WO2014044343A2

WO2014044343A2 - Apparatus for detecting a code on an article, preferably in the incoming goods stage of an order picking system

Info

Publication number: WO2014044343A2
Application number: PCT/EP2013/002493
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Stelzer; Franz Mathi
Original assignee: Knapp Ag
Priority date: 2012-09-18
Filing date: 2013-08-19
Publication date: 2014-03-27
Also published as: DE102012018388B4; DE102012018388A1; WO2014044343A3

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for detecting a code on an article (2), preferably in the incoming goods stage (3) of an order picking system, wherein the data of the code is read in mechanically by using a least one optical reader and is processed further in an electronic data processing unit (4), is decoded and stored. According to the invention the optical reader has at least one camera (5), to which at least three illuminating elements (6, 7, 8) are assigned, which are arranged in relation to one another in space and with respect to the article (2) such that, in the case of an embossed code that is to be detected, different shadowing is generated, and the embossed code is detected in the data processing unit by using said shadowing.

Description

Device for detecting a code on an article, preferably at the goods receipt of a picking system

The invention relates to a device for detecting a code on an article or its packaging in a picking system, wherein the data of the code are read by machine with at least one optical reader and further processed in an electronic data processing unit, decoded and stored.

In the physical flow of goods of a logistical concept, the code attached to articles or article packaging is read in different transport steps in order to produce quality in the process. A typical quality feature, for example, is the delivery reliability for a customer and describes a performance indicator system that makes measurable to what extent the customer has received the right product in the right quality at the right time.

The code here is primarily a bar code (also called bar code or bar code) and denotes an opto-electronically readable font, which consists of different widths, parallel bars and gaps. The term code here does not stand for encryption, but for mapping data in binary symbols. The data in a barcode is read with optical readers, such as. B. bar code readers (scanners) or cameras, machine read and processed electronically.

This applies mutatis mutandis to other types of code that are gebacht by pressure on the surface of an object, such as data matrix and the QR code. Although the aforementioned printed preferably planar codes can be read by machine with optical readers in the prior art, they can not be read in further information which may additionally be provided on articles and packaging, in particular so-called embossed codes.

Embossed codes are understood to mean codes applied to articles in the form of a spatial embossing or so-called blind embossing which is very difficult or barely legible to the human eye and which are incorporated or integrated into the material of the article or the packaging and thus are particularly tamper-proof. Embossed codes have raised and / or recessed areas in the material of the article or package. Often, but not exclusively, it is the expiration date or batch number of items that affect human health through consumption. In the case of food, veterinary and human medicines, the legislator stipulates the application of the expiry date and batch number. The shape of the embossing or blind embossing is often chosen because it can be easily integrated into a production process.

The machine readability with optical codes of embossed codes is not given in the prior art. The embossed information is recorded manually. In the logistical process, an employee uses his eyes to capture the information and manually transfer it to the EDP system. This process step is both time-consuming and error-prone. The human eye tires quickly in this activity. In addition, numerical falls / numerical confusion when transferring the batch number are widespread. The object of the invention is the extension of the aforementioned state of the art of machine readability on embossed codes, the embossed information is detected fully automatically.

The problem underlying the invention is solved by the fact that the optical reading device has at least one camera positioned on a support or its packaging on which at least three lighting fixtures are associated, the lighting fixtures in the space relative to each other and with respect to the article or the packaging are arranged so that in an embossed code to be recognized a different shadowing in the area of the embossed code can be generated and due to the shadow formation in the camera connected to the data processing unit of the embossed code is recognizable.

Alternatively, instead of the three permanently mounted lighting fixtures, a single lighting fixture rotating about an eccentric axis may be provided, which in each case generates the different shadowing in the area of the embossed code in a different rotary position.

As a further alternative it is provided that a fixed lighting fixture is, together with a rotating article provided instead of the three illumination body which respectively generate in a different rotational position under ^¬ schiedliche shadows in the area of the embossed codes. The rotation of the article can be controlled by a rotating bare bracket carried in which the article is clamped on the base.

It is preferably provided that the illumination bodies can be activated in succession when the imprinted code is captured by the camera.

Alternatively, when the imprinted code is captured by the camera, the lighting fixtures may be simultaneously activated, with the different lighting fixtures each transmitting light of a different frequency spectrum.

The data processing unit is preferably designed so that the integrity of the article or the

Packaging is verifiable, whereby either a seal on the article or the packaging or the article or the packaging itself is verifiable.

In the data processing unit, an interpretation aid for the read data can be provided and retrievable.

The camera is preferably perpendicular to the object to be examined, namely article or article packaging, ge aligned and arranged above or in front of the object at a distance.

The lighting fixture (s) is preferably located above or in front of the object at a lateral distance from the camera. The device according to the invention is preferably arranged at the goods receipt of the picking system.

The invention makes use of the knowledge that, by generating shadowing on an embossed non-printed code, the contour of the code, which is normally difficult to recognize or can not be seen at all, can ultimately be detected with certainty. It is understood that "normal" bar codes and the like can also be read with the device according to the invention.

The invention is preferably a so-called OCR scanner (Note: OCR stands for Optical Character Recognition), which is able to preferably support the goods receipt in a picking system. The special feature of the scanner is that it can capture sublimated or embossed codes. In particular, the article is photographed several times by camera, with the side of the illumination changing with each image. The article is at the same distance (room-stable) with all taken pictures to the camera. By means of software it is possible to recalculate the impressed or raised information by means of the different shadow formations. Even in pharmaceutical wholesaling there are e-standard advantages in receiving goods.

The OCR scanner is preferably a three-page scanner, which preferably first reads the normalized barcode (eg, the pharma central number). Thereafter, the impressed or raised information is detected and decoded. The EDP system in the background calculates the batch number and expiration date. The interpretation of the characters is ever to perform differently according to article. The EDP system in the background selects the correct semantics based on the Pharma central number or another coding. The EDP system in the background is designed in such a way that it can optionally be maintained by the manufacturer of the device according to the invention or the user, if, for example, the semantics of the character change due to production changes. Areas of application of the invention are found in particular in the "intra-warehouse logistics", for example, data acquisition in goods receiving, data recording in goods returns, data collection in goods replenishment, data acquisition during picking, data acquisition during goods issue.

Further advantageous features of the invention will become apparent from the following description in which preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the existing of a single figure drawing.

The drawing shows a device for recognizing a code on an article at the goods entrance of a picking system in stylized perspective form.

The articles 2 are stored at the incoming goods 3 in boxes on pallets. An operator removes cartons and places them open on a conveyor belt. From the opened carton, the operator removes the articles to be identified and places them individually on a base 9. According to the drawing, the device 1 for detecting a code on an article 2 comprises an optical reading device, wherein the data of the code are read in by machine with the optical reading device and further processed, decoded and stored in an electronic data processing unit 4.

The optical reading device is a camera 5 directed onto an article 2 positioned on the base 9, to which three permanently mounted lighting elements 6, 7, 8 are assigned.

The three lighting fixtures are arranged in relation to one another and with respect to the positioned article 2 in such a way that different embossed codes are generated in the embossed code to be recognized and the embossed code is recognized due to the shadowing in the data processing unit 4 connected to the camera 5 ,

Instead of the three lighting bodies 6, 7, 8, a rotating lighting body may be provided, which in each case generates the different shadowing in the region of the embossed code in a different rotational position.

Instead of the three lighting bodies 6, 7, 8, it is also possible to provide a fixed lighting body together with a rotating article, which generates the different shadowing in the area of the embossed code in each case in a different rotational position. Now the camera system takes at least as many pictures as lighting fixtures are installed. The lighting body 6, 7, 8 are activated one behind the other. Each image has one or more lighting fixtures, but not all lighting fixtures turned on at the same time. As a result, the different optical shadows resulting from the illumination can be recognized on every recorded image.

The images are transferred into the data processing unit 4 either individually or in a collective manner. There, a software algorithm calculates the height or depth information of the embossing with the help of the different shadows.

The height or depth information is now used to calculate the contours of the embossed information.

The contours are transformed by means of OCR methods into readable digital letters, numbers or other characters.

In a second embodiment variant, the article is automatically fed to the camera and lighting system (as in the aforementioned variant).

Likewise, as in the former variant, three lighting fixtures 6, 7, 8 are provided and arranged in the space zueinan of the so that they generate different shadows in the embossed code. In a modification to the first-mentioned variant, the different lighting bodies 6, 7, 8 each emit light of a different frequency spectrum. It may be visible or invisible to the human eye light.

Now the camera 5 takes a picture. In this case, all lighting bodies 6, 7, 8 are activated in contrast to the first-mentioned variant at the same time. All lighting fixtures are activated at the moment of taking one picture. The different optical shadows created by the lighting and their different frequency spectrums are different for each frequency spectrum and can be seen on the same image (readability does not have to be available to the human eye).

The image is transferred to the data processing unit 4. There, a software algorithm calculates the height or depth information of the embossing with the aid of the different shadows per frequency spectrum.

The contours are transformed by OCR method into readable digital letters, numbers or other characters.

As far as the second embodiment.

The data processing unit 4 additionally offers the option of convincing a package for its integrity. check. This is especially important in the pharmaceutical wholesale and in the handling of medicines in general.

Different variants are available:

A seal affixed to the package is searched and found by the data processing unit 4 in the image information and checked for its integrity and originality.

The methods used depend on the nature of the seal. Some are mentioned here:

Exact compliance with the mere shaping can be decisive.

The exact observance of the colors used in the seal can be of importance. These can be recognized by defined known reflection behavior in the image information.

The visibility of information in the seal is only possible in the defined frequency spectrum of the lighting.

The integrity of the packaging itself is determined.

The exact adherence to the shape can be decisive here.

The light reflection behavior of the packaging surface can be recognized and compared to the data processing unit 4 stored information of the intact packaging.

The interpretation of the letters, numbers or other characters transmitted by the OCR method can be supported via the data processing unit 4 by specifying article-specific how the OCR information is to be interpreted. The article itself recognizes the data processing unit 4 by an imprinted code and / or shape and color of the article itself.

The support can look like this:

Position of the embossing on the article

Semantic interpretation of the letter, number and string (examples: date format, batch numbers, format, etc.).

Claims

claims

1. Device (1) for detecting a code on an article (2) or its packaging in a picking system, wherein means are provided for mechanically reading in the data of the code with at least one optical reading device and in an electronic data processing unit ( 4) to further process, decode and store,

characterized,

in that the optical reading device has at least one camera (5) directed onto an article (2) or its packaging positioned on a support (9), to which at least three lighting fixtures (6, 7, 8) are assigned, the lighting fixtures in space relative to one another and with respect to the article (2) or the packaging are arranged so that in an embossed code to be recognized different shadows in the embossed code generated and recognizable due to the shadows in the camera (5) connected to the data processing unit (4) the embossed code recognizable is.

2. Device according to claim 1,

characterized,

that instead of the three lighting bodies (6, 7, 8) a rotating lighting body is provided, which in each case generates the different shadowing in the area of the embossed code in a different rotational position.

3. Device according to claim 1,

characterized,

that instead of the three lighting bodies (6, 7, 8) a fixed lighting body is provided together with a rotating article, which in each case in a different rotational position, the different shadowing in the rich of the embossed code generated.

4. Device according to claim 1,

characterized,

in that means are provided for activating the lighting fixtures (6, 7, 8) in succession when the embossed code is captured by the camera (5).

5. Device according to claim 1,

characterized,

in that means are provided for simultaneously activating the lighting fixtures (6, 7, 8) when the embossed code is captured by the camera (5), wherein the different lighting fixtures each transmit light of a different frequency spectrum.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5,

characterized,

the data processing unit (4) is designed so that the integrity of the article (2) or the packaging can be checked.

7. Device according to claim 6,

characterized,

that a seal affixed to the article (2) or the packaging or the article (2) or the packaging itself is verifiable.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7,

characterized,

an interpretation aid for the read data is provided and retrievable in the data processing unit (4).

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8,

marked by

Arrangement of the body at the reception (3) of the Commission sioniersystems.