers, provided that the loaders 27,28 place the articles in the correct orientation, and that articles which have made a full circuit of the conveyor belt return to their original orientation when passing a scanner 23,24 for a second or further time and provided that a means is incorporated to avoid collision or juxtaposition of articles being loaded and those recirculating.

First and second display screens 30,31 are provided, preferably along the entire length of each leg 12,14 of the conveyor belt. It may be preferred not to provide display screens around the curved sections 16,18 of the conveyor belt, and those portions may be inaccessible to the operators.

A number of operator locations 32 may be placed around the conveyor belt. The operators each wait for a particular type of article, and are ready to place it on a shelf or trolley, in a sack or other receptacle indicated generally at 34. The term'operator'is used here generally to indicate a person awaiting an article from the dispensing apparatus. Such people could be warehouse or distribution staff, postal workers, courier drivers, passengers or baggage handlers awaiting luggage, or any persons for whom articles are to be provided by the dispensing apparatus of the present invention.

When an article is to be dispensed from first loading position 20, the article is placed by loader 27 onto loading belt 25. Loading belt 25 then loads the article onto the conveyor belt 10. Facer 29, if present, will orient the article appropriately for identification by the bar code reader 23. The apparatus is arranged such that the bar code reader 23 reads bar codes located on an exposed surface of each article. Ideally, the bar codes are placed on the upper surface of each article, in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the conveyor belt. Other orientations are acceptable, but may require more precise location of bar codes on the articles themselves. Identification of articles by optical character recognition would present similar requirements. Identification by reading a magnetic strip would require precise location of the magnetic strip on the articles, of the articles themselves on the conveyor belt, and of the reader in relation to the conveyor belt.

Identification of articles by the reading of a radiofrequency tag would require that the tag on the article passes within range of the detecting device.

The barcode reader 23 reads the barcode, which corresponds to alphanumeric characters. In this embodiment, the barcode corresponds to sixteen numeric characters. It will often be sufficient to display only a selected subset of these characters in order to identify the article. For example, if the barcode corresponds to a postal code for a delivery address of the article, it may be sufficient to display only the first two or four characters of the postal code for the articles to be sorted into the required divisions. A controller (not illustrated in Fig. 1) selects the required identification characters from the characters read from the barcode, for display on the display screen 30.

Fig. 2 shows an article (identified as 365-11) being loaded onto the conveyor belt 10 by loading belt 25. The article may be loaded at a location corresponding to the end of a curved (intermediate) section 16. A platen or roller 35 may be provided to assist transfer of articles from loading belt 25 onto conveyor belt 10. Article 36511 is shown passing under barcode reader 23, which reads the barcode present on the upper surface of article 36511. As shown in Fig. 3, the barcode reader (scanner) 23 sends the data read from the barcode into an identity register 50. A character selection device 52 receives the data from identity register 50, generates identification characters for storage in transfer register 54. For example, character selection device 52 may select only required characters from the read barcode data, under control of a control system. In the example shown, the barcode contains data 8236511987651085. The character selection device 52 is arranged so as to select characters 3,6,5,1,1 and to transfer them into appropriate locations of a transfer register 54. The transfer register 54 then contains the identification characters 365-11, which may, for example, correspond to a courier number and round number.

As shown in Fig. 3, the identification characters may be simply selected from among the data read from the barcode. This may be achieved by character selection means 52, which may be a simple logic circuit, or a microprocessor or computer arranged to receive the read barcode data, and to transfer the selected identification characters into the transfer register 54. In any case, the selected identification characters may be a simple subset of the barcode data, possibly re-arranged, as shown in Fig. 3. Alternatively, a look-up table may be used so that the read barcode data is used to look up a set of identification characters in the look-up table. For example, certain digits may first be selected from the barcode data, and used to look up a set of alphabetic identification characters, representing (for example), the product name, the destination town, the name of the luggage owner, the delivery round number, the flight number on which luggage is to be placed.

An operator or control system input may be supplied to the character selection means 52, to select or vary the choice and/or ordering of identification characters, or to choose which of a plurality of look up tables are to be used.

The identification characters contained in the transfer register 54 are transferred to a parallel load, serial transfer output buffer 56 on receipt of a transfer pulse.

The transfer pulse marks the beginning of the movement of the identification characters along the display. The transfer pulse should preferably be generated when an article reaches a certain, predetermined, location on the moving surface. A transfer pulse generating means, for example a photocell, may be placed after the scanner, in the direction of conveying the articles, to detect when an article reaches that position. The transfer pulse thereby generated signals that the article has reached that position, which corresponds to the position of the identification characters transferred into the output buffer 56.

A clock pulse signal CK is derived from the motion of conveyor belt 10, and pulses, each corresponding to a conveyor belt displacement equivalent to one character position are supplied to the output buffer 56. The identification characters contained in the output buffer are thereby serially transferred ('clocked') into a first presettable length FIFO buffer 58. This transfer corresponds to the article moving from under scanner, past the transfer pulse generating means. The article has not yet reached a position having a corresponding display screen portion.

The identification characters are then clocked through the buffer 58, one position per cycle of clock signal CK. When the first of the identification characters has been clocked to the end of buffer 58, it enters first display register 60, containing characters displayed on first display section 30-1 of Fig. 2. The article will, by then, have moved along conveyor belt 10 to a position corresponding to the start of first display section 30-1.

The identification characters are displayed on the display screen 30 in a position corresponding to the position of the article in question. In this embodiment, the selected characters are displayed on the display screen in a position directly above the article itself on the conveyor belt.

The length of buffer 58 is determined such that the first of the identification characters 365-11 appears in the first character position of first display section 30-1 as the article 365-11 arrives in a position directly below that first character position.

The other identification characters are then clocked in to the display register 60 at a rate determined by clock pulse signal CK, so that the identification characters appear directly above the corresponding article as the articles move along the conveyor belt 10.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the identification characters are moved along the display screen 30-1 at a speed corresponding to the speed of the conveyor belt, so that the identification characters remain directly above the article as the article moves along. This may be achieved by deriving clock signal CK from the motion of the conveyor 10, and providing one clock pulse to the display buffer every time the conveyor has moved a distance corresponding to a character position of the display screen 30. For example, the display screen may be a'starburst'alphanumeric display, in which character positions are fixed, at a pitch of about 10-50mm, depending in the size of the display.

Accordingly, the characters on a 30mm pitch display will be clocked along by one character spacing every time that the conveyor belt moves 30mm. Other types of display may be used for numeric-only applications, such as seven segment displays. For such displays it would be desirable to move the displayed characters one or more character positions per clock pulse.

In alternative embodiments, the indications identifying the articles as displayed on the display screens may not be made up of alphanumeric characters. For example, where parcels are being sorted among a number of different courier companies, the relevant courier company logo may be displayed as the indication identifying each article. In another example, where packaged goods are being distributed, a representation of the goods may be displayed as the indication identifying the package. For example, if a packaged a kettle is to be supplied to an operator, an image of a kettle may be displayed on the screen as the indication identifying the article, even though such image bears no direct relation to the markings on the packaging.

The identification characters are clocked through the display register 60, and so also along the display 30-1, at a rate corresponding to the movement of the articles along the conveyor belt. The identification characters are therefore always displayed above the corresponding article, and the article and identification characters move along the conveyor belt and display, respectively, at corresponding speeds.

Movement of the conveyor belt must be related to the generation of the clock signal CK. This may be achieved in many ways. For example, if the conveyor belt is moved by a synchronous AC motor, the distance moved by the conveyor belt per AC cycle may be calculated from the characteristics of the motor and the mechanism linking the motor to the conveyor belt. If, for example, such an arrangement causes the conveyor belt to move by 30mm for every 10 cycles of AC supply, then the displayed character may be simply clocked once every 10 AC cycles.

Similarly, if the conveyor belt is moved by a stepper motor, the distance moved by the conveyor belt per cycle of an applied clock cycle may be calculated from the characteristics of the motor and the mechanism linking the motor to the conveyor belt. If, for example, such an arrangement causes the conveyor belt to move by 30mm for every 10 cycles of applied clock signal, then the displayed character may be simply clocked once every 10 cycles of the applied clock signal.

Alternatively, an optical disc may be attached to the motor or a roller linked to the conveyor belt, and may produce pulses which can be counted to measure the displacement of the belt. Alternatively, optical, mechanical or magnetic markings may be incorporated into the conveyor belt and passed adjacent to a suitable detector to measure belt movement. In such an arrangement, such markings should preferably be placed at an interval corresponding to the pitch of the display, so that the displayed characters may be clocked at every occurrence of a marking on the belt. The markings may be placed at an interval corresponding to a multiple or submultiple of the pitch of the display.

In other embodiments, a clock signal may be provided from external means or processes, upstream or downstream of the dispensing device, so as to synchronise operation of the dispensing device with such other processes.

Other types of display may be used, such as dot-matrix displays. These may have a resolution of 5x7 pixels per character in their simplest form, up to many tens of pixels in each direction. For such displays, it may be desirable to move the characters on the display pixel-bypixel. For example, characters displayed on a typical 5x7 LED alphanumeric display may be moved at a pitch of one pixel in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt every 2 AC cycles, using the above example of a synchronous or stepper motor driving the conveyor.

However, for high resolution displays, it would be unnecessary to move the display pixel-by-pixel, and a design choice may be made to move the displayed characters with a pitch of 1/5,1/3 or 1/2 character width, for example. A compromise may need to be made between legibility of the displayed characters, and the cost and complexity of the system. The pitch of movement of characters on the display may therefore be selected as one character width, one pixel width, or a chosen fraction (or multiple) of character width. Measurement of the displacement of the conveyor belt 10, and the generation of clock pulse signal CK must be adapted accordingly.

Alternatively, the identification characters may be clocked along the display in units of operator position, so that the displayed characters appear stationary in front of each operator in turn, identifying the next article due to arrive on the conveyor.

A further possibility is the use of cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, or equivalent, located along the length of the conveyor belt, or only in positions corresponding to each operator location.

Stepper motors may be arranged to receive a clock signal, and to rotate by a predetermined arc at every cycle of the clock signal. Using such motors, a common clock signal may be applied to the conveyor and to the display means. Since the stepper motors rotate a predetermined arc per clock cycle, then the associated moving surface will move a predetermined distance per clock cycle. The number of clock cycles required to move the moving surface by one pitch of character movement may be determined. The display means may be clocked by the same clock signal as the stepper motors, to ensure that the identification characters displayed on the display device move at the same speed as the moving surface. In such an embodiment, there is no need to provide position or movement sensors associated with the moving surface, since the clock pulse signal is not derived from the movement of the moving surface. Rather, the movement of the moving surface is derived from the clock pulse signal. Depending on the dimensions of the various pieces of equipment, the frequency of the clock pulse signal applied to the stepping motors may need to be a multiple or sub-multiple of the frequency of the clock pulse signal applied to the display means. A"master speed control"may be provided, to vary the frequency of the clock pulse signal, and so to commonly vary the speeds of the moving surface and of the movement of displayed characters on the display means.

As an article moves along the conveyor, it arrives at a position corresponding to the end of first display section 30-1. The first identification character will then be in the last location of first display register 60 (shown at the left hand side in Fig. 3) and will be displayed in the last character position of the first display section 30-1 (at the left hand side in Fig. 2).

Depending on the type of display screen used, and/or the design of the dispensing apparatus, there may be a gap 36-1 between the end of first display section 30-1 and the start of second display section 30-2. As the article moves along the part of the conveyor belt corresponding to this gap, the identification characters must be delayed by a corresponding interval, to ensure that the identification characters appear at the first character position of second display part 30-2 only when the article is present below the beginning of the second display part. Accordingly, a second presettable length FIFO buffer 62 is provided, for storing identification characters for a time corresponding to the length of the gap 36-1.

Buffer 62 is clocked by clock pulse signal CK, and receives characters from the last position of display register 60. The buffer 62 contains a number of character positions corresponding to the number of pitches of movement of characters which would fill the gap 36-1 between first and second display parts 30-1 and 30-2. The identification characters which reach the end of display register 60 are clocked into buffer 62, where they are delayed for the time required for the article to arrive at a position below the start of the second display part 30-2.

At that point, the identification characters arrive at the end of buffer 62, and are clocked in to second display register 64. from the conveyor as soon as it reaches him. This ensures more reliable and rapid detection of the required article, and relieves the operator of the need to inspect each article as it passes by.

Similar FIFO buffers and display registers may be provided, to correspond to further gaps 36-2 and display sections 30-3 which may be provided. In particular, a FIFO buffer may be provided to correspond to one or both of the curved (intermediate) sections 16,18 of the conveyor 10. Typically, display screens will not be provided around the curved sections, and those curved sections should be regarded as gaps.

If an article is not removed by any operator during its motion along first straight section 12, it will continue to move around the conveyor, until it arrives at second curved section 18. Typically, no display is provided for the curved sections of the conveyor. The identification characters are clocked out of the display register into a FIFO buffer where there are clocked by the clock signal CK, while the article moves around the curved section 18.

The article may then pass under a second scanner 24. As the article has not been removed by an operator, the article should be untouched from the time that it was originally loaded onto the conveyor belt, and so should still be in the correct orientation. However, a second facer 30 may be used to ensure correct orientation. The second scanner 24 will re-scan any articles which have remained on the conveyor belt, in addition to any articles which may be loaded onto the conveyor belt by the second loading position 22.

Each scanned article will generate identification characters which are then displayed on display 31 in a manner corresponding with that discussed with reference to display 30. Whenever the article is on a part of the conveyor belt corresponding to a part of a display screen, the identification characters are displayed at a location corresponding to the position of the article.

If second loading position 22 is not provided, or is not in use, the data from the buffer corresponding to curved section 18 is loaded into the display register for display 31, to be displayed in a location corresponding to the position of the article.

The article continues to move around the conveyor, and the identification characters continue to correspondingly move along the display screen. The article may be removed by an operator, or may arrive back at the first loading position 20. All articles present on the conveyor are then scanned, whether newly loaded by the loading position 20 or having completed a circuit of the conveyor belt.

In Fig. 3, articles identified as 254-12,111-03,144-08, 313-02,366-05,123-06,123-04 and 365-11 have been scanned and are moving along the conveyor belt.

As illustrated in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, articles 254-12 and 111-03 are moving along the conveyor in locations below second display section 30-2. Article 144-08 is approaching the end of gap 36-1 between first and second display sections 30-1,30-2. Article 313-02 is moving from a location at the end of first display section 30-1 into the gap 36-1. Article 366-05 is in a location corresponding to a part of first display section 30-1. Article 123-06 is moving into a position at the beginning of first display section 30-1. Article 123-04 has been scanned, but has not yet reached the beginning of the first display section 30-1. Article 365-11 has just been scanned, and is moving out from under the scanner 23, past a transfer pulse generating means 38.

Optionally, means may be provided for removing from the conveyor belt any articles which have completed a certain number of circuits. Normally, any article which completes an entire circuit is not sought by any of the operators, and may be removed. However, in many such circumstances, the operator may be at fault and may not have been paying attention when the article passed him, so it may be preferable to allow articles to perform two or more circuits before being removed from the conveyor belt.

Display screens 30,31 may in fact each be made up of a continuous display screen placed along the entire length of the conveyor belt, with no gaps between display screens within each section. In such circumstances, buffers need only be provided to accommodate the identification characters while the articles pass over the part of the conveyor belt which has no corresponding screen location such as curved sections 16,18.

Fig. 4 shows a flow diagram for the movement of data, (in this case, identification characters) according to an aspect of the present invention. Certain stages of the process represented by Fig. 4 readily correspond to steps discussed above with reference to Figs. 1-3, and in the following description, reference will be made to features of Figs. 1-3.

When an article is loaded onto the dispensing apparatus, for example, by first loading position 20, it passes under a barcode scanner 23, step 100 of Fig. 4. The barcode on the article is read, and the read data is stored in identity register 50 (Fig. 3). According to input from a control system or operator 195, the identification characters are selected or generated from the read barcode data, step 110 Fig. 4; feature 52 of Fig. 3, to produce a character string, containing the identification characters. The identification characters are then loaded into a presettable length FIFO buffer (58, Fig. 3) at step 120. The clock pulse signal CK is applied to the buffer 58, and the identification characters are clocked through the buffer 58, until they leave the buffer, and enter the display register 60, Fig.

3 of first display section (step 130 of Fig. 4) to be displayed on first display section 30-1 (Fig. 2).

The identification characters are clocked through display register 60, and displayed at corresponding locations of the display 30-1 until they reach the end of the display register.

If the first leg (straight portion 12) of the conveyor belt only has one display section associated with it, the identification characters will then be clocked into a presettable length FIFO buffer 180, corresponding to curved section 18 of the conveyor belt, which lies between the two straight sections 12,14.

If the first leg 12 has a second display section associated with it, the identification characters from first display section 130 (60; 30-1) may be clocked into and through a second presettable length FIFO buffer (140; 62), representing any gap 36-1 which may exist between first and second display sections.

The identification characters are then clocked into a second display register (150; 64) to be displayed on second display section 30-2.

The identification characters may be clocked into third or further presettable length FIFO buffers and display registers 160,170, if third 30-3 or further display sections are provided in a section of the apparatus of the invention.

Once the identification characters have been clocked through the last display buffer 170 of the first leg, they are clocked in to the presettable length FIFO buffer 180 representing the interval between the last and first sections, respectively, of the first and second straight sections 12,14 of the conveyor 10. For example, buffer 180 may represent curved section 18 of the conveyor belt.

At step 190, the apparatus of the invention is controlled by control system or an operator 195 to either discard the identification characters stored in buffer 180, or to transfer the identification characters from buffer 180 into a further presettable length FIFO buffer 220 representing the beginning of the second straight section 14 of the conveyor belt, prior to the first display section of the second leg.

If second loading position 22, and scanner 24, are inoperative, the identification characters stored in buffer 180 are retained, and are clocked into the buffer 220 for use in the display sections of the second leg.

No articles will be loaded at loading position 22, so scanning at step 200 is not required.

Typically, if second loading position 22 is operating, second barcode scanner 24 will be operative. As articles pass under second scanner 24, their barcodes will be read by scanner 24 (step 200 in Fig. 4), and identification characters will be selected or generated at step 210, similarly to the process of steps 100,110. Articles entering the conveyor from second loading position 22, and those conveyed by curved section 18 are all scanned.

In such circumstances, there is no need to retain the identification characters stored in buffer 180. Control system or operator 195 instructs buffer 190 that the identification characters that it contains may be discarded.

Identification characters provided by character selection step 210 include identification characters for all articles on the conveyor belt, and are loaded in to presettable length FIFO buffer 220, similar to presettable length FIFO buffer 120 (58) of the first leg.

The identification characters are clocked through buffer 220, and display register (s) 230,270 and any associated buffers, until the end of the last display section 270 of the second leg is reached. There is no further display section before the first scanner 23 is reached again.

Accordingly, all data clocked through the last display section (step 270) is discarded, and all articles (both those conveyed by curved section 16, and those loaded by loading position 20) are scanned by scanner 23.

Motion, clocking and display of identification characters continues according to steps 100-270 as discussed above.

Although described with reference to certain particular embodiments, many variations and alterations are possible, within the scope of the invention.

For example, the display devices 30,31 may be LED, LCD, cathode ray tubes, plasma discharge, hot filament or devices of any suitable type. Dot matrix, seven segment,'starburst'or other arrangements may be used, and should be chosen in accordance with the type and number of identification characters to be displayed, and the typical size of the articles being conveyed.

One or more display sections may be provided, extending along all or part of the length of one or more legs of the dispensing apparatus. Display sections should be provided at least sufficiently to be visible from each operator location 32. Preferably, display sections allow an operator to view identification characters in advance of the corresponding article reaching the operator's location.

One or more operator locations should be provided. Their number, and the dimensions of the apparatus of the invention, will depend on the intended use of the apparatus. For example, a system for withdrawing articles from a warehouse may only provide for a few operator locations, whereas a system for returning luggage to passengers would require a large number of operator positions.

The identification characters may be defined and selected at will, according to the intended use of the apparatus.

For example, the identification characters may represent a postal code of a delivery address; a batch number; a delivery round number; a passenger name; a flight number; a product code; an order number or a customer number.

The system could be improved by providing each operator location with a keyboard, allowing the operator to enter the identification characters he is looking for, and an alarm may be arranged to sound to alert the operator to the arrival of a corresponding article.

Although the identifying characters have been discussed as being displayed directly above the corresponding articles the apparatus may be arranged such that the identifying characters are displayed bearing any predetermined spatial relationship to the articles. For example, it may be advantageous to display the identifying characters slightly ahead of the corresponding article, to give the operator advance warning of the arrival of an article.

Although discussed with reference to a simple conveyor example, comprising two straight sections and two curved sections, the present invention is applicable to dispensing apparatus of any configuration.

The moving surface may comprise articulated sections forming a continuous circuit of straight and curved sections. Examples of such surfaces include carousel units of the type used for baggage handling, or chaintowed circuits of the'gondola'type.

Intermediate sections 16,18 are typically curved sections of the moving surface, such that the entire circuit comprises a substantially uniplanar moving surface. Other types of intermediate sections 16,18 may be used, and the moving surface may be not formed as a continuous circuit. For example, an inclined portion of straight conveyor may be used as an intermediate section. The dispensing means may be arranged such that articles drop from first straight section 12 onto an inclined portion of straight conveyor used as an intermediate section, the articles being conveyed and elevated by the intermediate section, to be dropped onto the second straight section 14. Alternatively, straight sections 12,14 may be inclined, with intermediate sections 16,18 being simply comprised of a curved or straight chute.

Articles would drop onto the chute from the elevated end of one straight section, to slide down the chute onto the lower end of the following straight section.

Display devices may be provided around the intermediate sections of the dispensing apparatus. Care should be taken that suitable buffers are provided to ensure that the indications displayed on the display screen continue to bear the required spatial relationship with the corresponding articles, particularly in cases where a radius of curvature of the display screen does not correspond to a radius of curvature of the intermediate or other portions of the dispensing apparatus.

An alternative embodiment of the invention comprises a roller conveyor, wherein different rollers are controlled so as to convey articles in locations corresponding to identification characters moving along a display means.

In such case, a clocking signal is applied to cause the identification characters to be displayed at a predetermined location, moving at a predetermined speed, and the roller conveyor is controlled to move the articles so as to correspond to the instantaneous location of the displayed identification characters.

The invention provides an improved method and apparatus for identifying articles at a relatively low cost. The method and apparatus of the invention is particularly suitable for relatively low throughput systems, which do not justify the expense of a fully automated sorting system.

The apparatus of the invention may be readily adapted to particular circumstances, for example by varying the number of operators positioned to remove articles from the apparatus, and/or by varying the speed of the moving surface upon which articles are conveyed.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. Apparatus for identifying articles provided by a dispensing apparatus including a moving surface for conveying the articles, comprising: -means for identifying the articles; -display means for displaying indications identifying each of the articles; characterised in that the display means includes a display screen and means for displaying on the display screen, the indications identifying each article, each in a location bearing a predetermined spatial relationship to the instantaneous position of the corresponding article on the moving surface.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for identifying the articles comprises means for automatically identifying the articles.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the display screen is elongate in the direction of conveying the articles.
4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the display means includes means for measuring the displacement of the moving surface, and for causing corresponding displacement of the indications on the display screen.
5. Apparatus according to any of claims 1-3, wherein a periodic signal is commonly applied to the means for displaying, and to the dispensing apparatus, wherein both the indications and the moving surface are each arranged to move by a predetermined distance, per a predetermined multiple or sub multiple of the periodic signal.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the periodic signal is a clock pulse signal.
7. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the periodic signal is an AC supply voltage.
8. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the periodic signal is derived from external means upstream or down stream of the claimed apparatus.
9. Apparatus according to any of claims 3-8 in which the display screen comprises a plurality of adjacent, predetermined, character positions.
10. Apparatus according to any of claims 3-8 in which the display screen comprises a plurality of adjacent character positions variable in position pixel-by-pixel.
11. Apparatus according to any of claims 3-8 in which the display screen comprises a plurality of adjacent character positions variable in position character-bycharacter.
12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the display screen includes a number of separate display screens, placed around the path of the moving surface, separated by gaps.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the indications relating to the articles are stored in a sequence of buffers and display registers, whereby: -indications are stored in a buffer, and not displayed, when the corresponding article is positioned on a portion of the moving surface not having a corresponding portion of display screen; and -indications are stored in a display register, and displayed on a corresponding portion of display screen, when the corresponding article is positioned on a portion of the moving surface having a corresponding portion of display screen.
14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the moving surface comprises a plurality of straight sections, each provided with at least one display screen, and a number of intermediate sections joining the straight sections.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the intermediate sections are curved.
16. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the moving surface comprises articulated sections forming a continuous circuit of straight and curved sections.
17. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the means for identifying articles is placed at a location corresponding to a portion of the moving surface having no corresponding display screen.
18. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the means for identifying articles is placed adjacently after a position for the loading of articles, in the direction of conveying the articles.
19. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the means for identifying articles identifies all articles passing by, whether newly loaded, or passing by a second or further time after completing a circuit of the moving surface.
20. Apparatus according to claim 18 or claim 19 further comprising a transfer pulse generating means, placed at, or after, the means for identifying articles, in the direction of conveying the articles.
21. A method for identifying articles provided on a moving surface for conveying the articles, comprising the steps of: -identifying the articles; -displaying indications identifying the articles; characterised in that the method further comprises the step of displaying the indications identifying the articles on a display screen, each in a location bearing a predetermined spatial relationship to the instantaneous position of the corresponding article on the moving surface.
22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the step of identifying the articles comprises automatically identifying the articles.
23. A method according to claim 21-22 wherein the step of displaying comprises the steps of: -storing the indications in a first buffer, prior to their display on the screen; -storing the indications in a display register while they are displayed on the screen; -clocking the indications through adjacent positions in the buffer and the register, at a rate corresponding to a rate of conveying the articles along the moving surface.
24. A method according to any of claims 21-23 in which the displaying step includes the steps of: -measuring the displacement of the moving surface; and -causing corresponding displacement of the indications on the display screen.
25. A method according to any of claims 21-24 comprising the step of commonly applying a periodic signal to the means for displaying, and to the dispensing apparatus, whereby both the indications and the moving surface are each arranged to move by a predetermined amount per a predetermined multiple or sub-multiple of the periodic signal.
26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the periodic signal is a clock pulse signal.
27. A method according to claim 25 wherein the periodic signal is an AC supply voltage.
28. A method according to claim 25 wherein the periodic signal is derived from an external means upstream or downstream of the claimed apparatus.
29. A method according to any of claims 22-28 in which the display screen includes a number of separate display screens, placed around the path of the moving surface, separated by gaps, each display screen displaying indications stored in a corresponding register, and wherein each of a number of buffers stores indications corresponding to articles located within a corresponding gap.
30. A method according to any of claims 21-29 in which the moving surface comprises a plurality of straight sections, each provided with at least one display screen, and a number of intermediate sections joining the straight sections.
31. A method according to claim 30 wherein the intermediate sections are curved.
32. A method according to any of claims 21-31 in which the moving surface comprises articulated sections forming a continuous circuit of straight and curved sections.
33. A method according to any of claims 21-31 in which the moving surface is not formed as a continuous circuit.
34. A method according to any of claims 21-33 which includes the step of automatically identifying all articles passing by, whether newly loaded, or passing by a second or further time after completing a circuit of the moving surface.
35. A method or apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the indications are comprised of characters selected from data generated by the means for automatically identifying the articles.
36. A method or apparatus according to any of claims 134 wherein the means for identifying the articles provides data, which is used to select a corresponding indication from a look-up table.
37. A method for identifying articles substantially as described, and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
38. Apparatus for identifying articles substantially as described, and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.