JP2022052782A - Size measuring system - Google Patents

Abstract

To start a measurement of the size of the outer shape of an object smoothly.SOLUTION: The size measuring system includes: an imaging unit including a placing surface of an object in an imaging range; a determination unit for determining whether an object is placed on the placing surface; and a measuring unit for starting a measurement of the size of the outer shape of the object on the basis of an image obtained by the imaging unit on the basis of the determination made by the determination unit that the object is placed on the placing surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a dimensional measurement system.

Conventionally, parcel delivery is accepted at a delivery company's business store, convenience store, etc. by the following procedure. The client fills in the information about the client such as the name and address of the client and the information about the destination such as the name and address of the destination on the address label. Then, when a clerk at a convenience store or the like receives the address label with this information and the package to be sent from the client, the external dimensions and weight of the package are measured using a measure or scale, and the measurement result is obtained. The delivery size and the delivery fee are determined based on the delivery address and the delivery address, and the delivery fee is settled to complete the delivery reception.

However, at the delivery reception as described above, it takes time to measure the external dimensions and weight of the luggage, so in order to reduce the burden on the clerk, the client himself should measure the dimensions and weight of the luggage. It is preferable to do so. Furthermore, if the burden on the store clerk can be reduced, it is possible to avoid having the store visitor wait for a long time at the store counter, which leads to improvement of the service to the store visitor. Therefore, in recent years, a measuring device has been developed that automatically measures the size and weight of a baggage without bothering the clerk. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an example of such a measuring device. The measuring device described in Patent Document 1 starts photographing and measuring a baggage based on an instruction from a client.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-194369

However, in the measuring device described in Patent Document 1, the client understands the wording displayed on the measuring device, grasps the position of the operation button, and presses the operation button to instruct the start of shooting and measurement. Will be done. In this way, it is troublesome for the client to understand the wording, grasp the position of the operation button, and press the operation button, and it takes a considerable amount of time.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is a new and improved dimensional measurement system capable of smoothly starting measurement of the external dimensions of an object. Is to provide.

In order to solve the above problems, according to a certain viewpoint of the present invention, an image pickup unit that includes an object mounting surface in the imaging range, and a determination unit that determines whether or not an object is mounted on the above-mentioned mounting surface. A measurement unit that starts measuring the external dimensions of the object based on the image obtained by the image pickup unit based on the determination that the object is placed on the above-mentioned mounting surface by the determination unit. , A dimensional measurement system is provided.

The dimension measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not an object is placed on the above-mentioned mounting surface based on the image obtained by the imaging unit.

Further provided with a measuring instrument for measuring the weight of the object placed on the above-mentioned mounting surface, the determination unit determines whether or not the object is placed on the above-mentioned mounting surface based on the weight measured by the measuring instrument. May be determined.

The determination unit further determines whether or not a person has entered the predetermined area based on the image obtained by the image pickup unit, and the measurement unit places an object on the above-mentioned mounting surface by the determination unit. The measurement of the external dimensions of the object may be started based on the determination that the object has been determined and that the determination unit has determined that a person has entered the predetermined area. The dimension measurement system may further include a display unit that displays a guidance screen for guiding the placement of the object on the above-mentioned mounting surface when it is determined by the determination unit that a person has entered the predetermined area. good.

The dimension measurement system may further include a charge calculation unit that calculates a charge required for home delivery of the object based on the measurement result by the measurement unit.

The determination unit further determines whether or not the object has disappeared from the above-mentioned mounting surface based on the image obtained by the image pickup unit after the external dimensions of the object are measured by the measurement unit, and the dimension measurement is performed. Based on the determination by the determination unit that the object has disappeared from the previously described mounting surface, the system performs 0 kg correction with the measured weight of the measuring instrument as 0 when the object is not present on the previously described mounting surface. A correction unit may be further provided.

The determination unit further determines whether or not there are no people in the predetermined area based on the image obtained by the image pickup unit after the external dimensions of the object are measured by the measurement unit, and the weight correction unit determines whether or not there is a person in the predetermined area. The 0 kg correction may be performed based on the determination by the determination unit that the object has disappeared from the above-mentioned mounting surface and that the determination unit has determined that no one is present in the predetermined area.

According to the present invention described above, it is possible to smoothly start measuring the external dimensions of an object.

It is an external view of the home delivery reception system 10 by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the home delivery reception system 10 by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the schematic operation of the home delivery reception system 10 by one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the specific example of the measurement result screen 40. It is a flowchart which shows the flow which the measuring part 194 starts the measurement of a baggage automatically. It is explanatory drawing which shows the person detection area 302. It is explanatory drawing which shows the method of determining whether or not a person has entered the person detection area 302. It is a flowchart which shows the modification of the flow which the measuring part 194 automatically starts the measurement of a baggage. It is a flowchart which shows the flow which 0kg correction is performed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are designated by the same reference numerals, so that duplicate description will be omitted.

Further, in the present specification and the drawings, a plurality of components having substantially the same functional configuration may be distinguished by adding different alphabets after the same reference numerals. However, when it is not necessary to particularly distinguish each of the plurality of components having substantially the same functional configuration, only the same reference numerals are given to each of the plurality of components.

The embodiment of the present invention described below can be applied to home delivery reception at a convenience store or the like. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to being used in convenience stores and the like, and may be used in public facilities such as business stores, retail stores, supermarkets, and transportation stations of courier companies. It is not particularly limited.

Further, in the following explanation, the client means a person who brings a package for which a delivery is requested to a convenience store or the like, and in the following embodiment, a person who actually requests a delivery and a person who brings the package. Will be described as being the same. However, the person who actually requests the delivery and the person who brought the package do not have to be the same.

<1. Overview of home delivery reception system>
First, the outline of the home delivery reception system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The home delivery reception system is an example of a dimension measurement system that measures the external dimensions of an object to be delivered to home, that is, a package brought in by the client. Any function included in the delivery reception system described below may be omitted depending on the installation location, the assumed client, and the like. On the other hand, the delivery reception system can also have functions not described below.

(Configuration of delivery reception system)
FIG. 1 is an external view of a home delivery reception system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of a home delivery reception system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the home delivery reception system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an operation display unit 110, a speaker 120, a camera 130, a measuring instrument 140, a cash processing unit 150, a code reader 160, and a label printer. It includes 170, a receipt printer 180, and a control unit 190.

The operation display unit 110 is a touch panel having functions as a display unit and an operation unit. The operation display unit 110 mainly displays a screen to the client and accepts an operation by the client. The operation display unit 110 appropriately displays texts, illustrations of operation guidance, moving images, and the like at each stage of a transaction, and displays a measurement result screen showing a measurement result of a baggage.

The speaker 120 is an audio output unit that outputs audio. The speaker 120 outputs, for example, voice guidance to the client.

The camera 130 is an example of an imaging unit that captures an image of a luggage and acquires an image of the luggage. The camera 130 has the functions of a visible light camera and a depth camera. The visible light camera acquires an RGB image of the luggage, and the depth camera acquires a distance image of the luggage. As shown in FIG. 1, the camera 130 is installed, for example, above the rear side of the mounting surface 16 on which luggage is placed.

The measuring instrument 140 measures the weight of the load. As shown in FIG. 1, the measuring instrument 140 has a neat appearance because it is embedded in, for example, a mounting surface 16 on which luggage is placed. However, the measuring instrument 140 may be placed on the counter, and the upper surface of the measuring instrument 140 may be used as the mounting surface 16.

The cash processing unit 150 is configured to perform cash processing such as inserting cash and withdrawing change. The cash processing unit 150 has a function of a banknote processing unit in which banknotes are inserted and withdrawal of banknotes as change, and a coin processing unit in which coins are inserted and coins are withdrawn as change.

The code reader 160 reads a code (for example, a two-dimensional code) displayed on an information processing terminal such as a smartphone used by the client. By reading the code displayed on the information processing terminal, the code reader 160 can obtain information such as baggage delivery information, payment information, or the client's membership number input to the information processing terminal by the client. .. In FIG. 1, a fixed type reader is shown as the code reader 160, but a handy type reader may be used in place of the code reader 160 or in addition to the code reader 160.

The label printer 170 prints an address label for the client. The address label printed by the label printer 170 is a sticker with a release paper attached. The client removes the release paper from the address label and attaches the address label to the package. The delivery reception system 10 can accept packages to which an address label is attached in advance, but it is also possible to create and print an address label based on the delivery information input during the transaction. Is. The method of inputting the delivery information is, for example, a method of inputting information such as a destination or a sender from the operation screen displayed on the operation display unit 110, or a method of inputting information to an application of an information processing terminal such as a smartphone in advance. There are a method of reading the generated two-dimensional code with the code reader 160, and a method of receiving the information registered in the host as member information from the host and letting the client select it. The client attaches the printed address label to the package.

The receipt printer 180 prints a receipt to the client indicating receipt of the fee required for delivery of the package before the end of the transaction.

The control unit 190 controls the overall operation of the home delivery reception system 10. The function of the control unit 190 can be realized by the cooperation between the software and the hardware such as the CPU and RAM. In particular, the control unit 190 according to the embodiment of the present invention has the functions of the display control unit 192, the measurement unit 194, the charge calculation unit 196, the determination unit 198, and the weight correction unit 199, as shown in FIG. Used as a dimensional measuring device.

The display control unit 192 generates various display screens, and causes the operation display unit 110 to display the generated display screens. The measuring unit 194 measures the external dimensions of the luggage based on the image of the luggage obtained by the camera 130. As the external dimensions of the luggage, the total length of the three sides of the circumscribed hexahedron of the luggage can be used. The charge calculation unit 196 identifies the delivery size of the package based on the external dimensions of the package obtained by the measuring unit 194 and the weight of the package obtained by the measuring instrument 140, and the charge required for the delivery of the package, that is, the delivery size. Calculate the parcel delivery fee corresponding to.

The determination unit 198 determines whether or not the load is placed on the mounting surface 16, determines whether or not the load has disappeared from the mounting surface 16, and the like. The weight correction unit 199 performs 0 kg correction so that the measured weight of the measuring instrument 140 when no load is placed on the mounting surface 16 is 0 kg.

(Operation of delivery reception system)
The configuration of the home delivery reception system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above. Subsequently, the schematic operation of the home delivery reception system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a schematic operation of the delivery reception system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. First, the measuring unit 194 measures the external dimensions of the luggage placed on the mounting surface 16 (S200), and the measuring instrument 140 measures the weight of the luggage (S216).

Subsequently, the display control unit 192 generates a measurement result screen including the measurement result of the external dimensions and the measurement result of the weight, and causes the operation display unit 110 to display the measurement result screen (S220). FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the measurement result screen 40. As shown in FIG. 4, the measurement result screen 40 includes an RGB image 42 of the luggage, a measurement result 44, a redo button 46, and a confirmation button 48. The measurement result 44 includes the display of the measurement result (size) of the external dimensions and the measurement result (weight) of the weight, as well as the display of the type of the package and the delivery size. The redo button 46 is a button for redoing the transaction from the beginning, and the confirmation button 48 is a button for advancing the transaction.

When the confirmation button 48 is selected on the measurement result screen, the charge calculation unit 196 calculates the charge (delivery charge) required for delivery of the package (S224), as shown in FIG. After that, the display control unit 192 generates a payment screen including a delivery charge and a selection item of the payment method, and displays the payment screen on the operation display unit 110 (S228). Then, the control unit 190 performs payment processing according to the payment method selected by the client on the payment screen (S232). After that, the label printer 170 prints the address label (S236), the receipt printer 180 prints the receipt (S240), and the series of processes is completed.

<2. Ingenuity in the delivery reception system>
The configuration and schematic operation of the home delivery reception system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention have been described above. Subsequently, various ingenuity and ingenuity in the home delivery reception system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be sequentially described in detail.

(Start measuring external dimensions)
The measuring unit 194 according to the embodiment of the present invention automatically starts measuring the baggage without an explicit instruction from the client. Hereinafter, a flow in which the measuring unit 194 automatically starts measuring the luggage will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow in which the measuring unit 194 automatically starts measuring the luggage. First, when the delivery reception system 10 is activated, the camera 130 starts imaging (S201). Then, the determination unit 198 determines whether or not a person has entered the person detection area, which is a predetermined area, based on the image obtained by the camera 130 (S203).

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the human detection area. FIG. 6 shows a region including the mounting surface 16 when viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 6, the luggage measurement area 301 capable of measuring luggage is located on the mounting surface 16, and the person detection area 302 is set on the front side of the luggage measurement area 301 and the loading surface 16. There is. The person detection area 302 is an area considered to be located when the client places the luggage on the mounting surface 16. The method of determining whether or not a person has entered the person detection area 302 may be a method of determining based on the information obtained from the difference between the RGB images obtained from the camera 130, or based on the information from the distance image. It may be a determination method. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of determining whether or not a person has entered the person detection area 302 from a distance image from a viewpoint from the side. From the distance image, the distance d to the object can be found for each pixel in the image. It is determined whether or not the distance d from the camera 130 to the object is in the person detection area 302, and if so, it is determined that a person has entered the person detection area 302.

When the determination unit 198 determines that a person has entered the person detection area 302 (S203 / Yes), the display control unit 192 displays a guidance screen for guiding the loading of the load on the mounting surface 16 on the operation display unit 110. (S205). If the determination unit 198 does not determine that a person has entered the person detection area 302, the process of S203 is repeated (S203 / No).

After that, the determination unit 198 determines whether or not the load is placed on the mounting surface 16 based on the image obtained by the camera 130 (S207). The method of determining whether or not the luggage is placed is the same as the method of determining whether or not a person has entered the person detection area 302. If the determination unit 198 does not determine that the load is placed on the mounting surface 16 (S207 / No), the process of S207 is repeated. When the determination unit 198 determines that the load is placed on the mounting surface 16 (S207 / Yes), the measurement unit 194 starts measuring the load (S209). Then, the process proceeds to S216 described with reference to FIG.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the measuring unit 194 automatically starts the measurement of the baggage based on the determination result of the determination unit 198. Therefore, it is possible to start the measurement smoothly without the trouble and time required for the client to explicitly instruct the start of the measurement.

The conditions for starting the measurement are not limited to the above example. For example, the determination unit 198 does not determine whether or not a person has entered the person detection area 302, but determines whether or not a load has been placed on the mounting surface 16, and the measuring unit 194 determines whether or not a load has been placed on the mounting surface 16. When the determination unit 198 determines that the luggage has been placed, the measurement of the luggage may be started.

Further, in the above, the determination unit 198 has described an example in which whether or not a load is placed on the mounting surface 16 is determined based on an image obtained by the camera 130, but the load is placed on the mounting surface 16. The determination of whether or not it has been placed may be made based on other information. For example, the determination unit 198 may determine whether or not the load is placed on the mounting surface 16 based on the measurement result of the measuring instrument 140. Hereinafter, a specific description will be given with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the flow in which the measuring unit 194 automatically starts measuring the load. First, when the delivery reception system 10 is activated, the camera 130 starts imaging (S201). Then, the determination unit 198 determines whether or not a person has entered the person detection area based on the image obtained by the camera 130 (S203). When the determination unit 198 determines that a person has entered the person detection area 302 (S203 / Yes), the display control unit 192 displays a guidance screen for guiding the loading of the load on the mounting surface 16 on the operation display unit 110. (S205). Further, the control unit 190 activates the measuring instrument 140 (S206). If the determination unit 198 does not determine that a person has entered the person detection area 302, the process of S203 is repeated (S203 / No).

After that, the determination unit 198 determines whether or not the load is placed on the mounting surface 16 based on the measurement result of the measuring instrument 140 (S208). For example, the determination unit 198 may determine that the load is placed on the mounting surface 16 when the measurement result of the measuring instrument 140 is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. If the determination unit 198 does not determine that the load is placed on the mounting surface 16 (S208 / No), the process of S208 is repeated. When the determination unit 198 determines that the load is placed on the mounting surface 16 (S208 / Yes), the measurement unit 194 starts measuring the load (S209). Then, the process proceeds to S216 described with reference to FIG.

In this way, the measuring unit 194 automatically starts measuring the load even by the method in which the determination unit 198 determines whether or not the load is placed on the mounting surface 16 based on the measurement result of the measuring instrument 140. It is possible.

(0Kg correction)
In the above-mentioned home delivery reception system 10, it is desirable that the measured weight of the measuring instrument 140 when no luggage is placed on the mounting surface 16 is 0 kg. Therefore, if the measured weight of the measuring instrument 140 when no luggage is placed on the mounting surface 16 is not 0 kg, the administrator of the delivery reception system or the clerk of the store where the delivery reception system is installed may be asked. It is conceivable to manually turn off / on the power of all or part of the delivery reception system to correct the measured weight of the measuring instrument 140.

However, if the power of the whole or part of the delivery reception system 10 is turned off / on, the operation of the delivery reception system is temporarily stopped, and it takes time to turn the power off / on. In this regard, the weight correction unit 199 of the control unit 190 can automatically perform 0 kg correction of the measuring instrument 140. Hereinafter, a specific description will be given with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow in which 0 kg correction is performed. FIG. 8 shows the processing after S240 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the determination unit 198 determines whether or not the load has disappeared from the mounting surface 16, that is, whether or not the load has been unloaded from the mounting surface 16 based on the image obtained by the camera 130. Judgment (S242). When the determination unit 198 determines that the load has disappeared from the mounting surface 16 (S244 / Yes), the weight correction unit 199 executes 0 kg correction with the measured weight of the measuring instrument 140 as 0 (S246).

As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, when the measurement result of the measuring instrument 140 is deviated, 0 kg of the measuring instrument 140 is used without turning off / on the entire power supply of the home delivery reception system 10. Corrections can be performed. Therefore, the operation of the delivery reception system 10 is not hindered. It is also possible to save the trouble of the manager or the clerk to manually perform the 0 kg correction.

If a new load is placed on the mounting surface 16 after the load is removed from the mounting surface 16 and before the weight correction unit 199 corrects 0 kg, the measured weight with the new load placed is measured. A correction of 0 kg can be made. In order to avoid such a correction, the determination unit 198 determines whether or not the luggage has disappeared from the mounting surface 16 and, based on the image obtained by the camera 130, from within the person detection area or from within the image. It may be determined whether or not the person is gone. Then, the weight correction unit 199 sets the measured weight of the measuring instrument 140 to 0 when it is determined that the luggage has disappeared from the mounting surface 16 and it is determined that there are no people in the person detection area or the image. 0 kg correction may be performed. According to such a configuration, it is possible to more reliably perform 0 kg correction in which the measured weight of the measuring instrument 140 is 0 in a state where the load is not placed on the mounting surface 16.

<3. Supplement>
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to these examples. It is clear that a person having ordinary knowledge in the field of technology to which the present invention belongs can come up with various modifications or modifications within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims. , These are also naturally understood to belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, one embodiment of the present invention is also applicable to a baggage size measuring system involved in baggage delivery.

Further, each step in the processing of the delivery reception system 10 does not necessarily have to be processed in chronological order according to the order described as the flowchart. For example, each step in the processing of the delivery reception system 10 may be processed in an order different from the order described in the flowchart, or may be processed in parallel.

Further, it is possible to create a computer program for causing the hardware such as the CPU, ROM, and RAM built in the home delivery reception system 10 to exhibit the same functions as each configuration of the home delivery reception system 10 described above. A storage medium for storing the computer program is also provided.

10 Home delivery reception system 16 Mounting surface 110 Operation display unit 120 Speaker 130 Camera 140 Measuring instrument 150 Cash processing unit 160 Code reader 170 Label printer 180 Receipt printer 190 Control unit 192 Display control unit 194 Measurement unit 196 Charge calculation unit 198 Judgment unit 199 Weight correction unit

Claims (8)

An imaging unit that includes the mounting surface of an object in the imaging range,
A determination unit that determines whether or not an object is placed on the above-mentioned placement surface, and
A measuring unit that starts measuring the external dimensions of the object based on the image obtained by the imaging unit based on the determination that the object is placed on the above-mentioned mounting surface by the determination unit.
Equipped with a dimensional measurement system. The dimension measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not an object is placed on the above-mentioned mounting surface based on the image obtained by the imaging unit. Further equipped with a measuring instrument for measuring the weight of the object placed on the above-mentioned mounting surface,
The dimensional measurement system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not an object is placed on the above-mentioned mounting surface based on the weight measured by the measuring instrument. The determination unit further determines whether or not a person has entered the predetermined area based on the image obtained by the image pickup unit.
The measuring unit determines that the object is placed on the above-mentioned mounting surface by the determination unit, and the external dimensions of the object are determined based on the determination by the determination unit that a person has entered the predetermined area. The dimensional measurement system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the measurement of the above is started. The dimension measurement system further includes a display unit that displays a guidance screen that guides the placement of the object on the above-mentioned mounting surface when it is determined by the determination unit that a person has entered the predetermined area. Item 4. The dimension measurement system according to item 4. The dimension measurement system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a charge calculation unit that calculates a charge required for home delivery of the object based on the measurement result by the measurement unit. The determination unit further determines whether or not the object has disappeared from the above-mentioned mounting surface based on the image obtained by the image pickup unit after the external dimensions of the object have been measured by the measurement unit.
The dimension measurement system is 0 kg correction in which the measured weight of the measuring instrument is 0 when the object is not present on the front surface based on the determination by the determination unit that the object has disappeared from the front surface. The dimensional measurement system according to claim 3, further comprising a weight compensator for performing the above. The determination unit further determines whether or not there are no people in the predetermined area based on the image obtained by the image pickup unit after the external dimensions of the object are measured by the measurement unit.
The weight correction unit performs the 0 kg correction based on the determination by the determination unit that the object has disappeared from the above-mentioned mounting surface and that the determination unit determines that no one is present in the predetermined area. Item 7. The dimension measurement system according to item 7.

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